Summer of Love

**WARNING** Below is a long, Sunday evening, rambling, possibly even uninteresting post. Don't say I didn't warn you!

Its amazing - every day I am running into more and more people/friends who are pregnant and due March 2008. What is with the month of June?! I worked at Christmas Jubliee this Saturday and every pregnant person I talked to (about five or six of them) was due in March. Then, at church this morning, Stephen and I found out one of the couples in our Dauphin Way 101 class (the Sunday school class we did before joining Dauphin Way Methodist Church) are expecting their third child in March. Then at the grocery store this evening, Stephen and I ran into one of Stephen's fraternity brothers and his wife, who are also expecting in March. Not to mention two of my good friends Amanda and Ann Lee are due in March! WOW!!!

I have been enthralled by all the babies, including my second cousin Blake, who were born in March, and their mommy and baby playgroup they have out in Dallas. Well there must be something in the water, or at least something crazy going on with the summer and/or the month of June. Summer of Love = March baby madness!!

Onto a different, but related subject - STROLLERS. For some reason, the stroller "thing" has been my toughest hurdle in this getting-ready-for-Bennett stage. How many? What kinds? What brands? etc etc. I have read soooo many reviews in books and online, talked/emailed numerous people multiple times, and still was having a hard time making a decision. I think it took Christmas Jubilee this weekend for me to make up my mind (and feel good about it). About half of the population of shoppers at the holiday market were under the age of five, so there were strollers strollers EVERYWHERE. I of course was scoping out every brand, every type, how they were used, cup holders, baskets, wheels, colors, etc. (Yes I am a slightly OCD mother-to-be when it comes to Baby Gear).

Stephen and I had already been to Babies 'R Us and 'tried out' all the strollers and decided on the Chicco Cortina Travel System. It really did matter to me what Stephen thought (and what he would actually consider pushing around town). We looked at Peg Perego, Graco and Chicco (they are the top rated (safety and parent reviews) infant car seats) and decided on the Chicco, which looked nice and was the mid range (price wise) of the three. Half of the moms I have asked have said they didnt see any need in getting the travel systems (and recommended instead just buying a Snap N Go frame for the infant car seat, then buying a toddler stroller at a later date), but the other half I have talked to have loved their travel systems and wouldnt have it any other way. I think this is why I have been so torn. SOOOOOOO [skipping all my reasons for the troubled decision] after talking to many many people at Christmas Jubilee, and seeing several Chicco Cortina Strollers, I am happy with my decision and think it will be the best solution for Stephen and me.

Not to mention that I am still coveting the Phil and Ted's Stroller as my secondary stroller - for walks around the neighborhood, park, outings, and then it can hold TWO children when required. Im obsessed. My friend Erin has one for her son Jack, and ever since seeing it on her blog, I have not found a stroller comparable in its versatility. That may be a Happy Birthday to myself present come March :)

O gah - I too am a March-baby-madness baby....