So Long, 2012

Tonight, I'd planned on posting a long, fancy year-end review and my grand plans for 2013, but I'm tired and fighting a cold, so I'm taking the lazy route. I think my Facebook status pretty much sums it up.

And here he is by my side, in one of my favorite photos from 2012:

First night in NYC.

I love it because it's so symbolic of our relationship; even in the pouring rain (on our vacation, no less), we can smile some big-ass smiles—because we have each other. We are so, so lucky... but I wouldn't mind a little less rain this coming year. We deserve some more time to dry off.

Wishing everybody lots and lots of big-ass smiles in 2013.

Baby's 1st (and Only) In Utero Christmas

Yesterday, Danny and I made the 5-hour trek to Michigan to celebrate Christmas with my family. My sister had previously mentioned that she was going to bring a few things for Guido, since she has two babies and won't be able to make it to my shower in February.

Anyway, Aunt Rachel loves her nephew—because this is what we left with:

 

I know you can't tell much from that bad picture, but there's an activity table, 3 boxes of diapers, a few swaddles, a blanket (from my brother) a burp cloth, lots of socks, several outfits (a few are from my mom), a stack of books, a shopping cart cover, a few prints for the nursery, some nose drops, Q-tips, Orajel, one of those teething necklace thingies, a cute little police officer's hat, diaper wipes, face wipes, snack containers, a shopping cart cover, and the diaper bag I wanted.

And just for fun, which 3 things did I remove from the scene before taking the following photo?

Well, did you find all 3?? Danny's boots, Danny's coat, and a cat. 

26 Weeks = English Cucumber

Today (Saturday, not Sunday; it's after midnight), I'm 26 weeks and 4 days pregnant, and our baby is about 14" long from head to toe, or approximately the length of an English cucumber.

Winter Wonderland

Cucumber's been a busy little boy! By now, he has eyelashes, he's practicing breathing by inhaling and exhaling amniotic fluid, his ears are developed enough to hear most of the sounds around us (Don't you love your daddy's voice, baby?), he's gaining fat, and his little ballies are descending into his scrotum. I feel so lazy in comparison.

Bumpalicious.

I have started nesting, though, so I'm not a complete bum. Last week, we had our carpet ripped out and our hardwood floors refinished. If you've ever had this done, then you know what a nightmare this process is. We had to box up and empty our entire house as though we were moving, and we had to live with my mother-in-law for a week. Seven whole days. Yowza. But the floors are amazing! We also painted the nursery, but that'll get its own post.

Anyway, as far as symptoms go, I'm feeling healthy and ambitious, which is definitely a good thing—because there's still so much we have to do. I'm looking forward to it, though. My nighttime peeing and heartburn are still tolerable, and I've only had a few more excruciatingly painful leg cramps.

Someday, I'll get to roll around in the snow with my son, and I think it'll be the first time in my life I don't hate this freezing crap.

My horrible swelling hasn't returned, and at my appointment this past Monday, my OB said that considering my blood pressure was 109/67, there's no way I have preeclampsia—and that I must have worked my poor pregnant self too hard when we were boxing up our house to have our floors refinished.

Speaking of my appointment... it was wonderfully boring, for the most part. My fundal height measured a week ahead of where it "should" be, according to my already-adjusted-by-a-week due date, so we're going back in 9 days for an ultrasound, because my OB likes to monitor the big'uns. We were going to go to one of those 3D/4D elective ultrasound places next week, but I'll reschedule for later, since we'll get to see him again so soon.

Maybe he'll be more cooperative this time, and let his mommy get a better look at his sweet little face. I wanna see those eyelashes.

Thrifty Thursday #9

Today's Thrifty Thursday* is something a lot of people find superfluous, but I'd rather have it and hate it than not have it and wish I did. Here it is, a Balboa Baby Shopping Cart/Restaurant Chair Cover in the Suri print:

Stock Photo; I don't have a restaurant highchair in my house. 

Ebay Price: $27
Babies R Us Price: $46
Amount Saved: $19
Amount Left Before I Can Justify Buying My Joya Rocking Chair: $396

Because of his work schedule (7PM-7AM, not including his long commute) Danny and I eat out more often than we "should." I get home an hour before he leaves, and I'd rather spend what little time we have together chatting at a restaurant than flying around the kitchen, trying to make a good dinner in 20 minutes. Anyway, I've worked in restaurants, and I know how disgusting these highchairs are. I think we'll get a lot of use out of this thing.

*An explanation of Thrifty Thursdays:
According to my readers, I should spend approximately $300 on a rocking chair. I've already admitted that I'll be spending a whoppin' $1,000. That's a difference of $700.

To offset this $700, I plan on saving money elsewhere. Every week, I'll buy something for the baby from Craigslist or Ebay, and the amount of money I save will go toward this $700 difference. So, say I score a $200 stroller on Craigslist for $100. The $100 that I saved will be "banked," and I'll have to save $600 more to justify purchasing my glorious rocking chair. For a more in-depth explanation, see this post.

...and to All a Good Night! (By Danny)

Christmas Day is finally here, but our biggest gift won't arrive for another 99 or so days.  I can remember how magical the Christmas season was when I was a kid, how much anticipation and joy I felt, and it makes me happy to know that my little man will be feeling the same way in a few short years.

A couple weeks ago, I felt the baby move for the first time.  Wow.  I couldn't ask for a better gift than that.

Amanda and I have gone completely crazy with buying every cute thing we can find for our boy, and I couldn't care less.  I don't care how financially strapped we are, we will always find a way to make our Christmas magical (even if I have to sell my favorite guns).

This time last year, we were still mourning our first loss.  I kept replaying our ER visit in my mind. It was one of those life-defining moments you wish so hard you could just go back and erase. All of our fantasies of Christmas mornings felt like they were just flushed down the toilet.

Fortunately, feeling my boy move for the first time was also a life-defining moment, but the kind that makes you thank God or whatever it is you believe in for letting you experience it.

I imagine that this time next year will be another one of those moments. One of many.

99 Days Left

About a thousand years ago, I wrote this post, celebrating the fact that I'd made it out of the 200s—and had 199 days left of this pregnancy.

Today, I enthusiastically drop the "1" from my mental countdown. I have 99 days left.

I made this 99-link paper chain as a visual representation of my countdown. I need to find somewhere to hang it. (And look at my beautiful new hardwood floors!)

I love this number. It feels exactly right for where I am at this moment. It's the perfect amount of time to get the nursery finished (okay started and finished), as well as buy whatever else we still need to buy for our baby—and if I could somehow skip ahead to April 2nd, I can't believe I'm saying this, but I absolutely wouldn't.

As much as I can't wait to hold this little miracle in my arms—to feel his skin against mine and to hear his first healthy cry—I haven't gotten tired of carrying him around in my belly just yet. I need 99 more days of feeling him move in there, thriving and so full of life. I need 99 more days of wondering, "Can he feel that?" or "Can he hear this?" I need 99 more days of Danny holding my ever-growing bump as we fall asleep, smiling at every kick and flutter; 99 more days of Danny kissing my belly hello and goodbye; and of him pulling me close, pressing his cheek against my stomach, and saying, "I love you so much."

Anything longer than 99 days, though, would be overwhelming at this point. I feel like I've been waiting for this baby for a lifetime, and even though I often catch myself saying that I can't wait to meet him... I can. For about 99 days.

Thrifty Thursday #8

I'm pretty happy with this week's Thrifty Thursday*. Here it is, an Ergo Performance Carrier in Spring Green:

Ebay Price: $75, including shipping
Babies R Us Price: $145 ($135+$10 tax—which I don't usually count but am this time)
Amount Saved: $70
Amount Left Before I Can Justify Buying My Joya Rocking Chair: $415

Not too shabby, eh? I've been watching Ebay forever, and these usually go for about $100 there—but this seller apparently didn't do her research and offered a Buy It Now option of $65. Wham, bam, thank you, ma'am. 

*An explanation of Thrifty Thursdays:
According to my readers, I should spend approximately $300 on a rocking chair. I've already admitted that I'll be spending a whoppin' $1,000. That's a difference of $700.

To offset this $700, I plan on saving money elsewhere. Every week, I'll buy something for the baby from Craigslist or Ebay, and the amount of money I save will go toward this $700 difference. So, say I score a $200 stroller on Craigslist for $100. The $100 that I saved will be "banked," and I'll have to save $600 more to justify purchasing my glorious rocking chair. For a more in-depth explanation, see this post.