WE BROKE BABIES R US

We had a house showing last night, which meant Gracie was at Camp Grandpa, and we had the night to ourselves.  Only we couldn't go home, so we went to grab dinner, which happened to be right down from Babies R Us.  So, we decided to go look at these strollers and see if we could figure out what we might want.  There were only about 65 strollers there - systems, snap and gos and umbrella whatevers.  Not too overwhelming or anything.  David just looked confused when we got in the store, much like I did the other week when Jane and I went there.

We headed to the stroller aisle and started deconstructing strollers and pushing them around the store.  There were only 3 or 4 that we collapsed and then couldn't get back uncollapsed.  We just left those in the floor.  Apparently there's a secret to folding them back which we weren't privy to.  David just got flustered and said "I'll come back to that one."  He never did and when pressed, said he had no idea what to do with it anymore and neither did I.  Thank goodness for the lovely woman who helped us - more than she knows.  She put everything back after I thought we broke all the strollers on the floor.  She showed us how much we'd have to spend on said baby just in the first 9 months...and then again....and then again.  Maybe Baby Perry will just stay at the house until she's 9, which is apparently the first age that kids aren't required to have a car seat.  WHAT?  I definitely remember ridin dirty in the back seat when I was little with no car seat under my butt.  Those were the days I guess.

I thought we'd made a decision after about 2 hours of this mess.  But no, we got home and David had a different idea.  It involved snap and go and Craigslist, because nothing is too good for our baby.

Maybe we'll just strap her on the top of the car like a Christmas tree.  I'm sure that's legal, right?

(Baby Perry, please remember that we love you and would never knowingly strap you to the top of a car)

KINDNESS, LUCK AND WHAT??

Ever since we found out Baby Perry was going to be a girl (or, already was, as the case is), I have started looking at little dresses and outfits.  Not being a girly girl myself, I would have never wanted to wear such things when I was a baby.  But seriously, pink seersucker and madras shorts....for a baby!!!?  And the little sweater sets???  So. Awesome.  I need to be rich so that I can dress my kid up in all these cute little outfits.  Some Tanbark friends (David's mom's neighborhood) have given us a cute little dress and a cupcake onesie.  Cute.

David's mom bought me some clothes this past weekend.  She wanted to make sure I had something to wear as I get bigger.  Awesome.  She is amazing.  I hate trying on clothes.  Wonder if I could just wear sweatpants to work.

Tanbark people are also giving us a crib, changing table, high chair, swing, pack and play and some other assorted toys/mobiles/tables that I haven't yet identified.  I don't know what half this baby stuff is.  We are absolutely blessed and thrilled to have such wonderful friends, and hope to pay it forward when the time comes.

Our house is still on the market and we've had a number of showings recently, which is awesome news.  I guess it's really only awesome if one of them ends up buying our house, since otherwise it's really just a pain in the ass.  But good feedback lately has caused us to prepare our budgeting strategy and go look at some homes.  Can't wait.  Excited.  Nervous.  Broke.  But it would be amazing to have our own home that isn't attached to another home, with a yard and a garage and a kitchen bigger than a bathroom stall.  Oh, and a bathroom with a double sink.  I hope this goes fast, because I am getting bigger and this baby is going to come soon.  I'm sure I'll feel like a beached whale in no time.

I am confused about strollers.  There are so many options, of which I am glad.  I'm not a pack mule.  Travel systems and bases and frames, and all I know is that I want cup holders.  And the baby to be walking when she comes out.  I am confused about the billing of UNC Hospitals.  I don't know whether to hold Baby Perry back from kindergarten a year, and she's not born yet.  I need to talk to her I guess to see what her opinion is.  This is no democracy, but input from the kid will be important nonetheless and I'm sure that someday in the future I'll wish I never said that.

PINK OR BLUE?????

Last week at the doctor, they suggested that I set an ultrasound appointment to find out the sex of this Perry baby.  They scheduled it a week later in the fancy ultrasound room and we got the parents together for the fact finding mission.  I had hoped for a boy, but knew that would mean we were getting a girl.  David and his mom thought it would be a girl, along with most of the Tanbark Tigers.  (Side note:  they all got their chance to get a good look at me at her surprise birthday party last weekend)  Dad really had no idea, I think, but said a girl one day and a boy the next.

In the end, I really wanted Baby Perry to be healthy and have all the parts they were supposed to have. 

So, once the nurse measured the baby and watched the baby kick me and punch me (They are grounded when they come out for at least a week for those shenanigans), she asked if we wanted to know the sex.  It turns out that Baby Perry was missing a crucial element for a boy, so the newest addition to the family is going to be a little girl.  David's mom was beside herself, since she's always wanted a girl.  I'm happy to oblige, but I think her son had most of that responsibility.  Dad was just glad the baby looked healthy and had a great head.  I started crying, cause that's what I do these days. 

I don't know what to do with a girl.  I don't know how to braid hair or do ballet.  I hope this kid likes sports and Carolina t-shirts.  That said, I saw the CUTEST Ralph Lauren seersucker dress at the mall.  We may be in trouble, I love little clothes :)  David's mom bought her a Feltman Bros. dress and another gingham check outfit with pearls on the top.  Good Southern girl!

We haven't told Gracie yet, as she's better known as "my lil baby girl."  Might need a new nickname for her and a "I'm the Big Sister" bone.  David's already called her Daddy's girl.  I hope she knows she won't be dating until she's 30.

That said, does anyone want to watch a 3 month old little girl starting in November??? 

THE BABY IS STILL THERE AND SO IS OUR HOUSE

Frustration is setting in.  Our house still hasn't sold and the thing is damn near spotless.  When will these so-called buyers leave feedback saying "Yours is our favorite and not the other one in the other neighborhood."  Seriously, we're one mile from Buffalo Wild Wings.  If that's not enticing, I'm not sure what else we can do. 

I had another appointment yesterday.  More high blood pressure.  More medicine and another doctor to visit.  I told them I freak out about doctors, but no one seems to care.  They just want more co-pays.  And the next time they suggest I go to the ER, I'll thank them and let them know I can get my own pellet ice and ginger ale at Sonic.  It's cheaper there.

My Dad went with me yesterday and we heard Baby Perry's heartbeat.  Sounded like the kid had just run up the hill to Manning.  I think that means it's healthy.  If not, then maybe Mom needs to run up the hill to Manning a little more often.  (more often meaning I've never done it)  They scheduled an appointment for Monday so that we can find out whether Baby Perry is a boy or girl.  I wonder how much that ultrasound is going to cost, seems like the desk people tricked me on the last one and I got another bill in the mail.  Baby Perry better be able to sing Fireworks like cousin Katy when they come out, cause Mama is broke.  Either way, totally excited to figure out what color I can buy for the kid's first Carolina jersey. 

I found a diaper bag that was cute - a Vera Bradley one - that only cost $100.  Nothing too good for the Perry offspring.  Of course, when I thought about it, I figured David might prefer a more neutral back pack bag.  He suggested that he'll just throw the stuff in his Nike camo bag because, after all, it has an iPod hookup.  He owes me money if I catch him sticking the baby in that bag, much less making the kid listen to Wiz Khalifa.  I might have to make a rule sheet for Dad and baby days.

My Mom's birthday is today.  I miss her so much.  If I thought I really needed her here for our wedding, I REALLY need her here for this baby thing.  David's Mom has been an amazing stand-in and I am so grateful to have her to share these moments with.  I think Mom made sure I had the best mother-in-law in the world.  Happy Birthday Mom!!

This is my most favorite time of year.  I absolutely love watching basketball for hours on end, including teams that most people have never heard of.  I think it'd be more fun if I could have some wine during the games, but I ate some grapes and had some Sprite.  That's about the same.  Either way, this is when I wish I had a tv outside and a lounge chair.  Nothing could be better than tanning and watching basketball AT THE SAME TIME.

So, really nothing has changed.  The baby is alive and kicking (I'm guessing on that one); the house is still on the market; still on the waiting list for day care and still working myself up into a frenzy over life in general.  Oh, and David is, of course, still smoking meat.  #firstworldproblems