Wild Card Wednesday - baby, baby, baby!

Are you familiar with these lyrics by 10,000 Maniacs?

"O, baby blankets and baby shoes, baby slippers, baby spoons, walls of baby blue. "

Well, they are ringing through my head as I have had serious baby on the brain. This makes Shelah's idea for a Wild Card Wednesday topic just perfect for today.

Babies are so easy to obsess over, are they not? I mean, who doesn't love all things baby? From the decision to conceive to actually birthing the little bundle we are totally consumed. There is so much to think about! The pregnancy, the right OB, gender, baby names, nursery decor, the layette, birth plans, cravings, nest building (or prenatal lunacy, depending on the mission list), birthing methods, baby gear, pregnancy journals, belly shots.

My brother and sister-in-law are having their first and I am watching as they realize how easy it is to get caught up in the process of bringing life into the world. At first it was like, "Well, all we REALLY need is some baby clothing and maybe a bassinet. We'll start there. Let's not get obsessive." I validated by reminding them that our father slept in a dresser drawer for a couple months.

Last week my sister-in-law called me and told me all about their family Halloween costume for next year. Strawberries. She and my brother will wear all red with green caps and the baby will be in all black (as their little seed). Aw. Now I am willing to bet money they registered for the tummy headphones that pipe Mozart into your womb and guarantee higher math scores.

Two months is all it took for her to get all caught up, lol. And that makes me feel better. Because regardless of what number child you are on, the obsession doesn't go away. As you all know, I am on my fourth. And it is a girl. That doubles my chances for obsession right there.

Well, you be the judge...

This is my favorite hand-me-down from my fellow baby clothing obsessor and sister-in-law:

This is the first baby gift I've received:
This is probably my favorite purchase so far:
Here is the best deal I've gotten ($12 for the whole outfit):
And the worst deal I've gotten (burp cloths, or burp pads as they are called in a snooty boutique):
Here is the frame I "just had to have":
And our monumental plans for Project Nursery:

In all honesty, I do have a little guilt over this because I know they are extravagant personal indulgences, not needs. And the baby's intuition will most likely be to grimace and wriggle free of all her adorable constraints... after all, there is nothing happier or more preicous than a naked baby. But there is something magical and wondrous about preparing for Baby's arrival. We throw ourselves into it partly because it tames our anxiety for the 3/4 of a year we have to wait to nuzzle the tiny fruit of our labors. It eases the immediate amount of work that will ensue upon her arrival. It brings such joy to begin celebrating the minute we see those two perfectly pink lines.

Now - if you'll excuse me, it is lunchtime, and I think I'll go indulge in a little "eat for two"...