Rule Number 1 - My Baby Must Have List

(For all my non-pregnant, non-parent readers I promise I will have a no kids allowed post coming up soon! But for today one last all about baby post....)

For all my pregnant friends I have decided to compile a list of the top 10 things/tips I could not have made it without.... or that just helped make things easier, to say the least.

I still make no claims to be a "baby expert" but I am a little wiser then I was this time last year and I really wish that with all the useless things people tell you that someone would have told me just how invaluable the items on this list would be. (I will try to include links when possible.)

So without further ado. 

1. Bassinet

If you listen to nothing else I say listen to this. Invest in a bassinet! Do not let baby sleep with you and your spouse. I REPEAT do not let baby sleep with you and your spouse. 

Once baby becomes accustomed to sleeping with you they will want to sleep with you from now on. Which may be sweet when they are little but not so much when they are 5 and you and the hubs haven't had a night in bed alone in 5 years. I say this because I have two sets of friends who have made the mistake and warned me. 

Now I know bassinets aren't cheap but I'll give some tips on that shortly. I was lucky enough to have a good friend who had one she wanted out of her house that I was able to purchase pretty cheap. Maddie slept in this next to mine and Marine's bed till she was almost 6 months. It was nice cause she was right there next to the bed and we could keep an eye on her yet we still had our own space. 

2.  Sound Machine and Heating Pad (work hand in hand)

The first few weeks in my house there was very little sleep going on at night. When it got to the point that Marine and I were like Zombies I started asking friends for any tips or advice on how to help Maddie sleep. 

My mom said when I was a baby she would place a heating pad under the sheet in my bassinet with a blanket then over it and turn it on low for about 10 minutes before she would put me in it. Babies like warmth, they are used to being warm next mom or dad. The heating pad will warm the bassinet up so that you aren't laying baby down in a cold bed. 

This tip seemed to help. **Safety note - never put baby in there while heating pad is on. Always turn off pad and remove it before placing baby in bassinet.**

A friend suggested something that played "the heartbeat noise." The what? I had no clue what she was talking about at first! But then she explained and it made sense. For 9 months baby has been used to your warmth and hearing your heart beat. Hearing your heart beat makes baby relax and know she is safe. Luckily my Fairy Godmother had given us the Homedics Sound Spa as a shower gift... and guess what it played the heartbeat noise. 

Combine this little jewel and the heating pad and you my friend have just found yourself a few hours of peaceful sleep. 

Maddie is now almost a year old and we still use this machine daily. Not only does it play other music but it also has a projector. And my favorite part is that it has a timer! So during those growth spurts when Maddie would wake up for a nighttime feeding I could put her back in bed, turn it on, hit the timer and go back to bed myself knowing that in 30 minutes I would no longer hear the music coming from the monitor.

3. Diaper Champ

When registering at Babies R Us the helpful associate told me a piece of advice that would save Marine and I quite a bit of money over time. The associate advised to go with the Diaper Champ over the highly popular Diaper Gene. Why? Because with the Diaper Gene you have to buy special bag refil kits which range between $15 and $20. But with the Diaper Champ there are no refills to buy. Just use normal trash bags. 

Needless to say this is one thing you will use multiple times a day and it does help reduce the smell. And it's nice to not have to buy any special refills for it!

4. Join a Whole Sale Club (BJ's, Sam's, Costco, ect.)

Bite the bullet and pay the cost to join a whole sale membership. I personally use BJ's and they have saved us quite a bit when it comes to diapers. Cause let me tell you diapering a small baby can cost a fortune. BJ's is great though cause you buy in bulk and they also accept coupons. Plus they send out a coupon book each month that normally has coupons in it for diapers. This month for example there is a coupon for $5 off Pampers. Maddie is in size 4 diapers now which I think the last I bought was $41.99 for a box of 160... so $5 off is a big help! I also buy Similac Formula from BJ's and it is much cheaper then any of my local stores such as Walmart, CVS, or Ingles. 

Another great thing to buy here is the special baby washing detergent you are supposed to use. I paid about $30 last year for a large jug of it. I wash approximatly 1 large load a week of Maddie's clothes - sometimes more - and this one jug has lasted a year and is still going. (Side Note I still wash my and Marine's clothes in our nomal detergent and just use this for Maddie's things).

5. Pampers Swaddlers or Huggies Snugglers

Before having Maddie I knew nothing about diapers. I was naive to think that all diapers are created equal. Thank god for nurses (in more ways then one) and especially thank goodness for maternity ward nurses who give you knowledge on how to care for that little bundle of joy. My lovely nurses introduced me to Pampers Swaddlers the ultimiate for the baby dummy. These diapers are wonderful for any first time parent in that they have a nice yellow line that turns blue when the diaper is wet. 

Worry about how to tell when baby has a wet diaper? Check that worry off the list! Invest in these diapers and will always let you know. These are also convenient when out about and you need to do a quick check to see if baby is wet. Good news they do offer these up to size 3 at BJ's.

6. Sophie The Giraffe

When the teething stage hits you will do anything to help baby! Is teething really that bad you ask? For me.... I consider it one of the rings of h-e-double hockey sticks. Everyone gave me suggestions. I tried it all; frozen teething rings, damp washcloths, teething toys, and even (as one friend suggested) frozen waffles. Nothing seemed to ease Maddie. So I went to my good 'ol pal Google. *Sigh* he never steers me wrong!

This is how I came to find Sophie. Sophie is the number one rated teething toy and though she ranges from $18.00 to $25.00 (cheapest is Amazon included link above), she is worth every penny!! When I added her to my shopping cart I couldn't believe I was about to spend this high amount on a teething toy. I mean seriously? But I couldn't take it any longer I was willing to try anything!!

Don't ask me what the secret is, cause I have no clue. But Sophie is a God a Send. Best $18.00 I may have ever spent!!

Side Note: I never told Marine how much Sophie cost or he may would have killed me considering he calls this a dog toy since it is plastic and squeaks. So if you don't want to spend the high price try a plastic squeaky toy at your own risk.

9. Vtech Piano

Vtech makes wonderful toys for children! Maddie particularly liked the VTech Sing & Discover Story Piano, just to give you an idea she started playing with this around month 4  I believe (if I recall correctly) and she is now almost 12 months and still plays with it.

Most played with toy I have bought thus far.

Thank you Vtech this is a must for a work at mom who needs a minute to check email from time to time!

10. Swing

Another teething savior! During those restless nights when baby can't sleep place her in this and it will lul her to sleep in no time! The Fisher Price Swing is wonderful!

11. Dr. Brown's Bottles

Remember when Giggles, Vixen, and I went to register for my baby shower and had no clue about bottles? Yeah turns out there is a difference!

I breastfeed but also supplemented with formula at times and when using a bottle Maddie would always spit up bad. Someone recommend I try Dr. Browns.

Viola problem spit up problem solved!

12. Baby BJorn

Baby Carriers are wonderful for taking little one out and about. And let's face it sometimes you just need use of both hands!! 

Example I still had horses to help feed. Originally I purchased a cheap basic carrier at Wal-Mart, being naive and not know there was a difference. Needless to say I put the carrier together and then could never put Maddie in it because it was so complicated for one, and for two it just did not look comfortable. To many pieces that would pinch those sweet, little, chunky, legs I so loved. 

Enter Baby Bjorn, this is the best carrier!!  Marine and I both enjoyed carrying Maddie around in this. It also worked great when we took her on her first mini-vacation!

13. Don't buy Retail

Ok let me take a moment to chancel my inner Duck Dynasty and Si, "Rule Number 1" Never Buy Retail!

Do you know how fast a baby will grow??!! Super fast!! All the stuff I listed above is not cheap my friends! If you look back through my list there are only 2 things I purchased new: Dr. Brown's Bottles, and Sophie. Minus the sound machine cause I received it as a gift. 

Everything else on this list I bought through area consignment sales or from friends who already had kids and wanted to clean some baby stuff out of storage. I went to a consignment sale last night in fact to purchase what will be Maddie's summer wardrobe. There is to many tips I can offer here in saving money so those will come in another post but just to give you an idea the $149 swing up above..... yeah I paid $15.00 for it. And that $50ish Baby Bjorn... I paid $8.00. Both items looked brand new and served their purposes for me 100%!

"You never go in the woods without a pistol okay that's rule number 1."

~ Si, Duck Dynasty ~

Don't Blink

Call me a little nostalgic... ok perhaps I am a lot nostalgic! Or maybe I'm getting a late case of those postpartum blues I kept hearing about.... Nah I'm way to up beat for anything that has the word "blues" in it. I guess that just leaves me with the final conclusion that you really don't know how fast time flies till you become an adult and watch your own child grow.

Maddie's first birthday is approaching quickly. Which means I have been gathering ideas from Pinterest and channeling my inner Martha Stewart.

Exhibit A: The cute invitations I made. (Minus location... and the fact the pink is purple on here and all the colors are distorted... hmmm whats up with that blogger?)

Also the other night while watching The Walking Dead ( LOVE that show), I was getting pictures together from the past year of Maddie. Looking through them and seeing how fast she has grown still amazes me. Seems like just the other day I was wondering how in the world I would know what to do with a baby. 

Another thing to think about as the 12 month mark approaches is the fact that I need to start trying to wean her from a bottle and gear her more toward getting her fill from table meals. Notice I used the word 'think'. It may sound silly but I'm just not ready for her to stop taking a bottle yet. That's the last little piece of baby that remains in my 1 going on 13 little Maddie. I was talking about this last night with Marine while trying to not sound like a crazy person. I even admitted that I can kinda see why some people breast feed so long...... ok I thought that for about a split second and then changed my mind. It still creeps me out at the thought of breastfeeding a 3 year old. Now breastfeeding advocates don't get up in arms on me at that comment. I believe in breastfeeding and all the positive things that go along with it. I did it for as long as my body would allow, needless to say if I were a milk cow I would have been sent to slaughter after about the first 6 months. 

Wow I'm really all over the place here. 

Tonight as I get Maddie for bed we go through her normal bedtime routine. Then I fix her nighttime bottle. We settle down and I pull the blanket around us and begin to feed her the bottle. She drinks for a minute then pushes it away. I offer it to her again when she adamantly pushes it away again. I wait a minute thinking she will reach for it when she's ready. But she never reaches for it. Instead she starts stretching and squirming the way she does when she wants you to put her in her crib. 

But she hasn't had her bottle. Surely she doesn't want to go to bed without eating her bottle? I offer it to her one more time. She pushes it away slightly harder this time. 

I relent and say her bedtime prayer as I kiss her forehead and lay her down in her crib. She immediately rolls on her stomach and curls up in a ball as I place the blanket over her and she snugly pulls it around her. I hit the button on her music machine, turn off the light and exit her bedroom.

I admit I hovered at the door a minute waiting to see if she would change her mind. 

She didn't. 

Wow. When did our rolls reverse? When did she become the one weaning me? When did that sweet little baby turn into a little girl? 

"Don't Blink
Just like that you're six years old and you take a nap and you
Wake up and you're twenty-five and your high school sweetheart becomes your wife
Don't blink
You just might miss your babies growing like mine did
Turning into moms and dads next thing you know your "better half"
Of fifty years is there in bed
And you're praying God takes you instead
Trust me friend a hundred years goes faster than you think
So don't blink" ~ Kenny Chesney ~

Wordless Wednesday - Baby Smiles

A New Chapter

On March 14th, 2012 I entered into yet another new chapter of life.

Motherhood.

For those of you that don't have kids. Throw out anything anyone has ever told you. Cause nothing can prepare you for seeing that little bundle for the first time.

Yes, you have 9 months to prepare but I promise those 9 months go by rather quickly!

I have never considered myself a "baby" person. I mean some people have it, some people don't. I always blamed it on me being the youngest person in my family. Who knows. Either way I was always a baby dummy, that awkward friend that visits you at the hospital, holds the baby, but it's obvious they don't know what they are doing.

I was also the person who thought all babies look alike.

When they placed that tiny baby in my arms though all those thoughts disappeared. This baby looked like none I had ever seen.

She did have a worried expression those first few days at the hospital.

Marine said she was worried cause she knew we didn't know what we were doing...

If that were the case she was right!!

Everyone had said it would come naturally.... and they were right. I myself was shocked. But at 2 am when there is no one else around you just kind of figure it out.

I'm skipping around a lot, I apologize.

Let me start at the beginning.... on March 11th Marine and I arrived at the hospital with bags in tow. My original due date had been March 6th and I was now almost a week late. Due to swelling my doctor had advised they would only let me go a week late then they would want to induce.

I myself wanted to wait as long as it took! As a baby dummy I was nowhere near ready!! And I admit I was a teensy tiny bit afraid of the whole labor thing.

But doctors orders.

There was no water breaking. No frantic rush to get the bags in the car. No pandemonium as you try to make sure you have everything, including the camera, for this huge milestone. No worrying about getting a speeding ticket on the way to the hospital.

Nope not us.

Apparently, much to my disappointment, that only happens in the movies. I admit I really wanted my water to break and freak Marine out. In the final week up to D-Day when I was experiencing a Braxton Hicks Contraction Marine said, "If you think your waters going to break go stand in the bath tub."

Sigh, what a romantic! lol

But nope none of that for us. Instead we drove the hour drive to the hospital. Stopping on the way to eat diner with our Mom's for their birthdays. My mom's birthday is March 10th and his is March 14th. Then we calmly parked at the hospital and headed inside.... Now there may or may not have been a fuss from Marine on how much stuff I had packed as he tried to lug it all in the hospital...

Why yes... I just realized that is my bra
thrown on top of the bag...
* blushing*

Everything was so calm.

We were checked in and then taken to the maternity floor where we were shown to our room and introduced to our night nurse.

It all seemed to easy!

The room was very nice!

The doctor came in and started the first step in the induction process and tells me to get a good nights sleep that they will start me on the IV in the morning.

The room resembles more of a hotel room then a hospital room in that it is cozy not just white and plain. I settle in for the night and Marine makes his couch into a bed.

'This is it,' I think, 'Tomorrow we will be parents.'

The next morning I am brought breakfast and advised I have time to eat a little before they start the next phase of induction.

See calm!!

Around 9:00 a.m. the doctor comes in and they hook me up to an IV.

All I have to do now is relax and wait for things to start happening.

Sounds easy, right?

A nurse comes in and checks on me every hour.

Sometime after lunch we hear some commotion in the hall. The machine monitoring my contractions is split screen and the person in the room next to me her contractions are showing on the top portion. I don't remember the exact reason for this but know it was along the lines so the nurse could monitor us from both rooms. I need to add that the lady in the next room had also been induced that same morning about 20 minutes before me. Anyway, after the noise in the hall I look at the monitor and see that where my contractions are rolling hills, hers are scaling sharp, high mountain peaks.

Shortly after the nurse comes in to tell me the other person has had their baby.

And me? I don't remember the exact dilatation but it wasn't much.... Just contractions that are not near close enough together.

"This was her second child. Sometimes with the second child the labor is a lot quicker," The nurse informs me.

Yeah, Yeah.

I can't remember the exact time but later that afternoon I'm pretty much told that we haven't made much progress. That happens sometimes. It's been a long day. Eat some dinner. Take a shower. Get some rest. We'll try again tomorrow.

My Mom and Marines Mom have been there most of the day. After much assurance from myself and the nurse that doesn't look like baby will arrive over night, they decide to head home. But not without making Marine promise he will call if even the slightest thing happens.

Marine goes out and gets us some dinner because the hospital food just doesn't look that appealing. And also because I treat each meal as if it may be my last meal. I mean do you know how much time there is between breakfast and diner? I needed Chick-fil-a!

After a night of not much sleep.... I mean how can you sleep when a nurse is checking your vitals every hour? The next morning is much the same. Eat breakfast, get hooked to IV.

Whew. Today is the day. But deep down I know it's not. Crazy I know.

Do you know what is on daytime TV? Nothing. The room has a DVD player in so Marine runs out and comes back with several Redbox rentals to choose from.

Yes, I'm sitting in the hospital trying to give birth and watching movies.

Day 3 is contractions and discomfort. But nothing to unbearable.

At this point two other women have come in and had babies. Me? Oh were still just hanging out.....

At the end of Day 3 it is much the same. The doctor comes in and says that I have two options.

1. I am dilated enough they can break my water tonight and I can have the baby. 
2. I can eat diner, take a shower, get a goods night rest and they can break my water in the morning.

I'm exhausted from the contractions all day and I'm starving. I choose option 2.

Once again Marine goes and gets us diner and he curls up beside me on the hospital bed and we watch a movie. 

Wednesday - Day 4 - March 14. Today is Marine's mom's birthday. I am officially 8 days late.

Again I'm started on an IV. Today though is going to be the magic day. Where the dilatation had been at a standstill today I quickly accelerate to a 6.

The contractions aren't to bad, but I'm no dummy. I want the drugs before they get bad. I'm told I can get an epidural now if I want.

One of my friends who is a mother of two had advised, "when they offer you the drugs, take them!!! You may not be hurting but if you wait your screwed."

A lady comes in with the nurse wheeling a cart. This was my second day having nurse Holly and she was wonderful!! The anesthesiologist tells Marine he can watch if he wants to. Of course he says he does. He stands in front of me and I grip his hands leaning forward.

OUCH! my mind screams.... only to hear, "I'm so sorry I'm going to have to do it again....." No I'm not kidding.

Apparently 3rd time was the charm. On the third time, I'm advised it's in.

From here things get a little blurry. The contractions speed up. The doctor breaks my water. Things are moving quickly, a nurse checks me and quickly leaves the room coming back in with a table and other nurses saying I'm at an 8 and it will be any time now.

But the baby has turned slightly and is not in the exact correct position. We have to try and get her to turn back. I'm help to lay over on my side with one foot crocked up funny into one of the stirrups. The bed is lowered from my waist down. I'm sure this isn't really comfortable but I'm so drugged up I can't feel a thing. My mom keeps pacing the room looking worried and saying that can't be comfortable and am I sure I'm ok.

Every so often the nurse will come in and flip me to the other side. This goes on for some time.

Then the epidural starts to wear off. I can't feel every contraction. Another nurse hooks up a new bag to the IV running to the epidural. Next thing I know I hear the monitor beeping. And the nurse is telling everyone but Marine to get out of the room. Other nurses rush in my numbness state I can feel the urgency as the nurse says I have to roll over and get on my hands and knees.

Is she crazy? The drugs have just kicked in and I can't feel a thing! Not to mention the fuzziness going through my head.

They grab my arm and help me get turned over. While Marine helps me hold my upper body up one of the nurses is moving the monitors on my belly. One monitors the baby's heartbeat and the other the contractions.

Apparently the second round had made the baby's heart rate slow as my blood pressure dropped (I think that was why.... it was all fuzzy to me).

After a bit I'm flipped back over.

I feel awful. I'm hungry and I feel upset to my stomach. The nurse says I can eat a few crackers to settle my stomach and have just a tiny bit of water.

Things are calm for awhile. I'm still having to rotate sides and still nothing is happening.

Marine and I walk laps up down the halls.

Nothing happens.

Nurse Holly comes in, "I'm not a doctor but I just want you to be prepared. I think your going to have to have a c-section...." She proceeds to tell me that where the baby has been pressing it is agitated my cervix and it was swollen and she wouldn't be able to fit.

Bless Nurse Holly. Even delivering bad news she was great!

The doctor comes in and says along the same lines as everything Nurse Holly has said. But the bad news is there are two emergency C-Sections they must do before me. It will be awhile.

I don't remember how I got one but I guess it must have been ok.... I made Marine run to the gas station and come back with a Icee. Which I ended up throwing up. In a bad. Sexy I know.

By this time the Nurse Holly's shift was over and I had a new Nurse. I tell her my epidural is wearing off. She doesn't pay much mind but says she will get someone to come up.

By now its around 8:00pm-ish. I have been having STRONG contractions all day.

They come and add to my epidural. I give it awhile to take affect but the pain relief never comes. I tell the nurse I'm in pain.

Nurse Witch seems not to believe me.

My back is to the monitor. Marine is in a chair next to the bed holding my hand. My mom is seated on chair diagonal to me. And Marine Mom and Sis sit on the couch. I can see the worry in my mom's eyes.

I tell them I'm hurting and can feel the contractions. I ask Marine to press the button for the nurse. I tell her again I'm in extreme pain. On her little scale of 1 to 10 I'm quickly escalating to an 11. I feel the contractions in my back and pelvis area as well as pressure in pelvis area.

She again seems uncovinced until I winch. Back to the monitor I say, "If you look at the monitor I'm having a contraction... it's getting worse.... worse.... worse..... WORSE..... easing off. easing down..... whew contraction over."

She is looking over my shoulder at the monitor the entire time. "You can feel that?!' She asks.

WELL DUH!! What do you think I've been trying to tell you? However I just simply answer, "Yes."

She gives me something else though the IV in my arm telling me it should help. Slowly it dulls the pain. The pain doesn't disappear but its no longer as intense.

Twenty minutes later the pain is back.

This time the head anesthesiologist comes in. It is not the woman from this morning but a man in his mid 30's.

"I hear you are in some pain." He states.

"Yes, Yes I am."

---------> Interruption: Sorry I have been trying to write this post since May. It's now November. So I'm going to sum up the rest. <------ p="p">
Nice man gives me pain meds. The good stuff. Obviously they had been holding out on me before.

They will me down for my C-Section. On the way Marine's Grandma is in the hall snapping pictures. The nurse jokes I have my own paparazzi. In my mind I'm thinking "this is so not a moment I want to remember."

Despite my dread the C-Section wasn't that bad. And when I heard that initial cry my heart leaped. Before I had even seen her I looked at Marine and said "How about Maddie?"  

Have I mentioned that even after 9 months we did not have a name for our baby girl?

And then a beautiful baby girl is in Marine's arms.

She does not look happy to be here. Period.

I tell the anesthesiologist I can feel pressure. He hits the magic button and according to Marine I was snoring in seconds.

She was perfect.

That was Wednesday night. We weren't finally discharged till Saturday. Even though it was a long week I was so thankful for such a nice hospital staff. The nurses (minus the one) were wonderful!

More to come.... If I can find time to write. I miss blogging!

How Many Bottles Does One Baby Need?

The Sunday after Thanksgiving Vixen and Giggles insist we spend a girl's day going to register for baby stuff.

Marine and I had already created a registry at Target at Giggles instance we "get on the ball". But the nearest Baby's R Us is over an hour away so we hadn't yet had time to venture that far. Giggles and Vixen thought registering at the baby mecca store was a must.

And imagine Marine's sigh of relief that he was getting out of that trip.

Vixen, Giggles and I entered Baby's R Us and took a seat at the customer service counter. A very nice lady gave us a run down of the store layout explaining each section and offering suggestions. I admit Vixen and I half listened and Giggles took it all to heart looking more and more overwhelmed as the lady continued. Finally she handed the scan gun over to Vixen and the three of us were off.

Image Taken From Google Images

But where to start?

Have you ever been in a Baby's R Us?

If not..... well...... it's baby stuff EVERYWHERE (shocking right?)!! Imagine Wal-Mart but all baby stuff.

Now imagine 3 Baby Dummies staring at a store full of things they know absolutely nothing about.

Yeah that was us.

We decided to work our way around the store. The first section was bottles. An ENTIRE wall of bottles.

Not only were there about 5 different types of bottles per shelf but then there were about five different brand sections to choose from. The three of us stood and stared for a moment.

"So which one do we get?" Vixen asks.

"I don't know..... these say newborn." I reply.

Vixen scans them.

Giggles is still staring in awe.

"And maybe these," Vixen scans, "maybe we should register for more than one pack?" BEEP the scanner beeps as she scans another pack.

Giggles turns with another brand and type in hand, "What about these with the sacks? Aren't they supposed to be easier to clean?"

"Sure sounds good...." BEEP.

Do we really know what we registered for? Not really.....

It's a............ Are you Sure?

When Marine and I went to the doctor to find out the gender of the baby we were still up in the air about if we even wanted to know.

By the time we got to the office however I was convinced I wanted to know. Marine was not.

As we sat in the waiting room we were still debating.

"If it's a girl you buy breakfast, if it's a boy I'll buy breakfast." I tell Marine with a smile. Everyone had me convinced it was a boy anyway so I figured I could at least bribe Marine with breakfast.

We were finally called back and as I lay reclined on the examination table watching the monitor as the ultra sound technician rubbed the wand around on my belly. Marine was facing me as he watched the monitor the technician was viewing and I viewed the one on the wall behind him.

I watch, as the little baby moves around, memorized and still astounded that we are actually having a baby.

"Well hello little girl" the tec says.

Marine's mouth drops and then he starts smiling broadly.

And what do I do? Open my big mount of course! "Are you sure?"

The tec laughs, "Pretty sure. Why?"

I laugh, "Well everyone has had us convinced with the when I was pregnant stories and old wives tales that it was a boy."

Now the tec laughs and says, "Those can be right but not all the time. Definitely a little girl here."

I won't lie I was thrilled at the idea of a girl! I mean I have a Barbie house my Grandpa built me when I was a little girl along with every Nancy Drew hardback ever written. I'm prepared for a little girl.

I would have been happy with either a boy or a girl..... but deep down I have always wanted a little girl.

Now comes the hard part of selecting a name, nursery things, etc.

And can you believe it's been 6 months?

That's right! She will be here in in a little over 3 months.

With the long work hours it feels like there is never enough time to get everything done but I know it will all fall into place :)

Let the adventure begin!

The Help.... I'm 19 Weeks, And My Husband Bought a Deli, Stuff You Won't Find On Pinterest

Warning you now this is going to be a long post. So buckle up.

Here's A Break Down:

1.  The Help
2. 19 Weeks
3. Deli
4. Pinterest

Part 1:

The Help. Have you seen it? All I can say is wow! Red, Previous Co-Worker, and I went to see it at the theater a few weeks ago.

For the girl who has to go the bathroom five times in an hour this was a glued to your seat cross your legs type of movie. I went in being a little clueless not really sure what the movie was about but that I kept hearing it was good.

Well it wasn't just good it was GREAT. Seriously. Go see it. You won't be disappointed. And if you have the book, I need to borrow it. It has been added to the "must read" list. 

Part 2:

You know how you always hear those people with kids who count things oddly?

"How old is he," looking at baby.

"Oh he's 18 months."

******

Speaking with pregnant woman.... "How far along are you?"

"32 weeks"

I was the one who always wants to go, "come on people!" Your kid is a year and half old. And your 8 months pregnant!

Perhaps that is why I'm having a hard time wrapping my brain around pregnancy in terms of weeks. Or perhaps it's my desire to be different. I understand that the little baby within is developing week by week and it's an exciting adventure that still shocks me at times...... 

Laying in bed with Marine watching TV:

Me, "We're going to be parents."

Yes, it still astounds me every day that we are in fact going to be parents. I still can't believe we are old enough to have kids. 

Anyway.... even though I am now 19 weeks along when someone asks I choose to rebel and answer "Almost 5 months". 

I wish I had more time to write about all the wonderful things like hormones (crazy woman typing here), body changes (I have boobs!), and randomness (wait I've always been random).

We find out Boy or Girl on October 20th. That is if we decide to find out at all. We are tossing the idea around. Part of me is so curious I want to know now! I mean pink or blue?!

Flowers, and polka dots....

Oh blue puppy dogs and cowboys.... 

Yes part of me really wants to know. 

But the other part wants to hear the doctor say, "IT'S A......." and be completely surprised. 

I never thought I would think like that. But now that the time is here Marine and I have seriously talked about being surprised. Will we be able to control ourselves and not find out? Probably not... but it's a thought.

We did do the old wives tale of the wedding ring on a string. Ever heard of it? You tie your wedding band to a piece of thread and have someone hold the end of the string with the ring completely still. If the ring swings back and forth it's a boy. If it swings in a circle it's a girl.  

Marine was already convinced we were having a boy. We tried the ring tale and it predicted a boy. 

We both would be happy with either but Marine swears that at the last ultrasound he saw "something" and he just knows it's a boy. Never-mind the doctor said it was to early to tell, Marine was convinced. 

The ring just backed up his already "I know" attitude. 

I lay on the floor watching the string. Marine's arm and hand were completely still when the ring started to slowly sway back and forth. I was for sure he had a part in so I made him do it two more times. Each time his grin got bigger and his "I told you so's" becoming more insistent. 

"Ok lets see how accurate it is." I said taking the ring. " Give me your wrist." 

I was told if you do the trick over someone's wrist who isn't pregnant it will predict what there future kid will be. 

"What are you doing?" Marine asks.

"Seeing if you will have a boy or girl!" I laugh.

"What?! I'm not pregnant!" He laughs.
"We are testing accuracy." I tell him steading the ring and sitting still. 

The ring doesn't move. For a minute it just hangs suspended frozen in the air until I give up. 

"See I told you it's a boy!!" Marine says triumphantly.

 Part 3:

Also in the past few weeks Marine has opened a deli. SURPRISE!!!

It happened kind of suddenly.... one day Marine, his step-dad, and step brother were talking about opening a deli and the next thing I know it was opening day!

Seriously it all sorta happened in less than a month.

Marine's Step-Dad's family owned a restaurant for years before selling out. So I know Step-Dad knows what goes into making a restaurant successful. But Marine? Marine is a hard worker and no one will ever say he's not. But he is also a go getter when he sees an opportunity to make money. 

I'm a worrier. 

I see us putting some of our savings in a deli, all the while thinking of the other things the money could go for. 

Marine see's the possible profit. I see the possible loss.

I see all the time spent there. Marine see's the future and the possible monetary gains. 

In the end I agree with him and realize that if something happens and it doesn't work out we will get the money we invested in it back from the sale of the equipment. It it goes great then hey that may be a little extra money each month!

I had told Marine that the Deli would be his thing and I would help out every once in awhile but that I was not the "restaurant type person". 

Real supportive wife, I know. I blame it partially on the hormones and partly because I like being able to decide spur of the moment what I want to do. Owning a restaurant is a 24/7 job. There is always something to be done. I'll admit I wasn't sure that Marine totally grasped that. 

Let me just state for the record.... any wife who thinks when her husband opens a business she can stay out it.... is well..... just as naive as me!! 

Somehow I became the marketer, web designer, and accountant for this new venture. I'm not complaining because I have actually enjoyed it. Not to mention I've worked with him there the past two weekends.

So far so good. And I have to admit I love the fresh baked bread, muffins and cookies!! All baked fresh daily! Chocolate Chocolate muffins are just plain sinful. 

We shall see what the future holds. So far this is week 2 of the Deli being open. May the future hold only good things!!!

Part 4:

Pinterest. Have you seen this site? I AM IN LOVE WITH THIS SITE! Much of my day at work is spent on the phone and on hold. This is a great site to browse while you wait. I have boards for Baby Ideas, Craft Ideas, Home Decor, Holidays, etc. 

A few examples: 

Photo Onto Canvas

Baby Decor Idea

Turn an old bath towel into a bath mat

Words For Thought

Recipes To Try

Holiday Ideas

The ideas are endless! 

Also I have gotten a few ideas for maternity pictures. I'm not one for showing bare skin. So I don't see myself as the naked, bare belly type in pictures. I mean I know there will be a bare belly picture, but I want some others that are more a little more my style. Here are a few ideas I found I really like: 

Check it out! Now I just have to find time to work on all the pinterest ideas I have pinned!