Baby Showers: Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

As I pause for a moment to think back to when I decided to start writing down my thoughts on this pregnancy, it seems like that first blog was written in a different life. And we still have 8 weeks to go. So much has transpired, even since my last blog, that I need to review my old posts to remember what I wrote about. The topic was moving to our new house, it seems like we've been here forever already but that was only a month ago. Anyways, lets get on with all that is current.

Stephanie's center of gravity has been firmly established just above her hips and is the cause for many new adjustments in the way she goes about her day. In the mornings, telling a mountain to move from one place to the other is easy compared to the task of prying Steph from her bed. More often than not, my T-shirts offer much more comfort than her pre-pregnancy ones. From the moment she steps out of bed, I too must be on my toes. The steady diet of breakfast bacon that sustains my wife and boys also gives the smoke detector something to shout about (I am the only one tall enough to reach it). Usually that wakes me up. If not, the mental vigilance required to operate our shower will do the trick. After that I'm out the door. Steph does a half day of work before coming home and using what energy she has left to complete a task or two. In a crowded mall of women, you'll pick her out easily. She will be the one whose belly moves side to side like a pendulum as she waddles from store to store sending teenagers, moms, and senior citizens scrambling. Those who aren't fast enough get belly-bumped with enough force to clear the gumball machines. The maternity department at Gap calls for backup and everyone else trying to sell something better have chocolate to seal the deal. (Okay so I am exaggerating a little here but I hope you get the picture).

The babies are healthy, head down, and weighing in at a whopping 2 lbs 9 oz and 2 lbs 2 oz, which makes their combined weight about the same as a full term singleton.

We have been blessed with great friends and family. They threw us three awesome baby showers. I now consider myself somewhat proficient at attending baby showers as we were thrown three different types of showers. All three were great.

The first was thrown by my side of the family at Grandma Yoder's house. It was co-ed and the highlight of that one besides Grandma's mac n' cheese was the trivia game covering numerous topics from Saved By the Bell to Steph and I. There was laughter and there was tears. We spent the rest of the afternoon fellowshipping and enjoying each other's company.

The second was thrown by Steph's side at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Arenzville. This one was ladies only. I was informed there is certain protocol men are to follow at Nobis/Hendricker showers. I was to carry any heavy items down to the basement. Once that task is done, I can make quick chit-chat with the ladies, but should soon make myself scarce. I made my appearance then left. The women then freely shared their common experiences as only women can and celebrated Steph's pregnancy. Eventually, I was hailed via text to haul away the giftss and help with the clean up. Our car was crammed full of baby goodies.

The third was thrown by our good friends the Hoot's and Morey's in Bloomington, Illinois. Their shower was a co-ed open house, where anyone who was in town was free to come and stop by from 1-4 pm. They decked out the house in ribbons and had an array of homemade sweets to choose from. Note cards and crayons were placed in strategic areas to jot down words of wisdom for us to remember. We left Bloomington with our hearts full from reconnecting with so many close friends we don't get to see anymore.

To the men reading this blog, if you will soon go through this process, here are some pearls of wisdom I took away from my experience you may care to remember:

• With enough diapers, ribbon, and craft wire you can create almost anything.
• A quick escape to the basement for a beer with other males is a good way to renew your vigor for the remainder of the shower.
• There will be many treats at the shower. The size of your wife's belly by this point will ensure that any food that doesn't make it into her mouth will end up on her blouse. A change of clothes or wet wash cloth is a good item to bring along.
• Get used to other people feeling up your wife's belly.
• While standing next to your wife, the conversations with many guests will inevitably stray to the hardships pregnancy brings. Make no mistake, as a man none of these conversations are directed at you. A knowing nod is the best course of action here. Your wife knows the meaning of discomfort far better than you do.
• Guard the words from your mouth. One comment said the wrong way, will quickly turn a room full of smiling women into your worst nightmare.
• Keep cards with their corresponding gifts so you know who to send thank you notes to.
• Have fun.