MAY we start our countdown?? ***Chat thread for May*** The babes are almost here :) - Page 7

[BarefootScientist]

Congrats Annabelle!

[Mommy2Austin]

I want to scream! My brand new machine isn't working. I've babied that thing since day one and mid bib it just stops. The motor runs, but the wheel doesn't turn. It's stuck. I've tried everything I know how to fix it. It's as clean as I can get it. I've checked for a thread caught in any mechanism I can see, but nada. So it appears I'll be taking a trip to the dealer tomorrow to give them what for and find out what the hell it's problem is.

[tracymom1]

What wheel? The feed dogs? Or the one you turn to do a manual stitch? Did you take off the plate under the needle? It does sound like a jam somewhere. Maybe look on you tube for a tutorial on fixing it. Its such a new machine, though, it really shouldn't have ANY problems. Sorry, mama!

[Mommy2Austin]

Originally Posted by tracymom1 

What wheel? The feed dogs? Or the one you turn to do a manual stitch? Did you take off the plate under the needle? It does sound like a jam somewhere. Maybe look on you tube for a tutorial on fixing it. Its such a new machine, though, it really shouldn't have ANY problems. Sorry, mama!

The wheel you turn to do the manual stich. I can turn it halfway one way and then it stops and then half way the other way and it stops. I took everything apart that my manual shows me how to do and its clean as a whistle, no strings wrapped anywhere. It's self oiling (called the dealership a week ago to ask because I wasn't sure) and I'm only supposed to have to take it in once a year or so. I'm worried something actually bent or broke inside :(

[JosieAK]

Yay, Annabelle!  I'm so happy for you!

Sarah Lynne, that is so frustrating!  I took my brand new machine in because it "broke" but discovered that I had threaded it wrong.   I'm sure that's not your problem, but I sure hope it's an easy fix!

I am one month away from my due date!  My midwife did a home visit yesterday.  It was fun to show her around and talk about various parts of the house that I may labor in.  It all seems so surreal.  I am trying really hard to not worry.  I know so many people have had successful home births and I can too.  I am really not as afraid of transfer as I was last time, although I do feel some apprehension about a c/s, with no real reason.  I look at my naked pregnant belly and think, "Well, that's where a c/s cut would be." I am just going to keep praying about it and handing my worry over to God.  I get a little anxious about all the moving parts too.  My ideal birth is to have a smooth, fast labor in the night while DD sleeps and have her wake up to a new sibling.  But having someone come take her and whether my parents will be available and what DHs parents will think if DD says with my parents . . .  I just don't want any drama, thank you.  Anyway, sorry.  This is a happy, hopeful time . . mostly

My midwife wants me to walk more.  So last night and today I did so, walking for about 30 minutes each time around the neighborhood.  I think if I keep that up I won't make it a whole month!  I have been one giant BH today and having a lot of RL pain too.

I know I need to not just work on the house, but actually do a little more actual labor prep: relaxation, talking with DH about my preferences, writing a plan, collecting comfort measures, writing affirmations, etc.  But that isn't as satisfying as actually organizing, cleaning, and making steps towards my settled nest!

I think we are heading out to get paint for a project or two this weekend. Woohoo!  That would be MY ideal Mother's Day weekend, super nesting with DH's help! :)

[jshannyn519]

Yay Annabelle!! Congrats on finally closing on the farm! That's been quite the process and I'm sure you're hugely relieved to be able to start planning for your move. :)

Sarah Lynne, my sewing machine was doing that sticking thing and the tension was adjusted weird so that it kept locking up. I have no idea what she did, but my mom fixed it. When you take it in, ask them to show you what they did to fix it in case it happens again.

Well, today was insanely busy but good. The party with my clinical group was fun and I got the chance to talk about natural childbirth with the young women that were in my clinical. It won't be the last conversation we have by any means, but I love being in the position where I can offer education about my passion to people who are genuinely interested. My visit with my friend went great too! Her baby is 10 weeks old already and we were talking about the birth and her recovery and breastfeeding and pumping. She ended up with a precipitous labor that was 2 hours from the first contraction that she noticed until her son was born! She said that she probably should have read the Active Birth book more because she wasn't able to get the epidural that she'd been planning on and she wasn't coping well with the labor at all. I let her know that the book may have helped her, but a 2 hour labor is hard to manage no matter what! She also said that BFing and pumping are going well and that she was surprised by how much she likes it. I told her that's one of the things that I'm looking forward to the most. I really miss nursing a little baby. She said that talking to me while she was pregnant went a long way toward just trying BFing and that she's thankful that I was there for her. I almost started crying! I am beyond thrilled that nursing is going so well for her and her baby. It makes me SO happy!!

Well, I'm off to bed. We have yet another long day tomorrow and it will start early. Have a good night all!

[Smokering]

Congrats Annabelle! Are you doing something nice to celebrate? :)

Baby shower was this afternoon. It was fun... once I got there. :p I didn't sleep well last night, and spent the morning being stressed, trying to ice the cake and bake something GF to take along... and didn't have time to do my hair properly, and couldn't find anything nice to wear (all my nice maternity clothes are wintry, and we've been having unseasonably warm weather recently!)... and then had to drag DH along in the car to carry the cake, and he drove home afterwards, and I realised when it was time to grab a ride home with a friend that we didn't have the carseat, so she had to drive me home, leaving DD at Mum's house, so I could drive back and pick her up.

But in the middle of that, the party was nice. :p Very low-key; finger food, presents and chatting. I was given some gorgeous merino baby clothes, and everything matched - pale blue and brown! Very handy. I still need to take inventory of all the baby clothes I have - and SIL's planning to pass down some from her new baby - but it looks like he might not go naked after all. And that's a relief. :)

[Snowflake777]

You ladies have been chatting up a storm! I'm not even going to attempt a thorough catch-up, but Annabelle - congrats, that's wonderful news!

Smokering - I'm glad your baby shower went well. Do you have any cake pics you'd like to share?

I've been cramming to finish an astrophysics assignment and haven't had time to post. I stayed up until 5.30 this morning finishing the last question, so I'm exhausted. I'm not quite sure how I'm going to survive today. DH is sick, so I'm on my own with DD. She wants to go to the pool, but I'm not really in the mood for parading around in a bikini with my 8 month pregnant belly.

Which reminds me - I'm exactly one month away from my due date. Eeeek! I have way too much to do before then. I'm actually finding myself hoping the baby will come at 41 weeks just so I have time to do it all.

The weather looks nice, if not especially warm. Maybe if I take DD to the park and bribe her with ice cream she'll be happy to run around a bit while I lie in the grass.

[Bald_Bull's_Mama]

We had a kid's consignment sale these past few days. I went and shopped it twice. I got TONS of like new baby clothes, even though I really don't need them. People have so many more girl clothes than boy. DS definitely did not have this many outfits. I got a super cute shirt for 4th of July. I planned out exactly how I'm going to do her knitted soaker for the 4th. I'm super excited to get started on it, but I have a couple of customs to finish up first.

I'm hoping to finally get my garden bed set up this weekend. Having to depend on other people to do the lifting is making me crazy. We've been supposed to do it, like, 3 times, but it's rained every time!

[swimming-duck]

Also, not attempting to catch up on the entire thread, but jumping in nonetheless!

Originally Posted by jshannyn519 

Well, today was insanely busy but good. The party with my clinical group was fun and I got the chance to talk about natural childbirth with the young women that were in my clinical. It won't be the last conversation we have by any means, but I love being in the position where I can offer education about my passion to people who are genuinely interested. My visit with my friend went great too! Her baby is 10 weeks old already and we were talking about the birth and her recovery and breastfeeding and pumping. She ended up with a precipitous labor that was 2 hours from the first contraction that she noticed until her son was born! She said that she probably should have read the Active Birth book more because she wasn't able to get the epidural that she'd been planning on and she wasn't coping well with the labor at all. I let her know that the book may have helped her, but a 2 hour labor is hard to manage no matter what! She also said that BFing and pumping are going well and that she was surprised by how much she likes it. I told her that's one of the things that I'm looking forward to the most. I really miss nursing a little baby. She said that talking to me while she was pregnant went a long way toward just trying BFing and that she's thankful that I was there for her. I almost started crying! I am beyond thrilled that nursing is going so well for her and her baby. It makes me SO happy!!

That's just really awesome! What amazing opportunities you had, both with your clinical group and your friend.

Originally Posted by Bald_Bull's_Mama 

I'm hoping to finally get my garden bed set up this weekend. Having to depend on other people to do the lifting is making me crazy. We've been supposed to do it, like, 3 times, but it's rained every time!

So you know gardening? I'm very much a beginner. Any other gardeners on here? Is this weekend too early to plant tomatoes? I was surprised that the farmers almanac calendar lists June 3rd-4th as best days for tomatoes. That just sounds so late to me, but I really don't know what I'm doing either, so perhaps that's just right?

Good luck getting your bed set up. I've tilled mine. I need to figure something out for a perimeter so that my dog doesn't kill my plants!

Originally Posted by JosieAK 

I am one month away from my due date!  My midwife did a home visit yesterday.  It was fun to show her around and talk about various parts of the house that I may labor in.  It all seems so surreal.  I am trying really hard to not worry.  I know so many people have had successful home births and I can too.  I am really not as afraid of transfer as I was last time, although I do feel some apprehension about a c/s, with no real reason.  I look at my naked pregnant belly and think, "Well, that's where a c/s cut would be." I am just going to keep praying about it and handing my worry over to God.  I get a little anxious about all the moving parts too.  My ideal birth is to have a smooth, fast labor in the night while DD sleeps and have her wake up to a new sibling.  But having someone come take her and whether my parents will be available and what DHs parents will think if DD says with my parents . . .  I just don't want any drama, thank you.  Anyway, sorry.  This is a happy, hopeful time . . mostly.

I've got my home visit with my midwife coming up next month. I just had my 32 week a couple of days ago and she does the home visit at the 36 week appt. I'm kind of excited for this visit. I'm also nervous. I think I tend to overthink things - like worrying about having the perfect set up for a home birth. I think the visit will help put me at ease - at least I hope!

[BHappy]

hey all,

i'm in that weird place of feeling like birth is imminent at the same time as feeling like it is still a month off. i go back and forth and wonder which it will end up being! i've felt all along that this is going to be a may baby...

does anyone else feel like we should change our chat thread to weekly, as we are getting close, and this thread is getting huge (its only may 7th!!!) already. it would be easier to follow all the activity.

peace,

xo

karen

eta: have my 36/37 week appt this coming week and i'm going to decline the gbs screen. last time it was declining the weekly nst, now this. i'm hoping it won't be too uncomfortable and that my ob won't give me a hard time. i'm solid on my decision though so i feel good about it.

[Bald_Bull's_Mama]

Eh, this is my 3rd year with gardening. It's my second year doing Lasagna Gardening, which I really like. Basically, you're planting your garden in a big compost pile and mulching all around it. Waaaay less weeds.

For the planting stuff, Crystal, I look at the U of I extension page. Lots of good info for our area on there. http://urbanext.illinois.edu/veggies/directory.cfm  Do you see Brande? Or who's the hb midwife there?

[Max'sMama]

I just realized last night while I was sitting and knitting that in approx a month that I will have 4 children.  For some reason it floored me, subsequently throwing off my knitting vibe, and sending me to la la land for about an hour

Love the garden stuff.  We have to get ours up and running.  I am moving it currently to a more southern space in the yard.  Poor hubby is on vacation this week and has a wife (me) who has a nesting list that is miles long.....oops.  But it 'has' to get done.  My birthing area (AKA the basement) NEEDS revamping.  The carpet is disgusting and pulling up, the ceiling is a super old suspended that is literally falling out the lights are plugged in and not wired in, so the electrician must replace most of the wires and hubby is putting in new lights.  New carpet/bamboo has to happen and the bathroom must get a tile or bamboo floor before I go psycho.  

All of that plus kids dr appts, hubby VA appts, my midwife is going to be here to do our 36 week homevisit, which will turn into an afternoon of chilling out and chatting.  Since she's also a friend and it shall be a blast!

Then if all goes off well, we will be camping next weekend for DH bday.   EEEK.  I will need a vacation from my  husbands vacation!  

Who else is psychotically nesting?

edit to fix english

[JosieAK]

I definitely think this thread should be weekly!  It is getting crazy long already! :)

I'm so happy to hear of the baby showers and good baby finds going on!  I finally washed all my baby clothes and organized them somewhat.  I am doing really good on things for the baby, over all.  I just need a few more newborn diapers.  What I REALLY need is stuff for me (nursing pads, bras, nightgowns, mama cloth, etc.)  Those are totally worn out from nursing so long last time.  I am hoping, hoping that maybe some kind souls would gift me with that kind of thing at a baby shower, but I know it's kind of counter cultural here.  I wish I was more crafty and had more confidence in my craftiness!

[Mamatoabunch]

Today I am doing craigslist listings today to raise a little cash. We are literally completely broke until next Friday, payday. Everything went to the closing. I hope we sell a few things. 

My dh called my friends and had a baby shower planned for me for next week. I am so surprised he did that. My dd, Anniston is going to make the cake, a very dark chocolate w/ chocolate frosting and fresh raspberries. 

Otherwise, I am nesting bits here and there, trying to stretch out things to do, so I don't get bored.

[swimming-duck]

Originally Posted by Bald_Bull's_Mama 

Eh, this is my 3rd year with gardening. It's my second year doing Lasagna Gardening, which I really like. Basically, you're planting your garden in a big compost pile and mulching all around it. Waaaay less weeds.

For the planting stuff, Crystal, I look at the U of I extension page. Lots of good info for our area on there. http://urbanext.illinois.edu/veggies/directory.cfm  Do you see Brande? Or who's the hb midwife there?

This is also my 3rd year, but the 2nd year was a joke for me. Weeds completely overtook my garden and I did not keep up with it at all! Thanks for the link. I found it really useful. I'm thinking I may have more ground prep to do now before I can plant!

I see Brande. She's about 45 minutes away from me which is kind of nice. 

Originally Posted by Max'sMama 

Then if all goes off well, we will be camping next weekend for DH bday.   EEEK.  I will need a vacation from my  husbands vacation!  

Who else is psychotically nesting?

edit to fix english

Totally jealous of the camping. I want to go so badly, but hubby thinks I'm too pregnant to go camping. GRRR. I think as long as we're close to the port-a-potty it's all good.

I'm nesting in spirit. I'm just too stinking tired to get much done. My house is a freaking disaster zone - except for the area that I hold my daycare in. I just can't seem to accomplish much of anything!

Originally Posted by Mamatoabunch 

Today I am doing craigslist listings today to raise a little cash. We are literally completely broke until next Friday, payday. Everything went to the closing. I hope we sell a few things. 

My dh called my friends and had a baby shower planned for me for next week. I am so surprised he did that. My dd, Anniston is going to make the cake, a very dark chocolate w/ chocolate frosting and fresh raspberries. 

Otherwise, I am nesting bits here and there, trying to stretch out things to do, so I don't get bored.

Good luck with the Craigslist. I hope you get a bit of cash from it. That cake sounds delicious - I'm salivating!

[sharita]

I just realized today that I haven't ordered my birth supplies yet.  I can't believe I have put it off so long.  I waited a while because I had two lists.  One for if we wwere doing UC and another if we managed to catch up with our last midwife and were doing a HB with her.  We came up with a list with things we would need either way and will include the pool liner (the most expensive thing) just incase since she will be loaning the pool.

DH says we can order them not this coming friday but next his next paycheck.  Um...Ill be a few days past 38 weeks then and it still will need to have time to be shipped here.  That wont due.  I reminded him of this and he, just as me, realized suddenly it was closer than he thought.  He said we can just order them no biggie.  Money is tight but tighter since DH got stranded at a gasstation the other night since our ignition and steering column locked up.  He was stuck for 3 hours before giving up and having the car towed.  Ya know when your key wont turn but if you jigggle the wheel it will free up, well ours wouldnt and instead the steering wheel locked up too.  We found out that part of our car was on recall so we had to get it fixed.  Hated that tow fee though it set us back since we were already kinda tight this week.

So today I am just emotional and cant figure out why, switching from grumpy to crying, just tired and run down feeling.  Having lots of BH contractions, and weird pinching in my cervix.  My toddler who is still taking a pacifier (and I don't wanna take it while he is cutting two new teeth) has managed to lose 5 brand new pacifiers in two days around the house and for some crazy reason I cant find them anywhere.  He likes to throw things away and I was always finding them in the trash but not this time.  I have looked everywhere so I call myself. Its like there is a little black hole only he knows about and he throws them in there.  We had one on a very strong paci clip and he managed to lose that one as well after a few days.  Now he is just crying and being so horrible and I am here alone with him and we just cry together.  It just a stressful day I suppose. 

OH MY GOSH, just as I wrote this he appeared before me with the very first one he lost that has the ribbon clip on it.  That little stinker has to have a secret hiding place and when he wants one bad enough he goes and gets one.  I swear he is playing games with me, hahaha.  Okay... Now to find the other 4, lol. 

[MaryElizabeth]

Wow! Lots happening!

Josie-- I hear you about only needing stuff for *me*! I still need a few bras, tanks, nursing tops, a few pj tops...etc. <-- I keep putting things in front of these and pretty soon I'll be desperate haha

Annabelle--- I'm SOOOOO happy for you! And also giving you good luck vibes on the CL!

Still in super panic nesting mode-- Thankfully DH is here to help me this weekend and he is working his little hiney off. We got a good bit accomplished today and hopefully will tomorrow too! 

I have 4 weeks until DD's birthday party! <--- It's at our family's beach house about 2.5 hours away... so hopefully no labor! haha 

          - 5 weeks until my due date! <--- please stay in little baby!

          - 8 weeks until the house goes on the market officially! <--- oh.my.goodness!

[painefaria]

Originally Posted by Mamatoabunch 

Hay ladies, I am sorry I haven't been here as much. I just wanted to post that we closed on our farm today! Now we wait for baby to come and recover and we can move!

Wahoo!

[Mommy2Austin]

Annabelle- Hope craigslist sent some money your way!!

Sharita- I'm having the same day! DD1 is being uber clingy and whiny. Thankfully its almost bed time for all 3 of them :) Oh and I keep having that same pinching in my cervix feeling too.

So my day started with another rousing edition of "What the hell did the kids get into today?" with appearances by the bowl of pudding powder mixed with water and microwaved into oblivion (had to throw said bowl out. It was a goner) and the $30 video game purchased on DH xbox live account that's NON-REFUNDABLE. Most people hear this and say "You should put up baby gates." I laugh. Hard. And then harder. Because we have homemade baby gates. My children are CIA material. Every single gate/barrier we've bought/made they've figured out OR gotten around. Currently there is a 4.5 ft tall gate across the hallway to keep them in their bedroom/playroom area. My oldest found a small knot hole that he sticks his toe in and pulls himself up and over the gate (I watched him do it). He then can open it for his brother to get out. I'm simply at a loss.

DH took the boys to our friend's house so he could work on raking their leaves (this has been a 3 week project and if he hadn't already been paid I would tell him to forget about it.) So me and DD1 hung around the house. I cleaned the ENTIRE kitchen and washed every dish. I swept what I could of the floor and sifted the puppies litter so they could potty freely again (they do really well unless it gets over full of poopy and then they start going under the kitchen table.) Washed some random laundry because I'm tired of the piles of dirty clothes so I just keep throwing whatever I find in the washing machine. I made a gallon of sweet tea and I fried up a package of hamburger (I think it was like 2 lbs) and split it between Burger Mac and Shepherd's Pie for dinner. Now we'll have leftovers for lunch tomorrow :) Oh and I made a bowl of pudding (of which will be consumed after the minions go to bed!) since the package was sitting open on the table.

OK so this one's gonna be totally TMI *Warning Warning TMI Alert* but it's too funny not to share.

DH got a little frisky before work so we snuck in the bedroom and locked the door and DTD. Well he grabbed my panties and put them down there to clean up/contain the mess while I got up and I told him to hand me his dirty shirt instead because it was bigger, which he does. I walk to the bathroom to go potty and shower and I put the shirt in the hamper and sit on the potty to pee. When I stand up and turn around there's something in the toilet and I have a small panicky moment until I realize...it's my panties yeah I totally forgot about them...OOPs. needless to say DH and I had a nice laugh in the shower before he went to work.