Baby “Bump”, Graduation, Food (again!)
Now that I’ve got the “baby bump” (two weeks earlier than with E!), I’m looking for new maternity clothes. I was much further along come summer with E, so my shorts all have the purple panel on them and my shirts are for further along too…I don’t have the belly yet to fill them up so I end up just looking fat & frumpy. I’m going out shopping Wednesday, I think. I would like a couple pair of capris plus a few shirts. I ordered a few Belly Huggers, so I’ll be able to wear some of my current shirts a bit longer with the layered look (and they’ll be great for nursing, replacing some of the tanks I used with E). I just don’t like shopping, though. I don’t feel like I know what looks good on me. I’d love to have a personal shopper! Store selection is somewhat limited too. We have Kohl’s (cute but tiny section), Target (but their maternity section is NOT good!), Motherhood Maternity (I don’t like some of their business practices, so I try to avoid it) plus the standard department stores. I haven’t tried any of those yet. I’m not a fan of ordering clothes online since I can’t try them on first but I think I may have to this pregnancy.
Jim graduates IOBC (Infantry Officer’s Basic Course) Thursday. Last one & he can officially serve as an officer. Woohoo! Jim’s parents are coming in tomorrow night, my dad Wednesday night & SIL Thursday. (Only my dad is staying with us.) Three schools down, two more (hopefully) to go! He’s going to Airborne right after graduation and Ranger at the end of the month. I am NOT looking forward to that one. If he completes it his first time through, that is 63 long day. And missing our 20-week ultrasound. 
Good preparation for the next deployment, I suppose.
So another meal question….rib prices are up, so I decided to scrap that idea. I think we’re going to do a burger bar instead. Besides lettuce, tomato, pickle, ketchup, mustard, red onion, bacon & sauteed Vidalia onions, anything else? And what should I do as a side? I thought about some potato wedges and corn on the cob. Any better ideas? I’m not a fan of mayo-based potato salads but I’d be open to other ones, I just don’t have any recipes. And sundae bar ideas. We’re doing that Thursday after the graduation reception. I’m planning on making a vanilla custard, chocolate and then something else. Maybe a butter pecan as both of our dads like pecans. But what to put on top? I have nuts, chocolate syrup & caramel syrup. What else?
I noticed the other day that Ann Taylor Loft (my go to store for work clothes) has a maternity section online now. The clothes are super-cute, and just make me more bitter that my tests still come out with only one line
I discovered that grilled pineapple on top of hamburgers is awesome. I have Applebee’s Aloha burger to thank for discovering that one!
One of the most well-dressed women at the office recently told me she buys most of her stuff at Value Village (a second-hand charity shop chain up here). My guess is that like, Goodwill shopping, you’ve got to figure out which ones locally have the best selection. And I’m sure it’s more work…hunting out the stuff that looks good and fits…but you’d think there would be a ton of maternity stuff in those places. Because after you’ve decided you’re really not getting preggies again, what else do you do with it all? Give it away somehow, right?
Some of the consignment baby clothing places around here have added a maternity section. Also, the Gap near me now carries a maternity section. Too late for me though. Have fun shopping for your new belly. And as far as hamburger selections I can’t think of a thing to add. You might consider baked beans as another side. It is really easy to make them in a crock pot. Oh, and brownie bites are a good addition to an ice cream bar.
The crux of your writing whilst sounding agreeable originally, did not really sit well with me after some time. Someplace throughout the paragraphs you actually were able to make me a believer unfortunately just for a very short while. I however have got a problem with your jumps in logic and one would do nicely to help fill in those breaks. If you can accomplish that, I would surely end up being fascinated.