Almost at Week 23

Just a few randoms:

On the Baby front:

• Maternity leave at work seems like it will all turn out good. Had an issue for a little while because of some mis-communication, but I am happy where things stand now. It looks like I'll for sure be able to take off 8 weeks (half of that unpaid) ...but perhaps I can swing a little over 10 weeks if I can figure it out financially. Choices, choices.
• Had another doctor's appointment today. All checked out great. Didn't gain any weight all month ... woo hoo! Though I'm sure the weight will be coming ... I've gained a total of 10 lbs thus far ... I'm at week 23...I thought I was hungry all the time before this week .... well, now when I say I am hungry all the time, I mean it! Trying to munch on healthier options though.
• Also relating to today's appointment, doctor was having a hard time figuring out the heart rate though, because Baby didn't want to sit still! :) Amazing how he always seems to be moving, but I don't really feel him that much. Make me wonder what he is doing in there when I CAN feel him! Every single time they have checked Baby's heart rate, it's been an even 140 every time.
• Blood pressure was down at this appointment. It was 116/82 today ... my last appointment it was 138/90ish ... that scared me because of all the horror stories with high BP during pregnancy. Hopefully it'll stay down now!
• I was peeking around at Goodwill today for some maternity shirts hoping I'd have some luck. Nothing struck my fancy enough for me to buy it. However, in the Infant Wear bin I found a brand new white and lime green striped Gap newborn hat ... which will be perfect for newborn shots. I also found a SUPER cute moose sleeper. I have a 30% coupon for Kohls, and they have Early Bird specials on Saturday morning, so hopefully I can find some good deals on some maternity stuff then. I do have some maternity stuff, but a lot of it is long or 3/4 sleeve ... which I cannot stand wearing lately! Thus far, some of my regular shirts have been ok, but I am starting to for sure outgrow them!
• I got to hang out with my friend Ashley yesterday, who GENEROUSLY gave me some really really cute outfits that her son has outgrown. I sit and stare at "Newborn" sized clothing ... and I just can't believe how small Baby will start out! Thanks, Ash!

On the life front:

• Summer School started last Friday with an in-service for teachers. Kids started this past Monday. My day is from 7:45-12:09, and I have three classes of kids. I teach Crafts and Creativity. The kids are 1st graders who are going into 2nd grade. I have pretty good groups, and there are only about 3 of them that drive me a little batty - pretty good odds! ;-) This week we made: decorative nametags, mosaic turtles, sprinkled ice cream cone project, water color painting, and tomorrow, we are making sun catcher jars.
• Not much going on with house projects ... BOO!
• Photography has been mellow for about the last month. I have 8 weddings left this year - 2 in July, and the rest in August + September. I am so glad I didn't over book myself, considering last year I didn't know I'd be pregnant during wedding season!
• Had a garage sale last weekend with my mom. We got rid of a lot of stuff - so nice to have extra space in some of my cupboards and closets!

I think that's it. Nothing too exciting happening here!

'Til next time!

Baby Room: Phase I

Well, for starters, here is Baby BOY Filip at 20 Weeks:

Sadly, we didn't get any other pictures ... although during the ultrasound, I think the tech for sure could have printed much cuter ones ... esp of the hands, feet, ect - because those things were definitely clear... BUMMER. I have seen so many people's ultrasound pics that are 3D that show the little lips, cheeks, and other cute details ... and it's not an insurance thing either, because we have the same exact insurance policies. Oh well ... I guess it means Baby Filip is healthy enough, and I should just be thankful there is no medical reason to need more/in depth ultrasounds.

Also, the tech "thought" she saw a penis, but didn't go back and look again. GRR. So, I'm assuming since she does this every day, if she "thinks" that's what she saw, she is probably right. So we're assuming it is in fact a boy ... but if baby turns out to be a girl, she'll just have to enjoy her fish room!

Onto the baby room details -

Here is Phase I (aka very early stage!) of Baby Filip's room. It doesn't look like much, but believe me when I say it's been it's fair share of work thus far! OH the cleaning/organized of that little room and it's closet ... since we moved in, it had been used as the "dumping grounds" where we hauled everything we weren't sure where else to store. BAD IDEA! But, after many days of hard work, it's ready to go for a baby room! *WHEW*

Let me remind you of the "BEFORE" when we moved in and got started repairing the walls, ripping out carpet, taking out wood paneling on right side wall, new carpet, new paint, new EVERYTHING. So glad that pile of stuff is gone!

So far for the baby room, we've:

• Purchased the crib and fish & sea creature bedding/accessories set, and the glider chair
• The changing table in the right corner was a garage sale find ... $10 one day, and the next day I went back, it was marked down to $5 ... SCORE! It's nice and sturdy - and used to be super ugly light wood color ... however, I was able to see it's potential, and Hubby painted it to match the crib ... it turned out AWESOME! It looks brand new!
• Hubby also painted the bookshelf the same color ... I've had that bookshelf since I was a teenager, and I'm so glad it was able to be used for Baby's room - I love it!
• The little table by the glider chair just happens to be the right color - it was an antique store find a few years back.

What we still have left to do in the baby's room:

• Get some kind of art on the walls ... I'm not going over board, maybe one or two pieces, since I still can't bear to put holes in the walls after the EXTENSIVE repair work we did to them
• Window treatments ... Hubby doesn't seem to think we're getting white wood blinds ... however, we ARE! ;-) Also, we'll need curtains ... this I'm stuck on. I'm thinking navy blue, but I don't want the room to end up looking too dark. I think the light blue will look drab. We'll see...
• Accessories ... I'm not going to overboard on this yet. I have lots of fun stuff picked out my registry that'll color up the room ... like the changing pad cover, baskets, lamp, etc!

So that's the plan! :-)