Baby's First Concert

I learned a hard lesson this week.
1. I am not 20 years old anymore
2. I can not stay out super late on a 'work' night and expect to be good to go the next morning
3. Pregnancy amplifies #1 and #2 - especially at 37 weeks

On Thursday evening, Logan and I plus a few of our friends went to go see the band Old Crow Medicine Show - a bluegrass/folk/country band that we all really like. They came to Radford University which is only about 30 minutes away and the tickets were relatively cheap compared for what they usually are for the band so we all said - hey why not? I had a doctor's appointment right after school (everything still a-ok - the head is RIGHTthere according to dr. but not dilated yet) then we ran home and changed clothes and headed out.

We had a lot of fun and it was an amazingly good concert - it was in a small auditorium so luckily there were seats I could sit down in when I got tired (which was pretty often). All in all we survived but I was so wiped out when I got up on Friday (I won't even say what time we got home - let's just say it was LATE) and my feet were about as swollen as loaves of bread. Logan suggested going out to eat yesterday evening and I couldn't even stand the thought of being out - we came home from work and I immediately laid down and we had leftovers for dinner! I learned my lesson!!

So, things are progressing nicely - I told Logan if I could make it through one more week of school I would be happy (even though my 'technical' start of maternity leave is May 1st I don't care at this point). It's hard to believe my due date is only 3 weeks away and my doctor pretty much told me it could be any time now - I don't like the part of not knowing but I guess all I can do is be as prepared as I can - bags are packed, car seat is installed, crib is set up - we're good to go!

On that note, it's time to go get the house in somewhat of a decent shape. Here's a picture of the baby's first concert she ever attended:


I 'secretly' shot a short video of the concert with my camera but unfortunately it is just a hair too big to upload straight to here so instead, here is the music video for probably the band's most popular song 'Wagon Wheel'


Enjoy!

In Search of the Holy Grail

Logan and I have decided to do something that is virtually unheard of - at least around here it is. We have decided to use mostly cloth diapers for the baby. I can hear people 'ewwwwing' as I type because it's just not something most people would consider anymore. Our reasons are simple enough -

- It's a lot cheaper - think of how many packs of diapers you have to buy A WEEK compared to something that you reuse over and over
- Better for the environment - it takes disposable diapers approximately 550 years to decompose in a landfill!!! Ack! That times x number of diapers I will be using a day - hmmm - as a part of our trying to live as 'green' as possible that just doesn't sit will with me.
- Healthier for baby - babies get far less diaper rashes when using cloth diapers plus I can't even imagine what kind of stuff is IN a diaper that makes it suck up all of the moisture.

Of course we got some disposable diapers for baby showers and free samples and such AND I will probably use what we have - especially for the first week or so and also on trips and heaven forbid I ask a babysitter to use cloth diapers. If it was up to me and my budget the baby wouldn't have to go to a babysitter but I am pretty sure we aren't going to be living off of Logan's salary any time soon (maybe I should start playing the lottery).

The only problem I am running into is availability. It is close to impossible to find cloth diaper-related supplies around here. I have aquired a lot of 'prefolded' type of diapers and have about 3 AIO (all-in-ones - they are the diaper and cover all together). I don't mind using the pre-folds except I am having a HARD time finding diaper covers to put over them. I have 2 of the Bum Genius AIO's and as I was searching online they had a wonderful idea of folding the pre-folds into the AIO's so you don't have to wash everything, just the prefold. I am still searching for some covers and am going to bring it up to my sewing-Queen mother-in-law to see if maybe we can make some.

I don't know why this is harder that it should be for me wanting to so something productive but I guess it has to do with living where we do (in the south) and the mindset of most people of not even wanting to give it a try. I have always thought Logan and I really aren't like 'most people' and it becomes evident when we try to do something like this!

Mine!

Cleo is pretty sure all of the new baby stuff is for her. Especially the bouncy-seat...
She especially likes the vibrating feature.
By some miracle, none of the kitties have bothered the pack-n-play we have set up in the office/bedroom area! I am already weaning them off of sleeping in the bedroom with us and it seems to be going well - even little Moses is semi-OK with the arrangement although I do let them in first thing in the morning for a cuddle before I get in the shower. The count-down is on - 4 1/2 more weeks (give or take) to go! Any bets for birthday yet?

Partying Baby-Shower-Style

I swear I have not dropped off the face of the Earth! This past week has worn me out completely but was fun! Last weekend my 'City Mouse' friend Becca came up and gave me a WONDERFUL baby shower along with friends and our church family. I can't believe how many people showed up and all of the great things we got! I am still overwhelmed (and still sorting and washing and putting away!). Here are a few pics of the fun (but exhausting) day!

Becca 'holding' the baby (this is after the shower and you can tell how tired I am!)

Both my and Logan's family

I just love this picture because I actually DON'T look pregnant from behind! I have definitely carried all of my weight up front.

After the shower it's assembly time!

There are, of course, a ton more - I will try to figure out doing a slideshow and add them on at another time so you can get the whole 'feel' of the shower! It has definitely made everything more real now having baby stuff everywhere and a stroller and a car seat in the car. It's hard to believe that I'm down to the final countdown - 6 more weeks!! I am starting to check things off of my list and be ready. The crib is ordered so that will REALLY make a difference getting that set up. I told Logan last night that every time I walk into the baby's room it starts looking more and more like a bedroom. Furniture is set up, we bought new knobs for the dressers (which by the way were my dressers growing up) and I moved the rocking chair in there. A few more finishing touches like curtains and pictures should definitely do it!

Hopefully this week will be a little calmer. I don't have a million appointments and to-do's scheduled except for our very last baby class! Next week starts Spring break where I'll get a little bit of a rest in my final stretch of work. It's becoming very real, very fast that's for sure!!

Is That Normal?

I can tell my body is going through a major hormone overload as of late just by the way I have been feeling - and acting! I have been very weepy lately, it hasn't taken much to set me off into a fit of tears which I really don't like. I think it kind of freaks Logan out too because I am not really a habitual cryer - normally just when I am mad and frustrated (the DMV tends to make me cry...).

I can also tell big changes in my body. I have trouble bending down to pick something up or tie my shoe or whatever - it never fails I drop a marker or paper or something in class and hope that one of my kids will pick it up for me because it takes an act of God for me to get down and up again without making grunting noises. Pleasant...My ankles and feet have taken on a very Fred Flintstone-esque shape to them - fat and flat. The warm weather at the beginning of the week was AWESOME because I could wear sandals that let them 'spread out' a little but it is just one of those things I have to cope with. Oh - and my bellybutton 'timer' is nearing it's popping point. Gross.

I can tell I am slowing down a LOT - I am tired and achy (good excuse for a bath in the evenings but since when I have I needed an excuse?). So how many more weeks? Haha - 8 as of now...I am REALLY hoping I make it to at least week 39 - that is my 'planned' last day at school and I am such a planner it's going to push me over the edge to not be ready if I do go earlier. I am hoping that I will enjoy that last week to myself and I can actually get something done to prepare for the baby instead of being antsy and impatient. I am currently having a hard time with focusing - I haven't knit in awhile because I just can't see to get my head into it and have a paper due for a class I took that I REALLY need to sit down and write but curling up in bed or watching tv always sounds so much more inviting. Any suggestions for a motivation surge?

Belly pictures will be coming soon - I am beginning to feel like a blimp but from what everyone tells me I am all belly so I hope they are not just being nice! :)