The Whatever Ladies Graduate! - Page 3

[Baby_Cakes]

You ladies look great!  Definitely not too huge for halfway or more than halfway!!!  

I'll be 20 wks tomorrow so I'll join in.  I didn't take a 19 week pic, really, I was just too busy.  So this counts for both 19 & 20, lol! 

[BarefootScientist]

You ladies all have such cute bellies. I really don't think any of you look huge. My camera card is not transferring onto the computer right now for some reason, but I will try to ask my techie husband what's up with that later, so hopefully he can fix it and I can post a pic too!

ETA: MW, I don't want to say sorry it's a boy, but I hope you understand the sentiment...I know you will be happy with any baby but I also know you were really hoping for a girl! I'm glad you are able to know ahead of time and get used to the idea of four boys!

[MarineWife]

Thanks, BFS. I got your meaning. I knew you all would understand me and not think I was some horrible person for not just immediately being overjoyed about another baby.

Katrina ~ Ok, that makes some sense, I guess. I don't really know how extra weight can affect such things.

Thank you all for the belly pics. I don't feel so big now. I had a prenatal today and one of the MWs measured my fundus. She said it measured right at 23w. According to my O date, I'm 22w2d. According to my u/s measurements and my lmp I am 23w2d. So, I guess I'm actually just as big as I should be.

So...how weird is it that I've been measuring consistently in accordance with my lmp although my chart doesn't confirm O until a full week later? I know I've brought this up a few times before and we all looked at my chart again and again and decided O does not look possible earlier but it just seems so weird to me. I've had several u/ses with 3 different people measuring and now my MW measuring my fundus gets the same as them.

I wonder if I should prepare for the possibility of being 40w on July 23 instead of July 30. That would make things very tricky with trying to coordinate when my mom will come and whether or not my dh might, by some miracle, be able to get home for the birth. Aaack! At least I don't have to worry about not having any help if baby comes early and no one is here. My next door neighbor/friend who is from Spain is not going to Spain this summer like she always does so she'll be home for me if I need her.

[jeninejessica]

If you guys keep this up, I'm not going to be able to go to work, I won't be able to catch up!

My EDD as far as I'm concerned is Dec 1-- that's going off of my ovulation date. The online calculators based on LMP give me Nov 30, and the midwife's assistant came up with Nov 28... not sure why such a difference there.

Gear... I'm definately definately good with used stuff. DH and I have said that's going to be the hardest thing, is that so much stuff, we'd prefer to save money and get used, but we can see family wanting to buy it for us, and not getting that we'd rather the money be spent on used (and have more left over for other things...) ie a high chair... there's several on kijiji at any given time in our area for $40 (which means you could probably go lower), but I'm sure our family will want to buy the $100 one for us... I'd rather the extra 60-70 be spent on diapers or a wrap or something.

I've got a pretty good idea of what I want/need. It's funny most of the 'ancillary' things I wouldn't have bought, we've already been given free, ie I've got a baby tub, a bath seat and a walker from my SIL. The big things for us will be the crib, which isn't negotiable, since we won't be co-sleeping full time, a stroller, the car seat (I'm in love with the Graco MyRide 65), and a pack and play. The pack and play will take the place of a bassinette and a change table, since we're skipping both of those. It's going to nestle in between the bed and the wall similiar to a cosleeper for the first few months for easy nursing access. It'll also be useful for camping in the summer. To be honest though, I could do without the "play pen" portion of it, for all the reasons you mentioned. I've got a wrap already, but I want to look into a nice pouch, and then I'll probably decide from there once the baby is here, and see what's comfortable.

I'm excited for a shower, but like I said, a little apprehensive, just because we're much more naturally minded than our families, and I see our choices not really being respected. IE-- the stroller I love is an uber expensive jogging stroller, but it's not a "system". It's been made clear by the family in general that travel systems are priceless and you HAVE to own one. I could totally see someone buying one for us, and it being a massive waste of $200 that could have gone towards the stroller I want. My family shops for 'deals' not necessarily quality.  I'm also not sure when we'll have a shower-- I've normally seen them done before the baby gets here, which makes sense to me, because then you have everything once baby comes, but DH's family does theirs when the baby is around 6 weeks... It has always seemed a little silly to me.

I'm trying to convince myself into newborn cloth, but we'll see. I'm trying not to buy more dipes until at least the halfway point, if nothing else, then just to not have to store them. I'll decide once we get closer. I have and want pockets for the rest of the time, the newborn stage is the only one I was leaning towards prefolds and covers for. Most of the dipes I have are smalls or OS that start at 7 or 9lbs, that's why I was thinknig a package of prefolds for the first little bit, especially when it's messier... and then heading straight into those.

MW-- Don't get me started on making things! I can't wait to find out what we're having (oh hello, anxious much), and be able to start crafting.

Babycakes-- I hear Logan, and I think, oh ok. But somehow Logan Dax just sounds so wonderful.

Annie-- I hear you! I'm nervous about names. I have several I love, but DH and I never seem to fully agree on ones we love. We've been offhandedly discussing names for years, and haven't been able to really stick with one. And now we're on a time limit. *shudder*      Good point about squatting by the way! I've been thinking about wanting to get my cardio better, and also my ab muscles... but I had forgotten about the legs for squatting.

MW-- Braedon was our name for the first couple years of our relationship and it just finally faded. I loved it. I recently heard "Bryden" as a last name, and have fallen in lvoe with it as a first name. DH doesn't love it though.

Annie-- you can pick up micofibre cloths at costco, I think it's about a dozen for $20, and they're pretty much identical to microfibre inserts... just that they're yellow. Those could easily work, and they'll be absorbant too, so you can use them in place of a prefold, and then if they're not stained, you can use them as doublers later.

I can't wait for belly pics. I had DH take my "before" photos today, and I'm so disappointed that there's no flat tummy in them. I really wanted to get in shape enough to have a flat tummy to start with, but no dice. It won't be as bad ocne theres an actual baby belly, but right now, seeing the pudge and knowing none of it is baby... le sigh. lol 

LOve all your belly photos though... looking at bellies never gets old!

**Phew** I actually got done all of that!

[annie2186]

I'll join! Even though you all come over here right as soon as I am about to pop!! Go figure.

Tonight I was having horrible contractions - but they have since pretty much stopped. Thank goodness - I could use some more sleep before having this baby 

My EDD is April 19th - but the way I was feeling tonight........ugh - its gonna be a long couple of hours, days, weeks.....

BareFootScientist! I was JUST thinking about you. I wonder what ever happened to wholewheatchick......I think she had a baby back in December or something. I think there were quite a few in between her and us too wasn't there?

[MovingMomma]

  Hey!  I'm here!  MW pointed me this way today.  

My due date is 8/7 per my chart, but 8/9 for "official" purposes...just for a little extra leeway in case I need it.  DD2 was 10 days over...

I'm 21 wks now & I've gained 20 lbs.  I gained 45 w/DD1 & 35 w/DD2.  I was much more comfortable w/the 35 lb gain (physically much more comfortable), but I think I'm on track for a higher gain this time.  I was very careful w/the sweets & exercising w/DD2, & I just haven't been able to keep up with that this time around.  DH is working out of town for 4 months...we're halfway through that...and we just moved into a new house...so I've been too busy & too stressed to take good care of myself.    

And JJ!    Congrats!!!

[AnnieA]

MW: I heard some names last night that might work for you. What about Declan or Teagan?

[akind1]

Shannen, will you, or have you found out what your are having? or are you waiting for the birth to be surprised?

JJ: Don't buy a travel system and if anyone does buy you one, return it! I am not kidding. Good reasons to not: extremely bulky and difficult to get in and out of car, maybe it won't work with the carseat you love, and they aren't lightweight either. The stroller I loved was one of the first things I bought, a Maclaren sport I think. high handles for DH works from about 3 months of age (with a winter baby I didn't see the need for a stroller from birth), very compact and lightweight. One of the best buys I have made. It does recline to about 45 degrees which is far enough for snooze time.

I also bought a pouch at the same time and never used it; it just never felt right to me; maybe it is my large chest, I don't know. I bought the size right (from KangarooKorner I think; they have great sizing and fabric options). I prefered my Moby for the early months, now I love my Boba Carrier; like an Ergo but higher and wider, and easily fits both DH and I without having to hunt for the extension strap. We also have an Ergo and upgraded to the Boba because as DS got taller, the carrier didn't cover enough of his back when in a back carry to be comfortable for us safety wise.

I am writing a book!

So good to hear from other Graduates! Looking foward to seeing all the Whatever babies be born

MM: I always mean to eat well and work out and am just not good at either while pregnant. I eat entirely too much ice cream. But I do a lot of walking also. I wouldn't worry too much about weight gain unless it happens really fast.

Annie due in April - I had contractions with DS - not Braxton Hicks because these were uncomfortable at best and were regular, but petered out always after a few hours - from week 37 all the way until I was induced at 41+5; DS was born at 41+6 by c-section. Hope baby hangs in there a couple more weeks. And that you are able to get some sleep!

MW: your other babes were on the large side; perhaps this one will be as well? As for when to have people available to help - there is no telling. I say keep on with your original plan, and if it needs to change, so be it.

I like Logan Dax. Almost any name with Dax as the middle will sound cooler I think

Nothing new here. I put on FB and got laughs, but it is true: I used to nurse DS to sleep and now he sleeps cuddled with a stuffed cow, and a blanket that says Got Milk? I think it is sort of funny. (maybe funny-weird though)

[MarineWife]

Hey, annie and Shannon. I was wondering if you guys would join. I'll put you in the first post. Any suggestions on how to make that prettier or fancier? It looks so blah with just a list of names.

JJ ~ We have been chatty, haven't we? Ask for gift receipts. That way you can return things and use the money for more practical stuff you'd want. Can you get cash back from a gfit receipt? Hm...I don't know how that works if the gifter pays with a CC. That might not help if you only get store credit. Then you'd have to spend your own money on the used items.

I just saw this "Follow Member" feature. Seems a little creepy because you can get immediate email notification of any posts the member makes but it might be a good way to keep up with people, like friending. That's what I was looking for. I thought there was a way to add people as friends and I wanted to do that with all of you so I don't lose you all again like we've lost some people. Anyway, you can set the "Follow Member" feature for site-only notification.

Prefolds with NBs ~ That seems to be a very popular idea and I don't get it. I've used prefolds for 3 babies so far and they are my least fave because they are harder to attach/take off with pins or Snappis (Snappis never worked well for me. They didn't stay on very well.) and they leak more. They are even harder for me at the NB stage when there is a lot more changing. They did get easier for me to use when my babes became toddlers but they didn't stay on well. The toddlers didn't want to lay still long enough for me to pin and the Snappis didn't stay on. I had problems with lots of side drooping. So, what's the appeal for the NB stage? Maybe I'm missing something.

[MarineWife]

Cross-posted.

Annie ~ I think I've seen them all. I'm not a fan of either of those. I've discovered I don't really like D or T names or S names, for that matter.

The problem with me just waiting for when things happen Re: birth is that no one is close enough to get here in time once I'm actually in labor. I need my mom here to take care of my other kids so I need her here beforehand. At least now I know I have my neighbor if it becomes an emergency but I really want my kids to have the option of being home with me. I don't want them to think that labor and birth is something they shouldn't see. KWIM?

[Baby_Cakes]

MW - I think the whole PF with covers for NB is popular b/c it's cheap and shortlived.  Ha!  But I agree with you.  I didn't like them one bit.  I did ok with kissaluvs fitteds and covers but after a few days (hmm, maybe it was like two or three weeks) I switched to sposies b/c I couldnt stand another night of soaked sheets.

Thanks for the love on our name.  I hope we use it.  Or find something just as amazing or better.  I'm in love with it and I keep referring to this baby as Baby Logan (which I need to stop doing b/c DD is repeating it and we want to keep the name private til birth)!

JJ - If you don't register for a big giant travel system, would someone really have the cajones to pick one FOR you?  You might get nagged a bit if you don't pick one but I can't see someone shelling out that kind of dough for something you don't register for.  Especially too if you register for that convertible seat, they'll see that you aren't even doing a bucket and don't need a travel system, right?

[akind1]

Usually with gift receipts it is store credit that is offered. No matter how the original person paid. Now if the original purchaser takes it back and paid cash, you could get cash back.

I love the snappis and if I did just a prefold with no cover, I might have issues with drooping or whatever, but with a wrap style cover I haven't had any. I still do prefolds and covers when I go too long between laundry days. But it is hard on a wriggly toddler. I don't think you can do it in woolie, but with wrap covers you can just trifold a prefold (or a flat) and just lay it in the cover. You don't have to use fasteners. I prefer to fasten for a trimmer fit and better poop containment. The lovely thing with cloth is there are so many options!

[MarineWife]

katrina ~ I've always assumed using pull up wool soakers was part of my issue with PFs. Others use them, though, and seem to like the system so IDK. Snappis definitely don't work for me with my wool because they always got snagged. Pins worked fine but, like I said, pinning dipes was a pita for me. I only really liked the PFs on toddlers with no cover. I didn't have problems with leaking poo then, just the droopy sides. I had the leaky poo problem when baby was younger and still EBF even though I used the fold that created sides (not the angel twist but I can never remember the name of it).

Carrie ~ I tried Kissaluvs early on and didn't like them. They didn't fit well and leaked/wicked a lot. I have found that most of the mass produced CDs are not as absorbent or well-fitting as the WAHM ones, although for synthetic pockets I do really like Fuzzibunz. Maybe your problem was the Kissaluvs and not the Cding a NB in general. KWIM?

[jeninejessica]

I think the big thing with prefolds IS supposed to be how cheap they are since you use them for so small a time. I've been them used just folded inside like an insert inside a very well sealed cover, not using pins or snaps and I like the idea of trying that. Esp with a winter baby, I figure I can whip up a bunc of pairs of fleece pants, and then I'll have some extra protection against leakage. But that said-- I have no interest in using prefolds anywhere past the newborn stage.

As for registry with things like the stroller... I could see them pushing a bit... For instance my SIL had a perfect system picked out, but was basically bullied into a different one that her MIL liked more, and since the woman was spending like $300 on it, she felt very awkward turning it down. DH and I talked a bit last night though and got a better idea about what we want/don't want, and the things we're going to stand firm on.

Anywho, I need to run out the door, I just got another post notification but I don't have time to read. see you guys later!!

[Baby_Cakes]

Originally Posted by MarineWife 
 Carrie ~ I tried Kissaluvs early on and didn't like them. They didn't fit well and leaked/wicked a lot. I have found that most of the mass produced CDs are not as absorbent or well-fitting as the WAHM ones, although for synthetic pockets I do really like Fuzzibunz. Maybe your problem was the Kissaluvs and not the Cding a NB in general. KWIM?

Yes, I agree.  I think it was what I was using and not cding in general, though I'm not sure what else I'd use.  I don't want to even buy 3 nb pockets b/c they're so pricey!  I have a bunch of OS FBs and BGs and I loved them from about 6 months on.  And there was a newer something, either BG or FB (I can't remember) that was OS that claimed to fit newborns and I wanted to research a bit.  I should get on that.  That might work.

Random question - a prefold without a cover.  Doesn't that just leak everywhere?  Especially on a mobile baby?  Am I missing something here?

[lyterae]

Coming to lurk :)

I haven't figured out the art of one handed typing. It takes forever!

[Baby_Cakes]

Originally Posted by lyterae 

Coming to lurk :)

I haven't figured out the art of one handed typing. It takes forever!

Hiya mama!!

No caps, no punctuation, and type like you're texting!!  And numbers are fair game for words when NAK!  How goes it with the baby?  Pics of the squishy litte one please??

[lyterae]

1 month old :)

[Baby_Cakes]

AWW!  What a cutie pie, Lyterae!!!  Remind me of his name again, I'm so sorry I can't recall.  And WHERE is that adorable onesie from? 

[akind1]

Lyterae, how adorable! it doesn't work while nursing, but when DS was sleeping, I rested him on my forearms while I typed, thus able to use 2 hands. it worked fantastic!

I don't know that it works well on girls, but on DS I use I think it is called the bikini twist fold? (granted with a cover, I am not brave enough to go without) most of the time. otherwise I use the standard angel fold. If you get the diaper snug enough, and that is the tricky part, you do without drooping, but that is hard to manage on a very mobile baby.

I only made one wool cover ever, and never used it. pic here:

I crochet, not knit, and it just seemed to take a long time. but I agree they are really cute!

I would maybe do pockets on a newborn if I could get them really cheap. I already have some smaller prefolds, only really would need a dozen more and small covers. I can't wait to find out what we are having so I can stalk diaperswappers! (May 16th is the big day!)