My due date!

Well, Maya is due today! Oops..she is already here ;) It seems like she has been here forever..not in a bad way of course. Life has just settled in like normal.

The first two days without Babcia were fine. Actually, Thursday was easy-peasy. We slept in in the morning, she hung out in the sling while I ate lunch and did some stuff and then after she ate we went for a nice walk up to Central Street where I had some Starbucks and sent off some mail.

Yesterday was a little tougher because Maya was battling some gas :( But luckily Aunt Joanna came over with lunch and then brought the miracle cure--some stuff called Mylicon. It seems to be doing the trick..or else she is just over it..either way we'll take it.

Today Peter and I have our first day together alone. We're thinking about a little trip to Northbrook Court..

Here are some pics of Maya getting to know her brother and sister:

And one (from a couple of days ago) of her thinking very hard:

Happy 2 week birthday Maya!

Maya was born two weeks ago today! I have to say that my life before two weeks ago seems like it was a lifetime ago..Not in a bad way, but life has just changed so much! It seems so strange that this little person was inside my belly..

This little person is actually a perfect little baby! She rarely ever cries (knock on wood)..unless she is hungry, needs to be changed or has a little bit of gas (well, she is her father's daughter after all!). We have to wait until our next peds appointment on the 21st to find out her weight, but I suspect she is gaining well--she eats a ton. Her sleep schedule is pretty consistent-she gets up once usually between 11:30 and 7 or 8..

Babcia Wanda left today..that was a sad event. She was so good to us--doing all our laundry, making all our meals, and generally being so helpful. We were definitely sad to see her go. Papou & Claudia (WoW) are coming on Tuesday, so we'll have another 2 weeks of help then..but until then we are on our own! Tomorrow is our first day just mom and daughter--hopefully we'll survive.

I took some pictures of Maya today for my mom to take home with her.. Here are a few:

In the double digits!

Maya is 10 days old today!!

We had a visit to the pediatrician today..Maya is 6 lbs!! She was born at 5 lbs 13 oz. When she checked out of the hospital she was 5 lbs 6.5 oz. On Tuesday at her follow up she was 5 lbs 11 oz--so she gained 5 oz in 4 days! She loves to eat, that little one... Her umbilical cord is about to fall off--then she'll be able to take her first real bath. The doc pronounced her in perfect health, so we'll just be going back in 3 weeks for her first month appointment.

Speaking of weight, I've lost 35 of my 45 pregnancy pounds! Granted, quite a bit of that was water weight from all the swelling, but I'll take it. That's 20 pounds in one week (they weighed me when they discharged me from the hospital). A couple more weeks like this one and I'll be supermodel ready..lol. Then maybe I'll post a picture of myself...

Maya's been going on her daily walks. She took her first trip to the mall yesterday--Nordstrom's was her favorite. However, she didn't buy anything..her mom got some boots..

Last night Maya was a champ sleeper. She went to sleep at 11:30 and slept until 4. Then she was up for an hour and then slept from 5-9! It was glorious... Generally, we can't complain..she is quite a good sleeper. Hopefully soon she she can transition into her bassinet..

Maya's 8th day...

Things are going very well here in the Karafotas household--adjusting to the baby has been smooth so far. We have found that rules are made to be broken--she sleeps in the bed with us, we give her a pacifier and she eats formula. A happy baby makes happy parents we have found..

We have gone on walks through the neighborhood...yay for the bugaboo! Today we went on our first outing..Babcia, Maya and I went to Target! Afterwards, we went for a walk in Gilson Park in Wilmette by the lake--wow was it cold!

We purchased a swing..which Maya is still getting used to. We find she is most happy being held ;)

Here are some pictures from today:

Sucking her thumb!!! What a genius:

A couple more pics...

We've been home for 2 days now and I think we're settling in well..First night was really rough, but the second night was much better. We've gone on 2 walks through the neighborhood and Peter and I went out to Target today (without the baby)--very exciting!

Proud papa...you love your husband that much more when you see him fall in love with his daughter:

The proud Dziadek (grandpa):

She's here!!!!

Maya Joan Karafotas came early!!

9.20.06 7:24 am

5lbs 13 oz

Drumroll please....nursery pics!

So, I think we are finally at a point where we're so close to being done that pictures can be shared..There are a couple of things we'll still do, but I can update you on those little bits later...

View entering into the room (on either side of the window we'll be putting Peter's portraits of the dogs):

Bookcase & Chair:

Crib (behind the crib we'll put wall letters spelling out Baby K's name):

36 Week Appointment..

Today was the first of my weekly appointments..I can't believe the end is so near!

Nothing new at the appointment today..Baby K is head down, which bodes well for delivery. We won't gauge "progress" until I am about 38 weeks..

Otherwise, I really don't have much to report!

Yikes! One Month from today...

Is my due date! Not that I think she'll be on time--she is a Karafotas-Rapaczynski after all! My doctor says she won't let me go more than two weeks overdue, but that she'll induce me at one week overdue..so we're looking at around 10/14..give or take a few days. I think she is pretty comfy in there, so I have no faith whatsoever that she'll decide to come early on her own.

Things are slowly getting done--my output has been diminishing as I get more and more tired, but I am trying!

This month celebrates 8 years that Peter and I met and started dating..awww....

Baby's got wheels..

Baby K's wheels are all ready to go for her arrival! For those of you who know me well, the cart preceeded the horse on this one ;) Not really..but I really wanted this stroller even before I was pregnant. It's the infamous Bugaboo Chameleon..the Range Rover of strollers..

It came to reside at our home courtesy of Babcia Wanda all the way back in early May! It's been sitting in the box begging to be assembled..

Some pics of the stylin' ride:

One more thing!

Happy 18th Birthday Tessa!!!

Ajax's rough life...

Many of you may know Ajax as the hyper active, intellectually challenged golden retriever that runs our household. Well, he seems to be mellowing out in his middle age..he'll be 6 this November. This is how he spends much of his day:



Back to your regularly scheduled programming...

A "DIY" brag...

After living in our house for a mere 16 months, we finally decided to finish our kitchen backsplash ;) It's been a source of debate--stainless steel? tile? What to do? Well, Peter and his handy DIY dad finished it off! Peter and I decided on glass mosaic tile from Waterworks and his dad stuck them up there. Peter finished off the alignment and grout and voila!:

Before:





After:

Before:

After:

Now if we could just get some sort of blinds up! Every morning I hear grumblings from Peter about how we have to get them up in our bedroom..maybe that would be a good idea before the baby comes!

Those crazy Rapaczynskis...

Some pictures from Rebecca's birthday fete in East Hampton. Of course Dad had to bring in some Asian influence, so he dressed himself and Trent (Tessa's boyfriend) in his traditional Chinese jackets from his last trip to his beloved land:





And then Rebecca and Mom had to get their picture taken with the guard..just like all those tourists in London always want pictures with the guards in the big hats who never smile:

I came to the conclusion that Tessa and I are the only normal ones in the house:

A couple of shower pictures...

Here are a couple of pictures from my shower. Frankly, I selected only a few because in the rest of them I look like a huge heffer. I am sure it was the camera, and not that I actually look that large ;)

Tessa and I admiring Kevin's beautiful Cinderella popup book:



The cake!:

All the pretty pink presents:

We had a very nice time and I am very grateful for all the wonderful gifts that I received--we are almost fully stocked now!

Sorry we've been MIA...

but it's been a little crazy around here! Phil & Claudia were in town from Monday to Saturday. We got some major painting in the nursery done, but we are still finishing our circles--we are almost done, so I can't wait to post pictures of the completed project! We also are almost done putting up the backsplash behind our stove, which we've been meaning to do since we moved in!

Other than household stuff, not too much exciting to report. Peter had his birthday on Friday and we went out for a nice dinner at David Burke Primehouse downtown--it was actually really good!

Wow..there are quite a few exclamation points in this post..I think I have been sniffing too much paint ;) Off to finish..I promise I will post a bunch of pictures soon..

The little Alien...

Here are some pics from the elective 3D ultrasound that we did on Saturday before my baby shower. Unfortunately, I think we did them a little late, because she looked awfully crowded in there--plus she is head down (ready to go!!!!), so it was hard for the tech to get some face-0n shots of her (and we confirmed--it is definitely a her!).

And apparently she is either really crowded in there or she is a future gymnast...yes, that is her foot up by her head and hands :)

Some more pics that wouldn't post...

Tessa in Aspen:


Tessa & I on the top of Independence Pass:

Colorado Road Trip..

Tessa and I returned from our Colorado road trip all in one piece! We got back on Thursday and I had my big 3D ultrasound and shower on Saturday..so lots of pictures to come...

First off..our Colorado pictures & story:

Day 1: Arrive in Denver and rent car. Drive to Boulder where we are starving and have dinner at Juanita's on Pearl Street. After a little walk, we get back to our hotel (Marriott) and conk out.

Day 2: Lunch at the Med in Boulder. Spend all day driving to Telluride. Stay at the Peaks Resort and head down to downtown Telluride via gondola for dinner--what an experience--heading straight down in the pitch black night in a gondola!

Day 3: Walk around Telluride and have breakfast.
Drive to Crested Butte (stopped at the weirdest McDonald's ever on the way..keep that in mind if you plan to Big Mac it in Gunnison, CO). Dinner in Crested Butte.

Day 4: Breakfast in Crested Butte.

Afraid of Keebler Pass, so we drove around and took Independence Pass to Aspen. Arrive in Aspen and walk around and shop :) Dinner at my favorite: Takah Sushi. Stayed at the Hotel Jerome.

Day 5: Lunch at my favorite: Johnny McGuires. Walk around a bit, hit Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory for a caramel apple and head off to Vail. Arrived in Vail where weather was pool worthy, so spent an hour relaxing and then ate a yummy Italian meal at Campo de Fiori.

Day 6: Breakfast at hotel (Sonnenalp) and a short walk around Vail. Head to Denver to go to the airport and go through the worst rain storms ever (Tessa sleeps through it all). Head home...

Some Michigan pictures..

We survived the trip to Michigan! Just kidding--I'll give credit where it's due. It's very nice up there-the lake was great and the towns were very cute. We had some great meals (mostly at home, since we were a whoppin' 9 people at the smallest). Paul rented a boat the first day we were there, so Peter and the kids went tubing, which they thought was a blast, while Claudia and Karen and I went shopping (my idea of a blast).
Other than that, we just hung out and relaxed. If it weren't for the 6 hour drive, we would consider vacationing there more often! Of course the dogs had a blast and were pretty depressed to come back home.

Here are some pics:

Peter & the other Kate Karafotas:

Kira teaching Ajax some manners:

Just Jack:

Peter and the wife Kate:

That's about it from this end..stay tuned for some nursery pics. The room is almost clear and taped for painting..next stop: painting circles--fun fun!