The February "Whatever" (and Graduates) Thread - Page 3

[jeninejessica]

5-6DPO here. I'm feeling nauseus, but what's new?! lol. That seems to be a normal thing for me now post o. Very tricky.

 I'm jealous of you guys that get to find out the gender. It's something DH and I still butt heads on, and neither of us is willing to budge. I have a touch of ocd, I'm a planner, and things have to be organized and set out and decided on... I neeeeed to know the gender so we can prepare the room, assess our clothing situation, etc etc. DH on the other hand wants it to be a surprise, and I can't seem to convince him otherwise.

My ideal scenario would be just once ultrasound around 20 weeks to determine sex and take a look at placental position for homebirth. Other than that, I don't want any. I figure if we can see the sex at that point, then we shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth! lol. It would be very nice to know since right now I have 5 nieces, and 2 female second cousins, with their mothers all willing to send their outgrown clothing our way. My SIL is due in May and they don't know what they're having yet, but I'm dreading find out that it's a boy.

[MarineWife]

JJ ~ The difficult 2WW. I feel for you.

Could you find out the gender and not tell your dh? I guess that would defeat the purpose of you being able to plan, though. He might start to wonder if you were buying pink, flowered, frilly dresses or all blue cars and trucks. I like to go gender neutral as much as possible even when I know the gender. I don't know if I could keep something like that a secret from my dh, though.

I took an Intelligender test this morning. I'm pretty sure the results were boy. Either that or inconclusive. Can you get that as a result? It definitely wasn't girl. I'm not sure how accurate it is for me because of the PCOS thing. But, that and the tech saying maybe boy parts at my NT scan (plus all the Chinese gender charts saying boy) makes a boy even more likely.

I hate to admit it but I think I'm more disappointed that I thought I would be at the idea of having another boy. I picked a fight with dh this morning and I've been feeling really sad ever since. Don't get me wrong. I'm elated to be having another baby and it doesn't really matter if it's a boy or girl. I'm just sad that I will never have a little girl.

On the bright side, I guess I can start my knitting business with all the girly yarn I've ordered.

[Baby_Cakes]

MW - you can definitely have an inconclusive!  The website even says so.  And look at these links:

http://ingender.com/cs/forums/t/59943.aspx

http://www.malikarisley.com/2009/08/23/intelligender-gender-prediction-test-review/

http://www.mothering.com/community/forum/thread/1156449/calling-all-intelligender-testers-did-your-u-s-results-confirm/20

I'd say don't count yourself out.  It's not exactly rocket science and many, MANY ppl say that thing is wrong for them.  I don't want you getting all out of sorts b/c of this silly pee test!!  Hugs though, I'm still hoping you get your girlie.

JJ - UGH the 2ww.  I'm feeling your pain.  Hmm about the gender issue.  I wonder if his feelings will change (or yours will) once the time comes.  

My bff and her DH were able to make a deal.  She wanted to find out and he wasn't really into it.  Ultimately, they did find out, and in return she left the decision about having a 3D u/s at the end (just for entertainment, insert eyesroll here) up to him.  

If your SIL has a boy, i'll cry with you.  That would just be really...annoying.  

[jeninejessica]

*hugs* MW. It's hard when you get your hopes up. DH and I talked about that a lot, since our family has five little girls, and no boys, everyone jkoes that we get to have the first boy... and I've joked that if I don't get the first baby, I want the first boy. But then the others keep having babies, while we still haven't had one... and you know that eventually one of them is going to hit jackpot, and I'm going to be very sad.

Our saving graces are a// the mass amounts of girl clothes available to us, which makes it very economical to have a girl (ok sounds so funny, but true!), and also that the little girl I have "adopted" as my pet project is beyond adorable and has completely captured my heart. watching Rob with her makes me know that having a little girl would be just as amazing as a boy. (her mama is my sister's best friend, very young, and a little irresponsible, so we spent a lot of time with baby here having sleepovers etc)  But, on days I'm honest with myself, I also know I would be over the moon to have a boy. I've always wanted a boy first, compounded by having so many nieces.

I don't know if I could find out gender and not tell him, just because of so much of the planning i want to do. ie the "nursery" (our current office) is grey, and we want to keep the walls that color, and just do lots of color accents. something a la ... this

or this

or this...

So, I would basically have to keep the nursery door closed while I was decorating. l don't think i could do that. lol. Plus, if it was a girl, then i'd want to snipe all the girly clothing from the relatives, but if it were a boy, we'd have to be more selective with what we grabbed. I'll put a little bit of pink on my son, but not to the amount they have! lol

anyways... can you tell i'm wasting time tiring myself out so i can go sleep for tonights nigth shift? i think i shall go waste more time scoping out nurseries.

[MarineWife]

Thanks, Carrie. My test definitely changed color. It was dark but I couldn't tell if it was green or not. It definitely wasn't yellow or gold. I think it did look a lot like the picture in your first link. It didn't occur to me to take a pic. Interesting that someone else posted on that MDC thread that the box said women with PCOS will always get a boy result but someone else posted about a gender predictor urine test (don't know if it's Intelligender) does not react to gender hormones. Guess I shouldn't have wasted the $30.

[akind1]

MW: I had similiarly inconclusive results with intelligender when I tried it with DS. As for gender U/S - friends IRL seem to be able to get good, clear money shots around 17 weeks actually. But every single one has been a boy, which I think is easier to be certain of than girl. With DS, they don't do the anatomy scan until 22 weeks, so they can see the other organs more clearly. You have to do whatever is most comfortable for you, and it would be nice to know before your DH deploys.

JJ: FX! I was nauseaus from O day with this pregnancy, so you never know! When will you test?

Kinder: I think the others are right, it just makes more sense with everything. will they be doing a dating ultrasound? if so that may help confirm things. For me, especially since I went so far past "due" with DS, I would definitely take the later date to give myself some breathing room.

AFU: I am down to one boob breastfeeding, the left one is dried up. DS is only nursing 2x a day max. It is kind of sad and bittersweet, but good, because nursing is just that painful and uncomfortable right now. I know some women's supply lasts until halfway through, but I doubt we will make it out of the 1st trimester. I do want him to wean, really I do, but the reality of it is also a little sad.

[Baby_Cakes]

Katrina - I felt the same when DD began weaning!  It's so bittersweet.  And tough b/c when you cringe every time they nurse, you know deep down that it might be the last time and you still want to enjoy it somehow!  Hugs!!

JJ - those nursery pics are just gorgeous!  I like the idea of just an accent wall/color running through.  And I know what you mean about the gender.  With our first, I really wanted a girl b/c there are ALL boys in the family.  It was just one of those things!!  If it was a boy, everyone would be like, "Of course it's a boy!" but with a girl it would just be special!  LOL!  Seems silly b/c all kids are super special regardless of gender -- but still, it's just one of those things!!

[MarineWife]

JJ ~ We must have cross-posted because I missed those nursery pics. They are gorgeous. I get what you are talking about with saving money. If we have another boy, it would save us a lot of money. We wouldn't have to buy anything new. We're definitely covered for boy clothes and such. We don't have or do a nursery so that's not an issue. We did for Ethan when we lived in Hawaii and we never used. It became the cat's room.

Katrina ~ I was so ready for ds3 to wean but when he did I was sad, too. That one special thing we had together that no one else could have with him was over. There's no way around that. It has to end eventually.

[jeninejessica]

I haven't decided yet for testing... part of me wants to wait as long as possible, to see a nice dark line if there is one. And part of me wonders if I'll feel more 'together' if I can go into every day knowing whether it was pos or neg, instead of looking for every single sign. I'll be 11dpo on Friday which is my last day off, and then technically I don't go to work until 11pm on Saturday, so maybe i'll test saturday am. We'll see... I'm trying to kind of take it as it goes.

And that's exactly it with the cltohes MW-- almost everything I have already (and I have a ton) is good for girl or boy-- but there's a significant amount that are just too girly (ruffles and fuschia). And then 90-95% of what my nieces wear is not boy friendly. We wouldn't have to buy anything for a girl, and would have way more clothing than we'd ever need. Much more to purchase with a boy.

Our bedroom isn't big enough to double as a nursery, otherwise we'd probably leave this room as the office, but it just wasn't practical. The room already feels a bit cramped, and I'm cringing at the idea of bringing a bassinette in for a few months as well. But thankfully part of our basement reno is creating a home office downstairs, so this room will be empty anyways.

I'm a huge fan one one accent wall, we change our minds daily about which one, and obviously which color. So much exciting planning. It keeps my mind off of day and symptom counting though.

[MarineWife]

Boys are a lot easier to shop for, too. There are a lot less choices and things usually cost less just because there's less flash to them. I usually end up grabbing 4 or 5 of the same thing in different colors and my boys are set. I just bought 7yo ds' entire end of the winter/summer/next fall wardrobe from Children's place for less than $200. I do get annoyed sometimes and make my dh do the shopping. I am so GN oriented that sometimes I just can't bring myself to buy another monster truck, super hero, football whatever in blue. Blech!

Have you considered o-sleeping and not having a nursery, especially if you are going to be breastfeeding? Really, the only piece of furniture you might need would be a dresser/changing table. You could keep that practically anywhere. Honestly, I'm not even sure if a changing table is even needed. We just use the top of the dresser that has all our diapers and baby clothes in it. I put one of those pads on it and we're good to go. At least half the time, though, I end up changing diapers on the bed or couch or floor in whatever room I happen to be in.

We're going to have to buy another dresser for this baby because all the ones we have are being used. It's not too bad, though, because I can just get a taller one to go with the boys room furniture or maybe to go with oldest ds' room decor so I can have my antique dresser back. Hmm...I like that idea better.

Re testing: You know I test early. Waiting until 11-12dpo would be late for me. I can't really advise on waiting for a dark line. A lot of lines that others seem to think are very faint or not there are dark to me. for you.

[akind1]

I agree, I wouldn't buy a specific changing table. a low dresser works just fine, but TBH, we rarely used it, and I put the changing pad away several months ago.

As for boys clothes, it is frustrating because after a while, the choices are so limited! t-shirts and jeans or shorts. and shoes! there are so few options for shoes. I guess it does make it easier, but not in a good way.

I am enjoying our warm spell and wore shorts yesterday! I am going to need maternity clothes soon though, most of my pants are already snug. I will probably wear dresses alot for work; I did with DS, but need shorts/jeans to get me through this pregnancy.

As for testing - I am  a PANSY - I waited until 14 DPO. The earliest I would test is 12 DPO. (but that is me, and I am a pansy, and don't have a lot of tests in the house to start with. If I did, I would still be testing, LOL, I did with DS bc I had so many in the house and I liked having the confirmation!)

[jeninejessica]

I get what you mean about the limits of clothing. I've noticed it a bit with boys stuff, but moreso with girls-- it seems like sometimes it's impossible to buy a girls outift that doesn't have frills, bows, or pink flowers on it. What if I don't want monster trucks, but I don't want princess fluff either?

We will cosleep part time, but I've determined I don't sleep as well with a baby in the bed (or even my dog...) so it won't be a full time thing. The plan is to have a pack and play or basinette pshed up against our bed until the baby outgrows it, and after that point they will probably start in the crib in their room, and then come to our room after the last feeding of the night, or something like that.

The 'nursery' needs some sort of rocker, since it won't fit in with our living room decor AT ALL. We've got built in organizers in the closet in here, so I don't need much storage, the room will probably just have the crib, a rocker (I'm looking for an armchair glider, one of the stuffed ones), and then I want a small three drawer dresser/stand. If we get a pack and lpay I'll use the changer in that until baby outgrows it, and then switch to the floor, which is what I've always done with nannying. If we use a bassinette instead, then I'll pop a changepad on top of the dresser.

[Baby_Cakes]

Originally Posted by akind1 
I am enjoying our warm spell and wore shorts yesterday! 

Oh I'm jealous!!  Still 24 degrees F here and I'm OVER it!!  
 

Originally Posted by jeninejessica 

We will cosleep part time, but I've determined I don't sleep as well with a baby in the bed (or even my dog...) so it won't be a full time thing. The plan is to have a pack and play or basinette pshed up against our bed until the baby outgrows it, and after that point they will probably start in the crib in their room, and then come to our room after the last feeding of the night, or something like that.

My only advice would be to stay openminded.  You might think you can't sleep well with a baby in the bed or in the room, but when you're THAT tired, you do things you never thought you would do.  When baby will ONLY sleep on your chest and you cannot keep your eyes open one second longer, and you know that if you move them the crying will start and you will have to shush them back to sleep all over again -- you will lay down with your baby in your bed and sleep!  You do whatever you can to get sleep.

Oh - and I vote waiting til 14dpo at least to test.  It was WORTH IT.  And I have to say, by the time I hit 13dpo with no sign of bleeding, I was like, hmm.  I think maybe I have a chance this month.  When I woke up the morning of 14dpo, I knew it was going to be positive.  It had to be.  There was like, no doubt in my mind.  I want that for you, JJ!  I want a clear line that you know is going to be there!!

AFM - 14 weeks today!

I'm really starting to think this LO is a boy and I just hope Im not getting too hopeful.  I would really love either, of course, but so many things point to boy that I'll just be floored if it isn't!  Haha!

[MovingMomma]

Originally Posted by Baby_Cakes 

My only advice would be to stay openminded.  You might think you can't sleep well with a baby in the bed or in the room, but when you're THAT tired, you do things you never thought you would do.  When baby will ONLY sleep on your chest and you cannot keep your eyes open one second longer, and you know that if you move them the crying will start and you will have to shush them back to sleep all over again -- you will lay down with your baby in your bed and sleep!  You do whatever you can to get sleep.

Yes!  And sleeping with a dog (or DH, etc, etc) is NOT the same as sleeping with your baby!  By the time s/he is born, you've been sleeping together for 9 months.  Your sleep cycles coincide.  You respond to each other while still asleep.  In many cultures, mama and baby are viewed as ONE entity.  There isn't any separation because the relationship is symbiotic.  Nursing produces sleep inducing hormones in both of you.  Yes, please keep an open mind!  Cosleeping with your baby is not the same as sleeping with anyone/thing else.

[akind1]

JJ: this was our nursery http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg125/akind1/nursery_almost_done.jpg and http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg125/akind1/crib.jpg

I say was, because we have rearranged a bit since. but the colors and crib are the same.

as for cosleeping, our progression was this: cosleeper for oh, first 3 months or so, then cosleeper for the first part of the night, and our bed after the first wake up, until about 7 months, then I put up the cosleeper and he slept with us full time (I put him in his crib at first, and brought him to bed when we were ready to sleep) then at 10 months we started putting him in his crib for the night. He still comes to bed with us if he wakes during the night though. I really liked this progression and will likely do the same with the next baby. For US, it was very important to be able to have the bed to ourselves on occasion.

Carrie, yay! 14 weeks! I am still undecided about what I feel this one is. EVERYONE is saying girl, but I think that is because everyone wants one. I want one. but I am just not convinced that it is.

[jeninejessica]

Oh, I love that deep blue for an accent wall or something. I'm toying with doing purple as an accent wall if we end up with a girl, but we'll see. The room is so small it may have to stay lighter.

I'm definately open to co-sleeping when it works, I just know I need another option as well. We cosleep for part of the night when we babysit Jadyn, and I love it to pieces, all warm and snuggly etc etc, but I also don't sleep as deep. But like you pointed out-- I'm definately not opposed to it, especially in cases where it's cosleep or don't sleep !! I just know that we also want another option for at least part of the night, hence the bassinette in the room. The progression akind mentioned sounds similiar to what I think we'll end up doing. For the first few very little months, baby will start in the bassinette whenever possible, and just move into the bed for nursing, and then if he/she won't go back down, then once they get bigger I'm ok with them coming into the bed a bit more, if needed. And once they outgrow the bassinette, baby will be starting the night in their own room hopefully (i say hopefully!) and then ending up with us at the end. We'll see how reality goes, but that's what's happening in my head right now! lol

I'm trying to convince myself to hold off. Haven't quite figured out yet. My temp has been staying nice and super high, so I'm enjoying that, but a lot can happen in the three days before now and Friday, which is probably the first day I would want to test. It sucks because it looks triphasic right now, but with my odd sleep schedule, it's not reliable.

[MarineWife]

Oh, I love that deep blue for an accent wall or something. I'm toying with doing purple as an accent wall if we end up with a girl, but we'll see. The room is so small it may have to stay lighter.

I know that's a big fear of a lot of people. My dh fought me and fought me about using darker colors on our walls, even in the larger rooms, because he thought it would make the rooms darker and look smaller. I wanted to do the living room in our other house in dark, chocolate brown to contrast the slate blue sofa but he refused. I did to an accent wall and it looked great. I made him put a very dark red in an average sized bathroom and it looks great. I don't think it makes the room look small or dark at all. Conversely, he just painted the smaller master bathroom a very light beige color and I hate it. It's so boring. It might as well not have any color at all, imo. That's just me, though. I love the darker, deeper, richer colors.

[jeninejessica]

I'm very anti-beige, and that's what color our master bedroom is right now. I want to paint it, but it's DH's favorite color in the house. Our kitchen is chocolate brown, and our living romo and hallway are a deep sage green. I wanted to do the bedroom a shimmery lavender, since we just bought a new black dresser, and our bedding is black and white, with bold designs on it. I thought purple would look so nice in there... so far still encountering resistence. The office/nursery doesn't get a lot of light though, so that's what worries me in here. All the ther rooms are brighter than this one.

[Baby_Cakes]

JJ your house sounds beautiful!  

 for a steady high temp and BFP for you!!  Here's some baby dust...

[MarineWife]

Originally Posted by jeninejessica 

I'm very anti-beige, and that's what color our master bedroom is right now. I want to paint it, but it's DH's favorite color in the house. Our kitchen is chocolate brown, and our living romo and hallway are a deep sage green. I wanted to do the bedroom a shimmery lavender, since we just bought a new black dresser, and our bedding is black and white, with bold designs on it. I thought purple would look so nice in there... so far still encountering resistence. The office/nursery doesn't get a lot of light though, so that's what worries me in here. All the ther rooms are brighter than this one.

What is it with men and beige? My dh would paint the entire house beige if I let him. The only reason I let him paint my bathroom beige is because it was left over from the stairwell and upstairs hallway so we saved a few bucks instead of buying an entire gallon of paint and only using maybe half. I'm hoping the color will add to my vision of a relaxing spa bathroom where I can soak in a hot tub and have all my stresses melt away (in my dreams, right?).

The rest of the house is half my picks and half his. The entrance and downstairs hall are a rusty orange, my pick. I love it! It's my favorite color in the house. We have a sagey green in the kitchen, an ugly (dh's pick ) gray green in the dining room, a slightly darker beige/tan in the downstairs family room and yellow in the downstairs play/school room.

The only rooms upstairs that have been painted are the bathrooms and the younger boys' room. That's half tan and half dark green with a camouflage border around the middle. DH was scared about it being so dark but it looks really cool. I keep waffling between a dark plum and a light sagey green for the upstairs playroom. I have to think in terms of selling rather than my preferences at this point. Our bedroom will probably end up being a green, too, because it's the only color I even remotely like that will go with our bedding. Then I worry there will be too much green.

I'm trying to get dh to repaint half the house. The yellows were supposed to be more golden straw, more deep and rich than bright and sunny. Also, I really hate the beige in the stairwell and it doesn't look good next to the rusty orange. I think that needs to be a golden straw color, too. Oh, and ds1's room is supposed to be a light slate blue. We were going to do one wall in black magentic chalkboard paint. I even bought the paint like 2 years ago. DH never got around to painting that room and I think we'll skip that at this point. It was cool when ds was 17 and we were going to be in the house for 6 years but not so much now that ds is 20 and we'll be moving in about 2 years.