Shall we do a "getting to know you" thread?

[savannah smiles]

I'm Jennifer and I'm 31 and due with my second child. My dd is almost 3.5 yrs old and we wanted a pretty big spacing between kids and that's what we got! We will be moving this month to the Seattle area and I'm really excited about that.
No major symptoms yet except a stuffy nose and sensitive nipples. With my last pg, I was really sick for almost 4 months so I'm hoping to avoid that this time.

[mommy2boys]

I am Erin, I am 25. This is my third child. Ds1 is 5 and ds2 turns 3 in May. This will put a 3.5 year age gap between the youngest. A little closer than we liked but it's a nice surprise. Dh is in the USAF and right now we live in Panama City Florida. I am a sahm.

As far as symptoms go I never really had morning sickness but I have been very nausiated the past couple of days, I have to pee all the time and I have heartburn too.

[SoggyGranolaMomma]

5th time is the last time!

My name is Kristina. I'm 31 and remarried for almost 4 years. I have 2 little girls, Aidyn 8yrs and Maison 6yrs, from my previous marriage. I have Jordyn 3yrs and Jonathan 2 yrs and am pregnant with our last.

I have always wanted to be an AP mom, but had little support with my first two children. Luckily my husband and his family were and are very supportive of my AP choices. I have also taken it upon myself to learn about every aspect of child rearing and the pros and cons of all "techniques" and "styles". I've had the most luck with the "follow my heart and trust my instincts" style and found by accident it matched the AP style.

I breastfeed, cosleep, no spank, no CIO, selective vax and am thinking of CDing this time.

I am a nurse by trade and a SAHM by choice. My husband owns a building company. We live in CT. We have a doggy named Nani, an adopted border collie. My hobbies are sewing, baking, knitting and Flylady. I look forward to sharing this experience with you all!!

[guestmama9915]

Hi everyone. I'm 26 years old and pregnant with #2. My precious girl is 11 months old, and #2 is a bit of a surprise - we were planning to wait a couple years! Oops. Kind of bad timing, we are living with DH's mom right now while he finishes school, but by the time #2 gets here we should *hopefully* have our own place.

I'm a WAHM, and completely in love with my first babe. And it may sound so awful, but I can't imagine loving anyone this much. I'm so afraid of not feeling the same way about this coming baby, or that some of the love I feel for my Alliecat is going to go away. :

Phew! Nice to get that off my chest... I hope I'm not the only one who feels this way! I'm still nursing DD1 and hope that will continue without problems. That's all for now!

[FillingMyQuiver]

Hi all . I'm Jenn, 25yo (will be on 3/20 at least ) and pg w/ baby#2. I'm a SAHM to DS who is 10.5mo. DH and I want as many kids as my body can handle giving birth to and we want them close together (I'm the oldest of soon to be 5 kids, my mom is 7mo. pg w/ another little bro for me ). I being a SAHM and can't wait to have more babes.

Let's see, how am I feeling lately? I don't have sensitive nipples yet (I'm nursing DS, looking forward to possibly tandem nursing ). I've noticed quite a bit of heartburn, but no morning sickness, I was sick for the 1st 14wks. w/ DS.

I'm really looking forward to this due date club, I didn't do this w/ babe#1 cuz I was working and I think it'll be fun to share all our fears, questions, symptoms, etc

[SoggyGranolaMomma]

I can relate the feelings about loving subsequent children as much as your first. I remember leaving for my induction and my firstborn was sleeping quietly in her bed. She was 23 mos old and had NO idea how her life was about to change. I thought about how unfair it was for us to chose to do this to her and CRIED the whole way to the hospital.

But Maison was such a joy and Aidyn never remembers what life was like without her. They are *very* close and were loving up until a few months ago (almost 9 and almost 7, they are starting to get on each other's nerves!) As you've heard before, your love doesn't divide, it multiplies. As it does too, I never knew my heart had such a capacity for love but I love ALL my kids fiercly and just as strong! Believe it or not!!

[mommy2boys]

Kristina,
That was beautiful and I was planning on saying something similar. Maybe its all these pregnancy hormones but it gave me tears in my eyes. I am a little worried about my youngest. He is a big mamas boy (he's sleeping in my arms right now). He gets jealous if I hold other babies. I hope that by talking to him lots about it and keeping him very involved I won't have too much jealousy issues.
Oh and I love the name soggygranolamom. I am excited to be involved in a birth board too, I went to a different more mainstream website with my last and hated it and didn't stay very long, but I know I will love it here.

[savannah smiles]

Soggygranolamomma,
We moved out west from Connecticut about 2 years ago. We lived in southern Fairfield county. It seems like you guys have had truly awful winters these past two years - have you been in the thick of all the snow?

[guestmama9915]

Thank you for that Kristina! Brought tears to my eyes, as well. And I know that I will love both of my babes so much, but I can't help but feel the loss of it just being me and my DD. I only found out I was pregnant a couple days ago, so it's all still sinking it. I am beginning to get excited. I was about to have a garage sale to sell all of DD's things she's grown out of - thank goodness I haven't yet! :LOL

I've also never done a due date club and hope to get to know everybody!

[SoggyGranolaMomma]

We have been PUMMELED by snow this year. It's good though because my husband plows!! Lotsa moola. He is a builder and his income tends to slow down in the winter. The plowing helps keep us in the black!

Due date clubs have been my LIFESAVER!! I didn't have one with Jonathan, just a more general board and it wasn't as much fun. I am still in contact with people from my list for Jordyn (we've been together 4 years!) and I was on one with Maison and still see one of the women I met through that board. We did gift exchanges, sent flowers, organized help and food for local women, it is terrific!!

I am a little sketchy about the fact that people can be "guests" and "lurk" on this board. I just have to have faith that freaks would find a better place for fodder than a mothering commune board!! :LOL

I usually have done yahoo groups in the past. Anyway, I'm here for the duration!! You guys all seem really great so far!

[PretzelBaker]

Hi I'm Libby and I am 26 (on 3/24). This is #2 for me. DS is almost 9 months old and I'm glad to be having them close (Dh was convinced because our really cheap/high quality health insurance is running out next feb. and i told him it would be much more practical to have #2 before then). I would like as many kids as possible but DH is resiatant. BUT, it started out he wanted just 2 and then we were planning #2 and I told him, well, i could be happy with just 2. And he said, well, um, maybe we should wait and see. I mean, we might want another. Haha. So, I'm hoping for a gaggle eventually. I will hopefully be starting medical school when my kids are 3 and 1.5, so #3 and beyond will have to wait a few years. But at least I will be able to afford my gaggle once I'm a doctor.

I co-sleep (DH not a fan but too bad for him), no CIO, cloth diaper (fuzzi bunz), am a SAHM but take a night class and volunteer a couple places. I feed DS soy formula due to his metabollic disorder (galactosemia). He also has an "unkown syndrome" which is mainly microcephaly (small head/small brain). They say he will have severe delays but so far he has NONE. i hate doctors (most of them). I saw an awful OB practice with my last pregnancy and I am seeing my sister's CNM practice this time. I would love to do homebirth but can't because of baby's predisposition to various health problems. I'd love to try water birth. I was given pitocin last time and am NOT letting that happen this time.

interests: writing, history, politics/activism, baking, eating, writing really long posts-sorry!

-Libby, EDD 11.16.05 (based on ovulation from charting)

[PM]

Gee, I get to be the elder in this group! I'm 37 years old. My beautiful girl will be 5 in April. It took me over 3 years to get pregnant. I had given up last October -- of course -- and went through a pretty dark depression! So this is a very pleasant surprise!

We live in Central Asia. It will be interesting to be pregnant here. I'll head back to Paris somewhere around the 7th month or so. I have a slot at the most natural-friendly clinic in Paris.

[Stacey247]

Hi, I'm Stacey. 28 years old, mother of 1 dd who is 14 months old. This new baby has me still a little shocked - we really weren't trying. But I'm starting to come around to the idea of two kids close together

DD is still nursing, and I really hope I can be laid back about it. My mom told me yesterday on the phone that I shouldn't wean her early though (yay for my mom!). And I think I'm just being hormornal.

Looking forward to getting to know all of you!

[memory maker]

hi I am carey and I will be 29 in april. my dh and I have been married for 9 years this year. our ds is 5 and we have a dd who is 21 months. My dd is still nursing for now and it wont bother me if she keeps doing it. we are expecting baby #3 around nov 2. glad to get to know all of you!

[Belleweather]

Hi, I'm Anne and I'm 27. DH and I have been married for nearly two years, and were trying to concieve for 18 months before we finally managed to get a BFP. This is my first pregnancy and will be our first child, so I guess I'll be the one asking all the stupid questions! That's okay, I have lots of practice .

DH and I are both graduate students -I'm in Law School and he's studying Biochemistry- so we're still trying to sort out what we're going to do about the mid-term arrival! We actually weren't trying this month, since I'd just started acupuncture and TCM so this November thing is kind of a suprize. Still, I'm sure all you ladies will be wonderful enough to make up for the shock!

[Feathere]

Hi Mamas.
I'm Heather, I'm 33 and expecting #2. I have one DD age 23 months, and she is still nursing. I had one ppaf and then conceived-- we were pleasantly surprised! I don't have any symptoms really other than needing to pee and being a bit tired. Does going through withdrawl of my daily beer count as a symptom?? I think I need to get Odouls NA to help me adust to the change.

We cd (working on potty learning with a goal of all day dryness by summer time!)and try for a natural family life, follow some ap principles... We live in rural midwest in a state that outlaws midwives. My husband might take a temp job overseas so that will make my pregnancy and delivery interesting, if it happens.

I am glad to meet other expectant mamas!

[MelW]

Hi, I'm Melanie. I'm 25 and am pregnant with my first. My husband and I have been together for 10 (!) years, married for just over 4. He's a writer (his first book is coming out next month) and works part-time for the university, I'm a maternity nurse. I'll have to do some "unlearning" to be a pregnant mama I think- forgetting and setting aside some of the nursing/medical side of things.

This baby is very planned and wanted, but we're still very mind-blown that it is actually happening! Lots of plans to be made, still. I'm looking forward to meeting you all!

[pajara2]

Originally Posted by ParisMaman

Gee, I get to be the elder in this group! I'm 37 years old.

Bump - not anymore I'm 38, will be a month shy of 39 when I deliver my 2nd child. My son is 10 years old, kind of a last minute decision to try to have one more. LOL

I'm due around 11/13, 11/15, or 11/16 depending on which method you look at. Like you can narrow down a birth to a day...

This will be a VBAC (fx) and I'm using a Medwife, so we'll see how that goes.
We're not super AP, but learning more everyday. I will be CD, while leaving disposables when baby stays with DP. I breastfed my son and plan to do the same with this one. I was also a SAHM the 1st year w/son, but will probably only be able to stay at home 3-6 mos this time. We'll be delay vaxing and NO CIRC if a boy.

We have been trying two cycles, and got pg with donor sperm using IUI this time.

hmmmm Interests - working on my truck, watching medical shows on Discovery Health, and doing stuff together.

Looking forward to learning and 'growing' *tee hee* with you all.

Ana

[kelly12]

Hello Everyone, I am 26 years old. My husband and I have been together 10 years, married for 1.5 years. We have 1 black lab and 2 cats. So, this baby will be our first human baby! We are very excited. I am a first grade teacher and my husband is a physist. We live in Massachusetts. I'm glad to be talking to other women due in Nov.

My first question is: Did anyone get cramping around the time of their expected period? I did and it was pretty painful, it is all gone now. I didn't have any bleeding so I think that is a good sign?

[3for3hb]

Hi lovely and luscious preggy mammas!!!
My name is Monique and I am 24 years old. My husband and I have known each other for 3 1/2 years and have been married since 9/02. Found out I was pg with #1 six months later, suffered a miserable, sick, overwhelming, depressing pregnancy with no one to talk to, had a homebirth with a hands-off (thank you!) laymidwife. Had lots of postpartum depression issues because I was so overwhelmed with being a new mom and still being in grad school and having gained about 14 sizes (lost all but about 12 pounds of it due to bfing)! That's all better now as my therapist, bless her, has helped me check back into life and find my groove again, so to speak. I am a chiropractic student about to graduate... in 17 days to be exact!!!
Very pro AP, but am still wondering how it all works in real life... just taking it a day at a time and reading lots of good books. We didn't circumcise, don't vaccinate, do cloth diaper, and try to be organic, natural, earthy and crunchy :LOL .
I am with you Zack419 on the still bfing and hoping to tandem. Willem will be 21 months when the new baby arrives. We think she'll be a girl and her name will be Serene. But we'll see. We thought Willem was going to be a girl too.
How I found out? We had actually been talking about working up the dough for the second bun as we approached Willem's birthday (which was also when my period was due) and then I never got a period. My husband muscle tested me (he's a chiropractor too) and I tested positive both ways. The pregnancy test (drug store) said I wasn't pregnant, but then again it took almost a half hour for the second line to show up with#1 and I was almost 10 weeks when I took it. I am waiting to miss my second period to take a test again but it's kind of pointless... I know my body and I know I am pregnant. Guess I just want the picture for the scrapbook. Oh yeah... love to scrapbook. I started when Willem was 3 months old and though I still haven't gotten past his first four months, I am totally hooked. Okay, enough introductions. I really try hard to write short but it never happens.