25 weeks, really?

Yesterday I had my monthly checkup.  The doctor had to go out of town, so I got to see the nurse practitioner, who is most definitely my most favorite person at the practice.  In fact, when I found out my OB had started a new practice last year, I wasn’t sure whether or not to move with her (I really liked a lot of the other doctors at the old practice also) until I found out that the NP had moved, too—that clinched it!  So now I have to drive 15 minutes instead of 7, but it’s worth it!

Anyway, Katie the NP says that my BP, weight, measurements, and ankles are just perfect.  I gained about two pounds.  I guess I’m leveling out after gaining more than normal the first four months.

Next week is orange cola time!  That is always a big milestone—the end of the pregnancy is near!  My next appointment will be in three weeks to get me in at 28 weeks, and then I start going bi-weekly.  Oh!  Yay!  Almost done!  Oh!  Dear!  I’m not ready!

No progress has been made in the hopeful nursery.  But DH and I are taking baby steps.  We actually ordered a CRIB.  We didn’t think our old one was worth trying to fix and certainly didn’t have all the hardware for it.  We then got one as a hand-me-down, but after I explained that we would have to find the locking mechanism for it (it’s a drop-down), and after DH looked at it, he said, “Meh, let’s just get a new one.”  DH found one online that was recommended to him, PLUS it was on sale, PLUS it had free shipping.  I’m actually surprised at how cheap it was.  And…it even converts to a toddler bed.  I told him we can get rid of our plastic toddler bed that’s in the basement!  (He thought we already had.)  I actually didn’t mind our old plastic toddler bed.  It suited its purpose just fine for the three kids and the only reason why it hadn’t been hauled to Goodwill yet (um, except for the fact that I hadn’t bothered calling them to see if they’ll actually TAKE a toddler bed) is because it was in such nice shape, I wondered if maybe I shouldn't just try to sell it—and never got around to it.  Anyway, I’m pretty excited about a NEW crib for our NEW kid.  Now we just have to buy a new mattress. 

Bedding:  With all three kids, we have used the same Sesame Street bedding.  I LOVE it and still want to use it.  But I can’t help but look online at all the adorable PINK stuff...!  This is the first time we’ll actually get to decorate a WHOLE nursery since all other babies were born in apartments.  Since Sesame Street is so rare, I keep going back to the PINK (Especially the owls!  And lady bugs!  So cute!), but I have managed to find some SSwall decals and with those, a good paint job, and the SS stuff I have kept (a lamp, lots of stuff animals), I think we can pull this off pretty nicely.  I would like to get a spare sheet or two, but there are very few SS sheets to be found now.  I did find a toddler bed set, so I put it on our baby registry. 

The baby registry I started is really more a checklist for me.  Anytime I have the “Oh!  I need…!” I put it on the registry to purge it out of my brain.  The biggest item on the list right now is a new travel system.  Other items:  new pack ‘n’ play (we have a hand-me-down, but I won’t say no to a new one!), umbrella stroller, new breast pump, bottles, bottle brush and drying rack, hooded towels, sponge insert for the baby bathtub (can’t believe we hung on to our old bathtub!), and a baby monitor.  It’s funny because we never really used our other baby monitor.  Our apartments were small enough that I could always hear the baby.  I remember using it a couple of times when I went outside to play with the other kids, and the baby was still inside sleeping.  It’s one thing I got rid of that NOW I feel we’ll need.  The nursery is going in a room that’s off our den.  With our split level house, I may not hear the baby if she’s in her room sleeping while I am upstairs  in the living room watching TV or something.  

No more progress has been made with the Naming.  Knowing us, this will probably sit out there until the baby is actually born and then we’re finally forced to fill out the paperwork for her.  But DH keeps going back on names we’ve already discussed/partially agreed on, so it’s anyone’s guess what name this kid might finally get. 

I will probably go more into this on my other blog, but ohmygoodness, my youngest two kids are just turning into DEMONS lately—and we think part of it (with the youngest, anyway) is an early reaction to our audacity for bringing a fourth child into their lives.  She screams and yells and stomps around the house.  She and her brother are constantly arguing and picking on and poking each other.  She got herself really wound up the other day while DH was with her at a department store and was actually ROLLING ON THE FLOOR while he was in line waiting to pay.  EVERYTHING gets the extreme reaction.  DH and I are trying to figure out ways to get more one-on-one time with her—while trying to juggle all the kids’ busy schedules.  I worry what’s going to happen when baby gets here.  HOW on earth are we going to manage then?  I am picturing me in my sleep-deprived haze in March trying to keep I and K from killing each other while I’m trapped on the couch nursing the baby.  THIS will be quite the challenge.