The official "Get-to-know-you" thread!

[starshine1001]

I was poking around other DDC's (because I'm nosey like that) and found that some of them have a cool thread along these lines...I like the idea and I'd be willing to participate! This way we can remember each other a bit better than trying to recall previous posts and looking at siggys. What thinkest thou? Here's a basic format that I am borrowing from the June 2009 DDC:


Name:

EDD:

Other children and their ages:

Hometown/state/province:

Occupation (SAHM or work outside the home):

Birth plans:

Thoughts about this pregnancy:


I thought it was pretty thorough, but any additional topics would be welcomed! If we agree on this, maybe we could get it stickied??

[Pinoikoi]

Originally Posted by starshine1001

Name: Pinoikoi

EDD: 2/8

Other children and their ages: all boys 11,5 (almost 6),5,4

Hometown/state/province: AK

Occupation (SAHM or work outside the home): teacher

Birth plans: homebirth maybe?

Thoughts about this pregnancy: It's my last pregnancy and I plan to enjoy it!

Filled in!

[Mommy2Austin]

Name: Sarah Lynne

EDD: appx. Feb 5, 2010

Other children and their ages: Austin (3) and Steven (15 mo)

Hometown/state/province: Florida

Occupation (SAHM or work outside the home): SAHM trying to get hired with FLDoC

Birth plans: Homebirth...possible UC "oopsie"

Thoughts about this pregnancy: I just want everything to go smoother than it is right now!!

[wendimarie]

Name: wendimarie

EDD: February 6th

Other children and their ages: DS (4.5), DD (2)

Hometown/state/province: Texas
[/B]
Occupation (SAHM or work outside the home): Full Time Mommy

Birth plans: This will be my second HBAC, waterbirth

Thoughts about this pregnancy: Very excited! I just can't wait to be out of the 1st trimester just so I can relax a little. I am not wanting the rest of the pregnancy to go by too fast. I really enjoy being pregnant and want to enjoy every bit of it.

[mtnmoonmama]

Name: mtnmoonmama

EDD: 1/29 to 2/1

Other children and their ages: 2 boys, 5 and 2

Hometown/state/province: NC

Occupation (SAHM or work outside the home): SAHM

Birth plans: Homebirth, most likely UC

Thoughts about this pregnancy: Same as wendimarie, and this is my last pregnancy so I plan to really enjoy it! I love love love being pregnant and giving birth, such a magical time!

[starshine1001]

Well, that caught on quickly! This is all about me.

Name: Jessica (Jess mostly)

EDD: Feb. 1, 2010, although I expect it'll be more like the 7th or 8th.

Other children and their ages: Buggy will be 5 in July and Newt is 16 months old...both boys.

Hometown/state/province: Born in Newfoundland, Canada, mostly raised in Central Florida, now living in the San Joaquin Valley, California.

Occupation (SAHM or work outside the home): I'm a Registered Nurse. I work at a large teaching hospital (teaching for UCSF Medical School) on the Neuroscience floor. We handle strokes, brain/back/neck injuries, seizures, etc. Interesting stuff. I am planning on going back to school to be a midwife. I was actually going to start this December, but now I'm going to have to wait until the next semester, being that I won't even get through my first semester before this little one is born!

Birth plans: Homebirth with a midwife. Most likely another waterbirth, although it depends on my mood at the moment.

Thoughts about this pregnancy: Well, it was unexpected, but this baby is already much loved and accepted! We're hoping for a little girl this time around. I look at this pregnancy as a chance to do my very best, to work hard for nine months to have a good labor and healthy baby and quick recovery at the end. I am trying to think of everything that I would have changed with my first two and do it differently this time around. I'm realizing that, most likely, I will only have one more baby after this one, so I'm trying to enjoy and cherish every moment of knowing that I'm carrying a little person inside of my body. Oh, and I'm hoping that I don't get morning sickness for 10 weeks like I did with Newt. Ick.

[annettemarie]

Name: Annette

EDD: Not really sure. I'm guessing around Feb. 19

Other children and their ages: Michael (10), Katie Grace (8), Nicholas (5), and Daniel (2)

Hometown/state/province: Williamsport, PA

Occupation (SAHM or work outside the home): Mostly SAHM, although I also direct the children's choirs at our church and write

Birth plans: Hoping for another homebirth!

Thoughts about this pregnancy: In all likelihood this our last baby, so I'm trying to remind myself to cherish every moment. That might be hard, because my pregnancies kind of suck. I'm usually nauseated the whole nine months.

[becksteracious]

Name: Becky

EDD: 2/10/2010

Other children and their ages: none

Hometown/state/province: OR

Occupation (SAHM or work outside the home): Nanny for two year-old twins

Birth plans: Probably a birthing center

Thoughts about this pregnancy: DH and I are very excited! We call our unborn baby "Pepper" and say things like, "After Pepper's born, we should get this." This will be our first baby and we just can't wait!

[Keeta]

Name: Chessa

EDD: 2/10/10

Other children and their ages: Silas T., almost 3!

Hometown/state/province: Ha, you thought this would be short, huh? Born in NC, grew up in NH, college + 2 years in OR, 4 years in Detroit, now in Seattle for the last year. With short stints in MA and AZ. We're really glad to be in the Pacific Northwest

Occupation (SAHM or work outside the home): SAHM, though I have the training/degree to be a librarian. So I refer to myself as a secret librarian ninja mom.

Birth plans: We did a birth center in a hospital for DS. This time I'm thinking we'll do a homebirth, but a free-standing birth center hasn't been completely ruled out.

Thoughts about this pregnancy: I had a really early loss last month, so I'm really really nervous a lot of the time. It's just starting to get more fun and less stressful as I imagine our little one actually being here. So I go back in forth from totally stressed to blissfully in love.

[chai]

Name: Chai

EDD: 2/10/10

Other children and their ages: DS (4)

Hometown/state/province: TX

Occupation (SAHM or work outside the home): SAHM for now (software before kid)

Birth plans: homebirth

Thoughts about this pregnancy: I don't feel pregnant at all, so I keep forgetting (when I'm not obsessing). I'm excited and hoping for the best!

[moondiapers]

Name: Heather

EDD: 2/7

Other children and their ages: Danielle 13, Timothery 9

Hometown/state/province: Lakeport, California

Occupation (SAHM or work outside the home): Home childcare provider.

Birth plans: Hospital with high risk OB

Thoughts about this pregnancy: Joyful, excited....girl.

[Lan84]

Name: Alanna

EDD: 02/16/10

Other children and their ages: None. This is our first!

Hometown/state/province:
Hometown: Montreal, QC
Current: Pennsylvania

Occupation (SAHM or work outside the home): Medical Transcriptionist from home.

Birth plans: Either hospital birth or birth center birth. I'd like to go completely natural, but with my poor pain tolerance, I may need an epidural. I'm going to check out my options before making a firm decision.

Thoughts about this pregnancy: So far it's been pretty easy. I've had a few bouts of nausea and a few nosebleeds, but other than that, no real complaints. I really hope that it's an easy one.

I've felt pregnant since 3dpo (I've been pregnant before but miscarried, I could recognize the signs) and while we weren't trying just yet, I was really hoping that I was pregnant. I was so happy when I got a BFP at 10dpo. : I've been ready and wanting this for a really long time. I'm so happy that my husband is happy and excited about it even though it's an oops. We would have started trying next month or the month after, so it's not a big deal.

After having a miscarriage before, I'm kinda paranoid. I can't help but to POAS every morning. I probably will until my first appointment. I can't wait to meet my little bean!

[jul511riv]

Hi.

Name: Rivkah

EDD: 2/12/10 (or thereabouts)

Other children and their ages: dd, 4, but will turn 5 B"H (for future reference, B"H means bezrat Hashem, which means "with the help of G-d") about 5 days after this little one is born, G-d Willing. And a ds, 2.5. They are the sunshine of my life.

Hometown/state/province: Ohio/ San Francisco Bay Area.

Occupation (SAHM or work outside the home): theatre director, fmr professional actress/singer. And full-time SAHM/homeschooler (I work nights when dh is home with the kids).

Birth plans: another homebirth with a lay midwife B"H

Thoughts about this pregnancy: I don't know if this was the same soul or a different one altogether, but I suffered a m/c 2 months ago. I was 5.5 weeks. So, I just want to make it past that date, and then past first trimester, and then...

I just want to not be in fear the entire pregnancy. I want to be happy and just enjoy it. I want this little girl/boy so SO much! Gender doesn't matter to me whatsoever. Sometimes I think I prefer a girl...sometimes a boy. I'm totally fine either way.

Oh yeah, and I just want for my other two kids to be as in awe and happy and joyful about having a new sibling as I am to B"H give the sibling to them. DH would like a HUGE family. He's thrilled, but we are both being very very cautious. It's been a hard and shaky road to get to this point.

Oh, and another thing. I live in Israel, not my home country. Away from my family and many friends...I'm hoping this time I won't have to make my own dinner the day I give birth!

[FertileMertel]

Name: Katy

EDD: Feb 1

Other children and their ages: Landon, 2.5

Hometown/state/province: Puyallup, WA

Occupation (SAHM or work outside the home): Substitute Teacher (Taking time off from full-time until the kids are in school)

Birth plans: My First Homebirth...I think (Birth Center last time)

Thoughts about this pregnancy:Still a little nervous that this is not a viable pregnancy due to my endo history and the pain I am having, but I am having the u/s on Monday so I will know more then. This is a much wanted baby!! I am looking forward to a winter delivery and hope it is snowing on D-day because fallling snow is so calming to me!

[rajahkat]

Name:Kat

EDD: 2/9/10

Other children and their ages: Alder(7) Banyan(5) Cedar(3) Durian (1)

Hometown/state/province: Bend, OR

Occupation (SAHM or work outside the home): Monitrice & traditional midwife in training.

Birth plans: Homebirth, with or without midwife in attendance

Thoughts about this pregnancy: I'm thrilled & excited, and surprized & slightly put out about timing. I also dread telling my family & friends, as it seems like with #5, we're leaving the land of the possibly loony & heading straight into the definitely crazies.

[JamesMama]

Name: Renae

EDD: Feb 4

Other children and their ages: James, 4 years. Aldria 19 months

Hometown/state/province: Very small town in Iowa

Occupation (SAHM or work outside the home): SAHM

Birth plans: While I'd ADORE a uc my hubby will NOT go for it. So more than likely I'll do a natural birth at a nearby hospital with the same CNM that caught my DD. I'm hoping the cord isn't wrapped around this babies neck (it was DD's) and DH can catch the baby. My m/w was totally open to this with DD but best laid plans went ary. The only downside is finding someone to care for both kids while I'm in hospital. My mom will (hopefully) have a job by then and may not be able to. My dad works and he lives too far away. I'd prefer NOT leave them with DH's family. I have a girlfriend who will keep them while I labor, after that DH may have to leave and come home with the kids

Thoughts about this pregnancy:I'm excited. Like over the moon excited. But I'm also VERY VERY nervous about telling our families. See my siggy...they'll be less than thrilled with the timing. Plus my family is very much the TWO children. TWO!!!!!!!! No more, no less. types...kwim? So they'll be up in arms about #3 : I'm about 75% sure this is my last (not because I don't want anymore, DH and I do not believe in birth control, but because DH has a condition known as Retrograde Ejaculation. We've been warned that the kidney transplant could make the RE worse so having another child probably won't happen post-surgery

[LatinGirl]

Name: Simone

EDD: February 8, 2010

Other children and their ages: None yet, just two kitties.

Hometown/state/province: I live in Ann Arbor, MI, but am from Kansas originally.

Occupation (SAHM or work outside the home): Freelance Translator (work from home)

Birth plans: I had my last annual exam and my preconception appointment with a midwife at a birth center and absolutely loved it, so I think I'll deliver there. I've heard a lot of wonderful things about Hypnobabies, so I'm excited to try that.

Thoughts about this pregnancy: Unbelievably excited. : Still can't quite believe that I'm actually pregnant. I really expected to be constantly worried about miscarriage and everything else under the sun, but so far I'm very relaxed about all of it. Hope that continues!

[123]

Name: Laura

EDD: 02/10/10, but it will probably be about a week before that since all three of the others were

Other children and their ages: Ds1 - 15 yrs old next week, Ds2 - 4.5 years, Dd - 22 months

Hometown/state/province: South Dakota

Occupation (SAHM or work outside the home): SAHM and part time help with the family business

Birth plans: Another homebirth like last time. Though SD laws are weird, so we have to go across to MN and homebirth at someone else's home in order to have a midwife assisted birth. It worked well last time so I don't have a problem doing it again.

Thoughts about this pregnancy: Shock, stress, more shock, eventual acceptance. And occasional residual shock. I would have chosen different timing, but sometimes you just have to work around the difficulties. I can already feel this baby's presence, like I could with two of my others. That's really helping to ground me.

[Grace24]

Great idea!

Here goes:

Name: Julia

EDD: 2/17/10

Other children and their ages: Oliver, 1.5 years

Hometown/state/province:Alexandria VA

Occupation (SAHM or work outside the home): WOHM... musician. Hours are basically part-time with many weeks off, it's quite nice actually, I get to be with Oliver a lot

Birth plans: Hospital VBAC with a really great VBAC-friendly OB, hopefully with my doula from last time, will labor at home as long as I can stand it though! I just don't feel comfy home-birthing after my last experience!

Thoughts about this pregnancy: I am very excited, we have been trying for number 2 for several months and I feel ready. I'm an older mom (38, first at 36) so this is a huge gift for me. Makes me think maybe we can have a third, too, someday.

[strawberryprincess]

Name: Olivia

EDD: 2/3/2010, expecting not to see my baby til closer to mid-feb

Other children and ages: Haleigh, 5; Bradyn, 3

Hometown: Kalamazoo, MI

Occupation: SAHM

Birth Plans: Hoping for a homebirth this time. I've had two natural hospital births.

Thoughts about this pregnancy: I'm pretty sure this is my last, so I want to enjoy it. I'm nervous that I haven't felt the full-force of symptoms, but slowly I'm feeling more pregnant, and it's starting to feel more real. I have a strong hunch this bean is a girl, although I also feel there is a strong liklihood that there are 2! i'm not entirely sure how I feel about that I am not looking forward to weight gain--i gained a lot with my other two (50-60lbs) and I'm scared to eat right now!