April showers bring June babies!****April Chat Thread!!***** - Page 3

[JosieAK]

Woohoo!  April!  We close on our house on Tuesday!  Yay!  We still won't be able to be super baby focused as we'll be moving and getting DD's bedroom and the kitchen working will be high on my priority list.  But at least I'll be able to have an address to order our birth kit to, an internet connection so I can find some baby things on Craigslist, and a space to begin consolidating baby things.  If I haven't made significant progress in a month, I will be panicking, but it feels really good to be moving into OUR OWN HOUSE! 

I've been so blessed to feel really good still.  I am going to try really hard not to push myself and overdo things.  Moving at 21 weeks was so stressful that I pulled out my back a couple of times, but we are going to be able to take this move slower.  

Anyway, I hope to be on here more as we get connected to the internet again! :)

[Smokering]

I can't say I've felt particular bonded during pregnancy either time around. I'm thrilled to be pregnant, and so, so excited to meet this baby, but until she's born it just all feels too abstract. I don't even really picture a baby in there - I feel like there's some alien blob kicking my insides. I don't mean that in a negative way. I know I'll love this baby once I've had the chance to get to know her.

I think I feel even less romantic about this pregnancy than that! This baby was planned, but in a fairly dispassionate way. I hate pregnancy, DD's birth was awful, and DH and I both found dealing with a small baby (until about 18 months, in fact) very tiring and hard. We wanted to provide DD with a sibling, but it wasn't exactly "Awwww, cute babies, let's make one!" - you know? If anything, it was more like we set our jaws, rolled up our sleeves and decided to get it over with. :p I'm sort of looking forward to the baby being born, but I'm also relishing the comparative freedom of having just one child (and a fairly easy one, 3 years old, to boot!), and expecting that the next year or so will be a long, hard slog.

I don't know if that's healthy or just me being pessimistic. :p We love DD, and from the age of about 2.5 onwards have found her increasingly delightful; and I like babies, inasmuch as I like looking at them and cuddling them and the tiny outfits and all - but I find parenting hard, frankly. I get tired; I'm a bit Aspie and like my space, peace and quiet; I tend to get annoyed by the necessity of performing repetitive tasks like nappy-changing.

Part of me wants a bigger family - DH would be happy to stop at two, whereas I feel like I should at least aim for three as a bare minimum - but I'm sort of taking the long-term view. I think I'll love it when and if I have, say, a 12-year-old, a 9-year-old and a 5-year-old. But the next several years will probably be largely about endurance. I'm OK with that, mostly; but it's not exactly the euphoria I see other pregnant mothers emitting. Oh, well. :p

[heathenmom]

I'm enjoying reading y'all's perspectives on your pregnancies!

The first 2 trimesters seemed to drag by, but last week I realized that I'll be "term" in 6 weeks (less, now!).  How the heck did THAT happen?!  And about the same time, my belly seems to have"popped."  My clothes don't fit (even the maternity ones feel wonky, somehow), I'm MUCH more uncomfortable, and strangers on the street are stopping me to ask how many are in there and offering to pray for me.  I know this was meant in a nice way, but WTF?  Just how bad do I look now if that's happening?!

This is our last baby, so I'm trying to really enjoy and focus on the stuff about pregnancy that I love, like feeling all the weird movements and the hiccups and stuff.  That being said, it's hard not to wish it was over already ... the leg cramps and being constantly out-of-breath are killing me, and the absolutely ZERO lack of libido is killing dh.   Then again, even if I HAD some kind of drive, I fall asleep at the drop of a hat ... which somehow dh finds offensive?  LOL

[kawa kamuri]

Originally Posted by lithigin 

Kawa Kamuri, that weekly drive sounds brutal. I think I'd be tapping out in the near future so your DP can have time with his daughter and you can be doing anything but that!

I wish but since he can't drive at the moment - or for many upcoming moments - and his family, friends as well as his daughter's mother don't care or have the time to make that visit happen - ever - it's all on me 

[MaryElizabeth]

Originally Posted by Smokering 

I think I feel even less romantic about this pregnancy than that! This baby was planned, but in a fairly dispassionate way. I hate pregnancy, DD's birth was awful, and DH and I both found dealing with a small baby (until about 18 months, in fact) very tiring and hard. We wanted to provide DD with a sibling, but it wasn't exactly "Awwww, cute babies, let's make one!" - you know? If anything, it was more like we set our jaws, rolled up our sleeves and decided to get it over with. :p I'm sort of looking forward to the baby being born, but I'm also relishing the comparative freedom of having just one child (and a fairly easy one, 3 years old, to boot!), and expecting that the next year or so will be a long, hard slog.

I don't know if that's healthy or just me being pessimistic. :p We love DD, and from the age of about 2.5 onwards have found her increasingly delightful; and I like babies, inasmuch as I like looking at them and cuddling them and the tiny outfits and all - but I find parenting hard, frankly. I get tired; I'm a bit Aspie and like my space, peace and quiet; I tend to get annoyed by the necessity of performing repetitive tasks like nappy-changing.

Part of me wants a bigger family - DH would be happy to stop at two, whereas I feel like I should at least aim for three as a bare minimum - but I'm sort of taking the long-term view. I think I'll love it when and if I have, say, a 12-year-old, a 9-year-old and a 5-year-old. But the next several years will probably be largely about endurance. I'm OK with that, mostly; but it's not exactly the euphoria I see other pregnant mothers emitting. Oh, well. :p

I kind of feel this way too ^^^ My DH has really expressed that he wants this to be our last and at first I was completely against it, then I settled into the notion of only having two. It might be nice and really enjoyable :) I had a really terrible time with DD until about 8 months. It took me that long to even have enough sleep to function. Granted, DH was deployed and I was alone, but still. I have definitely had to mentally prepare myself for the newborn stage again. It is going to be one of those things where we just pull up the boot straps and get it done. That being said, what is even scarier----having two! My DD is super easy (for the most part) and I have pretty much all the freedom I could need. Now I am going to be that mom with two babies screaming in the middle of Target   Here's to praying that I get a little babe who loves to nurse anywhere and sleep all the time----

Originally Posted by heathenmom 

I'm enjoying reading y'all's perspectives on your pregnancies!

The first 2 trimesters seemed to drag by, but last week I realized that I'll be "term" in 6 weeks (less, now!).  How the heck did THAT happen?!  And about the same time, my belly seems to have"popped."  My clothes don't fit (even the maternity ones feel wonky, somehow), I'm MUCH more uncomfortable, and strangers on the street are stopping me to ask how many are in there and offering to pray for me.  I know this was meant in a nice way, but WTF?  Just how bad do I look now if that's happening?!

This is our last baby, so I'm trying to really enjoy and focus on the stuff about pregnancy that I love, like feeling all the weird movements and the hiccups and stuff.  That being said, it's hard not to wish it was over already ... the leg cramps and being constantly out-of-breath are killing me, and the absolutely ZERO lack of libido is killing dh.   Then again, even if I HAD some kind of drive, I fall asleep at the drop of a hat ... which somehow dh finds offensive?  LOL

   ^^^^ I've been trying to do the same thing. Really relish the moment. But it sucks when your moments are filled with aches, pains, a double chin, and a husband who jumps at the chance to just touch a boob!! <--- eek! 

Originally Posted by kawa kamuri 

I wish but since he can't drive at the moment - or for many upcoming moments - and his family, friends as well as his daughter's mother don't care or have the time to make that visit happen - ever - it's all on me 

^^^ That sucks :( I'm sorry..... I'm sure he really appreciates what you do for him, and it really shows love and respect for him and his daughter's relationship to make that sacrifice of your time and comfort. Even if no one else shows it, I'll bet your DP feels great pride at having a partner who cares that much! 

[nikie23]

Wow, a lot happens in a weekend on the chat thread!  :)  

Originally Posted by jshannyn519 

I don't know what it is lately but I just do not want clothes on me. Not at all. I've been walking around the house today in a pair of cotton shorts and a maternity camisole w/ the built in "bra" - nothing else. Getting fully dressed to go grocery shopping was terrible! I can't wait until bedtime when I can be totally nekkid.

Yes, ma'am!  It's been getting pretty warm here lately, and most of the clothes that fit me now are maternity stuff I bought in winter, so my wardrobe has become my nemesis.  Putting on jeans to go to the store?  Torture!  But I loathe maternity clothes shopping, and I keep thinking "I only have 3 more months, what's the point of buying more clothes now?"  So... I look like a bum most of the time.  I did go to a "normal" store, though, and bought some stretchy cotton tanks that fit me now, but will also fit after I deliver.  I think they'll make good nursing layers, and it feels nice to be wearing something that isn't a tent.

I'm really glad to see other posters saying they haven't felt the romantic, "I love my fetus" feeling yet.  Snowflake, I think you summed up how I feel perfectly - excited?  Yes!  But in love...?  The whole idea of there being an actual little person inside me is just too big for me to wrap my head around, and so it all feels very abstract.  But inklings are there - the way I feel when I go to a movie with lots of explosions and she starts kicking from the noise, or when I feel her stretching after she's been quiet for a while. **sigh**  

Finally, since some people were curious... the rocking octopus.  :)

Just what every newborn baby needs! 

[Mommy2Austin]

Originally Posted by nikie23 

Wow, a lot happens in a weekend on the chat thread!  :)  

Yes, ma'am!  It's been getting pretty warm here lately, and most of the clothes that fit me now are maternity stuff I bought in winter, so my wardrobe has become my nemesis.  Putting on jeans to go to the store?  Torture!  But I loathe maternity clothes shopping, and I keep thinking "I only have 3 more months, what's the point of buying more clothes now?"  So... I look like a bum most of the time.  I did go to a "normal" store, though, and bought some stretchy cotton tanks that fit me now, but will also fit after I deliver.  I think they'll make good nursing layers, and it feels nice to be wearing something that isn't a tent.

I'm really glad to see other posters saying they haven't felt the romantic, "I love my fetus" feeling yet.  Snowflake, I think you summed up how I feel perfectly - excited?  Yes!  But in love...?  The whole idea of there being an actual little person inside me is just too big for me to wrap my head around, and so it all feels very abstract.  But inklings are there - the way I feel when I go to a movie with lots of explosions and she starts kicking from the noise, or when I feel her stretching after she's been quiet for a while. **sigh**  

Finally, since some people were curious... the rocking octopus.  :)

Just what every newborn baby needs! 

Its super cute! I'd love it for my 14 month old! But definitely DEFINITELY not my newborn.

[heathenmom]

Oh my goodness, I meant to comment on the anti-clothes sentiment!  It's not so much (for me) that I don't want to wear clothes, but I have so few nice clothes and even fewer maternity things and I'm SO.FREAKING.MESSY.  So if I know I'm doing something that will stain my clothes, I'll just take my shirt off.  Or, if I forget and get something on my clothes, I'll strip 'em off so that I can spot treat them. 

Add that to the fact that we live in the country and our closest neighbors are my bro/sil & my parents.  We all have a rule that we DON'T just show up unannounced at each other's homes, but for some reason (I think it's the kids being in and out and in and out ...) they were just coming over whenever.

So ... I'm standing in the kitchen a couple weeks ago in my bra and jeans when my brother walks through the back door.

Him ==>

Me ==>   and thinking to myself ... shoulda called first ...

He calls first now.  And apparently the stories of my partial nudity have spread to the other family members ... they ALL call first now. 

[jshannyn519]

Originally Posted by nikie23 

I'm really glad to see other posters saying they haven't felt the romantic, "I love my fetus" feeling yet.  Snowflake, I think you summed up how I feel perfectly - excited?  Yes!  But in love...?  The whole idea of there being an actual little person inside me is just too big for me to wrap my head around, and so it all feels very abstract.  But inklings are there - the way I feel when I go to a movie with lots of explosions and she starts kicking from the noise, or when I feel her stretching after she's been quiet for a while. **sigh**  

I have never felt the "I love my fetus" feeling. Maybe that makes me a freak, but I don't feel like I can love a person that I've never really met. I don't even know what his face looks like yet! With my oldest it took a couple of months for me even feel like his mom, much less begin to feel that all-encompassing momma love for him. Of course, once it hit me I've never been the same. I'm excited to meet this little one so I can start to get to know him. Feeling him kick and wiggle and bump around in there isn't the same as knowing him on the outside.

Oh, and that octopus rocker is hilarious! But it would have been much better as a first birthday gift and not a newborn gift.

Originally Posted by heathenmom 

Add that to the fact that we live in the country and our closest neighbors are my bro/sil & my parents.  We all have a rule that we DON'T just show up unannounced at each other's homes, but for some reason (I think it's the kids being in and out and in and out ...) they were just coming over whenever.

So ... I'm standing in the kitchen a couple weeks ago in my bra and jeans when my brother walks through the back door.

Him ==>

Me ==>   and thinking to myself ... shoulda called first ...

He calls first now.  And apparently the stories of my partial nudity have spread to the other family members ... they ALL call first now. 

LMAO!!! I live in town and we have big HUGE windows all over our house and my kids are running in and out all day long with their pack of friends. Stripping down won't work here until after everyone is in bed. The other day I was looking through this catalog of old lady clothes that ended up in our mail box (it was sent to the lady who used to own the house and died like 2 years ago) and all I could think was that the old lady tent dresses looked sooooo comfortable! Of course, I couldn't wear that out in public which just sucks. I'm wondering if I could find the equivalent at the store here, and possibly something that is stylish enough to allow me to leave the house in it. The bonus is that I could wear it after baby is born when it's really hot this summer and I really won't want clothes on me.
 

[Bald_Bull's_Mama]

I'm annoyed with my mega-forgetfullness. I showed up at the midwife's today, but my appt, apparently, is tomorrow. So, I got up and ready early for nothing!

[jshannyn519]

Originally Posted by Bald_Bull's_Mama 

I'm annoyed with my mega-forgetfullness. I showed up at the midwife's today, but my appt, apparently, is tomorrow. So, I got up and ready early for nothing!

If I didn't put absolutely everything into my calendar then I would never get anywhere and nothing would ever get done. I'm to the point where I have to schedule grocery shopping with a note to remember the list! I use Google calendar which syncs to my iPhone. It pops up with reminders for me ahead of time so I have time to get where ever it is.

[tracymom1]

Jenni - maybe those maxi-dresses that are out now would work in the stylish-yet-tent-like way - I know that Target has a beautiful blue one that reminds me of ocean waters!  And I am sure Old Navy has several, they always do.  I love me a maxi-dress!!!

I have been super, super forgetful, too.  I have been making all sorts of little lists and leaving them around the house but then always forgetting to look at them and finding them way too late to do whatever was written on it.  I am not a smart-phone user, but if I had one I would DEFINITELY use the calendar function!  I have one on our IMac that does a daily pop-up, but I am too forgetful to actually put the events in there in the first place!  Oh well, if it needs to get done, it will get done. Someday.

Okay - that octopus rocker is way cuter than I thought it would be.  I still wouldn't keep it because I am terrified of rockers for little ones, but it is really cute.  In the week that we had the stupid pink pony rocker, DD fell off of it at least a dozen times and DS got his foot caught underneath the glider and his toe is still black.  No, not a fan of rockers.  My kids are too crazy.

[Smokering]

My clothes don't fit (even the maternity ones feel wonky, somehow), I'm MUCH more uncomfortable, and strangers on the street are stopping me to ask how many are in there and offering to pray for me.  I know this was meant in a nice way, but WTF?  Just how bad do I look now if that's happening?!

ROFL!

If it makes you feel any better, it seems my days of being IDed for alcohol are over. The other day I was at the supermarket and had among my groceries a klassy bottle of $5.99 wine (for cooking!)... so I had my licence at the ready. I always get IDed - the rule here is they have to ID you if you look under 25. For the record, I turn 25 in June. Anyway, she didn't ID me and I was so surprised I gauchely blurted out "Don't you want to see my ID?" and then felt like a total idiot. :p The woman looked shocked and swore under her breath and said "Oops", so I think it was an actual oversight rather than thinking I looked over 25... but then, the same thing happened on my next trip! (Except that that time, I had the good sense to keep my mouth shut).

OK, so I don't exactly look blooming and youthful in my current condition, and with my toddler and baby tummy I obviously look way older than the real legal limit (18 here), but... still. Hmph. :p

Tracymom: I forgot to say, that cake is GORGEOUS! I can't believe that's your first time using fondant! Random tip of the day: if you don't like the fondant loops on the "ribbon" flattening, you can always stuff them with twists of greaseproof paper until they dry. Still easier than using gum paste/flower paste, which I find very unpleasant to handle.

So I was supposed to meet another pregnant mother today with her kiddies for a playground playdate, but she hasn't gotten back to me. Grr. Hope she does - I'm too lazy to take DD to the playground off my own bat, but she could use a treat.

Also, today is the Ultrasound of Doom, in which we find out if the cord is still wrapped "3-plus times" around the baby's neck. I am, to say the least, a bit anxious about it. I know that even if the cord is wrapped I could possibly have a perfectly normal labour and vaginal birth, but I'd much much rather it weren't.... heck, I'd be thrilled if it were just wrapped once! On the bright side, hopefully we can double-check that the baby is a boy. Mum has been muttering darkly that he'd better be, with all the blue stuff she's been knitting! :p

[redeyedvireo]

Originally Posted by Smokering 

Also, today is the Ultrasound of Doom, in which we find out if the cord is still wrapped "3-plus times" around the baby's neck. I am, to say the least, a bit anxious about it. I know that even if the cord is wrapped I could possibly have a perfectly normal labour and vaginal birth, but I'd much much rather it weren't.... heck, I'd be thrilled if it were just wrapped once! On the bright side, hopefully we can double-check that the baby is a boy. Mum has been muttering darkly that he'd better be, with all the blue stuff she's been knitting! :p

This post about unwrapping nuchal cords just showed up in my Facebook thread today, and I thought of you:

http://www.glorialemay.com/blog/?p=348
 

[jshannyn519]

Smokering I'll be thinking of you at the sono today!

I just got home from my midwife appointment and it went even better than the one last week! This MW is one of my sister's friends, which doesn't hurt, but she's also been a MW since the late 80s and she's very cool. We were talking about birth and stuff and she's just SO on the same page that I am! What a huge relief! She said that she's done a TON of VBACs and she's thrilled that I want to VBAC too. :)

She also told me that she had heard that I hadn't "connected" with all of the MWs and that when I get closer to birthing time she'll make sure that I have whatever cell numbers and pager numbers that I need so I can have one of my 3 favorite MWs there. How awesome is that? We were talking more about which hospital I want to birth at and I told this MW that I had changed my mind to the one that is more natural birth friendly. She asked if I wanted a tour and then had my sister's other MW friend paged to come over and get me and show me around! So I got to chat with the 3rd super awesome MW while we walked around L&D and PP and looked at the rooms. She showed me one of the rooms with the birth tub and confirmed that my kids can be there at the birth. She said another one of the MWs had her 6 year old at the birth of her own baby, and the little girl was the one to cut the cord.

So, I'm feeling much more zen about this birth now. I may still opt for an "oops" UC at home, but honestly I want a chance to be in that tub!

I go back in 2 weeks to meet with the medical director OB guy to go over all the VBAC stuff. My sister said that he "hates" c-sections so I'm not concerned in the slightest that he'll try to talk me out of it. I'm actually getting excited about this birth!

[Snowflake777]

Work was crazy busy today. I work as a waitress and I've reached the point where customers are starting to feel sorry for me and making sympathetic comments. It's kind of nice actually. I've noticed that strangers (especially women) are generally way nicer to you when you're pregnant. Anyone else notice this?

Originally Posted by Smokering 

Also, today is the Ultrasound of Doom, in which we find out if the cord is still wrapped "3-plus times" around the baby's neck. I am, to say the least, a bit anxious about it. I know that even if the cord is wrapped I could possibly have a perfectly normal labour and vaginal birth, but I'd much much rather it weren't.... heck, I'd be thrilled if it were just wrapped once! On the bright side, hopefully we can double-check that the baby is a boy. Mum has been muttering darkly that he'd better be, with all the blue stuff she's been knitting! :p

How'd it go??

Originally Posted by heathenmom My clothes don't fit (even the maternity ones feel wonky, somehow), I'm MUCH more uncomfortable, and strangers on the street are stopping me to ask how many are in there and offering to pray for me.  I know this was meant in a nice way, but WTF?  Just how bad do I look now if that's happening?!

Aww!

My clothes don't fit either. I have the muffin-tops from hell, but I'm hanging in there stubbornly because I'm too cheap to buy new clothes that I'll only be wearing a few weeks.

Which reminds me...I bought a 5-pack of cheap underwear today because my old ones are getting uncomfortably tight. DD found them and exclaimed "Who owns these huge underpants mama? Are they for a giant??"

[Mommy2Austin]

I think I have a stomach bug :( Haven't managed to eat much today. Feel like I'm going to vomit...its like the first trimester all over again.

I broke the rules and took some Ibuprofen for the body aches. Tylenol just ain't cutting it.

[BHappy]

Originally Posted by heathenmom 

This is our last baby, so I'm trying to really enjoy and focus on the stuff about pregnancy that I love, like feeling all the weird movements and the hiccups and stuff.  That being said, it's hard not to wish it was over already ... the leg cramps and being constantly out-of-breath are killing me, and the absolutely ZERO lack of libido is killing dh.   Then again, even if I HAD some kind of drive, I fall asleep at the drop of a hat ... which somehow dh finds offensive?  LOL

omg, i could have written those very words....

well, except, tbh, i do definitely have times of wanting to have orgasms, but i feel completely fine and prefer taking care of things myself. am i the only one??

and re: dh...feeling at times guilty, at times resentful, but really never at peace with the way it is...sigh. i just have to get over myself.
 

[Mommy2Austin]

Originally Posted by BHappy 

omg, i could have written those very words....

well, except, tbh, i do definitely have times of wanting to have orgasms, but i feel completely fine and prefer taking care of things myself. am i the only one??

and re: dh...feeling at times guilty, at times resentful, but really never at peace with the way it is...sigh. i just have to get over myself.
 

I do the same ;) Its sometimes just easier to not deal with all the pomp and circumstance to have him join LOL

[tracymom1]

Jenni, that is such good news about your appointment!!  I am so happy for you that things are working out.  Sounds like you will end up having the birth that is in your heart!

Most of my clothes don't fit, either, except for this one awesome pair of cords that a lovely mama passed on to me!  Since I am due at the very end of June, I know that I will need some summer clothes, but I am hoping that I can get by with a few handmade skirts, a dress or two and some big tee shirts.  I can't imagine I will have much of a social life that last month, lol!

Smokering, how was the sono?