I haven’t exactly kept you all up to date as I had originally promised.  I’m sorry.  Everything has been fine, I just haven’t taken the time out to sit and write after working all day.  I’m shot.  Exhausted.  Done- by the time I get home.  Cereal is often my choice of an evening meal.  Luckily I have Eric to feed too, so I do cook, even if it’s not every single night.  Also luckily, is the fact that he is the most understanding person you will ever meet and so he doesn’t get twisted if there is no dinner when he gets home.  He’s perfectly fine to throw something together for the both of us after a 2 + hour commute home from Jersey City.  I think I’ll keep him.At 34 weeks along…I find myself thinking about EVERYTHING baby related and being so in tune to my body that even I’m freaked out over how well I know it by now.  The nursery is still not finished.  My “1^st week in September” goal was ripped out from under me when the spackle guy couldn’t get here.  I now have a “3^rd week in September”
goal.  He was here on Tuesday to start and will return on Saturday and Sunday to complete his part.  He said we could be priming by Sunday afternoon which means the actual painting will not get done until next weekend; due to Eric’s schedule and my inability to climb ladders in order to edge the walls, it won’t get done during the week.  Oh Well.

The furniture was delivered last Friday and is in the garage until the room is painted and moulding is completed, at which time it will be brought up. 

I also have reason to believe that this weekend is my shower J  Being 34 weeks and haven’t had one yet, plus my Grandma being in town and Eric saying we’re going to lunch this weekend…I’m just putting 2 and 2 together here.  I could be wrong, but I doubt it.  I’m usually pretty good with intuition.  Besides…are baby showers ever really a surprise??  If you would’ve asked me this time last year if I thought I’d be attending my own baby shower in a year, I would’ve said now.  You know, “always a bridesmaid, never a bride” type of thing I guess.  Well looky looky!!

I have pictures of my ever growing belly to post but haven’t had the time to play around with them to make them right side up.  I will have pics from the shower to post, if in fact it is this weekend, as well. 

I have so much more to write about and feel very sad that I haven’t used this blog to its full capacity to chronicle my pregnancy.  I never recorded when I first felt that little flutter in my belly or when Eric was first able to feel and see the baby move.  I know how all of the important doctor visits have gone, but wish I would’ve kept a journal of it all here.  I can say that I’ll do it next time, but will I?  If I don’t have the time or energy now, how will I have the time or energy then, with a toddler running around on top of being exhausted.  I think I blew it.

Before I head out…Some advice?  There are tons of ‘baby essentials’ checklists out there…but  was wondering if you could leave some comments on what you all feel you really need for the first few weeks being home with baby.  Advice on things like, stocking up on diapers…yay or nay?  I’m completely aware my baby may or may not be ‘a brick’ or that he or she may be well over 8 lbs. when he comes home, so I’m thinking stocking up on diapers is not a great idea until we figure out what works?  And other things like clothing sizes and the real necessities, from your personal experiences.  Any advice is greatly appreciated! 

We started the nursery!  I’m elated, I can’t even begin to explain.  This has been one of my concerns for the past 7 months.  We don’t just have to throw some paint on the walls.  No it’s a bit more complicated than that.  The rooms decor is original to the house- dark paneling from the floor to about mid wall; and cowboy and Indian wallpaper from midwall to the ceiling.  Totally circa 1964.  The main reason for my concern of the room not getting done is that Eric had surgery on his right shoulder back in April.  His treatment plan includes 6 months of physical therapy (which literally brings us to the day before the baby is due) and up to 1 full year before he will be functioning at his normal strength level.  Therefore, I really didn’t think the room would be started until…I don’t even know when! So the game plan for the room is as follows:

1. Remove all paneling, being careful not to damage the drywall behind it.  Not tough, but takes a strong shoulder and arm.  DONE!!
2. Remove all wallpaper.  Anyone who has ever done this knows that it’s certainly not cake.  It’s not impossible, but it’s not cake.  We decided today to rent a steamer to see how that would work….Eric got half the room done, while I used the DIF and a spackle knife to scrape what I could scrape.  DONE!!  Thanks to my super fantastic husband
3. Have our spackle guy come in and do a skim coat of spackle on the entire room to cover up any imperfections left behind by the removal of the wallpaper and paneling.
4. Prime and paint the ceilings and walls.
5. Prime and paint the window.
6. Install new moulding.
7. Install ceiling fan/light

Whew!  I’m tired already.  My goal is to have it completed by September 1^st.  I think that’s an extremely attainable goal.  The hardest part is going to be the painting.  I don’t mind painting.  I’ve painted every room in the house that we’ve redone since we moved in 3 years ago.  But I have a feeling it’s going to be really rough on my body, being I have a basketball hanging off the front of me and all.  Lots of breaks will be the ticket.  I’m going to recruit my brother up to have him come help with his Godsons/ Goddaughters room too…make his ass work a bit!

We purchased our furniture and to our surprise, they had it in stock already, which meant no 14 week wait.  It’s gorgeous!  We just have to call 2 weeks before we want it, to schedule delivery.  It’s the Davenport Collection and you can find it http://www.babyappleseed.com/davenport-crib.htm, or Buy Buy Baby.  The dresser is also the changing table.  Now we just need to look for a glider, but they are soooo damn expensive!  I really would like one though, so hopefully we will find one for a reasonable price, matches the espresso finish of the crib and dresser.  Any advice on where to look would be fantastic!         

 So we are on our way!  I can’t wait to have it all set up and be able to wash all the tiny little clothes and blankets and put everything away in his or her dresser!  I can’t believe that I’m 29 weeks and in just 8 short weeks, we could have a full term baby in our arms! 

 This is all going by so fast. 

I’m now 28 weeks along.  The baby’s kicks, punches, rolls and swim strokes are much more hefty these days and I have to say it’s one of the most amazing feelings I’ve ever experienced.I feel great, most of the time, but now am starting to really fear the whole pre- term labor thing.  I get those annoying Braxton Hicks contractions often…usually after I’ve been really active or have a full bladder or stomach…and they scare the shit out of me.  My doctor reassured me that they are just that, Braxton Hicks, and it’s normal (I’ve been getting them since around 20 weeks) and everyone tells me that’ll I’ll know when I have a “real” contraction, but that doesn’t make me any more scared.  I guess for the next 9 weeks or so until the baby is considered full term, I’ll continue to be freaked out about it.  And then after that, a new set of fears set in, right?  For now I’m just thankful for every day this kid stays put to grow bigger and stronger.  I’ve tried to include a belly shot that I took yesterday, however, I had major technical issues formatting and uploading it and after an hour gave up because I was STARVING!  As embarrassed as I am to admit, this is the FIRST one I’ve taken!  And here I was the one swearing I’d take one a week from the time I found out I was pregnant, at just 4 weeks.  I guess I’ve been a total slacker the past 24 weeks, huh?  Well, better late than never!  I’ll get back to it tomorrow and hopefully will have it up for you to gawk at.