It's amazing how much of a baby's personality you can tell before she's even born. Wish is kicking all the time these days and is almost always mobile, swishing back and forth all over January's insides. When we talk to her, she responds. When you press on January's belly, or when one of the cats decides to walk across her stomach, she will push back. From everything I can tell at this point, this baby is going to be a handful.

As if it weren't enough, dealing with a sassy little Soell baby kicking around inside her, January has to face the increasingly complicated task that is simply existing with this thing growing inside of her. She's getting to the point now where she can't do nearly as easily the things that everyone takes for granted every day. If she wants to wear socks, or even take off the ones she's already wearing, she needs a little help. Shoes are still managable, but occasionally she does need some assitance getting out of bed or off the couch. Some of the maternity pants and shirts we picked up months ago that looked silly are actually starting to fit now, while some of her previously comfortable pants and shirts are packed away for post-February days. It's definitely starting to feel like we're in the homestretch, and hopefully the impending holidays will make the next ten weeks fly by a little quicker.

We've made a lot of progress in gettings things ready; Baby showers have taken place, the crib has been assembled, and we have the appropriate car seat just waiting for it's future owner. And although we still have to get the diaper situation fully figured out, we have attended a cloth diaper class and have a good idea of our plan of attack there. We still have a few essentials that we need to pick up, like a baby monitor and pack-and-play, but we're definitely getting there. It feels like we've been pregnant forever, but as we get closer and closer to that February 5 we'll just try to do our best to get as prepared as you can, while enjoying the few baby-free weekends we have left. Pretty soon, things are going to be completely different.