It's fall - the air feels crisp, it's getting darker earlier, and the leaves are just starting to change color. I love this time of year. Although we're getting a taste of something we never had to do last year - clean up leaves! We are so lucky to have some really beautiful and old trees at our new house, but they make for a lot of garbage. Still, its a great excuse to get outside, enjoy the crisp air and get some exercise - for Jeff! I've become mistress of our domain and I've been frantically getting the baby's room ready.
I finished our registry on Saturday. For those interested, I registered primarily at Babies 'R Us and Target. I also have a few items on Pottery Barn Kids. In completing this process, I almost had a total meltdown in Babies 'R Us. Apparently, I picked the wrong weekend to register. It was the "grand opening" of the new Toys 'R Us/Babies 'R Us SUPERSTORE and it was a total madhouse. I was so grateful that I had brought my iPod and headphones because I could actually drown out the hoards of screaming and crying children. Just wait, I know...but I've got some time yet.
In any case, the baby's crib came in and Jeff and I made an inaugural trip to Ikea this weekend to pick up a bookshelf. I am very proud to say that I put both pieces of furniture together and they are steady. And, I didn't have any leftover pieces at all!
The changing table and dresser should arrive today and my mom and I are going out this weekend to look for rocking chairs. I'll need an end table and curtains and then I think we'll be set! I've got four showers in October, and I'll pick up everything else we need after that. I will say that the whole process of registering for our showers has really overwhelmed me. I know there are the essentials (i.e. crib, car seat, stroller) but I'm always concerned that there are other "essentials" that I have no clue about. I'm lucky to have such great girlfriends, who sent me charging into the unknown with a very handy shopping list.
The baby's closet is also starting to fill up. I should actually take a picture of that to put up here. He's got more shoes than I do! Hopefully, I can remember that for next week.
And, here we are at the end of our twenties (weeks, that is):
We have our thirty week appointment today. I don't think anything exciting will happen beyond a heart beat check, measurements, and a weight check. I will say that this baby is strong. His feet have been lodged up on my right side, in my rib cage for about a week now. Last Friday, he kicked me so hard that he knocked the wind out of me and for a few minutes, I thought he had cracked a rib. In the end, I think he just bruised me but I did have a tough time breathing over the weekend. Regardless, I think it's because the baby is sitting up so high, he's actually resting on my diaphragm and lungs. We'll still mention it to Duckie today, though.
This week, the baby's brain has kicked into high development. One of the things I didn't know is that when a baby's brain develops, it's smooth. It isn't until this week that it gets the "wrinkles" and takes on the appearance of a normal human brain. Apparently, this is to allow for an increased amount of brain tissue, which is obviously important. Additionally, the baby's bone marrow now takes over the production of red blood cells which is an essential step, as he will be better able to thrive once he is born. His body temperature is also being regulated by his own body fat and brain now. He's also as big as a butternut squash and weighing in at over three pounds. He continues to remain active and reminds me of his presence almost constantly. He's big enough now that you can actually feel his feet from outside my stomach. This is something that has fascinated Jeff to no end. And, unless it's happening in the middle of the night, I think it's pretty amazing too.
One of the things I anticipated but really do not appreciate are the "belly touchers" out there. If you've been pregnant, you know what I mean. I'm perfectly okay with a belly rubbing - as long as one asks! I find it very odd that there are a number of people out in this world that think it's okay to just reach up and rub a person's stomach. It seems to be a very intrusive gesture. Perhaps the thought is that the stomach is no longer "mine" but the baby's...still...just ask. I was in the check out line at Target the other day and this woman just came up and started cooing about the belly (as if I was either a dog or a three year old) and then grabbed my stomach on BOTH sides. I wanted to reach out and rub her belly to see how she liked it.
And finally, somewhat unrelated, I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge the ten year passing of September 11. Years ago, back when I was in grade school, I remember we had an assignment to ask our parents where they were when they found out JFK was assassinated. I suppose, at some point, our children will have a similar assignment and ask us where we were when we found out about the attacks on New York City and Washington. The pastor at church brought this up yesterday, and asked each of us to recount where we were when we heard "The News." My dad, somewhat sardonically, muttered under his breath, "Uh, Tower Two."
Jeff and I spent a long time at my parents house yesterday after church, just talking about that day. It's been an incredibly painful subject to discuss over the past ten years, for obvious reasons, I suppose. I never really thought about how that made my dad feel. But yesterday, I learned a lot about what he went through that day and the days following. I guess it will always be something difficult to remember and talk about, but yesterday, I think I was finally ready to hear his story. And one day, when he's old enough, I'll share his grandpa's with Jack too.
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