I haven't STARTED, but I'll be doing a scrapbook for this baby. I kinda need to start DS's and finish DD's 12 month one... *hides*
Do you have pets? How are you going to introduce them to baby? Particularly if anyone has a cat... DH is convinced the cat is going to climb in the baby's bassinet and suffocate the baby
I haven't STARTED, but I'll be doing a scrapbook for this baby. I kinda need to start DS's and finish DD's 12 month one... *hides*
Do you have pets? How are you going to introduce them to baby? Particularly if anyone has a cat... DH is convinced the cat is going to climb in the baby's bassinet and suffocate the baby
i keep baby stuff pulled out and make sure the animals know the rules they can be around it just not in or on it. gets them use to the furniture they will be around and the ground rules for when the baby is around. not like i have to worry about my Goldie getting into the crib or playpen BUT he knows not to jump up to see whats in it.
As far as cats train them like you did for counters and tables to stay off with the bassinet etc so they know not to be in it. my cousin got one that had a basket in the bottom the cat would sleep in the bottom basket of the bassinet and was content with that since it was like a little cave for her.
its all just a matter of training and patience, i don't like animals in and around bedding for the allergen factor. you can also get them use to the baby being in things and how they work by using a doll and setting up things and turning them on etc.
Conditioning animals for a new baby is a key thing if you have a cat or lap dog that likes to jump up get a doll and start teaching it when i have this in my arms you aren't allowed on me. etc. make sure they know their limits BEFORE the baby comes to save time and hassle after the baby is here. ;)
I have done this with numerous dogs and cats for family and friends and it has worked great :) (for some background i'm a veterinary assistant who use to handle show dogs and is now a groomer and trainer - well when im NOT pregnant i am a groomer and a trainer on a part time basis lol)
mind you i think i also get lucky and get some pretty tolerant cats when it comes to y feline companions... I taught them how to "dress themselves" they would take their collar on and off and put on their own holiday outfits if i held them up.... LOL
(for some background i'm a veterinary assistant who use to handle show dogs and is now a groomer and trainer - well when im NOT pregnant i am a groomer and a trainer on a part time basis lol) (I'm talking about older babyies of course I'd never let him cuddle a newborn but my worry is for our older lasa mix. She was rescued as a pup from a horrid puppy mill, and has TBI. She also has a host of other genetic issues. Like for example half her teeth just never came in and when we X-rays to see why. They just weren't in her head! Just not there! Crazy! Anyway, she is quite unpredictable with new people. And she gets extremely anxiety and nervous with visitors so she goes to her "safe room" when we have company. Cuz she gets scared and well (enter my next worry) if there are babies with our visitors... She gets VERY wary and has growled a few times. It only seems to be with "unsteady" babies. Ike crawlers and early walkers. Non mobile Infants she could care less abt, and once they are 3/4yrs old she is great as long as they ofcourse don't hug her or chase her. Which our child would know that. I'm just really worried abt what our life is going to look like during that stage where the baby is starting to be mobile. Oh and she also whines! CONSTANTLY! when things are different or there is a change in our routine. its quite annoying. Sydney (the dog) has been through TONS of training, she get OOGLES of excersise! my DH runs them both miles everyday and in the evenings they get on our treadmill (becaseu they love it lol they literally jump up on it and scratch for us to turn it on lol) we have worked with her for years (she is almost 8) and finally had our vet give us some anti-anxiety meds for storms, the vet, the groomer...etc and we decided to just love her as best we could til she dies. Cuz no one else would put up with her, my family is all afraid of her 
any suggestions for us? I'm beginning to see our life for the first couple years with baby and Sydney behind a gate or with a muzzle on
ANOTHER ALASKAN MOMMA!!!!
Oh, I want to make a baby book. I kept a little journal for DD when she was little, but my handwriting is so atrocious that I think I am going to have to type it up.
My absolute favorite thing which I must do more of, is baths. I love baths with epsom salt and essential oils, especially if the bathroom has just been cleaned and I have a nice candle burning. I'm such a girl about baths! And I love to have a nice hot cup of herb tea. Right now my favorites are RRL and tulsi with a bit of honey.
Is there anything you did with your earlier babies that you probably won't with this one? I think I'm going to try to use a stroller more (even though I still have my wraps!) and we are going to try using one of those fisher price rock n play sleepers. I think. I loved holding my daughter and having her sleep right next to me when she was a newborn, but I don't think a new baby will be safe in our bed unless we can get DD into her own bed. I'm working on that, but I want a plan B just in case.
We used a lot of cloth diapers in the beginning and started elimination communication when our daughter was about 8 months. This time, I would like to use fewer cloth diapers and a bit more elimination communication earlier on. More of a mix between the two I guess.
When do you plan to first have visitors after the baby is born? ie how carefully do you plan to protect your privacy?
(I'm talking about older babyies of course I'd never let him cuddle a newborn but my worry is for our older lasa mix. She was rescued as a pup from a horrid puppy mill, and has TBI. She also has a host of other genetic issues. Like for example half her teeth just never came in and when we X-rays to see why. They just weren't in her head! Just not there! Crazy! Anyway, she is quite unpredictable with new people. And she gets extremely anxiety and nervous with visitors so she goes to her "safe room" when we have company. Cuz she gets scared and well (enter my next worry) if there are babies with our visitors... She gets VERY wary and has growled a few times. It only seems to be with "unsteady" babies. Ike crawlers and early walkers. Non mobile Infants she could care less abt, and once they are 3/4yrs old she is great as long as they ofcourse don't hug her or chase her. Which our child would know that. I'm just really worried abt what our life is going to look like during that stage where the baby is starting to be mobile. Oh and she also whines! CONSTANTLY! when things are different or there is a change in our routine. its quite annoying. Sydney (the dog) has been through TONS of training, she get OOGLES of excersise! my DH runs them both miles everyday and in the evenings they get on our treadmill (becaseu they love it lol they literally jump up on it and scratch for us to turn it on lol) we have worked with her for years (she is almost 8) and finally had our vet give us some anti-anxiety meds for storms, the vet, the groomer...etc and we decided to just love her as best we could til she dies. Cuz no one else would put up with her, my family is all afraid of her any suggestions for us? I'm beginning to see our life for the first couple years with baby and Sydney behind a gate or with a muzzle on
i sit on the floor infront of my hubby while he plays video games and get a massage on the between screens or have him brush my hair while we watch movies etc. i'm also a big aromatherapy person and meditate on a regular basis (both before pregnancy and while pregnant) and when i say before pregnancy i mean since i was like 8 LOL i'll light some incense or scented candles toss on some relaxing music (celtic or nature sounds normally) and sit in meditation for a while when i feel like i'm going to explode LOL
When do you plan to first have visitors after the baby is born? ie how carefully do you plan to protect your privacy?
My family will visit me at the hospital, probably a couple hours after baby is born, depending on what time of day (s)he is born. I'm hoping they will hold off just a little while so my kids can visit uninterrupted with baby first though. I don't mind, I'm very close with my family.
Are you planning on using name to honor anyone in your family? Or using a name that has a lot of meaning for you?
At first we thought we wouldn't use a family name. However, coincidentally, DH's name pick is my grandmother's name, Anna.
The strangest thing happened to me with names. I have had several names picked out for a couple of years that I absolutely loved and just knew that I was going to name my children the names that I had picked out previously. I even had a couple of boy's names picked out. BUT when I got pregnant and started thinking about naming our baby, only one name came to my mind and I just couldn't ignore it. I have never once in my life thought about this name and I've never even thought about liking this name. But when "Paisley" came to mind, for some reason, I was compelled to use that name. So I really have a strange idea that Paisley is just going to fit her personality and that she has to be a girl, lol. I have tried multiple times to pick boys names in case Bundle happens to be a boy, but I just can't. I guess it's my subconscious intuition. We will know if I'm right Friday.
How many people do you prefer to accompany you during the intimate time of birth?
No more than 3.
Anyone, not finding out gender, having trouble even thinking of names?
We will know if I'm right Friday.
How many people do you prefer to accompany you during the intimate time of birth?
We should find out Friday too!
When DD was born I had my doula, DP, and one of his older brothers (who happened to be in town that weekend, and I went into labor earlier than expected). I loved having my b-i-l there, because he played me music on his the guitar he hand-made, including one of my favorite songs (Blackbird, which we ended up often using as a lullaby). It was one of the few things that helped me stay calm during contractions. This year he's in New Zealand, and I doubt he'll be back when Turducken arrives. But my younger b-i-l lives with us, and also plays guitar, so maybe I'll enlist his talent, or ask older b-i-l to send me a recording or something. We're skipping the doula this time, since I have midwives, and two will be present at the birth. And now that we're planning a homebirth, DD will be around, but b-i-l will hopefully be available to take her to the playground or something if I need her out of my space.
I didn't see a question asked in the last post and I know the sex of the baby so I'll go with the question before...
I will likely only have DH in the room. Last time I had DH and my mother, but this time she will likely be taking care of DD1 during labor. There might be a chance of those two swapping, but I doubt it.
My question:
If you celebrate anything for the Holidays, what are your favorite traditions? What MUST you do each year?
At first we thought we wouldn't use a family name. However, coincidentally, DH's name pick is my grandmother's name, Anna.
The strangest thing happened to me with names. I have had several names picked out for a couple of years that I absolutely loved and just knew that I was going to name my children the names that I had picked out previously. I even had a couple of boy's names picked out. BUT when I got pregnant and started thinking about naming our baby, only one name came to my mind and I just couldn't ignore it. I have never once in my life thought about this name and I've never even thought about liking this name. But when "Paisley" came to mind, for some reason, I was compelled to use that name. So I really have a strange idea that Paisley is just going to fit her personality and that she has to be a girl, lol. I have tried multiple times to pick boys names in case Bundle happens to be a boy, but I just can't. I guess it's my subconscious intuition. We will know if I'm right Friday.
How many people do you prefer to accompany you during the intimate time of birth?
I *love* the name Paisley! Unfortunately, DF veto'ed that one immediately. But he had a good reason. My sister's dog's name is Paisley. But I think it is a *wonderful* name! I hope you get to use it!
I didn't see a question asked in the last post and I know the sex of the baby so I'll go with the question before...
I will likely only have DH in the room. Last time I had DH and my mother, but this time she will likely be taking care of DD1 during labor. There might be a chance of those two swapping, but I doubt it.
My question:
If you celebrate anything for the Holidays, what are your favorite traditions? What MUST you do each year?
I like having cinnamon rolls Christmas morning. :) The last couple of years, my mom has made them, but I think I might try my hand at them, this year. :)
Also, I just love sitting at the table with my family, eating, and watching the kids opening their presents.
Really, I just love Christmas! 
Hmm, questions... questions...
The only ones I can think of, I can't remember if someone has already asked or not, so if I repeat, forgive me. 
Are you decorating your house for Christmas? If so, do you do it Billy Joel style and go to extremes, or keep it simple? For us, we have the tree set up, with lights and some ornaments, we have candy canes lining the walk from the sidewalk to the porch, and solar lights lining the path from the drive to the porch. DF wants to get some more lights to hang on the eves, and we have some winder clings to put up probably this weekend.
Are you decorating your house for Christmas? If so, do you do it Billy Joel style and go to extremes, or keep it simple? For us, we have the tree set up, with lights and some ornaments, we have candy canes lining the walk from the sidewalk to the porch, and solar lights lining the path from the drive to the porch. DF wants to get some more lights to hang on the eves, and we have some winder clings to put up probably this weekend.
Honestly I am really not into the holiday season this year. Its mainly because we are living with my Dad and we don't want to be - its quite stressful between DH and me right now living in my Dads house. We want to move after the 1st of the year but haven't found a rental yet. I want to have Christmas in my own house, not my Dads. But DH says I should just get into it for the kids' sake. I told him we have to at least wait until December to put up any decorations and we're only going to do a tree and some lights & garland around the living room. I have boxes of Christmas stuff but I just don't want to deal with the nick knacks and crap this year. I am more into going places (like our city's tree lighting, Zoo Lights, and seeing the window displays downtown) than decorating the house.
What are you getting your partner for Christmas this year?
What are you getting your partner for Christmas this year?
OK, I am DETERMINED to not forget to ask a question this time (I've forgotten the last few times - lol)!
So I'm going to write my question first, then answer the previous one:
What would you give yourself if you could pamper yourself in any way near your due date?
OK, now to answer the question...
I don't know!
I was going to get him a pass to do a sky dive...I had been planning it since January. But we just can't afford it this year. :(
I think I'll get him a subscription to Scientific American, and fill his stocking with goodies of course, and then I'll try to pick out one more thing. He doesn't like getting clothes as gifts, because he wants a say in picking them out. So, I'll have to come up with something else.
I'll be getting a massage around the first of April and maybe do it bi-weekly until baby comes :) With Sylas after my water broke I went to the nail salon and got a pedicure hahaha
Do you/will you tell your kids there is a Santa Claus?
Yes we tell our kids there is a Santa Claus. They love Santa Claus and Christmas movies. While my DH did grow up in the church, we aren't hugely religious, more spiritual. We have told them the Christmas story and they know who Jesus is. We just intertwine the stories pretty much. Like while it is Jesus' birthday, Santa is still the one who brings the gifts. We do not do many gifts though.
How many kids in total do you plan / want to have?
DH has wanted three and I wanted two, a boy and a girl preferably. Now that we're expecting girl #2 I have warmed to the idea of trying for a third eventually but that will be the last for sure. Either we'll have three girls or two girls and a boy.
What are your passions/hobbies?
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