A "frigid" Evening at The Birthplace Gala!

Oh friends, if you only knew the fun we had tonight!  If you only knew the cold we experienced.  If you only know how mad I am that I forgot my camera....

So tonight was the big night...our big "Gala" at the hospital, ok I'll stop calling it that.  It wasn't a "Gala" it was actually titled "An Evening at the Birthplace", but it just sounded like it should be a "Gala"??  I really wanted to dress up and come in a fancy outfit!  But I quickly let that go and upon seeing the rest of the people there tonight, it could have been quite embarrassing :)  Good thing my sound judgement took over!  Anyway, moving on, we drug ourselves out tonight, like the CRAZY Minnesotans that we are, and we attended a 2 hour presentation and tour at the hospital with about 100 of our closest friends, well actually they were all strangers.  But, it's amazing the connection you feel when you all look about the same and are thinking the same thing, "Is there anyway to back out of this whole "labor" thing??"  

I said we were crazy because today has been one of those, "I can't believe this is my life" kind of days.  I told you on Tuesday that we were freezing here.  Well as if it could not get any worse than that, it did.  When I left the house this morning to go to work, the thermometer in my car read -22.  I KNOW.  That is not how you want to start your day!  I flipped the radio on to hear that while the temperature was actually around -20 to -24, the wind chill in the twin cities made it feel more like -47!!  What in the world????  WHY DO WE LIVE HERE??  What amazes me about Minnesota is that no matter how cold it gets, life here doesn't stop.  School was still in session, people still went to work, I ran errands, and we were out until 9pm tonight.  How is that possible?  Layers people.  Lots and lots of layers. 

Ok, back to the "Gala"....so we were very encouraged with our time there.  I think all of my questions were answered and we both really enjoyed our tour.  Kind of made everything seem a lot more real.  I did have a few moments of panic wash over me where I was scanning the room for the nearest exit.  Moments when I thought for just a second, "Is it possible to just stay pregnant forever??"  or "Do I actually have to go through with this part?"  But, I quickly took a deep breath and started to breathe again and then I felt a tiny bit better :)  It's really hitting me these days...she has to come out!  I can't wait for that moment, but I'm not too thrilled at how we'll get there.  Or should I say "I'll" get there.  Oh well, I'm at peace with our choice of hospitals and I really felt happy with the labor and delivery nurses we met and heard from.  That's exactly how I was hoping to feel when we left, so I would consider this night a success.  

And, because my questions were answered and your advice was good for me to hear, we are choosing not to do the childbirth classes.  We were kind of leaning that way before I asked you, but upon hearing your encouragement to skip out, we feel better about that decision.  I do think I'll sign us up for a breast feeding class though.  I was interested in that anyway and your comments made me feel like it was good idea.  So, thanks for weighing in and giving us your opinions :)  

Well, I am exhausted from a long day of being in and out of the cold.  I'm watching TV in bed while Travis is finishing some painting in the nursery.  We have some fun things to share with you soon, it's really coming together and I am SOOOO happy about what I've found!!  I hope you have a great Friday tomorrow!  Stay warm!!