Bag 7: Skip Hop's Dash Deluxe

Overview:
Skip Hop is my kind of online store design, simple and practical. They have tons of diaper bags in straightforward design and colors, but are also adding baby bedding and accessories. You can also order very easily off their website, which is not very common for these types of stores! This bag is the Dash Deluxe, which is a messenger-style, in the "ocean stripe" print. It can be worn across the chest or over the shoulder, and comes with stroller clips and a changing pad. It is made from poly-canvas and the size is 12.25" wide x 11.5" high x 4.25" gusset.


First Impressions:
Cute stripes! The bag is made from a heavy-duty canvas that makes the design/colors look a bit dull, but it definitely would be durable. The inside is also canvas, with one large opening and 5 side pockets. The outside boasts two bottle pockets and two front ones, with a zippered mommy pocket with key fob, and a back changing pad pocket (with included pad). This is one of Skip Hop's smaller bags, not as small as their standard "Dash," but not as big as their "Duo." I think it may be too small as a main bag.

Second Glance:
This bag screams practical, and has double stitching and reinforced seams all over the place. Their clips and strap look like they would never wear out or break, as well as the fabric! The bag also comes with attached stroller straps, which are also super-durable! Once again, I think the size is an issue, though that's more my fault than theirs, because they offer larger ones.


Conclusion:
I think I could definitely be happy with this bag, although it lacks the little feminine flairs of the others I've looked at. It satisfies the practical side of me, though! And it would definitely last forever! I think others might rank a bit higher, though, and I would love to see their larger bags!

Bag 6: Ju-Ju-Be Be Smart

Overview:
Ju-Ju-Be is a great diaper bag company, introduced to me by my good friend and mother of sweet Maddie, Kim. She has the "Be All" bag in "blue bouquet," and it's a truly amazing bag. She has used it for 6 months now and loves it! It's that bag that opened my eyes to the world of fashionable diaper bags! I already love the "Be All," so I thought I would take a look at a different Ju-Ju-Be style, the "Be Smart" in "lush paisley." This is my only bag choice that has shorter purse-like straps. It comes with the large diaper bag, and a separate removable one for quick changes. It also has a mommy pocket and measures 12" high x 13" wide x 6" gusset.


First Impressions:
I love the pattern on this bag- it's beautiful. For that matter, I really love all of Ju-Ju-Be's pattern/color choices! The shape of this bag is different than the others I tried - this is more like a purse than anything. It's also smaller than I thought it would be with less storage. I do like the placement of the pockets- the bottle pocket is on the inside, along with two mesh pockets and a large zipper one. I also adore the removable changing pocket and changing pad - I'm sure that makes for quick change runs!

Second Glance:
This is made from the most diaper-bag-like fabric, but I really don't mind it because it's so cute! I also love the shiny lime green interior fabric! It's small, though- Ju-Ju-Be doesn't mean for this to be your only diaper bag, I don't think. I also noticed it has a great mommy pocket with an attached key fob, a zipper pocket and sunglasses holder! Way cute and SO practical! The zipper that closes the large main pocket might get a bit annoying. There's no real way to close it with one hand- the ends of the zipper are on tabs, so you can open the pocket wider (which is nice) but it might make for some annoying moves.


Conclusion:
I love pretty much everything about this bag! Besides the zipper thing (which I'm sure I could get used to), I think this is just great! I'm worried about the size though, and might keep this on hand or in mind for a second bag, should I need it.

The Blizzard of 2008!

Pardon the interruption of the Diaper Bag Extravaganza... we wanted to post about the great Blizzard of 2008 that hit central Ohio last weekend. While not technically a blizzard (the conditions didn't last long enough), the storm dumped a couple feet of snow on the city in the space of 24 hours. Beth and I ventured out Friday night to an art show, but even then we could tell the city was in for a big one.

The next morning we woke up to find the minivan and, well, everything coated with a big, fluffy layer of snow. And it kept coming. The TV weatherfolks (who were remarkably calm - kudos to them) showcased a growing list of cancellations and closures. Our pastor e-mailed that church was canceled the next day, and before long, even Ohio State canceled classes. That's when you know it's bad. Beth and I hunkered down with Maeby in our warm house, and enjoyed a day of watching some DVDs and generally relaxing.

Snow is Maeby's favorite form of weather. Our prissy little pooch, who will tiptoe in the mulch in her backyard, dives headlong into any pile of snow she can find. When I started putting on my boots to tackle the sidewalks, Maeby began bouncing off the walls with excitement. Beth took some great pictures of Maeby and I outside.

Maeby likes to take a bite out of every pile of snow that I scoop. She'll rush up to the shovel and nab a mouthful - more than once I accidentally smacked her in the face (she barely noticed, though, she was having so much fun). She'll also leap in the air to catch snow in her mouth. From time to time I would throw a snowball across the yard, which would send her leaping through snow drifts twice her size to get it.

Here she is catching a shovel-full with her entire body.

One of the coolest things about the blizzard was seeing our neighborhood really come alive. Everyone headed outdoors to shovel their cars out. Because there was no traffic, kids went running up and down the street, digging caves in the snow drifts. Families carried sleds down the street, headed to the park. We even saw some neighbors walk out the front door with cross-country skis! Maeby loved it all - she greeted everyone with her tail wagging wildly.

That night we had a slumber party at our house. Karl, Jacqui, Ryan, Libby, Caitlin, and Morgan all came over. We stayed up late playing video games, then made a big breakfast in the morning. When will we next get the chance to do that?

We're definitely ready for spring, but I'm glad we had some fun with winter, too.

Bag 5: Bumble Bags Jessica Messenger

Overview:
Bumble Bags, although they get the award for world's most annoying website, carries tons of baby bags, accessories, and other stuff. This bag is the Jessica Messenger, and the print is the pretty "buttercup bliss" It comes with a matching changing pad, and can be worn as a backpack, over the shoulder, or across the chest. The interior and exterior are water-resistant and stain resistant. The size is 16.5" wide x 13.5" high x 4" gusset.
First Impressions:
This is a very pretty bag. Karl's reaction was "I think my mom has curtains just like it." I'm not sure if I would go that far, but it's definitely more feminine than I'm used to. The background is a light yellow/white mottled, which is sort of strange, but the blue, brown and green is all very nice. The bag is very floppy- it wouldn't stand up on its own, and the fabric is very soft; I can't imagine it is really stain and water resistant. Seems too good to be true.

Second Glance:
The straps are not very comfortable or sturdy, and the messenger flap is HUGE! There are a lot of great pockets, including a zip-down changing pad/pocket to keep all that stuff separate. The center pocket is huge, as well as the side bottle pockets. There is also a back pocket for mommy stuff, which I like. The cording seems pretty sturdy and durable, but I'm not sure the fabric is durable- it seems like it might rip pretty easily.
Conclusions:
This is a really beautiful bag - I love that it matches my overall color choices in my own life! This is probably my second favorite, after the giraffe bag. The straps are a disappointment, and the durability of the bag is a question. But there is no doubt I would be very happy with this bag overall.

Bag 4: Fanci-Free Kim's Convertible Bag

Overview:
This is the second Fanci-Free bag I wanted to try; same pattern as the other one but a different style. It is a messenger-style bag with the shoulder/across the chest option, as well as a backpack strap system. It has a mommy-pocket in the front, and a large central pocket. It comes with a changing pad, stroller straps and a wet/dry bag. The size is 11.5" high x 14" wide x 5.5" gusset.

First Impressions:
This is a box with a strap. I have the same problem as before with the pattern not being to my taste, but the main thing I'm concerned about now is the impracticality of a box-style-bag that is difficult to get into. There are pockets all over the place, though, and the center pocket is pretty roomy.

Second Glance:
Karl and I both marveled at the size of the over-flap that stays in place with a magnetic strip (which we love)...the flap is HUGE, and completely impractical if you're trying to get into the bag while still wearing it. It would be fine if it were a bit more pliable, but it's 2 stiff pieces of cardboard, so there's nowhere to stash it when you're rooting around in the bag. There's also the problem of the unnecessary padding everywhere, taking up space and making the bag too stiff.
Conclusions:
Like its unfortunate sister bag, it, too, is on its way back to the eBag warehouse. Even with all of the organizational possibilities with the numerous pockets couldn't sway me away from the stiffness and confusing flap...on to the next one!

Bag 3: Fanci Free Edens Carry All Tote

Overview:
Fanci Free is a baby bag and accessories company out of Chicago. This bag is their Edens in "Circles in Motion" print. It's made of water-resistant padded nylon, and has a variety of pockets all over. It comes with a changing pad and zippered wet/dry bag. It can be worn as a shoulder bag or across the chest, and comes with stroller attachments. The size is 11.5" high x 14" wide x 5.5" gusset.
First Impressions:
I apologize if any of you own this bag, but it is so ugly I can hardly look at it. Both Karl and I agree. It looks way cuter in the pictures, but, I assure you, is a clown's nightmare. The fabric is a brown background with red, yellow, blue, and green circles all over. Not a good print. (The only reason I chose this pattern is because it was the lesser of a few evil choices.) The bag is very boxy. It has no movement to it, and wouldn't conform to the body or in tight stroller spaces. There are tons of pockets; 2 on the front, 2 on the side, 3 large ones on top/middle with those spaces sectioned off.

Second Glance:
The bright yellow inside is a happy choice, and almost makes me forget how ugly the pattern is. As we try to get into the pockets, we realize that ALL the fabric is padded, the inside, the outside, and the pockets. There is no real need for this, and it makes for a very heavy bag with much less space than if it had been just double-layered. The cell phone pocket on top is also a bit silly, because it is padded, and even if my iPhone fit in there, I probably wouldn't be able to get it out. Both Karl and I like that it's not a big flap closure on top, and that the big pockets are easy to get to...but you can still barely get your hand in them.

Conclusions:
It's already on its way back to eBags! This just wasn't the bag for me- I had high hopes because Fanci-Free is a good company who has thought through a lot of problems, but simply over designed this bag.

Bag 2: Oi Oi Giraffe Messenger

Overview:
Oi Oi is a Australian-based company that makes stunningly beautiful bags. This one is brown/white canvas outside with water resistant interior. It comes with a thermal bottle bag, a plastic baby wipe carrier, a clear plastic pocket, and a baby changing pad. The two side pockets are both thermal insulated, and would fit bottles on each side. The bottom is studded with 4 nickel stands. The large, durable strap can be worn over the shoulder or across the chest. The size is 14" wide x 11" tall x 5" gusset. First Impressions:
This bag is off-the-hook sexy. FIERCE. To prove this point, we had a lady in the shop try to BUY the bag from us even AFTER we told her it was a diaper bag, and another Australian customer vouching for the quality of the bag/company. It's canvas, so it has a good feel to it, not too stiff. The bright orange interior is good for finding things in the bag, and everything about it is practical- the accessories (a thermal bottle holder!), the size, the depth, and the various compartments inside. Karl was concerned it might be a little too big, but I didn't mind too much. Overall, someone put a good deal of thought into this bag.

Second Glance:
The materials, for the most part are very high quality. We like the wipeable liner, and the bonded canvas, as well as the strap material. We are less thrilled with the imitation leather riveted strap connectors, and the fact that the bag is single-stitched everywhere. However, there is tons of space, and the magnetic closures are just great - easy to use and secure. It also sits very flat and open for ease of baby changing. We also love the side thermal pockets; what a great touch!!!
Conclusion:
This bag is the frontrunner right now! It's going to be hard to beat, even with the very few drawbacks. And it's just so sexy.

Bag 1: Loom Bandicoot with Joey Clutch

Check out the previous post if you're new to the Diaper Bag Obsession!

Overview:
Our first bag is one by a company called Loom, which also makes a variety of family bags. They clearly know what they're doing. This bag is durable; water and stain resistant inside and out with solid nickel buckles and snaps. It has a variety of ways you can carry it: over the shoulder, across the chest, or as a backpack. It also comes with a changing pad and their famous "Joey Clutch," a mommy bag that is easily removable for a quick trip into a store. The Bandicoot is 14.5" wide x 11" tall x 5.5" deep, and the Joey is 10" x 6.5" x 1". (The orange dot in the picture is the removable tag.)
First Impressions:
I wasn't too picky about the color I chose (there are TONS on the website), but I went with the Eggshell/Gray, which is just beautiful! The size is great- it is basically the same size as the purse I am currently using, so that works for me, and I love the different ways you can carry it. I am not sold on the backpack-diaper-bag, but I've heard from so many that's the way to go, so I'm not ruling it out. I like that I have a choice. The Joey Clutch is cute, but WAY smaller than my purse right now...of course, I have things in my purse that might be better suited for the eventual diaper bag anyway. It's totally cute enough to take out to dinner, though, and it comes with a detachable strap!

Second Glance:
Karl and I both marveled at the construction and materials...this bag will be around for a long time!!! The bottom is studded with 4 nickel stands, so the bag stays flat for a quick baby change. We didn't like the main opening, though- it isn't a straight zipper, it dips in the front, which is nice. But the opening it creates is only 9" wide, and the main pocket is oddly small. It's only divided into 4, a large space, 1 medium side pockets, and 2 small ones. With the included changing pad, there's not much room for all the various baby stuff. There are some handy side-pockets on the outside of the bag, which would be good for bottles or food jars, though.
Conclusions
I love the look of this bag, and LOVE the durability of it! It's the perfect size, but might not offer enough storage. Of course, if I were going on some all-day-long outing, I might need a bit more than a normal diaper bag could handle anyway!

Diaper Bag Obsession

In my defense, my tendency towards obsessive-compulsion has not reared its ugly head since I've been pregnant, which has been nothing short of a miracle. With all the baby stuff on the market right now, and companies expertly guilting already-nervous first-time expectant mothers into buying anything and everything for their baby, the air is RIPE for obsession!

But, Thank God (quite literally), I have not succumb to these pressures. Nick and I have bought a few things, mostly because they were on sale, and were what we wanted (thank you, consumer reports!!!).

However...I now need to choose a diaper bag.

I scoured the internets for weeks on every site I could find. I tried to narrow it down. I tried to find stores in the area that carried the ones I was looking at. I tried to stop looking for a while. I tried to settle. I tried to decide. All to no avail.

So I ordered 7.

But, before you freak out, I will be returning 6 of them! They will be arriving over the next week or so, and my trusty in-house Bag Expert, Karl, will be helping me rate them! I look to you, gentle readers, to help me rate each bag as well!

My criteria are as follows:
1. The bag must not scream "I AM A DIAPER BAG!"
2. It must be less than 16" wide, but be big enough to hold a bunch of stuff.
3. It should be able to double as both my purse and a diaper bag or have a pocket/addition to facilitate "mommy stuff." (I'm not about to carry a purse AND a diaper bag all the time...and Nick will have his own baby bag!)
4. It must fit me and my style, and not look out of place hanging off my shoulder.
5. It must be durable. (This will in NO WAY be the last diaper bag I buy, but I like to go for quality and durability in everything I own.)

Check back for the reviews, and please be sure to add comments, positive or negative, to the posts! I crave feedback! Enjoy!

The Calvin Spark Has Been Goosed!

For those of you lucky individuals that receive the quarterly Calvin Alumni Magazine, The Calvin Spark, you'll notice a particularly good-looking group of folks on the cover! That's right! The Spark featured Wild Goose Creative in their Spring issue as the cover story, along with a 6-page article inside! (You will also be able to view the magazine online, when they post it: www.calvin.edu/publications/spark.)
We timed our release of the new www.wildgoosecreative.com with the Spark article, so go and check that out as well!

And, please support our supporters!
Nick Fancher of Shutterthink Photography for the photos: www.shutterthink.com
Robin Oatts of Genre Creative for the website: www.genrecreative.com

Dreamin'

I have always been a very vivid dreamer - most of them are fairly absurd, only sometimes making sense with events of the day. Often, they are very intense with a hopeless, striving feeling throughout (not unlike watching Cloverfield), where I am trying to get to somewhere or someone but am foiled at every turn. I never make it. One of the weirdest recurring dreams I have had since I was very young centers around everyone in the world working inside Cinderella Castle at Disney World, with my mom's office on the very top floor. When my dad and Chip and I finally get up there to visit her, I'm all alone in the room, and I can see my family down on the ground, waiting for me. I have this one 2-3 times a year. Weird.

Well, I would take even the most intense crazy dream I have ever had over the ones I've had since I've been pregnant. The problem with these current dreams are that they are SO real and SO normal that I have trouble differentiating between them and day-to-day life. I have NOT picked up something at the grocery store because I thought I already did, only to remember it was in a dream. I have chosen not to ask someone something because I already know the answer, but then realize it was a dream conversation. It's becoming a downright nuisance.

I have yet to have very many weird baby dreams, except ones about having Baby D sleep in a drawer, so those are still to come! But for now, if I forget to tell you something or start talking to you about a conversation we never had, just let me know it was probably something that happened while I was sleeping. I also apologize ahead of time if I seem annoyed at repeating something that has OBVIOUSLY already happened.

Barefoot and pregnant...

...in the living room. Well, two out of three isn't bad.

We've gotten some requests for pictures of Beth lately, so we thought we'd oblige. Beth has gotten more maternity clothes, and you can see that she's starting to show a little bit. Our little guy weighs just over a pound now, and he's kicking and pushing for his space.

As a guy going through the pregnancy process for the first time, the whole realm of maternity clothes is kinda fascinating. There are all sorts of cool shirts, blouses, and pants available for pregnant women, and many of them are meant to grow with her as the baby grows. It's a little intimidating, but I'll be honest... I think maternity clothes are some of the most adorable ever made. I mean, look at the picture! Isn't she cute?

Now, if I can just get her to stand in the kitchen...

Baby Brain

Most of you have heard of this common side effect of pregnancy, baby brain. I thought I was experiencing it early on when I was a little scattered my first trimester. HA! That was NOTHING!

Usually I function better when I have a million things to do. I know a lot of people say that flippantly, but I really mean it. If I have one thing to do all day, I am an absolute sloth. If I have 300 things to get done in an hour, they'll all be done in 56 minutes. Baby Brain hit hard last week, which was a pretty busy week, but no more than most. We hosted Third Thursdays, we were working on the Wild Goose website, my family was coming into town, it was Abbey, Nick, and Marcia's Birthday, and I was throwing an Oscar party with friends who were coming in from out of town and staying over. These are all things I LOVE, and I'm not complaining.

But my multi-tasking, organizational, event-oriented self has all but dissolved into nothingness. My usual organized brain will put things in neat categories and compare events in tidy spaces...it was all I could do to remember WHO was coming into town and that I needed to take a shower each morning! Work is the same way; I usually have 5 or 6 tasks going on my computer, spanning from Wild Goose stuff to shop things and design jobs. Now I bounce from one to another like an ADHD kid after drinking a gallon of kool-aid. Not one of them gets done, and it's impossible to even envision the end of tasks. And as far as planning and organizing events or time periods, it's just impossible!

Thank goodness for my amazing husband, who seems to always step in and take over at the perfect time, i.e., just prior to my head exploding.

(As the perfect example of baby brain, this blog post took me 3 days to finally publish!)

Echo-cardiogram-ed!

Nick and I went to Columbus' Nationwide Children's Hospital this morning to get a fetal echo cardiogram. Because of my family's history with heart issues, we decided to go for this optional scan. It was - by far - the best experience we have had in a hospital, ever! We were in and out in an hour, everyone was VERY nice and so helpful, and the facilities were just beautiful! I suggest that hospital architects everywhere take a page from the Children's Hospital Design Handbook! Whoever said mauve and teal green were calming to anyone? Bring on the primary colors, local art-filled walls, and wagons to take you from room to room! What adult wouldn't want that!?!?

The scan itself went really well! It was done by a nurse and was basically a standard ultrasound. The main difference was that it was about 30 minutes long, as opposed to 5-10 minutes for the others we've had. But we're not complaining! We got to watch our little boy kicking and chewing and squirming for that whole time! The nurse took tons of pictures and measurements of the four chambers of the heart and checked the amount/direction of blood flow to and from the heart color-coded in flashing blue and red patches.

And everything looks perfect! The doctor did say that we have to remember that they were looking at a heart the size of a grape and that they were unable to see tiny holes and imperfections. However, the blood flow, chambers, arteries and heart beat all look perfect! Praise God!

Also, it looks like we have a little personality forming, too! Baby D was laying with his head on my right and looking up, in the breech position. At one point, the nurse took the wand off my belly to put more jelly on and went to look again, and he had flipped completely over! She said he must have turned because he was annoyed at her poking him all about. Who knows where he gets that defiant, strong-willed streak?

We did get some pictures out of it - a full-body shot showing his head to the left, his arm above his tummy and his legs to the right.And a great profile shot showing his little ear, nose, lips and chin. A few people have said that it looks like he has Nick's nose. I'm worried I see flickers of my Pop-Pop's ears, though!

He's Alive...ALIVE!!!

I felt Baby D move for the first time last night, and was able to catch it so that Nick could actually feel it too. It was wild! My reaction was "Holy Crap! He's MOVING!" I felt it when I was laying on my back in bed; it felt like a little flutter, kinda like (for the Meyer fam) those skates in the surf in North Carolina. All fluttery and soft.

I thought I would only be able to feel him at night at first, or when I was sitting or laying down, but he was jumping around all day! Maybe we have a little soccer player on our hands! Or, he could be acting out a scene from Hamlet. Whatever. No pressure.

Chillin' out, maxin', relaxin' all cool...

There's this little hormone that gets released during pregnancy called Relaxin. Basically, what it does is softens the muscles and ligaments in the body, preparing it for the Incredible Hulk-scale expansions in store for it over the next few months. (I personally think this is the least serious medical term ever created.) I can hear those doctors now,

"What should we call this new-found hormone"
"What does it do?"
"Uh...it relaxes."
"How about relaxin?"

Clearly not Rocket Surgeons.

Well, I have started to experience the "relaxing" effects of this creatively-challenged hormone. As you may have known, I am just now recovering from a monster cold unlike anything I have ever experienced. It lasted for 2 weeks, for one of which I couldn't speak, with a cough that must have woken up the neighborhood. It was wild. Well, during one of these coughing fits, I threw out something in my back, thanks to being all chilled out and relaxed by the pregnancy. No biggie, though, pulled muscle...it was almost healed when I coughed again lightly last night and something popped. Now my entire right side is on fire and I fear laughter, coughing, yawning, breathing, and - worst of all - sneezing. I'm not trying to make more out of this than what it is, though - it's just a pulled muscle created by my loose, relaxed muscles, and it will heal.

(An Aside, if you will. I must point out that, while I might be in a bit of back pain, my brother-in-law, Greg is currently suffering from a herniated disc and on two weeks of couch rest and physical therapy before a possible back surgery. I am absolutely convinced that he is way more pain that I will be throughout my pregnancy and into labor and delivery. So, please, keep him in your prayers his way, and pray that his therapists and doctors will be able to provide him with pain relief and a complete and speedy recovery!)

My adamant protest at my current state centers around the fact that a pregnancy hormone called RELAXIN has me now all tight and wound up and fearing breathing. I think those brilliant doctors need to head back to the drawing boards and come up with a better - and more inventive - name for this hormone.

Tummy Time

I am at the uncomfortable point now where people could look at me and think "Oh, she must be pregnant!" or "Hmmm...someone spent way too many Sundays at the Golden Corral!" (To which, I'm happy to say, I have never even been.) So far, I haven't received any presumptuous comments, but, even so, am I going to be mad if someone comes up and asks if I'm preggers? I am!

It's great fun, too, learning how to walk as my center of gravity changes. Baby D is about 1 pound right now, but with all the other stuff that goes with him, and it being in a centralized location, it throws off all hopes of balance!

As someone who has spent her entire natural life attempting to cover up her pouch belly, the idea that I am now purchasing clothes that are specifically designed to SHOW OFF my growing midsection is a bit hard to swallow. I have to say, however, it's WAY more fun showing it off than covering it up!

The Latest on Baby D!

Yesterday Beth and I got a special Valentine's Day gift by way of the 20-week ultrasound pictures of Baby D. The doctor spent some time checking and highlighting thigh bones, fingers, kidneys, stomach, heart, spine, and head ("Although we can't tell if he's a Republican or Democrat!" he joked).

Baby D was kicking and moving. He wasn't as much of an exhibitionist as he was last time, but the doc confirmed that Baby D is, in fact, a Baby He.

We're both at the tail end of colds we picked up last week, especially Beth. Her cold ended with a wicked cough that actually hurt her back. We'd appreciate any thoughts and prayers for healing!

The doc wants us back in a month for another ultrasound, and next week Friday we have an echocardiogram at Children's Hospital. No worries about that - we're just double-checking the baby's heart for the slim chance of any defect. Doesn't hurt to check!

Is He Done Yet?

"When are you due?" I get this question at least a few times a week, and I'm sure the frequency will pick up over the next few months as I start to show even more. I think this is just the most interesting question ever! Not that it's an improper question, or one most people can't easily answer. But it DOES beg an imperfect answer. "Due date" implies that a baby can be under- or over-due, which is odd to me. (Obviously given normal circumstance, and not born dangerously premature.) My kid is not a pasta, and if he decides to come a bit earlier or later than this mysterious "due date," he will not be "aldente," nor will he be overcooked. He will be right on time if he's born within a 30-day period surrounding this "due date." (And, if he knows what's good for him, he will come before his Mama is too miserable! :) Ha!)

This Thursday we have our "big" ultrasound. This is when they bring in the "Cadillac" machine (so named by my doctor) and take tons of measurements and pictures and give us a more "accurate due date" (hilarious).

I'm 20 weeks now, halfway there!

The revealing picture!

Quick update! This is the picture from our January 31st ultrasound that told us Baby D is a Baby He! We had to wait until after the video reveal, because the doc labeled the picture so clearly for us. Next up: the big 20-week ultrasound this Thursday afternoon!