Week 26 and back to my senses...

Ok, well I finally ordered the baby's stroller, and maybe that helped me feel like I had a little bit of a choice of something for my baby again. Actually, I was having a hard time deciding what I wanted, including something as simple as the color. (I chose beige, in the end. We decided that we liked the black, beige and white ones. White was the favorite, but was deemed impractical. I decided that black was boring, so that left beige/mocha.) Buying the stroller also probably helped me to see that there will still be a lot to buy for the new baby, so I shouldn't feel like I'm not going to have the opportunity to buy anything for him myself.
With that, I also came to the realization that I wasn't upset by the hand-me-downs, and, actually, the practical side of me is starting to appreciate them again.
I realized that what was really upsetting me wasn't the items themselves, but was the comments that were coming with them.
So, when I get an offer from somebody I truly like, well, I trully appreciate the offer and the item. On the other hand, when I get an offer from somebody who not only tells me how to use that item, but that also tries to tell me how to do everything else or who criticizes me, well, all of a sudden that item just doesn't seem worth it anymore.
On the positive side, it looks like we have a matress that will fit the crib, too, so, no, it won't end up costing us as much or more as the crib I had originally wanted. I'm realizing that the money saved on the crib can be used for other things for baby, so I do appreciate it now.
Oh, and I don't care what anyone thinks about it, but no matter who it would have come from, I didn't plan on using a used breast pump. I actually ended up "winning" a new electric one (Ok, my ebay bid won) by Medela for a pretty reasonable price.
So, I actually bought a few things. :)
This week, I plan on mostly finishing up the baby's room. Meanwhile we are making a new room for visitors since baby's room was the only possible guest room of the house. We've been actually fixing up our "basement," which is full of garden equipment and tools, etc., for possible visitors. So, outside we have people working on a new shed where we plan to move all of those tools and machinery. I wanted to get a picture, but they arrived so early today that it will have to wait.
Oh well. All else is going well. I'll try to check in soon with more pictures.
For now, I'll leave you with the 26 week update:

How your baby's growing:
The network of nerves in your baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. He may now be able to hear both your voice and your partner's as you chat with each other. He's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of his lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when he's born and takes that first gulp of air. And he's continuing to put on baby fat. He now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches (an English hothouse cucumber) from head to heel. If you're having a boy, his testicles are beginning to descend into his scrotum — a trip that will take about two to three days.

How your life's changing:
Are you rushing around trying to get to childbirth classes and prepare your baby's room while still taking care of all your other daily tasks? Make sure that you also continue to eat well and get plenty of rest. Around this time, your blood pressure may be increasing slightly, although it's probably still lower than it was before you got pregnant. (Typically, blood pressure falls toward the end of the first trimester, and it tends to reach a low at about 22 to 24 weeks.)

Preeclampsia — a serious disorder characterized by high blood pressure and protein in your urine — most often shows up after 37 weeks, but it can happen earlier so it's important to be aware of the warning signs of this condition. Call your caregiver if you have swelling in your face or puffiness around your eyes, more than slight swelling of your hands, excessive or sudden swelling of your feet or ankles, or rapid weight gain (more than 4 pounds in a week). With more severe preeclampsia, you may experience other symptoms. Let your caregiver know immediately if you have a severe or persistent headache, vision changes (including double or blurred vision, seeing spots or flashing lights, sensitivity to light, or temporary loss of vision), intense pain or tenderness in your upper abdomen, or vomiting.

If your lower back seems a little achy lately, you can thank both your growing uterus — which shifts your center of gravity, stretches out and weakens your abdominal muscles, and may be pressing on a nerve — as well as hormonal changes that loosen your joints and ligaments. Plus, the extra weight you're carrying means more work for your muscles and increased stress on your joints, which is why you may feel worse at the end of the day. Walking, standing, or sitting for long periods, as well as bending and lifting can all put a strain on your back. A warm bath or hot compress might bring relief. (Some women, though, find cool compresses more comforting.) Try to maintain good posture during the day, avoid activities that require bending and twisting at the same time, take frequent breaks when sitting or standing, and sleep on your side with one or both knees bent with a pillow between your legs, using another pillow (or wedge) to support your abdomen.