All I needed was the sun.

This is a random post. Be warned. 

Well. My pity party is over. I still don't have a husband at home, but today I got out of our house for the first time since Tuesday. I never would have thought a trip to Food Lion (my least favorite grocery store, but the closest) would improve my spirits so much. But here we are.

Back over the holidays, I saw the cutest monogram charm at a store in Hometown. Since we hadn't named Baby yet, I didn't purchase that charm. Today, we still haven't named him, but a store online is having a sale on those charms. Sooo. I sent Bob an email link to the charm and the coupon (so he could be ahead of the game and get me a push present early). I told him I'd like either a G for our last name or a C for the baby (name I want). His response was less than stellar.... "So you want a D?" NO, punk ass. G or C. NO D. Grrrr. This kid's name is getting ridiculous.

While being stuck at home this week due to the "Epic winter storm" that hit us, I am totally caught up on thank you notes. All Baby's stuff is washed, divided by size, and put away. I took inventory of all the stuff we have (as I wrote thank yous), and now realize we MIGHT just have enough to get this new human started, without spending a ton more money.

One thing I did find out yesterday... Supposedly our insurance covered a breast pump as dictated by the AHA. Wellllll.... not OUR insurance. Naturally. Luckily a friend has offered to lend me hers, provided I purchase my own tubing and stuff. So that's a good thing. Even if something happens and we aren't able to get hers, I did some research last night and realized I don't NEED the $300 Medela one. I found some much more reasonable, all with excellent reviews. I'm feeling much more comfortable about that now too.

So now if I happen to get a husband at home tonight, it will be a good bonus. I know better than to expect getting anything commercial or flowery for Valentine's Day since he's been stuck in Maine all week. Just having him here will be a perfect gift!

Baby Gear.

As I stated yesterday, we're getting closer!! I don't remember if I've said this or not lately, but I feel wholly unprepared for this child. We have tons of crap, but I still don't feel like it's enough. I know, I know. I'm trying to think of this as if I were preparing for a vacation... whatever I don't have yet, I'll buy later when I need it.

We got in our car seat. Yay! I went with UppaBaby Mesa, mainly because it's so light and easy to use, or at least it was in BuyBuyBaby when Michael demonstrated for me. With my body issues, I needed something that was super safe, but didn't weigh a ton. With adapters, we can use it with our Baby Jogger City Mini, which I can't wait to use.

Tonight I've been researching baby carriers. I've narrowed it down. I think. We're going to start with a Boba wrap, and then move to a Tula carrier once he hits 15lbs. I could get a Tula to use now, but then I'd have to buy a newborn insert and that's $40 additional dollars I'm not interested in putting into this situation. So. Boba for now and Tula for later.

Our diaper bag will be here tomorrow. I went with a Pottery Barn one, mainly because it's cute and has lots of pockets and storage options. I'm ready to pack it for the hospital! I've also been working on collecting all the crap I'll need for my hospital bag. Gah. I'm going to feel like we're moving in to Presby, which I guess, we will be for a few days.

The only major thing we're still needing is a crib mattress. Or at least I think that's all we need. And we don't need that immediately, because he'll be sleeping in the pack n play in our room for the first few weeks.

It's just so hard to know how many of what you'll need. How many newborn outfits/diapers? How many swaddle blankets and sleep saks? How many paci's and what kind of bottles? Which formula to use as a back up when/if breastfeeding doesn't work? Do we use a video monitor or only an audio one? GAH.

Clearly, Hank is just as excited about our car seast as we are .

Holy balls.

Holy balls. So over the weekend, Bob and I both separately realized just how close we are to becoming parents. PARENTS. Holy crap. We have 58 days until our pre-scheduled, tentative delivery date. Since I'll be having a c section, my doctor will deliver Baby on March 20. HOLY SHIT.

I had a minor meltdown over the weekend and ordered a ton of stuff. My mom and everyone have told me to wait and see what we get from our registries, but I just couldn't. So instead, I used some gift cards we've gotten to order our pack n play, some diapers, some onesies, and a baby bean bag. Have ya'll see those? Supposedly they help with reflux and deformed heads. I know that's not what misshapen baby noggins are called, however, I don't know the technical name. I do know, however, that our insurance does not cover the formative helmets, and I don't particularly want to shell out $4000 for one. So I'm planning ahead and averting that future bill, hopefully.

So anyway. I feel moderately better that we have SOME necessary items for this child. Yes, we have his nursery furniture, but no crib mattress. We have a stroller, but no carseat. That'll be my next random, panicked, impulse purchase, I'm sure. I plan to breastfeed, but I can't order our insurance-supplied pump until 30 days prior to my due date. Gah. I hate waiting.

My nesting may be getting out of hand a smidge. This weekend I also ordered a LOT of clothes for Baby from Zara. They were having a sale, and I bought stuff for next year/end of this year. Winter stuff that was adorable and on sale. I can't pass up a good sale.

On that note, I've recently noticed that a lot of adults are misusing the words "sale" and "sell." It drives me nuts. As if their/they're/there and aisle/isle and all those other words aren't bad enough, people have forgotten the meaning and use of sale and sell, or they don't care enough to fix THEIR mistakes. Either way, it drives me crazy.

Enough rambling... I have curtains to hang.

Showered.

This has been a very long weekend! I left Charlotte on Thursday for Atlanta to spent the evening with Carly, Frank, and SJ. Every time I see Sarah she's grown up more. I'm happy they're in Atlanta, but we haven't seen them any more than we did when they were in Houston! This must change. Once I'm done with work and Baby G gets here, I plan on making it down there more often. There's a saying that cousins are our first best friends, and that was certainly the case in my family. I think history needs to repeat itself.

After Atlanta, I headed to Philadelphia, MS, to host a Tupperware party for Bob's mom. Boy, do her friends love them some Tupperware! From there, I came on over to Hometown yesterday, and was honored with a fabulous baby shower today. My friends Lacey and Katherine are amazing and did a fantastic job. I loved every single thing from the invites, to the diaper cake, to the favors (cookies), and of course, the obligatory petit fours from Trainas. I'll post pics once my official photographer (Kat) sends me the pics.

Baby G got so many cute things. He got an amazing handmade blanket from a family friend, lots of clothes, including some Duke gear (his dad will be pumped), and several pairs of shoes/socks. This kid is set, at least for the first 3 months of life.

I still have two more showers to go... My friends are certainly amazing women!

Furniture decisions.

So. Nursery furniture. And pretty much everything else baby related...

In the past, I've picked out furniture based on style, color, and whether or not I like it. Baby furniture and gear, however, must include all those things AND safety. It opens a whole new can of worms making sure this kidlet will be safe in whatever we put him in. Crib? Changing table? Car seat? Stroller? So many decisions!!

After reading online reviews of cribs ALL AFTERNOON, I've finally narrowed down some that I like. Cribs are tricky suckers. On one hand, you'd assume the more expensive the safer. That cheaper ones will collapse and amputate some needed part of your baby's anatomy. However, that doesn't necessarily seem to be the case. After reading up on what to look for in a crib and what to avoid, I found some relatively cheap ones that, according to the reviews, are sturdy and safe. I've narrowed down to three, from which Bob will have the opportunity to choose his favorite.

Same with changing tables. I want one that is a also dresser that I use for storage. I refuse to pay $900 for a Pottery Barn Kids dresser/changing table, even though I love it. Again, after reading every review written by moms way more paranoid than myself, I've decided to get an Ikea dresser and use it as a changing table. We have the coordinating grown up bed already and that thing is a solid beast. So I feel confident that the dresser will be just as solid. And the Moms all love it. Sooooo.

We've received our stroller as well. After posting it on facebook, I feel validated that I picked the right one. Moms came out of the woodwork to tell me they had that stroller and it's one of the best. Of course, I'd read the reviews and been convinced in the store, but it's nice to hear personal testimony that something you will be putting your child is top notch.

My friend Kat has always been a super paranoid mom, and I've made fun of her for years. However, I can see how and why she's like that. I mean, I'm carrying this little beast for 40 weeks of torture and agonizing. pain. I'm damned well going to do my best to keep him alive and safe so I can torture and embarrass him during his teenage years in as many ways as possible.  Payback's a bitch.

Baby goodies.

So I've started collecting baby clothes. I've bought a few pieces, and we've been given some hand me downs from E and Ben. Shopping online tonight could have been very bad, but I didn't buy anything. I did get a cute little romper and a shirt/pants set today at the mall. They were on sale and adorable, sooooo. I had to, right? I'm still searching for the perfect Easter outfit. I think that will be his major debut. It's also my birthday, and as of now, we're probably going to spend it in Atlanta with his Aunt Carly, Uncle Frank, and cousin SJ. I'm already excited about it!

Also, our stroller went on "clearance sale" this week. I text my mom and asked her if she thought we should buy it now or wait until later. Her response: send me the link, and I'll buy it. Holy crap! I'm so excited!! It'll be our first new piece of baby gear (besides my diaper bag). I can't wait to have it here and give it a test run.

Large and in charge.

Being pregnant is such a weird thing. I've never in my life weighed this much or had such a large stomach. Obviously, I know. It's just bizarre to know how large I am. And my boobs. Good lord. I don't understand how they're going to get larger, but as I understand, they will. They're interrupting conversations they're so big. As in, I'm talking and whoever I'm talking to waits for me to pause for a breath before saying, "Damn your boobs are enormous."

Baby G is racking up on good stuff too. His Aunt Carly sent him some cute bibs and onesies, and his Auntie Ashley brought him some adorable Saints gear for next football season. I'm so ready for him to be here, and not just to dress him, but to hang out with him!