Some ideas, please? WE NEED EVERYONE TO POST HERE, MAMAS!! PLEASE POST INTENTIONS!!!!

[rmzbm]

So April mommys...I see alot of the other DDC's have done things like trimester swaps, exchanges, etc. Then later on had "showers." Are we up for something like this? Of course we'd wait until closer to spring (and when we have more members) to do any online showers but what about the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd trimester swap idea? Any other ideas of anything fun we could do? I can host the thread if you want (or someone else can, no matter) where all who are interested can "sign up" then the person organizing the thread can make matches, etc...let me know what you all think! I think having one each trimester would be fun & not too "much" ya know? (Only 3 times!)
Post your ideas!

[titania8]

oooh that would be fun! what kind of swap? chocolate? diapers? books?

[rmzbm]

Originally Posted by titania8

oooh that would be fun! what kind of swap? chocolate? diapers? books?

See, this is why I posted, LOL! I never even thought of a "specific" swap! What a great idea!
All your ideas are terrific!
Anyone else? Weigh in, please!

[LadyBee]

I swap sounds fun. I like the book idea

[countrybound]

Oh my gosh... I'd so be in!! I've never done anything like this but the book idea or diaper idea sounds awesome. I guess you could also do a theme for each trimester... like something for morning sickness and books for the first, then maybe a maternity shirt or something for the second and possibly a diaper or outfit for the third... I don't know, just throwing ideas out there!

[KariM]

Sounds fun!

[rmzbm]

Countrybound, that's a terrific idea, a theme for each trimester! So, should we get the first in gear? Who would be in? What should the 1st theme be? When should the cut off date for joining be? Maybe Sept. 1st? (Giving the second half of our DDC the chance to get here! ) Should there be a spending limit? Other ideas or suggestions?

[All together ooky]

This sounds like fun!

[sarahmck]

I'm tentatively in. Don't know how annoying it would be to include me given that I live outside the US.

[rmzbm]

Not annoying at all! I guess we should allow people to voice a preference if they mind shipping overseas or not as it will cost more. I don't mind, so at least no worries!

What do you all like for the theme? Books? Preg. books, childcare books, childrens books? Any book? (Maybe a no COMMON book rule, we all have Goodnight Moon, right? )

How do you want to set it up? I can organize if it's ok with everyone. Maybe everyone "in" can PM me their info. (name/add/preferences) and after 9/1 I can match people up? Will that work for everyone? Then maybe give everyone a week or two to get things out?

Anything I'm missing? Do we want something BESIDES books? Any other suggestions? Maybe everyone PM me their preference & I can tally up the vote? :

[sarahmck]

How about instead of a particular type of thing theme, something looser, like a theme for something cool that you can find in your area that is unusual or cheaper than usual or ... I don't know. I think books would be really hard because you can't know what other people have or what they find interesting.

Or maybe if we all think about what we're going out to buy for ourselves already now and post those things so that we can all think of those things as themes?

Or maybe a Yankee Swap? Anyone know those? I've only done them in person, but the idea is that a group of people all buys a single gift of about the same value. Then you draw numbers. The person with number 1 gets his pick of the wrapped presents and opens it. Then #2 can either open a new present or steal the present that #1 has. #3 can open a new one or steal either #1 or #2. That means the last person gets his choice of every gift that has been brought, so that's the best number to draw. The rules could, of course, be modified, but we could do this by posting photos and descriptions of our items and one very honest person could come up with the list of names and numbers. We'd first post a photo of our item wrapped (or in the shopping bag) or maybe we'd just skip this and you'd pick another person's name and say you want whatever they contributed. Then that person would post the photo and description and the next person would choose. A bit complicated, but it could be fun....

I don't know -- just a thought.

[rmzbm]

Yeah, I was thinking that on the books too. Honestly, if I wanted a parenting type book...I already have it! I DO really like the idea of children's books though!

Maybe just a "whatever floats your boat under $20" theme? (Or, whatever amt. is agreed upon.)

Hmmm, I'm starting to think maybe leaving it more "open" might be the way to go, bigger surprises and more options!

Anyone else? :

[titania8]

hmm..i do like the themes, but i agree that books would be kinda hard, as i would hate to buy someone a book they already have, or get one myself. and yes, i know i am the one who suggested books. but i was just throwing ideas out there. without thinking it though, apparently!

so what kinds of things happen to us in the first tri? of course morning sickness, but what else? we are just getting used to the idea of a baby growing inside, thinking of all the wonderful little baby things we will be buying/making, but not quite ready (well, some of us anyway) to feel like we can buy stuff now. we start eating better, or are at least more aware of what we are nourishing our bodies with. im jsut thinking out loud here, if you can't tell!

im thinking maybe something to celebrate our new pg. and leave it up to the sender how to interpret that?

and for the second tri i like the maternity shirt idea, though im sure there are lots of other good ideas out there, and we have plenty of time to think about and disscuss that.

for the third tri maybe something special for labor, or for welcoming the new baby. ok ok i know im getting ahead of myself. apperently im getting excited about this baby after all!!

[rmzbm]

Originally Posted by titania8

im thinking maybe something to celebrate our new pg. and leave it up to the sender how to interpret that?

I think that's a great idea!

What are you all feeling in terms of a spending limit?

[rmzbm]

**BUMP**

Come on mamas, if we wanna do this we need more ideas! (And more participants, LOL! )

[linguistmama]

I'm definately in! But I'm not very good with the ideas part. Maybe the person I'm supposed to send something to could give me some ideas. For instance, she has m/s, cding, Vbac etc.

[rmzbm]

Well, what I was thinking regarding that is when you all PM me your info. I'd match people up but it would be a surprise who until you got the item, KWIM? But when you PM the info. you could PM any preferences that could be passed on to your "match."

What are we all thinking in terms of a deadline for the first one? Does 9/1 sound good? More time?

[linguistmama]

9-1 sounds good to me.

[ralphie76]

I'm in! I like the idea of a spending limit and a general theme, like celebrating our pregnancies. I also like the idea of a diaper swap for those of us CDing.

Let me know what I need to do!

[MissAnnThrope]

I would like to join.
Maybe the first tri. could be something to pamper mom? Maybe some bath soaps, salts, lotions or oils? Maybe something for our poor feet that will be needed once we lose the ability to reach them