Erin Akin Carroll

As I get excited about the arrival of our little boy, I also think about his future. I think about the important things and the not-so-important things. One thing I think a lot about that may seem trivial is what kind of music he’ll listen to and who will be his musical inspiration.

I grew up in a house that was full of music. There was a lot of singing, a lot of piano playing, and a lot of listening to my Dad’s records. My taste in music was formed by my parents and there was always some great old Chicago album or Billy Joel album playing through the house. I realize that The Eagles, Chicago, and Billy Joel aren’t everyone’s favorites, but they have withstood the test of time. I also grew up to love Fleetwood Mac, Elton John, John Mellancamp, The Beatles, Styx, Kansas, Boston and many others!

I’m promise I’m not trying to put down my generation, but it’s disappointing, isn’t it?

I look at the artists today that are making records and winning Grammy awards. I see the lyrics to the songs to the song and, I’m not trying to sound prudish or old-fashioned, but the lyrics are ridiculous. I know my son will listen to it and I can’t protect him from all of that, but is that really who he’s going to grow up listening to?

Is he going to believe that Fergie makes good music because radio stations play her songs all the time? I guess, if anything, she can teach him to spell.

Sure, there’s the occasional catchy song. But are these artists really legends?

My parents gave me the cassette tape for “We Are the World” when I was about three years old. They also recorded the music video and making of the video off MTV for me. I still love to watch it. The thing that I love the most is that there is a choir of 40 recording artists in that song and they are all (mostly) legends. Lionel Richie, Billy Joel, Cyndi Lauper, Tina Turner, Dianna Ross, Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, and the sexiest of them all, Bruce Springsteen!

Who are the musical legends from this decade? And will my son think I’m a nerd because I have great taste in music and make him listen to music from the 60s, 70s, and 80s? Am I the only one who feels let down by current popular music?

I am thrilled to have my own site and my own domain– without our last names in the URL! This whole project has been so much fun and I have so many great ideas. With the birth of the new baby, I wanted a clean start with the blog. I guess nesting has been a strong instict in the house and on the blog.

If you currently subscribe to the old blog and want to stay updated on whatever I feel like writing about, be sure to update your Reader. All you have to do is click on the ‘subscribe’ tab underneath the blog header. I don’t want you to miss a thing! Oh– and update your blog rolls, too!

I can’t take credit for anything on this blog except the content and color choices. Two very great friends, Mr. and Mrs. Mojito of Make Mine a Mojito, were great resources and practically set the entire set up themselves. I owe them lots of mojitos.

I also have to thank the very talented Ashley Brooke Designs for the button and blog header design. The colors make me so happy!

And… I have one more big announcement! I know, I know, I am so full of exciting news today.

I am one of a great group of newlyweds that will be guest blogging every week over at Elizabeth Anne Designs Living. I got to know Ami of EAD back when I did a week of recap posts about our wedding, so I was thrilled when she asked me to be a weekly columnist.

The posts over there will be very similar to what I write about here, but I’ll be focusing on newlywed adventures such as home organization and how to live with a messy man. You can also find recipes and the occasional Baby Boy update.

There’s a cute little button over on the right sidebar that will take you directly to my posts. For now, just click on the button below to see my first post at EAD Living!

• Finish reading Same Kind of Different as Me
• Read The Shack
• Finish reading The Happiest Baby on the Block
• Read Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child
• Clear out my DVR
• Catch up on my Netflix
• Go to Target to get last minute items for hospital bag
• Organize closet and put away most maternity clothes (while realizing that my old clothes won’t fit immediately)
• Stock the pantry and freezer with ingredients for meals
• Make a list of desired meals and organize recipes
• Put together a good list of people to call when the baby arrives
• Begin working on big blog project
• Install car seats
• Get guest bedroom ceiling repaired
• Wait.

Does anyone have any good book suggestions or movie suggestions? It will be a long time before we can go to the movies, so my Netflix queue is in need of a good update.

Oh, and an Arnold Palmer, please!

image via Hostess Blog

We’ve had quite the eventful week at our house. The nursery is coming together thanks to my wonderful parents (no, you can’t see pictures yet) and we finished off our registry at Babies R Us thanks to Todd’s parents. Now the baby boy has everything he needs. Now all we need is the baby boy.

At my last doctor’s appointment at 36 weeks, I had an ultrasound to check out his position. At this point I’m reluctant to say anything about how things are progressing because 1) so many readers and commenters are harsh and judgmental and will tell me to change something about what I’m doing and I just don’t want to read it right now and 2) things could change at any point on their own. I don’t want to report news because I know that by my next appointment things could change.

Our little boy is currently a whopping 7 lbs 9 oz and at my next appointment on Thursday of this week I’m sure they’ll tell me he’s even bigger than that. He is in oblique position and running out of room to turn. I’ve had two ultrasounds in the last two weeks and I’ll have another this Thursday to see what position he’s in. If, at that point, he is still oblique, the doctor wants to schedule a c-section for 38 weeks. So this guy could be here before June.

We’re frantically trying to get everything ready before next Thursday as we prepare for his arrival. We’ll put the finishing touches on the nursery, finally get the car seat and extra car seat base installed, and now we’ve got one more project to tackle. We live in an old house and have had some leak trouble in our guest bedroom the whole time we’ve lived there. After a few repairs but not official diagnoses, the ceiling finally fell in yesterday. Beautiful. This is the room that my parents will be staying in when they come to help me with the baby, so it’s crucial that we get it fixed as soon as possible.

Nothing like good timing, right?

Good news, though: my last day of work before maternity leave is Friday. It’s so nice to have that light at the end of the tunnel. I’m experiencing Braxton Hicks contractions a few times every day and working is next to impossible. Sitting is next to impossible. I’m looking forward to being at home and preparing myself mentally for our lives to change!

I promise to post an update after my appointment on Thursday. Keep us in your prayers as we enter the final few days. Baby’s health is of utmost importance to me.