Kitty Belle's New Bed

Mom came over a few days ago to look at the baby's room and to help with some organization - Aren't moms great???? We were working around the house not paying attention to what the animals were doing and when we came back in the baby's room this is what we saw.

I'm thinking we might have to get one of those nets that goes over the crib, but to me that seems scary for the baby to feel trapped in a net. Is there really a worry out there about cats smothering babies anymore? I am sure my cats will frequently check out the baby room and will probably get in the baby's crib. Maybe we should be more worried about what diseases and bacteria cats carry than the fact they may steal the baby's breath. Any thoughts?

Some Special Women

Last month Mom had 3 of her friends come visit from Mobile and the Eastern Shore. These are 3 friends she has known since highschool, Adelia, Ima Jean, and Anne and what remarkable women they are. Mom refers to them as "domestic divas." I admit I was a bit embarrassed for them to come to my house knowing it was covered in dust and animal fur - a far cry from their literally spotless homes, but I decided that since Miss Ima Jean and Miss Adelia, at least, had known me since I was born, it was too late to be anyone but myself. Miss Anne, if you read this, well, that's just me.

They were here for the ultrasound when we found out we are having a girl and they dove right into all things girlie and cute. They went shopping with Mom and they even came to the baby store to look at cribs and other baby goods with us and didn't seem to mind a bit! They especially didn't mind taking silly pictures at the mexican restaurant after Mom drank 2 margaritas. Miss Adelia had to drive home. Mom has always proclaimed when it came to alcohol, she was a cheap date.

This is me with my prenatal vitamins and an O'Doules.

And the 3 of them are grandmothers too! Mom loved being in good fun company with other seasoned grandmothers who could share insight and experience and a grandmother's list of must-haves. They even came to my house (while Robbie was gone) and had a mini baby shower for me with lots of beautiful, wonderful, useful things. This little girl is loved, I tell you! Montana doesn't do "foo foo" much so having these southern women around was a rare and CUTESY treat with wrapping and ribbons and pink and flowers and duckies, oh my!. I loved every minute. I can't wait to see them all again when I go back to Mobile next week!!

The other special part was that all of these women have sons with daughters-in-law so they shared some stories and insight into what it's like to be a mother-in-law and it made me think about my relationship with Vickie, Robbie's mother, and of how much I appreciate her and the place she's coming from too. Thank you Miss IJ, Miss Adelia, and Miss Anne for your fun visit and for sharing your thoughts with me. I was touched.

From left to right: Miss Adelia, Miss Ima Jean, Mom, and Miss Anne

Updates on the Nursery

*See note toward the bottom regarding the giant gorilla in the corner

The room has been slightly transformed into the basics of a nursery. We moved a chest of drawers into the room and we got the crib last week. We invited my parents and brother over for dinner last Thursday night with the idea that the men would put the crib together while the women prepared dinner. It mostly went that way with Robbie putting the final touches on the crib over the weekend. Here are some photos.

And the guys warmed up with a little Wii bowling and boxing.

First I had to tell them what to do. No, not really. I leave the mechanical things to the guys. They knew JUST what to do and had the whole thing done in about 45 minutes. Thanks guys!! But it wasn't totally finished until Birdie gave it her inspection. Then every stuffed animal we own was put into the crib for the time being. Come to think of it, it's a good way to keep the cats out of the bed!

*Notice the giant gorilla in the crib. I have not been able to part with this gorilla knowing that Dad carried it on the airplane home from New York. This gorilla is so big it could have used its own seat on the plane. Now the gorilla will be the baby's and she can decide what to do with it. I thought the crib bedding was going to show up on Friday and we could have had the walls painted this weekend, but we will have to continue waiting. I suppose it's better to have to wait because then I would get it all done and have to dust it and wash everything again before the baby comes. I hate cleaning.

More photos to come as things progress!

Other Ultrasound Pictures

These are 2 more pictures from our last ultrasound several weeks ago. I had them at work for a long time and typical me, I forgot to bring them home...for 3 weeks. I'm pretty sure she has the prettiest fingers ever. You can see her left hand in the picture below with her fingers extended and her other hand curled up floating above her face. I hope her nose gets cuter than it looks in the second picture. She appears to have Robbie's forehead. I love every inch of her!

Posts coming soon

I have a few I need to post. I'm just waiting on photos. Soon to come:

Family friends visit from Mobile
Robbie's 10 year highschool reunion
The beginnings of the nursery: Before, During, & After
And finally....
THE NAME ANNOUNCEMENT!!!

Stay tuned!

Nesting Has Started

Last weekend I spent several hours cleaning and reorganizing my room and the baby's room. We moved a dresser into the baby room which meant I had to go through each drawer and sort through the get-rid-of pile and keep pile. I must have vacuumed the room 5 times going back over each spot where I would move something else. I cleaned out the closet and put the crib mattress we got in there. I sorted through the gifts we have already received - ADORABLE THINGS - and put them in some of the drawers. I even dusted the blinds and cleaned the window sill.

Mom and I got the crib mattress on Saturday. I'm learning so much about babies and how they need super firm mattresses at first and then softer ones as they approach the toddler years. We also ordered the crib which should arrive by the middle of next week. Here is a picture of what we ordered. Mom and her friends Miss Ima Jean, Miss Adelia, and Miss Anne and I spent some time in Bibs and Binkies, a local baby boutique, looking at cribs. Robbie and I went back and made the final decision. Robbie actually picked this one out and I think he was proud to be able to make such a prominent nursery decision. See posts below to see our actual bedding.

In addition to preparing the nursery my mind goes over all the other things that need to be cleaned...behind the oven, behind the refridgerator, the carpets, the baseboards, the fan blades, the man room. Yes, Robbie! The man room must be cleaned as well! I'm making the list in my mind and the urgency to complete these things has not quite set in, but the wheels are turning. Robbie, brace yourself.