11 Weeks!

I am 11 weeks today.  Holy crap!  I realized that I am more than 25% done with this pregnancy already.  That is crazy.  There are still times when this doesn't feel real, times when I have to remind myself that, "Oh right, I'm pregnant!"  But those times are getting to be fewer and farther between.  I am slowly allowing myself to believe that this is real.  I'm still scared that something will go wrong.  I'm still in disbelief that I am finally, FINALLY, going to have a baby. 

But I'm also starting to feel a bit of excitement.  I'm starting to look at plans for the upcoming year in terms of the pregnancy and birth.  There's a lot to do between now and then, obviously.  I'm still not ready to jump in and start buying baby things or picking out nursery decorations.  But I am taking small steps to prepare for when it is time for those things:

1. I cleaned out my closets and drawers.  I made a pile of things to take to Goodwill.  And I put away summer and early fall things that already don't fit or won't for much longer.  Not only will this make room for when I do buy maternity clothes, but this should also make it a lot easier to narrow down what to wear every day! 
2. I mentally rearranged the nursery-to-be.  Currently it is an extra guest room/crafts and projects room for me.  I made a list of items to donate (a bookcase that can be consolidated with another, an arm chair we never use, a file cabinet that was ruined when our basement flooded the first time and now just sits in a corner holding the printer that we also never use).  I figured out that we can move the loveseat out of the office and into the basement, which will make room in the office for the twin bed that is currently in the nursery-to-be.  And I contemplated re-purposing a desk that we don't really need as a desk into a changing table.  Still not sure about that one but it's something to consider down the road.
3. I started a "pregnancy notebook" in which I can write questions to ask at appointments, take notes and record test results, and make lists.  Currently I have a list entitled "Things to Do/Research."  

My MIL would REALLY like to start shopping for things.  Actually, so would my mom, but she doesn't live close to me so she's waiting until she comes to visit in August.  But my MIL is really chomping at the bit.  Granted, there's been a lot of drama and crap going on with my sister-in-law, Carly, so she's partly focusing herself on this to distract from that.  But she's also just really excited.  Thankfully, I've been able to be honest with her and say "I'm not quite ready for that yet."  But I doubt I'll be able to hold her off much longer!