16 weeks 2 days

Friday is always a good day because, at the end of it, you get a weekend! After running around all day (except for a few moments of sitting in my chair) I relish every moment of sitting here on my couch! (all propped up with pillows!)

You can somewhat see the bump bustin' out of the side

This is the shirt that my friend Stacey got for me after I, literally, cried over it at Gap on one of our shopping trips. It was around the holidays last year and Jesse and I had been trying to have a baby for a while...and I was sad and angry that I couldn't buy it...or more specifically that it wasn't applicable. Stacey secretly bought it and then gave it to me once she found out I was pregnant. I wore it today to work and some people got it, some did not. I think the ones that didn't must have thought that I think of myself as extremely smart or skilled. Jesse's take on it was a little more racy - he thought it was a comment about the size of my chest.

I have had a lack of appetite today, and I hate it. I want to eat Fried Dough and chili cheese fries and chili. Thankfully our town is having a big event tomorrow so I may be able to satisfy one of those cravings. I tried a large Klausson's pickle and triple double stuffed oreo's, but it's just not cutting it. Next up is Annie's Mac and Cheese.

I hopped online yesterday, during my day off, to do some research and was pleasantly surprised. I went to Overstock.com because my friend Kara had mentioned that they had good priced baby items. So, I took a look and found this:

To help you understand how wonderful this is let me explain my path to a carseat and stroller:

1. The trend now is to get a Snap-N-Go frame and a matching car seat. Ok, not a bad trend. The frame is light weight and folds up easily, oh, and has a basket underneath to carry your stuff. The cost of the frame is $75. The carseat with one base is $130 and an additional base is $50 (which you need if you have two cars). Then, when the child gets too big for the carseat you use a stroller which runs you about $65. Total cost being....$320 (ouch!)

2. Our friends offered us their car seat and frame to use for free. Sweet deal...except it's been nagging me that I ultimately wanted new stuff for my first child. I have been struggling with that, but I removed the car seat and the frame from my registry. We still would need to get the stroller for $65, which as a total cost to transport my child...not so bad.

3. I went to Overstock.com and found the above car seat which snaps into the stroller, and then when the baby outgrows the car seat I can use just the stroller for $137.99 and the additional base is $39.99 for a grand total of....$178.00 (did I do this math right, that was never my strong suit). Call me crazy - but I think this is the best of both worlds.

NOW, I know that the Snap-N-Go frame is super light and folds up nice and small...and the above option is going to be more bulky and take up more space - but I DON'T CARE! I would rather be practical and frugal...and hey - maybe for baby numero dos we will get the frame so we can use this stroller for our older child...or I'll upgrade to a double stroller (which this company has available).

I love the challenge of finding good deals :) and hey - FYI...if anyone is shopping for a shower gift and finds one of my registry items for a cheaper cost and you want to pick it up let me know and I'll take the yucky expensive item off my registry!

16 weeks 1 day

We had today off of work because it's Rosh Hashana (I believe that is the Jewish New Year). We started out the day by visiting the Higgins Armory in Worcester as part of research for Jesse's work. He was thinking of taking the kids there for a field trip - and because of that we got to tour the museum for free. Apparently it's the largest private collection of armory.

Our next stop was A.C. Moore where I used a coupon to pick up glitter pens. A coworker, Anna, found one in my drawer when I was out on Tuesday and seeing the sparkling glittery-ness on a form reminded me of how much I loved those pens! I did some research online and found that they are now only sold at A.C. Moore (or online). Furthermore, I found that there are printable coupons for 50% off one regularly priced item. So, I printed out a coupon and got a set of 6 glitter pens for $5.00. I immediately drew a picture using all 6 colors and showed it off to Jesse. I wonder what began my obsession with pens...

I jumped back into my Ramen with Vodka sauce and butter routine for lunch and lounged on the couch for a few hours before Jesse went down to have dinner with his parents and I headed for my dreaded pap smear. It was a tolerable but uncomfortable experience...but it's done! Then I headed to Wanokura to pick up my Vegetable Tempura that I've been craving and McD's for chicken nuggets and Monopoly pieces!

Next dreaded event is the flu shot...can I get it at work for free? After that, it's the glucose test. As the doctor was trying to stop my bleeding and telling me what a trooper I was I tentatively asked "So, since I'm such a trooper can I skip my glucose test?" She agreed to allow me to do a 1-hour glucose test as opposed to the newly mandated 2-hour test. I am going to celebrate the little steps towards my successful avoidance!

16 weeks

Today is the beginning of week 16. I had a few co-workers comment that I had popped since Monday. It probably looked that way because I was wearing a non-maternity (tight) shirt with horizontal stripes. I woke up this morning and really wanted to show off the belly :) I decided tonight that I wanted Oreo's and, against the advice of my friend Kristin, I told Jesse to get me Triple Double Stuff Oreo's. Well, they were completely glutenous and I agree with Kristin, a double stuff is more than adequate. The triple layer addition - chocolate - was not as tasty as one might think. However, it was delicious dipped in Vanilla flavored Almond Milk. Oh, another craving is regular milk...typically not a fan but I've been drinking kid sized cartons at work and today had chocolate milk (thank you DC).

I have removed the majority of clothing off my registry, but this one Sleep Gown I am obsessed with and I can't bring myself to remove it! It is basically something I would wear, if it came in my size. In fact - they should make sleep gowns in adult sizes...that and footsie pajamas!

A friend of mine, which is due 2 days before me, found out the sex of her baby. I won't spill the beans here because it's not my news to share, but it does get me more excited for when we found out the sex of our little peanut. I have an appointment tomorrow to get a pap smear (YUCK!) and blood work. I am fairly certain I will get to hear the heart beat which I am very excited about. I attempted to talk Dr. Marshall out of making me go through a pap smear, but she was fairly persistant.

I'm also negotiating with Dr. Marshall's staff to avoid the glucose test that happens during the last trimester. I failed my glucose tolerance test back in 2005 (I passed out in the first hour of a three hour test). Because I am hypoglycemic, they're going to do a two hour test - most pregnant ladies do a one hour test. And, to sweeten the deal they're talking about getting me a bed at the local hospital. I don't really call that sweet so much as sucky.

15 weeks 6 days

This is my baby bump tonight! I got a little dressed up for the Celebration of Life and felt very grown up! This afternoon I was craving something cold and was able to curb that craving with a few (4) Fla-Vor-Ice's. Jesse told me that, on our way home tonight, we could pick up something. To which I replied "ICE CREAM SANDWICHES!!!" But, as we rolled in to town he asked if I wanted to stop at the grocery store. We happened to be going by a Wendy's so I changed my mind and said I wanted a shake. We have a McDonald's just down the street from our house so we went there and I got a Vanilla Shake with no whipped cream, which ultimately means no cherry on top. Maybe I should just go and get a cherry and add it for fun. 

Jake has crawled into my lap (literally) so this will be a short entry today!

Ellen Scioletti's Celebration of Life

Jesse and I just got back from a Celebration of Life - and I must say, that's how to go out in style! Jesse was able to see family members that he hadn't seen in about 10 years and I was able to meet some for the first time. The food was delicious (I had seconds) and it was a fairly positive affair! Jesse's aunt works for a florist who donated the flowers to the event...and we got to keep a centerpiece. I will say, for the record, that my in-laws took one home that was about 3 times this size...and one, that I must say, I had my eye on. 

15 weeks 5 days

170 (ish) days to go!

Today was a Monday Fun-day. I went to work for a busy busy day where I was setting up for the week and preparing for having a day off tomorrow. My husband's grandmother died on Saturday so tomorrow is the Celebration of Life and thus a bereavement day for us. (Which reminds me...I need to call the sub line).

I'm sitting here eating marshmallows and thinking about drinking out of a water cup that the dog drank out of...I'm thirsty, but I can't stoop to that level...yet. In a bit I'm going to head to the town library to return a dvd box set and check out a new one. I have one more season of Big Love to get through, which means I dream in terms of polygamy these days.

My friend Stacey was on a walk with her husband Jim and daughter yesterday around their neighborhood when they came upon the most perfect Glider that matches the nursery. It is actually a light green color. Jim texted me with a picture and I yelled to Jesse "We have to get this Glider!" to which he thought I meant that a Glider (plane) had gone down. We drove over and got it and I was amazed that it was free! The previous owner said it had a creak, which I have yet to hear. I did some cleaning and - viola! - This is the finished product!

The chair with some of the Pottery Barn Nursery Bedding 

Just to put things into perspective, the above was free. THIS is what I had registered for at Target for $214 dollars. That is a savings of $214 minus the gas that it took to drive 3 miles to get it and back as well as a cleaner for microfiber. The glider is officially off my registry - phew! That was my one pricey item that I didn't think I'd get because it's a luxury not necessarily a need. 

On another note, I now need to research some microfiber cleaners...any recommendations? 

On a further note, here is a picture of me and the first thing I did when I got home from work today: 

Kicking back with my feet up!

15 weeks, 4 days

171 (ish) days to go!


It's football Sunday. This is a day that my husband watches the Patriots and I watch my computer...rather I watch what's on my computer. Don't get me wrong - I like football, I just can't watch 9 games in a day. I also spend the day doing laundry that's accumulated during the week. I have toyed with taking a trip to Target all day to get baby laundry detergent and a package of baby hangers so I can wash the clothes that I have thus far and hang them up. Is this nesting, or just boredom? 


I spent some time this morning researching more items for my registry. I am attempting to get rid of the cliched Babies 'R' Us registry and just have one at Target. Target is more readily available to the general public as well as just plain cheaper. I also did some searching at IKEA to see if a crib would be better priced there versus not. What I found is that they have a crib that drops down to a toddler bed for $20 cheaper than the 4-in-1 convertible crib I now have picked out (which is, by the way, $30 cheaper - on sale - than the original crib that I picked out). My in-laws are purchasing the crib for us, and after scoring a Pottery Barn Kids nursery set at a consignment fair this weekend for $100 I'm fairly excited to start seeing the nursery come together more. I wouldn't mind having the crib arrive soon and set it up (ahem, I mean the hubs set it up...with my assistance). 


The crib I have picked out is the Graco Lauren Classic Convertible Crib for $139.00. (I'll review it once I get it...and use it!)


On another note, I just devoured popcorn! I wasn't sure what I was craving, but I needed something to eat so I popped some on the stove and added some butter and salt. I also snuck a Diet Coke (which I know I shouldn't have because of the aspartame and caffeine, but I'm generally really good!).