Just for Tami...

25 1/2 weeks. Shoot, there was another picture that had more of a profile shot. I might have to track that one down tomorrow.

Doula Doula Doula Doula...

Up until probably six months ago, I hadn't heard of a doula. My first introduction, oddly enough, was on Gilmore Girls reruns, where Luke's loopy, hippie sister had a doula for her home birth, and decided to name her daughter Doula. Weird. Sounds too granola for me.

And now, I want one.

I'm not going to try to describe what they do, especially when I can just link you over to this cool website.

I talked to one yesterday over the phone, and she told me about classes that I can go to, to meet and interview doulas. She also told me about Operation Special Delivery, which, when I found it on the internet, it brought tears to my eyes.

I don't think I qualify for free doula services, since Dave is at a pre-deployment training, but I contacted them anyway and explained our situation. We'll see what they say. Otherwise, I'll have to start panhandling for spare change.



*************UPDATE!****************

Before I had even finished this post, I had an email response from Operation Special Delivery that we DO qualify for free doula services. Praise the Lord!

I'm Getting Taller.

I've decided that must be it. Because suddenly, I'm noticing, I can't see my feet as well as I could before. And I spilled something on the floor, bent down to clean it up, and gosh, the floor was further away than it used to be.

(The fact that I can no longer look down and see what color underwear I'm wearing, well, that's a personal problem.)

Or perhaps my nearly 42-inch belly has something to do with it. Just maybe. This week has marked the beginning of the "uncomfortable" stage. It's not too bad at all yet, but I can tell where it's heading. (Wait... not to say that morning sickness was a "comfortable" stage...)

The babe has a distinct preference for kicking my right side. He's particularly active in the evening, and usually snoozes while I'm working.

Just Like a Real Dog

She's a pretty girl. She likes to be outside... in small doses, and on her terms. And then she wants to go back inside. She doesn't want to be wet, she doesn't want to get dirty. But every once in a while...

she forgets...

and she lays in the grass like a real dog.

What Type of Fruit are You?

You Are an Orange

You have a zest for life, especially for anything colorful, wild, or dramatic. You have a unique take on the world, and you're not afraid to be a little funky. You are a bit reserved toward people who don't know you well. You have a thick skin, which can protect you from anything that goes wrong in your life. Once someone does get to know you, they totally get and appreciate you. Your friends see you as a bright person with a refreshing take on life.

What Type of Fruit Are You?

24 Seconds of Fuzzy Cuteness

Squirrel Update: Around Memorial Day, Little Guy's instincts kicked in and he realized that my mom was NOT a mama squirrel. But until then, he was awfully fond of the food & attention he received.

He's Off...

Yesterday Dave got his orders, and after a whirlwind night of packing, dinner out, and pre-training test taking, I finally was able to fall into restless sleep a little after 1:00... and woke up at 3:50 to get ready to take him to the airport. He flew out on a 6:00 flight to Ft. Rucker, AL.

He'll be home from July 25-31, and then he's off to Ft. Gordon, GA, for more training until the deployment.

It's finally here, and it's a little like getting a bad medical diagnosis... The knowing and going through it is scary and sad and awful, but the waiting and wondering was already painful, so now it can just be faced.

Scrapping's out, Crochet is in.

A little over a week ago, I decided I would make a baby sweater to go with the babe's baptismal gown. So I found a simple pattern, and yarn, and set to work. I thought it would be a handy thing to do last weekend while traveling to and from family reunions. Good plan... one problem... I finished it last Thursday, two days BEFORE traveling. Oh well. (And that was with getting the body 2/3rds done, realizing I had made an error waaaay back at the beginning, unraveling it and starting over.) I still need to get buttons, but I've got a few months. I had no idea how fast it was going to go. Maybe I should take orders?!

The Nest

A few weeks ago, I was hit by the nesting bug. In a few short hours, I moved a queen-sized bed from the room upstairs to the room downstairs (Dave helped, thank you very much!), brought all of the parts of the crib upstairs, put it together, and made the bed. (The last bit was done during commercial breaks in the show we were watching downstairs... can you say manic?)

So the room is really coming together. I have a changing table, and a dresser (I still need to sand and repaint that...)

Oh, and since a few had expressed concern, we have a baby swing. I bought it from the same person who I got the changing table from. (and a bouncer and a baby gym, all for $53...) I took it apart because it was taking up too much space, but it looks like this:


So, we're getting there, and I have spent right around $300 total so far. As I get things, I write down what I have, and if it's borrowed, who it goes back to. My sweet husband worries that I will have bought everything the baby will need, and there will be nothing for family to give as gifts. Sweet, silly boy. He underestimates how much STUFF that babies need.

Well, here's the list so far:

baby gates (2)
baby gym
bath tub
bathing suit 3-6 month
bibs (12 early solids size)
blanket
bouncer seat
breast pump
bumper pad
car seat head support
car seat, infant (2 bases)
changing table
cotton hats (5)
cradle
crib
crib mattress
crib sheets (1)
diaper rash ointment
diaper wipes
diapers (size n=29, size 1=173)
exersaucer
disposable spoons (3)
front carrier
gowns (2)
hooded towel (1)
jacket 0-3 month (1)
jacket 6-9 month (2)
long sleeve onesies & snap tees, 0-3 month (5)
long sleeve onesies & snap tees, 3-6 month (7)
long sleeve onesies & snap tees, 6-9 month (5)
long sleeve onesies & snap tees, 9-12 month (1)
long sleeve onesies & snap tees, 12 month (4)
mobile
nursing bras
nursing support pillow
outlet covers
pacifiers (2, avent)
pack & play (2)
pants & overalls, 0-3 month (4)
pants & overalls, 3-6 month (3)
pants & overalls, 6-9 month (6)
pants & overalls, 12 month (2)
quilt (1)
receiving blankets (5)
robe (1)
rompers, 0-3 month (3)
rompers, 3-6 month (2)
rompers, 6-9 month (3)
rompers, 12 month (1)
short sleeve onesies & snap tees, 0-3 month (13)
short sleeve onesies & snap tees, 3-6 month (12)
short sleeve onesies & snap tees, 6-9 month (6)
side snap undershirts, newborn size (6)
short sleeve onesies & snap tees, 12 month (2)
sleep sack (3)
sleepers 0-3 month (14)
sleepers 3-6 month (7)
sleepers 6-9 month (4)
sleepers 9-12 month (1)
sleepers/pjs 12 month (5)
sleeveless onesie 0-3 month (4)
snowsuit, 0-3 month (1)
snowsuit, 3-6 month (1)
socks m (9)
socks xs (8)
sun hats (2)
sweater 0-3 month (1)
sweaters 3-6 month (4)
swing
two-piece outfits 0-3 month (2)
two-piece outfits 3-6 month (3)
two-piece outfits 6-9 month (7)
warm hat

Never a Dull Moment

This...


means that Dave was accepted as a Warrant Officer Candidate. I'm so proud of him. And now, he's going to go for training. Next week. He'll be home again at the end of July, until it's time for the next training, sometime in August. He'll (hopefully!!) make a stop home for a few days when his baby is born, hopefully get some time off at Christmas, then back to training until January-ish. And then, finally, once all of the training is done, he will come home so that he can get ready... to deploy again. (Probably.)

When he finally comes home to us(winter 2010), We're going to keep him!

Stuff ! ? !

In principal, I like the idea of a baby registry. I like being able to say, hey, we do need a stroller, no, we don't need a swing. But then, on the other hand, I certainly don't want to say I WANT STUFF, and I only want this STUFF from this store. Blech.

And which store to choose? Wal-mart has a nice selection that is both online and in-store. And their return policy is friendlier than Target's. But the honest truth is, I don't really like Wal-mart. And Target... they have an amazing way of varying their products from store to store, and few things between in-store and online match up. And the descriptions on their registry? Well, here's an example.

COMPUTER JUST1YR 0-9M 6PK $6.99

Of course, from reading that, you'd naturally understand you were looking for socks, right? Of course. I have no idea how "computer" relates to "socks". But, somehow it must. Anyway, at this time, secretly, we are registered at both Target AND Wal-mart. Because there are quirky things about both places. But if I spread the word, well then, I'll have to cross reference them against each other. Sounds like a pain.

So I should really drop one. But which one....

(Oh, and Babies R Us supposedly has a really good gift box for all new registering parents... So I might register there in double super secret, just for the swag, and then cancel it. We'll see. Babies R Us is not only less convenient, it's generally more expensive.)

And another thing... if you didn't already know the sex of the baby, looking at either registry, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure it out...