Week 38!

I'm in week 38!  Holy moly!  This past week (just before we were going to put it in the car) one of the cats decided to pee in the car seat.  Yuck.  However, I know how to take apart and put back together that contraption now.  We'll see if the smell is fully out after it sits in that little closed space for a few days.

I'm having a harder time getting around.  I'm swollen.  Bending over is iffy.  Dan gets to (read: has to) help me put my socks on.  At the end of the day there is a hilarious line where my calves are puffy up to my socks.  *It's a bit creepy actually.  I mean, do I really have that much extra fluid in me? 

So.  Two weeks is what they say.  Anyone taking bets on when she'll pop?

Bum Geniuses!

It's been a bum filled weekend!  Dan and I picked up our bum genius diapers yesterday from Pinstripes and Polkadots .  Their website has a ton of useful info on all aspects of cloth diapering, so feel free to educate yourself.  An interesting thing I found out is the diapers become more absorbent the more they are washed (similar to new towels...they don't soak up so good when they are new!).  So part of getting ready for baby is to wash these little guys on hot 3-5 times.

It's also not recommended to use dryer sheets because of the film they can leave of them (them being the diapers and your the sensitive child), and over time that film can mean the integrity of the diapers is weakened.  So, we are using these now:

There is still a bit of static, but not anything to get upset about.  Dan is a bit sad that we won't have yummy smelling clothes as they come out of the dryer for a few years, but we will make due.

Today!  There were two projects this morning: Dan wanted to learn how to make scones, and I installed the sprayer on the toilet.  And it was all done before 10:30!  We are amazing!

Dan made cranberry orange and pumpkin.   (drool.....)  He is a good student!  

Piles of Scones!

 If you want to see my sprayer installation, there are pictures below.  It was super easy, took NO TOOLS, and I only had to move one cat. 

This is the new little bathroom sprayer.  It's very similar to the nozzle that is on a kitchen sink.

These are all of the parts.

Start by turning the water off to the toilet and flushing once to get the water out of the line.  Put a small bowl and some paper towels under the fitting before you unscrew it. 

Line the teeth up so the new fitting screws on properly, and "hand tighten" - that is, don't kill yourself to get it tight.  The rubber washer in the threads will keep it from leaking.  *Not shown: attach the hose.  This has a great teeth grip that will let you push the hose in but not pull it out.  The part with the bright blue spot on it is the shut off valve for the sprayer.  Don't turn it on until you stick the other end of the hose in the spray nozzle. 

You can see the hose in the nozzle.  All that's left is the nozzle hanger!  Remove cat from tank lid and slip the plastic hook over the edge.  Put lid back on.

Turn on sprayer valve and spray!  It works!  If it doesn't work, that's because I forgot to turn the water line back on.  Do that and check under the toilet to see if any parts need to be tightened a bit more, then proceed to have a water fight. 

Or, just hang the nozzle on the toilet. 

Feel free to replace cat on top of toilet, but if yours is like mine he will replace himself. 

 Great right?!  Now when the poo starts flying (hopefully not literally) we have a tool at our disposal.  Just because we're using cloth diapers doesn't mean we like poo any more than you do.

Have a good day!

And PS - A huge congratulations to Julie and Jamie on the arrival of their baby girl, Allison Nicole!  Yay babies and friends having babies!

Latest appointment (possible TMI) and cloth diapers

I had a doctors appointment yesterday.  It was the first time I was "checked" by my midwife.  Wowza!  I wasn't quite ready for that experience!

Turns out I'm a cm dilated and 60% effaced.  The end of being pregnant is near!

Dan and I have also started taking birthing education classes from our Doula.  The first meeting felt long, but again, it kept me up past my bed time, so the last hour was tainted by the fact that I wanted to be in pjs and sleeping already.

We are in the class with two other couples.  One of which I know through a friend, and we were facebook  pals, even though we met for the first time at the meeting.

Our doula open the class up by wanting to talk about our fears with child birth.  Seemed like a good idea.  The other two women both talked about the pain involved with pushing a human out of their body.  I'm not too worried about that - which I don't know why, especially after my last exam open my eyes to the whole new world of pain I will soon be experiencing.  When it came to me I talked about control, or the lack thereof that I'll have/not have in the birth.  And I cried a lot.  It was a bit awkward to be snot faced in front of 5 strangers, but whatever.  I'm pregnant.  I'm gonna cry if I want to. 

We'll be meeting for the next three Mondays, which if baby Swift stays put until her due date, it will work fine.  If not, well, then we'll get hands on training with birthing education!

The last new development in our baby world is Dan and I took the leap from talking about using cloth diapers to actually buying our cloth diapers.  We are picking them up on Saturday.  I'm super excited (about diapers...?)!  We are using Bum Genius if you are curious.  You can be sure I'll let you know what I think.  *And because I just have to share, our diapers are coming in Butternut, Clementine, Twilight, Ribbit, and White.  There going to be a cute diaper butt in our future! 

Bubble

Noodle

Sweet

Blossom

Butternut

Clementine

Grasshopper

Moonbeam

Ribbit

Twilight

White

Zinnia

It really is as easy to use as a disposable diaper. Using the snaps on the front of the diaper, adjust the size if needed, put the diaper on your baby, wash, dry and re-use. No extra steps. No stuffing. No cover required. Our one-size diapers are designed to fit most babies weighing between 7 and 35 pounds.

Highlights

• Absorbent layer integrated into the waterproof outer layer.
• One step cloth diaper - no stuffing!
• Now also available in snap closures! Two rows of snaps ensure a trim, bumGenius fit everytime!
• Ultra-absorbent, certified organic cotton inner.
• Gentle leg elastic contains the mess!

6 weeks to go.

Whoa.  I am huge. 

I've been feeling a bit more tired at the end of the days, but not horrible.  There was a day when I didn't make in to bed until 9:30 because of a meeting, and man was I cranky bear the next day!

I've become resolved that all the things I'd like to get done at work before I leave won't get done, but not for a lack of trying!  6 weeks left and I'm perfectly fine  with it coming along however it happens, work done or not.  

Last week the cats all went to the vet.  I've been a bad momma in getting them in, but all is well and all are healthy.  This fur ball below is Kodak.  He is a healthy 11+ pounds.  Doesn't he look fantastically huge in the picture?! 

8 weeks to go!

 Yesterday two of my favorite people got married.  They asked me to take their photos, but there was a brief moment where I got to join in on the silliness and was on the opposite side of the lens. 

Baby bump was on display all evening, so we took a moment to bring obvious attention to it. 

 

Dan was such a trooper the whole day.  It was one of those days where I appreciated his independence.  I would flit around the room taking photos, then come back to him to get an energy boost.  Sam sat at our dinner table, and she was insistent in taking our photo.  I'm so glad she did!  I love this photo!

I'm using these pictures as my 32 weeks post.  I'm 32 weeks!  Woohoo! Only 8 more to go and I still feel wonderful.  

There will be photos coming soon of the great weekend I had last week, where Ciara and Sarah came to visit and threw me a baby shower.  They are a bit busy right now (traveling home to Turkey, and with parents to London *Respectively*) so when they get a chance to catch their breath, I'll post 'em up.

30 Weeks tomorrow

After giving Comma bath and vacuuming the living room (but before folding the laundry) I realized I am getting pretty freaking round. So round!

There are some pretty great things happening this next week, so hopefully you will get to see pictures of me not taken in my bathroom (ha!). Yay for sisters and friends and baby showers!

PS - that black band in the last two shots is awesome. For all the expectant mom's out there, find some sort of belly band (I think mine is a Be Band from Target) and use it however you want. It can keep your pant us, give you support, or like with these, hold up pants that are too big. Love it!

Week 29 and tickin'

I've been absent, but not for any horrible reason. Don't worry. My life is just speeding up. Just 11 weeks until the baby comes and there seems to be no time to dilly-dally.

I'm feeling well, maybe a bit more tired than a few weeks ago. The most noticeable change is the frequency of being short of breath because she is pushing up on my lungs and diaphragm. There are moments where it feels like there are feet in throat! I've had my gestational diabetes test and passed with flying colors. My blood pressure is super good, and the midwife isn't concerned with the amount of separation that is happening in my abdominals caused by my hernia.

I'm gradually putting on healthy pounds (16-18 so far depending on the time of day) and I still keep expanding forward instead of out, if that makes sense. I guess it's easier to say I don't think my hips have started expanding...yet. My left foot seems to be swelling in a more consistent pattern than my right, but there has been one time (when I just couldn't resist a day with wayyyyyy too much salt) that they both ballooned like Violet Beauregarde.

My sister and Sarah will be here soon, but before they arrive, I have to keep all of the balls in the air at work - School starting, Bookfair planning, new account vetting, advertising Nook promotions, hiring an assistant and train them, and do the normal book ordering I do for my existing clients. (!!!)

I did take a minute today to schedule a hair appointment next Wednesday. It will be the first time I've had my hair, dyed professionally since August of 2003 - that was a circus...5 hours of a girl turning my hair from blond to green to GREY - and then her boss stepped in to make it the the color we were going for. This time, it's nothing so drastic. I haven't dyed my hair in...3 years? I'm looking forward to being pampered.

So all is well. Dan is home. I'm getting my tasks finished for my friend's wedding on Sept 3rd (oh yeah...I'm being super crafty on top of all that crazy work stuff), and I'm feeling good about how they are all turning out. When they are done I'll post some Ta-Da! photos.

Summer is in it's last official stretches, and I can't wait for Fall to show up! I'm getting so excited to September and October!