Everything you need to raise a baby.

We planned. We read and researched. We really thought we were prepared. But NOTHING can prepare you for what’s coming. No, I’m not talking about having a baby. I’m talking about REGISTERING for a baby. First of all, let me say that Chris and I really did take a lot of time to look at what was needed, what was not and what ranked highest in safety and customer satisfaction. Baby registries are a bit different than wedding registries. When you are getting married, you know if you need cookware or silverware or towels. When you are having a baby, especially being first-time parents, you think you need everything because you don’t really know what you need! All it takes is one person to say they couldn’t live without their wipe warmer to decide your child not make it through infancy if you don’t have one, but Chris and I tried to be practical. (Okay, let's be honest - Chris was practical and he calmed me down.) Jackson could live without a wipe warmer or a diaper stacker or hundreds of other “must haves” and he’ll probably turn out okay.

So, we made our list. We checked it more times than Santa does and off we went to Babies R Us. I knew we were in trouble when our consultant handed us Babies R Us list of registry “must haves”. The list Chris and I made was about 35-40 items long and fit neatly in a normal font in one line. This list was a full page, bulleted, in small font. Oh yes, we were screwed. Surely, you can’t raise a baby on the small little list we made. What are we going to do?

But then, I started to look over the list and a lot of it was actually filler. We had decided not to put any clothes on registry (which the exception of a few basics), but like 20 items were clothing. Then, the stroller section listed every type of stroller imaginable (oh yes, there are multiple types of strollers). The whole section on breastfeeding just freaked me out because I seriously do not want anyone buying my breast pump for me. I have the tendency to think of a who gave me something when I use it and honestly, I don’t want to think of my Aunt Susie’s face every time I pump (and I don’t have an Aunt Susie, but you get the idea). Okay, there’s another section down. The nursery furniture section was another to cross off. We aren’t registering for a crib or anything like that, since we’ve already ordered it. We marked off the bedding and room décor sections, too. A lot of people do register for that, but we went ahead and bought ours since it’s not sold in stores. This list was getting a lot shorter! There was a whole section of “Earth friendly” items, but really they are just repeats of other things, so that section got a big red X, too. We had also decided that we weren’t going to register for parenting books or keepsakes, since those are things we can get ourselves. BAM – another one bites the dust!

When it all came down to it, there really wasn’t a lot we had to add to the list. Actually, I’m thankful they gave us their “must have” list because it did remind me of a couple things I didn’t have on there (like a changing mat for the diaper bag for public diaper changes and feeding sets for when the baby starts solid foods), but overall, I’m pretty impressed in the list Chris and I put together (with a little help from our friends!). Maybe we’ll get the hang of this parenting thing after all!

A Perfect Day!

Yesterday was one of those "big" days in the 9 or so months that you are pregnant. First, we had a 23 week check up with our perinatal doctor, Dr. Korotkin. The ultrasound lasted about an hour, because Jackson was moving around so much. They had to get some clear pictures of his heart, since they didn't get them the last time, so they had to wait for the wiggle worm to stop wiggling so much! Hey, long appointments don't bother me at all - That's more time I get to see him! This time it was really cool because some of the movement that we saw on the screen, I could actually feel! Dr. Korotkin's exact words to us were that Jack is perfect! He weighs 1lb 10 oz right now, which is wonderful news (that's almost a 1lb up from last month)! Honestly, I really didn't think yesterday could get any better.

Until, that is, we were lying in bed last night and Jackson was kicking up a storm, so I had Chris place his hand on my belly to see if he could feel it. I was incredibly still and it took a minute or two for him to kick again, but then he did and Chris said, "Oh! I felt that!" I was so happy! That moment is one that I'll always have etched in my head. The look on Chris's face was so fantastic - it was the first time he felt his son. :)

I go to this site called BabyCenter a lot. It's basically a baby book on the web, but there is also a message board where moms-to-be post their thoughts and questions. Believe me, a lot of them are really stupid, but every now and then, someone posts something interesting. The other day this girl posted something about how her pregnancies determined the attitudes of her children. She said with her first, she cried all the time and her son is now an emotional kid. He's five and she said he cries at the drop of a hat. Her second pregnancy, she was fussy and tired. Her three year old daughter is, in her words, a brat. This is her third pregnancy and she said she is very calm and this pregnancy is very easy, so she's hoping that this son will be more easygoing.

Well, that got me thinking - based on my pregnancy, what will Jackson be like? I do have my moments of crying, but they are few and far between. In fact, I find myself laughing a lot at things that are supposed to make me cry (like that ASPCA commercial with all the homeless dogs - yes, I know, since I laugh at that, I'm evil) and crying at things that are supposed to make me laugh (like the movie Fred Claus that I watched over Christmas. I cried like a baby). But mostly laughing. So I hope that means Jack will be a happy baby. I think he will be, because he has us for parents. You have to laugh at that! :)

The Halfway Point

Here we are - 20 weeks! The halfway point! OMG there are just a few short months left before Jackson is here!!! I am so excited and scared and thrilled and just about every other emotion you can imagine. I am really looking forward to and valuing these last few months of "just" me and Chris, but I can't wait to have Jackson here!

My 20 week check up went great and Dr. Nix said that I might even be able to deliver in Forsyth rather than Atlanta! I'm very happy about this since it's so close to home, but even if I end up having to deliver in Atlanta, that's okay. My glucose test came back normal, which is more than great news! I just feel very very blessed right now. :)

We have started looked at nursery furniture and nursery themes. We had one picked out that we liked, but since we've started looking we've found a couple more that we like. We are pretty sure the nursery will be brown and blue with some type of animal(s). We hope to have the nursery done by the end of February. Pictures will come as we start to decorate! :)