This has been at once both a busy and a relaxing month so far for us. New Year's was celebrated with some of our dearest friends, as we said goodbye to the year that was "just the two of us" and welcomed in the year that would herald the birth of our child.

With two baby showers - the first on New Years Day, held by our friends, and the second on the 10th, held by our families - the beginning of Childbirth Classes, attending a Breastfeeding Class, and really beginning to set up the Baby's Nursery, January has proven to hold a lot in store for us. And yet somehow we've managed to take it easy, not let our schedule get too busy, and enjoy some quality time together. A good slow pace for the last few months before we can hold our little JAM, and start the next - and best - part of our Ever After.

I have no doubt, as we move forward, that we will look back on this year as one of the best in our lives, and we both are eager to live it. We've been fortunate, despite the normal stresses of work and money (dear me, however are we going to afford being parents - and childcare! let's not go into how expensive that is!), to have so many blessings in our lives, in terms of the people that are a part of it: dear and loving friends and family and loved ones. That so many of our friends are eager to take up the mantle of "fairy godparent" to our little JAM makes us feel so very loved, and so very thankful for the wonderful friends in our lives. Our families, too, have been so helpful in all our preparations for being first-time parents, right there supporting and sharing this time with us.

We're both excited and nervous for the new chapter about to begin, but we know we have a lot of love and support behind us. Now we just have to be patient, and wait for JAM to decide its time for his/her arrival.

2/03/2004 - JOSHUA ANTHONY WAS BORN TODAY at 8:25am!! 5 lbs, 15oz. 19 1/4 inches.

01/31/2004 - Our fourth, and final, Childbirth Class was held today... a refresher of all we had learned previously, plus tips on childcare in those first few weeks home with the baby. Classes are done. It really is close now! The Nursery is almost done at this point!

01/28/2004 - 36 Weeks along today! Getting ever so much closer!

01/27/2004 - We had our Infant CPR class tonight. Hopefully we will never need the skills we learned this evening, but now we have them just in case!

01/25/2004 - Our 8 Month Mark! The 9th and final month begins!

01/24/2004 - Our third Childbirth Class was today - the "scary" class, as our instructor put it. Aside from relaxation techniques, we also talked about complications and cesareans. Only one more class remaining!

01/21/2004 - 35 Weeks along today! How quickly time flies... only 5 more weeks to go!

01/19/2004 - We begin weekly doctor's visits starting today - the final stretch is really here. Little JAM will be home and in our arms before we know it!

01/13/2004 - Our Breastfeeding Class was tonight; very encouraging and very informative. Only the basics were covered, but a lot of people's questions were answered, and it was good to know what the hospital staff does to support breastfeeding moms.

01/12/2004 - A surprise doctor's visit today, to ease my mom's fears that I might be in preterm labor (which I was not). But it gave us a chance to record a new heartbeat!

01/10/2004 - My Mom outdid herself with a wonderful surprise Baby Shower today - lots of great stuff for JAM, and an absolutely wonderful time. Thank you so much! Before the shower, we also had our 2nd Childbirth Class, as well as a tour of the maternity ward. I should have taken pictures - but you'll see when the baby comes!

01/04/2004 - The Nursery is beginning to take shape! It's still not remotely done, mind you, but it's beginning to fill with baby stuff... and we now have a crib! My dad (JAM's Grandpa Cook) stopped by today and gifted us with a beautiful crib! I just love it.

01/03/2004- We had our first Childbirth Class today. There's nothing like a little childbirth class to bring home how close this is all getting, that's for sure! Our instructor, Ann, was great - very open and honest about everything. I thought John was going to cry when we practiced breathing techniques while pretending to go through a contraction. Women aren't the only ones who get that pregnancy glow!

1/01/2004 - Welcome to the new year! Our friend, Michelle, hosted our first Baby Shower today, attended by some of our nearest and dearest friends! They got the greatest - and cutest - stuff for our little JAM! We have some pictures up of the big day!

12/31/2004 - We welcomed in the New Year with some of our dearest friends. And today marks 32 weeks! We can hardly wait... 8 weeks, dear one, until we welcome you home.

12/25/2004 - Christmas! It was Alexa's first.