official pic

here is the 'official' 30 week photo.

and just for fun- one from the front- it almost looks like i still have a waist!

today i found a dress for the shower. it's very cute & very me. it's also non-maternity so i can wear it beyond just the one day. you'll have to be patient for a pic of that. i still want to look for shoes...

i should hear about my closing date for the refi early next week. hopefully i won't have to make my next 2 mortgage payments & can save up money to get the kitchen finished & stay out longer on maternity leave. i am thinking we can definitely afford at the least 10 weeks now. 12 if we don't have to get too many big ticket things after the shower. although i am the ultimate bargain hunter! (or very cheap, haha) i already know that my friends & family are being overly generous and that this little girl will be very well prepped (& spoiled!)

one example of my frugality in action was a recent find on crai.gs list was a fantastic practically brand new red wool gap maternity coat. i snagged it for the bargain price of ... free!!! yeah baby! i wasn't going to bother with getting a new maternity coat for only 2 months or so, but seeing that post made me jump into action. i'm so glad i got it because being able to close a coat over the belly is a wonderful thing! especially now that it's getting cold. and it looks a hell of a lot more presentable than the hub's parka! i will be taking advantage of that free items section a lot more often! and i will try my best to return the favors! since i am a pretty firm believer in karma & your actions influencing what comes into your life, all of this good fortune hanging around lately makes me think that maybe i've done something right & i want to continue that!

i am going to relax on the couch now with the hub & enjoy our saturday date night- it's my favorite time of the week.