Happy Days

Sometimes when I think about my life, I wish I could store up the happiness of the good times to have saved for the harder times. This week is like that for me. My husband and I are bordering on a state of bliss. Though we've had by and large a very happy four years together, this pregnancy might encapsulate the best 9 months so far. We're both giggly and giddy and excited about the same things. A friend keeps warning me that most couples are less happy after they have kids, and while I don't doubt that might be true, I think Wes and I have an inkling of (though not a full appreciation for) what is to come after the pregnancy. And I think we'll love that part, too. Work is good. I have friends and family who are excited about our baby. And tomorrow, I turn 29 years old. Not the 25 I thought I would be when having my first, but then, who cares.

And in the midst of all this happiness and giddiness, we got to see our son. A big, healthy, wiggly boy laying in me breech with his legs wide open lest there be any confusion about his gender.

And at the midwife's office, more good news -- I'm still 7 lbs. under my starting weight. How's that for the icing on the birthday cake?

Wish List

I've added some linked lists to the right side of the blog. It is a wish list in multiple senses of the word. I wish we had an unlimited budget to dress up my fantasy nursery with some of the things on this list -- just for fun, understand, and not because I believe it will enhance the experience of motherhood --, but we won't spend the money on most of the pricier items. So if you feel the need to scold me after you see the price tags on some of these things, don't worry -- I already know better.

It is a wish list in the sense that any baby registry is a wish list. We wish people who want to buy us gifts would help us out with the things we most need -- like diapers at $17 a piece. And I've had so much fun shopping online for the past 15 weeks (let's be honest, few years), it would be fun to see a few of these items show up in the mail or at a baby shower.

It is not a wish list, though, for a few core items that we'll be buying ourselves sooner -- say, June -- rather than later. The crib, stroller, and car seat I'm pretty confident will come from this list, so it's fun to show people what we think will inhabit our baby's room. We've talked about what we'll spend a little more on, in the hopes that we can enjoy some things we like over multiple children, and we're pretty comfortable with our choices.

As with our list of names, I'm happy to share because I don't mind the criticism if others don't have similar taste. So link away.

Davidson Baby

One of my former students, now a senior at YWLCS, was recently accepted to Davidson with a full scholarship. She went down there a few weeks ago for Scholars Weekend, and she brought me back my very first baby gift: a Davidson sweatshirt for Wee Self. It must be the cutest thing ever. When I showed it to Wes, he commented on how small it is. Then I pointed it out that it's for a one-year old. His eyes got really big as he mentally shrunk the child down to its size at birth.

Who knows if we will produce a "legacy" child (ideally with scholarship), but we'll have fun sharing college memories, regardless.

Vote for the best baby onesie

After weeks of scouring the internet for funny baby onesies we'll probably never buy ($18.00???), I nominate the following five designs:

#1. That's How I Roll
#2. iPoo'd
#3. I Wasn't Born Yesterday (actually, Wes and I do plan to buy this one, and then bring the kid home from the hospital in it -- we're ironic like that)
#4. I Can't Read (probably funny only to my family)
#5. It was the dog. (no picture available that I could swipe to post)

Please vote in the comments.

When I was four

One of my students is putting together a page for the yearbook of teachers when they were little. I went thumbing through the pictures (many "borrowed" off my mom) and found this one. Seems appropriate as any.

I could be wrong...

But I think I'm definitely pregnant. There is certainly a baby belly there now. And my feet are disappearing.

My five favorite things we don't really need

At the behest of my sister and best friend, I have begun compiling a "registry" of sorts. It will be electronic, as no store seems to have the same eclectic taste that I do. The nursery theme, if you will, emerging is something of an "Animals and Alphabets" theme, thereby incorporating science and learning. While I am having immense fun shopping for baby goods, both the necessary and nonsensical, I fear the buying part won't be as much fun. Such it is that I have made my list of favorite things that I don't think we'll actually buy because we so don't need them. Nonetheless, they are on the registry because...well, why not. These things are on our list, just after things like a crib and stroller and cloth diapers. Everything is hyperlinked, so if you want to see the item, you can click on it and go. The furniture in the room is very minimalist and light, and the nursery is hardwood, so if you have suggestions on colors for things like the chair or blanket, let me know.

1. Sleepytime Rocker and Perch Stool from Nurseryworks
2. Frazier and Wing Mobile
3. Little Giraffe Baby Luxe Zip Jacket and Chenille Blanket (I found this blanket in a gift shop in Savannah with my sister, and it's the softest, sweetest thing I've ever seen. Fortunately, it's a bit cheaper online, though still pricey.)
4. Little Nerd ABC’s
5. Oopsy Daisy Animal Alphabet Mural

Here s/he is

The top photo shows the head and spine pretty clearly. The fetus is upside down inside me if that helps. The bottom one looks at first like a head with eye socket, but they "eye" is actually the heart beating away.