Turns out, I'm having a Basketball.

1 week to go. Peanut is still heads up, booty down - so as long as I don't go into spontaneous labor, and still scheduled to be delivered by c-section. Already showin' it's hinee, just like daddy :) (love you P.C.!)

Happy 4th of July!

It's been a hectic week ( as you can tell with my lack of posting). Happy 4th of July. Hope you enjoyed some time outdoors, some good food, and amazing family and friends.


7 weeks to go. Now the question is - will Peanut debut early, on time, or late?

Decisions, Decisions

9 weeks to go and I feel like Hubs and I are faced with more decisions than ever. The weird part is, you kinda feel like they all hang in the balance. I mean, yes this is our baby bakin' in this ever-expanding oven - but peanut is his/her own person, with quirks and personality already developing. So how do you know you are making the best decision? How do you know that the super-cool parent-friendly item you just had to have was worth the million dollars you spent on it? Peanut may not even like the dang thing.

Decisions, Decisions.

But, one thing is for sure right now. We are going to give cloth diapering a go. I am really pumped about it and Hubs is still a skeptical, but supportive (which is all that I require). After reading some reviews, I believe we are going to buy the "Try It Out" kit for this cool diaper system. But I also plan to pick up a few of the chinese prefolds with this cover.

I was back and forth about it, but when the potential (please-have-an-open-spot-in-January) daycare that we chose said they would accomodate my diapering preferences I said Woo-Hoo! It is a sign. (Even though I may buy a few all-in-ones to make it easier for them so they continue to accomodate me, should this cloth thing work out.)

No - I am not super granola. But I feel like this is something good I can do for my child - and my wallet. So we will give it a go. At least until I go back to work. If we don't like it, we will still probably come out even (or cheaper) in the long run.

Now - what to name the child?

Decisions, Decisions.

I don't know nothing 'bout birthin' no babies...

This weekend Hubs and I took some time out from the home renovation to take a baby birthing class. It was super informational and if nothing else got us talking seriously about major decisions (epidurals, coaching, etc). A lot to take in a digest and prepare my body for. It also made us realize how everyone will have a different experience and to take all advice with a respectful grain of salt. In 10 more weeks, we should know what our personal birth experience will be like. For now... I grow on....



And it was SUPER special, because I got to sit through my official birthing class with one functioning nostril. Yeah, the class where we're all supposed to breathe together and practice helpful positions for early labor. With one nostril.

Why?

Because I of all people developed a "granuloma of pregnancy" in my left nostril. No big deal at first, just a tissue growth in my left nostril. Then it continually got bigger... til I called the Ear-nose-throat doc (since hubs was worried). Two days later I sneezed the sucker out. Or so I thought as I sat on the bathroom floor bleeding like a stuck pig with tampon in nose.

The dang thing grew back!!! Yeah. Sucks for me. And this time it was back with a vengeance. thank you pregnant body. So bad to the point where I couldn't ignore it because it had blocked my airway.

So I went back to ENT - who promptly removed it in an "as-pleasant-as-removing-huge-mass-from your-fat-pregnant-nose" fashion he could muster. But, for those of you who aren't aware - pregnancy causes higher blood volumes so we couldn't get it to stop bleeding (again). And ENT doc packed he nostril and scheduled me for a packing removal on Monday morning.

Hence , sitting through my first child's birthing class trying not to birth this gauze from my nose. And getting weird looks from all the pregnant chicks with cute, symmetrical nostril. And Hubs laughing with me as I struggle through the breathing stuff - because let's face it - sometimes life is just funny. And we have to laugh to keep from freaking the heck out.

Pregnancy and Weddings

If anyone ever asks you to be a bridesmaid and you find out your pregnant - pay the money to have the dress altered into a maternity fashion. Seriously.

Case-in-point. I head to west GA this past weekend for a friend's wedding. Over the last 2 weeks an alterations lady took my oversized dress and altered the bust to make it look appropriate. However, with the unpredictable nature of a growing belly - we decided not to alter the waistline (which had a big sash around it) and just pull it up over my girth and tuck in the excess for the few hours I would have it on.

Sounded like it would save time and money. Right up my alley. Perfect. Right? ummmm... that would be a big. fat. negative.

I shimmied into the dress with 10 minutes to go til pictures. Another bridesmaid helped me tuck and smooth a dress that was bound to look ridiculous on me (but I would do anything for the bride, so whatev - it's her wedding). 5 minutes til we walk out the bridal parlor and the entire zipper busts. Top to-freakin-bottom.

After a minor - OMG I can't believe I just busted this dress and how am I ever going to be a bridesmaid like this? - the Mother-of-the-bride and Wedding-Coordinator laid me on the couch and SEWED ME INTO THE DRESS. With the biggest, fattest, frankenstein-esque stitches you have ever seen. But that was all we could do to get the dress to hold together.

I was mortified. Then found it quite funny. Made it to the pics 20 minutes late - and held my arm by my side while I watched a friend become a wife. A beautiful, happy occasion. And $200 dress in the trash.

Maybe I should join this flickr pool. There's a website too.

24 week update. Looky there!

One weekend of putting our noses to the grindstone and the nursery is so close to being done! I took the weekend to start/finish the curtains I had dreamed up.... and it was SO worth not buying something I was just "satisified" with. I love the way the turned out and they were SUPER easy. Everything is coming along !This is the bumper I made with the extra quilt kit. Super happy with it too. A few minor adjustments one night this week and it will be completely functional (tied on to size, ready to protect babies head., a slight SIDS hazzard.... you know, everything they scare you about).
Close up of the curtains. Saw the ribbon ties in a magazine and HAD to copy it. Also, really easy and a nice detail that adds some feminine touch to my neutral color choices. I am a girl, decorating a room... regardless of the child's gender - Mother's touch has to be in there some where :)

And the whole piece-de-resistance. Yes, there is stuff packed into the crib... to keep out of reach of little Allie and her new chewing habit. Yup, she chewed a black ink pen in the middle of the floor this week. In this room. I was gonna buy a little rug anyway, now it may be a necessity if the rubbing alcohol trick doesn't work tomorrow. Sigh. Grunt.

And now we are 24 weeks! Well, these belly pics were taken during week 23, but you get the idea. I'm getting bigger, as most pregnant women do. I've had 2 docs tell me that this baby could very well be a big one. Great. And the masses comment on how low Peanut is sitting. Trust me, I'm aware. Everything is getting so fun (besides the whole registering thing - which is a different blog entry for a different day), watching Peanut move in there, feeling the little kicks and punches. 16 weeks to go til we meet the little one! (And yes, these are small, because I'm looking kinda gross from house cleaning in the afternoon. Yeah for that. Thought I would spare you the scariness that these could be. Click at your own risk).

How can one little Peanut cause so much trouble?

Well... not trouble, but good LORD! Hubs and I are getting ready to go register one weekend soon - but I keep putting it off.

(Oh, I dunno why... maybe becuase when I registered for my wedding 50% of the shower guests didn't bother to reference it and I got lots of stuff that other people wanted to buy and not what I had taken the time to pick out. I appreciate the gift, but was there thought? I dunno, ask the pink and purple towels that got sent back. )

Anywho... it seems different this time. Mothers know what to get, what has worked for them, and what they item they would pass on if given the chance. I appreciate those gifts - becuase I don't know what is marketing crap and what is a worthwhile purchase, yet. Being pregnant brings advice from all corners, and yeah, sometimes it's exhausting, but alot of times is a good "heads up." Especially for product purchases.

Enter - the online customer review. Gosh Dangit! I thought I had chosen my carseat/infant carrier until last night. And I read two bad reviews (out of hundreds of good ones). And now I think the two bad reviews will happen to me (even though they probably won't). Now it's stressing me. Carseatdata.org says that a particular car seat will be the best fit for my vehicle. But my kid could end up being the sweaty, chemical-smelly one that mother told me about in her customer review. UGH!

Ok, really.. I'll probably ignore that lady, but whatev.... still throws me for a loop. Peanut, how can you already make me overthink every little thing? (maybe becuase I am hoping to use this one big purchase for as many kids as possible, so yeah.. it's kind of a big decision. )
And Please don't be sweaty (in August, yeah right). And carseat manufacturer - take the chemicals out of that one lady's fabric so I can go on with my purchase. And hubs, thanks for being the voice of reason.

(New room pics to post soon! Paint done- check. Closet door hung - check. Deep clean - well, I'll get to it soon as the dust settles! Just gotta sew some curtains. And Wah-lah! Baby room is ready!)

For the girls...

In the age of technology and instant communication it's not really that difficult to keep in touch with old friends. It is, however, extremely difficult to actually see each other. Hubs and I are so excited to be welcoming our first child at the end of the summer, and want to be able to share this with those we love.

So this one is for the girls (and guys, but mostly girls). They have been asking how big I am, how I look, can I feel the baby, what's the nursery look like.... and the list goes on. Ladies, here we are in all our glory. We miss you and can't wait to see you all.

Love Lauren and Hubs

Getting the crib together. Handy hubs! :)All finished! I'm a great supervisor!

Just found out. It's week 5. Still very surreal.
Today, Week 20. Halfway! I can feel Peanut all the time. Hubs felt movement for the first time on Sunday. It is getting to be so much more real, scary , exciting, magical, you name it we have felt it.


And here's PEANUT! It's our affectionate name for the little one until it gets here. We plan on having 2 names per gender picked out by Peanut's arrival. These are two profile pictures. You can click on them to make them bigger.

How long is a light year?

In a post during Christmas I mentioned "when I have my own kids, which is several light years away."

Turns out a light year comes about approximately one Friday after you type something like that. Who knew!


It's super-official.... We are EXPECTING!