What to Buy?

Back before I discovered I was pregnant, I had a dream. I was pregnant, and in labor, but very early. Josh kept saying that we needed to go to the hospital, but I was freaking out because we had not bought 1 thing for the baby. We didn't even have a car seat yet. So ever since I learned I was pregnant, I have been wanting to be prepared.

I decided to start buying little things - diapers, onesies, etc - little by little. I'll pick something up every time I'm in Target. I've got a few things now, but then I learn that people are pretty particular in EVERYTHING baby that they buy. People swear by one brand of diapers over the other. Some people have always used the same, and some people say it depends on the sex of the baby to know which brand of diaper to use. I've been buying Gerber onesies, because that's the brand that the white onesies are at Target, but then I read something that says that they shrink really badly. I'm really more confused now, more than ever, about what to buy for my baby. Do I just wait until the baby comes to test things out? I have newborn and size 1 diapers, and now I'm worried that I bought the "wrong" brand. Or maybe I'm simply reading too much and listening too much to so many opinions. I swear things couldn't have been this hard for our parents when they were preparing for us.

But here's my main question - what do I buy now? My sister mentioned something about throwing a baby shower, and this morning, Josh told me that his mom and sister-in-law want to throw me a shower. I figure we'll combine it into one, because really - I don't know enough people to invite to 2 showers. But I'm starting to make a list of all things baby that I want, and I don't know what to leave until after the shower, and what is ok to buy now. I'm almost to the halfway point, and that kind of freaks me out. My sister-in-law is giving me her crib, which I'm very grateful for, but it's the only "big" thing we have. So how do I get to the point where I feel more prepared, but where I'm not going overboard?

My Baby's Heartbeat

I had my 16 week appointment yesterday. Josh wasn't able to go with me, so I thought I'd be a dork and bring along my camera so I could record the heartbeat. I acted like i did this for Josh, but really, I wanted it so I can listen to it whenever I want to! Ignore the video, it's just the ceiling. I didn't really want to record my belly, but I just did it for the sound. The heartbeat started out around 155 and then jumped up to 160.

I am scheduled for my ultrasound on September 9th. I can't wait to find out the sex of this little person inside of me!! It all still seems so surreal. It really felt real when Amy and Charlie had their baby, and I realized that I would be there in 6 months. But some days, it's still a hard concept to grasp. I guess the whole idea of creating life is just amazing!!

What??

So a blogging friend posted about this website on her blog. And I thought I'd give it a try. And now I'm laughing at what they came up with. You upload a picture of yourself and your spouse, and they show you a picture of what your child will look like. This is what I got:

For a boy...

and our little girl...


How do they come up with this? I don't get it! Maybe I shouldn't have chosen a picture where Josh's face is shadowed...

Monday Musings

• First and foremost - the most exciting news of the day! Some of you know, but Josh has been looking for a new job. After sending out many resumes, he found one job that he was really excited about and really wanted. It's for a company called Ingenix. I'm not exactly sure what they do, but it's something to do with selling some product to help with medical billing. I believe they are owned by United Health Care. Anyway, he went in for an interview a week ago. They were interviewing several people for 2 positions, so they told him they would call him back for a second interview if he made it through the first. Well, he got a call back, and he went in on Friday for his second interview. And we got the good news today that he got the job!!! I know many of you were praying for him, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your prayers and support. I can't tell you how much it means to me. The company is a large one, and if he works hard he'll be able to start working up in a short amount of time. If all goes as planned, I will be able to be a stay-at-home mommy, and I can't think of anything I want more! He starts training on August 11th, so he still has 2 weeks of freedom. I'll be making a list of things I want done around the house before he is a working man again!

• I have to explain the picture above - proof that I have the most spoiled and funny dog. He sleeps in the bed with us, but he is definitely a bed hog. If he had it his way, he'd have the whole bed to himself! If one of us gets up in the morning and the other is still sleeping, he'll spread out on the side of the bed that's empty. This morning, I got up to go to the gym. When I got home, Josh came out and told me to quietly come look in the bedroom. It was still dark, but I just had to laugh seeing how he was sleeping on my side of the bed! I got the camera out and had Josh flip on the light quickly so I could take a picture. Not the best picture, but I got a good laugh out of it! (That's his feet sticking out - the rest of him is burrowed under the covers!)

• Speaking of the gym, I really need to get my gym mojo going again. We used to work out 6 mornings a week. Then we cut down to 5, taking Saturdays off so that we could do yard work all morning. But the last week or 2, I've been down to 3 days. Ugh. I'm just so tired, but I know I feel better when I work out and it's better for my pregnant body. So this week, I'm committing to 5 days! It's hard because I've been going by myself because Josh's knee has been so bad, but I guess I have to get used to it since he's going back to work!

• We've had our kitchen cabinet doors up for a few weeks now. I need to take pictures and post, but we need to put handles up still. I have them picked out, but we've been waiting for Josh to go back to work until we bought them. That will be one of the chores I have for Josh, and then I'll post some pictures!

• Josh got called to be a teacher in Primary yesterday. He was so excited yesterday morning, but after church, he commented on how this was going to teach him patience! He's cute, though, because he's started a list with all kinds of ideas and things that he wants to do for his class. Before I got called into Young Women's, I was really hoping we'd get called into primary together, but it will be good for him.

• Also church related - it looks like October will probably be the month that we will be sealed in the temple. I would push it back so we could go for our anniversary on November 11th, but I know Janell is due just before that, and I want to make sure all of my family is there. Josh will be ordained an Elder at the next Stake Conference at the end of September. (on a side note, I never knew that you had to be ordained at a stake conference...) We start temple prep classes in 2 weeks - this is a very exciting time for us!

Ok, I think that's all for now. It seems like I have tons to say one day, then nothing for weeks... I guess that's the story of my life!

Another Baby Question...

and then maybe my next post will be something not baby related!!

I seriously don't know why I'm so paranoid. I thought that after I heard the baby's heartbeat, I'd be able to breathe a sigh of relief. But I've been losing weight this week, and now that has me paranoid! I had myself all prepared to start gaining a pound a week (that's a mental hurdle to get over!), but then as I've been on the scale this week (yeah, I have a problem with weighing myself too much!) I've weighed less than my "official" weight I take each Sunday, even when it's been at the end of the day, after I've eaten.

So now my next "big" thing I'm looking forward to is being able to feel this little tyke. Maybe if I feel him/her kicking in there, I won't be quite so paranoid! Everything I read says that a first-time mother will usually feel the baby sometime between 16 and 20 weeks. Granted, I'm only 13 1/2 weeks, so I still have a few weeks to go, but I'm taking a survey:

When did you first feel your baby move? And what did it feel like?

I read some message boards where some people claim to be able to feel their babies at 8 or 10 weeks, but I don't know what to believe. And I know it's easier to spot it once you know what it feels like.

I'm eager for this milestone and just want to see how it happened for everyone else!

Opinions!!!

Ok, so I am a total first time mother. I'm kind of freaking out about everything, so I need lots of help and opinions - and I'm starting today! So please - all of you moms out there - please tell me what you what you think...

We've decided to just start buying things every week, from diapers to onesies to the big stuff, just so that we don't get closer to the end and have to buy everything. I figure if we buy it a little bit at a time, it won't feel like we're spending a ton of money all at the same time.

So on Saturday, I was walking through the baby section at Target. I wasn't planning on buying anything big quite yet, but this stroller/car seat combo caught my eye because it was on sale. I like the pattern because I think it would be good for a girl or a boy. It's normally $190 but on clearance for $134. But I'm scared to buy anything! I don't want to spend extra money on things that others think are not necessary, but I don't want to be cheap at the same time.

So what do you all think about the stroller/car seat combo? Is this like what you bought? Or did you buy them separate? I really need your opinions, so please let me know what you did with your first child, and if you would do the same if you were to do it again!

Memory Lane

I saw this on my friends blog, and thought it looked like a lot of fun....

Here are the directions....

1. As a comment on my blog, leave one memory that you and I have together. It doesn't matter if you knew me a little or a lot, anything you remember...

2. Next, repost these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It's actually pretty cool (and funny) to see the responses. If you leave a memory, I'll assume you're playing the game and I'll come to your blog and leave a memory for you!