We are trying not to buy too many clothes for baby Cate but one of my favorite blogs posted on Wry Baby  and I had [yes, had] to purchase this:

and this:

bellaband
Originally uploaded by telfandrea.

First of all, this is NOT a picture of me.

I do realize that this post will be of limited interest but my 22-week pregnant self can’t stop talking about the BellaBand. I am seriously still wearing all of my old pants.* Basically, it’s a stretchy band of fabric that you arrange over your unbuttoned pants…genius! It stays in place and just looks like you’re wearing an extra layer or a long tanktop. Best $30 I have ever spent.

* In full disclosure, I did put away my tightest pair of jeans last weekend…don’t want to look like a pregnant hootchie.

the bliss of organization
Originally uploaded by telfandrea.

On my visit last month to D.C., the organizational state of Missy’s food staples and spices left me in awe. She has her pasta, rice, etc. in containers, and yes, they are labeled. We discussed the overwhelmingly positive merits of this system and how really, the cost of the containers is recouped in a few short months because of the money saved on groceries. For example, I had THREE opened bags of orzo in my chaotic pantry. No longer.

I purchased the plastic containers on a trip to Ikea and then had a little too much fun pouring the contents of various foodstuffs into the containers. And then I labeled everything. For the first week or so after I completed this project, I would open my pantry and just sort of hang out with my pretty containers of orzo, lentils and brown rice.

This isn’t a very good photo as our little pantry is in an odd, tight location and I had to wedge myself into a corner to get this shot of one shelf (there are more containers on other shelves)…

cute face, no?
Originally uploaded by telfandrea.

Five weeks ago our doctor told us we were having a boy. I was CONVINCED I saw a little boy part on the ultrasound (to be fair, Telfer wasn’t so sure)…so imagine my surprise at my 20 week ultrasound when the ultrasound technician says, and I quote, "this is no boy." So. We are most definitely having a girl and we couldn’t be more thrilled. Our girl will have certainly have no shortage of girl cousins to play with.

However, this turn of events most definitely raises the question: are the Young girls capable of producing the male gender? Discuss.

I am most definitely showing at this point and am getting some oh-so-helpful comments…yesterday, from someone I work with – "you are finally getting fat!" Thanks so much for that! Luckily, I like her and she was joking…I think…Anyway, since we finally decided on a girl name, I thought I’d share (Anne of Green Gables fans, you’ll get the middle name, everyone else, read the book):

uncle telfer with eden & cora
Originally uploaded by telfandrea.

This is almost criminal, but up until our trip to Prineville, Telfer had not seen Eden and Cora for over two years…Neva didn’t care too much at this point, but the older two girls were extremely enamored with their Uncle Telfer. He gave piggyback rides, took them to the park, and to McDonald’s (to play on the big toys!). All three of our nieces are just precious. We love them…and Alyssa and Nate too of course. Someday we’ll all live closer…

neva
Originally uploaded by telfandrea.

Telfer, by the way, takes really good pictures. Click on the flickr link on the lefthand side of our blog to view all the pictures of our nieces and graduation.