"No More Shopping!"

What? This can't be true, MICHELLE doesn't want to shop anymore?? Holey moley...what is this world coming to?? :)


but, it's true! There are so many decisions and things to buy for the new little guy, that I'm actually shopped OUT!! A few weekends ago, we tackled Babies R Us to do our baby registry there. Luckily for us, our friends Kat & Ky came along to provide their "new baby expertise". Even with their guidance, we were still in that store for THREE HOURS picking and choosing items to add to our registry!! Who knew someone so little could need so many things???


What the heck is a sheet saver?!?!? :)

What is the difference between a mattress pad and a mattress cover?

Do we really need that many diapers??!!?

In any case, THANKS KAT, KY & KYLIE for helping us out! We would probably still be in Babies R Us, if it weren't for you!

On top of our B-R-US registry, we also registered at Target. Now that we had one under our belt, this wasn't so bad. I got pretty "scan happy" with the gun. We were warned not to scan clothing yet until we're a little closer to our due date, but I just couldn't resist!!

sheesh! Next stop...crib, changing table and glider! Let the madness stop!!! :0

HEY -- one good thing about all of this, is that I get SPECIAL PARKING at some of the Babies R Us stores.

Check it out!!

Going for a "Test Drive"

Okay...so I've been trying to be "methodical" about my blog posts -- and I have about 2 or 3 other topics to write about that happened BEFORE this one...but I just had to get this out there for you all!

So, Brandon and I have been stroller researching for quite some time. Really, Brandon did all the REAL research -- online forums, consumer reports, reviews, etc. I did the "in-market testing" (aka -- went to the store and took them out for a test drive) For weeks...okay maybe months, we have been struggling between the Bugaboo Bee and the Uppababy Vista strollers. Hmmm...bugaboo seems a bit lighter to handle...Vista has the bassinet...bugaboo comes in pink...Vista comes in pretty sage green. SHEESH!! I CAN'T DECIDE!

Well...long story short, this past weekend, we found out the Bee carseat converter isn't being released until NOVEMBER - uugggh. And...after "in-market testing" the Vista again, I would need to grow 2-3 inches for it to be comfortable for me.

NOW WHAT???

Enter the Bugaboo Frog...seems like a great solution...

wowsers...it's $800 (holey moley)

BUT...we really like it. It's light, has the carseat converter, comes in cool colors, I can close it myself, etc. But...$800?!?!?

LUCKY for us, we start to look on Craigslist and find a "gently used" one for a GREAT PRICE! So...off we go to pick it up on Tuesday!!

WOOHOO -- I have a stroller now!!! I am so excited about it, I think of going next door to Wes & Jean's and asking them if I can borrow Madison to push around in my stroller. LOL. Madison is their younger daughter (about 1-1/2). BUT...my co-workers have an even BETTER idea...use one of the cats to "test drive"!!

Well...as you can imagine, most cats wouldn't like being forced in a stroller and pushed around.

As you also know, Sagwa is NOT "most cats"!!!

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED - We have a stroller, and it has been officially test-driven with a passenger!

Cousins Skeletor & Skeletorina!!

As you all know, Don & Lisa are also expecting a new little one a few weeks after we are. It has been GREAT for Lisa and I to "share stories" along the way. And, of course, I had someone to hit the Japanese Weekend Maternity Warehouse sale with -- hee hee!

In any case, this past Monday (March 3rd) Lisa went in for her 18 week ultrasound...

and guess what -- they are having a little girl!!

Brandon & I are hoping our son won't be too spazzy and scare her when they play!! (Kenji - if you're reading this, remember when you threw a car at Jenny's head?!? ha ha - we are hoping there are no episodes like that!!)

Surprisingly, the two new cousins-to-be already look alike!! The same "skeletal" features :) Hee hee

Here is our little "Skeletor"

And, here is Cousin Skeletorina!!

They are going to be so cute together riding around in Grandma's double stroller together!!

Thanks for following our blog! More to come :)

Another New Addition

And it's name is SNOOGLE. For all you future fathers, NEVER GET THIS!!! Here's a pic of this invasive, massive entity.

This "thing" swallows my wife and creates and impenetrable fortress at the same time. I might as well be sleeping on my bed in my old dorm room. That's about how much room I currently have. I am now sixth on the list, maybe seven, as far as bed priority goes. I think it's as this: Michelle, Ashes (cat), Snoogle (snoogle), Sagwa (cat), Tigger (cat), Brandon(litter box cleaner), Pink Blankie(Pink Blanket). I think I might be after the blanket but I'm not sure. One day, late at night, the Snoogle might have an accident. "Oh no...the Snoogle is leaking stuffing. " "Oh no, the Snoogle is a little flat. That must be uncomfortable." "Oh I had to throw the Snoogle away. The cat pee'd on it." (I have to keep it realistic)

I will get my side back somehow. Read now before the blog police edits my post.

**the blog police (aka Michelle) have intercepted this entry!!!! the Snoogle is FABULOUS!!! Don't listen to Brandon, he has slightly more room than the old long twin beds in the dorms! Besides, if he keeps up the snoring like a lumberjack routine, he WILL be sleeping in a dorm room somewhere! A pregnant lady needs her sleep! :) BTW...the pink blankie is pretty important...
ENJOY this blog!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!

My Celebrational Cubie!

After our "big" day on the 19th...I walked into the office on Wednesday morning to find this...

My co-workers decorated my cubicle!!! There were streamers hanging from the ceiling, BLUE stickies on every surface in my cubicle, and balloons all over the floor!!! It was such a nice thing to walk in to -- THANKS, aisle-mates!!!

Here's a picture of me in the doorway of my cubie:


For those of you who have taken the "colors" course, the GOLD in me of course had to clean up all the balloons and stray stickies in my cubie that morning!! :)