24 Weeks

How far along: 24 weeks completed 6.19.2012

Weight gain: ?? I’ll finally have an answer for you (and for myself) next week! My final guess: 6 new pounds, for a total 10 overall. What do you think–am I shooting too low or too high?

Clothes: I got some fabulous advice from Annie, who left a comment on my 23 weeks post (in response to my frustration at the clothing limitations descending on me). She said: pack up the stuff you can’t fit anymore! Out of sight, out of mind! (I paraphrase)

I realized this was exactly what I needed to do. Why remind myself constantly of all the stuff I can’t wear?

So over the weekend I said my final goodbyes to my skinny jeans and filled a big garbage bag with most of my pants and many skirts, which I stashed away until the fall. As I discover more things that don’t fit, I have a second garbage bag ready and waiting that I will fill gradually.

Purchases: My first baby registry gift arrived from Target–a jeep stroller. I had no idea who could have purchased this, and was totally surprised when it showed up at the door. I tore open the packing slip, and lo and behold the generous gifter was none other than Suzie Shaw! Thank you so much Suzie. I’m still in awe that this first gift came from a blogging friend whom I’ve never met in real life. It’s just another testament to the generosity of the women who inhabit this crazy blogging world that I belong to.

I also hit up a yard sale a couple buildings down from us. It was a big sale that a bunch of families were participating in, and there was a table full–I’m telling you FULL–of baby girl and little girl clothes. It was amazing. All the little outfits were divided into Ziplocs with the age/size and price marked on the outside. The ladies assured me everything had been washed before the sale, and that in fact most of the outfits had never been worn. This sounded too good to be true–but as I inspected the clothes, that was exactly the case! Some still had the original tags on them. Wowza. At $2.50 for three-piece outfits (matching leggings, dress, onesie), I went . . . a little wild. I spent $60, but guys–I came away with at least 30 little outfits (and I’m estimating low–I think it may be more). Incredible. If I were a good blogger I would have taken pictures–but as it is, just envision little sleepers . . . a little jean dress . . . polka dot leggings . . . a tiny cream colored kit cardigan . . . in sizes ranging from 3 months all the way up to 2 years. I can’t even describe how much fun this shopping experience was, with the yard sale ladies all hovering around me, helping me pick through the awesome selections, and giving me all kinds of advice about what Alice might need or not need.

It was another thrill to go through all the purchases first with my husband, then with my mother-in-law, reveling in the cuteness of it all.

Body: The belly is getting bigger and bigger . . .

. . . though I can still do the disappearing belly act!

(I wonder how long that can last? I guess we’ll find out together. It kind of scares me that I’m able to do this. What does it all mean????)

(and by the way, the dress I’m wearing here is another fabulous Rummage find that I picked up for a couple bucks–thought I’d put that out there)

Sleep: Denyse, our Bradley Method instructor, recommended sleeping on your side, bottom leg fully extended, top leg bent, rolled onto a stack of pillows. This takes the pressure off of the lower hip, which receives the brunt of your weight if you bend both legs around the pillows. Who knew!

And sleep is still my BFF–I’m almost invariably out like a light as soon as I hit the body pillow.

Best moment(s) of the week: Having alone time with my husband Saturday afternoon–it was divine. Sorely needed. Revitalizing. Encouraging. Etc.

Movement: The first part of the week, all the time! Wow, you guys. I don’t know what she was doing in there, but she was obviously having a party at least every couple hours. This week she moved around especially during church and Bible study, which I find interesting since both times I prayed that God would be teaching her as he teaches me. I wonder if God woke her up and her flips were in response to whatever he was speaking into her heart? Really. I wonder.

The second half of the week, when it started getting really hot, she started moving less–I wonder if the heat makes her sleepier?

I find it mind-boggling that her senses are so developed already. Her taste buds are fully formed (!?), she can hear noises outside the womb and will wake up if they’re especially loud, she can sense her position inside me (her inner ear is developed, giving her spatial awareness). She can feel my movements, if I’m walking or dancing or whatnot. She can sense light, and will react to it if I shine light on my belly (I have yet to test this at home, hee hee). And soon, her eyes will start to open just a little when she’s awake.

Food cravings/aversions: Still craving that sushi. Spicy Salmon Rolls . . . Spider Rolls . . . anything with shrimp tempura and avocado . . .

Symptoms: Same old–peeing a lot. And pelvic pressure as little Alice descends to her favorite spot and digs in. It’s quite uncomfortable for me, so when I feel her go down there and press, I try and jiggle her about so that she moves off my pelvic floor. This usually works, and she floats on up to where it’s a little more comfortable for moi.

Emotions: It’s been interesting thinking more about the actual birth experience. My husband and I really enjoyed our first Bradley Class with Denyse, and it gave us a platform to start talking about the delivery process, and what we want. We’ve been doing the relaxation exercise she assigned to all of the couples: the pregnant mama tenses and relaxes all her muscles in turn, starting at the feet and moving up to the face. Her partner observes what she looks and feels like when she’s tense, and what she looks and feels like when she’s relaxed, verbally encouraging her to relax.

The idea is that a lot of the birthing pain (and inefficiency in labor, which lengthens the process) is caused when the woman tenses. So one of her partner’s big jobs is to identify when (and where in her body) that tension is happening, and help her to relax.

Hopes and dreams: I’ve started praying about my birth experience. I know the birth is a small part of this journey, and what counts the most is the baby you hold in your arms when it’s all over. But all the same–I want supernatural power to relax! To not be afraid! And I have a God who can give me exactly that–so why not start calling on him now?

What I miss: Nothing!

What I’m looking forward to: I’ve started thinking about my pre-birth culinary plans. Once we get settled in our new place and everthing is in its spot, I want to cook and freeze meals for use during those first few weeks of sleeplessness, when I’m told I will become Zombie Jenna. I’m planning on making a huge batch of Chili-Cheese Etouffée. Frijoles Charros, Split Pea Soup, Black Bean Soup, Lentils and Sweet Potatoes. Tomato Sauce. Indian Curry with Chickpeas. Tikka Masala. All the old favorites! This new kitchen won’t know what hit it.

I will stack everything in flattened ziploc bags. I will make the most beautiful stacks of food you have ever seen. And then I will sit in a chair with a cup of tea and just gaze at the stacks in quiet delight.

Ever since reading Little House in the Big Woods, the idea of gathering food and preparing for winter has fascinated me–so this is my chance.

Husband update: We celebrated Father’s Day on Sunday–his first one!

It was really meaningful to take the time to recognize my husband as a father, and to remind him throughout the day of how much I love him and how much I trust that he’s going to be a great dad to little Alice (and already is, by being so good to her mama!).

Love you guys! Thanks again for all your kind words and encouraging comments, and have yourselves a fabulous weekend!

Rummage 2012: what I bought!

Are you ready?

Because the day has finally come to talk about what I brought home from Rummage 2012.

No, really . . .

I don’t want to shock anyone too badly . . . especially because I know I’ve already shocked some (sorry, Jen–don’t hyperventilate!).

I even called my husband before heading home to warn him about the quantity of stuff I was bringing back. “Don’t worry, baby,” I reassured him in my calmest, most rational and soothing voice. “It may look like a lot, but I think it’s all really practical, and I will take care of organizing everything and finding places for the stuff, okay?”

No matter what I said, or how much I forewarned him, I knew he was still in for a surprise.

So I’ll just lay it out there for you all–here it is:

THE HAUL.

My lil’ darlin’ handled himself remarkably well. He helped my cousins and me carry the stash up to our apartment, with nary a word or glance of disapproval. And though I registered in his glazed eyes that he was wondering where I had left my sense of reason and impulse-control, I knew it would all make sense to him . . . in time.

The one thing he had said before I left for my 2 days of shopping was, “please don’t bring home any pillows.”

Unfortunately, that is exactly what I brought home.

BUT! I purged other pillows that were on death’s door (or simply obnoxious–we had one that leaked feathers every day of its sad, plush life) to make the space, and set these two new ones up on our bed. Here they are modeled on the futon:

And guess what–my husband is now a huge fan! And reclines against them nightly as we read Sherlock or listen to music.

Phew.

The 3rd (and final) pillow I bought went on John’s bed, to welcome him to his summer abode:

Doesn’t it look so nice??

Okay, it’s a little feminine–but . . . well, you understand. Or at least I hope you do. Please don’t tell me I’m alone in just loving a good firm-but-soft-and-also-pretty pillow.

Other bedding was also brought home–the dusty mauve coverlet pictured above, as well as these awesome quilts and coverlets:

Check out those great textures–and prices!

We have the one in the upper left on our bed at this very moment, and my darling husband–though at first very hesitant to accept these newcomers into our closet–loves it. And he went even further than mere tolerance, expressing his pleasure at how pretty I’ve made our bed look. What a relief. My biggest Rummage nightmare was that my husband would be dead-set against what I brought back.

We purged 3 or 4 other old blankets to make room for the new bedding–one of which was in tatters, one (hand-me-down) which I’ve hated with a passion since it entered our linen closet, a couple scratchy things I’ve never, ever used, one from the dorms that’s too small for our bed or futon–you get the idea.

And we didn’t just purge blankets–we had yet another full-out purging session after I returned with purchases in hand, and I think that adding up our pre-sale-purge and post-sale-purge, overall more stuff went out than came in. Plus, most of the stuff that came in was premeditated. Planned. Some of the stuff had been on my mind for years–like these simple white plates:

Here, I’ll even take them out for you.

Check out that sweet price! (which included 10 dinner plates and 6 salad plates, as you can see)

And that’s $7.50, by the way–not $750. Most certainly not.

They have now taken the place of the set I got for our wedding, which we’ve been hauling around for almost 7 years and I just didn’t like, even though I was the one who chose to register for them in the first place. My excuse: I was 21 when I made that selection, and had no idea what I was doing. Each plate weighed about as much as a bowling ball–totally impractical. We put them in the alley and hope that a voracious alley-shopper took them home to love them as they deserve.

Furthermore, on the kitchen front, I picked up some sweet little cutting boards:

And a tart pan, from my cousin Eleanor!

Note: if you tell Eleanor you’re looking for something, she will employ her eagle eye on your behalf, and most likely find the thing before you do, and pay for it. She’s awesome that way. Thank you Eleanor. You’d better stop spoiling me now, before I bring bankruptcy on your head after being gifted one tart pan too many.

Remember the Tale of the Lost Jeans from last year’s Rummage? Yep. My cousins pretty much rock.

The other kitchen item I found was a blender, to replace the gross one that I could hardly stand looking at (from the recesses of my grandfather’s basement). In fact, I’ve probably complained about the grossness of that old blender on this very blog.

The “T” on the new one stands for “tested,” so there was no doubt it was in working order.

Since my cousins and I put some hours of work in at the Garden Department (home to hundreds of baskets which we priced individually, organized, and stacked all Tuesday morning), we set aside some great baskets which we proceeded to purchase:

All 100% practical!

This one houses my husband’s overflowing collection of socks (in various states of tatter–must correct issue some time):

This one now houses my sewing stuff, which used to just exist in a messy looking pile on a shelf:

These house something or another–don’t quite recall–guitar paraphenalia, perhaps?

Anyway, the point is, these baskets have helped us organize our existing stuff much better.

Speaking of baskets, we had dinner Wednesday night with some old friends of my cousins’ up in Winnetka, and the lady of the house graciously gifted us all baskets crafted of hemp and wool that she makes herself.

Beautiful!

And practical–it’s on the bedside table in John’s room (now housing his loose change):

The one totally non-practical, 100% decorative thing I brought home was this:

I couldn’t resist. My sister Heidi had a vase of these (fake) beauties in our room in Alaska when we visited, and I’ve been wanting some ever since. I want to be just like my younger sister.

Their darling, artificial selves just brightened the room. They are now hanging out in our dining room area:

Of course, I also brought home some pretty things to wear. Like this silk Banana Republic top and green drapey sweater:

And maternity stuff! Namely, this stretchy skirt and a pair of jeans:

I have to say that after buying that grey skirt, I lived in it for about the next week. It is so massively comfortable that I can’t even believe it.

Aunt Jessie also sent some fascinators our way that we picked over in the hotel room, and I snatched up a lovely cream-colored one and a black one, which we used during our band photo shoot (the black one may very well be featured in the artwork on either our album or EP–stay tuned!).

There was more–but I forgot to take pictures of the rest of the clothing. There was a gauzy silk dress with a flower print . . . a dusty pink tunic-style top with pretty embroidery and pleating . . . an A-line skirt with a grey and orange floral design . . . yup. Pretty things! Then, of course, there were a few jewelry finds, like this necklace:

These earrings (which I’m wearing as I type this):

And this awesome bracelet.

I’m usually not a bracelet person, but I’ve worn this one at least 3 times since I bought it.

It feels really wonderful on the wrist–weighty and smooth.

Next up: baby stuff! A Baby Bjorn carrier for a few dollars, for instance.

Crib sheets and mattress pads, at 50 cents a pop.

Of course, at this point we weren’t sure if the Little Wa-Wa was a boy or girl, so I kept it pretty gender neutral on the clothing front.

A duck towel!

And plenty of bedtime reading, with a ton of books that my cousin June picked out and purchased. Thanks June!!

A good-looking diaper bag for $8 which can totally work as a regular purse when my diaper-bag-carrying days are over?

Yes, please.

Finally, I bought some other things destined to be birthday and/or Christmas gifts, and since I know my mother and sisters occasionally stumble onto this space, I won’t share that stuff–but overall, this is a pretty complete picture of what I bought at Rummage. Some things I neglected to photograph–a cute red cardigan for the little one’s first Christmas, a turtle nightlight that Aunt Jacquie bought me as a baby gift for Alice’s future room, and a few other items–but this is a pretty good overall idea of what all I rolled in with on that warm spring night.

And I’m already looking forward to next year! Erica says she’ll join (for the first time) . . . and I’m holding her to it!! The presence of sisters can only make this experience even more wildly funly wild.