Bits and Pieces

Now that the jet lag is over (funny, it's not so bad when we're coming to Turkiye, but the trip to the US is a killer!), I've been able to indulge in my nesting instincts.  I've done countless loads of laundry and have been obsessed with getting the house back into shape.  We've even started the process of cleaning out the room that will belong to the baby--formerly the kitty's room.  Poor Afacan will have to move to the basement to make way for the new addition.

Speaking of new additions, we picked up another kitty the other day.  She's black and white, like Afacan, but much smaller.  Afacan has developed quite an attitude (cattitude?) over the new little one and won't have anything to do with her, although it's been reported that the two played together while we were away.  Afacan has become a typical teenager, staying out late, not coming when called, being picky about her food, and behaving nastily to us when she doesn't want to be bothered.  I'm not sure which is worse--my skin teenager or my furry teenager!

I've been scouting the stores for baby items while we've been out and about.  So far, I seem to be able to find everything I need/want, with the exception of cloth diapers.  There's nothing at Carrefour (Turkiye's answer to Wal-Mart, imported to us courtesy of the French) and nothing at the one baby specialty store I've been to (although that one did have a most excellent doppler at a reasonable price that I'm dying to get).

The most interesting news of all since we've been home is that our newlywed neighbors, Eraslan and Mediha, are also expecting.  I had a dream while we were gone that Mediha and I were pregnant at the same time and delivered within a couple of days of each other, so I wasn't really surprised when they told us that she is pregnant, too.  Poor thing, she's been having some horrible nausea and hasn't been eating much, whereas I'm eating us out of house and home (already gained 12-13 pounds).  I gave her some crystallized ginger and a bottle of prenatal vitamins that I brought back from the US.  I have more than enough to last me, and I think she needs them more than I do at this point, especially since she's not eating.  She's been looking really peaked lately, and I think that the heat is also getting to her.  I hope she starts to perk up soon.  It will be nice to have our babies at the same time--built in playmates!

Ekrem went with Mehmet and picked up a small "dorm-room sized" refrigerator today.  Hopefully we'll be able to get a new full-size fridge soon.  I was really looking forward to having all my fresh fruits and veggies again.  All this restaurant food is getting to me, as well as not being able to eat when I want.