Our New Arrival

She is finally here! Charis Annette Torres was born on October 17 at 4:57 PM. She is absolutely perfect and we could not be more excited that she is finally with us. Of course, we neglected the blog as we waited for her a week past her due date, but we certainly want to get back to it...and we will...soon! For now, we wanted to share these photos and this video to introduce her to you. Have a great day!

The Sound of Silence

It is October. Our baby is at full term and could make her entrance at any moment. And as I sit here typing this in the early morning silence, I keep thinking about how in about a week this house will sound so much different than it does right now. The silence will be replaced with the cry of hunger from our little baby - a sound I cannot wait to hear at the moment. Our routines will also change. We will no longer be able to lay in bed until the very last possible minute talking about the day in front of us. We won't only have to worry about what we are wearing, but we have to put clothes on another human being as well! I keep imagining Niki asking me to hold the baby while she puts three or four different outfits in front of her and asking me which one looks the best. So, everything is about to change. I have a hard time imagining just how much is going to be different when we have to dedicate ourselves entirely to someone who is completely dependent on us. But, we are ready for it. We are so ready to meet her and to hold her and to care for her. We shouldn't have to wait too much longer. Who knows, next week at this time, the early morning silence that fills this house might be beautifully interrupted by the sounds of our daughter.

Please pray for Niki and the baby that if there is a birthday this week that all will go well!

My Husband, the Moment-Maker

A friend of ours once described his marriage in this way, and it has remained one of Patrick and my favorite ways of thinking about what makes marriage so great:

"When you're married, you don't have to rely on just yourself any more to solve problems. Suddenly you've got two sets of hands and two brains and two hearts that are all working together to figure things out."

Anyone who knows Patrick and me knows that in many ways, we prove the saying, "opposites attract." And one of the coolest things about that truth is the varying perspective we can often get from our two brains, hearts, and sets of hands on the same situation.

Patrick wrote the sweetest post about me not too long ago. And I have to say, moments like that are energizing to me: refusing to take no for an answer, beating the clock, fighting hard for what I think should happen. Carrying that over into daily life, I am the queen of making the To-Do list. Of thinking about all that needs to be done. Of pushing through until everything is in place. However, sometimes everything on the To-Do list doesn't need to be done - I just think it does. And sometimes my 'overdrive' is just my fancy way of trying to control a situation that can't be.

Enter Patrick Torres' brain. And heart. And two sets of hands.

Among the hundreds of things I love and admire about my husband, one of the biggest is this: Patrick is a Moment-Maker. He intrinsically - in a way that I usually miss - understands the importance of Stopping. Of seeing the beauty in the midst of chaos. Of marking important moments before they pass by.

Today we have hit the two-week mark from our due date. And with that, we are now officially "in the window," which means the baby could come at any time now. Although excited, this also fills me with a sense of panic about all that's left to do (Which really, is nothing: the baby will not care if there are not pictures on her wall.). Patrick and I have talked a lot about enjoying this last bit of time together before we forever become a different type of family. But Patrick always goes further than that...

Last week, Patrick surprised me with planning one last, big date night for us. Yes, hopefully, we'll get to go to the movies or out to dinner a time or two more, but it was important for my husband to plan something really special for the two of us to do together, just to celebrate us. So, without me knowing, Patrick bought us tickets to the amazing Cirque du Soleil: one of the most spectacular performances you could ever see where beauty meets athleticism. It's really absolutely incredible, and also something we had a chance to do with a group while we were still in college, when we had just started liking each other for the first time. So we dressed up, went to an amazing restaurant, talked about some of our favorite moments of our marriage so far, walked around the National Harbor, and then enjoyed the show. It totally felt like a DATE, and was really special.

I'm so blessed to have Patrick's heart alongside mine to step into my craziness and remind me of the importance of a Moment. And our baby is so blessed to have a Daddy that can model these things for her as well...especially when Mommy needs to just chill out. : )

Niki is Going to be a Great Mom

I wanted to write a quick note to give you all a glimpse into why Niki is going to be a great mother. On our way back from our final vacation before becoming parents (more on that later), our car had a melt down. Literally. The engine overheated...there was a ton of smoke...and then the car shut down. We managed to safely pull off on the side of the road. Luckily, we are a part of a roadside assistance program with our insurance company, so we got towed to Salisbury, MD for free. When we got to the repair shop, we discovered that our radiator was completely busted, and that they would have to order a new one. The problem was that it was Labor Day and all of their vendors were closed. They found one vendor open that actually had our radiator (a miracle in and of itself), but that vendor's driver had they day off. The mechanics apologized and told us they would have to fix it the following day. So, I was resigned to the fact that we were going to have to stay in Salisbury for the night, call work and let them know we would be out, and reschedule our baby appointment...but not Niki. She was going to solve the problem. She does not accept defeat. Niki just happened to have a friend from college who lives in Salisbury. (She knows people everywhere...which is another aspect of why she is going to rock as a mom...she loves to make friends!) So, she calls her friend and gets her to agree to drop everything she is doing and drive twenty miles away in Labor Day beach traffic to the one vendor who has our radiator. Of course, it didn't take much convincing...Niki is a great person and therefore has amazing friends. In the meantime, I am doubting the plan will work at all because the auto part dealer with the radiator has told me repeatedly on the phone that they are closing at 1:00 PM, meaning that our friend only has 20 minutes to get there. But, again, Niki will not accept defeat. She calls the man at the store and convinces him to wait to close down shop...and guess what?!?! He agrees that he will wait. Fortunately, he didn't have to. Our friend got there in time, and we became the owners of a brand new radiator! Now flash forward 5 hours later...The radiator is installed, and it is time to pay the bill...we find out that because we had a friend pick up and deliver the radiator, we saved $200 - $250 dollars! All because Niki refused to give up! And that is not all: Our insurance told us that if we got towed to this specific mechanic, we would get 10% off of the total. But that did not show up in the final bill. Well, after seven hours stuck in the waiting room of a mechanic shop, I was ready to pay the bill and get on the road without the discount. But Niki called the insurance company, who called the mechanic, who got his manager involved, and we got 10% taken off the bill! If it had all been up to me, we would have had to pay to stay an extra night in a hotel, an extra $200 dollars for a radiator, and we would not have gotten the discount on the bill. But I am married to an amazing woman. And she will be an amazing mother because she fights for what she believes is right and is unwilling to take no for an answer. She has the biggest heart and more determination than anyone I know. What child could ask for more in a mother? I am so thankful to have her in my corner as a partner on this journey of becoming parents - she is a rock star!

A Visit from our Moms!

Last week Niki and I were fortunate enough to have both of our mothers come for a visit. We had such a great time with them, and they certainly showered us with so many blessings and gifts as we prepare for our daughter's arrival. We spent one day shopping for some of the bigger items we knew we would need before the baby is born. We did so much shopping that we could barely fit in the car...Mom and Donna literally had to ride home with the mattress for the crib on their heads! I love the picture! But their gifts went far beyond materials. Both of them worked tirelessly to help us get our house prepared for life after the birth. From pulling weeds to doing laundry to rearranging furniture to helping get our girl's room set up, they gave so much of themselves that I am sure they were exhausted when they got home. I cannot tell you how grateful we are for their hard work and love. These two women are a force to be reckoned with when it comes to making their children's life easier. And as I sit here and write this, it is shocking to me to know the next time we see them, we will be parents. Wow. We will be parents the next time we see our moms and dads and brothers and in laws and everyone in our family. I hope we can be as loving and generous as our entire families have been to us. Thinking about the love that it took to pull weeds and spray insecticide in the sweltering heat or to make multiple trips from the basement to the baby's room when your legs and back are screaming at you to stop makes me appreciate the work of parenthood. We are grateful for the example our mothers were while they were here, and we hope to honor them in the way we love our child. And we also know that if it ever just gets too hard, we can send her to stay with Grandma...that will make it all better.

Seven Things to Be Grateful For at 7 Months Pregnant

7. With only a few exceptions, our new home is finally put together...and we LOVE it. Love it!!! Pictures to come soon!

6. Since February when Patrick and I found out we are going to be parents, our lives in many ways have increased to be intensely more complicated, wrapped in a myriad of adult-like decisions that we must find solutions for. However there is ONE step into adulthood that we have excitedly taken, even cherished: last Wednesday, Patrick and I traded in our futon for a couch. That's right: a real, live, adult-like couch. No way you'd ever see this sucker in a dorm room. Anyone need a futon?

5. I'm still sleeping through the night, for the most part, which I've heard is somewhat rare.

4. Every time I put my tennis shoes on to exercise, I am immensely grateful that I have not been pregnant during the winter where items like socks and non-slip-on shoes would be essential.

3. I've been able to share my colossal size and end-of-pregnancy with one of my oldest and best friends, Monica, who's been in DC visiting this week.

2. Patrick and I monitor my belly button every few days, each day with the same question: is this the day it's going to have popped out? It's so close. As silly as this sounds, today as I was looking at my belly button, it hit me that what I was looking at was my - everyone's - biggest bodily reminder that we were all babies once, physically connected to our mothers not all that long ago. In just a few days, my my mom and mother-in-law will be here to share in Patrick's and my very first baby shower. I am so thankful for my mother and the close relationship we share. I am also incredibly thankful to have such an amazing mother-in-law. Our families have already been so supportive of us every step of this pregnancies; it's humbling to be connected so much love!

1. I am feeling LARGE these days. I mean, really, really L-A-R-G-E. And I recognize that there is still a month and three weeks (only a month & three weeks?!?) left of major growing (I have already passed what I had hoped would be my total weight gain for the entire pregnancy). HOWEVER, this is by far one of the most incredible experiences that any human being could ever be a part of, and I am often struck, usually as I'm feeling our baby flip and turn in my belly, at what an honor it is to be allowed to play this kind of part in the process of creation. What more can be said of that than just...Wow.

Hairy Legs and First Dates

First, let me say I am sorry we haven't written in a while. We have a goal of writing at least two times a week, and we are already failing at that! I want to do better, but so many times we think we don't have anything interesting to write about. Today, I just thought, "Well, this might not be interesting, but how would I know?" So here is my story for today:

Niki and I were having dinner the other night and we both remarked that we were eating way too fast (as usual). We have been trying to slow down and have found that when we are talking it takes us much longer to finish our meal. Now, I don't want you to think that we don't talk at the dinner table. We do. Just not in the two minutes our food is front of us. No, we see the arrival of the food as a time act like ravenous monkeys who may never eat again. So, in an effort to eat at a normal human pace, I posed some questions to Niki about some parental decisions we will have to make someday: How old do you think our daughter should be when we start letting her wear make-up? What about shaving her legs? How old should she be when we let her go on her first date? Yikes! We are about eight weeks away from having a little girl actually in the world, so we probably shouldn't even be thinking that far ahead, but it was a fun conversation nonetheless. We both agreed that we had no idea exactly how old that she should be for any of those things and expressed our hope that we could just help her make the best decisions possible. I, of course, decided she doesn't need to go on her first date ever...but I imagine I am going to have to bend on that one! The fun thing about the conversation was dreaming about what the future might hold for our little girl. I wondered if my parents ever had these conversations about me before I was born. And I realized that I am slowly making that transition to thinking like a parent and beginning to understand my own parents even more. There certainly is a lot to wonder about, to think about, and to worry about...but I can't wait for it. I can just see her now putting on her make-up and getting ready for her first date and thinking, "I wonder why dad made me wait until I was 40 to do this?"

The Poop Sheet

Niki and I took our first birthing class last night and it was very interesting to say the least. We learned quite a bit for our first class, and it was exactly the information we were looking to understand - we were ready to learn more about the actual birthing process and get out of all the birthing theory. The major thing that stuck in my head was the teacher constantly repeating, "Labor is one day and one night. You will be pulling an all nighter!" But we also learned quickly from some of the other couples that every birth story is vastly different. Some people had very quick labors...just a matter of hours...while one lady had a 30 hour labor! And her doctor wouldn't let her eat! Yikes! None of you should worry though, our midwives encourage eating and will be working very hard to make sure Niki stays hydrated and keeps a good amount of "fuel" in her body.

Meeting the couples was very fun and I think there was an immediate connection with them because we are all about to share a similar experience. One couple told the group they were hoping that the husband wouldn't be deployed before the baby is born, but they are pretty sure he will be. I had tears in my eyes so quickly. I can't imagine having come this far with Niki without being able to not be there for her during the labor or see my child take her first breath. That would be so hard. Say a quick prayer for them!

The funniest thing that happened in the class was when we were handed The Poop Sheet. This is a sheet full of colored photos of baby poop. It gives very useful information about what we need to be looking for in the first few days after birth - color, consistency, amount, etc. I thought looking at this sheet full of poop was like looking in a crystal ball...I see a lot of it in our future! Maybe I will hang The Poop Sheet on the fridge if Niki will let me!

We had our latest appointment today, and everything looks good. Niki is creating a great home for our daughter. The one thing I didn't like too much about this appointment was that I had to get MY blood drawn. I am not supposed to get stuck with needles! I guess it is a small price to pay. They are going to test my blood type to check its compatibility with Niki's. Supposedly there could be minor problems if our blood is not compatible ...nothing to worry about. Of course, the appointment ended with us hearing the heartbeat which is such a great sound...what a miracle.

New Adventures

Hello! Niki and I are about to have one of the greatest adventures of our lives - we are having a baby in October! Since we want all of you to take the adventure with us, we have decided to start this blog. Starting a blog is an adventure in and of itself since neither of us feel very confident with computers or technology. But our sister-in-law has inspired us to stay connected! She has a blog that we view at least once a week. She lives very far away and recently had a baby herself, so we are truly thankful to be able to keep up with her family through her insights, stories and musings on her blog. We figured our friends and family might appreciate it as well...so we are stealing her idea. So, add this page to your favorites and we will update it as often as possible to make sure you are included in this great adventure!

Is that a Basketball Under There?

About four months ago, I remember Patrick and I taking pictures of my belly, totally amazed. "Look at that bump! It's CRAZY!" Ahhh, yes, I fondly recall that moment as a distant, faded memory...much like my feet (although I have faith they are there). Now I have seen my body grow to proportions I never believed possible. I consciously work to walk without a waddle. And most importantly, I am fully aware that I have two and a half months left of the largest growing phase yet. So this isn't all, folks! It's going to get even better...and bigger! But for now, let's take a trip down memory lane and reminisce about the journey so far...