I'm almost 27 weeks, which Im really excited about. Survival rates seem to jump for preemies after 28 weeks, so even though Im not high-risk for preterm labor I will feel a lot better when I hit that mark.

We're starting to get ready for Kyle to be here- I'm getting the essentials in case he comes early; we have the stroller, car seat, pack n play (with bassinet- he can sleep in there), some bottles (even though Im breastfeeding, just in case), a bunch of clothes, some crib sheets, pacifiers, bath wash/tub insert, a sling, a bumbo (not necessary at all, or even needed for months, but I got a good price on it)... We ordered the crib and dresser, the mobile/lamp, valance is here already, change pad is on its way. I forgot how much stuff babies need! Love all the shopping though


We still havent settled on a middle name, but we're thinking Forrest. I know not everyone will like it but I dont really care- its a middle name, and we like it lol. we like Jacob too, but its just too biblical for me. Its likely either Forrest or Nathan... Im not worrying too much about it.

I've also decided (well, almost 100% sure) that I'm going to switch from an ob/hospital birth to a birthing center. I have a consult with the birthing center and midwife on the 16th, and as long as I feel comfortable with the people and setting Im going to go for it. Im terrified of commiting to a natual birth, but I just dont feel like the traditional hospital birth is whats best for me or Kyle.

anyway- belly pics below- Im 26+5 today

Ok, well I found a crib and dresser that I feel confident will hold up over the years. Its made by Young America (made by Stanley) and its solid maple! Its freaking expensive, but I negotiated with DH that instead of the crib+dresser+change table that I would just get the crib and dresser and this way it still fits into our budget. The dresser is big enough I can put a pad on that and change him there. Kyle's room isnt very big, so I dont mind not cramming in the extra piece of furniture. The change table is only 4 drawers, and Im not prone to changing babies on their tables every time anyway!

im so freaking upset- I went to put together the crib and it has scratches in a bunch of places. The dresser had one or two, but now im saying f-it and returning them both (what the point if of keeping it if they dont match!). Amazon is sending UPS to come and get it... now i have to put all the pieces back in the box and take apart the dresser and get that in the box!

AND now I have to find a new crib/dresser/change table

*sniff*

Ive been looking for weeks for a crib/table/dresser set I want... Im going to settle. If I get what I really want its going to be like 2,000 and since we're getting a van and recovering from the vet bill I just dont want to spend it.

Anyway, this is what I picked- Im going to go and see it in person before I order it but its gotten great reviews from people online. I want to make sure its not a yellow colour (the dresser pic looks more yellow than the crib and table, although its the same set and same colour when you select it).

I decided Bens room looked a little dumpy- I painted it last year but but the colour is a little dark so Im thinking I will do it again (with VOC-free paint...).

I bought him this dresser yesterday (below) should come next week- his current one has bob the builder stickers on it and is literally falling apart! It really looks trashy... Im thinking with this new one I will replace the knobs to match the new curtain rod (brushed nickel)

I also got him these curtains- his old ones are too dark and too long. I tried hemming them last night and I totally screwed them up! Now his room looks worse!! So I found these on sale... I think they will match his room well- his room is ocean theemed I though they were kindof wavy and watery looking. :) I got a matching valance which Im hoping will look really nice compared to what he has now... OH and I of course had to get a new double rod set so I could hang the valance- its brushed nickle which will be brighter than the black one he has now that came with the house.

I could get a photo to post, but if you click on it you can see the colour and zoom in for the pattern. I love the pattern better :)

http://www2.jcpenney.com/jcp/X6E.aspx?ItemID=1502d32&GrpTyp=ENS&catid=0&deptid=0&CmCatId=searchresults


DH was annoyed that I spent the money given we're recovering from the dog being sick and Christmas... I explaied though that a) theyre on clearance and b) I ahd a 20% off code- I wouldnt have paid that price later on.

I just bought this blanket for Kyle- the bedding and pack n play all have brown & blue with either circles or polka dots. I LOVE rag quilts

Cant wait for it to get here. It comes with the pillow too! Had to fight for it... it cost 56$, but its handmade which I love and I couldnt find anything like it elsewhere

24 weeks tomorrow!

Im feeling crazy hormonal- crying or getting upset at the small stuff... I know I wont miss that! Other then that Kyle has been active first thing in the morning and then up again from about 9-12pm reliably- I know its 9pm because he wakes up and does somersaults all of a sudden

I have my GD test on the 20th I think... I have pregnancy brain. I'm also super clumsy- I scraped the side of my car along the mailbox and dented my car to the point that I cant open that door or window (its not terribly deep, but I damaged the guts of the latch). I also dropped my brand new camera (see below) - its a digital rebelx... cracked the display screen. DH is NOT impressed... he did buy me the "the owner is a clutz" insurance on it so the repairs will be covered (smart DH!). I also broke a few mugs/glasses in the last few weeks. I need a new car before Kyle comes, but DH is worried I'll hurt it! I dont blame him.

OH! And I told Ben that Kyle can hear him now, so he puts his mouth on my belly and says "Rawr Im a monster!" :lol:

Not sure why these came out different- I used "auto adjust" for the colour and they came out strangely... oh well.

I bought this too... its hard not to shop when you have a good excuse!! :)

We were all set to have Sarah as a girl, but since baby is part of the sausage club we needed a boys name!

Can I just say that compromising on a name is hard?! I wanted Nathan...DH wouldnt go for it...as with a pile of other names I loved.

I think we've settled on Kyle Jacob... might change the Jacob, but DH is already calling him Kyle! Doesnt take long with DH.

I bought the baby a few caps today, and 10 pairs of socks :) I cleaned out some of the closet and hung up the few outfits and blankets I have for him. I cant wait to do more shopping!!

So DH and I were looking at the bedding- I *almost* bought the other set (turtle bay) but we just thought the cows were so cute.

I bought the bumpter/dust ruffle/quilt/sheet set, should come in "2-6 weeks".





But then I saw the lamp and *had* to get it...







and of course I needed a valance (actually, I needed two because theyre too short for the window...)
And then the mobile is an essential.... so I needed that!




DH was a sweetheart and didnt yell at me for spending almost 400$ on it all- he just said it was coming out of my budget (I have a set baby allowance budget). Love him! :)

Home from the hospital...

So, the last few days have been unfortunately eventful... our dog ate some choclate and was sick because of it, but was only getting worse and worse and they couldnt attribute it to the chocolate anymore. After a lot of tests they figured out that he as Addison's Disease; Addisons affects the adrenal glands and makes it hard/impossible for him to produce the right hormones to physically cope with stress. Eating the chocolate resulted in edema (swelling of the face and extremeties), blood pressure problems, difficulty managing his heart rate, being extremely weak, unable to eat... the list goes on. I seriously thought he was going to die... he was shaking so much from pain alone. Im really thankful they figured out what it is.

The bad news is that he will need medication every day for the rest of his life, but the good news is that a) we can afford it and b) he will live just as long and happily as he would normally if he has his meds.

he is still at the hospital, but Im hoping to bring him home tonight.


Heres a pic from last summer (dont worry he's lost weight since!)

This is the bedding set I picked out for our new baby boy :)