Weekly Chat ~ Dec 31 - Jan 6 « Back to Group Discussions

[Quinalla]

Hi all! A few posts from the last thread to get us going:

Originally Posted by nstewart 

Ahhhh, home sweet home at last!  Long day on the road today.  

Co, I didn't go crazy on Christmas decorating by any means, but I hate clutter so I'm ready to put everything away too.  I will probably leave it up until next weekend though, as we haven't celebrated with my parents yet and I kind of want to just relax and enjoy this next few days off with DH and DS before going back to work on the 2nd.  Sounds like you had a lovely, quiet Christmas.  

Katie, you'll have to post pics of your playroom when it's done!  Sounds like a great project.  How did the carpet install go?  I think our playroom will be a January project.  I need to take everything out, want to paint, put new shelving in the closet in that room, then set it up as a play room.  I think DS won't use it a ton just yet, he like sot be close to mama, but I know it'll get lots of use in the years to come.  The room isn't big, but it's a descent size and it's got a big window so its nice and bright even though it's in the basement. It'll even be great to have set up when the new bub arrives so that DS can play in the basement and be as loud as he wants and not wake a sleeping baby.

Bailey, I am a hopeless, but hopeful gardener.  Sounds like you have a real green thumb.  Last year I tried container gardenign and had some success with tomatoes and celery.  My brocolli was all stalk, and the container I used for the carrots wasn't deep enough.  Oh, and my radishes drowned.  Ah well, better luck next summer I guess!!  The crafting stuff sounds fun and sounds like it'll keep you busy.  I just started doing some needle felting and it's a bit addictive.  I like being able to stab away while I am watching TV with DH and that there is no pattern, or right or wrong, just creating.  I've made some fruit, a sheep, and a horse so far.  But I do like sewing and have some projects in mind for before baby comes as well.  I guess I better get on those, hey?  Time is passing so quickly!!

Steph, safe travels home!

Sure, will do, it won't be done(ish) until my parents come visit in mid-January, but I'll post pictures. The carpet is soooo nice, we spent quite a bit of time down there this weekend, just running around, watching DD play with her kitchen, etc. Just walking to the washer/dryer to do laundry was luxurious The install went great, they did an awesome job, definitely picked the right people.

Originally Posted by timesway 

thankyou all hehe i think i quite suit having a baby attached to me cant wait for mine.. cant believe we are all basically 5 months preg.. whod've thought it 2/3 months ago when we were all finding out and joining this group!! soooo much has changed.. im going home tommorrow, cannot wait (altho i'll miss frequent baby visits) .. because a.. i get to see the OH who i havent seen in a week and i miss him massively.. (i think absense has made both our hearts grow stronger in this case) .. also because i want my house back.. and worry about it there all on its own.. and because it means i get to be free of my family who i have coped VERY well with but im near breaking point if im here much longer.. and yes im also ready for christmas to be over.. and also to stop eating so much bloody food.. its rediculous!!! anyway we have to be up probably in about 8 hours so i should sleep.. night night all, hope you are managing to have some chilled out post xmas days

I know! 20 weeks this Friday for me which means I'm likely already past the halfway mark, but I'm thinking positive, I want these babies to come at least as late as their sister, so 38 weeks is my goal! It has gone so fast this time, I don't have too much more to do, but I still need to get some stuff done.

Originally Posted by BaileyB 

Originally Posted by CoBabyMaker 

...that I've already taken down all the Christmas stuff.  DH and I were just ready for things to be cleaned up ( I don't feel like I go too crazy with Christmas decor but it's just nice to simplify).  It's nice to have less visual stimulation.

I'm glad I'm not the only one! I was so gung-ho on Christmas set up and baking, etc. and now I just want it down and want ot give away the rest of our Christmas treats. Really we only have our bay window decorated because it is the only space the DD couldn't mess with too easily, so it's not much to take down. Also, we got a Burpee garden seed catalogue in the mail ALREADY so now I am getting excited for that but trying to remind myself that April/May is a looooong ways away. I got myself some supplies at the store today for knitting, embroidery, and sewing to keep busy until then. I think I have 3 knitting projects and 3 sewing projects to finish before baby comes.

Timesaway - I third that that is a good picture of you.

DH was debating taking our Christmas tree down, but we really want to keep it up until my Mom & Dad visit. It's only 2 more weeks, but yeah he was grumbling

Originally Posted by TwilightJoy 

Originally Posted by Quinalla 

I am thinking I might make a trip to motherhood soon and pick up a maternity support belt. I think I am going to need it soon!

Get the one in the yellow box! I was unsure about the more "complicated" 3 pieces, but I'm loving mine.

Yeah, I think that was the one that I was looking at, got the best reviews as far as I could tell. Thanks for the info! I'll probably get it later this week, maybe Thursday if I get back from my work trip early (just driving and should be my last one this pregnancy).

[TwilightJoy]

Thank you for the new thread! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

[nstewart]

Thanks Katie.

Yes, HAPPY NEW YEARS to everyone!  Very low key here.  I think DH and I will just watch a movie tonight, maybe order in some Indian or something.

So, I am definitely nesting.  The day before yesterday I emptied out and cleaned my fridge, then tackled the pantries the same way.  Yesterday, I bought a new vacuum.  Ours was 10 years old and in need of replacement.  I got a good deal on a Dyson DC35, a stick vacuum, since we don't have carpet and our house isn't very big.  I think it's perfect for us but wouldn't suggest it for anyone with carpet or a big house.  AND I bought a small steam cleaner.  I was going to rent one to steam clean our dining room chairs (see, nesting) but it wasn't that much more to just buy one and I know it'll get used with babies and toddlers and pets.  My dining room chairs look SO much better.  I've been wanting to clean them for a couple months and it feels so good to finally just get 'er done.

I hope everyone has a great end to 2012!

[Quinalla]

Happy new year everyone, how is 2012 over already!

I hear you on cleaning and organizing, it's been so nice getting our house better! We still have work to do, but it's already so much nicer. Not going to do anything special tonight, but have the day off tomorrow, so that will be nice

[CoBabyMaker]

I've been on a huge organizing kick too and I love it!  It feels so good.  I am good about going through things and getting of things regularly but I struggle with keeping systems in place to keep things organized so I am working on that.  I think I talked DH into converting some cabinetry in the hall into a closet which would make storage and organization MUCH easier. We are still trying to work somethings out because what DH thinks we need for storage and what i think we need for storage are different. 

Zero plans for tonight.  I just don't have it in me this year.

[timesway]

I'm nearly 22 weeks.. Argh can't believe how unprepared I am.. I bought some stuff for the baby's room the other day but I haven't even cleared it yet.. And my friends sending me a bundle of boy clothes so fhat'll be useful but I just haven't prepared a thing.. I think I was nervous too before baby had a chance of survival if it was born! Eek baby is beating me up ATM.. Tonight I ann staying in.. Oh decided not to go out to spend it chilling with me.. We had a couple of people round earlier .. He's gone out for a bit but hopefully he'll be home in time for midnight if not at least I didn't spend the whole night alone which is what I expected .. Happy new year everyone.. Let's hope this year is a wonderful one for us all xx

[CoBabyMaker]

Steph, You don't need to be prepared just yet!  You have a while yet.  Deep breath, just keep plugging away at it slowly.

[BaileyB]

Well, I mentally prepared to go to our little party tonight (because I really didn't feel like going) and we were there no more than 10 minutes before DD threw up all over their floor. Then we spent 10 minutes cleaning up there floor and DD and made it home within 30 minutes of when we left. Haha. Oh well, maybe next year. DD was sad to leave, because of course right after you puke you feel way less sick and she didn't want to leave her friends. Now we are watching the Curious George movie and eating hot dogs. Party on!

As for preparing for baby I am starting to feel like the end is in sight, yet it still feels like it is going to take forever before she is here. I can't believe I am starting to get impatient already. I usually don't get this way until closer to32 weeks (not 22 weeks). Baby and my fundus is measuring a week or slightly more ahead so maybe I will go a week early, but maybe not. I think the only things I still need to get are a few more nursing bras and some breast milk storage bags, and I will probably need a good amount of postpartum size clothing for spring/summer. I purged a bunch of my clothes at the end of this summer because they were just completely wore out, stretched out, or dirty beyond cleaning.

[aHikaru]

Originally Posted by BaileyB 

As for preparing for baby I am starting to feel like the end is in sight, yet it still feels like it is going to take forever before she is here. I can't believe I am starting to get impatient already. I usually don't get this way until closer to32 weeks (not 22 weeks). Baby and my fundus is measuring a week or slightly more ahead so maybe I will go a week early, but maybe not. I think the only things I still need to get are a few more nursing bras and some breast milk storage bags, and I will probably need a good amount of postpartum size clothing for spring/summer. I purged a bunch of my clothes at the end of this summer because they were just completely wore out, stretched out, or dirty beyond cleaning.

 I am right there with you :) I wasn't prepared with DD, so I made sure I was prepared for this baby and now I'm ready to go :P I'm know the baby still needs to cook for 4 more months, but I feel like it will be here quickly.... I just want to get labor over with, I did it all natural with DD and I wouldn't do it any other way. 

[nstewart]

Katie and Co, I joined the 2012 in 2012 challenge here on MDC last year (in the decluttering and organizing forum) and that goal of getting rid of 2012 things gave me a huge incentive.  It was cool to keep track of just how much stuff we were able to part with!  I am thinking of joining this year again, althought I doubt that I'd make the goal this year since we did such a major purge last year.

Steph, don't stress.  You have TONS of time.  Plus, for me at least, it's more fun to pick up a thing here or there than go on one giant shopping spree and get it over with.  But I like watching for deals, shopping around, etc.  That's not for everyone.  I know my mom is a big "get in and get 'er done" shopper.  lol.

I've started thinking about prep for baby too.  I was laying in bed last night thinking, "What did I do to get ready for DS?"  A LOT more than I need to do this time, obviously, because the only thing that I wanted to get pre-baby this time was the co-sleeper and that's off my list already.  It's too early to go through my bins for newborn size clothes,  too early to go through my diaper stash, too early to do any washing, to early for anything really!  But feels like I should be doing something...I guess next on the list is to get that bunk bed we liked for DS ordered as I think it's 8 week delivery or something like that and I want him to have his new bed before baby arrives.

Baily, hope your DD is feeling better.  DS had the flu Christmas eve and that's how he was.  Threw up while playing with his cousins and was totally fine afterwards so I chalked it up to Christmas excitement and sweets.  Then, he puked in church.  Sigh.

Today we have "Christmas" with my dad's side of the family at my parents house.  DS is already super excited to go.  He loves Nana's house.  It'll be nice to see my uncles and grandparents and my gramma's sister.  Back to work tomorrow...That's going to be tough after such a nice holiday!  At least I get to ease into it with a two day week...

[BaileyB]

Originally Posted by aHikaru 

Originally Posted by BaileyB 

As for preparing for baby I am starting to feel like the end is in sight, yet it still feels like it is going to take forever before she is here. I can't believe I am starting to get impatient already. I usually don't get this way until closer to32 weeks (not 22 weeks). Baby and my fundus is measuring a week or slightly more ahead so maybe I will go a week early, but maybe not. I think the only things I still need to get are a few more nursing bras and some breast milk storage bags, and I will probably need a good amount of postpartum size clothing for spring/summer. I purged a bunch of my clothes at the end of this summer because they were just completely wore out, stretched out, or dirty beyond cleaning.

 I am right there with you :) I wasn't prepared with DD, so I made sure I was prepared for this baby and now I'm ready to go :P I'm know the baby still needs to cook for 4 more months, but I feel like it will be here quickly.... I just want to get labor over with, I did it all natural with DD and I wouldn't do it any other way. 

I had an epidural with DD but after that outbreak of meningitis from the cortisone shots being put into people's backs I am never going to have another spinal injection! Yikes! Plus I feel like the more times I would have a spinal injection the more I am raising the risk of it going wrong and having some sort of paralysis, etc.

[adventuregirl]

Happy New Year Mamas!

Sounds like everyone is doing well despite some illness here and there, hope it all clears up quickly! I have been checked off of the computer for my time off, and it has felt wonderful! But I am easing back today, as I return to work tomorrow. At least it is a short week and I am working from home 2 of the 3 days, so the transition should be easy. We enjoyed Christmas very much, it ended up snowing so we had a white one, which I was hoping for. We went to the mtns and stayed in a lodge for a night and enjoyed this big YMCA camp. It was sub-zero, so we did mostly indoor activities, rollerskating (which I LOVED), swimming and games in our room...when we walked around town to see the shops, we were so cold! But it was really fun and nice to get away from the house for a bit. We spent the rest of the time at home mostly, just the 3 of us, no guests or parties. Kind of unusual, but it was really nice. We did a bit of organizing and I decided to learn how to knit, so have been getting into figuring it all out and have been totally digging it. My first project is turning into a purse for DD, its kind of a long piece that I have used to learn different stitching, but she is all about having it become a purse and won't mind the errors and randomness of it. We took our tree down today and even though we weren't quite sick of it yet, it feels good to accomplish the task, and we have our living room window back, so it feels so nice and bright and open in there, bring on the light!

I am finally getting ready to start getting baby things, I started by making a list of things we need and we are working on cleaning out my office which will be the baby's room. My IL's are anxious to buy us stuff, so we need to get specific so we don't end up with crap we don't want or need. Oh and my belly has suddenly gotten huge! I can't believe how pg I look! I am enjoying it, but it surprises me all the time. I am 20 wks today, will have to get a pic up on the belly thread... Baby is getting seriously active too, DH & DD are finally able to feel all the little bumps I am getting, which I looove!

Anyhoo, hope you all are getting a great start to the new year, it is really awesome that we all have such a great year to look forward to!

[Quinalla]

CoBaby, yeah I have that problem with DH too sometimes where we are thinking completely differently on what/how/etc. we want to store things. He's definitely on board the storage bandwagon now though which is nice, he used to be unconvinced it was necessary

timesway, you do have a lot of time, though it is nice to have a tentative list of stuff you want so you can catch things on sale as you can and I like to break my list up into must-have, really want and nice to have so that even if I don't have it all done, if I have all the must-haves done I know I'll be ok. And a lot of folks wait to buy things until the pregnancy is more certain, that's no big deal!

nstewart, ah that's cool, didn't know about that challenge, we definitely threw out/recycled/donated way more than 2012 things in 2012! Not sure if I still have 2013 things, but probably even after all the clearing out we've done so maybe I'll join that one! Yeah, I want to be doing something too, but for the baby there isn't much to do just yet. Once I know the genders for sure, I'll tackle sorting the baby clothes and seeing if I need to start filling in places where we are short at baby thrift stores. I have a few must-haves I still need, but I don't want to get them yet as I am hopeful my parents or siblings might, but if I see stuff on a good sale I'm just going to grab it.

adventuregirl, yeah we had ~6" of snow the day after Christmas and it has mostly stuck around and been added too since, been kind of nice, but I say that when I didn't have to do any shoveling (thank you DH!) The knitting sounds fun, I've done crochet a bit, but I never stick with it long enough to finish anything! Yeah, get a registry going for the ILs for sure, I made a small one for my Mom which was great.

Work feels back to normal today, it was weird to work so much around the holidays as we usually take off a week or so. We mostly chilled out yesterday, but we did make a Bed Bath & Beyond run to pick up a knife sharpener (DH has wanted one for awhile, works great so far), meat thermometer (our old one broke) and got a few other things we needed too. DD was out of sorts this morning, too much random vacation and picking up early, I think it will be good for her to get back in a routine. And next week she is going to transition to the 3 year old room, most of her friends are there and her best friend Hailey, so I'm glad! And the price goes down too since it is a potty trained room so that's nice.

Oh, speaking of daycare prices, I talked with the daycare owner and she is going to give us a very nice discount for the twins. Normally for families she gives a 10% discount for the oldest child, but she's going to give a 20% discount for all 3! It basically makes DD free compared to what we would be paying. I made sure she suggested the price because I want to make sure it is still fair for her, but I'm so thrilled. That is going to be our biggest expense so to get that big of a discount is so great.

[BaileyB]

Quinalla - Congrats on the daycare price! Score!

I had a major attack of BH lastnite and am still having some this morning. I don't know what else to do for them because I feel like I have tried everything that is usually recommended. For about 4 hours lastnite they were coming in clusters. Up to a few 10 second long ones in a minute and then a few minutes later I would have a maybe 30 second hard one. I took a magnesium pill, took a bath, drank water, laid down. Nothing helped. Finally when I sat up for a few minutes they started going away but now whenever my belly gets touched it sets them off again. DD is still sick so I am trying to hold off going in since DH is back at work today.

Any advice?

[Trisha Kalous]

We've been getting sick here, made some chicken soup, bone broth which I made stew out of and lots of warm honey-lemon water to drink. Taking vitamins for the first time now during this pregnancy just to make sure that I'm giving my body enough strength to fight these bugs we keep getting! Hopefully the worst is past now though, and we'll have enough food for a few days now, which is super nice not to have to worry about cooking so much! I wish someone could wave a magic wand and do all the laundry though  Seeing the chiro is so wonderful! I missed last week because of the holidays and finally made it back there today and he sent me on my way with instructions to come back Friday already. I think I'll need it by then, with all this bending over and cooking I've been doing- plus my work schedule is picking up again. pew. I'm loving the baby wiggles, though no one can feel them on the outside yet. My SIL is still convinced there's two babies, despite the u/s saying there's one. She knows someone that had two u/s done in the second trimester before they found the second baby at 6.5 months along. My belly is still growing and is about 30cm now at 21 weeks (tomorrow), so time will really tell! The scan was really quick and was done at a u/s botique place and not a clinic, so I suppose there's a fair probability that they'd miss a baby, especially if one was hiding behind the other. Highly doubtful that we'll get another scan so if there is another, it may very well turn out to be a surprise! I found out that my bf is planning a baby shower/blessingway for me which is wonderful, because we've gotten rid of almost all of DDs things because we just didn't have the space for storage. Big buys for us this time around will be a king-sized bed, cloth diaper stash, carseat, and that's really about it. Just some onesies and jammies for clothes- I always liked them much better than the cutesy outfits anyway 

[CoBabyMaker]

NStewart, I hope you had a good Christmas celebration with your dad's side of the family!  I had been eying the 2012 in 2012 thread.  I'm not sure I really have that much to get rid of though.  I have gotten a lot better about what I bring into the house.  I feel like a lot (though not all)of what I get rid of was things that other people gave us as gifts or hand-me-downs. 

Bailey, Sorry about all the BH.  I don't have any advice but I hope you figure it out.  Did you maybe over-do it during the day?  I know sometimes my body starts "barking" at me in one way or another when I need to stop and I have a hard time listening if I'm doing something.

CoBaby, yeah I have that problem with DH too sometimes where we are thinking completely differently on what/how/etc. we want to store things. He's definitely on board the storage bandwagon now though which is nice, he used to be unconvinced it was necessary

It's funny he just thinks we need storage for things that i don't and thinks there are issues with things that i don't see as an issue.  For instance he wanted to get more bookshelves to flank the desk we got.  We already have two that are not even half full.  He thinks we need a bigger dresser while I think he just has too many clothes. (He used to plan sports tournaments and would get free t-shirts ALL the time.  I am hoping that the job change will make those go away.)  Our bookshelves have cabinet doors on the bottom and I keep couch blankets there since they are in the living room.  This makes sense to me since the blankets are stored in the room we use them but he's mentioned being bothered by them being there a few times.  Silly little things.

DHs parents are going to keep the girls overnight for the first time ever on Friday.  Eek!  I am so excited and a little nervous.  I am sure they will be fine as they simply adore them and have been talking about this for months.  I've just never left them that long before. This feels like such a big deal to me!  We left DD1 one with them when DD2 was born but that doesn't really count. 

I am looking forward to Saturday too!  Some of the ladies from church are going to see Les MIserables and then out to dinner.  It should be a fun weekend!

[CoBabyMaker]

Big buys for us this time around will be a king-sized bed, cloth diaper stash, carseat, and that's really about it.

We've switched to a king-size since our last baby and I keep having to remind myself.  We had a full-size before so it will be a big (better) difference!   When I see a full-size now I wonder how two of us fit, much less with a baby even some of the time.  You will love it!

[Trisha Kalous]

Originally Posted by CoBabyMaker 

We've switched to a king-size since our last baby and I keep having to remind myself.  We had a full-size before so it will be a big (better) difference!   When I see a full-size now I wonder how two of us fit, much less with a baby even some of the time.  You will love it!

We have a queen now, with DDs twin next to it, but when this baby comes, we'll need at least another queen (then we can get rid of the crappy twin), so we figured, why not just go for the king- that way we'll be set even if we have a surprise twin lol (or another baby down the road) :) We all like our space for sleeping. The beds will be right next to each other, so it'll be like one GIANT bed! We used to have 2 queens, but gave one to a friend who was in dire need, so it will be awesome to have the space again. DD was really excited to get to sleep in mommy and daddy's room again, which was nice because we converted the storage closet to a play room, and her old room to storage and office. I was so worried that she'd be sad about not having her own room, but it was quite the opposite :) 

I've just found out tonight (thank you cloth diapering thread!!!) that there's mini portable washing machines and since we live in an apartment with coin-op laundry, DH just approved the purchase, so we're adding that to the list. The washer will pay for itself inside 4 months of washing diapes! Yayy!! http://www.walmart.com/ip/Haier-1.0-Cubic-Foot-Portable-Washing-Machine/13346456 It takes a lot of the money worries that came for us with cloth, because we're hoping that we can work finances out so I can stay home full-time after baby is born!

[eepeepee]

We're also (finally) upgrading to a bigger bed - the one we have now is the one my mom bought me when I moved into my first apartment (!) almost nine years ago, and it's only a full.  Oh, and there's a spring sticking out the side.  So yeah, I'm pretty psyched about the queen we're going to be getting!  

We're still trying to figure out how it's all going to work space-wise, though.  We have a two bedroom apartment, but the second bedroom is already full of the husband's instruments and my burlesque stuff, so we'll need to do some consolidating/organizing.  We'll have the baby sleeping in our room for a while anyway, but it still would be nice to have a designated "baby space."  Any suggestions on helping the relics of pre-baby life peacefully coexist with post-baby stuff?

[BaileyB]

Originally Posted by Trisha Kalous 

We've been getting sick here, made some chicken soup, bone broth which I made stew out of and lots of warm honey-lemon water to drink.

Homemade broth is sooo good. we raise chickens in the summer and they do make the best broth and meat.

I wish someone could wave a magic wand and do all the laundry though  

Ugh! me too! Our washing machine is broke and I had to take a big load to the laundromat lastnite with sick DD.

Seeing the chiro is so wonderful!

I am going tomorrow too. DD has been going to bed at 5:00 because of being sick and since she hasn't been eating she woke up starving lastnite. Then she wanted me to sleep with her for a while, in her little twin bed. Twin beds are not made for holding a toddler and a almost 6 month pregnant lady! Now my back is all crooked again.

The saving grace is that DD seems a lot better today. She is still feeling cold when normally she is a warm bodied girl but she kept her breakfast down and was begging for more. She is already a skinny-minny and I am a little worried she lost too much weight while sick so hopefully she can get back to normal eating again.

Originally Posted by CoBabyMaker 

Bailey, Sorry about all the BH.  I don't have any advice but I hope you figure it out.  Did you maybe over-do it during the day?  I know sometimes my body starts "barking" at me in one way or another when I need to stop and I have a hard time listening if I'm doing something.

I am still getting them but they are more back to regular somewhat frequent BH's. I think I was dehydrated, constipated, and had an angry uterus from having DD on my lap so much when trying to comfort her. Plus maybe lack of sleep from her being sick at night. She is still a little clingy today but she seems to understand when I say I can't do something, like hold her while making breakfast, because of the baby.

CoBaby, yeah I have that problem with DH too sometimes where we are thinking completely differently on what/how/etc. we want to store things. He's definitely on board the storage bandwagon now though which is nice, he used to be unconvinced it was necessary

It's funny he just thinks we need storage for things that i don't and thinks there are issues with things that i don't see as an issue.  For instance he wanted to get more bookshelves to flank the desk we got.  We already have two that are not even half full.  He thinks we need a bigger dresser while I think he just has too many clothes. (He used to plan sports tournaments and would get free t-shirts ALL the time.  I am hoping that the job change will make those go away.)  Our bookshelves have cabinet doors on the bottom and I keep couch blankets there since they are in the living room.  This makes sense to me since the blankets are stored in the room we use them but he's mentioned being bothered by them being there a few times.  Silly little things.

DHs parents are going to keep the girls overnight for the first time ever on Friday.  Eek!  I am so excited and a little nervous.  I am sure they will be fine as they simply adore them and have been talking about this for months.  I've just never left them that long before. This feels like such a big deal to me!  We left DD1 one with them when DD2 was born but that doesn't really count. 

I am looking forward to Saturday too!  Some of the ladies from church are going to see Les MIserables and then out to dinner.  It should be a fun weekend!

I really don't need to start another project to try and accomplish before the baby comes BUT I think I am going to take on our little mud-room/porch area. It's pretty good size but we can hardly walk through there right now. I am envisioning some sort of cubby system along with a work table since that is the area we (I) do a lot of prep work for gardening and stuff for the animals. Our nice little coat hanger thing that we did have (that had too many heavy coats on it) fell right off the wall so everything is in a heap. Bleh!

Originally Posted by Trisha Kalous 

I've just found out tonight (thank you cloth diapering thread!!!) that there's mini portable washing machines and since we live in an apartment with coin-op laundry, DH just approved the purchase, so we're adding that to the list. The washer will pay for itself inside 4 months of washing diapes! Yayy!! http://www.walmart.com/ip/Haier-1.0-Cubic-Foot-Portable-Washing-Machine/13346456 It takes a lot of the money worries that came for us with cloth, because we're hoping that we can work finances out so I can stay home full-time after baby is born!

Ooooooooo! That thing is genius! We were trying to decide whether to fix the washer we have now or buy a new one. We decided to fix the one we have but that thing would be great out in our garage or porch for cloth diapers! That would def. beat lugging a wet pail up and down basement stairs! I want I want!

Originally Posted by eepeepee 

 Any suggestions on helping the relics of pre-baby life peacefully coexist with post-baby stuff?

The only suggestion I have is to remember that a new baby won't be able to get into your stuff until they start crawling or walking so you should have a good amount of time to decide what to do with it. It is nice to organize and feel that everything is in its place before baby comes though.

I am feeling like a slug the last few days. We just got a yogurt maker and a juicer and I was so pumped to start using them but the last few days I have been living off of cinnamon rolls, brownies, potato chips, and even sprite. I just feel gross! For some reason I haven't had an appetite for anything really but have just been snacking on crap. I made sure, even though I was dead tired this morning, to make a decent breakfast of eggs and sausage and had some coffee and RRLT. Then I walked on the treadmill for 15 minutes. I have some leftover kale from when I juiced last week so I am googling for some sort of kale smoothie. I think I am going to try this one: http://www.builtlean.com/2012/12/19/kale-smoothie-recipe/