is my belly.

Yes, it does get in the way at times (like when I was painting and inadvertantly ran into the freshly painted board getting a nice, grey line on my shirt). But over all, I really like my belly. It has its usefulness. I can hold a book on it, I have a place to put my hands, and I have been known to balance a plate there while I eat. When I run my hands over my belly I can feel the bumps and ridges of the child that I carry. Sometimes he/she sticks out a foot or elbow or something really pointy and I can tickle it. As he/she searches for the right position, I enjoy watching my belly turn into waves of movement, proving to me that there is a living being inside me.
Yes, I will miss my belly.
But I will enjoy seeing my child even more.

The latest addition to our baby room is D’s favorite piece of baby gear. We have no diapers to put in it yet, but it still makes throwing away any type of trash fun!

She put a map and a tube of lipstick
In an old Winn Dixie sack
She pulled her Firebird out of the driveway
Without ever looking back

By the time she got to Georgia
It was nearly half past eight
She bought a ninety-nine cent breakfast
At the Stuckey?s by the interstate

And she don?t know where she?s going
And she?s really not sure why
But she?s got to try and find a way
To live before she dies

She might see Rock City
She might see Ruby Falls
She might change her name to Marilyn
And drop her southern drawl
She wants to climb Lookout Mountain
And see all seven states
She wants to feel the wind through her hair again
Before it gets too late to see Rock City

Well she stopped in Chattanooga
And called her mama?s beauty shop
She said I won?t be home for supper
Give my love to Bo and Pop

And her mama knew the reasons
Without even asking why
A woman?s got to try and find a way
To live before she dies

She might see Rock City
Oh she might buy a souvenir plate
She wants to feel the wind through her hair again
Before it gets too late to see Rock City

By Kate Campbell/ Walt Aldridge

That’s what I would like to know.

Yesterday, D and I were organizing the baby stuff that had been dumped on our house and among the items was this hooded towel. On the hood part of the towel it said, “What does a tiny turtle eat for lunch?” And nowhere does it give the answer!

Yes, we are now overrun with the items from 3 baby showers and the hand-me-downs and we are desperately trying to find the order in the chaos.

Baby showers are amazing. People love to give you things when you are expecting your first baby. It makes me feel so blessed to have all these people around us wanting to help us get together all the things we think we need to raise a child.

And sometimes they give us stuff that we don’t need to raise a child. Which is why there is a little invention called the “returns desk.” (Ask D how many stuffed bears we really need to raise a child.)

I am happy to report that we are pretty much done with the baby’s room. This weekend brought the inlaws with the crib (which D put together in about 20 minutes, only having to correct one mistake) and other items from the Montgomery shower and hand-me-downs from the SIL. We purchased a glider at Wal-Mart (thanks to a gift card and a few returns) and that is now my favorite place to sit in the house. We still need some items like crib sheets and covers for the lighting, but over all I have a sense of peace about our preparedness.

Now, if I could only bring myself to pack for the hospital.

“It’s time for Floridians to seriously pay attention,” said Eric Blake, a meteorologist at the hurricane center.

Good grief, can’t they get a break? And, I would like to ask, when have Floridians not been paying attention? How many days until the season is over?

To: My boss
Subject: October 8th

FYI- it is still on the department calendar that I am working the 6 pm shift on October 8th. That is my due date. I am pretty certain, even if there is no baby yet, that I may not be here and a plan B should be in effect for someone to work that shift.
Thanks,
Alli