Hurtling Toward the Son

I suggested there'd be at least one more post before this baby comes, and it looks like it will be exactly one. To sustain you all until after the eagle has landed, the TorTales Pre-Op Special includes baby shower photos and the latest doings of the soon-to-be Big Brother. (I'm still hunting for just the right Orwellian t-shirt for him.)

Mom and Christina did so much for the shower, from creating the beautiful ocean-themed decor to planning party activities to watching Tor while I wrote thank-you notes. I am so grateful to have them both around for the first week of Baby Brother's life, and Christina after that. Just imagine if we were having this baby in England! 

The diaper cake is now on display at home,
waiting to be called into action and tempting Tor daily

"Throw me a line before this ice melts!"

I gathered these were exactly as hard to make as they appeared to be--but totally worth it, right, guys? Guys?

Christina, Mormor, and the bump of the hour

Plus Mom and Aunt Heather, who generously hosted

Tea cakes and sweet treats

Perhaps the most adorable food item ever

We are fam-i-ly!

Dos abuelas

Aunt Peggy was uncannily close to exact in the guess-the-belly-circumference game

Thought he was a little young to drop the stinkeye in family portraits

Enjoying some hand-me-down books courtesy of Christina and Caleb

Ready with the spoon

Helping Oma with her birthday candles

Smurf antics

Headed to work, where I try to avoid giving them the side view 

Using up some old acrylic paint I found

Pollock style

"Finis!"

Flying some puzzle pieces around

"...and that's why it's dark where we are now."

Lambapalooza 2013

I hardly know what to expect from Tor with the tremendous life change we're about to lay on him, but at least he's becoming ever more able to articulate how he feels. I mentioned to Lars today that I'm much more excited to be having a baby now than I would have been when Tor had just turned two. But talk to me in a week and see where I'm at with that sentiment. We'll try to post a photo from the hospital here ASAP!