Clothes for the baby and for growing the baby

NEVER pay full price.  You know that, right??

I honestly don't remember the last time I paid full sticker-price on any piece of clothing.  Maybe for socks.
I LOVE shopping, and I won't lie to you and keep that a secret.  But I wanted to be wise with my maternity wear and baby clothes.  Both items get only a few months of use out of them-- so I wanted to invest wisely.

When I was only 12ish weeks pregnant and not really showing-- I bought my first maternity clothes.  I bought them off of Craigslist for $40 and received about 20 different items.

3 Jeans/pants, 3 t-shirts, 3 long sleeve shirts, 3 cardigans, 6 sweaters, 1 dress, 1 dress shirt-- Lots of Old Navy and Liz Lange. And 1 cat who was still having difficulties adjusting to the changes beginning to happen... so she decided to sit on them.

I won't wear a few sweaters or a couple of the jeans-- but any thrifter knows that maternity clothes are hot items to consign at second hand stores.  So for $40-- I've already worn their worth. Love the cardigans that are there and the long thin t-shirts.

I've received items as gifts this Christmas, and bought a few on great sales.  Or used a $3 off Liz Lange coupon at Target to get things 75% off or more. I've looked at a couple second hand stores and bought a maternity winter coat. I debated if I needed that... but sometimes I have recess duty when I substitute and then we discovered we'd be going to NYC. A coat that covered would be necessary.

One thing I wanted to do with this- because I know this is a temporary wardrobe-- was to venture out from my "usual style."  So I bought jeggings.  Elastic waistline maternity jeggings :) I was going to buy them for $14 but they rang up as $10-- so even better! I may be seen in them after pregnancy... fair warning.

AND that brings me to clothes for when that baby is not inside me.

My aunt loaned out 2 full bags of baby boy clothes!! That helps a lot-- this kid has plenty of clothes for the first 6 months of his life!!

And of course I can't resist not buying anything for my baby-- so here's a few recent finds:

and now.... for the price tags on those new clothes:

CHEAPER than thrift stores and NEW-- most who know me well know that I can't just walk by something like that.  I LOVE it when you have to scratch off several layers of discount tags to get a peak at the original price :)

 I know it's hard to buy clothes ahead of time because who knows what size range our baby boy will turn out to be, but I will be determined to get uses out of these!

Anyone know right away where these are from because of the discount tag?  Old Navy, of course.  I've memorized what store's clearance stickers look like.  Kohls is yellow, Target is red/orange, Old Navy is orange, Gap is white, and lots of department stores are marked in red pen...


Being able to say BOY for the last couple months has really helped me a lot with the fact that this is something that is actually happening.  I know a lot of people are totally "for" or "against" finding out the baby gender.  I'm not totally one way-- but I will tell you it's helped me. Knowing that he is a boy has helped my attachment and bonding with this baby I'm growing.  I didn't think I'd need extra help in making this feel real-- but knowing "boy" has helped my brain and my emotions a lot!!

I'm pregnant and that is the only thing new in my life...

Newest noteworthy pregnancy news... this kid is moving a ton and I can SEE it!!  On a few occasions I've sat/laid down and simply watched my stomach dance.  It is bizarre.  I think it'll be weird when I don't have anything inside me moving. It happens in the mornings when I'

Some kids I work with are showing my belly more attention since my growth spurt during Christmas break-- and I told a few that I actually saw my stomach move when he kicked.  One said "gross" and then they proceeded to walk around with their hand inside their shirt "kicking" it out.  Being pregnant and regularly seeing 7-10 year olds has been a pretty fun experience!! 

When I first found out I was pregnant, I checked out a few pregnancy books at the library.  I read a little... then got scared and returned them.  Everything you need to know (if you want to know it) is on the internet... right?? I had yet to pick up another book until a couple weeks ago when I received some for Christmas.  One thing that was said that I've been thinking about lately was something to the effect of ... "any insecurities you have outside pregnancy will be maximized during pregnancy."  

While I mostly feel OK because these body changes are supposed to happen- I can definitely agree with that statement.  Your growing body gets SO much attention!  And then you look at the 10 pictures that your husband took of you and can find something wrong with each of them.
Even the best one has a shadow that adds a few inches... and you're as washed out as the walls... and you're gazing above the camera flash.

So then you just take the camera and take them yourself- mirror style :)

((Did you like the title to this post??  I realized it appears that I've become that person who only talks about her pregnant self.  Please excuse that!!  I really don't want to be that-- it's just the only new thing that's going on around here!  And I know there's some people that I don't see everyday who appreciate the update! ))

our cat-baby

I swear our cat is like a baby.  Yes, I might be pregnant and have "baby stuff" on my mind more often. But I think she's trying to prepare us for the real thing.
  Here's some ways how I've noticed that our cat is like a baby...

- She cries.  I can't get to the bathroom in the morning without her crying and rubbing against my ankles because she's soooooo hungry!

- She throws up.  Not that often anymore... but it still happens and I still have to clean it up.  And then I need to figure out what upset her stomach and try and help that.

 - Ben and I will yell to each other to "come here" from the other room to look at the cute position that Dory is in.  I've even heard myself say, "Hold still, I'm going to grab the camera!"

- Sometimes she just needs to be held.  The second you sit down-- she jumps in your arms and snuggles her head by your neck.  It is sometimes seriously hard to get things done around here!  But holding her for a few minutes helps her cry less and forces mom to relax!

- She loves her evening time with daddy!  When he's home, she is in love. And then I'm free to do something else because the above mentioned point.  Somehow, he's just more comfortable to lay on.  I think the baby bump on me has gotten in her way-- and the baby boy has even kicked her a few times!


- She's excited to watch the trash guy come.  She hears the noise and rushes to her perfect viewing spot.  Is that really what we've become already??  Rushing to the window at 10 am on Wednesdays because something interesting is actually going on around here!

- She sleeps. All. the. time. Seriously, right now I'm watching her sitting upright on the carpet and her eyes are closing ever so slowly...  at least lay down!

- She's pathetic, helpless, and adorable.  Sometimes we come home to see a perfect cat body outline imprinted in our comforter and we comment on what a rough day she must have had!  And then we feed her, change her litter, hold her, and admire her.

- She's growing up so fast!  She was a skinny cat when she came to us, and it didn't take that long to get some healthy meat on her bones.  Now I'm wondering if this winter has added a few extra lbs to her-- or if she's just gaining some sympathy weight along with me :)  I'd say she's probably in the 90th percentile.


Now into the start of my third trimester with baby boy Jensen, I can definitely see that my focus has changed from me and my changing body and maternity clothes..... to having an actual baby person who will need my constant care.

Obviously, I realize that our baby will be a little more life changing.  I can't just leave the baby home alone when I go anywhere.  We can't just put an extra bowl of food and drink out and leave for the weekend.  So perhaps everything I've noticed is just how pets are and I'm just trying to compare my life now to my life 4 months from now.  Trying to find SOME way that this child will not completely shock my system and life as I know it is completely over.
I'm getting excited. I supposed I should have put an exclamation point after that word... but I think when I say it, I say it as a statement.  Exclamation point excitement seems to fade or be short lived. Exclamation point excitement is just looking forward to a single moment. Excitement with a period comes with the full knowledge that things may not all be fun and games-- but at the same time it is also perfect.  Baby Jensen... we are excited for you to be here.

How we knew

Quite a bit later... but better late than never-- here's the story on how WE found out that a baby would be growing inside me!

I took a test on an August Friday morning to confirm that I was pregnant.  I had a small suspicion but tried not to dwell on it.  I told myself all week that Friday would be the day.  Ben didn't know that I was going to do this, so I knew he'd be a bit surprised if it was positive.

We tried (or Ben would try to remind me...) to not be consumed with conception and planning.  It is a very easy thing to get consumed with and assume that we have all the control and power over it.  Pregnancy is a huge miracle and we believe God is in complete control of miracles.  And so, that was our mindset.

After seeing the positive results, I didn't really know what to do.  Nothing instantly changed or outwardly happened-- so it was strange. I was happy, and then a little scared.

 To tell Ben, I decided to create a plan for our 3rd bedroom to turn it into a nursery.  I covered the desks, shelves, and chair in the room with sheets and labeled the placement of a crib, changing table, and rocking chair.  Then I put a card, the positive test, and a little onesie that said "baby makes three" on a stool so he'd see it. 

It wasn't that odd to tell him that I changed up the extra bedroom and I wanted to show him.  There was always something new to show him when we were getting settled in our house. He kept trying to guess and asked me questions. I just told him to go look!!

He saw the room and then maybe took a second to really "get it."  Instant tears and slight panicking.  On my part-- not his. Ha!  Ben has never given great reactions to surprises... and I was fully aware of that. He internalizes things first before outwardly reacting.  I figured this one out a few times when we were dating!

Then we just sat and talked for a long time. 

Oh yeah, and I wanted a future baby room decor from China so I picked out letters and a plaque at a store when we were there earlier this summer-- then tucked it away to bring out "some day." I'm pretty sure it was actually a European store in China-- but either way, this baby has a China souvenir.

The card was actually an anniversary card.  I choose it because it said "you + me" and then I added the " = baby"

NYC

We had an amazing opportunity to join Ben's family to go to the 2011 Pinstripe bowl to watch the Cyclones!!

AND

... it was in New York City :)

So that brings us to what I'm calling our "Babymoon" vacation.  You know, a babymoon is like a honeymoon before the baby. Though most Babymoons probably don't involve 40 hrs in a mini-van, 40 degree temperatures, and the family-in-law... ours did! :)

Things are finally setting in that everything we do is one of the last times where we'll be "just us."  I have LOVED having "just us" for 2 years, but I know a baby will only sweeten the deal! We'll have to change our routines and our current definitions of how things are- but I think we can adjust well.

Though NYC didn't work out so well for Cyclone football-- it worked out OK for the Jensens! Thanks again Jensens!! LOVED the trip!!!

Baby boy at Niagra Falls. 22 1/2 weeks!  I've been noticing the growth a lot lately!! 

There were a lot of Asians there so Ben decided to flash the peace sign. 

Cyclone invasion at Yankee Stadium

baseball stadium turned football stadium

Manhattan skyline on the Staten Island Ferry

a true NYC Christmas experience

on the eve of New Years Eve (Dec. 30th)  in Times Square 

eve of New Years Eve kiss! 

2 years later and we're 2 1/2 :)

It's 1-2-12 and that means another tally in the years of being a wife!

Two years ago I absolutely bawled my eyes out minutes before I walked down the aisle to marry my groom.  Those tears were for lots of reasons-- but definitely not because I didn't want to do it!

Marrying Ben was a great decision.  I never would have told you years ago that I'd be carrying the child of Ben Jensen-- now I'm thrilled to tell you that!  [Check out some earlier posts in April to read about the beginning of our relationship]

We're a lot alike-- and in ways that we aren't, we're still compatible! Maybe we've become more alike the longer we've been together and the more life situations we go through.  I realize that I look to him when I'm in situations where I'm not comfortable.  I know I can look at him in certain situations and we both know what each other is thinking.  Forgiveness is one of his strengths-- and I realize that all the time.  He's reliable and dependable. He's goofy (some might not believe me on this!) and fun.

I feel very blessed to be called your wife, Ben!  Thanks for marrying me--   I'd be OK if our baby boy was just like you :)

I'm remembering that it was A LOT colder and we had A LOT more snow two years ago!!!

How we told them

(This is a blast from the recent past.... but in the spirit of family gatherings approaching-- here's a video from a special family gathering a few months ago!)


I knew my Mom's 50th birthday celebration weekend would be the perfect time to announce that she's getting her first grandchild!

I was in charge of creating a photo book of family pictures... so I got the idea to sneak a picture that no one had ever seen before in there.

All my mom's brothers and sisters were able to come that weekend so that helped in telling the extended family!

"To an awesome mother and friend... and soon to be GRANDMA!  

Baby Jensen due April 26, 2012"

AND... my favorite part... the video!!