Dear Baby Helland: (Of 36 weeks)

Dear Baby Helland: (Of 36 weeks)
You've stayed in hotel mommy for another week, and seem to be getting a little more uncomfortable. I was thinking about how you are sitting, and I really don't know how much longer you are going to want to stay like that....but don't worry, in a few weeks, you'll be able to stretch!
This was a busy week for mommy. She had her band concert Tuesday, played for Tralle's musical auditions Thursday and Saturday, had the graduation performance Friday and a shower on Saturday. Whew! This is definitely a push to the end of the school year. Only a trip to Valleyfair left this week and then most of the stressful stuff will be behind us!
We had another doc appointment on Friday. I freaked out a little because I knew they needed to examine things a bit more starting at this appoinment, and I didn't realize I had to do the Group B strep test, so I cried a little. I was really hoping that I was done with the whole freaking out at appoinments deal, but I guess not. Dr. Leino is so quick I really don't know what my problem is! But anyway, you are sitting exactly where you should be. We are maybe dilated at 1cm, but you are at -1 station which means that we should be set up for a decent delivery. It still would be nice if the stork took you out while I was sleeping, but I really don't think it will happen that way!
You received your first pair of shoes this week! Frauntie Claire and Fruncle Tralle wanted to get a little something for you because I helped Tralle with some auditions, so you got bibs, onesies and tiny little sandels. They are super cute! I love little baby shoes, but Daddy is so practical he wouldn't let me buy any for you. Now I don't have to lie about how baby ended up with shoes because someone else actually did buy them! Thanks Tralle's!
Auntie Kristen gave us our shower gift early because she wouldn't be able to make our shower. You got a little outfit, (with a giraffe bib-I'm a sucker for those animal bibs) a little baby piano that will also teach you to count to five in french and spanish, and two books-Cloudy with a chance of meatballs and Love You Forever. Daddy has already read both of them to you and played with the piano! We start you early! Thanks auntie Kristen!
I've been thinking lately about what type of home you'll be coming into. I know you'll learn soon enough, but I thought I'd give you some heads up....so here goes........(plus someday I want to look back at this and see if anything changed!)
-Mommy and Daddy split household chores....Daddy does dishes and vaccuums and Mommy does bathrooms and laundry. Everything else just happens randomly.
-Mommy and Daddy drive the same cars. Same model, same color, but two years different. Kinda goofy. and not planned, just happened that way.
-Daddy likes to listen to MPR and jazz when driving. Mommy listens to what daddy calls "booty music". (It's just pop music, but that's what Daddy calls it!)
-Daddy drives the speed limit and does most of the driving when we are together. Mommy drives a little faster, but not so fast that she needs to worry about getting speeding tickets. She does not like driving in the cities. Ick.
-Mommy does most of the cooking and baking, but it's ok because she enjoys it. If Daddy were in charge of supper, we would eat frozen pizza every night, and he might make Reese's bars (the one dessert he knows how to "bake"). We eat a lot of pizza anyway in this house, so just be prepared. Daddy makes dip eggs and Mommy cannot get them right. That's his specialty.
-Mommy is more of a classically trained musician. Daddy is more of a jazzer. You will love both. It's been decided. Your options for band instruments are the french horn with trumpet for jazz, or a double reed with sax for jazz. You will play piano too. No getting around it.
-Daddy is much more athletic than Mommy. I pray you get daddy's genes on this one. Someday I'll tell you the story of when Mommy attempted to finish a 5k. (Got passed by old granny with an ipod, ambulance gave up on me, and I ended up "pretending I was just shopping the craft fair" instead of actually finishing the race) It's not a sad story, it's actually quite entertaining.
-Daddy builds/plays boats. Mommy scrapbooks and makes cards. You'll find a hobby too. Daddy is really hoping that you'll like boaties because he really does.
-Prudence rules the house. She will probably be very protective of you. At least that's how I hope it goes. She does not like repairmen, the postal worker or the UPS man. She's finally started to like our nieghbor Pastor Ron, but only because he gives her treats whenever they meet outside. Some might say she's a little spoiled. Or a lot......
We'll add more to the list next time. For now Mommy must get to bed so she can get up to play for early church in the morning!
We'll talk soon!
Mommy