25 Weeks

This week was a rough one, we were so busy and it’s hard to do a lot on not very much sleep.  I am actually starting to “feel” pregnant – my legs get tired, standing is tough for a long time, laying on my back is uncomfortable, I am sore just from doing the slightest repeated movements, I’m out of breath, I’m scatterbrained and it’s hard to remember things, I feel disorganized and I wake up and start worrying about all kinds of things and can’t go back to sleep.  Acid reflux has also been a killer this past week, it seems like everything I eat (even peanut butter!) gives it to me – yuck.

But, the craziest pregnancy thing DID happen to me this week.  I was sitting at my podium, teaching the kiddos, when I felt a kick up by my ribs.  I was kind of hunched over (I sit in a high chair) and it was just the slightest, but repeated, tapping feeling.  I thought, "Oh my gosh, she has the hiccups!" and just assumed that is what it was because it went on for about 10 minutes.  Then, as I sat there a bit longer, I felt a galloping, like a heartbeat in the same spot.  What I'm thinking is that her little chest was pressed up against the inside of mine and I was feeling her HEARTBEAT from the inside.  Is this weird to anyone?  Has this ever happened to anyone before?  It was the strangest but the coolest thing!

And last night, when we were trying to find her little chest on the doppler (Ian said he misses finding her heartbeat every night now that I feel her moving around so much), Ian held the doppler wand on a part of my stomach and I could feel the beat from the inside, as he was pressing, against the doppler wand.  So, I'm thinking that was her heartbeat I felt earlier - and it was THE COOLEST.

I went back to yoga this week after taking two weeks off because I was sick and then were out of town.  Two of the ladies who were due that day or that weekend last time, were not there of course, and there were some new ladies.  It was a joy again talking and getting to know everyone, and one of the ladies even said that all of things she is learning at her lamase classes at the hospital she already knew, because of this yoga class.  I plan to go every week and hope that's me at my classes, super knowledgeable and calm - we'll see!

I did have an issue with yoga this week and it is totally my own issue.  We went into a down dog pose, raised one leg and bent it behind us, totally twisting to one side and looking under the opposite arm.  First of all, all my prenatal DVDs do not include this and everyone says twists are a "no no" when pregnant, and also I was scared because this looked like a pose I used to do all the time in regular yoga!  I did it, did not go to my limit and got nervous when the teacher said we were going to do it again with a partner, opening up even more and twisting.  So, I raised my hand and asked, "How do we know that we haven't gone to far?  I used to do this pose all the time and can go to the limit, but how do I know when to stop so that it's safe for baby?"  Everyone in the class looked at me like I was crazy and the teacher replied that I can do the full pose, even pregnant.  What?!

So, let me tell you my issue.  I have said many times before that if it weren't for losing our blueberry I would totally be this lady:

But, since I lost a baby and was doing all kinds of crazy yoga the first time around, pregnant, I am not this lady today.  And, even though I have moved on and am in a great place, I still think it is unfair sometimes.  Yep, it totally is.  People who have not lost babies dont' have this fear that I have, like maybe I shouldn't be running, bending down, lifting that, etc. because I did all of my normal stuff last time and look what happened.  I am fully aware that there was no specific reason why we lost the blueberry (and know that more than 80% of the time it's all how the chromosomes come together) but it's hard not to think sometimes that part of it was because I was still doing yoga like crazy and running on the treadmill.  I know, I know there are women who do marathons pregnant and the lady above who can do a handstand pregnant - but I guess it just wasn't in the cards for me.

Having to "hold back" because of my own fear at yoga is frustrating and disappointing.  I get disappointed in myself like I should just go for it and then I get frustrated because I can do it but don't want to hurt the baby.  Then I'm mad at myself because I know it's safe and that she's ok so why am I sitting here half assing this when I could just do it and be fit and pregnant?!  But then the fear takes over again and I say why do that, who cares as long as baby is healthy it doesn't matter if you are fit.  Fit will come again.  This is my inner struggle and it was what I thought about every day I sat on the couch during my 1st trimester and skipped yoga and our treadmill got dusty.  Three weeks ago I showed up at this prenatal yoga class after not going to yoga since October - that's how long I was without my favorite thing and how long I felt like some part of me was missing.  Returning to this class, at my studio, has helped but then I realized I had this fear and got sad about it.

I called Ian after class and we talked about how we are still so mad that this happened to us.  Life is good and we are moving forward and I don't dwell on the events of the past, I have truly moved on, but sometimes I remember and just get plain old mad about it.  I wanted to be that super cute pregnant person that was in great shape and just had a belly but instead I am this winded, tired legs pregnant person who has trouble sleeping lately probably from lack of exercise!  Don't get me wrong, I do things, but don't walk as much as I should and don't do the prenatal DVDs as much as I should at home.  It sucks because I like feeling good, feeling healthy and working out, but my own fear gets in the way. 

I tried to overcome my fear that night, I tried to do the full pose but found myself still backing out, wanting to protect my lemon.  This may just be me for the rest of this pregnancy, and that's ok too.  I just have to get over the person I wanted to be or thought I would be and start focusing instead on the person I am.  I spoke with the teacher after class and she said the same thing, it's my body and mind telling me to be careful and that's totally ok.  I think so too.

This weekend was full of shopping and painting. Every day I went shopping, thinking it was only going to be for a couple of hours, got home hours later and painted the trim and shelving in the lemon's room (yes, we have a name, no you don't get to know it yet).  On Saturday I met my mom, after a great night's sleep (rare these days) and we went to Babies R Us and Buy Buy Baby (and out to lunch of course!).  The Babies R Us we went to was in really bad shape, even though it was in a nice part of town, and I was totally unimpressed with the cribs, dressers and bedding - it was all not so cute.  So, after lunch, we headed to Buy Buy Baby (the Bed, Bath and Beyond of baby land) and it was better!  Everything was so cute I wished that I had put that on my invitations (as my registry place) instead of Target but it was too late, they were already printed.  They had everything you could imagine and everything was laid out so nicely, I loved it. 

We left with a few things, mostly sheets, blankets and closet organizers and I headed home around 5 to paint.  I had so much fun that day with my mom and love it when we can spend a whole day together, no matter what we do.  Ian and I painted until 7 and then got hungry and laid around the rest of the night.  This is when I decided that standing for a long time is not as easy as it used to be - my legs were so sore and tired that night!  (It was also probably getting up and down from the step ladder while painting.)  My mom was busy this weekend too addressing and stuffing all of the shower invites, building little popcorn boxes for the shower and washing all of our baby clothes.  She worked really hard, and I always appreciate all she does for us!

Sunday, Christine and I headed to Target to register for my shower (since the invites are going out this week).  I decided to have a Wish List on Amazon because you can add things from anywhere on the internet, and to do Target because it was simple and there's one close to everyone (and it's online too).  I am not too fancy and did Target for our wedding too instead of Crate and Barrel (or anything like that), I guess it's just my choice registry place!  I was nervous because the day before I got a bit overwhelmed (almost cried) and didn't want to feel like that again.  We stopped by our friend June's house, got a swing that she's giving me and said hi to her cute little girl, Phoenix, and then made our way to the store.  It took us about 3 hours (and 3 pee breaks) but we got it all done.  There were a few things I had to look up online and add, but they had most everything we'd need.  Christine has a 5 year old so she kept having to write her lover, Jeremy, to ask him things like "how many bottles did we use" and "did we have a dishwasher caddy" but I think she remembered things pretty well.  She even taught me how to open and close a big travel system stroller, which was impressive - I love when she's in "mom mode!"

Christie texted me right as we were leaving and said that she and Jenny were heading to where we were to go to a street fair.  Yay!  So we met them and all had lunch at Barros, a pizza place here that I heard had gluten free crust.  I talked about it almost the whole time we were at Target so they let me go there, even though Jenny is vegan, and I got a whole pizza to myself, it was delicious!  We sat and chatted, I love those girls, and then I headed home around 3:30.  Got home, painted and the night went kind of like the night before with me on the couch with tired legs not wanting to move.

The weekend FLEW by and again I didn't get to take my weekly pic on Sunday so it had to wait until today - I am so behind on these each week!  The baby room is consuming us, I just want the paint and floors to be done so I can start organizing and decorating!  We should be all set for flooring this upcoming weekend and I can’t wait to see it all together – baseboards and all.  The color is really pretty, it has grown on me and it is totally the perfect shade, and now the fun part can start.  I’ve been looking online for curtains and bedding and I’ve come to the conclusion that I think I need to order fabric and then get some custom curtains, rocking chair pads and bedding made.  I don’t sew, and neither does my mom, but a couple of good friends in Oregon would help, but I don’t want it to be a lot of work for someone so I just pay someone on Etsy to make the stuff for me and send them the fabric.  I ordered about 15 swatches from here today and I’m hoping some will match so I can start planning it all out.

I also have narrowed down my crib choices to two different ones but still haven't found a dresser I like.  Maybe I need to buy the dresser first and then match the crib to it, that might work.  My mom and are are going to Ikea on Thursday night (4 day weekend ahead for us!) to look and get the flooring.  The Babyletto Hudson (first pic) and the Babyletto Mercer.  I don't need a lot of storage since we will have a gigantic Ikea Expedit bookcase in there and a dresser, so the drawer isn't a deciding factor for me.  Both are non-toxic, environmentally friendly, 3 in 1 convertible cribs.  With the first I could have a skirt that hangs down, I think, and with the second I wouldn't because I'm not a big fan of the skirt covering the drawer.  Which do you like better?

And I finally got to put together something in the baby's room - the closet!  Half of her closet will be dedicated to our winter clothes and half to her clothes.  I found out I have room for another polka dot box on top and a single hanging shelf on the side, gotta go pick those up so it can be done!  The pink and aqua look so cute together and it looks so fresh with the white, I'm super happy with the colors.  Now, curtains for closet doors or actual doors?  So many decisions!

11 Things

Julia tagged me in her 11 Things post so here are mine!

The Rules:

1. Post these rules.

2. You must post 11 random things about yourself.

3. Answer the questions set for you in the post you were tagged in.

4. Create 11 new questions for your tagees to answer.

5. Tag them on Twitter, Facebook or your blog.

11 random things about me:

I always get stumped on stuff like this.  I can think of things about me but they all seem so boring that it's hard to want to put them in a list for all to see.  I can never think of anything unique or exciting or anything anyone would want to read about.  So, I will do my best.

1.  I have 7 tattoos.  All but two of them (little stars on my feet) I do not like.  I haven't been tattooed in 8 years and I have an unfinished back piece that I can't bring myself to finish because I can think of a million things I'd rather do with my time and money.  I appreciate my tattoos and what they represented in my life, and can remember all of the times I got them and why, but I'd rather not have them all.  (I know Mom, you were right.)

2.   I always have something in my eye (my husband gave me this one).  It's true, every night I itch my eyes and am constantly pulling something out of them (normal allergy stuff).  I hate my eyeballs - they are too small, always red and always itchy; and it's why I hate wearing contacts too.  I want new eyeballs or lasik surgery.

3.  I love TV.  I know this will change when the baby comes but ever since I was little, I have loved watching TV or movies.  I don't listen to music to relax, and find it kind of distracting when I'm trying to get things done, but the TV lets my mind wander and takes me to a place of pure relaxation.  I hate when TV shows end or get cancelled (I always cry), and when a TV show is done and I have to wait a week for a new episode I imagine my TV people as real people living their lives during that time just like me.  I know, weird right?!

4.  I love my job but hate working.  I don't get up every morning and dread going to work, I love what I do and have been teaching for almost 11 years (since I was 21 and taught 17 year olds!).  I am not one of those people who would work at a job they hate, I have to love it in order to do it.  But, I hate working.  Summer is my most favorite time because I love waking up whenever, going to bed whenever and not having a set schedule.  I get a little "Groundhog Day" when it's late in the year, I get tired of doing the same thing over and over again.  

5.  I believe all living things are connected - all animals, plants and people.  When a plant looks sad or a flower is squished, it makes me sad.  No, I'm not a hippy, but I do believe that there is a common tone emitted in life and we are all a part of it.

6.  My favorite food is macaroni and cheese - kind of a strange one for someone who is gluten free, I know.  But, it still is my favorite and Annie's makes a killer one that tastes just as good as the one in the blue box (or maybe it hast just been almost a year since I've had the real thing!).

7.  I am often disappointed.  It's my own fault and it is solely because I set a situation up in my head to go exactly how I think it will go and then, when it turns out differently, I'm disappointed.  I try to go with the flow and I have gotten better at it, but it's a hard habit to break.  It's like I think the way I think it will go is the right way and any way else it could go is the wrong way.  I hate it.

8.  I am an organized person, maybe too organized.  I have what they call a "concrete sequential" personality.  I like an orderly, quiet environment and can't read or do anything with sound in the background.  If I am going somewhere I need to know everything about it - time, what to wear, who will be there, who is driving, etc. or I won't go.  Some may call it boring but I look at it like I'm always prepared.  My husband, on the other hand, is completely opposite (they attract, you know) and he keeps me spontaneous.  It has been tough to mesh our two personalities but my organization is good for him and his "fly by the seat of your pants" attitude has been good for me (even though I hate to admit it).

9.  (What am I on - 9?!  This is tough!)  Ummmmm . . . I do not like being an only child, and especially didn't like it when I was younger but am now thinking I wouldn't mind having only one child (I know, I know Mom and Dad - I owe you for years of making you feel bad about this!).  I was lonely when I was younger and remember being so sad when my neighbors had to go home for dinner and I was left alone to play; but having one child seems so economical today.  You can travel where you want (only bringing one kid), money isn't an issue as much and the way the population is going I'm not contributing too much to the 9 billion people that will be in the world by the time our parents are older.  BUT (and that's a big but), I would love to see how siblings interact and would love to give our little girl a brother or a sister - something I never had.  I'm conflicted but I have a feeling it will work itself out if it is meant to be.

10.  I am apparently a clothes hoarder - but isn't every girl?  I have no business having 3 tubs full of jeans (two currently up in the attic and one to give away) with another drawer full of more jeans that fit me currently.  I have 3 of the 4 closets in our house and STILL have no room for all of my clothes.  It's a problem.

11.  (Oh my gosh - 11!)  After watching the movie Food Inc., we stopped eating all meat that isn't organic.  We started slowly at first and then got better at it and now pretty much stick to it.  I may cave on a steak once in awhile (still from a health food store but not labeled "organic") but I don't think I could ever eat a hamburger or chicken patty (or nuggets, ew!) out, anywhere, knowing what is in it, how they process it, how many different cows/chickens are in it and knowing what the quality of life is for the animals before they kill them.  No thank you.

11 questions from Julia:

1. What would you do if you won $1000 right now?

 I would pay off our American Express bill (the only debt we have aside from our new car).  Or, pay someone to lay the hardwood floors for us in the baby's room!

2. What inspires you? (very vague, I know).

When a student from my class (in an urban area of Phoenix) gets something.  Not just gets it, but gets it - like it all comes together for them.  Or when they apply themselves and receive opportunities they normally wouldn't have had, and leave their area and do something more.  That's truly inspiring.

3. Where in the world would you go if you had an all-expenses paid vacation gifted to you?

 Ooooo, this is a good one!  I would probably go to a remote island in Fiji or Tahiti and stay in a bungalow over the water and just be.  Nothing to do, no place to go - sounds lovely. 

4. Favorite season of the year and why?

 Summer because school is out and I don't have to go back for over 2 months!

5. Favorite place to shop, online or in store?

Before pregnant - Victoria's Secret online.  After pregnant - Etsy.

6. If you could meet any celebrity, alive or dead, who would it be and why?

Hmmm this is a toughie!  Marilyn Monroe?  Just to find out exactly what her deal was.

7. What is your worst habit?
I think my worst habit, and I'm happy it only really affects me, is that when I use the last of the toilet paper, I always forget to replace the roll.  Then, next time I sit down, there is no toilet paper (and I usually find this out after I've already peed!).  Good thing I use the master bathroom (and Ian uses the hall/guest one) or this would be trouble for everybody!  

8. This or That: Wine or Beer. (Mmmm, salivating). And why?

Ugh, my favorite alcoholic beverage of all time is Abita Strawberry Harvest beer.  But, since I went gluten free I can't have it anymore so I guess I would pick wine.  I am not a big drinker, never have been, and right now I'd rather have a Caffeine Free Diet Coke!

9. Name the three things you'd grab from your house in a fire.

I could not only grab three things - we have 10 animals living at our house!  Plus, I'd have to grab my hard drives for pictures, those are irreplaceable!

10. What's your favorite trait about yourself?

I give my all to everyone in my life.  I love unconditionally and would do anything for the people around me, even if it hurts me sometimes or I wear myself too thin.  I just want everyone to be happy all of the time.  

11. If you had to eat one thing every single night for dinner what would it be?

I answered this above - mac and cheese all the way!

11 questions from me (to the people I tagged below):

1.  What is one of your favorite quotes?

2.  What chore do you absolutely hate doing and why?

3.  What songs would be included on the soundtrack of your life? 
4.  If you could choose to stay a certain age forever, what would it be and why?

5.  If you won the lottery, what is the first thing you would do?

6.  If you got to pick your name, what would it be?

7.  If you could know the answer to any question (beside "the meaning of life") what would it be?

8.  What would you name your Autobiography and why?

9.  What is the hardest thing you've ever done?

10.  What is something new you learned in the last week?

11.  If you had 30 minutes of free time, all to yourself with nothing to do, what would you do?

And, you're it!

Ashley at Ashley's Green Life

Christine at The 600 Sq Ft Home

Jenny at Hibbard Kitchen

6 Months and A Babymoon!

 

(6 months!)

I had to wait to take my weekly picture (and post this) until today because it has been unseasonably rainy in Arizona these past couple of days (usually we take it on Sundays).  I think I even saw snowflakes in Scottsdale on Sunday, it has been so coooold!  Isn't it March?  I'm confused by this weather!

I thought I would post all of my weekly photos here together so that you could see my little bump progress over these past 10 weeks.  It is hard to believe it has been 10 weeks since I started taking these, and hard to believe that I thought I looked pregnant way back there at 15 weeks because I SO did not!  Just this week have I really noticed my belly being in the way - hard to bend over, can't see the bottom part of it, hard to get off the couch and out of bed and kind of off balance while walking or sitting.  In San Diego I even told Ian that I feel like myself and that I have my regular body until I catch a glimpse of my reflection in a window and see a very pregnant person - it is SO weird.  It's like in Men in Black when they go investigate the alien crashing at the farm and the wife says, "It was like it was Edgar but not Edgar, it was like it was wearing an 'Edgar suit.'"  That's how I feel, just like Allison but Allison wearing a pregnancy suit when I see myself in a mirror.  My head, my legs and my arms are normal but from my neck to my thighs it is like I have a boob/butt/belly body suit on.  I'm sure in a couple of weeks my energy level will match the way I look but now it's just so disconnected.  Very very strange.

No aches or pains or anything for the past couple of weeks - my snoogle is amazing (I even brought it on vacation)!  It cured my hip thing and I've been feeling great, aside from some nasty heartburn.  It's like everything I eat gives me heartburn, even if it isn't acidy.  I also have been hot again, like in the beginning, and when I get stuffy I get really uncomfortable.  The end of the day is the weirdest because your belly really stretches out after eating all day, you can't even pinch it it's so tight and bloated.  Our little lady has been moving up a storm and I haven't used the doppler in weeks.  We can see her moving on the outside now and every time I try to take a video I miss it, I can never catch her on camera!  I will get a video of her one of these days - wait for it!  We have our glucose test in 2 weeks along with another appointment and then on May 2nd, at 30 weeks, we get to see our little lemon again - I can't wait!  April will be a dragging month but May will be SO MUCH FUN with another ultrasound, my shower and my bestie flying in from Oregon.  Hurry up April and get out of the way!

I left off so much last week because I was in a rush to post before our trip and I kept thinking all week about the things I needed to add to this post (from weeks 22 and 23), but as I type this I can't remember a single one!  Pregnancy brain, tired brain, first week back at school brain - who knows. So, this post will just have to be about week 24 (6 months!) and our babymoon! 

We left for San Diego at noon on Tuesday and got there around 7pm (with 4 stops to pee, a stop to eat lunch and only $34 in gas - I love my new car!).  Can you tell we like to take our time and meander around on road trips?  We went out to dinner at one of our favorite spots on Coronado called Burger Lounge.  I couldn't get buns or fries because I'm gluten free so I got a burger with no bun (and caramelized onions) and a delicious fresh vegetable salad.  We were so tired that we went back to the hotel, watched TV for a bit and then went to bed.  

 (Our Prius fit so much, I love all the room it has in the back!)

 (Sometimes you have to stop at really creepy places to pee when you're pregnant.  And sometimes the old man that works/lives at the place tells you that you have to buy something first.  Rude!)

(Burgers!)

Wednesday we laid in bed for a couple of hours and then walked to our favorite grocery store Boney's Bayside Market to get some lunch to take to the beach.  Silver Strand Beach was cold and windy but we managed to stay a couple of hours and then head back to our hotel for a nap.  We slept a TON on this trip, wait until you read what we did on Thursday!  I guess we needed it, we've been so busy at home with organizing, cleaning and painting that our bodies must have just been worn out!  Later that night we got pork chops, a salad and gluten free mac and cheese from the market to make at our hotel (they have grills and we brought a burner and pans!).  It was delicious and relaxing and we ate outside at our little table and it was beautiful.

(Our view most of the trip - from bed!)

 (Eating lunch on the beach was scary, so many seagulls hovering around and watching us!)

 (He seriously made the best pork chops ever!)

Thursday we woke up early for my favorite thing - to look for shells!  Silver Strand is famous for them so we headed out and ended up finding a few, even though Summer is the best time for shelling.  Then, surprise surprise, we came back in and napped!  A few hours later we woke up and decided to go to Coronado Beach instead to see if it would be warmer than Silver Strand.  It wasn't and we only lasted about two hours before we headed back in for another nap.  

 

(It was so cold, don't judge my crazy outfit!)

 (And, after our nap.)

(It's not the cutest but I thought I'd want a bikini belly pic after the baby is here!)

Our friends Will and Jacque offered to make us dinner that night so we made sure we were up and ready to be at their house in San Diego at 6:30pm.  When we got to their neighborhood we were a bit early so we drove around for awhile looking at houses and getting gas for our trip home on Friday.  We got to Jacque's at what we thought was 6:30 but was really 7:30 (daylight savings JUST happened and our hotel room had it all wrong, and we thought our phones were off too!) and they were worried about where we were!  I asked why they didn't call and Will said it's because I never answer my phone (which is true because I never know where it is) but THIS would have been the time to call us!  They were making dinner, because they got hungry waiting for us, so we really got there just in time.  Grilled polenta with veggies and homemade sauce - Jacque's dinner was delicious!  We stayed and chatted for a bit and then headed back to our little island (where it's quiet and not full of crazy drivers!).

We woke up early Friday to leave, caught three episodes of Will & Grace on Lifetime (our favorite show on vacation) and then headed back home.  We stopped at the Viejas Coach outlet, of course, and for the first time I didn't buy anything!  Instead I had to go to Osh Kosh B'Gosh and by the Lemon some overalls that I remember having as a little girl (except mine did not have the cute hearts on them!).  We got home around 5:30pm (after pee stops and lunch again) and then cleaned up around the house before relaxing on the couch.

 (My belly and our In n Out fries we HAD to stop for - before lunch!)

It was an amazing babymoon, I just wish the weather would have been a bit nicer.  But, I can't complain because after we left it has been raining ever since so at least we missed that!  I loved spending time with Ian, having nothing to do and being able to sleep the whole night through (aside from getting up to pee) because I'm not thinking about something or worrying about things getting done.  It was awesome and I can't wait to take our little muffin back to Coronado for her first birthday (we want to spend a week or two actually camping on the beach in a trailer).  I can't wait to see her put her little toes in the sand, and to bring all the dogs to the beach for the first time too - it is going to be so fun!

I also wanted to include the inspiration for the nursery (since I'm posting our progress, slowly).  These are from my Pinterest:

 (I really like aqua and pink with accents of yellow.)

 

(Ian woke up early on Saturday to paint the color on the nursery.  It was a sweet surprise and he finished it later that day with the help of our friend Tozzi!)

 

You can't really see the color in the pics above but it's from Lowes and it's called Fountain Mist (actual color is below but it's even more blue than this swatch).  I'm thinking I should have gone a darker aqua (or maybe more bluish) but I was afraid of too much color on the walls because we are going to have pinks and yellows in the room too.

We went to a cloth diaper class on St. Patrick's Day morning and learned A LOT.  I knew absolutely nothing about cloth diapers before we went, aside from the fact that they are cheaper (in the long run) and a more environmentally conscious choice than disposable diapers.  We learned about the different kinds, how to use them, cloth wipes, wipe solution, detergent, how often to wash, storage, etc and it was only an hour long free class through Zoolikins in Scottsdale.  I think we have decided to use a diaper service at least for the first 3 months (if we can do it at $100 a month) and then get our own sets of cloth diapers for after the newborn stage.  If you want to know why we are going cloth, they have a ton of facts about cloth diapers on their site, here.  Zoolikins also has some great information too, here.  

The staff was super informative and the cloth diaper presenter also helped Ian get into two baby carriers - it was too cute!  All of the other pregnant moms stood around watching while he put each one on, and put a fake baby in each one.  I loved it, it melted my heart.  Ian was the only daddy there that was super involved and wanted more information about things, it made me so happy. 

(Me at cloth diapering, Ian made me pose!)

This past Sunday was our nephew Reggie's 2nd birthday.  My brother and sister-in-law did a great job planning his Gizmo party and we had so much fun (and I'm pretty sure he did too)!