22 weeks

As of yesterday, I'm 22 weeks pregnant. I have taken a few more pictures, but can't upload them to my computer right now. The memory is full. Will switch over all files next week onto a new computer, and then I will post the pics.

I started wearing maternity clothes last week. I can still fit in 1 pair of jeans, and fasten them, but they were really big on me to begin with...and they're pretty tight now. These maternity pants are the best! Dave was studying them yesterday as I pulled them up...he was like "They're sweat pants on the top and jeans on the bottom! Why don't you just wear those around the house?" (because he hates when I wear sweats) I said, "I never had them before! But look! I'm wearing them now..."

I've gained just over 20 lbs. I wish that I hadn't gained so much already, as I'm scared of what is yet to come. And I really, really hope that I'm able to lose all this plus more before having my next baby (IF there is another baby). I just feel so huge right now and my belly is barely sticking out yet.

Like I mentioned on my main blog, I have an uncontrollable urge to clean and organize everything in our house now. At first this kind of scared me, because I thought people usually didn't start nesting until right before the baby came. And I really don't want the baby to come yet. But I read one article online that said some women start nesting as early as 5 months. In my case, that is very good, because I have at least 4 months of work to do to get this house ready. I've spent about a week or so on the office. I went through box after box of papers that we've been keeping for no apparent reason. Threw 6 trash bags of stuff away. Eliminated the need for several pieces of junky furniture and can actually use the closet now to store things that I use rather than having a bunch of boxes piled up in there.

My next project is going to be going through about 10 tubs of clothing of mine and getting rid of some of it. None of it fits me. Especially right now. But a lot of it didn't fit me before I became pregnant. And rather than having a bunch of tubs labeled "Katie's tight clothes" in my living room, I feel I should pass them onto someone who can get some use out of them. I read a book that said the average person really only needs 9 or 10 outfits. Anything more than that just complicates your life unnecessarily. Plus, if I lose a bunch of weight in the future, then I can enjoy getting some new clothes.

I am still feeling pretty awesome (which I'm glad about). There have been a few minor things lately that make me feel kind of blah but, seriously, I was prepared for absolute hell thanks to a lot of warnings I'd received from other women over the years, and so far it's been great. I hope that I can still say that after the birth, so that I want to have more children. (I know I probably won't be saying that DURING the birth...but...at least if I can move on afterwards and still have the nerve to go thru this again, that would be great...)

We're going to go on a vacation soon. One last vacation before the baby comes and our lives change forever. Our last real vacation where we went far away was in March 2006. So this is going to be really, really special.

We're planning on going with cloth diapers. We had a rep from www.toastybaby.com come out to our house last Friday night and show us all the options available. And then we set up a registry with them. I'm very excited about this! And David is too. He's probably even more for it than I am...but it is a very mutual decision. He was so glad that he got to sit in on the demonstration. He just kept saying over and over afterward, "Thanks for including me!" It was so sweet.

baby shower registries

my mom & sister and my friend amie are throwing me some baby showers in the next couple months. i am so excited to get together with all my favorite women in the world and celebrate that we're having a baby!! and even though most people hate shower games, i think that if someone has one, i might actually enjoy it.

so i determined that i better get some gift registries prepared. this task is very daunting. i have been planning it out in a way since the day i was married....haha....but now that it's time to actually set it all up, i'm overwhelmed.

a couple months ago i told dave that i didn't really plan to register for that much stuff for the baby and i'd tell people that they could give gifts of $ to our child's college fund if they wanted as an alternative....he really liked that idea of course. because he hates plunder in the house and our house is already full of plunder, etc, etc. but it seems he took this a little to the extreme. because last night i was working on setting up the registries and he said...."why are you doing that? our baby doesn't need anything" i said "well, it at leasts needs a few basics like a crib mattress and some bedding." and he said, "i thought we already got a crib" i said, "yes, we got a crib, but it doesn't have a mattress. it just has bars to support the mattress." he said, "well, the baby doesn't need a mattress. don't you remember falling down as a child? it didn't even hurt. kids are tough. it can sleep on plywood." and i'm thinking...."he CAN'T be serious!" i said, "when was the last time you held a little baby? they seem so fragile"............he said the suggestions that the stores are giving me for what to register for are "Need creation." now, i can see a little bit of that....but seriously. making your baby sleep on plywood???

so, anyways, we have a little bit of work/discussion to do before dave's ready to go with me to the stores to finalize the registries, apparently. i am praying that he will come around.