June 1st- June 14th chit chat.....wow!!! - Page 5

[Bearsmama]

Hi Everyone!
Gosh, it is so darn hot here. I HATE it. Thank the STARS for A/C. Call me a snob, but I just don't know what I'd do w/out it.

Unfortunately, I have not started down the only-wanting-liquids thing. I am hungry almost all the time. This is so different than last time. Last pregnancy, I still had very specific cravings, but this time I just want to eat, eat, eat almost everything. Nothing really is off-limits to me right now. In general, still wanting lots of carbs (not good) and trying to stay away from tomato-based products b/c they give me bad heartburn.

Anyone else having low cramping? I've had some of this for a few days in a row now. It's been typically happening at night. Last night I was putting some pictures away in an album and when I got up and started walking around, I had what seemed like contractions. So much so that I had to lean over at one point and hold on to the couch. It took my breath away. My
DH told me tonight that he went to bed thinking that we'd have to go to the hospital at any moment. I don't think they're Braxton Hicks b/c my belly does not get hard or tight when it happens. So far so good tonight, but we'll see.

Had some pregnancy rage at my DH at a local furniture store today. It was a bit ugly. It's like I suddenly, and for no real reason, turned into that spinning head from The Exorcist. The only thing missing was the pea soup!This usually happens about 1x per pregnancy. Don't get me wrong-general pregnancy grumpiness is always here, but this lashing out doesn't happen that often.

AP! So happy to see you (so to speak)! And to hear that you're feeling a bit better.

Still loving all the comments on various slings. I wish I could buy a few and try them all out.

Starting to re-read my Sears Birth Book (gives a nice overview of lots of different birthing techniques). Also picked up one of the Ina May books (most recent???) and started to read a bit in the bookstore. I am feeling more empowered every day that this birth CAN be different than the horrible experience I had the last time. I feel a little "unprepared", however, b/c I am not ascribing to any one technique or "method". I'm just trying to get into my breathing, and read, read, read. I hope this doesn't leave me unprepared...

Anyway, I can't tell you all how much I LOVE checking in with you here. I get so much out of this little pregnancy community. So much...

Belly getting big, big big. Can't wait to meet this little bug. So exciting...
Sleep well!

[ilovebeingamom]

Hi everyone,

I just got back from a girls night out. It was fun. I almost didn't go b/c it was mostly pretty mainstream, upper middle class moms. I almost left when they talked about the south beach diet for 1/2 hour. But they were drinking and became pretty amusing. I found out some good gossip, and decided I like them better drunk and away from their kids. I am also starting to enjoy shocking people. They were giving one of my friends a little bit of a hard time when she had to leave so she could nurse her 13 month old to sleep. They were like, you are STILL nursing her? I then said, I nursed my son for three years! So that got them off her case.

My SIL just left her two month old baby for two days with grandma while she and her husband went away. I can't believe it. First of all, I would never leave my child with this woman to begin with. Second of all, she is only two months old! I can't even imagine with this baby when I will be comfortable leaving her overnight with someone. I think ds was 1 1/2, but not sure. Even then it was torture. I just think of LLL's advice "a baby's need for their mother is as strong as their need for food."

I have a midwife appt. and chiro appt. tomorrow. More webster to try and get this girly girl head down. Last night I couldn't sleep and she was kicking around alot, so I decided I would play with her. I got out the flashlight and starting shining it on my belly and moving it around. She kicked me soo hard! It was so funny. SHe is moving around a lot, so it gives me hope that she isn't getting too comfy in one position.

Here are some belly pics, although they are a few weeks old, need to take another one soon! http://melissa.ryba.net and click on belly pics. Take care everyone!

[mommycaroline]

Wow, Melissa, leaving a 2 month old overnight for two nights would really upset me, too. Although, I guess at 2 months, they'll recover easier than say, 11 months, when separation anxiety kicks in big time. I still haven't left my 2 1/2 year old (3 in Sept.) and am dreading that aspect of birthing our new baby. Ugh!

Stuck with insomnia again tonight. Have an OB appt. tomorrow to review my diet and blood sugars. Hopefully that will go well. I think I may have finally gained some weight this time, I hope anyway. I've been very diligent about eating high fat, high calorie, high protein foods (nuts, cheeses, meats, etc) so that may have done the trick. I've only gained 2 pounds this pregnancy so far, and they were concerned at my last visit. But, I just can't eat very much. Food aversions are rampant, I'm sick if I eat too much at one time, and most food just doesn't appeal. Normally I LOVE food, I'm overweight, and I didn't get this way by starving myself, but somehow when I'm preggo, food just starts nauseating me. Go figure. I wish it were the other way around!

No cramping here, Bears. But, sometimes when I go to stand up from a laying down position, it's like I completely dislocate my belly or something. Ouch! I definitely have to support myself while I'm getting up these days. And, rolling from one side to the other takes a crane, I think. But, it's all in the name of growing a baby, so it's good.

You know, I really wish I could just enjoy this pregnancy. I'm still hanging in the shadows of last time around, afraid of repeating the same health issues, worried about what I'm eating (or not), what I'm gaining (or not), whether I'll be suffocated by interventions, how things will actually go for the birth. I'm just so preoccupied with all those things that I'm not really enjoying the experience at all. I'm going to talk to my OB about it tomorrow. I need them to give me some space to just relax and enjoy. I hope she can honor that, but I'm afraid with my history, she won't. I don't want to spend the next 2 months logging every bite that crosses my lips, checking my blood sugar constantly, wondering "is it okay if I eat yet, or do I have to wait another hour?"

Well, got called away last night, and didn't post this message. Bonnie woke up, and thankfully, after an hour of comforting her, we both fell back asleep. This is the second night in a row she woke with a nightmare. Hope it's not a pattern.

[frognladybugmama]

yay apmama, glad to see you're on the mend and back! hope you're back to normal in no time!

oh poor jillybean, i can commiserate w/ the broken a/c - that happened while i was pg w/ shelby...i cried, then went to the il's for the night lol...

i am crampy/have bh's much of the time lately, especially when i do too much...i had some bh's w/ shelby that started about 32wks, but it started much earlier this time. overall, it's not too bad though - sometimes a bit uncomfortable, but nothing painful really yet. i too am spending much of my time thinking about birthing this baby - and how i want it to be soooo different from my other two births. it consumes me to say the least - so much so that i'm dreaming of having the baby at home, unassisted - although that would never happen. while i trust my body, i don't know that i could do it for fear something would happen to the baby and we live 1.25 hrs from the hospital - transport isn't an option in an emergency. besides, i love my OB - he's quite crunchy for a dr and the situations in my previous births were not in his control...anyways...

we're enjoying blueberry muffins for breakfast, yummm...kiddos are happy, mama's happy lol. i'm eating everything in sight now, big change from a few weeks back when i felt stuffed after a few bites. i wonder if it's because he's changed position/dropped some...he's a lot lower in my abdomen than it seemed he was a few wks ago. he's a lot bigger too though - i am scared to see how big he really is lol!

[SamuraiEarthMama]

caroline, thanks for the sling link! looks intriguing...

a two-month-old? yikes. i'm a subscriber to the "nine months in, nine months out" theory... that baby really doesn't perceive itself as separate from mama for about nine months (or at least the first three or four, also known as the fourth trimester). has anyone read "our babies, ourselves" by meredith small? it's a look at "how biology and culture shape the way we parent." i highly recommend it... explains a lot of my instincts that i otherwise couldn't express very well. and i especially liked the explanation about why our babies are born so helpless compared to other mammals (the facts that we walk upright which has tweaked our pelvises, and the growing size of our skulls, conspire evolutionarily to force our babies to be born before they're really ready... they need another couple months of "womb time," ie carrying, nursing, swaddling, cosleeping, etc. to finish their development properly). it's a fascinating book... i wish i could loan you all my copy!

juju, there are some nice threads on waterbirth going on over at Birth and Beyond, but the general consensus is that that "fishy pool" is the cheapest and most useful... it has three padded wall sections, plus a padded floor. here's a link to the page it's on, with some others: Quality Inflatables. the "fishy pool" is fifth row down, first column, "aquarium ocean graphic pool" i think. my ten-year-old has been breaking it in for me. i'll be hooking it up to my washer line for the hot water, and an outdoor hosebib for cold. i've heard of waterbed adaptors for sinks that help with filling and draining pools, but have no experience with them. i'd be happy to talk more about waterbirth if you have more questions!

saw my midwife yesterday, and felt funky driving out there. it just got worse, until i actually had to go puke in her bathroom. i couldn't believe it! i had eaten, and i haven't been sick in a couple of weeks. of course, she was used to it, but still... no fun at all. i felt a bit better once i got home and lay down for a bit, but later that evening it started up again and sure enough, right when i was getting ready for bed, everything erupted again. twice in one day! NO FAIR! today my stomach is still a little funky, but right now it's my burning throat that's unhappy (stupid, stupid me thought a glass of OJ with breakfast was a good idea). poor me, whine whine whine.

other than heaving my guts out, everything else checked out OK at the midwife's. so that's good at least.

i hit senior member status last night, which means i probably shoot my mouth off waaay too much around here!

something else happened last night... we stopped at the grocery store, and a total stranger mentioned my pregnancy! this is the first time, and i'm 33 weeks... i try not to be cranky that other gals get noticed from the 12th week, and just enjoy it while it lasts. but finally, other people can tell! whoopee!

hope all the sinus infections and broken a/cs are all better by now...

katje

[Solange]

:

I went for my 32 week appt today. I lost 2 lbs. My CNMW was not upset b/c she knows I have been really sick with this sinus infection. So she said she was not going to freak out over it. She did tell me however to make sure I stay out of this heat we have had for the past two days and to make sure I am getting my 10 kicks a day from the baby and drink drink drink....she said the incidence of still births last summer was a bit high so she always trys to really pound in the staying cool/ hydrated and kick counts. So, a little anxiety there, but the awareness I guess is good.

Katje you poor girlie......being sick is not fun.....congrats on senior memeber!! SO what are you going to have for a title?????

Heather pleeeease pass over some of those blueberry muffins....

Caroline let us know how your appt goes...

ahhh Melissa...your SIL sounds like mine....one left her baby a two weeks of age and the other a t a month...they just could not wait for some time away...soooo early...just breaks your heart....hope you get the baby head down today at your chiro appt.

Dear Bears, remember our babies are gaining about a pound a week now from here on out so your food hunger is well deserved. I cannot wait to start really eating eating again... I love food and I hate to think that I have lost weight...I really want to eat for my baby!!! Maybe your cramping means you need more drinks or it is time to rest......try not to worry....

ok gtg
ttys

[Jillybean]

hi!

Thanks for the commiserating and well wishes on my broken A/C! I felt so silly crying over it. But, its fixed now! And thank the universe b/c it is hot hot hot today! Dh has ds outside and I am hiding in the A/C ahhhh....

ap: wow that scary about stillbirths going up in the summer, i didn't know it could be related. You're right though, its good to be aware. I am thirsty all the time and can't stand being out in the heat so I think I'm doing pretty well staying hydrated and cool!

katje:sorry to hear you are still so sick! hope it goes away again for you soon! Oh and I have read "Our Babies Ourselves" I loved it! I think anthropology and sociology are fascinating, esp. when its related to parenting. I think all parents should read it, it really makes you stop and think about why we parent the way we do (in terms of mainstream type stuff)

well I am still mostly wanting liquids ( I actually had soup for dinner last night...heat and all!) but here I am eating Peanut M&M's of all things. Oh well, at least it has protien, right?

mommycaroline: I hope your appt. goes well and you can get your doc to back off a bit. you need to enjoy this pg before its over! Although I understand why its difficult. Good luck

Ok ds wants me to read to him so thats all for me. Talk to ya soon!

[LizaBear]

Got my RhoGam shot today - my arse HURTS now

Can you believe it took me 6 hours from leaving home to returning home to get the thing ? For a 3-second shot in my rump ?

40+ mins to hospital
Did not have the paperwork for blood work (the hospital "needed" to get my blood typing done there )
Have blood drawn (thankfully I wasn't required to wait for the requsition to be faxed in)
Wait 3 HOURS for the lab to process my blood (my family and I hung out at a local mall and had lunch)
Back to the hospital
20+ minute wait for a maternity nurse and an empty room
3-second shot
40+ minutes home

And now my rump hurts

[Jlcampbellkidz]

Goodness. It took almost an hour to catch up on all the posts!

Frog: great pics. Thanks for sharing the links.

Liza: Thank you, Good site. I am such a visual learner

Mommy Caroline: thank you, Everyones experiences wiht diffents slings and BF techniques is very helpful to me. Oh and i completely sympathize with the panties, and laughing thing.

Juju: good to hear from you. It's been a while!

Jilly: Oh -goodness. I couldn't survive w/o my AC. specially at night. i can't sleep w/o the air blowing directly on me.

AP: if your baby hasn't flipped by 34 wks i have dome great tips for trying to have it turn.

Bears: I have LOTS of low cramping here. It feels like a really uncomfy menstruel cycle. Oh and I think the most important thing to being prepared is just trusting your instincts. Sounds like you have educated yourself in many different options. Who says you have to choose and stick to just one. i bet you'll do great.

Melissa: Nice belly pics

[Jlcampbellkidz]

Ok, sorry I sent that last post before I was finished writing.
I had the midwife appointment today and it went really good. Great BP 110 over 70. Aparently I have only gained 18 pounds to this point. Such a relief to not be gaining that awful 50 pounds like last time. It was so much more uncomfortable. Babies heart was like 140 something. I am measuring right on at 32cm. And I had the MW palpate, she said babe is head down. Yeah. Now I just hope she stays that way. We went through my birth plan and I asked her all the questions I had been meaning to ask but always couldn't remember. (I was smart this time and had them written down)!
When the apt. was over my DD and I surprised a friend that I used to work with before she was born and we had lunch with her. The she napped on the way home and we went to the mall. JCpenny had a sale and I got two more nursing bras. Motherhood also had a sale on some of the nursing tops and i got three of those. The best thing we did together though was 'build a bear' She had so much fun. Even though I'm not sure she won't take ownership, the bear she made is supposed to be for the new baby. We'll see. It was fun though, and not as expensive and I thought it would be. She even added her own voice tag, which I will cherrish forever. I love thier little sweet voices at this small age!
Well my DH is home and my tummy is asking for food. Have a great evening.

Laurie

[mommycaroline]

So, my appt today was both good and bad. As soon as I got there, the receptionist told me that "the doctor is in a hurry to get to a meeting, so I'm glad you're early", then I sat and waited in the lobby for 35 minutes before they called me back. Grrr! And, when I asked "I thought she was in a hurry, when will she be seeing me?" I was told "if you make your appt this late in the day, you're really taking a gamble." Double Grrr! This was the only time she could see me, I didn't have a choice, and it was HER idea for me to come in anyway. I already had another appt for two weeks from now, but they wanted me to come in early and talk about GD, so there I was.

THEN, they decide to draw blood from me, which is difficult under normal circumstances. Bonnie is sooooo incredibly clingy lately, and she didn't want to leave my side, so I was a stress case. They poked me four times before giving up and saying I need to go to the lab, and a couple of those times really hurt. The nurse even talked about drawing blood from the inside of my wrist, something that makes me really squeamish for some reason, and I started feeling really panicky and scared and said "No thank you!" to that. So, at that point, the doctor finally comes around and says "I have one little thing I have to go to the hospital for, but I'll be back in 10 minutes" (the hospital is right across the street from her office). I burst into tears and said "I have other things to do, my husband is taking time off work, we've already been here over an hour and I'm starving for lunch. I'll have to come back another day" (knowing I'm leaving town on Monday for over a week) She then says she'll have one of the midwives meet with me right away, and not to worry about it. Well, damn it! I only came in to meet with the OB because it was HER idea, and waited and waited, and now I find out I could have just seen a midwife all along? GRRRRRRRRR!!!! But, better in a way, because I really like the midwife I got to see, much better than anyone else in that office.

So, by the time I see Abby (the midwife), I'm already in tears, overwrought, starving, in pain from the blood draws, and stressed about this new test they want me to take that I know nothing about. I just sat there and cried. She's all worried about me now because my reaction seems more than just "pregnancy blues". Well, duh! I don't want to be in an OB's practice, I want my home birth VBAC, or at the very minimum a birth center VBAC, because I hate the care you receive with an overbooked OB. I'm mostly fine about everything else in my life, but when it comes to medical management of this pregnancy, I'm falling apart. Nothing is going the way I want it to, and I feel powerless to change it. There's no other doctor in town that will let me have a VBAC, and I'm just not brave enough for an unassisted birth. There was one other practice who does VBAC's but now that I'm looking GD in the face, the chances with them dropped completely out of possibility.

Thankfully, Abby is this really sweet woman, and just gave me some TLC. Rubbed my shoulders, and really comforted me. I tried to not bawl like I wanted to, but definitely let some of it out. Soooo hard with my two year old standing right there saying "Mommy, don't be sad..." We talked through my questions, she did the normal check uppy sort of things, and she confirmed that the baby is head down, which I've been suspecting for a few weeks. Even told me how to tell if it's a butt or a head. (If you hold both the head and the butt at the same time and move one, they move differently. The head will move independently, but the butt will make the whole body wiggle. Try moving your own head and butt, and you'll see what I mean.)

I'm measuring 4 weeks ahead, which she's a little concerned about, but not too concerned about. I gained three pounds since my last visit (at long last!) so I'm up 5 pounds overall. And, I was so elated about this, I worked soooo hard to gain this weight, and she looks at me and says "I don't care if you gain weight or not, I just want you to feel good." Which is the exact opposite of the scary advice I got last time, which was "you're not eating enough, you need to drink juice, the baby may not grow properly, blah, blah, blah" I feel like every time I go in and see someone different, I get a different story. I think from now on, I want to only see Abby, if I can.

Why can't this just be easy? That's what I really want to know. Why can't I just gestate in peace? Why do the medical folks have to be so concerned? Is there really some devastating thing that will happen because my blood sugar doesn't do well when I drink an abnormal amount of sugar on an empty stomach? And, does my being overweight *really* impact my pregnancy that much? By this time last pregnancy, I was already starting to show some pre-eclampsia symptoms. But, not so this time. I'm doing much better. No swelling, eating tons of protein, salt as needed, etc, etc. That's what I would really be scared about, and if that's what they were trying to protect me from, well, I'd be totally on board with that. But, it's all the other unknown BS that I'm not being informed of that's driving me bonkers.

Okay, so that vent is done. I hope everyone is having an easy day, and I'll try to catch up later. I'm just overwhelmed right now. I need a bath!

[lena_girl]

caroline Sorry you had a bad day. I'm glad that you are having a better pregnancy this time around though.

My BH's have also really been increasing, with some becoming kinda painful. They are really low and feel like they are pushing down on the baby. I feel like I just hit this wall where suddenly I was *very* pregnant.

Dh comes home tommorow We haven't seen him in 4 weeks! DS has been having a really hard time without him b/c the two of them just have a special relationship I can't duplicate for him. He loves to play with his daddy and somehow even when I play the same games their just not as fun for him. My house is pretty messy though, and frankly I just feel so unmotivated to get it all straighted up purty. I will, I just won't enjoy doing it!

I've been spending a lot of my time obsessing about diapers. I think I finally have my whole stash figured out and ordered!

Well, hope you ladies are having a good night! Healthy baby vibes to all!

[Jlcampbellkidz]

Mommy Caroline: and more I'm not VBACing and don't have to face any of the obsticles you are facing and yet I find myself worried about having a hospital birth. Kinda put's it all in perspective for me. So sorry, that this hasn't been a great experience for you. It pisses me off that any of us woman can be treated so horribly. I am thinking of you and praying for you. I really hope things work out positivly for you in the end. Just a few more weeks.

Laurie

[frognladybugmama]

s mommycaroline...what a rough time you're having - i hope things get better! maybe this new midwife will be an answered prayer for you!

i'm in full-nesting mode now i think - so how soon is too soon for preparations? i haven't washed anything or gotten it out...when should i start? i'm 30wks now, i had everything done waaaaaay before this point w/ the others, but felt like i needed to rewash it all before they arrived since it sat for so long...i've not gotten the carseat down or the packnplay - i'm sure both of those need to be taken apart and washed etc completely as well!

[Bearsmama]

Hi Ladies,
Hot, hot, HOT!!! That's what it is here. The only good news is that by Saturday it's supposed to cool off a bit.

Feeling so LARGE and in CHARGE these days. I am literally hungry all the time. Which makes sense b/c I'm remembering that the little babe is packing on the pounds now.

Haven't had any cramping last night or today.

Caroline- I'm so sorry you're having such a hard time. I'm sure it's hard to hear ME complain about the little 'ol things when you are under such stress. Please keep trying to remain positive.

Ilove-Yeah, I know it may seem a bit judgmental, but I have had issues in the past when I hear of mommies leaving their their little ones so darn early. Someone I know IRL was planning a long weekend away WHILE she was pregnant for when the little one was only 2 months! I agree with Katje-and I've also heard GREAt things about Our Babies Ourselves. You know, I got a lot out of The Continuum Concept, too in this regard. Of course, it's a bit different reading-wise-more analytical and such. But talks a lot about how in the beginning our babies NEED us. Physically, Emotionally, etc. And then they start to sit up and move a bit and you can see even in their eyes how YES they want mama, but they don't NEED mama in the same way. They start moving AWAY from us in small but significant ways. Okay. I'll stop now!

Frog-I'm a muffing lover myself. Love to make 'em, love to eat them!

Katje-Sorry you're still :Puke (sorry I can't resist the smilies tonight). And thanks to you and everyone else again for all the sling info...

AP-Keep drinking! I know it's easy to say on the other side, but I wouldn't worry about the 2 lb loss considering how sick you've been. I know when I've had sinus infections the LAST thing you want to do is EAT. Just keep trying to get down as much liquid as you possibly can.

Jilly-Praise the A/C GODS! I just don't know how you do it w/out it!

Liza- Would a bath help????

JL-Thanks for the encouragement about labor/delivery. I am trying to stay centered, not get too freaked out, and remain positive that things don't have to be like they were last time (briefly-induced b/c water broke with no contracts and had Pit-UGH!). Also, nice to know you, too, are having some crampy feelings. At least I don't feel alone!

Lena-Glad to hear that your DH is home! This past month must have been really, really hard for you...

Anyway, that's it for me. Might need a snack...
Sleep well

[ilovebeingamom]

Hi everyone,

Boy we are chatty! I had my mw appt today (and the chiro) and the baby IS HEAD DOWN!!! YEAH!!! When she told me I just had tears of relief rolling down my face. Ds was never head down, so I am pretty confident that if this babe is head down, she will stay that way. I am going to keep squatting and working on posture to keep her in a good position. But, now I feel like I can relax and be happy about the upcoming birth.

Mommycaroline-I am sorry you had such a rotten appt. Dr.'s are soo insensitive at times. Could the mw deliver your baby or does it have to be the OB? I hope things start looking up soon for you. From a fellow worrier, I know how stressful it can be. That is one reason we aren't having any more children after this, I worry too much throughout the pg. We will adopt if we want anymore!

Dh invited SIL (who left the baby for two days) over tomorrow for a bonfire to roast marshmallows. I gave him a look when he told me that, but didn't say anything. I just don't want to be around her right now. Not that she is a horrible person, but ya know, I am just too disgusted still and need some time to recuperate.

Hopefully tonight I sleep. Good night!

[Solange]

:
Oh Caroline what frustrating day it must have been for you.....how insentive can that OB be? for you.....

Liz bear..not fun....

Oh Melissa that is great news!!!

I forgot to mention yesterday that my little bean is head down too....I asked my CNMW yesterday b/c you know I did not think the baby flipped but she said "Oh no..that is a head down here.." so that made me happy too.
Caroline I like your "how to tell the difference between head and bottom..." it is true about the movement aspect ...lol...

Laurie glad you had a good visit and a fun day shopping with your DD....

I am almost snot free today! Wooo-hoo!!

gtg
grocery list awaits....

[foxytocin]

HI everyone! My, there's a lot to catch up on!

Ap- glad you are over the sinus infection. It'd be ok w/ me if I never had another one again in my life. What finally kicked it? I'm curious.

And so many of us have heads-down babies! Good news. We're not yet, but I'm not worried. Maybe next week I'll worry.

Been getting real nauseus the last few days and lots of heat flashes. Must be another hormonal spike of some sort. Can't seem to eat the right amount of food at the right time for the life of me. Heart burn is there too, trouble breathing, peeing all the time, all the usual crowded organ stuff.........
got to talking to DH last night, tho, and it hit me all of a sudden that we really only have a few weeks of this discomfort before the baby drops and the pressure eases up a bit. We're in the home-stretch, ladies! I'm thinking this will probably be our last pregnancy, so I really want to savour the next few weeks as much as I can (maybe it'll help me keep my chin up when July gets so oppressive.)
And yeah, if our AC broke down, I would most definitely cry. How ladies did this in Lousiana in the 1800's, I'll never know. They probably were sick a lot, is my guess. And good hygiene in a place so hot and muggy!

The sling discussion was wonderful! We have a maya wrap. Love it and am using it unexpectedly again with DD......she's getting clingier the larger I get. I only used it to nurse in in public a few times b/c I was too chicken, but this time around that doesn't seem at all like a thing to worry about. Funny how you lose your modesty with the whole becoming a parent adventure. I'd nurse a kid in public with a sling now w/o a second thought. Or maybe we just get stronger and more opinionated about our actions?

DH went swimming with us twice this week and it was so fun to be together as our little family. I look at him wading with DD and feel super-duper lovey-dovey; it's like we're slowing down to enjoy ourselves one last time before the new arrival throws everything upside-down. Halcyion days.

Here's a question:
I'd like to print out a bunch of our posts to keep as a journal of this pregnancy. Have any of you tried this? Is there any easy way to print out the threads or do I have to go back and search for specific ones that I want?

[lena_girl]

Regarding nursing in slings, I am a very modest person. I did NIP when neccessary but tried to not make it obvious. With DS I went on a trip when he was 5 months old and nursing him all over the place including all thru the airport and on the plane without anyone being the wiser. I actually felt more discreet using it too. The reason I am using a pouch sling this time is only because I have a hard time with the ring sling with being a petite person. It just didn't seem to fit me right. To tighten it enough to fit me it seemed to not leave enough room for DS. Plus the tail was just incredibly long! Of course I still have the ring sling as a backup!

vibes to all babies who aren't head down yet.

[Dodo]

Hi ladies,

I’ve been too lazy too post for a while. I have however been keeping up with each and every one of your posts.

This is a little late, but AP I was sorry to hear that you were suffering from a sinus infection.

And Katje, how awful to still have morning sickness. I really think that’s terrible luck.

Bears, I have constant cramping.

Caroline, I think that receptionists have to be very nasty indeed before a dr. will hire them. I’m still not sure why this is! My dr.’s receptionist acts like a guard dog.

The discussion regarding Our Babies, Ourselves, specifically how our babies need us less as they grow, made me think about how independent my dd is becoming. This week she started sleeping in her own twin, no problem. Yesterday, she insisted that I take her back to daycare because she thought I had picked her up too early. All the big parenting things – weaning, potty training – have been insanely easy with her. Last night I was reading the Summer Fiction Issue of the New Yorker. It has three short stories in it by Alice Munro, in which a mother who loses contact with her adult daughter assumes that her daughter is off on some esoteric spiritual journey only to discover years later that her daughter is essentially a soccer mom. It made me cry. My dd is only two and she is already so peer-identified. I mean, she’s been that way since she was six-months old. I’m looking forward to having an infant to cuddle.

I feel exhausted today. And more than a little irritable. Dh wanted to stay home because he didn’t have anything to do at school, but I asked him not to. Better for the marriage.

Take care, everyone.