Ok, I got an official 29 week photo (ok, 29 weeks and 4 days), so here it is!

I wish I could tell you why I always throw my head back, but I have no idea. I need to stop.

Here is a picture of the dresser drawer, taken by my beautiful assistant (Patrick) because I was too lazy to put on pants to go outside (It's hot out and I'm pregnant, I shouldn't have to wear pants in this kind of heat!).

 I'm still wanting to re-paint it, just gotta figure out what color/colors! It's in my previous post, but if you're looking for a diy dresser drawer liners tutorial you can find the one I went by here!

Patrick and I went to a breastfeeding class Thursday night. It was informative, probably the most interesting thing to me was that apparently Alabama has some of the lowest breastfeeding rates in the world and also some of the highest infant mortality rates. The instructor mentioned this because she was talking about how peer pressure in the past has caused people to stop breastfeeding at 6 months when people would comment on how the baby was getting "too big" for breastfeeding and now the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusively breastfeeding for six months and at least for a year--then after that as long as it is mutually desired by the mother and baby. This struck me because I know I'm going to get comments when I choose to continue breastfeeding William past a year, past two years, maybe even three years. I honestly haven't set a time for myself to cut him off, but some of the research I've done does show that the longer I can do it, the better. Obviously I won't be exclusively breastfeeding him past six months, I want him to eat normal foods, too... but if he still has a desire to breastfeed past a year, I'm not going to refuse. I know in the past I thought a four year old breastfeeding was weird, even when I was doing my research I still felt a bit weirded out when I saw a toddler breastfeeding alongside their infant sibling. Now I'm not trying to judge anybody who does that because I recognize my reaction was majorly a result of my culture/upbringing and in Alabama you just don't see a ton of breastfeeding, especially of toddlers. I've had people comment to me about when they think a child needs to be weaned and it's definitely been sooner than I would have thought, so I don't look forward to hearing those opinions when they see I'm not even starting to wean him. I want to do what's best for William, and if I think continuing to breastfeed him longer than is deemed the norm or socially acceptable, I'm going to do it.

I'm also not trying to in any way criticize women who don't breastfeed--I'm excited because breastfeeding is less expensive and a way for me and my baby to bond (not that it's the only way to bond or that we won't bond if I'm not able to breastfeed) so I'm very hopeful that I can manage to breastfeed--but I know there are numerous reasons why a woman can't or might not choose to breastfeed and that's fine, too. I know plenty of happy, healthy, formula-fed babies. It's stupid in general how women are made to feel bad now if they choose not to breastfeed, or if they choose to breastfeed for longer than what is considered the norm.

Anyway, it was a good class and I learned a good bit and I'm really excited to be able to put it into action. I'm also excited by how much support my hospital seems to give to breastfeeding mothers. They even have a support group (and apparently the head of the lactation center at my hospital is the president of several lactation groups including a national one (I can't remember her name or find it on their website to look up which group, augh!), so that's reassuring).

Oh! We finally got in our cradle mattress pad (it's really made for a bassinet). It's a bit long so it squinches up a bit but we asked the people at the local baby store if we should get the smaller pad that would be an inch to two inches shorter or stick with the pad that's just about an inch too long so it bows up at the edges (just a bit) but that we can make smooth in the middle. They said the bigger one is probably better so we bought a couple sheets (just to start out with) for the pad and so now it's starting to look a little more like his bed! I have a few toys in it now (I won't have them there once he's born) and I want to lay a light baby blanket out, but my cat likes to get in the cradle so I'm not putting any baby blankets I've already cleaned in there 'til the baby gets here... and the sheet is only in there because I wanted to be sure it fits (I still have to wash it).

We had a prepared childbirth class set for next Saturday but Patrick forgot to ask off and it's during the time he's working soooo... I'm going to have to see if I can switch it to a later date, which I hate because next month I had my natural childbirth class and I guess I'm going to have to move that back. I'm so anxious, though! I want to get the info so I can start preparing myself for the birth! So far it's just been the nice stuff like feeding him and keeping him alive, not the part I'm most worried about.

Also, I'm officially 27! My birthday was yesterday, it was good. Patrick bought me the Hobbit movie and my mom got me that diaper bag. Patrick and I also ate at the Cheesecake Factory which was as expensive as I warned him it'd be but it's ok, I just wanted somewhere we don't ever go instead. Although a birthday present that cost that much would've probably been nicer... or stuff for the baby, haha. We have to be better about our spending, though.