38 Week Update

Today marks 38 weeks in our pregnancy.  I am just now noticing swelling in my hands/feet... and apparently in my face... like so:

38 Weeks

The past week and a half has been difficult.  I'm still missing my sweet boy, but I know he's in doggie heaven with all of the toilets he could ever want to drink out of, all of the bones he could never eat due to his allergies, no rain to get his dainty paws wet, and squirrels to chase at every corner.  I'm convinced God made his precious life short for a reason and someday I will know why.  

(the last picture I took of him with his "sisters")

"Dogs have a way of finding the people who need them, filling an emptiness we don't even know we have."

I am trying to focus on other things while my heart heals. One of them... our hospital bags.  I'm so glad I checked them over the weekend because we had all of the baby stuff ready to go, but hardly any clothing for ourselves.  Here's a peek into what we're bringing:

for the baby...

Left to right, starting at the top: Heavy blanket, 2 light blankets, 2 swaddle blankets, 2 burp cloths, 2 footie onseies, 2 regular onesies, 2 pairs of socks, 2 pairs of scratch mittens, 2 hats, 2 pacifiers (which we probably won't use), a diaper or two.

and for Mom and Dad...

 Left to right, starting at the top: 2 old towels, 2 old pillow cases, shower shoes for each of us, sweatpants/t-shirts for him, pajamas/leggings/nursing tanks/breast pads for her, a brush, granola bars/snacks, all of our toiletries (including extra contacts and Lansinoh), socks for him, socks for her, unmentionables (not pictured, of course!).

I realize we are probably over packing, but we live 25 minutes away from the hospital and I'd rather not make a bunch of trips home.  I want us to be able to enjoy every second of the experience together.

One last thing we did this weekend...

It's official!*

*Maybe.  Our officiant was a bit sketchy... and may or may not remember to send the papers in. But it's all good.

Wedding Bells on Pause

In 12 days, I'll have been engaged for 3 months.  Have I planned anything?  Nope.  That's sort of how I roll these days.

I realize this I am a rarity considering I've browsed Facebook to find friends who have already taken engagement shots and bought a dress two weeks after getting engaged.  How do they do it?  I guess they have been dreaming of it since the Barbie doll days.  Not that I haven't.  But maybe to a lesser degree.  Rather than the wedding, I was focused on the person.  And I did a good job... a really good job.

With so many other exciting things happening in the next few months, my wedding planning spirit has been consciously put on hold.  I am an OCD perfectionist with certain things, and this would be one of them.  There are only two stages in my case - nonchalant, go-with-the-flow bride or psycho, 24/7 wedding planning bride-demon.  I'd rather be the former at this point.  I'm going to save much of my wedding planning until after the baby is born so that it doesn't distract me from classes/work.

I know a few things that I want - a SMALL wedding.  I'm talking 7 people.  But I know that won't work with the fiance and his family, so we are going to expand it to maybe 50 people.  Which will end up being 100, I'm sure.  I want a strapless dress.  This means I will need some time post-baby to get in shape. Maybe something simple like this?

(Image: Source)

I want an open bar and big dance floor.  It needs to look and feel like one big party.  My bridal party - consisting of my 2 sisters and best friend - will probably be wearing J. Crew or Ann Taylor.  I love the casual, flowy look (but not the wild colors, so much).

 

(Image: Source)

(Image: Source)

Colors will probably be yellow and white or silver, but I haven't given that a lot of thought.  She doesn't quite know it yet, but my sister will be making my cupcake tower "cake" because she's amazing at all things baking.

So maybe I have given it some thought, but we certainly haven't acted on anything.  Except these...