Baby Dixon Newsletter Vol. 4 (12/8/2003)

Have you noticed how these newsletters 
keep getting longer and longer?  I have.

Ok...I've just about talked Joseph and me
both out of repainting the nursery.  It is
already a neutral egg-shell color, and the 
walls are in good shape.  I just really don't
want to do anything "extra" right now that
we don't need to.  It seems we already have
lots to do.  Plus, we can always paint later.

I've been asked about a nursery theme.  I 
think we are going themeless..or at best...
eclectic.  :)  We thought about a Noah's
ark theme.  I have a Noah's ark puzzle that
I may put together and frame for the baby's
room.  Also, we've picked up a few 
"realistic" stuffed animals along the way.
I think an animal theme would be 
appropriate because...afterall...the rest 
of the house and yard is certainly done
in an animal theme!

Also, we didn't want to end up with a too
cutsey theme that we would feel like 
needed to be changed soon.  Neither one of
us are big decorators, and we'll have 
enough to do with a new baby besides 
painting and wallpapering alot.  

More name suggestions!

Bev suggested:
	Levi

Karen offered:
	Jessica "Jessie" Peige

Kay:
	Jude

I'm continuing my quest for knowledge.  I'm
reading every baby/child-oriented bit of 
material I can get my hands on.  I also 
spend alot of time debriefing Joseph on 
what I read.  This has been fun and 
enlightening.  It gives us alot of time
to discuss things before they come up.  
I think that is very cool.  As a new 
momma and daddy, you cannot think of 
everything or know everything.  We've 
never done this before!  So, we've been
very eager to hear everyone's advice,
suggestions, and opinions.  Some folks feel
like they should be shy about sharing
their ideas.  We welcome them!  Ultimately,
as mom and dad, we decide what is best
for our kid.  But, all the different 
ideas sure help us explore as many options
as possible.

Nesting...everybody says I should start
"nesting" just before the baby is born.  
Well, I feel like I've already started.  I've
got this new inspiration to get the house 
in order before Wee Dixon's arrival.  For 
the first time in a long while, I feel like
actually working on that goal...although, I
am much slower than my spunkier, 
pre-pregnancy self.  :)  But, I figure I am
just going to get slower and slower the 
bigger I get.  So, now is a good time to get
motivated.

I've been asked if I had to move into my 
maternity clothes yet.  (Thanks, Jenn, 
for your greatly appreciated donation!) 
Not yet.  But, that is just because I've been
wearing my clothes big and comfy for a while
now and had a little room to grow.  I've 
already been quizzed by strangers on "When
is the baby due?"  So, I know I must look
pregnant.  

Last weekend, I wore my favorite warm-n-friendly
Pooh sweatshirt.  I realized that it may be
the last time for a while that I could wear it.
I was stretching elastic.  :)  So, it won't be
long now until I'll be stealing my Daddy's big
shirts and donning Maternity Fashions by Jenn.
Sweatpants, as always, shall remain my best 
clothing friends.

Wednesday, I took my first prenatal vitamin! I
kept it down and was so excited.  I may not
take them everyday depending on the nausea 
quota for that day.  But, I am thrilled to be
able to take some.

The baby wants collards.  We've had at least
three frosts, so the collards around here should
be nice, sweet, and tender.  Daddy and I plan
to go collard scouting later this weekend.  :)

I've gotten the baby some Christmas presents
this year.  :)  I'm calling it Wee Dixon's 
"almost first Christmas."  :)  They are surprises
to Joseph.  So, he'll get to open them.  A couple
of them are actually for Joseph and the baby to
do/have together.  So, I think that will be fun.

I still haven't gotten to do the nursery
scavenger hunt Joseph got me for my birthday.  It
came complete with a Lowe's gift certificate!  
It's been burning a hole in my pocket, but I hope
when Joseph has a little time off for Christmas, 
we can go do that together.  

Some local zaniness...when I told one of 
my cousins about Joseph's 
fear of denim, she gave me a denim maternity 
dress.  She insisted that I be sure to tell 
Joseph that she gave it to me.  (Us Ulmer folks
can be quite spunky.)  So, in my thank you
note to her, I told her that Joseph said to 
be sure to tell her that in addition to disliking
denim, he also disliked "BMW's, computer games,
and money." She is now deviously planning her 
revenge on Joseph.  :)

I'm making a scrapbook for baby.  We think it
would be wonderful for everyone to contribute.
Anything you want to include would be great!  
It can be a letter from yourself, pictures of
people or places, newspaper clippings, etc.  It 
can be very personal or completely fun!
We want to give it as a gift to our child when it
is older..maybe 16 or 18.  I'm saving correspondence,
including these newsletters, for the scrapbook, too.
We think one day the kid will appreciate it.  It
will be a bit of its own personal history and 
that of those that love it!  I also would like
to hear ideas for things to include in the 
scrapbook.
  
Ok, Joseph is a little stinker!  He guessed one
of the baby's gifts for Christmas.  It was really
cool that he guessed it without any hints.  But,
he still has to wait until Christmas to open it.
It is the book "Where the Wild Things Are."  :)

We have carpet!!!  The carpeters came on Thursday
and put carpet in the nursery and media room.  
Both look really nice.  I reminded Joseph that
if we don't paint, that means the nursery is 
finished except moving in the furniture.  He
smiled really big.  He liked that idea!  A 
project finished.  Our life is lately full of 
miracles.  :)

We can pick up the nursery furniture 
after December the 11th.  This is really 
exciting to have the major part of the 
nursery behind us.  Now, we can do some 
cutsey things with pictures and "decorating"
to make the nursery special.

My latest pregnancy symptom is being out 
of breath.  I've had this pretty much all
along, but, as of late, it has gotten 
alot more intense. I think wee one has
taken up aerobics down there.  :)  My 
shortness of breath has nothing to do 
with my activity level it seems.  
Actually, it seems to kick in when I'm
sitting or laying down.  I guess this 
makes sense.  The baby usually sleeps 
while you are up moving around, and is
up when you are resting.  This pattern,
I am told, lasts well after the baby is
born.  ;)  But, since it is getting alot 
more often, I think I  will bring it up 
to the doctor on the next visit.  We 
always come in with a list of 
questions.  He has just started asking for 
the list right off.  :)

Joseph has worked his self silly this 
week moving stuff in and out of the 
nursery.  Plus, he's been doing a little
nesting of his own getting his office 
organized and such.  I think he will be
relieved to go back to work on Monday so
he can get a little rest!

Hope everyone is well.  :)

Kay