Suits! So, I’ve been taking this prenatal aqua fitness class. And I’ve kind of been loving it. I spoke with the instructor on ways in which this class differs from the general aqua fitness classes my gym offers. She gave me some good pointers on how to incorporate the other classes with pregnancy. And that’s when it hit me. I need a good maternity bathing suit. The one I have now? It’s a tankini on loan. And while I can tuck it in now, I won’t be able to as my belly grows. And when it’s not tucked in, it tends to float to the top of the pool (super annoying, let alone unflattering!). So, I did it. I purchased my own maternity tankini. Only, this one is more fitted, so hopefully it won’t be a floatin’ as I’m moving around! Isn’t it glamorous? Ha!

Diagnosis! As many of you know, I had to take a test for gestational diabetes. How this came about was based on some initial tests that came back with concerning results. First, I pee in a cup every time I go to the doctor. They measure things like sugar and proteins. Apparently, two elevated sugar readings equals a referral to get a 1-hour sugar test for gestational diabetes. At that test, I drank a sugary drink. Waited an hour. They took blood. And the results came back high (159 when normal range is below 140). What that meant was a referral for an even longer sugar test. I had to fast overnight. Had an initial blood draw. Drank a uber-sugary drink. Waited an hour. They took blood. Waited another hour. They took blood. Waited one final hour. They took blood. And the results? Completely normal! Meaning, there is no diagnosis. No concerns. No more talk about gestational diabetes. And I just need to remember to cut out the sugary snacks before my doctor’s appointments in the future!

Nuisances! Lately, I’ve had a few physical symptoms of pregnancy. The more common of the two has been leg cramps. Specifically, the ones that wake you up in the middle of the night in crazy pain. The ones that cause me to shock Sweets out of his slumbers and scare SoMi off the bed. I hate hate hate them, but apparently, they come with the territory. The second? I have this really sensitively itchy spot on the top of my belly, where it almost joins my chest. I think it has to do with how my bras are hitting it or maybe how my boobs are beginning to rest on it. But, it itches and sort of hurts. And if clothing lightly rubs it, it almost stings. I’ve been lathering up with lotion to make sure it isn’t dry skin and covering it up with BandAids on the worst days, but will check in with my doctor next week to make sure it shouldn’t be a bigger concern.

Purchase! Once the furniture was purchased for the nursery, the whole decorating process began to feel more real. I began a conversation with an Etsy artist about making some bedding and window coverings. And Sweets and I became a little more serious about what art we would like to put on the walls. We have a couple galleries around the corner from where we live and it just so happens one of their recent shows had some work of interest to us. Given our nursery colors of lime green, turquoise and orange, and our penchant for nature, these paintings seemed perfect. Plus, we like the fact we’re supporting a local artist (she happens to live in our neighborhood!).

Shelving! A couple months ago, Sweets and I went to The Container Store in search of an additional shelving solution to match the shelving that’s already in our laundry room. We worked with a designer to come up with a plan. And then we left the store. Spending not one penny. Because, The Container Store is expensive and we wanted to wait until one of their pretty sweet shelving sales. Like the one that’s going on now through early October. 25% off shelving. It’s the exact sale we’ve been waiting for. So, Sweets and I are moving forward with our shelving project. Hooray!

Thanks! A special thanks to the gal behind musings, graces and fate. She is making sure Grasshopper’s library continues to grow with some really great Dr. Seuss additions. I know for a fact, these books will be well-read!

Question! What’s the one baby item you never thought you’d use, but now can’t live without? Sweets and I are trying to tidy up our registry and want to make sure we’ve covered all bases!

Today, well, today, my magazine subscription list is thin. I get The Atlantic Monthly (LOVE!) and The New Yorker (LOVE, but it’s hard to keep up with its weekly delivery). In particular, The Atlantic Monthly is really up my alley. Interesting and varied topics that are rarely repeats from previous issues. In-depth discussions (but, not necessarily super deep discussions). Things that get me thinking. I guess you could say I’m kind of serious when it comes to the magazines I read on a regular basis.

The other day, I was in line at Whole Foods when I saw an article about babywearing (which is a whole industry in and of itself). I wound up purchasing the magazine (Mothering), because the article was too long to finish while in line and it’s something Sweets and I are interested in. The combination of purchasing that magazine and reading Jess’ blog post got me thinking … what magazines and reading material should I be considering for the next year or so in regards to parenting?

I mean, parenting magazines have to run the gamut from light ‘n fluffy to more in-depth topics, right? For all the parents out there, which magazines offer quality over quantity? Which ones do you read and which ones do you skip? And for the non-parents out there, are there any interesting magazines I should consider adding to my subscription base (I’m always open to new ideas)??

Why, you ask? Because, over the past year, I’ve been thinking about the city versus suburbs debate. A lot. More so now that we’re expecting Grasshopper. And it’s tearing me up inside.

It’s necessary to insert a brief background here to give you context for my thoughts. I have always been a city girl. The area where I grew up in St. Louis was very urban. My brother and I learned how to be assertive from a very early age. I went to school with a diverse group of kids from many different socio-economic backgrounds and many different ethnicities. I loved the energy and vibe that came with living in that kind of environment.

And then we moved. To a suburb of Boston. Where there were white picket fences to match all the lily white faces of the people who lived in that town. There was no diversity, no energy, not much of anything (besides a safe environment to raise kids and a great public school system – I can’t blame my parents for making that choice). Though, I quickly found my niche in that town, I never loved it.

The dichotomy of those experiences is largely why I chose to live in an urban center as an adult. I thrive on diversity. I yearn for the mixture of race and class. I love that I can find my place in a city of almost 3 million people. And I fear the demise of that lifestyle.

So, the answer is easy, right? Sweets and I love the city and will stay in the city forever. Why is this even a topic of concern? Because, we might want to own a house one day and we might not be able to live out that dream in the city. And that’s where my heartstrings get yanked around like a yo-yo on crack.

The day we moved into our condo, Sweets began pulling MLS listings for single family homes. I’m not kidding. And while I sometimes roll my eyes at his intense interest in real estate, his curiosity made us realize we’d have to make a lot of concessions to buy a single family home in the city. Compromises like any combination of the following:

• Location in neighborhoods that feel more like the suburbs, despite having city zip codes
• Older homes that need a lot of work
• Homes that only have 1 bathroom
• Lots that are located on busy streets
• Neighborhoods that are not located on any major subway or bus lines, making the purchase of a second car necessary

The list goes on, but I think you get the point. We’d have to give up a lot just to be able to say we own a house in the city. Over the past couple years, as Sweets has continued to investigate real estate options, we’ve come to one conclusion: If we want to own a single family home, given our must-haves for our next home, we will likely need to move to the suburbs (or win the lottery, but that would entail actually buying lottery tickets – ahem.).

And so, with sad faces and bruised egos, we have considered one (only one!) target suburb should we ever decide to move (and trust me, it’s not going to happen in the next few years – this is a long-term vision). Why are we so dour? Why does only one suburb make our cut?

Well, we’re self-admitted snobs when it comes to Chicago. Unlike other cities (I’m looking at you, Boston) where suburbs exist that have history and are diverse and interesting, I can think of one word that summarizes Chicago suburbs: vanilla. Most suburbs around here just aren’t that interesting (to us, I should add – that statement has a lot to do with our expectations and needs).

One reason I fear a move to the suburbs is it’s often equated with a loss of use of the city. Unlike most cities I know, MANY people in the Chicago suburbs hate coming into the city. It likely has a little to do with intimidation and a lot to do with absolutely horrible traffic. The fact is, traveling from the suburbs to the city is inconvenient, which means most suburbanites save trips to the city for special occasions … or worse, not at all.

It honestly breaks my heart. The city is our lifeline. I cannot imagine living somewhere where I’m surrounded by people who don’t utilize it, aren’t interested in exploring it and even badmouth it. The flip side is equally as horrifying … that our city friends will no longer find us convenient and will no longer come to visit us. What a loss!

Getting back to this one suburb we’ve considered. Well, there are actually two suburbs we’d consider. Both locations are on major train lines (both the Chicago subway system as well as the commuter train system). Both suburbs provide interesting commercial & retail centers that remind us of city neighborhoods. Both towns have diverse communities, which are as close to city life without actuallly living in the city. And both places are within earshot of the city, so it wouldn’t feel like we’ve completely abandoned the place we love.

We’ve narrowed it down to one of the two suburbs purely due to my work location. One suburb puts me closer to work; the other suburb would make my commute a nightmare. As I said before, we don’t know when or even if a move of this magnitude will take place. But, it’s definitely something we discuss from time to time. It’s something that remains on our radar.

Tell me why you live where you live (city versus suburb)? Why did you choose your location (proximity to work, ease of getting around, property values, etc.)? What variables might make you change locations from city to suburb or vice versa (change in job, addition of kids, empty nest from older kids moving out, etc.)?

It all started on Thursday after work. My old hair stylist who moved back to Kansas was in town. We caught up for a couple hours and I loaned her my bike for the triathlon she completed this weekend (so she didn’t have to ship hers from KS). Sweets picked me up so we could rush to one of my favorite Mexican eateries to meet another friend visiting from out of town. I went to UNC with this friend, though I didn’t meet him until we both were living in Chicago. He’s now living back in NC, but was in town for business. We had a great dinner catching up with him and getting all sorts of parenting advice!

Just as we were settling into bed, utterly exhausted, my phone rang. It was my brother announcing he was a dad, again. Another baby girl clocking in at 6 lbs 11 oz. He sounded exhausted, but was super stoked he was able to be there for the birth (his flight back to NY was on Friday night and he couldn’t skip it as he was then heading to London for work).

Of course, I was super stoked, too. On Friday at work, I told my boss I’d be taking a half day, so I could swing by the hospital to see my niece. First, it was to a kids store to buy some gifts. Then to a bakery to get some sweet nibbles. Then to a gourmet food store to get some healthier nibbles. And a final stop at Starbucks (the new mama wanted an iced latte, what can I say?!).

I made it to the hospital in the afternoon where I got to spend a precious few hours with my new and expanding family! It was such an honor to be in that room during the first few hours after Baby Zee got to meet Baby Roz. I’d point to the baby and ask Zee who that was, She’d whisper, It’s a baby. Then, I’d ask what was the baby’s name. Zee would respond in a hushed tone, Baby Sister.

OK, I know. You want to see pictures. Did I mention I brought my camera and didn’t stop taking photos the whole time I was there? I’m not kidding. Over 2 hours, I took about 170 photos. I won’t bore you with all of them … just a few of my favorites!

Later that night, Sweets and I had dinner with old co-workers. I brought homemade salsa and guacamole. There was roadside chicken. And beergaritas (I had to abstain – such a shame!). And lots of other good eats. Talk of showers and 50th birthday parties (it’s hard to believe some of my friends are turning 50 – does it count if they don’t act a lick over 35?). It’s a group of people I’ve known for over a decade and just love seeing from time to time.

Saturday morning, we were up early (despite Sweets’ over-consumption of those delicious drinks!). First, we had to get our painter situated. The orange in the kitchen was replaced (loved the orange, hated how it looked with our cabinets). Once he was geared up to go, Sweets and I grabbed SoMi and left town (thankfully, the painter is a childhood friend of Sweets, so we trusted him in our home while we were gone).

We drove to Kokomo, Indiana to visit with dear friends we met while we were honeymooning in Costa Rica a few years ago. Since our time with them was less than 24 hours, we chose to keep things low key. Hanging out. Going to the dog park. Watching too many episodes of Myth Busters (though, the boys would argue we didn’t watch nearly enough). Sneaking in Invictus, a movie I liked during those moments I actually kept my eyes open. And so on. Our weekend with them ended Sunday morning after breakfast, when we hopped back in the car to return to Chicago.

And Sunday. A day of rest, no? Well, actually, no. Not in our house. We got back to Chicago around noon. Stopped by Sweets’ parents’ condo to pick up a tent (to loan to a friend). Met my KS friend at her hotel to retrieve my bike. Got the truck washed. Came home to a kitchen with a beautiful new, green wall! Unpacked. Went grocery shopping. Brought dinner to the girls, so Dan could meet and spend some time with Baby Roz. And eventually collapsed from such a long week and weekend.

Seriously, I’m pretty positive I can’t do this week in and week out. Thankfully, this week involves our regular nonsense (aqua class, soccer game, childbirth class) plus getting ready for our camping trip next weekend and arrival of my mom next week (she’ll actually arrive over the weekend, but won’t be staying with us until next week). If you can believe it, this week feels like it’s gonna be a breeze compared to the week that just was.

Breathe in. Exhale.

Tell me, what was a highlight (or three) of your weekend?

And yet, here we are, a few months away from Grasshopper’s due date and we’re considering cloth diapers. That’s right, Sweets and me. We’re considering cloth. I even laugh at ourselves, because I never would’ve imagined we’d have come full circle.

The things is, cloth diapers in 2010 are not the same as they were in the 1970s, when I was a babe. The extra thick cotton cloth that had to be shaped around a baby and then pinned, yes pinned, onto a squirmy little beast? The diapers that had no elastic around the legs and left plenty of room for leaks? The diapers that lacked really good absorbency and were a sure bet for soiled clothes? Those diapers are long gone.

Today, cloth diapers come with options. Like sized diapers versus one-size for all. And colors. And snaps or velcro. And different types of absorbency options. And there are attachments for your toilet, so you can spray off the soiled parts without touching them. And travel bags to carry soiled diapers until you get home. And, well, let’s just say a lot of thought has been put into this whole industry. The cloth diaper people are now armed with solutions to those things the naysayers (like I once was) don’t like. And so names like Fuzzi Bunz and Bum Genius are now becoming a part of my vocabulary.

And I’m confused.

I mean, I know at a minimum, we will need disposables for certain situations. Like daycare (some daycares won’t deal with cloth diapers). And maybe some travel situations, where doing laundry isn’t an option. And my head swirls around the Big 3 (Pampers, Huggies, Luvs) versus the more eco-friendly brands (Seventh Generation, Nature Babycare). And let’s not even add in the hybrid cloth-disposable diapers (gDiapers).

But, how do I choose? How do I know which diapers will work best for us without dropping huge coin first? Cloth diapers supposedly save money over time, but the key is you invest money upfront and spend very little after that. Well, what if I want to trial them without investing too much money? And disposables aren’t much better as you often have to buy them in bulk (what if I hate a diaper after one use, but am left with 19, 49 or even 99 remaining in the package?!).

And then there’s the dilemma with whether cloth diapers really save money. As a friend recently pointed out, you may save money on the diaper itself (over time, if you’re committed to using them). But, when you add in the costs for gentle cleaners (detergents not recommended) and extra liners and the extra energy and water required for cleaning (water to spray off the diapers and heavy wash cycles on hot to deep clean the diapers). And what about the “saving the earth” mentality that cloth diaper users have by not filling landfills with disposables? How does that argument stay cohesive when you’re using up one of nature’s precious resources, water? The argument for cloth diapers becomes murky, for sure.

So … this is where you, my readers and friends, come in to help me. Many of you are mothers. Many of you went through the process of choosing cloth versus disposable and then which brand once that decision was made. Tell me how you went about your process and what you wound up using. And remember, be nice … I know there are vastly different opinions on the subject … pretty please, try to focus on your experiences without slamming the other side. =) Thanks!