28 weeks

28 weeks / 7 months pregnant!  I had a doctors appointment this morning.  I had to drink this fruit punch mixture one hour before my appointment.  I was thinking it wouldn't taste so bad, I am usually a fan of sugary stuff.  This stuff was... disgusting.  It was the consistency that killed me.  I gagged after every drink.  I am glad I passed the glucose screen so I don't have to do it again.  From now on I go to the doctor every two weeks.  Yikes!  This process is really starting to speed up.  I have another work baby shower on Thursday and a Sioux City shower in a couple weeks. 

 

Sista-sista weekend in Minneapolis!!!  It was so nice to get out of town and relax.  Brooke always has plenty of fun activities planned for me.  I got into town Saturday around 10:30am (I got up and left home before it was even light out because I was so excited).  Mike had school stuff to do so he stayed home.  Darrell stayed home with his Dad - I feel bad leaving him at my sister's house all day while we bum around.  Other then our honeymoon, I haven't been away from D for more than a night.  I came home to find Darrell's food dish empty and water dish bone dry.  I hope Mike remembers to feed our child when I'm gone...  Anyway, back to the activities.  Saturday: Mall of America, dog park, UFC fight (we're obsessed with GSP - don't know who he is?  MISSING OUT!),  Sunday: water workout at Brooke's gym, back to Mall of America, bingo, home cooked meal.  I drove home on Monday - stopped at the outlet mall and was disappointed.  It should be mandatory that stores in outlet malls are truly "outlets."  I did get baby girl two pairs of pink tights so I guess the stop was successful.  It was a great weekend.  I love hanging out with my sister!

Bingo: We LOVE bingo.  We went to a real bingo place, not a church basement.  It is very serious.  We didn't know that the place (including the concession stand) only takes cash, and Brooke used her last dollars to buy the bingo tickets.  All we could do is sit there and think about how thirsty we were, and watch all the other people eat popcorn.  We kept saying - We need to win some money!  Guess what?  I WON!   My prize: $10 concession stand gift certificate and a free pass for next time.  YES!  It was divine intervention.  The prize for all the other games was $99 but I didn't care... that concession stand money was worth a million dollars to me at the time.  We spent the whole thing.  Huge Pepsi, popcorn, lots of candy.  It was fantastic. 

Frustrated

Tonight I am frustrated about two things:

#1  Went to Sioux City this weekend to visit my parents.  Wanted to pick up the changing table from my grandma's house.  (My uncle built it for my Mom when my brother/sister/and I were babies.  I plan to refinish it, rub on a little wood oil, spruce it up a bit, use it for my babies).  Anyways, it wouldn't fit in my car.  Seriously.  I bought a "family car" with a "family hatchback" so I could transport "family items" like changing tables.  Ugh.  I have some free time this week and I was going to work on the wood, put the shelf liner on, get the baskets in it and fill 'em up with all the stuff that is sitting around the baby's room.  But, no.  Thought of strapping it onto the top of my car Griswold-style...  So my new plan is to wait for someone with a larger vehicle to make a trip westward, and maybe the changing table will come with them.  I'm about ready to say "screw you changing table.  I was going to fix you up and make you new again but now you can rot for all I care."

#2  We have over $300 in Younkers gift cards from our wedding almost three years ago.  (FYI - they never expire or depreciate).  I want to use the gift cards on items for our home, since they were wedding gifts.  We basically got everything from our registry for the wedding, so I've been hanging on to the gift cards for a rainy day.  Or hell, just a day when I need them.  Like now.  Of course Younkers doesn't have anything for babies except clothes.  Why would they?  Then I could've gotten my bedding or furniture or something for free.  Or, why doesn't Younkers sell cameras?  Because we *lost our camera last month.  And we're having a baby that will be adorable and need to be photographed.  Wait - Younkers does sell cameras!  Online!  ...............  That's what I was trying to buy today.  The cameras are about $20 more at Younkers than what you would pay at another store.  But I thought - who cares?  The camera will essentially be free...  Well guess what... you can't use gift cards online.  Seriously.  Seriously?  I finally found something to blow a hundred dollars on and now I can't use my gift card?  I guess I'll just save the gift cards until eighteen years from now when baby girl needs a prom dress.

*When we moved our bedroom from upstairs to the main floor we "lost" our camera.  Mike swears he has looked in every drawer and behind every nook and cranny.  I know it's around here somewhere.  Or it got thrown away by accident.

New this week...

-Leg cramps:  ouch!  I've been getting cramps in my calves during the night.  They only last for about 30 seconds but they hurt so bad!  I have been stretching my legs and doing lots of walking so I hope the cramps stay away.

-Heart burn:  Totally jinxed myself.  I was telling a coworker last week about how I've only had heart burn one time in my life.  That night... I had heart burn.  Granted, I did have lasagna for lunch and supper that day, but still.  I usually never get heart burn.  I had it again today a little bit, after a hot fudge sundae from DQ.  Tums have been added to my purse. 

-My pregnancy books say my uterus is currently the size of a soccer ball. 

-I bought the cutest baby book today.

-I think I finally found curtains for the baby's room.  My mom found them online.  Thank God!  It was stressing me out.  I've been feeling really anxious lately about getting the baby's room finished.  Her closet is stocked but that's about it!  I will be able to get the changing table from my parent's house in a couple weeks when we go for a visit.  Painting will happen in May.  Today I bought art work for the walls.  I guess it's all coming together, but I just wish it was done!

-Mike is ill tonight.  He has a headache and a fever.  He has been quarantined in our bedroom.  I think I might sleep on the couch or the guest room tonight to stay away from the germs.  He tells me tonight that he never got his flu/H1N1 shot.  Tisk tisk!

-Tomorrow is the anniversary of our first date.  Eight years ago!  We're not doing much to celebrate.  I work until 7pm and Mike is busy with school.  When we got married he said we couldn't celebrate "other anniversaries" anymore... like our first date, engagement, etc.  Ha!  He just can't remember all the dates.  I wish we could drive to Iowa City tomorrow and eat at the Brown Bottle like we did on our first date.

6 months pregnant!

24 weeks today!  It's sounds more exciting when I say 6 months so I'll go with that.  Last Friday I had three patients ask me about my baby.  I was sort of shocked.  I wanted to mess with them and say, "what baby?"  At times I feel like I might topple forward.  I can't believe this belly is still growing... that my skin can stretch much further. 

I've been working on the baby's room this weekend.  I bought pink and cream baskets for the changing table.  I found this adorable light pink shag rug at Target (Mike wouldn't let me get the bright pink or the purple - "It's too wild.).  I am brainstorming with my sister-in-law for painting ideas.  She is coming for a weekend in May to help me paint.  I'm still on the hunt for cute artwork.  I find myself repeatedly saying/thinking, "That's not cute enough."  I am very picky when it comes to this baby's furnishings.

Still haven't been to one stinkin fish fry.  I've been working until 8pm on Fridays so it doesn't work out. 

First purchase

OH MY GOSH.  I AM SO EXCITED.
Someone purchased something from my baby registry.  I am obsessed with this registry, like I was my wedding registry.  I look at it at least once a day.  I analyze it to see if I have everything on there that baby girl will need.  Tonight I was so surprised to see that something was purchased!  I wonder who it was...  Can't wait to find out!!!

Lent

The first week of Lent is already over and I still haven't figured out what I'm going to give up.  I usually give up pop, but I'm trying to stick with caffeine-free pop so that's no fun.  Mike wants me to give up buying baby clothes.  Seriously?  Baby girl clothes are so cute!  I haven't bought any "clothes" in a couple weeks.  I say "clothes" because I did break down and buy the most adorable socks at Kohl's.  I really do need to wait until after my baby showers to see what kind of loot I get.  I think my Mom bought enough outfits to supply baby girl with her first year's wardrobe.  I'm also getting lots of clothes from my friends who have had babies.  On my BabiesRUs registry there's section where I can write a comment.  Do you think it's rude or inappropriate to say "We already have lots of clothes"  ???  I don't.  I mean, I know it's really fun to buy baby clothes, but what we really need are the essentials.  Opinions please.

I've been trying to learn to love my treadmill.  I really want to stay active during my pregnancy.  I've read that women who exercise have easier labors, etc.  I've been "speed walking" for about 20 minutes a day, whenever I can.  I want to do prenatal yoga and swim class at the YMCA but it hasn't fit into my schedule so far.  My goal is gain all my weight in my belly and boobs (haha) and not in my legs. 

It's been exciting to feel the baby move around.  She gets really wild after I eat something yummy - especially chocolate chip bagels from Panera.  She also is active when I'm laying on my side and Darrell is curled up next to my belly.  I think she's trying to pet her big brother.  Or kick him out of bed, either one.  I am getting so anxious for my maternity "vacation."  It will be awesome to have the whole summer off.  The only time I've really taken vacation from my job in the past four years was for our honeymoon.  Otherwise, if I go out of town then I work extra that week to make up the difference.  I wouldn't consider myself a "workaholic" but more like a "SAVEacholic."  I love saving money.  My husband loves spending money so we're a good match.  Haha. 

Craving this week: CC bagels from panera, applesauce - seriously, I could win an applesauce eating contest, chocolate soft serve with butterscotch chips

No belly pic this week because we lost our camera.  Such a rotten time to lose a camera.  We really need to buy one before baby comes.

Registered

We are officially registered at Babies R Us.  Baby girl has all her wants/needs picked out.  You can stalk my registry by going to www.babiesrus.com and searching for my name under "Baby Registry."  It was so overwhelming to pick out items I barely know the purpose of.  How many bibs does a baby need?  How many bottles?  Which diapers are the best?  I've learned that every Mom I ask will say a different answer.  I don't do well with registries because I'm a planner - and I just want to go out and buy everything myself so I can have it NOW.  If it was up to me, I'd have the nursery finished by now.  Since the ultrasound the days have been dragging.............  I really enjoy being pregnant and the changes are fun but... I am so anxious to get the ball rolling.  I have a work baby shower coming up in March and my sister & sister-in-law are having a shower for me in April so that should be exciting. 

I have been obsessed with the Olympics.  It is so entertaining.  Mike got me a pair of the red mittens that the olympians are wearing.  I wonder what I could get a gold medal in?  Shaun White stalking?