As far as pregnancy updates, there's not too many. For the most part I'm feeling great and really enjoying the pregnancy at this stage. The baby's movements are much stronger than the little bubbles I was feeling last time I posted. He can kick pretty hard now, and sometimes it gets a little uncomfortable. I wouldn't want him to stop though, because I love knowing he's healthy and well inside me. Jon's felt him kicking quite a few times too - he can't believe how strong his little guy is! :)
At my last midwife appointment she drew blood for my gestational diabetes test - the results came back fine so I'm in the clear for that. I feel sorry for all those of you who've had to drink the yucky sugar drink that's standard for glucose tolerance tests. Because I see a midwife they do things a little differently. For three days prior to my test I was instructed to eat a lot of carbs and avoid sugar and lots of fruit. Then, an hour before my appointment, I had to eat 18 jelly beans in 5 minutes and then nothing until my test. It wasn't hard at all :).
Last night Jon and I went to our 8th Bradley Method birthing class - we have 2 more to go. Overall I'm very glad we decided to take these classes even though it's a big time commitment and costs a little more than the standard classes the hospitals offer. We have learned SO much about pregnancy and childbirth that I'm sure we would not have known if we hadn't taken the classes. I feel much more prepared and confident going into labor and delivery after learning all that we have. Jon said he would agree, the classes have been helpful despite having to watch way more birth videos than he ever cared to see! I would highly recommend these classes for anyone hoping to have a natural un-medicated labor and delivery.
Around our house things have been changing in the last few weeks. I have a huge list of things I want to do before the baby comes, and I've been chipping away at it as fast as my pregnant self can go. Since I'm sure you're all wondering what in the world could be on this big list of mine, I thought I'd show you :). Here is my list:
Must-do
Decide on a pediatrician
Research all childhood vaccines: decide which ones to get and when
Schedule dentist appointments for Jon & I – give them our updated address
Stock cabinets and storage with staple items we will need for the first 2-3 months
Move couches out of upstairs (DONE)
Organize upstairs
Clear out spare room (so we can turn it into a nursery) (DONE)
Paint nursery and set up
Make sure we have all necessary baby clothes & items on hand
Wash and organize all baby clothes
Get baby announcements ready to mail out (Jon will be designing them and I want to have all the envelopes addressed)
Write a list of names & phone numbers of people to call from hospital
Create a birth plan
Pack hospital bag
Put baby car seat in car
Get health insurance for baby
Hope to-do
Finish Home Management Binder and start using it (I'll be posting pictures and explaining this when I'm finished)
Create an address/phone book
Create a devotional plan
Organize all files on my computer
Make and freeze some meals and snacks for after the baby is born
Make a freezer and storage inventory list
Be on a working budget and saving regularly to buy a house
Have Jon more involved with the finances
Schedule a visit with Mums
Have both our parents for dinner (we've said we were going to do this for a while)
Start keeping a journal
Burn 2008 pictures to DVD
Spring clean the entire house
Hang curtains in basement
Caulk in the bathroom: around tub, around sink, around toilet
Use Jon’s mom’s dyson vacuum to do a good vacuuming of the entire house
Do inventory of the entire house (w/pictures & scanned receipts) – see if we can pay less for renter’s insurance
Catch up on scrapbooks
Get dryer fixed
Get a box spring for our bed (DONE)
Get a new shower head (DONE)
Read Baby Wise
Read To Train Up A Child again
Read No Greater Joy Volumes 1, 2 & 3
Have a yard sale
So what do you all think of that list? Anything you noticed I'm missing, do you think I'm crazy? I know I probably won't get done everything but it doesn't hurt to aim high right? I'm sure there are more things I'll add to this list too, as the days go by. There were also a few other things I've already accomplished and quite a few things on the list that I've started already. I have a separate list of all the meals I want to make and freeze. I've been working on that already - doubling or tripling recipes when I'm making dinner and freezing the extra. Maybe someday I'll type up that list and post it on here for you all to see.
After Jon and I finished moving everything out of the soon-to-be-nursery this past Saturday, we took a picture of the walls and Jon used Photoshop to paint the walls different colors so we could decide what color(s) to go with. Here are the three options:
This option would mean leaving the grey that is currently in the room on two of the walls and painting the other two blue...
...or we could paint all the walls blue...
...or two walls green and two walls blue.
That last picture is the option we're currently leaning towards. And that is the bedding set we're getting too - although our crib and furniture is oak not white. Any opinions on what you like best?
Wow! This post has gotten long. I think I'll stop now. If I was more consistent with blogging my posts wouldn't need to be so long to catch up on everything... maybe someday :).
