Glider: Before and after

I am notorious for starting projects that never get finished. But check it out: Norah's glider is complete! And I didn't even leave little parts to sew later or anything--which is so very, very unlike me.

This glider is the very first thing I bought when I found out I was pregnant. I figured I could recover it for a boy or a girl. Here's the before:

And here's the after:
The actual glider cost me 30 bucks from KSL classifieds. I ended up just throwing the old cushions away because they were icky and used some batting that I already had to stuff the new ones. So after touching up the paint and buying the fabric, I figure I spent about $50 on the entire project. I'm pretty pleased with myself.

He's feeling better, which means it's project time

Because I shared so much about Nic's gallbladder, I figured that I should share more about the actual outcome. Good news is: He is feeling better than he has felt in a long time. And it's about time. I'm growing an entire person here--can I get a little sympathy? I'm only partly kidding. But seriously. I'm growing a human being who at some point in the next twelve weeks is going to have to exit my body. That has to be worse than having a little old gallbladder removed.

I've now entered my third trimester. Less than 90 days to go people! Baby Norah is doing great it seems. She is particularly fond of my right rib cage; I don't know if she's punching it or kicking it or what in the world is going on in there, but it is far from comfortable and I wish she would stop.

The whole nesting thing has hit full force and I'm pretty sure it's driving Nic crazy. I always have a list of projects for him, but now those projects have a specific deadline that if not met, might result in my whole world imploding and you wouldn't want that right Nic? We've got to finish the bathroom and build shelves in the closet and get a new water filter and change all the air filters and and and a lot of other things that I think of daily. I'm hoping this comes to an end soon, but as of now I can't help it if I have to wipe down all the walls, doors, and baseboards in the house. These things must be done!

Starting the nursery

I've been shopping for baby Norah for months now, but I've actually made very few purchases. I've also been planning her nursery ever since we found out the gender, but again I've made very little progress. I have no less than one million links to nursery ideas and rooms that I love sitting in my Google account; I just can't seem to pull anything together.

However, I am THRILLED with the few items I do have. I bought this print on etsy.com. I'm not usually a fan of little cutsie sayings on the wall, but how sweet is this? It's hanging on the wall by the door--the first thing to actually have a permanent place and the first thing you see when you walk into the room.
And since I decided that I like me a subtle bird theme, I got this print that I've been eying for a while. Best of all, I have these incredible stitcheries from Alissa. The smaller one is titled "Multiply and Replenish." Don't the paisleys remind you of little cells dividing into a new, fabulous baby Norah? The larger one is called "Take off Your Top," which according to Alissa is how I got myself into this predicament in the first place.

I'm finding that I don't like a lot of really babyish stuff, so I'm choosing items that I would like to have in my house with or without a little girl. Plus, it's a real bonus when the items have special meaning--like the stitcheries.

Not wanting to spend a lot of money, I'm having Nic refinish a piece of furniture we already have and make it into a changing table. Then, he gets to refinish an existing dresser as well. I don't think he knows this yet, but I'm also having him build some sort of shelves on one of the walls (and in the closet too, sorry). Thanks for being so handy Nic!

Debbie has volunteered to make a crib set, I just need to settle on what fabric to use. Oh, and I bought a rocker on KSL that I need to recover. So I guess I have more than I thought; it's just all halfway done or not even started. Three months seems like forever when I think of my growing belly, but when it comes to finishing furniture I feel like I don't have enough time.

Shopping always makes me feel better

After having an organ removed on a Friday, Nic went back to work the next Monday. And to all those who have told me that I should have made him stay home, I say next time you try to reason with him. At least he didn't drive himself. I consider that a victory.

It's hard to say if he's been feeling better; he's still all tired and messed up from the abdomen cutting and drugs and trying to do too much. He planned to work this Saturday, but after working all day Friday and making some of his stitches bleed, he decided on his very own that it really would be best if he take it easy. He's still impossible to keep at the house though; so he got to tag along with me for the weekend and even got to go shopping at Baby Gap.

Oh, Baby Gap. That's a whole lot a darling in one place. I don't think it helped Nic feel much better, but I sure felt awesome about my purchases. We're buying baby clothes--for a baby.


We're now six months into this pregnancy thing and doing pretty well. Lately, we've just been in survival mode because of all Nic's stuff. I like to remind him how unfair it is that I'm pregnant and he is still feeling worse than me. Isn't it supposed to be my turn? We've both tried to keep up with everyone, but it's been hard...so sorry for all the short visits and the lack of returned phone calls. We're doing the best we can.

Baby Norah is doing great. She's just chillin out and kicking the hell out of my insides. Whenever she bothers me really badly, I poke and pat right back at her. That usually makes her stop for a while. I figure that two can play at this game.

Not his favorite day

Yesterday was not the most fun we've ever had when taking a day off of work. We left home at eleven and didn't get home from the hospital until after six. Now, Nic is minus his gallbladder and all hopped up on Percocet. Everything went really well. But did you know that when they take your gallbladder out, they deflate it and pull it out your belly button? Out of your belly button! The doctor had to make three other incisions to get all the scar tissue and junk off; apparently Mr. Nic's gallbladder was pretty messed up. I had so much fun that I went to bed at eight.

Today we've stayed home, which if you know Nic means that he is really not feeling well. Usually not even an act of God can keep him in the house all day. I've taken the opportunity to satisfy some nesting projects, but hopefully he'll be feeling up to doing something tomorrow.

In other news: Moxie and Sup had their annual exam this week. On a fat scale from 1 to 5, Sup is a 4.5. Apparently he's not just fluffy like I've been telling him. I feel his pain; it seems like every morning I wake up with a bigger belly. Nic on the other hand, has lost a lot of weight. Hopefully, we'll all start feeling better soon...

Procedures

It's been a stressful couple of weeks at our house. I'm doing my best to grow a person and Nic is doing his best to figure out what in the world is wrong with his insides. So basically neither of us is all too chipper.

Nic had two procedures last week: one involving a camera going down his throat and up his butt (Did they meet in the middle?), and another involving laying on a table for a couple of hours while some sort of radiation went through his body to show how his organs were functioning. I wasn't there for the radiation thing, but was there when he came out of the anesthesia after his colonoscopy. If you've seen this video then you have a pretty good idea about what he's like post-op. He doesn't remember much of that day.

We haven't gotten results from the first procedure, but the radiation thing showed that his gallbladder isn't functioning properly and is most likely what is making him sick. His doctor and a surgeon are supposed to call him sometime today to discuss his options. So it looks like there could be a fun surgery in the near future. The best thing to do with Nic when he's on pain pills after surgery? Watch a scary movie. Well, not so much watch the movie as watch Nic watch the movie. It makes for a good time.

I've got a little less than four months of this pregnancy thing to go. I was all weirded out by the thought of feeling the baby move, but then it happened and it wasn't all that strange--until I could see movement on the outside! That is weird. I don't know what all else I should say about this whole deal other than we're excited for the end result. Yay for baby Norah!

We don't celebrate Valentine's Day

We do, however, really like to go places and visit friends. This trip just happened to fall on Valentine's weekend.

Luckily for us, we have some of the best friendlies in the universe. Alissa, Jon, Russell, and Alice are always so nice to let me come stay; this time I tested their resolve by bringing a whole posse along with me. So with Nic and friends in tow, we drove to Southern California for an amazing weekend.


Nic, Mike, and Emily spent Friday at the King of the Hammers off-road race. But because I require a lot more sleep, and because I really just wanted to hang out with Alissa, I stayed back and did girl stuff. This included finding the most fabulous dress for Alice for only $13 (originally $50!) and a matching one to fit baby Norah when she gets here. I have now found one perk to being pregnant: Shopping with a girlfriend for baby clothes. That, my friends, is a good time.

The next day was spent at the beach in Laguna Hills. Somehow I managed to not fall down the hill we all climbed up.


Alissa's caption for this photo: "I got an excellent picture of a dumb bird dangerously close to the ocean: And there is a seagull in that picture with Nic, too." I like her so much.

Honestly, one of the best things about spending time with the Kings is that I get to see a glimpse of what it will hopefully be like when Nic and I have our little family. I mean look how fun these kids are:


Anyone who knows me know that I don't especially like it when people try to tell me my business, so I'm not one to ask for advice, well, ever. But when it comes to babies and parenting and all that crazy insane new stuff that I know nothing about, Alissa is my safe place. That's just one reason why it's so fun to see her in action. She gives me confidence that I can be a good mom too. Thanks Alissa for being such a great hostess and for hooking me up with all the baby stuff!

On a lighter note, we also went to the swap meet at the Rose Bowl and saw Jeanine, the season 5 winner from So You Think You Can Dance? Nic says she is even hotter in real life, which is just one reason why I didn't ask to get my picture taken with her. I don't need evidence of pregnant me standing next to perfect dancer girl. No thank you.