nursery and such

The nursery is now painted and pretty much empty except for little pal's stuff. We're moving some dressers in on Saturday so I'll post pictures after that.

This past week or so has been interesting....I got the flu or something similar, and stayed home from work on Tuesday and Wednesday last week, and ended up going home early on Friday as well because I was still exhausted. We had a prenatal appointment on Wednesday night and I found out that I'm somewhat anemic, so that could have contributed to the run-down feeling. Babies start to store iron for later use during the last part of the pregnancy, so my intake needs to increase to keep up with the demand. I'm now taking a supplement to boost my iron levels, as well as just watching what I eat a little more.

Tim and I have been looking into refinancing our mortgage with a FHA rehab loan, to give us money to finish the basement and add a bathroom. We met with Michelle's dad tonight to look at design plans and get a cost estimate. So far everything is looking good....fingers crossed that it all works out as planned. It will be so nice if we are able to follow through on it! I think it will add a lot of resale potential as well, having a second full bathroom. The work would end up getting completed during November/December....right when little pal is due to make his appearance. So things will be a little hectic over here, but well worth it in the end.

We are still exploring daycare options. Most likely we will end up at Paige's Playhouse, which is across the street from my job so would be super convenient. However, an in-home provider could potentially offer us a better price, so I am looking into those as well. We found one woman who is nationally certified (which is rare), and pretty close to my work. She is full at the moment, but put me on a waitlist. We are first on the list, so hopefully something will open up before February. Otherwise, Paige's looks nice, just not as flexible and cost-effective as an individual might be.

Labor Day

(The holiday, that is)

This holiday weekend is always very busy for Tim and I. His dad's birthday is the 4th, and new nephew Sammy's birthday is the 6th. Also a close friend has a birthday right in between on the 5th. This year, Sammy is turning 1 and I was in charge of the cakes...a personal sized one for Sammy, and a 12x18 sheet cake for the guests.

I don't think I'm cut out to be a cake decorator, or at least not a pregnant one. It was so tiring working in the kitchen all day getting these cakes ready. My back hurts, my shoulders hurt, and I was so hot from being so close to the oven for so long. I think they turned out nice, but in the future I will probably stick to other types of cakes, or at the very least not such large decorated ones.

Little pal is moving around a ton now. Yesterday I actually felt him move in multiple places at once, so he must be getting pretty big. I can often feel what I think is his butt pushed right up under my rib cage. Especially when I've had a big meal....because the only thing worse than feeling really really full, is feeling really really full and having a baby pushing on your stomach.

Baby shower is now scheduled....October 25th (a Sunday) at 2 o'clock. Aunt Jamie has generously offered to host it at her house, so that we can have one giant shower instead of several smaller ones. So watch for your invitations in the mail in the next few weeks!

week 26

This week has been full of firsts...

my first pair of full-panel capris, because none of my other ones fit right anymore (and now, finally, a pair of full-panel jeans due to Old Navy's $19 jeans sale yesterday)

Tim felt the baby kick for the first time yesterday! Isaac always seems to do the most kicking when I'm at work and Tim isn't around, so I'm glad he finally got to experience it.

Today was the first time I felt like I will end up needing one of those devices that help old people put their socks on. As evidenced by the fact that I attempted to put on socks and tennis shoes, and almost fell off the bed because my belly kept getting in the way. LOL.

This weekend also marks the first time that we can easily walk in and out of the nursery, since Bob came and helped Timmy move the dresser and hutch back to Aunt Jamie's storage unit. (Thanks Bob!). I spent several hours in there last night sorting through everything, and moving out things that are leftover from the room's days as Tim's office. I also set up our papasan rocker--which I'm sitting in right now, and its quite comfy. It feels nice to be able to move around in here. Next step, painting.

And, long overdue I know, progress pics....(and yes, I really am only 6 months pregnant. Everyone keeps telling me I look further along than that. And no, its not twins. I'm positive.)

Thought for the day

You are worried about seeing him spend his early years in doing nothing. What! Is it nothing to be happy? Nothing to skip, play, and run around all day long? Never in his life will he be so busy again.

--- Jean-Jacques Rosseau

Just for Kicks

Not much to say today except that I finally felt what was definitely a kick! Actually, quite a few of them. Once he got my attention with the first one, he kept kicking sporadically for an hour or so.

I came home around 6 today to what I thought was a Tim-less house. Payton's leash was here, and she didn't come to the door, so I assumed she was upstairs in her crate. I spent 15 minutes or so checking emails before I went to go retrieve her. Suddenly, I heard pup footsteps. It turns out that Tim and Payton had been sleeping on our bed--both so soundly that they didn't hear me come in. I went in and lay down with them to say hello, and next thing I know it was 8pm. So I guess we were all pretty sleepy. Now its time for bed again...

week 24

We had an appointment with the midwives last night, and little pal and I are doing well. His heart rate was 140, which is the low end of normal. I've gained about 20 lbs now, and its pretty much all belly. I'll have Tim take some pictures this weekend to post here.

We went over my earlier bloodwork from the OB's office, and I guess I have O+ blood, which I never knew. Audra helped Tim check his blood type since he didn't already know, and he is A+, so we won't have to worry about rh incompatibility. Little pal does have a slightly higher risk of jaundice though, due to ABO incompatibility. They recommended that we get a UV lamp before he arrives so that if he is jaundiced he can spend some time under it and recover faster.

Otherwise, things are going smoothly. It would be pretty unexpected for little pal to come prematurely. So far, I'm guessing that he will be on time or slightly late, so I don't forsee anything developing that would prevent us from having the homebirth.

Did you know...

there is a university called Pittsburg State, in Kansas? One of the many things learned while working the library reference desk on a Sunday afternoon.

This is the last time I'll be working a Sunday, for at least 2 years. Closing on Sundays was one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce our costs due to the new state budget cuts. Although I'm certainly not happy about all the cost-cutting measures we'll have to do in order to stay afloat, I can't say I'm too disappointed that I won't be working Sundays anymore. The timing is great, since it normalizes my schedule a bit, and I'll need to get into as much of a routine as possible once little pal arrives.

I still haven't felt any distinct kicks, at least not while I'm sitting still and can identify them as such. It seems like he might be kicking when I'm moving around, and then it stops when I'm still. Its like we're playing a game of shadow. Even though many people are feeling kicks by now, I know several people who didn't feel any until 25 weeks or more, so no worries here.