Happy New Year, November 05 moms! - Page 2

[*Amy*]

Originally Posted by flapjack

Amy, for goodness sake go and take a pregnancy test. The crabbiness could be down to a change in contraception, but it could also be a bean AND you just said the fatal words "I want to lose weight" and "only one child" in the same post, which is a guaranteed fertility charm....

Ha! You are funny. I don't think so though, because even though I got off the pill (which was mainly to see if it would help with my endo), I still have the old reliable IUD! Now, if somehow a baby was concieved through *both* of those methods, well I guess you could just call me Mary, version 2.0.

[Queen of Cups]

We woke up to a morning so cold that our water had frozen! DH had to go down to the basement and use a hairdryer on the pipes to get the water working again. I'm just bummed its too cold to play outside today - Killy doesn't start school till next week, so I'm grasping at ways to keep him fully occupied and not tormenting Ellie all the time. I'm thinking a trip to the library this afternoon will help, but then I have to do a grocery store trip. Is it awful that I would prefer doing almost anything in the world more than taking two kids to the grocery store with me? I always come home nearly in tears... somehow the moment we walk into the store both kids devolve into fighting pre-verbal todlers who lack all their normal social skills.

Anyone who cares to, please send some positive energy/prayers to my aunt. She has lung cancer and has taken a real turn for the worse, it seems. My uncle called my dad (they're brothers) and asked him to come out this morning because my uncle is so scared about what's happening with his wife. She's been in the hospital for a few days now, and was only diagnosed a couple months ago.

[Gunter]

it snowed for about three minutes here in north carolina this afternoon!

ez and i went to drop stuff off at the thrift store and i just have to share what we scored while there! A little piano, a wooden bead and wire play toy and a wooden pull-toy int he shape of a caterpillar for $3 total. Plus, a Medela Pump in Style Traveler breastpump for $4.10 with all of the pieces included and in excellent condition. For $1, a bike seat that we can mount for ezra! Woo hoo! I could barely believe such great things.

Since I am planning to work as a doula/midwife's assistant this year, I thought that I may need to pump so had just planned on borrowing my friend's pump as her daughter will be about 22 months by the time i would use it. I am sure she will keep nursing, but not pumping for the nights she works at the birth center.

QoC- Ez and i went to the library today after the thrift store and had fun. We hadn't been there since we got back into town so it was all new again even though it's such a small place. They are just a little neighborhood library but have puzzles and some play things in addition to a decent selection of books. Sorry it's so hard about the grocery store. It's on my list of things to fear in becoming a mom to two kids! Will send healing vibes to your aunt, so sorry she is sick.

helen- i am struggling to imagine being needed by two kids so i can see how more than that would be well, just really big to handle. are you doing better from your christmas scare? and, is your kitchen all done finally or did i miss that post? i am so jealous that the bach place is close to you. how fabulous!

kaspirant- i, too often feel that this pregnancy is so surreal and i even forget that i am pregnant or just don't feel like a babe is really coming! i made a list this morning while i was being an insomniac of all the things i need to get into place.

in other news, DH took a job working from home! It's only part-time and with a friend of ours (who had a homebirth last week!) who started website called keyingredient.com. so, dh is working with him and like 10 other people on the behind the scenes stuff of the website. they pay is next to nothing but is better than nothing or him being gone all day every day. i hope to make a few dollars on etsy soon and maybe do a craft show locally before the babe is born. it's so different for us to have to think about money these days but we really are trying to stretch our savings and be available for each other and the babes. so, this means being creative for a while in ways to make money. i am so thankful that dh is willing to sacrifice a higher paying more lucrative job to be at home more.

[Phoenix_Rising]

Originally Posted by kaspirant

I thought I'd add this in to the weight/mother conversation. I wrote it over a year ago. My Mom has never seen it.

I too have had weight issues because of my mom. She was under 100 pounds for most of my childhood. Pics from when I was young remind me of people saved from the concentration camps. When I was pregnant with Keagan she "reminded" me that she gained no more than 15 pounds while pregnant with me and she was under 115 when I was born. Thanks, mom.
Your letter was incredible; I wish I could write something like it and then send it to my mom.

Originally Posted by flapjack

Amy, for goodness sake go and take a pregnancy test. The crabbiness could be down to a change in contraception, but it could also be a bean AND you just said the fatal words "I want to lose weight" and "only one child" in the same post, which is a guaranteed fertility charm.... try giving Brynn a feather duster (or microfibre) and asking her to help tidy up. It worked wonders on our dust mountain

that was my first thought as well

[HoneyTree]

Originally Posted by Gunter

kaspirant- i, too often feel that this pregnancy is so surreal and i even forget that i am pregnant or just don't feel like a babe is really coming! i made a list this morning while i was being an insomniac of all the things i need to get into place.

It's so weird to read this. I remember when I was pregnant other mothers in our DDC who already had children would say this, would talk about how they didn't have everything ready, or the pregnancy wasn't at the tip of their minds all the time, and I remember thinking, "HOW is that possible?!?" I just could not imagine NOT thinking about being pregnant 24/7, and I was one of those mothers, like many first timers, I guess, who had all the details lined up months in advance.

Now, having a 2 y.o., I can TOTALLY relate! NOTHING occupies all my thoughts anymore. Fragmented doesn't begin to describe. And I could totally picture myself not worrying about all the details like what needs to be done. There are some small diapers around here somewhere...I've got plenty of towels ...the boobs still work...I'm a pro at slinging...what else is there again?

[barcelona]

hey there ladies.

helen, i'm so sorry about your scare over christmas! i'm so glad it's passed, and soon you'll be holding your sweet healthy baby in your arms. (when are you due again?)

fern, so sorry you are having such a rough time! your blog was so sweet...i'm so excited for your to meet your new little one.

Q of C, i'm so sorry about your aunt. i'll be sending healing vibes her way.

amy, hope you are feeling better today. i thought you might be pregnant, too, but i guess with the ivf, it'd be pretty miraculous. as for your prediction that i'd get a bfp this year...i honestly hope i don't...my mind is louder than my body right now. we really are not in place to have a baby right now. so much of our careers is in the air, and feels like it'll take off soon...and a baby would most likely put that to a halt, or slow it down. i'm hoping for a bfp in 2009.

kavita, how great that you have been getting organized, and getting to the gym. i laughed when you shared your story about your DH. i know that one, too! (although now my DH does take care of finley quite often, almost as much as me, but before...)

kaspirant, good luck with the big move!!! can't wait to come over and help unpack and play. i'm glad you took the day off today, and hope you can survive this next month, til you're done. hooray! and what a powerful letter to your mom...

speaking of weight, my contribution to the weight/body image conversation...i don't know where to start, but i, too, like most women in this country, have had my fair share of issues. my mom is teeny tiny, and i felt huge next to her, as i got older. now i realize i am and always have been pretty small, but next to her, i felt big, and she didn't help, jokingly calling me "helga". my SIL is also teeny tiny, like my mom (they are 5'2" and small boned and probably weigh 105 each). i have always had this battle, trying to lose weight, look better, thinner, etc...and have, in the past, been pretty unhealthy about it, a start that began at home, with my mom buying mostly fake "fat free" foods, etc, and my dad asking me one question each day, and only that one question: "did you work out today?" i remember finally, after months of this, breaking down and asking, is that all you care about?? what about what else i did with my day? (and if i said yes, he asked what, specifically, i did. if i said no, he'd go back to watching the game or doing his dictation).

i think i FINALLY have a healthy attitude, actions, and perspective on my body and weight and food and exercise now that i have finley. it started once i moved out and didn't have the weird tension or pressure with my parents in my face and on a daily basis. i started to learn more about real, healthy eating. but i still struggled. but, then, i became pregnant, and i dove into very healthy eating, since suddenly it had to be about health, and not how skinny i was. it was about growing and nourishing my baby. i ate vegetables, i ate well. after finley was born, the weight fell off, mostly...i still had a few extra pounds until he was about seven months old. it fell off, luckily, with no effort on my part. i was, of course, breastfeeding constantly, and then, i lived in new york city, so i was walking (and slinging) everywhere, a LOT of the time. and i continued to eat well, and learn, and eat real food, both for myself and finley. and now, i am not walking like i used to, but i am doing yoga more regularly, and i am doing it because i love it, and i FEEL so good when i do it. and i feel so much better when i am strong and agile. i should probably exercise more. and (nothing against people who go to the gym), but i love that i don't go anymore. i used to go five times a week and obsessively work out for so long, killing myself, and being so concerned with my body. and it's funny, now i don't, and i look and feel better than ever before! i don't know exactly why, but i think a lot of it has to do with my eating, and i think i am getting more exercise in my regular living, as i'm not a student (sitting and studying all day), but am an active woman in my daily stuff...

so anyway, thanks to finley, i am coming to a much better place.

i still face weirdness with my parents (of course), but now i really laugh at it, and it doesn't get to me that much. (this past trip, my mom said i couldn't gain an OUNCE if i got a certain dress, and one of the first things she said, in response to my getting a role on tv, was that the pressure was on (for me to be skinny), cause everyone is so tiny in this world, and the camera adds weight). UGH. i look forward to (hopefully) being a model of another woman on tv/movies with a more normal body. (i do wear a 2/4, but am very curvy, unlike most "hollywood" actresses).

so, there's my long, messy ramble on weight.

it's been a priviledge to be part of this conversation, and i'm so glad to see all of us working with our issues and trying to move on, in an adult way, move past the pains of our past, and live a healthy life.

my goal for this year, in terms of my body, is to do yoga even more consistently and to eat more nutritiously, to continue to learn about the best ways to eat, and to not let the hollywood image/standard get to me, to continue to embrace my own curves and body, as real and womanly as it is.

by the way, this is completely anti-climactic, but i feel like sharing which show i am on.
i was paranoid a lurker might see it, and tell someone who shouldn't know, as it shouldn't be "out and about", because it could reveal future storylines, but at the moment, i'm over that paranoia, and it should air soon-ish, though who knows, now, with the strike.
but anyway, i am going to be on the show "dirty sexy money", which is on abc. i find it to be quite a riot that this is the show i'm going to be on, seeing as how "dirty" and "sexy" and full of "money" i am , but it'll be fun!
i've done one episode, and should have several more after the strike. my one episode was very tiny...i only have two lines, and am probably on screen for about three seconds...but, still, it's a beginning, and it was a blast. i got to "work" with donald sutherland all day (we weren't in the scene together...i enter right after he exits), but, regardless, it was loads of fun.

finley is sleeping early these days, as he seems to be skipping his nap more and more often. anyone else??

sorry that was so long.

off to scratch more to-do's off my new year's list!

[DreamsInDigital]

barcelona, shut up you are going to be on dirty sexy money???? OMG I'm going to die. You HAVE to tell me when it's going to air. I can't imagine keeping something like that quiet, I would positively burst.

I don't think we're going to conceive a baby 6 weeks after our wedding. My cycles are SO effing wonky it's ridiculous. I had 7 days of post O-like temps in the 97.5+ range and suddenly the last 2 days it's been more like 96.8 and yet AF is not showing up either. I am over it and can only assume it is the wisdom of my body that I need a bigger break between babies this time. Which I am coming to peace with even though there is that crazy nagging voice in the back of my head that really wants another baby right now.

I find it odd that people ask me what married life is like. It is exactly like my previous life. Nothing has changed except that we now get mail addressed to Mr. and Mrs. which is totally cute and makes me like this guy

[MelW]

I'm just selfishly posting without any personal messages, since I need to get to bed. But I love you all

My New Year's resolutions:
Read one novel every month
Enter and finish a race by the end of the summer
Learn how to can
Find a new job!
Find a happy balance with our income/spending/lifestyle

And for January:
Update my resume
Find my thermometer and start monitoring my cycles again.

I may be joining the TTC in 08 team. Probably later in the year, since you may notice the find a new job resolution- we're planning to move back to Canada when DH graduates in the Spring.

Next time I promise a less self-absorbed post....

[3for3hb]

Originally Posted by HoneyTree

NOTHING occupies all my thoughts anymore. Fragmented doesn't begin to describe. And I could totally picture myself not worrying about all the details like what needs to be done. There are some small diapers around here somewhere...I've got plenty of towels ...the boobs still work...I'm a pro at slinging...what else is there again?

This is SO where I'm at right now!!!

barcelona - yes! tell us when it airs!!! I want to see it! How exciting!


So I've finally started a blog. Nothing fancy, just a place to record my thoughts, contemplations, and day to day happenings. I wrote an email to a mama the other day, a sort of year in review update, and realized how much had happened last year that I didn't record. At 27, I think I'm finally getting to the "age" where you start realizing how quickly life passes by. And since I can't keep a journal IRL (except for writing entries when I'm really frustrated and need to sort things out), and since I'm online waayyy too much, I figured what's the difference between writing a post here or on other boards or typing one out on my blog. It may be a while before I share the addy for it because I'm of sheepish about these sort of things. I want to feel like I can write whatever I want, and mainly anonymously so, until I feel comfortable enough to share.

ETA
QOC, your aunt is in my thoughts!!!

[flapjack]

Mel, you know what? Even if you do write self-obsessed posts (and I think this is the first time I've seen you do so) we love you anyway.

Monique, go on the blog I think you should join ravelry as well though, just to distract you further from the children and Real Life Incidentally, did you ever decide on a midwife or UC or ???

Gunter, I'm basically just sleeping all the time, except when I'm sitting still and wanting to go to sleep. Steve goes back to university on Monday, and I'm freaking out a bit about what I'm going to do without him. That bp/oedema scare really knocked the wind out of my sails- I don't know if it was a UTI or what, but I'm definitely feeling "cooked" now. Good luck with the money thing- the best decision we ever made was to downshift and move down here, even if we don't have the space we'd ideally like. We have family, and that's a big deal. (oh, and a kitchen. No paint, but :

Barcelona, I have absolutely no idea what dirty sexy money is, so I just hope that's what they're paying you Congratulations anyhow, it sounds glamorous. And sophisticated. And completely unrelated to MY life, complete with sticky fingerprints and all.

DiD, sod it, throw the thermometer away and just shag your husband senseless I have to say, I'm struggling to remember what sex was like in the days before I had a big fertile belly, and swollen super-sensitive boobs, or trying not to waste a drop because I might be ovulating some time this year, or anything.... part of me is seriously curious to remember what non-mummy sex is like. I'm sure I'll find out one of these days, but for now, just enjoy him

Queenie, I'll keep your family in my thoughts. I've lost a great-aunt to lung cancer, and most of my grandfathers/greatgrandfathers to lung disease, so I can sympathise. It's terrifying to watch, as well. to you all.

[*Amy*]

Originally Posted by flapjack

part of me is seriously curious to remember what non-mummy sex is like.

You're not the only one!! I was just thinking last night, I wonder how often the average couple with a toddler has sex? And is it usually the wife or the husband who initiates? Maybe I'll go start a poll in the Toddlers forum. I would love to know.

barcelona, I have never seen that show, but it sure sounds impressive!! Will you let us know when it airs? I'll totally watch it!

Brynn's beckoning me, "Mom! Come play with me!" So I need to go be a good mama now. I keep wanting to write so much more but just haven't had the time/energy the past few days. At least I'm not feeling like a raging today, and didn't even kill DH when I realized this morning that he left for work in HIS truck with MY keys. So despite my grocery and library plans for the day, we have been housebound. Arg! :

Anyway, I'll be back later tonight to respond to everyone!

ETA: Here's the poll.

[DreamsInDigital]

Originally Posted by flapjack

DiD, sod it, throw the thermometer away and just shag your husband senseless I have to say, I'm struggling to remember what sex was like in the days before I had a big fertile belly, and swollen super-sensitive boobs, or trying not to waste a drop because I might be ovulating some time this year, or anything.... part of me is seriously curious to remember what non-mummy sex is like. I'm sure I'll find out one of these days, but for now, just enjoy him

: Helen, I adore you.

[3for3hb]

Originally Posted by flapjack

Monique, go on the blog I think you should join ravelry as well though, just to distract you further from the children and Real Life Incidentally, did you ever decide on a midwife or UC or ???

I don't even know what ravelry is.... I'm assuming it is a knit blog ring?
So I wouldn't know how to join. Though I spend entirely too much time online anyway.

I hired a midwife, who is already paid in full because dh sold his truck, and don't know if she'll make it in time for the birth or not but like having someone "there" just in case. She comes to my house for appointments (I am really too lazy to do my own prenatal care), will send me to a local CNMw if I need testing of any sort, and is a pretty laid back yet chatty farm woman. I like her well enough but I'll be glad when this is all over. I really, really want to babymoon!!!!!!

Oh, and I'm 28 weeks today.

[Awaken]

I was doing really well at keeping up for a couple weeks, there, but by the end of the last thread I kind of lost it again! Subbing before this gets too long, and hope to catch up soon!

[barcelona]

I had never heard of Dirty Sexy Money til I got the role, either. We don't have cable, and tv is just not a part of our lives. But, we are getting it now, so that I can at least tape my show(s) and use them for my acting reel.
For anyone who is interested, you can get an idea of it here:
http://abc.go.com/primetime/dirtysex...index?pn=index

I thought it'd be airing later this month, but now it looks like ABC is being all wonky with their scheduling, cause of the strike, so who knows when it'll be on. Of course, I will let you all know!

DiD, how many babies do you think you want? Do you have any idea, a vision of the number, of how big of a family you will have? Do you come from a big family?

I am so overwhelmed with one, and cannot wait to have another, and POSSIBLE a third, though I will see how I feel when I get there...but I cannot imagine having more than three. There is definitely a part of me, though, that sees big families and fantasizes about that dynamic. But I don't think it's something I'm capable of doing.

Helen, I'm so sorry you are feeling so badly. I hope you can manage without Steve come Monday. What are your plans for the birth? Thanks for keeping us all laughing and smiling! You are the best! And believe you me, most of the time, my stingers are very sticky. I feel like I have to transform myself into a different person altogether (make up! blow my hair dry! wear something nice!), when I go into an audition, meeting, set, etc.

Monique, I'm glad you're all set with your midwife, and you know what? before you know it, you will be in the bliss of babymoon. Ahh. I remember how long those last weeks stretched on for me, though. Everything goes by fast once it's passed.

Amy, I'm definitely going to check out your poll. I don't know if I told you or not, but DH and I (and finley) watched the videos of Brynn, and we were all just LOVING them, and DH and I, especially were laughing so hard. I so appreciated your captions of what she was saying! (built in Closed Captions). Hope tomorrow is a better and mobile day.

Mel, are you excited to move back to Canada? where in CA will you be moving? Good luck with your list of to-do's. You reminded me I need to get to charting myself, with a thermometer, etc, though with more focused efforts to continue avoiding conception.

Finley continues to avoid his nap! It makes for a challenging second half of the day, but at least he goes to sleep much earlier. For some reason, I am WIPED tonight...Can't figure it out. I was pretty productive with un-fun things today, so maybe that is it. And my mom emailed me, which always puts me in a funk. But anyway, now I am in bed and plan to stay here til I drift off.

[flapjack]

Barcelona, it's another HB- maybe a UC, depending on how I feel on the day. I did talk with my midwife (you know, the one who reduced me to tears of worry and frustration for weeks with that bacteriurea test) about my worries about a fast one, and they'll deal with whatever happens. Just make sure that we don't cut the cord.

Monique, ravelry is like the yarn crafts forum, but bigger and better. www.ravelry.com They're having an open day later this month, but they're getting through the invite list pretty quickly at the moment- a friend of mine was in three weeks after adding her name to the list.

It's 5.43, and I've been up for 50 minutes. The brand new sofa covers are in the wash because my adorable 2yo just spilt her midnight drug (hot milk) all over everywhere and I've been meaning to get round to it anyhow, and I want to go to sleep but I can't, because she's curled up on my half of the big bed AND the sofa covers say "do not tumble dry" and I can't decide what I'm going to do- whether I'm going to obey instructions or stick them in for a while on cool or ??? I have 2 hours to sort this out, if I'm going to get them done before the kids get up in the morning. Blah. Blah, blah, blah.

[DreamsInDigital]

Originally Posted by barcelona

DiD, how many babies do you think you want? Do you have any idea, a vision of the number, of how big of a family you will have? Do you come from a big family?

Somedays, we think we just want one or two more. Others, we want like 10 or 12. I don't think we're going to settle on a number and just take it as it comes. I knew that breastfeeding, especially tandem nursing, would reduce my fertility but I'm not willing to sacrifice it in the name of having another baby, KWIM? So if we only end up with one or two more I think we'll be happy.

I come from a crazy dysfunctional blended family. The short explanation is that I don't come from a big family but I have a lot of people I call my siblings.

Jim comes from a small family with only one sibling and a single mom. He's said to me on many occasions he always wished he'd had a couple of brothers to play with because his sister was really mean.

[spughy]

barcelona - I'm so excited to see you on TV again!!! I remember when you were on L&O, it was such a thrill watching it and getting to say "I know her!!!!" We had friends over for dinner last night and they actually know the show (I'd never heard of it so they'll be watching for you too. They actually live in California too, somewhere around LA.

Helen - I wouldn't mess with the laundry care tag on couch pillows. Because if shirts shrink they can just be handed to the next smallest person, but couch cushion covers don't have that luxury. I usually just throw a massive blanket over our couch when I wash the cushion covers. I expect I am too late with this sage advice, however

Amy - I posted in your poll with a link to a recent discussion related to the sex thing... you might find it interesting.

Random toddler utterance of the day: "I'm sorry about your beaver tail, Mummy. And your beaver bum." I'm like, what? Turns out it was from her favourite cartoon, Toopy and Binoo were pretending to be beavers in some episode she saw I'm sure a few weeks ago. She did, however, correctly assume that I hadn't *wanted* my bum turned into a beaver's.

[flapjack]

: That's cute, Spughy. But scary...

Barcelona, my husband just saw you on my Facebook profile, demanded to know who you are, thinks you're too glamorous to be a mummy and spat his drink out when I told him you worked for dirty sexy money. (he asked what you did...) You can have a LOT of fun with this the next year or so...

[*Amy*]

Originally Posted by spughy

"I'm sorry about your beaver tail, Mummy. And your beaver bum."

That needs to be your signature line.