Boy, oh Boy! It's 20 Weeks!

In case you were unaware (because you jumped off the face of the planet), WE'RE HAVING A BOY!!!!!! I am sooooo excited about this (and soooo relieved).  Not that there is anything wrong with having a little girl; it's just that I knew this one named Stephanie Marie, and I knew all the really bad teenager type things she did, and I don't know that I am equipped to deal with that. As my cousin Denise said (oh, so eloquently) when she was pregnant after having been asked whether she wanted a boy or a girl, "I'll be damned if I'm going to have a little (inflammatory noun) talk to me the way I talked to my mom!" Well, Denise, I concur! And apparently so do the fates, because oh! Have I mentioned? I'm having a little boy! And here are some pictures from his first modeling shoot...

My little Picasso

It's his little boy part...awwwww.

He would really like a new book to read (he gets bored easily).

His perfect little feet (actively kicking Mommy in the tummy...awwww)

So, now that we know what the little squamous (nickname that just kind of happened) is going to be...that can only point to one course of action. Any guesses? You got it...SHOPPING!!!  Mom and I went to Babies R Us with plans to scan at least two thirds of the store for the baby's registry. Unfortunately, there's a lot more to consider than just the design and motif of the little one's nursery...there's like, serious stuff...like, "travel systems" (That's right. You can't just strap a kid onto the hood of a car and take off for the hills anymore. Geez, it worked for my parents.), fifty bazillion types of swings, bouncy seats, carriers, cribs, mattresses (THAT'S RIGHT! Not only do you have to buy a crib...you have buy the mattress...???) and let's not forget the fact that you can ruin your child's entire existence by purchasing the wrong type of pacifier (which doesn't seem like a big deal...except there are 100 bazillion of these little suckers just waiting to be scanned! I decided to wait on the pacifier and allow the baby to pick out his own. Surely he can just point to the one he wants when he arrives...good thinkin', huh? *wink*)

After all was said and done, I got some great advice from a few moms and moms-to-be throughout the store. You have to remember that I have no brothers or sisters with children, I have no cousins with babies within a 400 mile radius and I haven't spent a lot of time with any "babies" in general. So...I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I AM DOING. However, I am not! ashamed to ask for help...(from complete strangers, multiple times). And I really lucked out, because all of the pregnant ladies at Babies R Us were super friendly and knew their stuff (I'm not really sure what kind of happy juice was in those ladies' cups, but it sure as hell ain't in mine!)

Mom and I did end up getting a great deal on a "travel system" by Graco. It was the design that I had researched (Correct. I research everything. I am done reading the "What To Expect" books...bring on the teenage years, baby!), and we got the floor model for $50 off; PLUS! another happy-juice-pregnant-lady was more than kind a gave us a 20% off coupon...thus taking off another $50. Amazing, right?

Said "travel system"...shall we call it the "Cadillac of all baby mobility"?

A lot of the nursery stuff I had picked out online wasn't in the store (I refuse to have big stupid monkeys or turtles or big mega print airplanes decorating my baby's room...and apparently that's all they sell in-store), so I will probably complete my registry online. Besides, why drive to a store when you can sit at home in your pj's and still get 'er done? 

Shrine to Baby Clark

Nantucket Blue...crib set planned for Baby Clark

Soooo...that brings me to the subject of names. We have thought about different names we like and have heard a few suggestions from the peanut gallery. For example, Nigel, my youngest stepson lovingly offered "Octavius Reppins Clark". Thanks a lot, Nigel. You really put your heart and soul into that one. My very special cousin Christine thought "Charlie Jacob Maximilian Clark" sounded nice (all first names from her small herd of children). And then, of course, we heard from Jimmy Bates, our dear friend, that his namesake would be most suiting. Well, Jimmy, you might've just gotten your wish, because James is definitely on our list of "keepers"...sorry to Nigel, Christine, Charlie, Jacob and Max. So far, we really like Christian, James, Winston, Collin and Kenneth. 

And as far as your daily dose of laughter is concerned, let me be the administrator and provide you with some pictures of me at 19 and 20 weeks.  I am done trying to look pregnant. If my somewhat "flat" belly is all I have left, I will take it...pridefully...because Lord knows, it looks more like I am growing the baby in my hind quarters (and hips, and thighs, and arms).

19 weeks

20 weeks...and this picture makes me look fat. Plus, Ken is a horrible photographer...I mean, who told him to stand on the bed because it would probably make me look skinnier????  Surely that wasn't my idea.