12 more weeks to go

Time flies when your having fun. I can't believe we are due in 12 weeks! I have been overly excited the last couple of days, especially because we got the changing table and the crib is on the way. It makes it feel so much more official. I built the changer last night and Lou helped me to move it into the nursery. The crib should be arriving soon. I just washed baby's first load of laundry with clothes and blankets people have given us. Most of the blankets and outfits were from my mom for Christmas, but he also got an ASU onsie from his Aunt Michelle, a Chicago Bears outfit from his Auntie Julie, and a U of M receiving blanket from our neighbor Jim. They are so cute and small! It made me realize that I need to learn how to swaddle and maybe I should think about packing the hospital bag too. I'm also glad the things we have been getting are in a variety of sizes. I have been reading and hearing from other moms that the newborn clothes don't last long- if at all. 

I've been feeling great. Zero complaints here! Yesterday Lou and I went to the mall and we found long maternity jeans at Old Navy. They had a pretty small maternity section and a little picked over but I got 2 pairs of long jeans- which I was excited about. I also found a Motherhood Maternity and got a few items I could wear to work. I thought the round belly padding you can strap on in the dressing room was hilarious! I put a dress on with the padding and Lou was like, "Is that your real stomach?" It is supposed to add 4 months on to your pregnancy...silly boy! We will find out the sex Jan. 15 at the next ultrasound. We both agree on the name Brendan Robert for a boy and Lou says if it is a girl I get to pick. I like Violet, Victoria, Emma, Madeline, and Samantha. We had agreed on the boy's name before we were even pregnant and Robert is my dad's name and Lou's uncle's name. Violet was one of my Grandma Josie's sisters and Emma was the name of Lou's Dad's Grandmother.

Using the bathroom a few times a night has been the norm for me the last couple of months. In fact, using the bathroom quite frequently during the day has been pretty constant as well- almost embarrassing. Lately I've been thinking that maybe all of this waking up in the middle of the night every night is nature's way of preparing me for getting up with a little baby during the night. Then, just last night I realized that I am almost on a 'pee schedule'. On my way to the bathroom I always take a look at the clock next to the bed and it is around 2:30 AM for the first bathroom break and about 6:30 AM for the second. I've gotten down to about two a night, sometimes more. My record earlier in the pregnancy was 5 times in one night! 

Now if my body is waking me up at about

 4 hour intervals to use the bathroom, I just can't help but wonder if it is giving me practice for the main event. Additionally, wouldn't it be great if the baby would also get used to the 2:30 and 6:30 AM bathroom breaks too? Then, when they are born they will already be on a feeding schedule from practicing in the womb. That would be sweet!

Here I am at 16 weeks pregnant. The baby bump is growing and I have a tough time fitting into my pre-pregnancy pants and buttoning them. I got a pair of maternity pants from my parents for Christmas but I need to go shopping soon. I also bought a 'Be Band' online to keep the pants closed up front and to prevent exposure of the plumber's crack when wearing my regular size 8 jeans. I haven't got it yet and yesterday my Dad was teasing me about showcasing the plumber's crack while working on the master bath remodel. Hopefully when we are done with the bathroom upgrade I will have time to go try on some maternity clothing before going back to work.