Weekly chat thread (thru 6/10) « Back to Group Discussions

[Vegan Princess]

Happy Monday ladies! How was everyone's weekend?

We had a low key weekend. But had friends over for a bbq, got out for a nice hike yesterday and I got a prenatal yoga class in. So all in all, not too bad. :-)

Cindy

[bostonmummy]

Our weekend was not what we expected - and it was great! We were planning to head to an annual music festival on Saturday, but it was freezing and pouring, so we just stayed home and got cozy. Ended up watching the 2009 claymation film Mary and Max that night. What a fantastic film! Loved it.

Sunday was great, too. Got a Dutalier glider and ottoman in very good condition from Craigslist for $150 and cleaned and organized the whole apartment. Today I dropped off a huge pile of stuff at the Thrift Store and tonight we'll make a run to Staples to drop off our old electronics. I LOVE getting rid of crap, especially since we're going to be bringing in so much new stuff for the baby. 

Best news on my end, though: started feeling the baby last week! I realized I'd been feeling the baby for a couple of weeks, but since it feels almost exactly like gas it took quite awhile for me to figure out what was going on. LOL! We went to hear some music on Friday night, and the baby loved it — dancing in my belly the whole time. :)

What a sweet time this is for my husband and me . . . waiting and planning for our first but without any of the responsibility or worry yet! Well, at least not much worry, other than trying to figure out all the stuff we're going to need and trying to wrap my head around the crazy number of cloth diapering options. I figure I'll just figure it out as I go. Isn't that what every mother does???

[Vegan Princess]

Bostonmummy: Yep, you figure it out as you go. BC I learned really quickly once I had a newborn that even the best laid plans don't always work out. :-) Being flexible and going with the flow is the best bet! Sounds like a lovely weekend. I am so into sorting and donating right now. LOL. And I love my dutalier. But with my last preg I was stupid - I didn't buy ANYTHING off craigslist!! Now I am selling tons of stuff and ONLY buying used. 

Cindy

[springmum]

I agree - everyday is one big guessing game if we are doing it "right" or not. At least with the cloth options it can be kind of fun figuring it out....um diaper leaks anyone - ha ha!

Nothing too interesting here. My thyroid is in need of a boost again, so my Dr upped my dose. I can feel it, so I hope it helps quickly. I'm surprised by how much meds I've needed for it while pregnant, considering my RE told my Dr he didn't even want me to start the meds at all! Good thing he listened when I politely insisted, and my Dr agrees too :)  Even though she is supportive of treating me correctly, I was the one that had to make the appt after hearing what my #'s were when I called (none of them were flagged out of the silly range), to ask for the increase. Right away she agreed, but it stinks, when you have to take so much charge of your own health. I feel badly for all those who aren't in tune with what's going on for them healthwise (or don't have the means/interest to find out), or who just take their DR's word and never question it.  

Vegan - we bought almost everything new last time too. Something about the 1st baby, that we felt like we wanted everything clean & new I guess. Now, clean and affordable is the priority! I had friends with babies around the same age, and many started organizing a toy swap as the kids grew and got bored (or the needs changed) We got a great 2 weeks worth of use out of an exerciser that a friend lent us. I wasn't crazy about them, but needed another option while cooking dinner etc. Glad we didn't buy one, it was not a big hit for anyone around here!

Boston - yay for feeling kicks and not gas - ha ha! It's great isn't it? Although the cervix/bladder kicks I could do without I think. It's interesting to start to feel the patterns of awake/asleep. Always makes me wonder if they'll come out on a similar schedule. For my DS the first day he was out, he was awake/asleep at the same times he was when he was inside. 

[pregnova]

Ha! About the cervix/bladder kicks! This little one seems to think my cervix is its own personal kicking bag...sheesh...sometimes it can get a bit painful! I'm ready for it to move head down already just so that it has something less painful to kick.

Not too much going on over here. It's hot and humid, so we're spending a lot of time at the pool or the beach, and the rest of the time I'm spending slowly packing up/cleaning our rental. 

I feel enormous though...I've been having a lot of round ligament pain that's sticking around. And the belly is really uncomfortable...something needs to stretch out here so that I have more room to grow!

[mitsuo]

My LO is big on the cervix kicks, too! And hooboy, this baby is already getting strong. DH loves to feel the kicks, and it is kind of hilarious when we are out in public, as it looks like he is excitedly rummaging around in my groin.

Our weekend: we finally got chickens! 3 five month hens and 2 three month hens. Two of the older girls just starting laying, and their eggs are so much better than the expensive store bought free range organics we usually get. I love them. I also made a dress for my friend's one- year old, and it turned out great, a relief, since I haven't sewn in about a year.

We, too are buying everything used. No money to do it any other way right now! Plus, I feel better not adding to the piles of new junk that will end up in landfills. And I love a good deal!

[Vegan Princess]

Mitsuo: How fun! I have 4 hens and I have loved the entire experience. We got ours when they were 3 days old and teeny. It was fun to watch them grow - but also a bit of a pain before we got to put them outside. I'm actually trading some eggs to reduce the price of my doula. :-) Enjoy!

I've had such back pubic symphisis (sp?) pain today!! I hope this isn't my new normal. I hope it feels better tomorrow! Seems a bit early to be bothering me so much? Anyone else? I've felt soreness down there on and off for a while - but it hurts a lot more today when I stand and when I walk.

Cindy

[ahimsamom]

We have 3 hens and 1 roo! We got them as chicks in Feb so they should be laying by August (I think). It is so much fun and my 18 mo loves them. I really want to get more, but my husband wants to wait until after the new baby joins us. We'll see who wins this one :) .

This is my last week of work and I am so excited to be done. I am really lucky because I am a nanny and can bring my dd to work, but I am starting to get exhausted by the end of the day. My mom taught exercise until the day before delivery with all 4 of her pregnancies and I have no idea how she did it! I have so much respect for working mamas.

I am trying to buy everything used too. I have been scouring craigslist for some playroom furniture (kids easels, bookshelves, etc.) so my daughter can have her own designated "yes" area after the baby comes. I have also been trying to find gender neutral newborn clothes because we won't be finding out the baby's gender before the birth but they are hard to come by!

[UnderTheOldOakTree]

Fun to read everyone's updates!

Chickens sound wonderful!  That's one of my someday projects...as in someday we'll live somewhere I can have chickens (they wouldn't work too well in our apartment).

Cindy, I think my pubic symphisis is starting too....of course I also have hip problems from before DS was born so when I'm pregnant I get really sore.  Actually though, it's not as bad this time as it was with DS.  It started really early with him (before 20 weeks).  I'm determined to get into a pool this week.  That always helps with my aches and pains.

We've gotten a few new things for this babe but not many.  I've been lucky that I've been able get quite a few things by either borrowing or buying them from friends.

We had a great weekend.  Saturday was a cookout for DH's work which was a lot of fun.  We also took a trip to Baltimore and went to a train museum and the inner harbor.  DS had the best day!

[sillymom44]

I have been feeling regular movement as well. I love it!!!! Even with #3, it is still so exciting!!!! when he is really active at work thou, I can't concentrate on anything but the movement and I can't stop myself from putting my hand on the movement. It's wonderfully addictive!

I missed prenatal yoga last week and was not able to walk as much due to nightly obligations for a variety of things....and I was really feeling it this past weekend. I went shopping for some summer maternity clothes (1st pregnancy where I've needed summer clothes in the 2nd trimester)....and I started feeling back pain for the 1st time! I guess the yoga and walking are doing something more than just keeping extra pounds off! A least I hope so.

Have bought 1 towel set, 1 package of pacifiers, and one set of socks (ds picked out). I don't need much this time....except clothes since the last 2 were born during different seasons.

I am loving this pregnancy so far!!!!!!

[bostonmummy]

Sillymom - I love your happiness! It's so sweet! 

[pregnova]

Oh, I've become addicted to my daily walk! I am having the most comfortable pregnancy ever, and I totally attribute it to the walking. I do a bit of yoga every evening as well, and a few other exercises to help Baby position well (I'd kill to avoid another back labor!), but I think the walking is what's keeping away the extra soreness. If I miss a day, then I'm sure to get some lower back pain and just feel 'off'. 

ahimsamom-I plan on doing the same thing for ds before Baby comes. Scrounge up some extra playroom furniture so that he has an area just for him once the Baby comes. I think it might help take the stress off of entertaining him and getting used to a new one. And tell me about gender neutral clothing! lol Especially hard if you want to avoid writing, logos, or the green and yellow! lol I'm going for having just a few days worth of outfits because we'll have a washer and dryer, and once I know the gender, I'll want to shop more specific. But really, it feels like I won the lottery every time I dig up a shirt or pair of pants that fits my 'gender neutral' bill!

[OkiMom]

Hubby got home last Friday from being gone for 2 weeks so Im adjusting back to having him home again. You would think with the amount hes gone Id be use to it but its always an adjustment when he comes and goes. We have spent every night since he got home up until past midnight talking and then Im up at 4-5am with the kids. Im soooo beat.

[sillymom44]

Bostonmummy--- thanks!! I just don't talk about all the stressful stuff...trust me, it's there!! I actually spent all day tearing up over several things. One is my work situation...I think I will resign from my job to stay at home (and find a position with very little hours), but I love my job and it is stressing me out!!!!! :-/

[Vegan Princess]

Sillymom: Sorry you had a rough day. Feel free to talk about the stressful stuff too. It helps to talk about it. I left my job after I had my DD. I loved my job too. I'm still a bit sad about it. But mostly I'm just happy to be home. 

Okimom: Aww, that's sweet you guys are staying up late talking every night. :-)

AFM: Just sold my old breast pump for $75. Yay! Now I can put that $$ towards a new one. 

Cindy

[bostonmummy]

Sillymom - it's strange how the joy and the stress coexist so well together, isn't it? I think every transition, no matter how much we're looking forward to it, always contains some element of loss and therefore sadness. Still, sorry to hear you were feeling especially stressed yesterday. And I'm with VeganPrincess - feel free to share the hard stuff, too, if you want. It's all part of the package, as far as I can tell! Here's hoping you have an easier day today . . .

Okimom - I loved the story of your and your husband staying up so late, too! Hope you're getting so more rest now that you're adjusting to his being home again . . .

Pregnova - I'm addicted to my daily workouts, too! All of the other women in the class I go to every morning are always saying how impressed they are that I keep exercising, but the truth is that the endorphins make me feel SO good that I can't imagine stopping, and I'm also feeling so strong, which is a great feeling as I head into my first labor in a few months (!).

[springmum]

Sillymom- it's not all peaches and roses over here either for a variety of reasons. I think pregnancy really intensifies the good and the bad - good thing for support!

I'm having thoughts that this baby is going to be huge....he's so much stronger than DS was at this stage....Thanksgiving (canadian) turkey I come - ha ha!

Okimom- yay for having hubby home! Does having him be away for a little while, help rekindle that spark when he comes home? 

I'm having thoughts of wanting to start pulling out baby stuff....but it's too early right?! We don't really have a lot of space - I think I just don't know where to get started....

I can't wait to start looking at all the wee clothes again :) Baby laundry is by far the most fun.

[pregnova]

springmum- oh no about thoughts on a huge baby! lol How big was your son?

Ironically, I'm actually a bit worried about the opposite. Not worried really, just anxious for some unknown reason that I'll attribute to pregnancy hormones. lol I have this feeling that this one will be a small baby (ds was 8lb 7oz). I really like bigger babies, and since we'll be doing this ourselves, I'd feel really much better about Baby's health if there's not a drastic difference from ds's weight. But, I'm gaining much less, and as many kicks and crazy movements as I feel, I still think it's all lighter sensations than what I had with ds at this point. Although I did feel this one much earlier. 

-Yay for getting some money off of your broken pump Cindy!

[springmum]

Well, DS was 7lbs 12 at 39 weeks, so not huge, but ......I was 10lbs 6oz as a baby - so I don't know what's in store! This baby is measuring about a week ahead consistently since 12 weeks (and I know they're not entirely accurate) I have to have another scan in a week to check the heart, so we'll see if he's still growing at the same rate. Really I'd be happier with a slightly bigger baby - I hear they just do better overall when they come out (sleeping and such) and we definitely had our struggles with DS. So if a 10lb, mellow - happy eater & sleeper is in store, I guess I'll have to take it!

I am hearing that a large baby will impact my VBAC, a slight increase in rupture is what I've heard (need to read into it more) so maybe that's why it's on my mind a little more.

Pregnova - fingers crossed your little one is a nice healthy weight to make things easier :) It's so interesting how some moms can gain the minimum but have big healthy babies, and other moms who gain more have wee ones....

[Vegan Princess]

My DD was 5lbs 12 oz when she was born at 38 weeks. My guess is she would have been over 6 if she had feel born around her due date. DH and I were both under 7lbs and born right at our due dates, even though my husband is 6'2". So I'm supposing we just have babies that are around the size we were. That said, I would love one a bit bigger this time too! At least 6 lbs, maybe even around 7 would make me happy. Being a first time mom with this extra tiny baby (and she was born at a birth center so we went home 5 hours later - just me and DH and this tiny babe LOL) was a bit nerve wracking. And we had nursing issues so she hung out around 5 lbs 5 oz for a bit. I def relaxed a bit more when she hit 6 and then 7 lbs. 

Cindy