*Hitting The Bottle*

Apparently picking out bottles is much much harder than just putting them on your Target registry.

First of all there is a huge problem with baby bottles. Secondly, the glass bottles or BPA free plastic bottles that are recommended are hard to come by locally - unless you live hear a Whole Foods Market. Lucky you.


So, for the rest of us, we will have to beg and plead on our registry for internet bottles.

Evenflo Classic Glass Nurser 3 Pack (4 oz).

Evenflo Classic Glass Nurser 3 Pack (8 oz).

Born Free Twin Pack (9 oz).

Born Free Twin Pack (5 oz).

I know - glass could break, glass can cut, but I am pretty sure that my bro and I were raised on glass bottles and he is still alive. . .

Fat Foot

I used to read pregnancy guides that talked about things like swollen feet, difficulty sleeping, bad skin, peeing pants when sneezing, stretch marks . . . and callously thought to myself, "HA! Not MY pregnancy."

Dear god, I was so wrong.

My most recent "pregnancy symptom" is swollen feet, or as I call it fat potato foot. I had to buy new shoes. See below. I got them in black. I wore them to work. Yes, crocs at work. Desperate times indeed. As Ed pointed out, I can no longer make fun of the croc wearing co-workers. Damn. Guess I will have to find a new recreational activity.

Baby Shower Questions

I have had a few questions about the baby shower.

First question - "What is the deal with the book?" It was the intent to fill Ed Jr's library with great books, so he will grow up to be smart. So, bring us a copy of your favorite childhood book. Like when my niece was born, I bought her a copy of the Wizard of Oz and Heidi (my favorites), amongst some others. My brother's favorite books growing up were Hop on Pop and A Light in the Attic. The books definitely do not need to be new, they can be used and you don't have to bring one at all if you don't want. Maybe you weren't a reader growing up. Not judging. If you only want to bring books, cool, if you want to bring a book and another baby item, cool too. If you just want to promise me hours and hours of free babysitting so that you can read to Ed Jr. - outstanding!

Second question - "Which books does Ed Jr. already have?" I posted a list here of the Ed Jr. Future Presidential Library collection here. In addition to those books, he also has a copy of The Little Prince, The Big Book About Me, and Mother Goose's Nursery Rhymes.

34 Weeks - Doughboy?

We are 34 weeks pregnant. Ed Jr. is a doughboy - or so it seems. All I know is that he is so kicky. He gets the hiccups every night when I try to sleep. I think he is getting me back for coughing all day and night.

Belly button is still in.

This is Ed Jr. telling daddy to quit watching TV and start reading the Birth Partner's Handbook.

La Leche League

Okay - who is going with me? Jenkins, I am looking at you.

"La Leche League, a mother-to-mother, breastfeeding support group, has recently restarted in Helena. La Leche League is a nonprofit, nonsectarian group led by accredited leaders. We are dedicated to helping mothers breastfeed by offering encouragement, information and education. We also work to promote a better understanding of breastfeeding as an important aspect in the healthy development of babies and mothers. LLL meetings are held on the first Wednesday of every month at 11 a.m. at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church (Susanna Wesley Place) in the Fireside Room. We encourage pregnant moms to attend several meetings before baby arrives. Interested mothers or those with breastfeeding questions may also call our help line at 443-2069."

Baby Prep 101

So all of the books we have been reading are about the actual birth. I haven't so much as picked up a book on breast feeding or what happenes after Ed Jr. comes out. I hear that you need to feed them, and something about changing diapers, but other than that I am clueless.

So in order to study up, I am watching hours and hours of Bringing Home Baby on TLC to pick up some pointers. Feeding. Check. No sleep. Got it. Crying. Okay. Mobile above the changing table. Sure. . .

I have to do something while I sit on my butt sick. Homework.

33 Weeks!

We got back from our cruise on Sunday night. Late Sunday night. The cruise was fantastic. The boat, the ports, the food - all amazing. The weather was dreamy and we had an absolute blast with MIL and FIL.

We needed the vacation for sure.

On Suday we started the 33rd week of the pregnancy. It sounds like little Ed Jr. has his own immune system which is good because on Tuesday I came down with the WORST case of bronchitis I have ever had. I have been out of work since - which stinks because I need all of my sick leave for maternity leave.

Here is to dreaming that we are still adrift in the Caribbean. Oh and thank goodness I didn't get sick on the cruise.

Thanks MIL and FIL for the trip of a lifetime! Check out photos here.

*Robeez*

We would love some cute little boy Robeez - and they have them at the Real Food Store here in Helena! How cute are they?

*What 2 Expect The First Year*

I tried to add this to the registry site at Target, but it won't let me.

What To Expect the First Year.

It is available all over, it doesn't need to necessarily have to be Amazon.

*Diaper Extravangza*

We would like to register for some disposeable and cloth diapers in addition to the g-diapers. I don't know which we will like better or which will work for us, so I thought we could have a diaper buffet.

g-diaper update, they are sold at the Real Food Store here in Helena, unfortunately they only have the starter kit in medium, so we would like two or three starter kits in medium, that will get us the six diapers we will need to get by. Plus we would like to register for a couple of the flushable inserts in medium. We would still like the small g-diapers, but only one or two starter kits and flushable inserts.

We would also like to register for some Seventh Generation Diapers, in newborn size. They are available on-line and at the Real Food Store here in Helena.

We would love at least one or two three packs of the bum genius 3.0 cloth diapers. They don't come in any sizes, they are one size fits all. You pick the colors - but maybe avoid the blossom. . .

Midwife

We had our first meeting with our midwife today. I like her so much I wanted to hug her. She emphasized the importance of natural birth with little to no medical intervention - and only if necessary.

Ed Jr. liked her too - he was very busy kicking me while we were in her office.

32 Weeks

32 Weeks Pregnant! The photo on the link shows the baby head down and butt up. In real life, Ed Jr. is similar, his butt is jammed right under my rib cage on the right. His head and hands are down by my left hip. When I woke up this morning, you could practically see his butt sticking out of my belly right below my ribs. He was very stretched out and happy I was sleeping on my side.

In 4 weeks Ed Jr. can safely come out and 8 weeks he should come out.


The little girl working in the maternity store asked me yesteday if that was my real belly - apparently she thought I had the fake belly on to try on clothes. I showed her what was really going on in there.

Bon Voyage!

We are in Naples Florida with MIL and FIL about to head off to Ft. Lauderdale to launch on the Jewel of the Seas for a 8 night cruise around the Caribbean!



Posting will be light since we won't have a computer while on board - thank god.

Ed Jr. was a pretty good baby on the long flight from icy cold Montana to Florida. Although somewere between Salt Lake and Atlanta, my legs swelled up to the size of tree trunks. Apparently the double blood in my body pooled in legs - I am sure some of it had to do with the great pressure in the cabin.

Once we got here, it has been nothing but fun in the sun in Naples. Dinner with uncle Bill. Delish lunch at a place called the Docks., overlooking the bay. A walk along the beach in front of MIL and FIL's building. Dinner with Auntie Barb and Uncle Denny - where they gave me a webkins. It is a dog that you go online and build it a little life.

We also made a stop by the maternity store yesterday. Ed and FIL had a field day in there. They LOVE shopping for maternity clothes. You bet. Ed even wore the fake pregnant belly, apparently you can try clothes on with the fake belly to make sure they will fit when you are REALLY REALLY big. Unfortunately, I didn't just grow in my belly while pregnant, something happened to my butt too. Anyway, thanks to MIL and FIL, I will easily be the cutest pregnant lady on the Jewel of the Seas.

Just any of you are worried about me giving birth on the Jewel, not to worry, FIL assured me that he would step in as my Doula in case anything goes down.

On another note - Ed and I jokingly refer to this trip as our "Last Chance for Romance Tour" since for the next 18 years or so we will be busy taking care of Ed Jr.

Thanks Ann!

Last night Ann came into Jenkin's kitchen while I was cutting bread for Superbowl apps. I couldn't figure out why she didn't talk to me when she came in, but she didn't recognize me from behind. I interpreted that to mean that she couldn't tell I was pregnant from behind.

I love you Ann.

January

Ed quit drinking for the month of January - or as I like to call it - the best month of my pregnancy. It was amazing how slim he got during his one month off. His pants were practically falling off, while I was heading in the opposite direction.

We got a ton of stuff done in January - the house is ready for Ed Jr. to move in.

February marked the end of the sobriety month. The snoring has increased and I have to drive again. Plus, it makes me really miss beer. I swear once this baby is out - I am going to have a a guiness.

Check out my inny belly button below - it is about to pop. Sometimes I feel like if I eat too much it will go, but it is hanging in there.

Shoot!

Today was not the best day. First of all, our garbage disposal broke. We need to fix it before we leave so Allyson doesn't have to deal with that.

I woke up with a headache, that took Ed rubbing my shoulders all day to fix.

And lastly, the Patriots lost the Superbowl, which stunk. My best-est pregnant friend is a Pats fan, and it was hard to see that piece of ** Eli Manning beat the Pats. The Pats had the entire Coleman family behind them.

The only good thing about the superbowl was that I got to hang out with a bunch of my great friends.

Doula

Ed and I hired a Doula - my mom. She has a lot of work to do to live up to the demands of her job.

Numerous clinical studies have found that a doula’s presence at birth
tends to result in shorter labors with fewer complications
reduces negative feelings about one’s childbirth experience
reduces the need for pitocin (a labor-inducing drug), forceps or vacuum extraction and cesareans reduces the mother’s request for pain medication and/or epidurals

I am really hoping that her presence in the delivery room will reduce my chances of giving in to the pressures of "necessary" medical interventions during our ideal natural birth.

After seeing the Business of Being Born - I know that our decision to dump our current OB and try for a midwife to attend our hospital birth is going to be the right decision. I also know that having our Doula present during the labor will help to guide us to have the best birth we can have.

Maternity Fashion Show

Ed was subject to Maternity Fashion Show today. I tried on some of my summer clothes to see if they fit so I can pack them for our cruise. I just need a couple of pieces to fill in the awesome wardrobe MIL and FIL picked up for me and some clothes Jenkins lent me.

Suprisingly, some of my tops still fit. Not so much for the bottoms. . . I wonder if my two piece swim suits will still fit?

I am so excited for our ten day vacation! I can't believe I have to work for three whole days this week.

Check out one of my summer tops in February! 31 weeks pregnant.

Ed is feeling some sympathy pregnancy sypmtoms - well at least he should be. I wish he could carry my wiggly little basketball belly for me for just a week - or 5.

*Radio Flyer Wagon*

Ed Jr. is definately going to need a wagon. We would like to "register" for one. I don't want to put up a link to the one on Amazon because it is kind of pricy, so hopefully there are radio flyer wagons around that won't cost an arm and a leg. Ed likes the newer fancy ones, but I like the old school ones. I think the new ones are safer.