We just got home from the most incredible Babymoon vacation…filled with delicious food, indulgent massages, and plenty of sleep. I need to upload all the pictures — but we’ll be sending out that special post soon.

In other news: We have a homework assignment for grandparents-to-be, aunts- and uncles-to-be, and any other folks who will be spending quality time with Baby Eberle. Our OB (and the CDC) recommends families and caregivers of new infants get vaccinated with Tdap at least two weeks before coming in contact with a baby. The important part here is the pertussis (Whooping Cough) component. Whooping Cough is highly contagious and severely dangerous for new little ones. Our doc tells us that you can ask for Tdap at any Minute Clinic, or during your regular doctor visit, and we’d be very, very grateful for you taking the time to get vaccinated!

In the meantime…

Here’s how we’re doing at Week 28:

Baby’s size: Averaging 15 inches and 2.5 pounds…but third trimester means Baby’s weight will start shooting up!

What’s keeping Baby busy: Blinking his or her sweet little eyelids (hopefully with lashes like Daddy’s!) and gaining layers of fat. Come on, chubby cheeks, we can’t wait to kiss you!

What’s keeping Mom and Dad busy: Now that May is here, we’re in full-blown nursery mode. My goal is to wrap things up by June 1 — but I’d also love to have a little more in place in time for our maternity pictures May 16th. We also start our baby classes at the hospital this week! First up: Preparing to Parent, where we’ll be learning about bonding, sleep, and scheduling.

Cravings: Avocados, greek yogurt, Earth Fare peanut butter, and hard-boiled eggs.

Struggles: Although I have no problem falling asleep, I’ve been waking up in the night with sudden bouts of energy. Some of my mommy friends say that this is God’s sense of irony — giving us early doses of the adrenaline that we’ll eventually need for labor/delivery/bringing baby home. Still, very few complaints otherwise.

Joys: We’ve been absolutely humbled by the generosity of friends and family who are offering to host showers for Baby Eberle. This little one is loved by so many already…and we feel incredibly blessed.

Also, our precious friends Ashley and Bryan Leath gifted us with a signed copy of “Great with Child” by Beth Ann Fennelly, which I devoured on our Babymoon this weekend. I laughed, I cried, and I’m already ready to read it again. This precious book is written as a series of letters — some funny, some touching, all incredibly honest — about the transformation of motherhood.

One of the sweetest passages I read said something along the lines of “you only get to have a one-day-old baby for one day,” as it goes on to talk about how little ones grow right before your eyes. What a beautiful reminder to treasure each moment.

Thank you, Aunt Ash and Uncle Bry!