Feb 06 Mamas, NEW weekly Anything Chat (Sep. 17-24)

[Jlcampbellkidz]

So sorry mamas. Life has been crazy and havn't had time to start a new weekly chat. When that happens someone else is welcome to start us a new week on their own

Chat Away!

MOST OF US HAVE EITHER PASSED OR ARE ALMOST TO THE HALF WAY POINT!

[PGNPORTLAND]

how is everyone!

Oh no, nobody has responded yet! Come on Mammas this is my favorite thread. I guess I'll be the first. I think I am nesting early if that is possible. Last week I went crazy cleaning my house and I am not normally domestically inclined. I scrubbed and vacuumed and couldn't get enough. I also went to alot of garage sales and got cute but useless items to decorate my house. At the some time I became obssessed with throwing away completely useless items that are not cute to make room for the new stuff I bought!

No kicking yet but I am anxiously waiting for one. I am almost 21 weeks but she is my first baby and I am well padded in my tummy area so I am trying not to worry too much.

We went looking for baby furniture yesterday and were overwhelmed. Luckily I have been reading good baby product book that warn about buying lots of useless stuff and my mom's going to get us the furniture when she comes to visit in November.

Well hopefully others will write now that I have broken the seal . . .

[charmcitymama]

That is wonderful that your mom is going to buy your furniture for you!

If you are getting a crib, I would try to get one that converts to a headboard for a twin or double bed later on. I don't know what they are called and who makes them, but, I think that would be so practical. Or I guess that would be moot if you are going to have more kids and use the crib again.

[Honeybee'smama]

Well I managed to survive almost three weeks of constant house guests or being house guests. That ended with one of my best friends getting married this last weekend--and I made the cakes! So of corse we came home on Sunday (no guests!) and this morning I woke up with a killer cold : Thankfully weekday life seems to be calming down. We are still out of town for 3 of the next 4 weekends...this is all wearing on dd and obviously my immune system!

I also seem to have some random nesting moments...hmmm what's that about so early?

[*violet*]

We went looking for baby furniture yesterday and were overwhelmed. Luckily I have been reading good baby product book that warn about buying lots of useless stuff and my mom's going to get us the furniture when she comes to visit in November.

Ah, I remember with ds when I was so excited to go to the baby gear store to look for furniture and stuff and ended up breaking down in the rocking chair section, sobbing that we couldn't afford to even have a baby if stuff cost that much! It was true, we couldn't.

Luckily, I kept my eyes open and bought a crib on eBay (okay, so we only used it twice, but I really thought I would need it), a bassinet at a consignment store and friends lent us a changing table and lots of other gear. All that, combined with the most huge baby shower you can imagine (dh's enormous family knew how hard things were for us, bless them). The only thing we really blew money on was the carseat, and of course, it all worked out. I'll never forget that terrible day in the baby store, though.

[PGNPORTLAND]

hooray. I got people to write! Yes those cribs with headboards are everywhere now. You can hardly find one without. They are called 2 in 1s, 3 in 1s, or even 5 in 1s, cause some of them convert into a toddler bed, adult bed, chairs, Stereo systems (just kidding)! My partner loved the idea of things cause he is an engineer and loves multi tasking furniture. He also loved the bassinett that had all these gadgets attatched like a massager, rocking motion, and lullabye player and I HATED that one. I don't think a newborn baby needs to be jostled about so much and I don't like all the wires attatched to it. Plus I think maybe it's bad for the baby to get used to falling asleep with all those bells and whistles. My mom suggested a Moses basket with a stand cause I want the baby to sleep by me in my bed for a while. What do people think of those? I actually liked them better than the co-sleeper. I had my heart set on the arms reach co sleeper but when I actually saw it. I didn't really like it. I also had one of those moments in the rocking chair section! I think that's why they put them there.

Honeybees Mamma, hope your cold is better. I pm 'd you about next week. You mentioned that you made cakes for your friends wedding and I Immediatly though to myself "cake? I like cake" and may have to get some at wild oats on the way home. Maybe I will even try to make one myself - stranger things have happened. Does anyone know if a sudden desire to cook or bake is ever included in the nesting urge? That would be great for me since I never cook or bake.

Take care everyone! Thank you Jcampbell for starting this thread again!

[Katykatt]

I had my heart set on a co-sleeper too, but we didn't like them when we saw them. It is all so crazy expensive. We got a carseat and we're going to get a crib this week (on sale). This is our first, so I'm learning as we go along...has anyone put a crib up against the side of the bed to use like a co-sleeper???

[russianthistle]

This is my first pregnancy, too. I am adverse to spending too much $$$ (as I don't have much as it is) on things that the baby will easily grow out of. My mom is incredibly supportive as is my mate's mom. I do have a bassinet already and will be getting a crib shortly after the baby is born. I don't want to rush and get everything I think I'll need right now as I will probably have the tendency to overbuy nearly everything!!! I also live in a very small house with very little room for anything other than what is necessary. I mean, it's a baby...not a whole family that I'm producing here!!!

I am 19 weeks and have felt much more movement recently. Even an abrupt kick or two when I lie down at the end of a long day. It was neat to feel the kick with my hand on my belly...before I had only felt movement inside.

I am popping out and nearly out of my jeans held together with rubberbands. My regular shirts are out of the question at this point. I need something that hits the tops of my thighs at this point. I haven't gained much weight but my belly seems to be growing by leaps and bounds. I notice differences daily! I am finding that I am a little less comfortable while I sleep...and my dreams are out-of-this-world-crazy!

I have to say that pregnancy sure is interesting! And different than I ever could have imagined.

[Sleepymama]

Arms reach co-sleeper--worst baby purchase ever! I bought online and didn't see it before I bought it. DS slept in it maybe twice, then it was the most expensive diaper basket ever. Went to ebay when he was 4mo old. It was just a major PITA to put together or move (it is NOT portable!!), and DS hated it.

I have an amby baby hammock, which we got when he was 6 months old and love it! They are a lot more expensive now than when i bought mine though. But I also want a moses basket for those quick put-baby-down to save toddler from electrocuting himself moments :LOL since the hammock will be mostly upstairs in our room.

[savannah smiles]

I'm 21w2d and had my big u/s on Monday. Everything looked great with the baby and I'm very happy to hear that. We stuck to our decision not to find out the gender so we'll be waiting until Feb. to find out if we're having a son or daughter.
I went to TJ Maxx yesterday and went a little crazy in the baby clothes section, lol! I bought a lot of the baby gowns since I remember loving them so much with my dd.
We've moved 3 times since she was an infant and in the process we've lost the changing table (it broke) and the top half of our bassinett (it went missing) so I'm going to replace those by going to a consignment shop. The big splurge I want to make is on a glider because that's something I'd use long after the baby is grown.

[Plady]

Hi Mamas,

Thought I'd check in here for the first time. I'm about 19 weeks and finally feeling a good amount of movement in there. I'm in a pair of hand-me-down maternity jeans for the first time today. They are still quite large on top and I have to keep pulling them up but nothing else fits comfortably anymore (except for gym pants, but there's a limit to how many days in a row I'm willing to look like a total slob. I think this pregnancy is really weird. I've gained 20 pounds since the 6th week but my clothes have fit longer this time than last time. I guess I'm just carrying differently. But I'm a little scared to think how much bigger I'm going to get! Does anyone have any experience with Bellybras? I just ordered one on Amazon. It was a little expensive but the thought of having a little support holding up this belly was too appealing.

About sleepers etc. I used a moses basket for 1/2 of the first night with dd and then she stayed in bed with me and dh and has been there ever since. I did use the moses basket on the kitchen table so I could work around her and she could watch me but she never really slept in it at all. We thought about getting a crib but never bothered.

With dd I used a rebozo a lot and it was fine but I always kept one hand on her just in case so this time I'm excited to try one of the slings or wraps (those mei tais look pretty clever) so I can wear baby on my back a bit. What are you all thinking about?

[forest~mama]

Hi mamas~
I don't think we will get a crib. I'm pretty sure it wouldn't get used. My friend has offered to give me her bassinet, so hopefully that will work for a while next to the bed. I have been searching for a new midwife, and it's funny, I've been so preoccupied with that, I haven't been thinking much about baby stuff around the house. I posted this in the I'm pregnant board, but have any of you ever felt like you belly got smaller? Mine was tall and peaked while laying down a few days ago, but now it seems flatter and smaller. My belly isn't that big anyway, being my first but???? I hope everyone's week is going great!

[april77]

Chelsea - I remember that how my belly looked changed with the position that dd was in, especially as she got bigger. They can make for some weird lumps and bumps on the belly. This babe has been all on my left side lately. You can't really see it, but you can feel the difference and it makes sleeping on my left impossible.

[My Three Boys]

oh Nicole!! The thought of you in that store breaking down because you thought you needed all that stuff just tears at my heart!! On the one hand I'm angry at the marketing people that make vulnerable women think that they need it. On the other, I'm just sad that you were so sad!! I'm so glad everything worked out!

Savannah Smiles - that's awesome news about your u/s!! We're waiting to find out the sex too.

KatyKat - We put the crib up to our bed with our first. It was really easy and it worked well. Of course, the baby never slept in it - but it was more room for my legs to sprawl when they needed to!! LOL We ended up giving our crib away.

I finally found my homebirth midwife!! That's my big news! The birth center I was going to use seemed to be more and more tied by the hospital on all sorts of policies. I wasn't getting much support for skipping many of the prenatal tests and they would want to treat my baby for my GBS if I didn't get four hours of antibiotics in. Anyway, I never thought I'd go for a homebirth, but I am so excited about this birth now - not nervous at all!! I just clicked with this midwife that we talked with yesterday. Dh absolutely LOVED her (she's pretty, so that helped, I'm sure!).

Not really nesting here. I've been trying very hard to keep up with homeschooling so that I can take lots of time off with this baby. That takes up most of my time. We're also looking for a bigger house, so I'm particularly motivated to keep this one clean for potential buyers. One of the houses we loved has a HUGE jacuzzi tub in it. Dh and I both laughed and thought that it'd be perfect for birth!!

[boycrazy]

:LOL Doing well here. My sig line sums up how I feel about some baby equipment! I do love certain things though...do people actually get things done w/o a sling????? Love my Maya Wrap mucho. I will probably borrow/buy one of those little bouncy seats for times when I need to put baby down. We do have a swing some where and will probably dig that out...
Really debating putting up a crib...the boys did nap in it once in a while.
Our kids sleep with us at night when they are little. Garrett still does at 4. If this baby is a girl I have really no girl clothes...so much boy...we will hopefully know next week. I am hoping to have a little money to buy a few nice nursing shirts...maybe I should be checking ebay...
Shopping is so fun but the well is pretty dry right now and if I could buy one thing it would be a bigger vehicle so they don't have to be 3 in the back of a Taurus. Can be done but real cozy...

[My Three Boys]

I love your quote Boycrazy!! I don't know how people get by without slings either - I use a Mayawrap too. How many boys do you have? I have three and if this one is a girl I have nothing in terms of clothes. Hmmm . . . shopping could be fun afterward if it is a girl!! My 5 yo still sleeps with us and we are often joined by one of our older boys because of a bad dream. I love it!!

I went through my baby "stuff" last week. I have a car seat, bouncy seat, high chair and sling. I think that's it! I think I may buy a pack and play for this one with the changing table in it. That way I can put the cloth diapers in the "baby" part and change the baby on the "table."

[aguacates]

lioneyes, my belly does that all the time. Sometimes I think it has to do with what I've been eating, and other times it is the baby's position. Like right now I have a lot more baby on the left side, so the right looks lopsided and deflated. :LOL

MyThreeboys, congratulations on finding your hb!

About baby stuff, with dd I had a sling, a lambskin, and a bouncy seat. No cribs, changing tables, or other baby gear. With this baby I feel like I need to have somewhere to put the baby safely, either for the baby's safety, or dd's. Maybe some kind of bassinet, or a basket that I could put up. I also like the idea of a changing table for storing dipes, but I'm afraid that it would also start storing other junk. And really, what I need is better storage, not a baby changing surface.

[Boobiemama]

20 weeks here. Finally today felt some movement. This is so frustrating, I wish I would just get some big kicks that I know for sure is the baby. BUt I have lots of padding over it, so that may explain it....

No crib here, all my kids have co-slept and havent used a crib since my first 12 years ago.
I am getting the Amby this time, it looks so cool, and my 18 month is still in our bed, so I will have a place for baby to sleep when I need space. Also, my son scoots all over the bed in his sleep, so I owuld be concerned with him near a tiny newborn.
Havnt done any shopping yet, a couple diaper covers off the tp is all. We are getting ready to go to a LLL confernce as an exhibitor, so am super busy.Looking forward to starting to work on the house and shop after that next month. I need to organize my room, get rid of junk, get another shelving unit/drawer unit for new babys diapers and stuff. The whole house needs to be decluttered, so this wil give me plenty to do all winter long! LOL

[Katykatt]

I'm very excited! I just did my 2nd sewing project ever & sewed a mei tai with the help of my dh! It only cost me $7! (and tested my patience) We've only bought a carseat & we're getting a crib this weekend. We've just discussed and discussed our options (very little space, limited funds) and decided to skip on the co-sleepers, etc. and get something that may get use for a while longer. Thanks for the advice on co-sleepers & cribs, you ladies rock!

[My Three Boys]

Boobiemama - Where are you exhibiting at the LLL conference? I know a lot of the conference planners for LLL - that's why I wonder! I hope it goes well for you and you make a lot of new contacts! The fact that you're pregnant should help you!!