Sunday, March 30, 2008

Baby Stuff

So going to Babies R Us is overwhelming and exhausting. I registered there earlier in March. I found the store limiting and frustrating. Though unlike my friend Beth, who blogged about aLink number of diaper bags, I do not have that sort of time, energy, or mental fortitude to do that level of research on baby items. And Beth did it half as a joke. (I think she's part wonder woman.)

I've found "window shopping" on-line to be not so overwhelming as a box store, when it came to items like bedding and cribs. I did find crib bedding at Bed, Bath & Beyond cheaper than at Babies R Us. And so I registered there for a few items along with bedding, as well as at One Step Ahead. I'm still working on diapers...wow! There are so many options these days. Stay tuned for anyone wanting to buy us diapers, I'm studying up. So far either all-in-one or delivery-service level pre-folds with a wrap. I found Maine Cloth Diaper helpful and may register there.

Something that Brad and I are interested in is non-plastic, non-battery toys. Sure we'll have some plastic & batteries but we'd like our child to have more natural made toys that help stimulate imagination. Some helpful web-sites if you'd like to buy Jr. a toy is The Wooden Wagon, Nova Natural toys & crafts, Oompa Toys, Maukilo.

Saturday, March 29, 2008

My very first blog entry

Well, I've broken down and started a blog, mainly for the baby and keeping people posted...which we don't seem to be very good at doing! I don't have high expectations for this blog...I have a hard enough time keeping up with email.

A month ago Brad and I visited our good friends Josh and Megan Feenstra Wall in Northern England and spent half the time touring with them through Scotland. I'll be posting pictures of the trip as we haven't shown those pictures to anyone yet...or at least a few of them. Brad took a ton!!!!

This week has been a struggle to get through, especially at work. This week I've had 3 minor migraines during work hours. Trying to find a cause to the migraines Brad and I have noticed how hectic life has been lately. Shear stress and exhaustion could be the cause. A day before we left for the UK, my sister's family moved from CA to MI to look for jobs and be closer to family. Over the next 6 weeks the promises of jobs never came through. The week before Easter an offer came through for a job in Dayton. So the family helped pack up the gang, in a snow storm, no less. And after 4 hours of sleep the caravan hit the icy roads of MI Saturday morning. After 7.5 hours, a few ulcers we arrived in Dayton 1.5 hours late to sign rental papers, but the office woman waited for us! (the trip should take just over 5 hrs) We were together for Easter for the first time in many many years, though sad to be moving them 5 hrs away. Thankfully 5 hrs by car and not 5 hrs by plane. We'll miss having them in Grand Rapids, but again thankful that we'll see them more often now!

Returning to MI, Brad and I found ourselves in a busy week and late nights all week. I found a leather sectional on Craigs list and at 10pm at night Tuesday Brad and I found our first couch in 3.5 yrs of marriage that fit our budget and we both enjoyed sitting on. Thursday night the guy wanted us to pick it up at like 10pm! We borrowed my parents' mini van and loaded up the sectional in one trip. Unfortunately, when we arrived home, we (okay, I supervised Brad and my cousin Nathan) struggled to get the sections through the front or back door. Brad has yet to figure out a plan to get the last/main piece into the house!

Baby-- So this week I saw my chiropractor, who during chiropractic school practiced massage therapy, along with his wife. His wife was pregnant and he felt she worked too hard for too long during the pregnancy and caused long term physical issues. I was advised to seriously cut back on my work load. I knew this day would come and its harder than I thought. I love my job, a lot! And I think mainly because I really like my clients, they make my job that much more enjoyable.
I am currently 6 months/24 weeks pregnant, feeling great, minus this week. This week, like I said I had 3 minor migraines and have been exhausted...and baby brained! So we'll see how cutting my schedule back will effect how I'm feeling. I have a number of things to care for concerning the baby. Of which are finding diapers, toys, supplies, etc.
Praise the Lord, we're being given a crib, car seat and plenty of boy clothes (my sister has 4 boys and only 1 girl). For Nadia's sake we hope its a girl!
I'm hoping to use this site to list items that aren't found at Babies R Us or Bed, Bath & Beyond; like cloth diapers that would make wonderfully useful gifts. And most importantly, make baby development announcements! I've been asked to send out belly pictures. So I hope to do a series on the belly. This picture posted is at 22 weeks/5.5.months.