Getting Ready for New Baby

We are only looking at 2 1/2 weeks until D-Day. Yes, the last half of this pregnancy seems to have flown by. Of course, the first half seemed like 2 years, so I guess it evens out. Davis helped me get out the baby clothes. And by helped, I mean he tossed them every which way in the living room as I was attempting to sort the 0-3 sizes from the 3-6 sizes. We got them washed, folded, and put away. We bought diapers. And more diapers because my sweet almost-3-year-old is not willing to switch to big boy underwear. Which is ok for now. . . I am too big and too tired to clean pee off the carpet and toilet and pants now. Maybe my mom can get him potty trained while she is here helping when the baby comes. What do you think, Mom?

We finally picked a name for the soon-to-be newest member of our family - Noah Max Buttars. It makes me feel more settled having that decision made. Hope he looks like a Noah, because we really don't have a backup name. I am excited to see if he has red hair like Davis did or dark hair like me . . . or no hair at all. With Davis, who came out with a full head of flaming red hair, the nurses said it was all that hair that caused my heartburn (don't know how medically correct that is), so judging by the amount of Tums I am going through, we can hope for another head full of hair!

Wit and wisdom from this week

I wish I had something important or funny or uplifting to post. I don't. I just have the time to post something. So here are random facts from our week:

I bought new maternity clothes yesterday. I was just looking for new pants. But the girl working in Motherhood Maternity brought me an armload of shirts she "just thought would look great on me." None of them were from the sale rack. None of them looked good enough to pay full price. Until "the one." It was hot pink. Breathtaking, really. Made me feel pretty. I looked at the price tag and put it in the "no thanks" pile. But is there really a price you can put on that feeling that you look gooood. Especially when you are pregnant? Apparently not, because those of you that live close to me will see me sporting new jeans and a new hot pink shirt constantly because it makes me feel good. (Don't judge me. I am not bragging about the fact that I actually look good. Just the fact that I feel good. And it wasn't super expensive. Just not the $5.99 special at ShopKo.)

I'm pretty sure Davis still has ear infections even though we just finished the antibiotics. I'm pretty sure we will have to go back to the doctor again next week. And I'm pretty sure I really don't want to.

I love pizza. I could eat it every day. But I don't and that has got to count as some kind of self-control. I can't say the same thing about ice cream.

I have a massive dilemma. I love to get my hair cut. The whole experience is so relaxing; someone washing my hair for me, gently brushing it, carefully crafting a new look, and styling it in a way that will never again happen at home because I just can't do it like that. The problem is, I want to keep growing my hair longer. So - I really want to go get a hair cut. I just don't want my hair cut.

From Darren:
He's watching me type this and is probably thinking what a waste of time for anyone to read this because it is so boringly normal (which he is vehemently denying now) so I asked him if he wanted to add anything. He said, "Have a good week." I'm not sure that is any better.

Darren also says he wishes we could go a whole week without someone in the family being sick. (It's been his turn with this yucky virus. I feel sympathy for him, but slightly less than I should because he can take Advil and Nyquil and whatever else he wants. What did pregnant me get? Nothing but Tylenol.)

Davis goes to bed asking for a popsicle so I placate him by telling him he can have one the next day. So the next morning he almost always asks for a popsicle as soon as he wakes up. I placate him again by telling him he can have one after breakfast. Most mornings he eats his breakfast and gets involved with other things and forgets. But one morning this week he actually had colors picked out for each of us when he woke up (orange for Darren, purple for me, and blue for himself) and quickly ate his breakfast then stated it was time for popsicles. Well, he had done everything I asked and I was trapped by my own words. So at 8 am the three of us sat down on a towel (a must when eating popsicles in the house) and ate our preassigned popsicles.

I am so glad I get to be home with Davis every day because I get to hear him use words like though (when asked to get clothes on he replied, "I'm fixing the chair though."), probably, yep, and sure. My recent favorite - "I am just looking for a second (as a way to postpone doing something he doesn't want to do)." or "You stay there. I'll be right back" (with pointer finger extended to add emphasis.)

We still haven't found the right name for our sweet little boy who is due in April. Possibilities: Thomas, Hudson, Hunter, Eli, Elam, Drew, Max, Grayson, Jesse (I have brother named Jesse. We haven't told him his name is in the running). Davis's suggestion? Baby Brother. So be it for now. Any input from others older than 2 1/2 is welcome.

And that, my family and friends, is all the important, funny, and uplifting things I have to share with you today. I know I said I don't have anything to say at the top of this post. And then I wrote and wrote and wrote. Darren thinks that is funny.

Pregnancy Ups and Downs

So there are advantages and disadvantages to being pregnant. The obvious disadvantage is the increase in circumference. The really unfair thing is that it is not just an increase in the belly region, which would be ok because that is where your sweet little baby is growing. Your face gets fat, your butt and thighs get bigger, and your feet get bigger. Why the feet? There is no baby growing there. They are the farthest thing from the belly. I went to buy new shoes at the first of January, just simple black flats to wear to church. The 8's were to small, but the 8 1/2's were too big. So I bought a different pair that I didn't like quite as much, but they fit good. After trying them on at home with different outfits, I decided they weren't worth the money, so I took them back and hoped to find a different pair (one that miraculously might have appeared on the shelf since my visit two weeks before). No new options, but the other pair, the one that I really liked, but needed an 8 1/4 (which they don't make; I know because I asked) was still there. I guess the good news is that the 8 1/2 now fits, and is even a little snug. So I bought the cute pair I liked in the first place. The bad news is that the 8 1/2 now fits. Snugly.

One great advantage of a big belly is the built in shelf. Davis likes to sit next to me and rest his head on my belly while we watch cartoons. He is also much more snugly now that I am . . . softer. And just the other day I was eating a late lunch after Davis went down for a nap and I could rest the plate on my belly, right below my mouth at the perfect scooping level, while watching tv. It works great for bowls of ice cream, too.

It's a boy!

I went to my "big" ultrasound appointment today and it was so fun to see my precious little baby growing inside! It is definitely a boy. First we saw the head. Then we saw . . . the fact that is a boy. At first I really wanted a little baby girl, but now I am glad I will have a boy. It will be fun for Davis to have a little brother to play with and I won't have to buy all new girl clothes and toys. And it will be interesting to see how different this baby will be from Davis.

What a miracle to see such little toes and fingers and such a sweet face, all inside my tummy. We told Davis a baby was growing in my tummy and he asked to see it. So I showed him my tummy and he stuck is finger in my belly button and asked, "A baby growing in here?" Yep! So now he occasionally asks to see my tummy and still thinks the baby is right inside the belly button.

Now we are on the hunt for baby boy names that we both like. Any suggestions?