Prepping for Baby

So Daniel and I have been hard at work getting little Chloe's bedroom and other parts of the house ready for the new addition to our family. Her room is painted, but I discovered with all the rain we have been having that her room has a leak. We've put in new windows, but the stucco still needs to be painted. Daniel has even half-started a project to upgrade the guest bathroom to something we won't hate. The backyard is a disaster-area, but we are supposed to be having an excavation company out this week to haul away 15 tons of gravel so that we might (someday) be able to have grass. It is really exciting to have a house of our own that we can make all these changes to, but it seems like a never-ending series of projects! I hope Chloe appreciates all that we are already doing for her and will continue to do for her throughout her life. Maybe it won't be immediately...and that's fine. I didn't always appreciate all my parents have done, but I definitely do now!
On top of all these not-cheap projects, we are also working diligently to pay off debt. So far my student loan is gone, and my car is almost paid off. I have never had such a nice vehicle and never really expected to have it be mine after only a year-and-a-half, but we are committed to raising our family without the burden of debt hanging around our shoulders. This may mean that Chloe won't always get every "thing" she wants, and that she will have to learn the value of money and what it means to save, give, and spend (thank you Dave Ramsey!), but I think this will help her become a self-sufficient young lady who can accomplish all the goals she sets out for. Daniel and I made some stupid mistakes with money starting out, through no one's fault but our own. We still have his truck to pay off and his student loans, but the plan is to get everything wiped out in a few years.
So to work or not to work? This has been a crazy internal debate of mine. I'm not sure we can accomplish everything we want to do without me working for now. But I do not want my daughter in a day care like the one I worked in as a teenager. There just aren't enough people to take care of the needs of the children in their care. Maybe if Daniel and I can adjust our schedules in a way that would minimize the hours she needs outside care...but still, I do believe that no one will be able to take care of my baby the way I will be able to. Maybe the answer is for me to work for the short-term and be as diligent as we have been throughout our relationship in money smarts...so that eventually I can be home with her.
In the meantime, Daniel and I had a conversation with Chloe last night about all the fun things we want to teach her. She was being pretty calm until we started talking to her. Then she started kicking and moving around like crazy - it was hilarious! She seems to know we can't wait to meet her - we were telling her all about the people who will want to hold her and play with her and love her. All her grandparents, aunts & uncles, cousins and extended family. But we did tell her that above all, no one will ever be able to love her as much as her two parents.

*****Can't wait to meet you Chloe Joyce!*****

Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy...It's a GIRL! :)

We had such a good experience at the dr yesterday! We got right in to see the ultrasound tech, who did lots of measurements of the baby - we got to see the heart beating (strong heart!), and see little arms, legs, hands, feet, spine...she was being quite the little squirmer. I had to go empty my bladder at one point in hopes that the baby would move so the tech could get a better angle of her head. Then of course we got to find out "its" a "she"! Daniel and I were both ecstatic! And still are!
We went right away to Home Depot and picked out our paint color - pink, pink, pink. Still the same plan for pink on top of the molding, chocolate brown on the bottom. I will post pictures when the room is ready for display. Our families were very excited to learn the news as well. I like that there will now be two boys, two girls on my parent's side, and on Daniel's side two boys and one girl. I am sure she will be loved, adored, and spoiled by all! (Not least of all her parents).
I also got to ask my doctor a few more questions about concerns we have had about the hospital we will be delivering at - Paradise Valley Hospital. She has pretty much alleviated any and all fears, and I know we still need to arrange for a tour so it's not completely unfamiliar territory, but we are pretty settled with the idea. I have really enjoyed having Daniel with me for the last two appointments - this was his first time seeing little Chloe through ultrasound, and he was just amazed. It's one thing seeing it in movies, or seeing pictures of the children of friends and family, but it is life-changing to see your own creation up there in all her full glory.
We are at just about 20 weeks, so only 20 more to go. It feels like ages away! Everyone says it will fly by, and I can only hope. Can't wait to hold this little bundle in my arms and get her out of my ever-expanding belly!