Our first shower.

On a sunny afternoon a couple weeks ago we were honored with a really nice shower at our great friends Chris & Megan's place. We celebrated with friends, played charades (see the pics), laughed and were humbled by all of the really thoughtful gifts. Thanks to everyone who attended. Baby R is a lucky boy to have such good peeps around him.

Fruit-o-Meter #17.

Here we are at 30 weeks: "Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and he weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds him, but that volume will decrease as he gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. His eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after he's born, he'll keep his eyes closed for a good part of the day. When he does open them, he'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision---which means he can only make out objects a few inches from his face."

The un-forgotten post.

I thought we blogged about our night at the VFW but I guess not. Following on the heels of our recent drive-in post, I guess it's only fitting that the 2 posts share a similar theme: we Robertsons like to put the "ass" in "class." No fancy shmancy caviar here. Nuh uh. So about a month ago, on a snowy Spring MN night, we met up w/ a bunch of friends to check out a band that might possibly play at Karl & Jess' upcoming wedding. The band is called "Changing Times" and they rocked our socks off. They played covers of old rock, rockabilly and old country songs. The verdict? Hired. Done. Got the gig.We sang, we dance (and we didn't even over-imbibe although the pics make it seem that way). 

Hopkins, MN in the grand US of A

Katie doing hand jives around baby R's eyes (think: Uma Thurman in Pulp Fiction)

Mama Bird & me

The gang's all here-- and singing like a bunch of wild banshees

The married couple to-be: Karl & Jess

Fruit-o-Meter #16.

Happy Thursday to you. "Your baby is growing rapidly now. This week he weighs about 2-1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is getting bigger to accommodate his growing brain--- which is busy developing billions of neurons. Every day, about 200 milligrams of calcium is deposited in your baby's skeleton, which is now hardening. With this rapid growth, it's no surprise that your baby's nutritional needs reach their peak during this trimester."

Ahhh, the Drive-In.

Trav's parents were in town this weekend so we had two fun nights in a row. On Friday, we went to Gasthoff's (sp) for an authentic German dinner (we didn't do "the boot"). Then, Saturday we decided to pack up the grill and a cooler filled with adult beverages and head to the drive-in out in East Guam (Lake Elmo). It got pretty windy/chilly that night. I'd post pics of us outside but essentially we looked like those sand creatures from Star Wars all huddled around a grill for warmth. May in MN, gotta love it. Despite the chill, there's still nothing sweeter than seeing a movie outdoors. Funny, our friends Matt and Annie were there too so we got to hang with them for a few minutes before the movie started. We caught Iron Man (awesome) and part of Drillbit Taylor (less awesome) before heading home at midnight. More drive-in experiences to come this Summer. Ahhhh.

Fruit-o-Meter #15.

We're now at 28 weeks and Mama Bird is healthy as ever. Yesterday, we got our test back and she's in the clear from gestational diabetes. What a relief. Here's what Babycenter is saying this week: "Your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measure 14.8 inches from head to heels. He can blink his eyes, which now sport eyelashes. With his eyesight developing, he may be able to see the light that filters in. He's also developing billions of neurons in his brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world." Thanks for clicking on the blog today! 

Bathroom do-over.

Our main bathroom had been irking us since we moved in almost 2 years ago. The textured green walls. The so-not-us Tuscany-inspired sink. The scroll-y iron accented mirror. Nice stuff, just not our style. (If anyone's interested in our old sink and mirror, let us know b/c we'll give you a sweet deal.)

Here's how the bathroom do-over went down...

Travis (talking to the man at Lowe's): "Oh replacing a sink is pretty easy stuff right? You just unhook the old one and hook up the new one." 

Man at Lowe's: "Yeah, totally. Even a monkey could install it."

Well call me Simian Sammy b/c the damned thing took me about 8 hours and a 'call of shame' to my brother-in-law to get his help on my leaky P-trap (that's another story). 

Katie at Lowe's asking "You sure you don't want to hire someone?"

Travis cussing because his hands aren't tiny enough.

BEFORE

AFTER

Happy Birthday Travis!

Mom's Day '08.

For Mom's Day, we had K's family over for a really nice brunch (courtesy of Mama Bird). After gifts, we retired to the backyard with our nephew Caden for a friendly game of kickball. Good silly fun. 

Stork droppings, episodes 2 & 3.

A couple more gifts arrived this week from our out of town friends and suddenly it felt like Christmas in May. First up, we received this mod Boppy pillow from Gary and Sarah in MO. This was one of those things that we were really excited to register for at Target b/c it's functional, but looks great too. This will come in very, very handy. Thank you soooooooooo much. Who doesn't love zoo animals? 

We love, love, love the line of kids' stuff from Boon. Everything is just so well designed with a healthy dose of whimsy thrown in. The Frog Pod has always been one of our favorites, and it's definitely a guilty pleasure on the ol' registry. Sure, our baby doesn't NEED a plastic frog that sticks to the wall and scoops up bath toys, but it sure is fun. Melissa and Dick so graciously sent us this one, and we shared a big laugh at the enclosed card (fitting since Melissa is going to the Beijing Paralympics for swimming): "So your little munchkin can grow to love water and become a fast swimmer. :)" Thanks guys! Baby R will think of you when he's splishing and splashing and making bubble beards in the tub.

Stork droppings, episode 1.

The stork showed up on our front porch this past week in the form of a UPS box from Mama Robertson, Trav's Mom in Missouri. The cutest dang onesies and twosies (outfits) arrived and we had so much fun unpacking this super-cuteness-explosion. Thanks Mom! Baby R should have plenty of sweet threads for wooing the ladies. 

A very Smillie Saturday night.

If there's one thing you can count on in this world, it's a laugh-filled evening with the Smillies. We had a yummy night of Thai takeout, guitar hero, buzztime trivia and best of all, seeing Addie and Nicholas before their cribs called. It was great to catch up and talk about baby stuff, non-baby stuff and just be thoroughly ridiculous. Keep the ridiculous alive in '08!

Fruit-o-Meter #14.

The baby is definitely growing in this, our 27th week. Put those rutabagas and spaghetti squashes aside, good people. We've got a real hunk of produce gracing us in this week's F-o-M..."This week your baby weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14.4 inches long with his legs extended. He now sleeps and wakes at regular intervals. He may suck his fingers, and although his lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning--with assistance--if he were born prematurely. Chalk up any rhythmic movement you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on." 

That's what I'm talkinbout (grunt)...cauliflower.

Mama bird x2.

Here's the Mama Bird herself posing with our new Mama Bird art print. We've had this print for a while but finally got around to having it framed. It's so rad. (Can I say rad? I think I'm too old to be saying that. Oh hell.) I just love having art on the walls because our house is feeling more and more like a home.
By the way, we got this rad bird print on Etsy from an artist named Matte Stephens. Check his work out here.  -T

Friendly dinner.

Last Wed we had our friends, Dave & Kirstin (and kidlets Ava & Lily) over for a fun, low key dinner. Our new highchair came in handy as baby Lily got to test drive it, break it in for Baby R. Weee!
Here's a picture of the highchair in all its glory, for all you highchair enthusiasts out there. (nano urban highchair from bloom)

Fruit-o-Meter #13.

26 weeks. Y'all know the drill... "Your baby now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches (an English hothouse cucumber), from head to heel. His weight will more than triple between now and birth as he rapidly puts on baby fat. He'll need that fat to adjust to temperatures outside the womb and as a source of energy and calories in the first days of life."