Baby Transportation - done!

Our first big purchases were made this weekend. We bought the stroller and carseat!

Although Den mentioned that we should wait and put this type of stuff on a baby registry, it's really hard for S and myself to pass up a good deal. Also, those places that have baby registries don't carry the stroller we want, so, what's a couple of anxious parents-to-be to do? Head to the awesome baby store just 5 minutes away, and walk away with cash deals - taxes in!

Anywho, we are picking up our RED Uppababy Vista this week! And the matching carseat from Peg Perego! I'm so happy that they have red available. It's one of those hard to find colours that seem to sell out quickly. I really waffled back an forth between the Uppababy and the Bugaboo Cameleon, just based on the reviews I found online. But when we tried them out in the store, we knew the Uppababy was better for us. It's SO cool looking. And the seat is up quite high, so poor S doesn't have to bend very far down to pick up our little dude. People are right when they say you have to take into account your personal needs for a stroller. The Bugaboo is also nice, but we found the bassinet and seat way too low for a tall daddy. The I'coo Targo was also a consideration, but when we saw how big it was folded up, it wasn't for us. Anyways, I've meticulously researched these items and am very happy with what we chose. I kinda like that the stroller is not very common, so it will be easy to spot in a crowd.

Strollers have come a really long way in the past few years. Even in just the past 5 years, a lot has changed. Parents have the option to go with sleeker designs and funky light materials like aircraft alloy - sweet! A lot sure has changed from those days when 9 year olds use to race baby cousins down the streets of Miami in big ol' strollers. I bet the Uppababy would leave those ones in the dust. If cousin Darryl can fit in our Uppababy, I would let S race around with him in it to bring back those nostalgic memories. Thankfully, he does not fit.

Uppababy Vista: "Part sports car. Part super-utility vehicle."


Just look at all that storage space!

Peg Perego Primo Viaggio SIP - one pimpin' carseat.


This one is easily adjustable and will fit last a little longer for babies that might end up being long. The salesguy took one look at S and gently suggested that we might want to take that into account in case our little guy is longer than average. I like the side impact protection features and the super soft material.

I know we're supposed to do it, and people just want to know what we need, but it's really tough to find things to put on a gift registry. We don't like the idea of expecting gifts from people, much less telling them what we want from them. Also, I like to do intensive research on pretty much everything I buy that's over $100, so when it gets to that point, I usually just pick it up myself because some things can be pretty hard on the pocketbook for giftgivers. I have a feeling our registry will be mostly blankets and baby socks with a smattering of gear that we don't know we need yet...

The Kicker

Oh, I forgot to mention in my last post...

This kid kicks alot, and he kicks hard!

The past three weeks has felt like a soccer match down there. I don't know what he's doing, but he's busy. S hopes he's practicing jiu-jitsu or dunking hoops. I think he's just experimenting in punching me to get a reaction or to get up. He might even be jumping on my bladder to get me to walk. Little dude does not like me to sit still or lie down.

Two nights ago, S and I were watching TV when I felt some extra hard kicks. So we looked down at the belly and saw the kicking! SO FREAKY!! We didn't see little hands or feet (freaky!!!), but a spot next to my bellybutton vibrated up and down!!! We both yelped we we saw it and I think we startled the little guy. Minutes later, he did it again in the same spot. I would take a video of this, but really, nobody wants to see that much skin!

23 weeks: Pudgy-McPudge-Pudge

So yesterday was the monthly prenatal appointment with Dr. V. I don't have pictures to show, but everything seems okay so far. Everything, that is, but for my sudden weight gain in the last 4 weeks. I'm not even going to say how much it was. Let's just say I've gained more than the low end of the recommended TOTAL pregnancy gain for someone my size. It prompted Dr. V to tell me to "Lay off the carbs, kid"!!!

Dr. V says I'm one of his smallest patients, so that kind of weight gain in 4 weeks is not something he wants to see. This could be problematic if I continue gaining in this was, as the carbs will contribute to much of the baby's weight. My dodgy recollection of first year biology and intro human physiology somewhat supports this.

Carbs --> blood glucose --> umbilical cord exchange --> baby's blood glucose --> chubby baby.

At this rate, I could end up with a 9 pound baby, which is cute and roly-poly, but may also mean c-section. No thank you!!! I was a giant baby, and S was a big-headed baby who grew into a rather large adult. I've seen too many video clips of the procedure to be nonchalant about it. If there's anything I can do to prevent a c-section, I'll do it.

Dr. V could tell I felt really bad, so when he actually saw my belly and measured it, I think he was trying to make me feel better by saying that all that weight gain wasn't just the baby. But then joked that I was getting quite a pot. WTH? What kind of a joke is that?? He just called me fat!

So yesterday was one of those days where I felt disappointed in myself the whole day for possibly sending my kid down the road to a lifetime of obesity. I went through the cupboards and threw out old packages of cookies (we don't eat them much anyways, but just in case temptation strikes....), chips, and candies. I took a close look at our pantry and my diet to narrow down the culprits responsible for this. I think the culprit is rice and pasta. I've always loved to eat large amounts of pasta, so that wasn't much of a change. It's more about the rice. Pre-pregnancy, I hardly ate rice at all. I just didn't like it. I'd get a small scoop with my dinner, and most times, atleast half of it would still be on the plate after I finished all the other items in the meal. But since Christmas, I've been scarfing down the rice like any true-blooded chinese girl. So I'm cutting back the rice, increasing fish, upping the exercise, and trying not to worry.

My girl friend and my massage therapist both tried to make me feel better with the same story! They both gained 60 pounds in their first pregnancies (both are now on their fourth!!), and the babies turned out average sized. S also says that a fat baby doesn't mean a fat adult. Just look at cousin Darryl. heehee!

On the preparation front, the nesting instinct is starting to kick in for both S and myself. We had a weekend of curtain-hanging and are both very proud of the results. Next project is wallpaper for our bedroom (I have a vision of "french occupied vietnam aristocrat" for our bedroom) and reorganizing furniture for the little dude's room. On the shopping front, we have acquired the following:

- fancy crib bedding, but no crib
- a few baby outfits
- a Halo sleepsack wearable blanket
- a small mountain of fancy cloth diapers
- a ring-sling carrier
- a Beco butterfly carrier
- yet another diaper bag (this one is for daddy-o)

And borrowed:

- a glider
- a bassinet and stand (so cute!)
- a swing chair
- a baby bath tub
- a feeding chair

The house is finally starting to look like we are expecting a new family member.