The last pre-baby vacation!

We didn't do anything wild like drive to Yellowstone (the trip we had been planning for this June when we found out about Raspberry), but we did get out of dodge this weekend for one last pre-baby trip. With a car full of dogs, not diapers, and dog blankets, not Pack-n-plays and car seats, we left Thursday for our usual vacation spot in Harbor Springs, Michigan. We always find it so relaxing there, and so mind clearing. We got up Friday and did our usual coffee and bagel breakfast in Petoskey, then we went shopping - this time not for us but for baby Raspberry! The lucky prenate scored a handful of toys and books and he doesn't even know it! After a delicious lunch at the Noggin Room we took our afternoon walk then went out for a great fish dinner with the family. Saturday we hit another of our favorite haunts, driving up to Mackinaw City for fried perch sandwiches at the Key Hole followed by fudge and caramel corn. Yum! And the real reason for the trip was a special birthday celebration for Cortney's Uncle Smokey, which we had on Saturday evening replete with Prime Rib and topped off with our beloved zebra cake (or refrigerator cake...call it what you want). Not only was it wonderful to relax and enjoy great food in one of our favorite places on earth, it was also a very special chance to see people we don't often get to see because Cortney's cousin Pauline (Polly), who now lives in Colorado, was there with her boyfriend, Justin. We had a great time seeing everyone, and we have even forgiven Justin for being a - can I say it? - a Buckeye. Ah well, everyone has their vices. And now we are safely back at home a few toys and pounds heavier, and we wish Polly and Justin a safe homeward trip as well!

Not much...

We don't have a whole lot to say, but Judi sent us some great pictures that she took at the shower last week and we added them to the photo album and just wanted to give everyone a heads up.  While we're at it... our 33 week check up went well!  Cortney's weight is right on and she has been cleared to continue her daily 1-2 mile walks.  Raspberry has turned and is, for the most part, head down, leaving Cortney with a slightly smaller circumference (which she is glad about) and a little rib relief (which she is ecstatic about). 
So, everything looks good!

April showers bring June babies

We can't believe that we are only 5 to 8 weeks away from having a baby in the house.  We're not sure that we can possibly be ready, but our friends and family are working hard to get us that way!  Today they showered both of us (really all three of us) with love and baby gifts to do just that.  It was a beautiful day with lots of sunshine and warm weather and we all ate really well!  The women were treated to homemade chicken, broccoli, fruit and tossed salads along with honey baked ham and devilled eggs, followed by homemade brownies and cheesecake with strawberries (mmmm!).  At the same time the men were down at Pizza House gorging themselves on stuffed pizza.

After eating Cortney opened many baby essentials, including a bathtub, swing, front carrier,  monitor, shopping cart cover, nursing pillow, video camera (so we can share Rasberry's antics with all of you!), books, blankets, burp cloths, diaper bags (small and large), and, of course, toys.  Everyone was so thoughtful, and all the gifts were wonderful and exciting, and will be very useful!  Raspberry was also spoiled with some very unique things:  A fantastic Dutch outfit and Olympic Bear straight from his aunt Kate, Cortney's cousin in the Netherlands; a blanket crocheted by his maternal grandmother;  receiving blankets made by his grandgodmother (?), each with a piece sewn in the corner from the blankets she made for Cortney over 29 years ago;  and a jacket and hat to wear home from the hospital crocheted by grandma Hoffman, a close family friend.

Meanwhile, back at Pizza House, Jon opened many daddy...er...essentials (?) that came in a diaper bag of his own.  Including household safety items, a chewable book (for the baby, not the dad), a bath hippo (again, for the baby...really), a bragbook for the wallet, earplugs, gloves and masks (for diaper changes), and...kazoos.  Yes, kazoos.  Jon also did a little gifting of his own, passing out blue bubble gum "it's a boy" cigars (hey, the men don't wait in the waiting room anymore so he had to get his fun in somehow).

We had a wonderful time and, at the end of the day, felt very loved.  Thank you so much everyone!

Weekend whirlwind

How many family members does it take to reorganize a house? In our case, five, as Cortney's parents and Curtis joined us to tackle a broad range of fixes and furniture moves toward getting the house baby-ready. Jon started by installing a new shower head. Next up was the unexpected necessity of fixing the drainage hose for the dishwasher. This required a major battle with the floor to pull the dishwasher out (and we thought that with this trouble was behind us with the new linoleum!). After that was done, we could get down to the real business of hauling Cortney's office furniture downstairs, and the crib furniture brought in from the cars. Cortney's dad installed classy corner shelves and a key rack in the laundry room, and helped Jon assemble the new nursery furniture. Meanwhile, with the kitchen sink now available post-dishwasher-fix, Cortney's mom taught her how to make the family recipe for hand-made noodles that go into Bot Bie. After dinner, the crowning glory of the day was in hanging a special piece of metallic artwork over the stairs. This was definitely a team effort, but would really not have been possible without Curtis' Spider-Man moves. Affectionately known as "Ray," the artwork was courtesy of Cortney's godmother Lonnie. It was a favorite of Cortney's godfather, Bob, and its reddish-bronze hues are a perfect match for our maroon living room accents. It was a productive weekend. Still on the docket for March: wiring a light in the basement, taking a look at the weak water heater, and painting the nursery. We don't want to give away the nursery decor too early, but we've included a picture of the crib mid-assembly in the empty room and we'll give you this hint--we had to buy two colors of paint! More nursery info coming in three weeks. Thanks, family!

Another year older and wiser.

We celebrated two birthdays this week in the Ophoff household, both of them on the 24th.  Yes, Cortney is now a year older, bringing her within one year of the big three-o (but let's not try to remind her), and Moose also added another notch to his birthday belt on the same day, making him a whole six years old.  For Cortney's birthday, mom and dad Hiller took us all (themselves, Jon, Cortney, Curtis, and Patty, not Moose) out to eat at Real Seafood Co.  We had a delightful time, and a delightful dinner (Cortney even pulled rank and had the waiter crack her lobster for her, though Jon and Patty cracked theirs by themselves).  Of course, birthdays in our house don't get celebrated in just one day!  This weekend we were also treated to a dinner for two at Olive Garden by mom and dad Ophoff, which was also a delightful evening, and we went to see The Chronicles of Narnia, a delightful movie.  Not to mention that we will be celebrating for many evenings to come with the "Just for Dinner" breadmaker that Cortney got from Jon (mmm...fresh, warm dinner sized breads with every meal, or even for dessert!).  And, while Cortney feels threatened as the big three-o looms,  it is comforting to realize that  Moose is now over thirty in human years.  Just don't tell him, it might make him even more certain that he should be setting the house rules!

Thank you very much to mom and dad Hiller and to mom and dad Ophoff for two wonderful dinners!