On Monday I had my latest doctor's appointment, with Dr. Ray this time, and also had my lovely glucose screen to determine if I'm at risk for gestational diabetes.  I've heard all kinds of yucky stories about the orange concoction they make you drink, so I wasn't really looking forward to the visit.  Well, I may be just weird, but I actually sort of enjoyed it!  it didn't taste nearly as bad as I'd thought it would - reminded me of the orange Triaminic I used to drink as a child when I had a cold - just thinner and colder.  And of course it helped that I was starving at the time of my appointment so I think anything  would've tasted good.  But most of all I enjoyed getting to sit there for an hour in the middle of the day, doing nothing but read a magazine and wait.  It was so relaxing. Then they drew my blood to check the glucose levels and also to screen for anemia.  There are no results back yet, but I've decided not to worry about it anymore.

Then the really good part of the visit came - my checkup with the doctor.  Baby Horne's heartbeat was going strong at 144-147 this time, and I'm measuring exactly on target.  June 8th, here we come!  Everything is going well, and Baby has really upped its uterine antics as of late.  There's lots of movement going on, though sadly it seems every time Dave goes to feel it the baby freezes.  Playing hide and go seek already I guess. 

And, in the produce world, Baby has graduated to the level of an English hothouse cucumber - albeit a near two-pound cuke!  At least the English thing is right on.

Just for fun, I thought I would finally post a picture of Dave and I, since you know, he's a big part of this baby game too!  Last weekend a friend of mine hosted a "Bridesmaid Dress" party...an opportunity for us all to bust out the old bridesmaid dresses we never did actually wear again and show them off at their finest.  Some girls actually changed dresses every hour on the hour.  As for me, I was just incredibly impressed that I still fit into one of mine!  (Of course, we practically had to duck tape me in there and I was convinced I was going to split at the seams all night, but we won't go there...)  Beth G, if you read this, I think you'll recognize the dress, no?  Anyway, enjoy the funny pic of a 25 week pregnant bridesmaid!

I do realize that I don't write in this journal all that often, but I like to think it's because I'm just busy doing all kinds of baby prep work.  And I recognize that's not completely true either, but it certainly has been the case in the past few weeks or so.

It all started with the aforementioned stroller.  I was tipped off to that by my SIL Amy, who suggested I shop the baby websites for car seats and strollers, as this is the sale time of year, when everyone's trying to clear out their 2007 inventory.  That's how we got our lovely stroller, in Toffee.  Must look into car seats next.

Then, on to the nursery.  We've been searching and searching for just the right crib bedding, and finally found it at Target.  It's called "Circles" by Dwell Studio.  Here's a link, should you be so interested: http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/ref=sc_pgc_r_5_0_393200011/601-0438829-6136929?ie=UTF8&frombrowse=1&asin=B000VPE5SM. It was between that and another set that we liked, called "Happy" by Babylicious.  We actually bought them both and brought them home to compare colors.  I made Dave take a blind-folded "touch test", and we both decided that Circles was a much softer material.  So modern and circular we go.  I think we'll be really happy with it, and heck, it was certainly cheap enough that I won't be too sad if it doesn't hold up for more than one baby.  I even got it on sale (Mom, you'd be so proud).  

We'll be painting the nursery a pretty bright pear green.  It's the same color as our kitchen actually, if anyone remembers our home improvement pictures.  We have an extra gallon of it lying around that Frugal Me has been dying to use.  And it coordinates with the bedding perfectly.  We'll still be decorating with a general animal theme, though we've moved away from "Jungle" per se.  We bought some really pretty watercolors at an art show last December which have been the inspiration for the room.  They're all bright colors and one is of a giraffe and its baby, the other of a zebra and its baby.  I'm so excited to hang them up.

And, Dave went and ordered our crib today.  We're going with white, since we already have a white dresser that will also do nicely as a changing table once we move it to the nursery.  I'm beginning to hope that the room isn't going to be too bright and blinding!  We chose to put the nursery in our front spare bedroom, which is already excessively sunny, so we shall see.  In any case, here's the crib: http://www.milliondollarbaby.com/detail_AnnCrib.htm.

For all the excitement, we're realistically really far away from creating said nursery, as it's currently in use as our "junk room".  But we still have time...right? 

So my reality check, true to form, came in the method of a strange thought.  All the reading and planning and dreaming and shopping we've done has been working up to the day (or somewhere in the ballpark) of June 8th.  But then, I realized that a mere 6 months ago I was barely pregnant, while in only 6 months from now, I will have an almost-three month old.  How strange!  Dave takes a decidedly more realistic approach: "Yes dear, that is what can happen in a year", but I am still thrown for a loop by this thought. 

But I digress.  The reason for the entry was to make the simple observation that I seem to be carrying Baby Horne very low and wide, no "basketball" in sight.  To prove this, I'm going to add Exhibit A to my photo album: it's a recent picture of my preggo friend Brianne and I, at her baby shower a couple of weekends ago.  As you will see, she's a definite Basketball, while I seem to be just...wide.  And low.  What this means to me is that I've been getting more kicks in the bladder as of late, vs. the ribs.  Although I have to say Baby H. has been very kind and his/her movements are now more of the rolling sort vs. the good ole' karate chop. 

And I will digress again.  I have started to notice Baby's periods of activity and rest.  Specifically, right at midday, and especially around 10 p.m., Baby is having a veritable party in there.  So much so that as of late I have been actually able to see my belly move as well as feel it from within.  Sitting on the couch late at night watching the action is quickly becoming one of my favorite pasttimes.  Pretty crazy stuff.  It will be fun when I can actually see elbows and feet and such jump out at me too.