Mom Car

Yesterday we traded in our little blue car for an SUV. A mom car! (But not quite ready for a mini van.) We looked and looked for three weeks, went to what felt like every car lot in the city and searched on every website... then we went to church last weekend and our Bible class kind of gave us a wake up call.

See our car was perfectly fine, no problems runs great. The only thing I didn't like was that it was a stick shift, and the bigger I get the more exhausting it is to drive--especially in rush hour traffic. Now, I realize I won't be pregnant forever, but I can't imagine trying to drive a stick shift with a screaming baby in the back seat either. As much as I detest distracted driving, I know that it's reality for a mom to have to toss toys or pacifiers into the back seat.

The other thing, was our car didn't have cruse control. This was already an issue, because it's a huge pain to hold your foot in the same position for 2 hours to visit family (or 6 to visit my sister.)

Those were my reasons for wanting a different car, Dirk didn't feel like my little car was safe--he wanted me and the baby in something bigger. I can agree with that.

So we saved up our money and went out looking. Our original car search had us looking for nicer SUV's with low mileage, and quite a few bells and whistles. This was fine, it was in our budget.

Then at church Sunday the class kind of got off topic, talking about how we all tend to be selfish and want bigger and better, especially pertaining to money. Someone brought up the point that people often think, "If I only made $_____ a year life would be so much easier." Then when we get that money, we immediately go out and spend it, and our problems just recycle themselves. It was even called a "higher class of poverty" which really struck home.

After class we looked at each other and said, "We need to re-think our car search."

We were looking for something we simply didn't need. Granted we could make due with the little car, but we were wanting bigger and better, rather than just getting sometime similar that will work just fine. What we need: a vehicle that is safe, clean, room to grow, an automatic with cruise, will last many years, and is easy to drive.

We don't need: leather, heated seats, temperature gauge, 3rd row seating, separate climate controls (OH how awesome that would be), etc etc etc.

So we traded in our car and paid a little extra to get a very basic Ford Explorer. It's a little bit older than my Kia, but has a lot less miles. It is very clean and has all the basic needs. Not that I am knocking people who have all the extras, I'm just saying Dirk and I don't need it. We were certainly dazzled by it–almost to the point of shelling out the extra cash for it and I don't think it would have made us any happier. We ended up spending a LOT less and we are just as happy.

This car can last us for a very long time and now we can do more productive things with the left over money. Stuff that will help others and really make us "happy" and content.

The ironic part is that our class was about marriage and family, and the money topic was sort of a side rant we all went on. Isn't it funny how God really tells you what you need to hear just when you need to hear it?

It's a GIRL!

Today we had an ultrasound and learned that we are having a little girl! We were both kind of speechless when the technician said it, because we were expecting a boy.

I'm not sure why we were expecting a boy, but we just were. We had a boy name decided chosen already, but we just haven't been able to agree on a girl's name yet. So now we're back to the drawing board!

Regardless, we're really excited. She'll have blue eyes, but I wonder so many things! What will her hair color be? Will she be tall? Will she be creative? Will she be an outdoorswoman?

But seeing her moving around on the screen brought it all home... there is a real baby in there! We could see her bringing her hands up to her face and opening her mouth. She was extremely active the whole time, and weighs just more than a half pound. I'm sure I'll be feeling her soon. HER. I love that we finally have the correct pronoun.

I have some knitting patterns all picked out! I found a vintage bonnet pattern I want to make, and a little shrug sweater. And I've always dreamed of knitting play food for a little girl to use with her kitchen set.

I have so much to do ahead of me! It's a GIRL!

Ball shagger

More pregnancy junk

16 Weeks, 1 Day.

The nausea is 99% gone. Now I only feel sick when I get really hot, or if I see something really gross. For example, I found some moldy peppers in the back of the fridge and almost lost it. Needless to say I've cleaned out the fridge since then.

My stomach is starting to stick out a little, which is really odd. I mean, you spend your whole life trying to suck in your stomach and now it's supposed to stick out? Weird.

I also think I'm experiencing "nesting" because the house just feels completely unorganized and messy. I've been throwing lots of stuff out. We cleaned out our closets and donated a LOT to charity. I boxed up all of my nice pre-pregnancy clothes and put them under the bed because they depress me. I want to completely gut the closet in the baby's room and get one of those closet organization systems and maximize that space.

I'm also really big on finishing old projects for some reason. I finished some touch-up painting, some knitting projects and I keep making lists of things I've been meaning to do forever but haven't done.

OH and the dreams. THE DREAMS. The wild and crazy dreams I've been having. Each night before I go to bed I wonder what adventures I'll have in my sleep. Some of the craziness:

• Dirk and I were unwed teenagers and pregnant.
• We were on a ship, in an ice storm and the wind kept blowing our things away... but I was able to save my basil plants.
• Dirk went to the horse races and lost $600 betting on horses.
• My dad insisting on having my car re-upholstered in leather, against my wishes, and I woke up yelling "Dad! You aren't listening!"
• My boss at work was Rip Torn and he was not happy with our performance.

And there are so many more but I can't remember them. I know I've had a few really scary ones but I forget them as soon as I wake up, or I just remember bits and pieces. Sleeping has really become an adventure!

My next appointment is Wednesday, and from there they schedule the big ultrasound!

Baby Stuff

We have chosen a nursery set:


The set is called "Tree Tops" and it's super cute. It's got lots of little woodland creatures, leaves, acorns, etc. I figure if this baby is anything like his/her daddy (s)he will enjoy the outdoors. I have a few things already and my mom went nuts and bought the bedding set.

I'm going to paint the room tan, which needs to be done anyway because right now the room is blue and it's a lot darker than I intended it to be when I painted it two years ago. Tan will be something we won't have to paint over when we go to sell the house later on.

Dirk had a conversation with Little B the other night, telling him/her about all the little animals that will be in the nursery. "There is a bear and a fox and a racoon... I'll teach you how to skin one of those some day...and a squirrel, I'll teach you how to cook one of those too."

It was cute and gross all at the same time.

We find out gender in a few weeks!

PWA Mattress, Week 2

So... it's still here. The mattress.

Aren't they cute? BFF.

PWA

Here is a cell phone pic of the current state of our living room (mainly because I am too lazy to get up and get my good camera):


Wondering what this is all about? Well, last week we got a new mattress. We call it the Bed of Heaven. It's lovely. Really lovely. I sing to it, "Bed of heaven, sleep me till I want no more..."

Anyway.

I drug the old mattress (above) out into the living room and let it fall on the floor. This was meant to be a temporary spot, on it's way out the front door and into Dirk's truck and away. But when Sophie saw this mattress on the floor she instantly saw it as FUN!

She immediately ran and jumped on the mattress, barked, pounced, rolled around, and had a ball. She put her toys on it and just played. It was strange. Dirk found this entertaining and got down on the mattress and played with her. This delayed us hauling the mattress outside...

And a week later, it's still here. Anytime one of us steps on the mattress, she kicks it into play mode. It's hilarious.

I worked late the other night and came home and asked Dirk what he did that evening.

Dirk: Sophie and I went three rounds in the PWA.
Me: What's that?
Dirk: Puppy Wrestling Association.
Me: Oh, who won?
Dirk: Sophie, because she bites.

I don't know how long this PWA mattress is going to stick around, but I will probably miss it when it's gone.