September Mommies, March Thread

[adventuregirl]

So here we are, its March! Most of us will enter our second trimester this month, yahoooo!!!!

[MamaAcorn]

We do rabbit-rabbit too! I picked it up while I was a camp counselor in college and have done it ever since!

I had a dream of twins last night too (my second twin dream!). Though it wasn't exactly a happy dream. I had a beautiful boy and a girl and was admiring them with nurses and doctors and such around them when I realized that I wasn't in my body and that I had just had a C-section . I looked over to see myself being operated on, but I was so far away. I gave each of my babies a kiss and said goodbye so I had go back. Then I woke up. I woke up feeling peaceful, but I was a bit spooked. It totally freaked out my DH when I told him this morning.

My appointment last Friday was cancelled due to the snow, so I have to wait a few more days to hopefully hear the baby's heart beat. Though it was snowy Friday, the weekend weather was beautiful and sunny. Hope everyone else had a great weekend and is feeling good.

Pam

[Caroline248]

Wow...new thread! Hello everyone! I am home today, enjoying hte gorgeous weather. Feeling pretty good, although I am HUGE. Definatly wearing maternity. A bit more energy, not as much nasuea. How are you all doing? I don't know what has been posted on the old thread, I have been offline a couple of days.

My next midwife appt is next week, I am looking forward to it because I have been so panicky about this pregnancy.

Hope you all are well!

Caroline

[JenInMpls]

:OT

Our neighbor is a middle-aged, fit single woman who lives alone. Her son died a number of years ago and she inherited his dog, a vizsla, which is a kind of Hungarian bird hunting dog. I copied this from the akc vizsla page:

"It can become frustrated and destructive if not given adequate exercise. Most can be stubborn, some can be timid, and others can be overly excitable. It is gentle, affectionate, and sensitive, and can be protective. The Vizsla makes a good companion for an active owner who spends a lot of time outdoors."

A little breed background for you.

Our neighbor's son's dog died last year, and shortly thereafter, she went out and bought a new vizsla, a bitch about 1 year old. This dog is young, energetic, and is just dying to play. Unfortunately, our neighbor isn't.

Our neighbor is a massage therapist and sees clients in her home. In addition, she is the massage therapist for a local univ. swim team. She is home all day, but rarely outside. Her back patio is approximately 100 square feet. She frequently lets the dog out for 15-60 minute intervals, during which the dog barks non-stop and everything and nothing. She barks at people, dogs, cats (including my cats if they happen to be looking out the window), squirrels, birds, butterflies, her owner indoors, and sometimes even the wind. This dog can bark about 3 barks per second and will keep it up for minutes on end with occasional 20-second interludes to pee, pick up a tennis ball, and run from one side of the patio to the other. She is a loud barker and has a large-dog bark, and frequently barks herself hoarse, but that doesn't stop. Her owner lets her out on her gentle touch lead sometimes but this does not affect her barking.

Our neighbor frequently puts her dog out when she is working with clients. I can't imagine how unrelaxing it must be to get a massage with a dog constantly barking outside. It means that we sometimes have to deal with the dog being outside for an hour until the client leaves. She also puts the dog out while she showers (and is therefore unreachable) or when she makes phone calls.

Once a day she goes running with the dog. They do not play (neighbor claims "she's not interested in playing"). This could not be further from the truth as she postures to both me and Jo to play. Jo plays with her frequently but there's not a lot you can do in a 10x10 patio.

The dog is very friendly, and I often feel terribly sorry for her. I greet her every time I see her outside and her licking almost feels desperate. She is nearly beside herself with joy that someone will pay attention to her. The dog is clearly bored, but we are at our wit's end with her barking, especially I am!!! The last outside time is always after 10 and the first morning outside time is never later than 6:30, even on weekends. Neither Jo nor I have to be to work early, and 6:30 is 1.5 hours before Jo's alarm goes off. This cutting into my sleep upsets me and the canine alarm wakes me into a bad mood - it's not exactly like waking to the sweet song of a robin. It's also going to force us to keep the windows closed in the spring unless we want the barking that much louder.

I am afraid that baby is going to come and we're going to find ourself retreating indoors to get away from the barking or even leaving our home for some peace and quiet. What's more, I'm a bit scared about the neighbors across the street from our neighbor because I know they hate her dog's constant barking too, and I wouldn't be surprised if they owned guns, since we suspect they are involved in gang activity and concealed carry is legal in Minnesota.

Please, tell me what you would do if you were in my shoes. What do you think is the best tack for presenting this to an owner we think is neglectful and irresponsible? She has told us that her dog has passed obedience school. we find this hard to believe.

Thanks for indulging my off-topic question.

xo, jen

[badomama]

Mambo everybody!

Sarah, I also laughed at the image of Jack mimicking you by spitting into the toilet. Very cute, but sorry about the vomiting!

Jen, ooohh that's a tough one. Here's my two cents: I think it is a good idea to talk to her face to face in a firm and serious way letting her know that it has become a problem that must be dealt with immediately. I also think it is a good idea to assume that she really loves the dog and probably feels guilty about the dog's barking and its need to play more than she wants to. Even if you think she is neglectful, I think it helps to assume that she is at some level aware of this and needs help. You might tell her how the barking is affecting you now and that you are concerned about how it will be once the baby comes. I also think it would be nice to stress that you really like the dog but think that there is a problem that needs some problem-solving. Maybe you can help her think about how to solve the problem and then be firm about telling her that the problem needs to be solved in a positive way before it becomes a source of conflict.

If she doesn't do something about it that results in a real change, then a more aggressive approach is called for. But it doesn't sound like something you can really put up with much longer!

I feel for you! And, I really love to think about how to deal with difficult situations a lot more than I actually like to deal with them! Good luck!

I can't find anything serious on Rabbit Rabbit, but according to www.globalpsychics.com it looks like an old superstition from Britain. I picked it up from a family that I nannied for back in the day and have been fighting for the first Rabbit Rabbit ever since. It's fun!

Back to the pregnancy topic...I swear I can feel the top of my uterus quite clearly now although I can't really see it! Very exciting.

Steph

[Lazuli]

I'm back! We were in Detroit all last week and my laptop is rather dead, it couldn't find the modem so I was stuck with no internet. Poor me!

I had my first appointment with my new doctors yesterday. It went pretty well, though my arm still hurts where they drew the 4 vials of blood. Ouch! Didn't get to hear the heartbeat as they really don't like using doppler and he said it's a bit too early to hear it without. (This is okay though, as my old doctor insisted on weekly ultrasounds so I go to hear the heartbeat on the two visits I had with him before saying no more.) The doctor confirmed that my due date is September 7th and we're planning a homebirth. Now to just get the house in order between now and then... :D

I'm feeling better, hardly throwing up and able to eat more, hurray! Though I did have to break down and order a maternity skirt as I'm down to two old ratty skirts that are comfortable, the rest aren't. My husband is highly amused as I'd have no problem buying baby clothes at this point, but am a bit freaked out about buying maternity clothes. It doesn't help that it's hard to find things to fit me since I'm plussized. According to my scale I've lost about 18 lbs, eep! I feel pretty good though so I'm not going to worry about it. And now I think I'm going to go find something else to eat. :)

Lazuli

[JenInMpls]

Moin moin (a greeting used in far northern German for 'good morning),

I like 'Rabbit Rabbit'!

Lazuli, every time I see your posts I picture a Lazuli Bunting. I'm glad you're feeling better and that you've found a skirt to order. I feel weirded out buying maternity clothes too, but people have given me so much now that it doesn't matter, I am quite set as long as no one gives me any crap at work for dressing a bit more casually. I wouldn't worry about the weight you dropped, I dropped 13 lbs and the midwife was up in arms but it's coming back quickly.

Sydney is here with a "mrr" to you all, she fell asleep on the cedar chest and forgot to join me in bed so I got an uninterrupted night's sleep!!

That is, of course, after I spent 1/2 hour crying to Jo about how maybe this becoming parents thing wasn't such a good idea after all. Everyone else is so excited and happy for me, why aren't I? I still feel sick half the time, and am already amazingly sad about leaving my career despite how important it is to me to stay home with my child. I got the latest Mothering mag in the mail yesterday and read about a woman who "danced for joy" when she found out she was pregnant - I have not done anything for joy around being pregnant.

I guess I'm just scared. And Jo, once again, said all of the right things and then read me a chapter from Winnie-the-Pooh, but I feel asleep only a little bit into it and she read most of it out loud to a sleeping Jen.

Happy Tuesday.

xo, j

[Jodie]

Hello ladies.
Hope your tuesday is going well so far.

I'll be 11wks tomorrow!:D My next appointment is on Fri.
We're going to try and hear the heartbeat.:D I'm so excited.
By looking at my inner eye lid, my iron is still low.:(
I just got some yellowdock last night so hopfully that will help.
I was taking molasses twice a day, but can't do it anymore. It makes me want to puke. Hopefully I'll only have a few more weeks of "morning sickness".
I can't wait till I can eat what I should and not just what I can.
I haven't been eating the most healthy of foods.:LOL
According to my scale at home I've lost 2 lbs. Can't tell, I have to unbutton/unzip my jeans all the time. I'm overwieght so I'm hoping I won't gain too much since I have so much to spare. But I know my body will gain or get rid of what it needs. If I need to gain 50lbs than I'll gain 50lbs.

So is anyone totally over their sickness period and how far along are you?

[austinmomma]

Good morning, everyone. I spent the weekend with my mom and sister in Houston. My mom bought me a bunch of maternity clothes... she's so sweet. She couldn't believe how big I am (my doc says I'm measuring 18-20 weeks even though I'll only be 14 weeks on Thursday). It's the first time I've seen her since I found out I'm pregnant. And she's really worried now that I'm alone. So just seeing her happy made me happy. However, I did get sad this weekend when I thought about moving back to Louisiana. I've lived here in Austin for 11 years and just love it.

:(

Jen, I agree that you should have a talk with the neighbor. I hate to bring up my crazy border collie again, but she's the same way. If I left her outside she would bark all day. So I let her out whenever she stands by the back door. And if it doesn't look like she wants to go out to do her "business", I play 15 minutes of fetch with her and it really poops her out. She absolutely loves it. And it only takes 15 minutes! I don't know how open your neighbor is to suggestion but 15 minutes isn't that much to ask. I'm sure it is very frustrating to hear barking at all hours. Sorry I don't have better advice. I wish you the best of luck.

Otherwise, I'm glad to hear toes are healing and food is being digested!

Love,
Kim

[MamaAcorn]

Jen,
We have a large dog (half black lab and half golden retreiver). Right after ds was born, we had the police showing up at our door for his barking. He didn't bark excessively before ds. In our opinion, he wasn't barking excessively after either. We're good dog parents and played and walked him frequently, but with the new baby, attention was shifting, and just like any other child, Nova (our dog) was acting out a bit. What made me so upset (I literally cried about this for hours at a time being 1-2 weeks post partum) is that nobody ever mentioned it to us. They would just call the police within 30 seconds of hearing a bark ( I wondered if it was even our dog at times). The police only showed up twice and were very, very nice (I'm sure that it helped that I answered the door while nursing a newborn). Anyway, we became so strict with the dog's outside habits after all this. We always did our best not disturb our neighbors, but were extra vigilant after the police came.

My advice is also to talk to your neighbor and tell her your concerns. She should appreciate your honesty and try to fbetter the situation. If it doesn't help or if she brushes you off, then consider calling the police.

DS is calling. Hope that helps some.

Pam

[adventuregirl]

Hello Ladies! Hope all is well in your world today.

Jen, how frustrating about the dog, I would be up in arms myself. I think that the best way to go is to talk to her, and also get some info on local ordinances if you have to take it a step further. Even in my very rural county, we have a dog barking ordinance and owners can get tickets for complaints, multiple offenses can lead to further action if the problem isn't taken care of. I know you don't want to start a fight with your neighbor, but its good to know what laws are on your side, especially when it is messing with your quality of life. You could always call in an anonymous complaint if you are feeling intimidated by a talk.

Lazuli, good to see you and so glad you are happy with your new doc!

Jodie, I have not felt sick almost at all for a good week, I am 13 weeks, 3 days today. I should add that my sick feeling was not all that severe, I never puked (came close a few times) and it was very much centered around being too hungry or just having eaten. I still get a wave if I brush my teeth too far back.

I have resistance to buying maternity clothes, but it seems like it might not be long before I don't have a choice. I could feel the smallest bulge coming up above my pubic bone this morning in bed, not to mention the overall abdominal expansion.

Anybody reading any good books? I am halfway through Our Babies, Ourselves, and it is great! Talks all about different cultures practices in parenting, I am loving it.

[shannon0218]

Hi Jen, I read your post about your neighbors dog and figured I'd add my professional opinion:LOL
With that breed of dog, it is entirely possible the owner isn't neglecting it. Panicked licking is a sign of submission rather than lack of attention, submission when combined with hyper activity pretty much always equals what you have described (sorry)
There are a few options the owner can try though......
1st--take the Gentle Leader off!!!!! they tend to make a dog more submissive
2nd--at least here in Canada, they make a muzzle called a Husher muzzle--it is a training tool and must be used with supervision, basically, it is an elastic muzzle, it is fitted loose enough that the dog can drink and pant, but because it's elastic, if the dog barks, it snaps his mouth shut again--thus making barking very tiring and not very enjoyable.
3rd--Bark control collars--they come in many models--it is well worth it to purchase a good one--the cheap ones tend to correct when the dog isn't barking or if she just bangs the collar. Used correctly they are humane and they work quickly
4th--she can purchase the dog an activity based toy--such as a buster cube or tricky treats ball--basically you fill it with kibble or treats (I use a combo) and the dog has to roll/throw it around to make the kibble fall out--this dog needs some mental stimulation and since hunt and prey drive are inate in these dogs, they usually respond well to toys such as these. Something else that works is a kong stuffed with peanut butter--it can even be frozen then, Kong has a website with a bunch of "recipes" for Kong stuffings.
5th--if she can, she should look into some sort of activity that uses this dogs mind--agility, tracking etc, in the same amount of time a walk takes she can thoroughly tire this dog out--she can also look into a daycare program a few days a week where the dog can go and run and play and bark her head off with other dogs--a tired dog is almost always a good dog--but these dogs are next to impossible to tire.
If you need any more pointers, feel free to email me!
Shannon

[chrissy]

Hi girls!

Well, it's true, it's really true- I have an actual baby growing in my belly!!! I know that sounds silly since I have been so sick and tired, but I kind of had this fear that it was all in my head and that when I went to my appointment I would find out that I wasn't really pregnant. But I AM!!! Overall, the appointment went well- my pee was good, my iron was good, blood pressure was good. I had a quick u/s and saw my beautiful little baby just hanging out, heart a'beating, cute as could be. According to me I am 10 weeks today, according to the u/s 10 weeks and 1 day, so no difference really. The midwife was okay but she made a few comments that kinda freaked me out, plus I just didn't feel nearly the connection with her that I did with my homebirth midwife. So that sealed the deal and we will definitely be having a homebirth. So that's my news for the day.

Shannon, I'm glad you are still checking in with us. I still think about you often and miss your posts here.

Adventuregirl, I have got to get that book. I have heard so many good things about it. I have used copies of 'Continuum Concept' and 'Having Your Baby Naturally' coming in the mail and I'm looking forward to starting both of those.

Pam, how mean of somebody to call the police on your dog without even talking to you first! And with a newborn! Who raises these people?
And, wow, 2 twin dreams. That has got to mean something- like maybe twins, :LOL

Kim, sounds like a nice visit with your mom. I'm sorry you are down about leaving Austin. :hug When will you move?

Jodie, yay for 11 weeks!! Poo on your low iron! I have heard of a supplement called Floradix, but I think it is prescription.

Jen, :hug to you! Having your first child is such a huge change. It is so normal to be feeling the way you are. Especially because you are so sick. I remember feeling the same way with Noah. I bet once your belly really starts to grow and you are feeling little kicks and rolls you will really start to bond with that little baby and everything will feel better.

Lazuli, Welcome back! Yay on your good appointment!

Steph, woo hoo on your growing uterus!

Caroline, So good to hear that you are feeling better. :)

Well, phew I think that's everybody! Hope you all have happy Tuesdays.
Love,
Chrissy

[sistermama]

Chrissy - glad you had a good appt, sorry you didn't really click with the midwife. But, homebirth midwives are so much more fun! How old is Noah? Is he going to be at the birth? I'm still trying to figure out what I'm going to do with Jack. Knowing him, he would love to help me grunt and pant!!!

I'm so excited cause I just did my taxes online, it only took 20 minutes and for the first time I am getting a REFUND!!! A $1200 refund! Wow! Money in my savings account! What a novel idea!

[austinmomma]

Chrissy,
Congrats on seeing the bambino! I'm thinking of moving some time in June. But now I'm SO confused. Even though my husband does not want to be married, I'm trying not to be selfish and I don't want the baby to grow up so far away from him. He doesn't have to be married to me but I want my baby to have his father in his life... more than just once or twice a year. Any input would be much appreciated.

Shannon,
I'm glad you're sticking around. And, as always, I'm so appreciative of your dog advice. You seem to be pretty patient... I know you'll be a great mom some day.

And to everyone else, I hope you have a wonderful night and good baby dreams.

Love,
Kim

[banana girl]

So, i keep saying I want to find a midwife, but haven't DONE a thing about it! I am wondering how you ladies went about finding a midwife who you clicked with. Any suggestions on where to start? I am leaning twords having a homebirth but also interested in birth centers......

Love and kisses
Anna

[sistermama]

I actually just made up a list of midwives out of the phonebook. The first on that I called, I really clicked with instantly on the phone, so I didn't even bother calling any of the others. I love her so much that I am using her a second time. I ended up transferring to the hospital after a very loooooong labor and she and her partner stayed with me the whole time. They had to take a lot of shit from the doctors there (as did I) who had absolutely no respect for them.

One thing with birth centers that I think could be a downside is that often the midwife you get for your labor is the one who is on call at the time. If you really like all the midwives, that would be fine, but it can be hard if you really like one and don't care too much for another. However, my good friend had her baby at a birth center a couple of months ago and loved all the midwives, so she had a great experience.

[JenInMpls]

Thanks, everyone, for your dog advice.

Chrissy, thanks so much for the virtual hug, it cheered me up.

I had my weigh-in today that turned into a mini-appointment with the midwife, which was not scheduled. I gained a whole pound WHOOPEE! and once again had to tell the midwife that I didn't want to be Dopplered. I made an appointment for an ultrasound at 18 weeks in order to reassure myself that I do, indeed, have a baby growing in me and not a molar pregnancy (medical people should not drop ideas near me, I pick up on them too well and then obsess about them) as well as to check the placement of the placenta and all that. Trying to decide whether to have afp blood test given that its results are inconclusive and can yield false positives 1/2 of the time. It doesn't really matter what the test indicates, we're having the baby regardless.

Anna, you may want to check with a local La Leche League leader, she may have suggestions for names of midwives or could refer you to someone who did have those names. Usually their names and phone #s are listed online on the La Leche League site.

Holy refund, Sarah! Lucky you!!!

I can definitely feel my uterus too. It's there and poking out ever so slightly.

As for interesting books I've read lately, none about babies, but the book "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" was fascinating. It's a fairly quick-read novel and does have everything to do with parenting.

Enough for now, wish you were all here so I could share the freakin' HUGE German chocolate bar my friend sent me for my birthday,

jen

[boobykinmamma]

Hi, All! I've been reading all the posts but haven't had much time to sit down and reply. I just have a moment now--gotta get to bed. It sounds like everyone is doing well, moving right along, despite dealing with broken toes, dogs, hot temperatures, and queasy tummies.

I weighed myself at my parent's house last week, and had already gained 4 or 5 pounds at 9 weeks. I always seem to gain around 8 lbs. the first trimester, but then about 35 overall, so I'm not worried, plus I lost extra weight from breastfeeding and chasing my kiddos around. My belly is definitely pooching now--time for maternity in about 2-3 weeks, I'd say.

I finally called my midwife today, and she was so happy to hear that we're pregnant again. She's such a wonderful, calming presence, and I can't wait to start my appointments--I go next Wednesday, and I'm pretty sure we'll get to hear the heartbeat.

We should start posting belly shots pretty soon! It would be great to see what we all look like, too.

Must sleep. Take care, mamas!

Heather

[badomama]

Hi everyone,

I wish I could respond to you all but I have really got to be extra productive today at work. Ugg. I'm so unmotivated.

So it is all me today: Mosquitoes are eating me alive. I am usually mosquito bait, but this is ridiculous. I think they smell pregnant blood. And they are deadly here. Anybody have any natural repelant ideas?

I don't have pica, but I see that all the markets here sell these little clay sticks about the size of lipsticks. I've seen pregnant people eating them. If I did have pica, it would be awfully easy to satisfy that craving! They cost less than a penny.

My u/s is tomorrow! I am very excited and feel fine about getting a quick one, especially considering I will go for two months without any kind of check up. I'd like to know now if there is anything I should follow up on before June.

ok, back to the annual report still in progress!

bye, Steph

[JenInMpls]

I feel the urge to write a new song (a la my song for the first trimester), but maybe I will forego that and just ask "Why the heck do I have to be up at 3:30 eating graham crackers with almond butter and drinking milk?!"

Of course, trusty Sydney is by my side...

Two nerd moments for Steph: you are exuding more carbon dioxide because of increased breathing to support the increased blood flow and oxygen needs of your baby. I already am not psyched for being up in Bemidji this summer where they have steroidal mondo-mosquitoes! Perhaps maybe this summer it will be a tick year instead of a mosquito year. That was nerd moment #1.

#2 nerd moment: don't fret about the increasing size of your thighs, because your body is putting extra weight on your hips, butt and thighs as storage for breast feeding! Yahoo, finally a justification for my body type!!

OK, enough nerding out at 4 AM, since I'm here in the den and there are wool blankies and pillows, maybe I will just try to sleep in here for a while.

xo to all of you dear women,

jen

[Caroline248]

Yes, my body is doing that extra weight on the hips and butt thing awfully well. I haven't gained any weight pound wise, but I think I lost when i was so sick and am adding now.


Steph, yuck..mosquitos. I hate them. Last year I broke down and used some repellent on my kids, it was supposed to be the most natural something or other, I have to look at what it was. We had West Nile around here for a while, so I was worried. When you get your ultrasound, can you tell the sex yet? Will you?

Hope everyone else is going well...my next appt is Monday. Talk to you later!

Caroline

[Jodie]

Hey everbody, glad y'all are doing ok.
Don't know much about mosquito repelant. I know it helps to wear light colored clothing. Citranella and lemon grass are natural repelants. Don't know if those are available to you or not.

My day just got worse yesterday.
I puked and puked right before DH got home.
Then on my way to pick the kids up to babysit I got in my first car accident. Everyone was fine, it wasn't too serious .
The front end of my car is smushed in and the hood in bent.
I happened to be at the end of a small chain of cars and the only car to have any real damage. It was wet and when I applied brake the car just slid into the suv in frount of me. Lucky me. As DH pointed out it could have been worse.
He's gonna try and fix it the best he can, good thing it still drives.

Today is ok. I have some sort of headache either tension or sinus.
I went to the ciropractor today, and that always feels good.:D

Hope everyone's day goes well.

[adventuregirl]

Everyone's progress is so great! I love hearing about appointments and everything that's going on, we are moving right along, ladies!

Steph, clay sticks? How weird! Is that what they are for, pica? I seriously cannot imagine wanting to eat dirt.

Kim, you are in a tough spot. It sounded like you had a lot of support that you will really need in Louisiana, but you are thinking genuinely for your baby needing a father. Is there some sort of compromise you can think about? Would your husband consider moving to be near his child? What does he think about it all? If he feels strongly either way, that will definitely influence your decision. You will probably have to discuss custody in your divorce proceedings, so its good to think about all of this in advance. I can't imagine how emotional this has to be for you, I can't think of anything else but to send you a :hug.

Jen, I know what you mean about eating in the middle of the night. I guess our bodies are getting us ready to be up at all hours for feedings.

Shannon, its good to see you and I always love your invaluable dog advice.

It looks like my dh's grandfather is dying, he's been sick for quite some time, but the family thinks the end is near. We were planning on telling the family about our pregnancy this weekend, but I'm wondering how to work it with this whole thing. I had thought that telling them now would be good so that Grampa can know before he goes, and everyone else can have a flicker of happiness in a time of hardship. Then I thought we should wait, but I'm not sure if that's a great idea either. I don't want to end up holding off too long while people mourn, or what if he hangs on for a lot longer than expected. I'm pretty conflicted and dh isn't sure either. Anyone have any ideas, thoughts, or perspectives I haven't thought of?

[adventuregirl]

I took a while typing my last post, Jodie I am so sorry about your accident! Sounds like it wasn't too bad but that is stressful no matter how you look at it. I hope you can get some good rest today, glad you got to the chiro too.

[JenInMpls]

I think my midwife's full of something, she says eat protein protein protein, and I did just that today and I felt just as sick as I did at 8 weeks. While shopping for groceries I picked up a big cinnamon roll that called to me ("Jeeeeeeeen! JEEEEEN!") and proceeded to eat most of it on the way home, and now I feel much better.

Adventuregirl, it depends on what your take is on spirituality and the afterlife and the beforelife and such, but many would say that telling your grandfather about your impending baby might help them connect in the world beyond ours. If you think that's a bunch of hooey, that's okay :) it might also make your grandpa happy in his last moments to know that his family line is living on even as he departs.

Jodie, glad you're okay after your car accident.

There is supposed to be a news segment on tonight about some program called the "Babywise" program which is supposed to be a program to help your baby sleep through the night - and it seems to involve not tending to them when they cry in the night. I don't know if I can even bring myself to watch it!!

Hope all are well,

j

[hjohnson]

Hi ladies! I am glad to hear how everyone's pregnancies are going. This is baby #2 for me and so far so good. I had HELLP and GD with my DS so this time around my Doctor is watching me like a hawk. At my last appointment I was 10 weeks (I am now 13 weeks) they tested my blood sugar and it came back at 109. They said the cutoff is 145 so that's a big sigh of relief. My doc said she won't test me again for GD until 28 weeks. She is going to start monitoring my BP at 20 weeks because she said that's when High BP starts showing up. I hoping with this pregnancy that I will be complication free and be able to go drug free. All my fantasies of laboring on the birthing ball and in the shower came to a halt last time when they said your BP is 146/110. We are inducing you. I was so drugged up it wasn't funny. It took 3 months for my BP to come back to normal.

[adventuregirl]

Thanks, Jen. Spiritually for me is a whole helluva lot different from spiritually for dh's family. I would agree with your sentiment personally, I really have no idea how the family feels about it, but I just had a thought of someone, like Grandma for example, being mad at us for not telling before he passed.... So I think I'm leaning towards telling dh's family ASAP, like in an hour when he gets home from work.

[sistermama]

Lets just say that that focus on the family man - Dobson, doesn't even like that bs babywise stuff. If he thinks its too much, that is REALLY scary. Hopefully the news story will be about how the founder was booted out of his own church and doesn't have a background in anything related to children, etc.

The basic premise of babywise is that god let jesus cry on the cross and didn't rush to his aid, so you should do the same for your baby???? WTF????

My midwife once told me a creepy story about one of her clients. The NEWBORN baby was crying 30 minutes after being born. The older sister was getting upset and wanted the mother to do something and the mom said, "don't worry, we don't care about crying babies in this house." My mw wanted to take that baby and run!! :eek

[adventuregirl]

I'm slow on the trigger today. Welcome and congrats Heather, its great to have you join us!

[hjohnson]

I looked at the Babywise book because of all people a lamaze teacher recommended it to me. I burned the book. Dobson refuses to support the book and says that it is a bunch of crock. I agree. I highly doubt that my crying baby is trying to manipulate me!

[JenInMpls]

Welcome heather! I hope your blood pressure behaves itself!!

Very unpleasant news: I just looked out the window and there are big, fat flakes of snow falling. :splat what happened to spring? The daffodils are starting to come up at school!!

adventuregirl: yeah, you don't have to tell your dh's family what you think spiritually, but if it means something to you...

I just read a salon.com article on Babywise and it gave me the shivers... I don't know if I even need to watch the news segment after reading that article. Scary!! The article is at www.salon.com/mwt/feature/1998/08/cov_06feature.html if anyone wants to read it...

Hm... dinner.

j

[banana girl]

They keep telling me this is gonna get better and it keeps not happening! I have been struggling with Terrible headaches for about a 2 weeks now. I don't want to take Tylenol, even though my doctor said I could... I don't normally take anything for headaches, instead I go to the chiropractor! However..... nothing seems to help! any suggestions ladies? I am seeing my chiro twice a week now and am experimenting with trying different foods which kinda helps. My husband is convinced I need more protein, but that seem to make me feel worse! (I hear you Jen) Please let this be a stage,... that goes away soon!!!!! O.K. enough whining!

Jodie I am sorry to hear about your accident. I find I am so paranoid about driving these days, it is awful! I keep stressing that other drivers are gonna pull into my lane, or stop suddenly. I am also really worried I'll puke while driving, considering I still throw up 5 days out of 7. It seems inevitable that it will happen while i am at the wheel. And lately I have only had about 20 to 30 seconds warning before the vomit is actually leaving my mouth! At least driving keeps my mind pretty distracted which seems to help. It's when I think about feeling sick that i puke!!!
oops.. I guess I wasn't done whining!

Adventure girl, follow your heart, it will lead you right. I am sorry to hear you are losing a family member, I'm sending you loving thoughts, hope it works out well.

Welcome Heather! I sure hope you are able to have the birth of your dreams!! I look forward to hearing more from an experienced mama, this is my first and I have high hopes as well as many concerns.

I am so happy the weather is finally warming up. I have alot of really cute maternity tops that are more suitable to warmer weather and it is fun to start wearing them. Today I got to wear the first top I bought myself for the pregnancy..... sort of a peasanty, hippie blouse with embroidery on it. had some great compliments on my growing belly today! I just wish I felt as good as I look!!!!

Love and kisses to all
Anna

[badomama]

Quick one here...

Heather welcome!
Jen thanks for the nerd moments; I need the info over here in no-info land.
Jodie, pole sana as they say here about the car accident. I'm so glad to hear you and yours were not hurt.
Anna, I have had headaches for over a month too. They get bad at night and I just suffer through. Don't know what else to do yet and I'm just glad they don't come with nausea.
Adventuregirl, I think you should tell. Everyone will want to have the happy relief.

My ultrasound news: went to the nicest hospital in town, but they still have totally dirty bathrooms and no one knows where the ultrasound dept is! Yikes. Power went out, waited for hours with lots and lots of other ladies. Finally, my special recommended doctor comes in (wanted someone who I knew I could speak English with because my Swahili is pathetic) and he turns out to be the most unfriendly Spaniard I've ever met. Plus, they said not to drink water beforehand, which seemed a little odd to me considering it was external. Whatever, the scan was crystal clear immediately. I saw a lovely looking little baby even if it did look like two brussel sprouts with arms and legs. That head! And it practically did cartwheels in there. Dancing all around! Doc said they didn't even need to see a heartbeat after all that action, but we saw one anyway. Dh is dying to know the sex, so Doc focused in between legs. Luckily saw nothing,but I think it is sweet that dh wants to know. He's happy either way. Immediately ran off to the internet cafe to spread the news.

ok, that was a little longish, but thought you'd all like to hear!

bye, off to another endless meeting. BTW, there is a new book out called "Democracy is an endless meeting" and I think that title is quite fitting.

until Friday,

Steph:D very very happy

[JenInMpls]

The witching hours seem to be between 4 and 7. I fought off the urge to not eat and ate some mac and cheese and half of an apple plus a glass of milk, and then forced myself to sit and knit for a while instead of lying down (the past 2 nights I have fallen asleep around 7). I managed to finish Jo's starfish, my stomach settled and I'm looking at a 9:30 bedtime which will be much better. I did snap at Jo unnecessarily but I will apologize at bedtime... Wednesdays stress her out because they are a big chore night for her (cat box, garbage) and West Wing is on, and I managed to distract her enough that she couldn't hear what was said on the show because I was rinsing an apple juice bottle to go out with the recycling... *sigh*

Headache remedy for Anna, depending on how sensitive your skin is: 10 drops of peppermint oil in a sink full of cool water, swish a washcloth in it, wring out the washcloth and place it where it hurts (forehead, back of neck). Leave on for no longer than 1/2 an hour at a time. Don't place directly on eyes. Cut back on amount of peppermint if your skin is highly sensitive. Aveda also makes an oil called Blue Oil which is peppermint and chamomile which you can apply without diluting directly where it hurts. Lavender oil on a cool washcloth can also ease headaches by relieving stress.

Take heart that you puke so easily, I've read that if you have less inhibitions about bodily functions such as barfing, birth goes easier.

night night, hope to not be up at 3:30 AM,

jen

ps via edit: MDC seemed to be down when I wanted to post this, so I posted it this morning. Steph, yay on your ultrasound!! It's odd that no one knows where ultrasound is when there were so many women waiting?!

[wardermom]

Badomama, I'm glad your ultrasound went well. It's too bad about the wait, the dr. and the dirty bathrooms, etc.

I have an ultrasound today. The midwives don't seem to believe that I know my dates, and of course, I do. I conceived on my 29th birthday!
Anyway, it will be reasuring to see the baby as I've had so much anxiety this time around after 2 m/c's.

[Jodie]

Steph~ glad your ultrasound went well, despite everything else.

I've been waking in the middle of the night too, and don't always have to go to the bathroom. Last night the headache I have (hasn't totally gone away) got so bad it woke me at 1:45am.
I tried and tried to go back to sleep, to ignore it, but it was hurting sooo bad.:( So I took one acetaminophen and laid there for a while and finally went to sleep. It was the best sleep I've had in weeks. It was wonderful.
Normally I don't take anything for headaches(use a wet cloth or ignore it), this one hurt so bad it woke me up and I couldn't go back to sleep. Its the kind in the back of the head, I think its a sinus headache.
Hopefully we will not have a repeat tonight.:)

Hope everyone's day is going well.
The sky is blue and its sunny and comfortable outside. Think I'll go for a walk in a while.:D

[4under6]

Hello, everyone!
Sorry I've been MIA for a few days...I've been eBaying like crazy(selling, not buying) to get some of my inventory out of here. Ebay is a second income for me, and I've been really lazy these past couple months, and our finances show it!
The toe is much better. I still can't wear a normal shoe on it; too much pressure on the top of the toe.

Steph-
I have a good friend from Cameroon Africa, and all the women eat these "rocks" that are clay-like. When she made a trip to Cameroon this winter, she came home with bags of them and is in heaven. She said they crave them,especially when pregnant, but doesn't really know why. I'm sure it has something to do with iron? Her 3year old girl(my godchild) sneaks them and chews on them!

I breezed through all the postings for the past few days, and I hope all is well for everyone!

[4under6]

Oh, yeah. And that Ezzo guy is the anti-christ.

A couple years ago when I found out about him, I would go to the bookstore, find his stupid babywise books, and stick them in the Science Fiction section so noone else looking for "normal" baby books could find them.

[adventuregirl]

Danielle, that is awesome! SciFi, hahaha!!!! :LOL

Thanks for your words on my dilemma, dh agrees we should tell, he called last night, but we couldn't reach them. I was a little cranky anyway so it was probably good, I wouldn't have been the upbeat excited person I usually am. So maybe tonight.

Steph, glad you had a good u/s after the hassle of getting there.

Sounds like headaches and waking in the night are normal at this stage, glad I'm not alone.

Babywise, :irked: :tsk what scares me is that lots of new moms think this is the way, I feel so awful for their babies!

Hope you are all enjoying your Spring beginnings, we're having warm weather, but it will snow here in the mtns till May (been snowing every night this week), so our Spring is a little different. Last March we got a 7 foot storm, we were stranded for days, it was the most (and most painful) snow shoveling I have ever done. Good thing it was a 90 year storm! But I can drive 45 min and visit Spring sprouts if I need a fix. Sure do love it here.

[sistermama]

Good afternoon everyone...

Jen - I agree, 4-7 is the worst for me too. Seems like no matter what I do, I end up puking by 5:00. Now that I'm working afternoons that means I get to do it in my office - so all can hear. Hopefully I will be over this soon!

Steph - glad your ultrasound went well. I was looking at ultrasound pictures online yesterday, and even though this is my second child, I can't believe there is really a baby in there!

I've been selling stuff on Ebay too, but I have such a hard time being consistent about getting stuff listed!!! I was planning on starting an Ebay consignment business as well, but with #2 on the way unexpectedly I don't know now.

Sorry to anyone with flakes falling, but it is about 75 and absolutely beautiful here today. I think we might go to the water park on Saturday!:hippie

[hjohnson]

What is it with pregnant mommas and broken toes? I broke my toe about 2 weeks ago stubbing it on our stroller that never gets used. Dumb stroller! I am doing pretty good. Last night DH had his hand on my belly and he told me he could feel the baby's heartbeat. That made me smile. He could feel DS's heartbeat when I was pregnant with him. DH is pretty sensitive to the touch. I dealt with some pretty bad headaches for a while and I noticed that they would get worse as the weather changed. Now that we have sunny weather, I feel great.

[sistermama]

Sorry about your toe, Heather! And welcome also.

I just ordered the cutest pants at imaternity (http://www.imaternity.com/Product.asp?Product_Id=37179007&MasterCategory_Id=7) They were so cheap! There's a lot of other good sales there right now too, you might want to stock up! Hope everyone has a good Thursday night. It is 6:00 and I haven't puked yet!!! :love

[banana girl]

Oh MY GOD!!!! seriously..... am shocked at how freaking pregnant I look. I freak me out! I have only gained about 5 to 7 pounds, but have an obviously PREGNANT belly sticking out in front of me! I can hardly believe that my body has changed this much in such a short amount of time. My breasts are humongous, There is only one pair of "normal" pants left i can wear without unbuttoning and unzipping!

MUST GO SHOPPING!!!

On a food related note, fruity protein drinks seem to be helping with the headaches.... I think protein is the key. We'll see, won't we?

Having an awesome day!
Love and kisses to all
Anna

[hjohnson]

It is definitely sinking in that I am pregnant. I realized that my chiropractor is going to have to drop the table for me since I can't lay on my belly any more.

[JenInMpls]

:splat

Winter storm warning, 6-9 inches! If only we could get a SNOW DAY... don't hold your breath though!

I will have entered a new decade when I wake up!!! :yikes:

j

[badomama]

:birthday: for real this time Jen!
30! Yeah! I hope you have a nausea free day with lots of sleep!

Wardermama, I conceived on my 31st bday. Isn't that a nice day to conceive? You can certainly remember it.

Anna, that is very exciting about your growing belly! Wish we could see some belly pics!

Now I'm curious about this awful Babywise stuff. Will have to surf around on it.

But for now, the annual report, believe it or not, is still calling me.

Happy weekends and shopping for maternity clothes to everyone!

Steph

[JenInMpls]

:banana :bgbounce :banana :bgbounce :banana :bgbounce :banana

No school for us can you believe it!!! Four districts our students live in were cancelled and one is running late, and it only takes two for us to call off school.

Yahoo! Great birthday present except that Jo is *really* mad!! And now there's a ton more shoveling she has to do (last time I shoveled just a little I could feel every single muscle around my uterus, and I was forbidden to ever shovel again. Won't see me arguing!). I hope she doesn't go out and buy me a snowblower for my birthday :LOL

The snow is the sticky snowman kind and it has clung to all of the branches, which is very pretty, except that it also looks very heavy. I hope all of the branches are warm enough to be flexible.

Happy Friday!

jen

[greenbeing]

:birthday: Jen, I hope you have an awesome day!!!! How nice to have no school!!! Enjoy!

[chrissy]

Happy Snow Day Birthday Jen!!!!!!!

Happy Friday to us all!

Love,
Chrissy

[banana girl]

Happy birthday Jen and have a lovely, snuggly snow day!

i heard it may snow here today, but hope it doesn't. I am enjoying the rainy spring feeling way to much! We had thunder and lightning last night!

Happy day to all!
Love and kisses
Anna

[austinmomma]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JEN :love !!!

Jodie,
I'm so glad you and the baby are o.k.. It know it had to be terrifying. A co-worker of mine who is 30 weeks was rear-ended yesterday. Yikes! I wish everyone could slow down just a little. Until I got pregnant, I never noticed how aggressive drivers are here in Texas.

Adventuregirl,
I'm so sorry about the illness in your family but I'm glad you decided to tell them. An impending birth is always good news and it sounds like you all could use some sunshine. :)

I was so disgusted with myself last night... for dinner I had an entire box of mac and cheese mixed with turkey sausage I had cut up. NO VEGGIES! I did have lots of fruit and a pint of milk earlier in the day, though. I have to go to the grocery store today.

I'll check in later. Until then, I hope there are no more car accidents and no more broken toes!

Love,
Kim

[wardermom]

Badomama, yes, it's a wonderful day to conceive. Great present, the best present you could get!

Jen, Happy Birthday, and what a nice thing to happen, a day off!

My ultrasound went great yesterday. The baby is doing well, everything looks good. I have some nice pictures. The kids were really excited to see the pictures. I think it made it more real to them, and dh and I.

[JenInMpls]

Thanks for all of your birthday greetings. It has been a swell day so far (knock on wood). Our neighbor snowblew (snowblowed? snowblowered?) our sidewalk *and* driveway, and I called her to thank her and tell her why I (and Jo) was doubly grateful, namely that I can't help Jo shovel. She called back and congratulated me. She also says she's working hard with her dog and that her barking stresses her out more than anyone else. :scratch OK then!

Sydney and I sat around for nearly 3 hours while I finished *drumroll* the first baby hat for my little sprout. Made out of 75% cotton/25% wool heathered yarn, a lovely light denim blue. My mother will argue of course that it will be inappropriate for a girl :LOL I love this yarn, I want to make everything out of it - it's so soft and so warm. It's the hat I want put on baby's head right after being born... and it's SO tiny. I can't get over it. I hope it's not too tiny. I went by my birth head circumference of 13 inches.

I ought to start picking up this house for our small party tonight - a handful of friends and my mom and her squire (she refuses to call him her boyfriend...) for a pancake dinner, just like all the birthdays I had as a kid. I wish my dad were still around to make pancakes for me... he always made the best ones. *sigh* stupid cancer! (He died in 1999. Jo's died in 1995. Sprout will have no bio grandpas. I never did either. We will have to sniff out some good grandpa figures. Well, male figures in general actually!)

Please send good luck thoughts toward the Detroit metro area today, my sis is having knee surgery.

I have read that being stressed out during pregnancy is not good for the baby... do you think that being sad and crying a lot has adverse effects? I seem to be incredibly weepy. All the time.

emotionally yours :)

jen

ps: Kim: sounds like you needed protein! You'll get your veggies, don't worry! Eat what you can!

[banana girl]

don't worry Jen! all that crying is about having lots of hormones surging through your body, which is great! Keeping crying girlfriend!

love and kisses
Anna

[sistermama]

I sobbed my way through 2 hours of "extreme makeover" last night, so I am feeling those hormones too!

Plus I'm hitting that afternoon expansion where the pants that fit me loose in the morning are painful right now!! I'm afraid I might have to find some elastic band pants.

wardermom - glad you had a great ultrasound - it must be fun to show the pictures to your other kids

kim - don't feel bad about the lack of veggies - I didn't eat any for literally 2 weeks, but I just realized that I can stomach those raw baby carrots

Happy Birthday Jen!!! Congratulations on your first little hat. Isn't fun to have something so small and tiny to look at?

Hope everyone has a good weekend.

[JenInMpls]

I thought that hat was so small, and then I looked at it and thought of my cervix, and looked at it again, and suddenly it didn't look quite so small anymore!!! :LOL

[badomama]

Hah! Jen, that last one cracked me up! I can't wait to look for yarn! That is the first thing I want to do when I get back, after getting new underwear that is. Glad you had a good birthday!

Even though you are emotional, you seem to keep very good spirits and a sense of humor, so your baby must feel that too!

Wardermama, congrats on the good ultrasound. It does seem real now, I agree.

Speaking of not eating veggies...it has been nearly a year since I have eaten some serious greens. I try to eat peas, green peppers and cucumbers, but they are not the same as green leafies. The greens that are available aren't too tasty. Thank science for vitamins and (the good side of) globalisation for the fact that Nutrigrain bars are available in stores here. Otherwise, I'd be worried. Millions of babies are born here that are undernourished and vitamin deficient, and you really can tell the difference in size and response time. I think you can even tell in some adults that they may have been undernourished as a child.

Ok, sorry to depress you all, but really it is true that the world is just downright depressing if you focus on those things. Speaking of which, my new due date according to the u/s is September 11! I've decided to take that as a good sign. It is a way to celebrate life moving on by having a birthday party every year on that day. However, since people rarely give birth on their due dates, it is also very unlikely that will actually be the day.

At work on Saturday doing the annualgetthisoutofmyhairreport.

steph

[banana girl]

Hey Steph, i am also at work on Saturday, however I am currently avoiding doing any actuall work by reading the latest issue of People (It was the Oscars issue) and sending e-mail. Eventually I will have to actually start sorting the mail, so I can go home!

Last night i had the BIGGEST, WORSTEST, MOST GUTWRENCHING BArf yet! We're talking 4 flushes! I was laying on the floor crying at the end,... Oh MAMA!
it's pretty funny the things that go through your mind at moments like those. Mt first horrified thought, was... "But I didn't eat any lettuce today!!!" Followed immediately by "did i turn off my computer when I left work today?"
Can you say short attention span? at least I still have a sense of humor about all this barfing business. and i actually felt way better after i threw up, so hey... Whatever works!

O.K. better go get something accomplished now, hope you all have wonderful weekends!
Love and kisses to all
Anna

[adventuregirl]

Happy Weekend Girls!

Jen, a super happy belated snow birthday! I missed getting online yesterday, I hope you had a great one and enjoyed your pancake dinner. Sounds like good things happened all around with the day off, finishing of tiny hat and good messages with the neighbor, yay!

I've had baby dreams the past two nights, so very cool! The first one I was breastfeeding, the baby was a few days old and we were still getting the hang of things. I was helping the little one get a good latch, couldn't tell if he/she was getting anything from me, then I felt letdown in my breast. I was definitely getting the little one milk, I was almost concerned that it was coming too fast for him/her. The second dream, last night, I was 7 months pg and had a good sized belly and could feel the baby from the outside, I could tell that his/her head was up, and if I pushed a little, he/she would move all around. I wasn't worried about baby being head up since I had lots of time before I was due. But it was so neat. I woke up happy both mornings, I am loving the baby dreams.

I am about out of time, but I hope you all have wonderful weekends, feel healthy and enjoy yourselves!

[JenInMpls]

Oh, Anna, I'm so sorry!!! At the same time as I'm feeling sorry I'm also laughing because you seem to really have a "whatever!" attitude toward it and I envy that! I hate to throw up and will do anything to avoid it!!

I think I'm not really gestating a baby, I think it's an animal, because all i dream about are animals. Last night I dreamt about a golden retriever I found running around on a highway off-ramp, and then I dreamt about a sweet little cat with a 3-inch stub of a tail.

You must have done a good job sending my sister positive vibes yesterday, her surgery went very well, she now has a new ligament in her knee thanks to some generous dead person (a cadaver ligament! All my friends last night said "think of the ramifications! What if it belonged to an ax murderer? Now it's in your SISTER!"), the anesthesia wore off just fine and she has some fancy machine she has to keep her leg in to keep it moving. That and a few months of physical therapy. Gosh I hope this works for her!

The fluffy orange baby is here to say hi to all of you (that would be Sydney). Now she's saying "look at my belly, isn't it much more interesting than that laptop?" She does have a point.

The pancake birthday party was great fun :D I made pancakes just like my dad's, my mom and Bob showed up an hour earlier than they thought they would, which was nice!, I received Norah Jones' new CD which is really mellow and nice and a collection of postcards by Gerhard Glück, Michael Sowa from my friend Sara, who also likes their odd works of art. Now I have to try to talk someone in germany into sending me some clip frames that are the right size, since all of the postcards are German A4 size and won't fit into US 3x5 or 4x6 frames.

Well, I'm done rambling for now. I'm just enjoying the moments while Jo is gone shopping for a little while, but there is work to be done around this house and unfortunately, the cleaning lady still hasn't shown up :LOL and it won't do itself.

There are snow avalanches falling off of our roof!

j

[JenInMpls]

I just returned home from shopping and we found that Lands' End has exceptional deals on maternity pants!!! Other maternity things, too, like shirts, sweaters and swimsuits, but there is a spring pants event going on right now and no pair of pants in the store is over $14.50 - and the maternity pants were all $9.50. The sizes run large in the first place, and they also have extended sizes! The majority of their pants have soft elastic waistbands and adjustable button/elastic sides instead of the huge panel and - get this - they all have POCKETS. There are sport pants made of nice smooth combed cotton knit, capris, jeans, chinos and dress pants. I got 3 pair - one sport, one dress and one jeans - and I think I am now set for the rest of the school year. If you have a Lands' End Inlet near you, it might be worth the trip.

We also bought *misty sniffle* our very first item of baby clothing at Lands' End today. A pair of plaid flannel lined tan corduroy cargo pants with a little fox patch on the pocket. They're 0-3 months and so ABSOLUTELY adorable that it hurts. They also were 80% off and therefore cost us $2.40.

Today, with the pants on sale for $9.50 each instead of $15, $41 and $50 and the adorable cords being $2.40 instead of $16, we saved $103.10! Color me psyched!!!

We also were sucked into the megalith baby uber-store, Babies 'R' Us. The idea was to get me a little more psyched about parenthood :) it worked, but the little corduroy pants would have done it all by themselves!! But Babies 'R' (I hate that!!) Us left me with a lot of questions, too:

1. Why do companies think babies need so much STUFF?

2. Why do disposable diapers smell so strongly? We'll never be able to use them, they trigger Jo's allergies! (We'll probably end up using ones from the co-op on occasions like traveling, etc.)

3. Why does the cuteness of a striped footie pajama (what my mom called 'newbie suits') have to be interrupted by a car or the word "VARSITY" embroidered on the front of it?

4. Do people really lay out several thousands of dollars to get a full nursery suite of crib, hutch, changing table, chest of drawers and glider rocker that all match?

5. Is every single pregnant woman in the Twin Cities here?!!

I thought of the last one when I noticed how many pregnant women were there and it occured to me... holy cow, we are a big, HOT target market!!

My poor child who will sleep in a hand-me-down crib next to moms' bed in hand-me-down clothing and hand-me-down cloth diapers, who will ride in a hand-me-down stroller (maybe, if someone gives us one) and be stuck being carried around in a hand-me-down sling! OH THE HUMANITY!!! :LOL

The trip to babies r us worked: I have newfound excitement and confidence in my mothering skills and decisions!

Happy Saturday to you all,

Jen

[JenInMpls]

No, not really!

I just wanted to post the cats' home page if you were interested in seeing the furballs I'm always going on about:

http://personal.stthomas.edu/jmyoung/personal/sande.html

n.b.: my hair is now much, much, MUCH longer. But I'm thinking of having it cut again. Who knows.

I'm going to bed now, honest!

jen

[4under6]

Hello all!

Hope the weekend is nice!

Happy belated, Jen!

Hope your pancakes were yummy!
My dad passed in 2002. I miss him like crazy! We were very close.
I drove my mom home to Brainerd today (yes, for all you non-Minnesotans, it IS the town from the movie Fargo), and we stopped at the vets cemetary in Fort Ripley and put stuff on his grave. It has become a tradition for my kids to pick out little "trinkets" from around the house and put them on his grave. Today, my dad got a Pokemon card, a heart-shaped cardboard tag that came from a recent stuffed animal purchase, and a "Freddy" figurine from Scooby-Doo.
I'm sure the groundskeepers at the cemetary kinda wonder!
Once we left little troll dolls.

And while I'm on this topic, here's kind of a freaky thing:
after my dad died, and the first time I visited his grave I cried openly and talked to him. As I was driving away and waiting to turn onto the main road, I looked up and straight ahead of me was a HUGE hawk, just sitting and looking at me. Then he stretched out his wings and flew away Something about it kind of made me wonder, but I brushed the thought aside.
I never mentioned it to anyone.

A month later, my mom moved down to the cities here(Edina, Jen), and my husband went and helped her move. A couple days later, we were talking about my mom and the move, and how the first few months would be hard for her to adjust to life without Dad. My husband said, "When I was bringing in the last load, standing right near the front door was this hawk, just looking at me. Now what would a huge hawk like that be doing in Edina?"
I got chills. I believe in the here-after, and signs, to a point, but this HAD to be a sign from my dad. He's watching over us!
I had one other hawk sighting since, but it wasn't so significant as the other two times.





When he was

[JenInMpls]

After my dad died an albino squirrel showed up in the backyard - just once. Hasn't been seen since. I wonder if my dad's trapping and relocation of squirrels (he was an avid backyard birdwatcher) led him to some furry-tailed karma :LOL

j

[hjohnson]

Jen, my child also sleeps in hand-me-down clothes, in a hand-me-down crib, and get his cloth diapers (most used) changed on my $20 special changing table from Goodwill.

I have a friend who feels that the nursery stuff absolute has to match, her child will only be wearing new clothes and disposable diapers. She is not a happy person most of the time.

HAND-ME-DOWNS ROCK!

[badomama]

:thumb on hand-me-downs and super sales. I nannied for a fairly rich Quaker family in DC who had wonderful attitudes about simple living, and all of their clothes and furniture were hand-me-downs. The girl child wore exactly what the older brothers wore, stains and all. I was quite inspired by their efforts to put their money into books and activities rather than clothes, and hope to follow their example.

Latest baby dream: Jeri the fetus decided the uterus was way too small so it wiggled out of there and swam around in my body until it found a bigger space under my sternum. (I think I am projecting my own thoughts of how claustrophobic the uterus looks. No windows!)

Welcome to the week everyone! I'm starting 14 today and am looking forward to feeling those flutterings in about a month or so.

Steph

[badomama]

Jen, your cat babies are lovely!

[greenbeing]

Good Morning! Hope all of you had a restful weekend! I bought sonething for the baby---a diaper bag. Well, it's not really a "diaper" bag. It's actually just a backpack, but with the different compartments, I thought it was perfect. :thumb

I also tried to get some maternity clothes, but I'm not big enough for them yet...I did get one top and a pair of capris that were on sale. Thank goodness the weather is getting warmer. I think I can get away with my spring, elastic waist, baggy pants and skirts for the rest of the school year. Anyone here just buy a larger size instead of maternity. I'm wondering how long that would last??

School talk: We start our standardized tests this week. Talk about pressure. I teach kids who don't even know English well and they have to take this ridiculous test at a 5th grade English level :splat Wish us luck....

Baby things: I, too, am more and more surprised at all the stuff they have for babies these days. I went to a shower a couple days ago and the woman got a bottle warmer-what happened to a pan with water??? And... 2 swings, 3strollers...and no, she's not having twins-she registered for it all.

Get to go to my midwife Tuesday---12 weeks :D

Jen-I love your family pictures. You are all soo beautiful!

Steph-congrats on 14 weeks!

Enjoy your day!!

[hjohnson]

Who in their right mind needs 2 swings and 3 strollers? That's crazy!

Steph I have started week 14 as well. I get to see my doc on Friday. I am taking DH (to meet the doc) and DS so DS can hear the heartbeat. I figure he won't get much from it at 16 months but I think it will be good for him to hear it.

[badomama]

Does any know how common it is for a fetus to have a head that measures at one week ahead of EDD and a CRL that measures one week behind EDD at 12 weeks? I wish I had a mw to ask about this.

Also, does anyone else have the habit of needing to stress out on something? If there isn't anything evident to stress about, do you subconciously find something to worry about?

Bottle warmer, 2 swings and 3 strollers? Maybe she has a plan to make some money on ebay? :rolleyes:

Steph

[adventuregirl]

Happy Monday, ladies!

Steph, I have no idea about your measurement question. I have read that pregnancy is a time of worry, its inevitable, you are becoming a mom, the provider and protector of a helpless tiny baby, of course you are going to worry about every little thing.

The whole baby stuff thing is an issue for me. I don't want a lot of stuff! Someone offered me a crib this weekend, a super nice gesture, its free, yay! But, having thought about this, I really want to get a co-sleeper that converts to a play yard and that's it, no cribs, bassinets, or other places for baby to sleep. I don't want extra clutter in my house and anything that has so many uses is just perfect. But then, I feel bad saying no to free crib. I have to get better at articulating these things. I just said, let me think about it, I'm not sure. I am definitely NOT the woman that wants all new stuff, just the right stuff. I'd be all the more happy if it was used, but just the item I had in mind...

We told our families and lots of friends this weekend, it was really fun. Now comes the questions and advice.

I dreamt last night that I was laboring in a hospital. I think I was there with a friend who was also in labor and I was trying to talk her out of getting an epidural. But I kept thinking, I better get home as I tried to time contractions, funny.

So, here's a good question, what is the number one thing people ask you when they find out you are pregnant?

Mine is, are you going to find out the sex? I swear, EVERYONE has asked us this, even our Grandma's.

Hope everyone is feeling fine, and the sun is shining in your neighborhood too.

[sistermama]

Happy Monday!

I haven't thrown up in 2 days!!! Second trimester here we come!

Steph - I just emailed your question to my mw. I'll let you know what she says.

Adventuregirl - glad you had fun telling everyone!

The unecessary baby item that I really want, but for selfish reasons, is a baby wipe warmer. I use baby wipes to clean my makeup off - works just as good and is much cheaper than those Biore cloths. I'm tired of using cold ones - waaaahhh!!! They don't seem to bother ds at all...

The one expensive baby item that I would totally buy again is the Britax Roundabout car seat. Cost way to much but is so easy to use and installs so tight you can't move it a centimeter. Jack has a lot of car seats, because both grandmas bought one for their cars and he has one in dh's car again, but I wouldn't spend money on any other kind of car seat again. We have been really disappointed with other brands we bought that were even recommended by Consumer Reports. Okay, I'll get off my Britax soapbox now - but I am passionate about that seat!!!!

[Caroline248]

Hey all!! How is everyone? I am now 14 weeks as well...I am feeling better, still get nasueas if I don't eat every hour or so....

As far as unneeded equipment, I have it all! This is our fourth, and there are few things that I have found is a neccesity. One thing that I recommend everyone get is one of those vibrating bouncy seat things...in theory it is great to think you can hold the baby or sling the baby whenver he/she is fussy, but in reality, that is hard to do. YOu can keep the bouncy seat next to you while you cook, do laundry...whatever. It it small enough to go on the counter or tabel, and my kids LOVED sitting there and watching what we were doing.
I never had a wipe warmer, but I used to have a wood burning stove that I put a brass potpourri thing-y with cloth wipes on the warming pad....I guess maybe I might want a warmer now. Those wipes are COLD! I also want a new Maya sling, and I need a stroller. Four kids are just too much to safely handle at times.

Fpr carseats, if you have that new LATCH system, most seats are really tight now. We have a Century carseat with LATCH, and that thing is not moving anywhere!! But in my husbands car, they slide all over.

Okay, I am rambling...I have my MW appt today. this will be my third, but I know they will hear the heatbeat and I really could use the reassurance...

Talk to you all later!
Caroline

[chrissy]

hey september mamas!

it is so great to read that most of us are starting to feel better. yay, just in time for beautiful spring!

we went on a quick trip to visit some friends this weekend and it was wonderful. they are the kind of friends that you can just lounge around and veg with. there were 2 couples besides us and 1 has a new baby and it was the first time we met him so that was great too. now i'm just sad that they all don't live closer. :(

i will be 11 weeks tomorrow and people are already noticing my belly. i need to get brian to take a picture with our digital camera and i'll post it here. sure is gonna be huge in 29 weeks!

caroline, yay for your appointment today and hearing baby's heartbeat! it is the best sound ever.

sistermama, no puking in 2 days?! woo hoo!! we love our britax too.

adventuregirl, people always ask me "when are you due?" and then "does noah know yet?" congrats on telling the family!

steph, i am a major worrier too and it sucks! :hug to you. what is cjr? i think it is normal for baby's measurements to be slightly different from average. the average includes lots of baby's who measure bigger and lots who measure smaller, and very few that actually measure average. i think your baby just has a big smart brain!

must go take a quick nap before noah wakes. happy monday to all.
love,
chrissy

[Jodie]

Hello everybody.:wave
Have been pretty busy babysitting, helping DH fix my car and today I went shopping with a friend!
We went to a consignment sale. I found some maternity clothes(3 tops a dress and 1pair of shorts) and lots of cloth diaper covers(I think 20 covers and 3 diapers).:banana
I only spent $46 on it all!:)
We've been thinking and our bed is too small(a full size) for the two of us and a baby. So we are going to get a crib and sidecar it to the bed.

Fri. was my appointment with the midwife, we were there for an hour and a half. We got to hear the heartbeat.:D It was so awesome. She also checked my iron and it is great. So baby and me are doing wonderfully. She said I just need to drink more water and eat more greens. Guess I'd better get Southern and get me some turnip greens.:LOL

Hope everyone has a great week!

[greenbeing]

Thanks for the info on the carseats, Sarah and Caroline. Were you glad you chose the infant to toddler type, or would you have rather had an infant seat and then a toddler seat. I'm pretty unsure when it comes to carseats...I know some people loved having the infant seat because they could take the seat out without disturbing the babe. Or, at a restaurant, they were able to take the babe in the seat, rather than hold the babe. What do you gals think???

[austinmomma]

I've always believed in here-after signs. I lost my dad to AIDS almost 10 years ago... and he always told me never to turn a hungry animal away from your door (as if I would) because the spirit in that animal is from a deceased person that you were at one time, in some way, connected to. Corny, I know. But I swear every time I really miss him, a hungry kitten comes to the door. He loved cats.

On another note, I don't think babies need so much stuff, either. Billions of babies have been raised without 2 and 3 swing sets. Or a crib in every room. My step sister went way overboard in that respect... bought a set of everything for every house she and the baby ever visited. I would like a co-sleeper, though. They look pretty cool.

Oh, the best news yet... I'm going to stay here in Austin to raise the baby. I have a small savings and my mom agreed, surprisingly, to help me out for the first year. She is also going to pay for me to take a medical transcription course so I can earn money at home. It's very generous of her considering that my first degree (bachelor's in photojournalism) isn't worth very much. She helped me pay for that, too. She knows how much I want to stay in Austin. She wants to be near the baby but thinks I should be happy, too. Yay for awesome moms! She says she will be visiting a lot.

Jen, I loved the kitty pictures. I love to put a face with all of the images I've formed in my head. I hope everyone else posts pics, too.

Take care and stay safe.
Love,
Kim

[4under6]

Babystuff.

We had a great hand-me down double stroller that we used for 4 years, then one day when I was unloading stuff to a charity, I accidentally took my stroller out and donated it, too!

So we got a new one. On eBay, though, so we got a good deal, and the seller was local so I picked it up, so no shipping cost.

We have a pack and play, a bouncy seat, two cribs (we had two in 12 months, remember?) and I have a Maya Wrap that I love. We always end up co-sleeping for at least a year, so the crib will be waiting in the wings, but in our room.

[Caroline248]

Well, my appt went well. I have not gained any weight...but I am measuring two weeks ahead..so go figure. My placenta is low and in the front, so they want me to go to a Level II ultrasound in three weeks. She did find the baby's heartbeat, but it took a long time and she really had to dig around, it was a bit painful. The midwife said it was because of the placenta being in the front, it was hard to hear through it. All in all, okay appt.

Greenbeing, I used the infant seat for a while. I love being able to take a sleeping baby for a quick run somewhere without having to wake him/her. And at a restaurant they were great too....there are just some times you don't want to be holding the baby and eating..

Kim, that is great news. It must be a relief to have those issues settled for you. Best wishes, and Bless your mom for her help!

Hmm...hope everyone else is great. Jenn, I didn't look at your cat pictures beciase I would be jealous...I miss my cat!!

Caroline

[JenInMpls]

Told school today!

I decided to tell the 4th and 5th graders in an unconventional way, since I couldn't figure out how to them. I wrote a riddle:

I got a gift on Christmas Day
I couldn't open it, sad to say
I carry it with me where I go
In the sunshine and in the snow
On my birthday I had it still
Must wait til September to have the thrill
Of seeing it with my own two eyes
What do you s'pose is the big surprise?

Let me tell you how fun this was!!!

5th grade: one had it figured out in 20 seconds (she was the only one who looked at me, physically, closely) but wouldn't tell her classmates... the others ruminated on it longer but eventually they got it after one did the math and said "that's 9 months!" - her mom had a baby (at home) last December, and she is quite clear on how long gestation is!! She made me promise to tell them when the baby starts kicking. They were very excited although one is terribly whiny about me not being their teacher next year. The hardest part for them was keeping it a secret over lunch and recess. The most interesting part is that the kids who got it first were the children without siblings.

4th grade: They heard the riddle, thought about it briefly, asked a few key questions to narrow things down, and then one asked, "Can a machine see it?" - that gave it away. They were happy too and gave me about 8 million suggestions for names. They also were psyched to get the go-ahead to tell everyone possible. The halls were abuzz. It was very exciting.

And I got the first belly rub. A Kindergartner (4-1/2) whose mom had told her my news came up to me and rubbed my belly and said "is that the baby?". Sweet!!!!

In the out-of-school world... I only have one complaint: HEMORRHOIDS. Painful. Bleeding. Sitz baths. witch hazel. ugh.

:D

jen

[badomama]

Jen! That is the best announcement I've ever heard! How clever and fun for everyone. Do you have a copyright on that riddle? Can I pass it on? Cute first belly rub too. I got one last weekend, which was a tiny bit embarrassing because she (acquaintance) had to rub my pubic area to feel anything!

Hemmorhoids...not fun. I've had them too and started to take metamucil daily for awhile. That seemed to help.

Sistermama, hooray for no vomiting for 3 days! And, big thanks to you for asking your mw for me. It is interesting to know how they determine EDDs when they have different measurements (the rational side of my worrying :)).

3under3, sorry you donated your stroller away. Too funny though!

Austinmama, 3 cheers for supportive moms! I'm very happy for you and think it is a great idea to do medical transcription. I remember there were SO many jobs a few years ago. I imagine it has only grown in demand.

Happy Tuesdays,

Steph

[greenbeing]

jen-What a great way to pass on the news. I can just imagine your kids trying to figure out the riddle.

Kim-I'm happy for you!. It must be a relief to get to stay in a place you love and how cool that your mom is going to help you get into medical transcription.

Caroline-glad your appointment went well. Could they feel the placenta with their hands??? That's interesting they could tell where your placenta is already.

Joie-hooray for hearing the heartbeat. And your find...nice work.:thumb

Hope you all have a wonderful day! It's supposed to be near 70 today!!!!!

[JenInMpls]

Sarah: HOORAY that you're coming out of the 1st trimester! Yippee! *do the no barf dance* :banana I hope you keep feeling good.

The question that we always get from adults after the news is some version of "So, how'd you do that?". There are some, like my dental hygienist, who pose the question in a more respectful way, and then some who just ask outright how I managed to get pregnant, assuming I went out to a bar and slept with some stranger or something. I know it's a learning curve thing... but sometimes people just ask in such a rude way!! I said in my letter to the community that I didn't mind answering that question at all, but that they should think about their questions first and consider if someone asked them that same question, how it would feel.

The question the kids asked me is "is it a boy or a girl?!", then "What do you think it is?" followed by "What do you want more?" :)

Re what Caroline said about bouncy seats - our nurse at camp brought her 4-month-old with her (was he a doll! mixed-race, kinky dark brown hair with light brown skin and extremely deep brown eyes! And a temperament like sunshine. Everyone fell in love with him!) and she had one of those little baby hammock frame chairs and he would just kick his leg to rock himself and he was happy as a clam. I wish I could find one that was as plain and simple as hers was.

The Britax Roundabout is Consumer Reports' highest rated in car seats! Holy expensive, but we're thinking about getting one too despite the fact that we've got 2 coming used. It would be the permanent seat for my car. The other two used ones would go in Jo's and maybe my mom's. Wow, I wonder what she would think of that! I have the last Consumer Reports with car seat ratings if anyone wants to know anything... I can dig it out.

Jodie good job on the consignment store grab!

Kim, hooray for being able to stay in Austin. That's terrific! My first degree (Bachelor's in German) wasn't worth too much on the job market, either.

The only thing that ever gets me about the infants being carried around in their car seats is when parents hang 8 different distractors from the handle and you look at baby who is craning his neck to look the opposite direction! Also, for you experienced moms: Do you have to re-situate the seat in the car then, every time you take it out? I know that car seats are really difficult to get installed right. Does taking them in and out affect that?

I have a 2-door hatchback and I can't imagine trying to get a car seat out of my car once I got it in...! I think I have to go with a sling or the Baby Björn...

Steph, I have no copyright on the riddle, no, so if you (or anyone else) wants to use it, be my guest! I'm back to doing the fiber thing again, yeah... it was oatmeal with raisins for breakfast for me. The midwife is going to throw up her hands, but I just can't eat as much protein as she wants me to eat, especially if I need to be pushing fiber now, too. *sigh* oh well eat what you can, I guess.

I'm going to wherever greenbeing is! 70 degrees... mmmmm! It's supposed to be 40 today but the best part is that the sun is shining. Yesterday it was supposed to be a plain old cloudy day and at 10 AM (when I leave for work) it suddenly started snowing. Hard. Like 1/8 mile visibility hard. I saw about 8 accidents on the way to work. It was horrible. I was late. And then it ended 45 minutes later! The weatherman called it a "snowburst". Really poorly timed!

Well, I should go convince Jo that she should maybe get out of bed. Best to you all!!

xo, j

[Caroline248]

Jen, that sounds great. What a fun way to tell. And yeah, I guess some people would be a bit surprised!! I think that Jo is missing certain "parts" to assume it could be an accidental thing!!

As for the infant sling seat, yes, that is what I have. The new ones have all these bells and whistles that I don't like. Mine is old and just has the seat, a safety belt, and it vibrates. It was a lifesaver!!

The infant carseats have a base that you keep strapped in the car. YOu can click the seat in and out of the base pretty easily. I only had something on my handle when my kids were older and could play with a toy, and that was just so they couldn't throw it out on the dirty floor. They get the best stimulation just observing the world around them! The thing about using the sling all the time is my babies would wake up as I tried to get them in, and they would rarely go back to sleep when we were out. So if I wanted to run to the dairy and grab some milk, it would be a nightmare if the baby woke up and then wouldn't want to get back in the carseat!


Greenbeing, no, they couldn't feel my placenta, but when she tried to find the baby's heartbeat, all she could hear was the placenta. I have never had that happen before, but it sounds sort of like "shoo-shoo-shoo" slower than a heartbeat. So she knew it was covering the front. I just have to have that ultrasound now to be sure that the placenta is not too low...

Steph, what is the weather like where you are? It is so yucky here, after gorgeous weather last week....

Okay, this is getting long...oh, about the hemmoroids...I had then BAD with my second baby. There is a witch hazel pad that I would leave in my underwear..it felt SOO good!! Also works after you have the baby for future reference. A big maxipad with a layer of the pads on top...

Caroline

[adventuregirl]

Hola mi amigas!

Jen, great riddle! What a fun teacher you are! It must have been a great day. I had to laugh at your most popular question, I'm sure it can be insensitive sometimes, but to picture people trying to figure it out, :LOL . Great pics! Thanks for sharing. I would love to see what everyone looks like, I will try to figure out how to get my pic up somewhere. You know we're going to want to spy bellies over the coming months too!

I want a Britax too, probably the most spendy item on my list, but hey, that's what Grandma's are for, right? Ok, I can hope... I was grappling with the infant carseat dilemma too, but decided that I just want one, I'll deal with the minor inconveniences of having one carseat for my baby's entire carseat career, I just can't deal with more stuff! The book I am reading (Our Babies, Ourselves) is making me feel bad for babies that spend a lot of time in seats/carriers away from their moms. My latest luxury dream is several slings, there are so many kinds and I can see dh and I having favorites, liking one better for infant, older baby, toddler, etc... But we'll just see what we get gifted, handed down and find used.

Kim, that is great news! I am so glad you found a way to stay where you want to! Three cheers for mom! :thumb

Jodie, good scores! I need to find that shop in my town! Congrats on a good appt too!

greenbeing, I am loving the warm weather here too! Only in the 60's here, but the snow is melting and its making me excited for Spring.

Hope you are all doing great!

[Caroline248]

Adventuregirl, I know what you mean about the carriers. But, when you have more than child, it sometimes is a neccasary evil! The slings are great, but I never did have that ease with them that others talk about. I am very small framed, maybe that is why. And I can not sit at a table and eat with a baby in a sling. Just can't do it. Bending in and out of a washing machine doing laundry never worked either.

I could see with one child a sling being used more, but there was no way with an infant, a two year old, and a six year old I had that luxury:crying . There is a lot guilt that comes with each child...you just can't do it all!! What is interesting to me though, my third child is WAY more emotionally attached to me...My older two that had a lot more individual attention are more independent emotionally. But physically, my two year old dresses herself and does a lot more for herself than my older two. I don't get it!!:scratch


Caroline

[adventuregirl]

Caroline, I hear you, and I can say nothing about having multiple children, I don't even have one yet! Its really hard to imagine what it will all be like IRL, so my visions may all be different when it comes to reality. I'm all wrapped up in my book now, trying to figure out how I will not become the standard American parent, but the truth is, I am American and there are some things I won't be able to fight.

[austinmomma]

Caroline,
I am small framed, too, at 5'5" and only 99 lbs (though I've gained 7 lbs with the pregnancy) and have the same fear about slings. But I want one so much since they seem so convenient. I should also say that I'm the oldest of three and, independence-wise, we are the same as your children... with the youngest being the most emotionally attached to my mom. You can tell the order of our birth by looking at our individual photo albums, with mine being the thickest, and Catherine's (the youngest) being very thin. But I think my mom and Catherine really bonded when my sister Amy and I went off to college.

Also, can anyone tell me where to buy a Britax? And does it snap in and out of the base?

Jen,
I thought your riddle was very clever, I bet you're a great teacher!

Thanks to everyone for the encouragement!

:p
Kim

[4under6]

WOW!
Jen, that riddle was awesome!
I wonder if you minded if my husband used it for his classroom? Though they're 1st graders, so I don't think they can read that much. So nevermind!

I have also heard good things about the Britax. I know you can get them on Babystyle.com but I would wait until they advertise a shipping special. They do it all the time.
Well, since we already have 6 carseats and/or boosters, we will not be purchasing more!

Hemorroids. Yuck. I only had a problem with that once after my son was born.

[sistermama]

As far as getting a Britax online, I just googled Britax and looked through all the results till I found what I wanted cheapest and with now shipping.

I am such a sling junkie! My best friend, who I work with, brought her baby to work for the year before mine was born, so I got lots of slinging practice on him. My suggestion to new mamas though is to go and get sling help at a La Leche meeting. There are always a couple of moms who are really good at demonstrating, and it can make a real difference to get "live" help if it is your first time! I always had ds in the sling at restaurant when he was small. I could handsfree nurse and he would usually fall asleep, so it was such a nice break! I love my Maya Wrap but the Kangaroo Korner slings are great too, and you can have them custom made.

Jen - I wish there was a Waldorf school here! Lots a private schools but all very mainstream and similar...

austinmama - glad you are going to be able to stay and that your mom is being so supportive.

[banana girl]

Hello ladies!

It took me all day to get caught up on everyone's messages. I stayed home on monday and enjoyed hearing from you all today. Sunday was TERRIBLE! I threw up over 10 times! I was barfing up water, tea, crackers,.. anything and everything! I didn't manage to fall asleep untill after 3 a.m. So i definitely didn't go to work!

Instead I went to my chiropractor and found out i have a rib that's out of place! Too much barfing!!! He told me the muscle's around it are strained, but probably not torn or anything. I would be in more pain if that were the case. Instead it just feels like a deep bruise right under my boob. I think the added weight of my breasts are part of the problem and must shop for a more supportive bra. One that actually fits these gigantic breasts.....

so i got to nap ALOT yesterday and my husband came home early from school and took me swimming. Doctors orders, says swimming will help stretch it out without putting any weight on it. ate like a hog all day yesterday. Ummm...Mashed potatoes and gravy.

Oh yeah and the best news,.. Thanks to Jen and her nerdiness i can celebrate that today at 8 a.m. I officially entered my SECOND TRIMESTER!!!! Yeah! I think it's neat that today is the 9th too, because my husband and i often celebrate on the 9th, yes any 9th! We met on the 9th, had our first date on a 9th, he proposed on a 9th and our wedding was on a 9th. So, i am doubly happy that today is the first day of my 2nd trimester!
Happy Ninth!!!
Love and kisses to all
Anna

[hjohnson]

Jen I am curious. Do you have the consumer rating on the Evenflo Triumph 5 Car Seat? That they car seat that we have for DS. I know that you can purchase Britax car seats at Babies R Us.

I plan on using my sling more with this second baby so I can have my hands free for my son. So far I have a Hotsling Pouch and a Maya Wrap Sling. I am thinking about getting a OTSBH and a KKAFP. I like adding to my sling collection. There's great information about slings at http://www.thebabywearer.com

[JenInMpls]

jeez Anna you poor woman! I take back all of my whining about feeling miserable. I didn't have it half as bad! If there were a reward for going through hell for having a baby, you're definitely in the running!

Newest weird question after telling the news: a 3rd grader, daughter of our enrollment director, asked her mom last night if I were planning on giving the baby up for adoption. Now THAT'S a question I wasn't expecting.

Sarah: yes, in Florida there's one, count 'em, one Waldorf school, the School of the Suncoast. For some reason they seem to be clumped, like Minnesota having 3 of them within 30 miles of each other, and Hawaii having 8 or so. And then poor Iowa has none.

Heather, the Evenflo triumph 5 was CR's #3 rating. #2 was the Evenflo Titan 5 and #1 the Britax Roundabout.

Happy Tuesday!

j

[Caroline248]

The thing about the OTSBH, there is a lot of padding over your shoulder. If you are small (like me) the padding is a little much. It went down my arm and I couldn't have free use of that arm at all. But I love that one with an infant, the babies were most comfy in that one. When that baby is bigger, the Maya was my favorite. (Still couldn't eat wearing it...I will ahve to hang out with you sistermama!!)

Caroline

[hjohnson]

I can't eat wearing my sling either. Laundry is out as well. Mostly I wear my son in my sling when he is fussy. It was helpful for that.

Thanks for the info Jen. If we had to buy a carseat from the very beginning we would of probally bought a Britax. Being that we were replacing an Infant Car Seat, we are happy with our Evenflo Triumph 5. I am surprised that that Titan 5 is #2. I thought that it was crappier than the Triumph 5 when we were shopping.

[badomama]

Hi all!

Anna, OMG, that sounds awful. I'm glad you are nevertheless cheerful. Swimming sounds wonderful.

All this car seat talk is inspiring me to look around! I haven't gotten that far yet, but I did add one more item to my possibly-would-like-to-have-this list: a co-sleeper. I like the idea of having the baby super close at night, but it is essential to have pillows and lots of covers when we get back to the cold Twin Cities. A co-sleeper would allow us to have baby right there, but in its own space. Any experience with these?

Maybe you've been to Africa or have seen photos, but everyone slings there baby here. EVERYONE. No car seats, no front baby soft holders, only a piece of fabric tied around the shoulder. The Maya and the New Native seem to be the closest thing to this. I am only 5 feet tall when really stretching, so I don't know how that will feel to sling a baby about 1/6 or more of my total body size!

Weather report: about 93 degrees, 99% humidity. If you walk 20 steps you will have sweating pouring down your body.

Spring sounds awfully nice about now! I think we will catch it in California and Salt Lake City (my hometown) on the way back. Less than 5 more weeks until I get to eat Pho, tempura vegetables, spicy buffalo wings, lasagna and salmon. At least I think salmon is not on the toxic don't eat when pregnant list. Much check that.

bye,

steph

[badomama]

So the Britax roundabout is almost $100 more than the Triumph 5 (Evenflo I think). Could it really be that much better? Opinions? Seems like they have about the same specs.

Steph, who finished annual report yesterday and is feeling very good about surfing today!

[Caroline248]

My friend has the Britax, and I really didn't think it was worth the extra money. I ahven't decided what I am going to get, but not the Britax. I think they kind of guilt you into spending all that money (why shouldn't MY child have the safest??)....but this is my fourth and that makes me a bit more comfortable. I like the Evenflo, that is probably what we will end up with...

Oh Steph, yuck...can you breathe with all that humidty? I am already having trouble catching my breath!! I never used a co-sleeper, I like the thing you put in your bed between you and your partner...I can't remember what it is called. I will have to do a search....the cosleepers came out after I had my first, and I already had a new pac and play and bassinett, so I thought it was a waste of money. I used either the thing in the bed or pulled the bassinett right up to our bed. I should add that all my kids had apnea and were on moniters so they couldn't sleep IN our bed for a couple of months. Of course, now I can't get my
2 1/2 year old OUT of our bed....

Caroline

[JenInMpls]

Ugh, Steph, that weather! But congrats on the annual report being done! :banana

The Britax costs about $250 now, when CR rated it last May it was $230. Their #2 pick, the Evenflo Titan 5, was $70 (maybe why you thought it looked crappier, Heather) and the Triumph 5 was $130. CR rated them for their ease of installation, how they fit into all of the different models of cars they tested, and how their crash test dummy fared in head-on, rear and side-impact crashes. The britax had the highest safety rating for all of the different impacts and was the only one who performed better on the side-impact crash.

But I, too, have to wonder: is it worth $250?! Then I think about the things we add on to vehicle packages to make sure our cars are safe for us - air bags, cars with good safety ratings, etc - and it keeps me thinking.

happy wednesday!

j

[adventuregirl]

Good Morning!

Anna, I was wondering where you were. I'm so sorry you had such an awful Sunday! But it sounds like yesterday was much better. Lots of non-puking vibes to you! Hope the rib is feeling better.

Steph, I hope you can handle that heat better than I would. I'm sure you are counting the days till you can head for cooler, less humid climes.

Jen, that was quite a question. If this little kid realized what you had to do to GET pregnant, she might not have asked that one. Not really possible to be an oops!

Heather, thanks for the sling link. I want to go sling shopping with someone who has a little one, so I can really try them all out. I'll have to hit up some friends, and probably soon before the belly gets in the way.

I wore a tight shirt yesterday and totally had a pooch hanging out. I was actually self conscious of it for a little while. I guess I have the idea that when you show, its your uterus poking out, but my new belly is higher up, maybe the organs are moving out of the way while my uterus rises up. I am realtively small so I guess there is only so much room in there for things to move around. I definitely can't suck it in, so I don't think there is extra room. I didn't think I would have trouble adjusting to this.

[chrissy]

hey mamas,

oh anna, what a horrible sunday. i sure hope you never have a repeat performance of that!!

steph, hooray for finishing the annual report!!! oh that heat sounds pretty rough. good thing you will be out of there by the time you are really big!

jen, i think there is a waldorf school in chapel hill, nc which is about an hour from me. that is probably too much of a distance for us to travel but i do want to go to their spring fair and check it out.

about carseats: we used the britax from noah's first car ride. i did end up also buying an infant seat to have a carrier for restaurants and stuff but really we barely used it. he hated being in it and i always wound up holding him instead. when you consider how long you will use it it seemed worth the price to me. i am kind of paranoid about safety though.

about co-sleepers: with noah we bought a cosleeper but didn't use it. i don't know why really. i think he didn't like it because it felt too open. at that point we weren't comfortable sleeping with a newborn so he slept (not well) in a carriage in our room for the first 12 weeks or so. then we tried to move him to his crib. that didn't work and he ended up in our bed. now we are all glad he sleeps with us. this time we plan to have the baby in bed with us from the beginning. i bought a thing called the snugglenest ( i think that's what you're talking about caroline) used on the trading post and we're going to try that for the first few weeks. it goes in the bed and is like a 3 sided shirt box.

about slings: i had the maya wrap with noah but could never really get the hang of it. i used the baby bjorn tons and he loved that. this time i'm already collecting different types of slings to use with the new baby. i've got the maya and the new native so far. i also definitely want a kangaroo korner adjustable fleece or cotton pouch. i've tried the new native with my friends newborn and i really like it. hoping to be able to sling this baby more than i did noah. although the bjorn was great too.

i'm back to feeling crappy (but nothing like poor anna!) so that sucks. i have an appointment with my real midwife on friday though so i am really excited about that.

okay, enough from me. happy tuesday!
chrissy

[Jodie]

Hello all!

Not much going on here, just watching videos and reading books my midwife lent to me.:)
My kitties were cute while I was watching some births. They were laying next to me just snozzing. When a woman would make her birthing noises their ears would perk up and they opened their eyes real wide but didn't move. Then when it went back to talking or normal noises they were snozzing again.:LOL So cute.

Jen~ Your fur babies are precious.

Anna~ I hope your feeling better today.

Dh and I have found a car seat we like. Haven't tried it in our cars yet. Don't know how it rates, but a friend of mine told me that that brand doesn't really rate well with consumer reports. All seats have to pass a certain safety standard. I think the most imprtant thing is that it fits your car really well, so we will see.
Dh and I both liked the way the 5point harness attaches together and it is in our price range. Hopefully it will fit snuggly in our cars. Mainly my car. The only places I've seen it so far are Target and Wal-Mart. Babies R Us didn't have it. Guess its not expensive enough.

Hope everyone has a great Wednesday!:D

[hjohnson]

The price is the reason we bought the Evenflo Triump 5 as well as the fact that it had the knobs that you could turn to tighten up the straps plus you can adjust the straps without taking the seat out of the car. Those knobs were wonderful when the seat was rear facing. No trying to dig for the strap. Also it had pretty much the same specs at the Britax.

I would love for my son to attend a Waldorf school but Chapel Hill is 3 hours from me and that is too long of a commute to get there. I looked at Montessori and I don't know what it is about Charlotte but every single private school in this city has outrageous tuition prices. There is a new British school that is opening up and the tuition is $14,000 a year for full day pre-school! Good Grief! Even the parochial schools are expensive. I would never dream of paying $8,000 for Kindergarten. I think my mom paid $3,000 a year for both my sister and I to attend private school. Times have changed.

I have an Arm's Reach Co-sleeper and I loved it! The only thing DS didn't like about it was it would shake when DH would roll over and DS is a light sleeper.

[sistermama]

Good afternoon everyone,

What a morning I had! I took Jack to the library for story time and when I got him out of the car I realized he had a dirty diaper. So I took him in to the bathroom and then realized that diarrhea was running down his legs into his shoes!!! :( I had to put him in the sink in order to get him clean and then turn around and go home. We had been home for a couple of minutes and he projectile vomitted all over himself, me, the carpet, the couch. Poor baby, poor me - cleaning it all up. Then I got to go to work!!! At least he seems to be feeling fine now.

I saw a minicosleeper for sale on the trading post yesterday, it might be on the second page, if anyone is interested. Jack and I had not been a happy cosleeping pair for the past couple of months, we were waking eachother up all night. I just borrowed a crib mattress from a friend and set it up next to our bed (which is on the floor). Jack is in heaven! He loves his little bed. It makes me happy that he was ready for this step of independance at the same time that I needed a bed to myself!

Thanks for that great sling link, Heather. You gave me a super way to waste about an hour of time at work! :p

[sistermama]

BTW, the Britax roundabout can be easily found for $200 with free shipping, not like that is cheap but not as high as $250:thumb

The reason I decided it was worth the money was because I went through several seats that I really disliked, so I should have saved myself the trouble and just gotten the Britax to start with. Be a little wary of Consumer Reports, because I bought a seat that they recommended and found it very difficult to use. I think they are good for safety recommendations, but I never buy a baby product without reading the parents' reviews found through Babies R Us. They have saved me gobs of money and are really good!

[hjohnson]

I am glad that sling link is getting some good use. I love my slings.

[banana girl]

Hello ladies

Thank you all for sending me such warm and sympathetic thoughts. I'm hoping that sunday was the last big hurrah, before 2nd trimester! I have been fine last last few days, eating well, sleeping well, feeling amorous and getting lots done at work. Yeah, i feel like barfing, but haven't,.. soooooo.

Today I saw daffodils coming up out of the ground! Hooray! I love the spring! But, it makes me soooo itchy to get outside and get my hands dirty.
I am a gardener at heart. Have worked a 4 summers as a landscaper, specializing in flower bed maintence and installation. I currently work in the mailroom, in order to get free tuition for myself and my husband. but my heart is out there on the grounds, pruning the rose bushes and weeding the flower beds. Last spring i staved off insanity by taking on a pet project here on the campus grounds.
There is an old stone grotto on campus, (complete with a statue of Mary) built about 75 years ago. Which when i first saw it, was grown over with scrub trees and weeds. over the course of Fall and spring I "restored" the garden.
My husband and I were married in front of it in the garden we planted, on the stone path we cleared, last June. I planted many perenial flowers and annuals too, since perenials don't usually look like much the first few years. it was an wonderful day and the garden was lovely, but I am sooo excited to see it bloom this year. Many of the plants barely made a showing last year and i have high hopes for this year.
However, we'll see what my burgeoning belly lets me do to maintain it this year. The landscape guys have left out some tools in the woods near it, so I hope to start raking and pruning this weekend. hopefully that will get some of this spring fever out of my system!!!!
Just think, dafodils already! ladies we're gonna be having these babies before we know it!!!!

Leaving you with thoughts of spring!
love and dafodils
Anna

[JenInMpls]

I ate like a horse last night (nosebag and oats? my friend and colleague Phil asked me. ha, ha.) - potatoes with butter and cheese and sour cream and absolutely no guilt - and a green salad, too, for good measure, and I felt SUPER and my digestion worked well today. Today dinner was late and I felt like hurling as I tried to force some food down me. Maybe this indicates that I should eat like a horse more often?

Anna, our daffodils are coming up too, in our school yard. The children are building little protective forts of mulch around them.

Oh, Sarah, poor Jack! I hope it was just something he ate and that he's feeling better soon... :(

Jodie: if you want me to look up the car seat in CR, let me know. I can give you their comments (only if you want them).

adventuregirl: I am experiencing the same phenomenon with my belly - it's not all baby, it seems. I had a small little pudgy tum before I conceived and now my uterus is pushing my fat pad up and out. I think it makes me look tremendously pregnant, but I realized on Monday that I don't mind and it's ok... because I am!

I gave in with the hemorrhoids and started taking homeopathic Hamamelis virginiana 30c and am very glad that I did. I might catch some flack with the midwives and nurses for not inquiring with them but I think that if I had called and said "Can I take a homeopathic remedy during pregnancy?" - which I know I can from doing my own research - that they would have either said "homeowhat?" or "You cannot take any drugs during pregnancy unless we prescribe them to you!".

Good night from Sprout and me,

j

ps: Steph: yes, salmon is on the ok-once-a-week list. Many say go for wild caught if you can because some farmed salmon is fed pink dye. Then again, a lot isn't. Depends where you buy it and whether the store knows their fish vendor.

[4under6]

I saw the cutest onsie today! It said on the front "I may barf." I thought of you, bananagirl!

And I ended up getting one for a friend who's having a girl that says "I love bald boys!"

[boobykinmamma]

Hi, everyone!

I just have a moment here--haven't had much time to post, and once again don't have time to respond to the many individual threads that have been posted--this is a busy, busy thread! I enjoy reading everyone's posts, though, and keep you all in my thoughts. It's hard to believe we're all either approaching or already in our second trimesters. It's exciting to hear about growing bellies and buying baby stuff, and feeling better--not all of us, of course, but getting there.

I had my first midwife appointment today. It was wonderful to see my midwives again. I had a lot of fun with them, and just felt really laid back and comfortable. I told them I wanted to refuse all tests this time, except maybe a quick iron check, and they were completely supportive of that. They found the baby's sweet little heartbeat with the doppler--gotta love that sound! They also moved my due date up a week, due to my long cycle when I conceived, and my history of preterm labor, to allow me the greatest chance of a homebirth. The law is 36 weeks to homebirth in AZ. So now my due date is Sept. 24 instead of the 30th, which makes me, in a way, 12 weeks tomorrow instead of 11-yay! I actually have on a pair of my old maternity jeans right now--they're a little saggy in the butt, but so much more comfy on my belly than my "shrinking" jeans.

I'd better get some sleep. It will probably be awhile before I get a chance to post again, but I'll be reading posts when I can. Sending out bounless energy and no more puking and nausea vibes to all of you,

Heather

[JenInMpls]

Well, we've talked about pets, and of course we're thinking about how to raise our kids, but I need some suggestions on how to train a spouse.

Before I start let me acknowledge that I love Jo dearly, she's been a total trooper so far and very supportive and I cannot imagine life without her.

I guess my biggest question is how to convince her to stop leaving things around or half done. For instance, the morning ritual of her going to work and me then hanging up her towel, putting her laundry in the hamper and turning off her closet light. Last night I came down to the kitchen and found the Cheerios box open on the counter, the bowl with milk remains on a different counter, and I tripped over her shoes in the middle of the floor. Just now I got up (it's 4:30 AM) and tripped over her shoes (the same ones) which were in the middle of another path. I am in the den with the light on, and would close the door if there weren't a vacuum lying on the floor in the doorway.

I am beginning to look at this beyond the fact that it makes me crazy, which it does. We will have social worker visits in less than 5 months. I kind of would like to have the house *clean* by then, meaning uncluttered and livable and standing half a chance of the social worker thinking that we don't live buried under piles of old mail. We stand a good chance of extra scrutiny given that we are a same-sex couple. In addition, I can already see difficulties with getting Sprout to put shoes neatly on the mat or cleaning up her/his belongings when he sees mummy leaving hers lying everywhere. Even yesterday morning Jo took the last 2 cans of coke out of the 12-pack box and then threw the box to the middle of the floor and left it there. If I were to ask her about it, I am sure her excuse would have been that it was morning, she had had a bad's night sleep and that she would get to it "later".

When I bring these things up to Jo I get promises of trying harder, complaints that I'm nagging or defensiveness that she's already doing extra work (because she has to clean the cat box once a week). She promises to do something, like wash the dishes, and then doesn't wash the dishes for 3 nights in a row, which makes me give up and wash them myself so I can have a clean spoon to eat my breakfast with, at which point she comes down and says, with exasperation, "I was going to do them!"

I always bite my tongue and do not say bitter things I would regret, although sometimes I would like to lash out with venom and say "yeah, were you going to do them this month, or next?".

I think I've brought this up in the past, but I really need concrete suggestions as to how you all split work in your households instead of warm fuzzy statements about acceptance and imagining how sad life would be without her. Those just make me feel guilty, and I don't think I need to feel guilty about expecting an adult to pitch in and pick up after herself. I'm trying hard not to start a fight, but I am wondering if it would clear the air a bit.

Thank you. It's 5 AM now and I think I will see if I can get some sleep for a while. Jo has been having nightly asthma attacks because the weather is warming up and the mold is coming out in full force. So it's lousy sleep all around.

j

[chrissy]

Jen,
I don't know but I sure hope somebody else does! I am so sick and tired of wiping crumbs off the counter, putting shoes in the closet, socks in the hamper, trash in the trashcan....

[MamaAcorn]

It's been a long time since I've posted. Work has been crazy, and as soon I get dinner in my belly, I fall asleep on the sofa!

All the info on slings and carseats is great!

Kim, if you have any questions about medical transcription, feel free to ask me. I've been doing it since ds was 3 months old, almost 3 years now. It's what's been keeping me so busy!

I'm going to have to check out that Waldorf school in Chapel Hill. I just saw an ad for it the other day, and since we're in Chapel Hill everyday to drop DH off at school, it would make sense.

Hope everyone is feeling well! Looking forward to joining the second trimester bunch next week!

Pam

[greenbeing]

Good morning!

Heather-my midwife changed my date as well, but instead of up, she moved it back. So now, it's the 25th-which is only a few days different and I know the baby won't come on this day anyway. I guess I'm so anxious to get to 14 weeks. So instead of being 12 weeks now, I have to wait 2 more days!!!! :LOL My obsession is a little ridiculous, I know.

Jen-let me know if you find an answer about the whole spouse thing. My dh is usually pretty good about picking up and helping around the house... but there are those moments when I'll have to remind him and remind him about something and then he thinks I'm "on his case." What can you do?

Sarah-I hope your little one is feeling better today!

Those of you who have used the co-sleeper...How long could baby use it?? Is there any way to move the matress lower so baby can stay in it past 4,5 months?

[Lazuli]

*crosses fingers* Hopefully I'll actually be able to post something this time. I've been a bit busy. I tried to login last Friday but I couldn't. My husband's grandfather died last Wednesday so we had to go to the funeral over the weekend. We had to get up at 1:30 Saturday morning to drive to Louisville. (6 hour drive. Urk.) My husband got in too late on Friday to leave then. He loves his job, but they're sending him out of town too much. *pouts*

I'm definitely showing. Of course, I've always had a bit of a tummy to begin with, so I guess I shouldn't be too surprised. My mother in law took me shopping last week and I ended up with three dresses and two skirts. My only complaint is how short the dresses are. I like my dresses mid calf length. I suppose I should try to figure out how to make myself some maternity clothes. I know there aren't any patterns in my size so I'll have to wing it. Good thing I've got a whole bolt of muslin! :LOL

The doctors office called to say all my bloodwork was normal, but that I have a yeast infection (which I already knew). It could be worse. I'm still pretty tired, but otherwise I'm feeling pretty good. I think I have an adhesion that's stretching though, which is at times a bit painful and annoying.

I was just poking around on the babies r us website at Amazon and I have to say, I'm pretty appalled by a lot of the stuff they have. It's scary! And looking over their 'things you absolutely must have' was a bit odd. There's so much stuff on there.

I feel kind of bad, as I'm not really excited at all, just kind of....blah about everything and I'm not sure why. One of my online friends won't talk to me anymore because I'm not jumping up and down excited. (She's dealing with infertility issues at the moment, so I can kind of understand why she would decide she doesn't want to talk to me again....it still hurts though.)

I should go get some housework done. Not that I really feel like doing it, but it needs done. Hope everyone has a good day! :)

Lazuli

[wardermom]

I went for a mw appointment on Tuesday evening.
They found the baby's heart beat right away. They had trouble finding it last time.
We talked about nutrition and so I'm trying to do better. I've got a chart on the fridge. It helps you to keep track of how much of each food group you eat. It opened up a discussion on nutrition with the kids. That's good. I have to try to do better with the vegetables.
I'm starving, it's time to make lunch. I don't know what to make though.

[4under6]

Jen-
I really don't think I can give you any warm fuzzies or ideas about how to live with a cluttery, messy spouse......I have one myself!
Me being the anal control freak Virgo, and he being the laid back Pices, it makes for an interesting pair!
Seriously, I pick up after every single person in this house, and about every 3 weeks I have a screaming tantrum about it.
He is infamous for leaving crap laying around, bread crumbs on the counter, all cupboards open, coat slung over the diningroom chair(even after he passes the coat rack on his way up the steps!) and crap in his pockets that ends up going through the wash. AND he takes off his shoes and leaves them in front of MY side of the bed! ARRRGGHHHHHH!
I feel ya, sister.
All I can really say is that he has gotton a teeny bit better in the 11 years we have been together, and I have learned to relax a bit more.


Whooo Hooo! I am starting week 16 today! Wheeeee!

[adventuregirl]

Hey Ladies!

Lazuli, its good to see you! I'm sorry about your dh's grandfather, we are on our way to that same outcome I'm afraid. Great that you got some new clothes, making some would be really fun too.

Jen, I wish I had the magic bean to pass you, but I definitely do not. We have lived together for about 7 years now and we have been working at being on the same plane of cleanliness the whole time. One tip I have found is that there are things each of us gravitate to when it comes to cleaning, things that get done first. So the things I know he will definitely clean (and will drive him nuts if not cleaned), I will leave to last on my list. Things I know he will never do, I typically do first. Sometimes we will designate an afternoon or something to cleaning and both just go at it, that is when the house looks awesome. But as far as daily habits, its pretty hard to break, but we have both changed little by little, often because we know it drives the other one crazy. However, we still have plenty to work on.

Anna, I am excited about gardening too. Although, I can't really do much here till May, the ground is frozen hard and we're still going to have lots of snow, our last frost is in the beginning of June. I will probably see my tulips sprout in May, but oh what a glorious day that will be!

Not much new here, I am thrilled to be craving veggies, I keep wanting salad with tons of juicy veggies on it, I hope this lasts!

[JenInMpls]

Wow, Danielle, are you sure we're not married to the same person? :LOL The funniest thing is that *I* am the pisces in the family, Jo is a Gemini. I think. (July 2?) I claim that I have been spoiled forever by my mother, who is a 3rd generation very good German housewife. She (and her mom, and her grandma) all had the motto "A place for everything and everything in its place". There are proper ways to fold towels and to clean sinks and to hang up clothing and to iron it too. I am a far cry from my mother, I iron maybe twice a year and I rejoice if the clothes actually get hung up!, but I miss there being a place for everything. It's really hard in this small house with its complete lack of storage space. Not to mention that I married a bookworm and a packrat!

Rats, I think jo's already home. Lazuli, I'm sorry to hear about your husband's grandpa. May he rest in peace!

Be well all,

jen

[badomama]

Boobykinmama, glad to hear from you! I was wondering what happened to you! Congrats on your good appointment.

Anna, very very cool story about your gardening project. I'm genuinely inspired and excited to start digging and planting wherever I can too.

Lazuli, so sorry to hear about your grandfather-in-law!

Wardermama, congrats on your good appointment too! We should start a veggie recipe thread. I need some new ideas in general for nutritious food.

Adventuregirl, I also have a stomach pooch that is not my uterus. It is not the glamorous pregnancy look that I was dreaming of, but I feel that uterus creeping up daily!

Jen, I am just like Jo, although she sounds a little more recalcitrant than I like to think I am. My dh is constantly nagging me because he was raised with perfection, whereas I learned to tolerate a good deal of chaos and clutter. What makes me want do things like pick up my clothes, do things the "right" way, and to generally make a bigger effort, is my desire for good attention. When I do make an effort, I get HUGE love rewards and a little slack on some of my more petty habits (can't seem to take my socks and underwear out of the pants I peel off which drives dh bonkers). When I slack off, I get nagged and a guilt trip (which is also fairly effective because dh does ALL the cooking). I feel for you because I do know that it is ultimately more calming to have tidiness and you shouldn't have to do it all by yourself. On the other hand, ingrained habits are really hard to change, especially if you think that someone is over-sweating the small stuff. Not helpful, I know, but just one perspective from someone more like Jo!

I gave myself a mental health day yesterday and slept, ate and read all day long. Also swept a bit to make dh happy and cleaned out the freezer to make myself happy.

Hey, TGIF!!
:wave Steph

[badomama]

I know what I forgot to respond to...

Sarah, poor you and poor Jack on library story day! I have to say though that I'm glad you shared the story because it reminds me of reality and the day to day difficulties that I experienced as a nanny of three small kids over 12 years ago. I think I have been romanticizing motherhood (clean, quiet babies in slings) but it is good to remember the vomit and diarrhea, especially washing kids in the public bathroom sink, so that when I do have that big reality check it might not come quite as hard.

Anyway, I hope the illness didn't last too long! No fun.

Steph

[hjohnson]

Ladies, I had my Doctor's appointment today and we finally heard the heartbeat. Every now and then my heatbeat would overshadow the baby's heartbeat. I am going to have an Ultrasound in 3 weeks to find out if we are going to have a boy or girl. I am so excited!

[sistermama]

Happy Friday!

Have we all had a couple days of no puking? Seems like it, hooray!!! It is so much more fun from here on out. Now I just wish I fit into maternity clothes so I looked pregnant, not chunky!

Thanks for asking about Jack, he was fine after all that happened. I think it was actually something he ate.

Dh is impossible in the cleaning arena - wouldn't notice a pile of filth if it was right under his nose. I have got to seriously get rid of A LOT of stuff before this baby is born, because I will never be able to keep up otherwise. Plus we've been living with my mom but have got to move out soon, so I have that to look forward to also.

Jen - you and Jo obviously have so much love for each other and are so excited about the baby - I'm sure any old social worker will be able to see that! I so glad you live in a state where Jo can adopt - Florida makes me sick!!!

Heather - glad you had such a good appointment!

I finally got a computer at home, so now I won't be banished on the weekends :D

[Caroline248]

I just have to respond to Jen...you have shattered my images!! My married friends and I sit around and complain about our husbands...we always say how much easier it would be to married to a woman rather than a man....are you saying it is not?? Wow...they are going to be so dissapointed when I break the news!:LOL

Hope everyone else is good, I have another headache and can't stand the smell of lavender anymore..(Great, that is all I have for cleaning products..:rolleyes: )

Who has exciting plans for hte weekend??

Caroline

[sistermama]

Well Caroline, if you call totally dejunking your entire house exciting, then be sad you're not me! :p

[banana girl]

Hello ladies

Remember my sob story, about barfing so much this last weekend, well it wasn't pregnancy barfing it was the FLU. And now.... my big strong strapping husband has been reduced to a sniveling, shivering, weepy baby. all I can say in retrospect is that I was able to be miserable with much more dignity than he has. te hee heee. But hey, i only had it coming out one end, not both at the same time YUCK!!!!!
So I ended up staying home with him all day yesterday, and boy was that no fun! i had to wait on him hand and foot, the way he has been waiting on me for the last 2 months!! i think he was getting a certain satisfaction at seeing the other side of things. and to be truthful, i sort of enjoyed taking care of him. You know, the cold washrag to the forehead and getting him movies to watch and stuff.
Anyway, it was a pretty exhausting day and I am glad to be at work in front of my computer again. Although, I am becoming more and more certain that the headaches are work related.
We are looking forward to a quiet weekend at home, and I am hoping to get some household projects done, now that I seem to have more energy again.
Jen i totally hear you, about the household clutter, etc. Both my hubby and i are equally well meaning slobs and have found things have gotten much worse lately. I am considering hiring a student to come clean for a few hours on the weekends. We never seem to get to scrubbing the bathtub, mopping or vaccumming in the ever present battle to keep ahead of the tidal wave of tupperware containers on the counter. seriously bread crumbs are the least of my worries!!!
well better get to work before my boss gets back and remarks about "using work hours to send personal e-mails".
Hope everyone is feeling great
With love and kisses for all
Anna

[chrissy]

hey september mamas!

i had an awesome appointment with my midwife today. the best part was i got to hear my little one's heartbeat! i didn't think we'd be able to because i'm only 11 weeks and some days and with noah we couldn't hear it this early. i have a retroverted uterus so apparently that makes it harder. but we heard it!! and my midwife lives on a farm and noah loved that. we saw her chickens and she gave us a bunch of their eggs. noah sat on her tractor. and then we saw her dog, pablo, break into the sheep pen and chase/herd them around until she could catch him.

anna, taking care of a sick husband is one of my least favorite things to do. you are a good sport! and i forgot to say the other day how cool your wedding sounded and that i am definitely ready to get into my garden too!

sistermama, so glad jack is better! that sounded like a pretty horrible experience for your both!

it's supposed to be pretty nice here this weekend so i'm hoping to get to work in the garden lots! i hope there is sun where you all are too!

love,
chrissy

[JenInMpls]

ohmigosh, Caroline, I hooted with laughter at your remark! It's true - I think it's not about the gender but just about the person. One thing I will say seems to be true is that there are no preconceived notions in this household about how anyone is supposed to behave based on gender notions and we have had a common experience in both being raised as girls! Sometimes with my boyfriends I wondered "now, do you do that because you're you, or do you do that because someone told you you should do that because you're a boy?". But I can engage in spousal groaning with the best of 'em. My friend Cheryl and I go on about our wacky partners - I about my wife, and she about her husband Bill, and Bill and Jo are just two peas in a pod.

Sarah - I'm hoping that our lawyer will be able to help us work the system to ensure a quick, easy and painless adoption, but the hoops people have to jump through nowadays to adopt a child make me sick. It is complete bs when you think about the fact that people who are adopting are frequently people who have been trying desperately to have a child, without success. And then there are people like our neighbor one house down and across the street (we are not very well acquainted with them, but they talk loud enough for the whole neighborhood to hear) who is pregnant with another child and who broadcasts to anyone within hearing range that she don't want another goddamn child, got too many damn snotnosed kids anyway (oh, and yes, she says this in front of her children) and her f*ing boyfriend just keeps getting her knocked up, who smokes and drinks while pregnant and swears at and hits her children in the middle of the street. I just want to know - I REALLY want to know - why her ability to parent is not questioned and why she doesn't have to fill out 40-page applications, get police records from all residences for the past 10 years, 2 letters of recommendation, fingerprinted, a physical exam and social worker visits. Not to mention pay the fees that run into the tens of thousands of dollars.

I'm sorry.. I'm done now... :soapbox it's just that my friends Cheryl and Bill tried for 5 years to conceive a baby and were unsuccessful and are now trying to adopt, and I just can't believe what they're going through. And how incredibly strong they must be to have experienced one friend's accidental pregnancy (despite 2 forms of birth control) and then her lesbian friends getting pregnant while she and her husband remained childless despite extreme medical intervention.

Fertility = crazy world

Chrissy, glad your appt went well and that you had fun on the farm.

Anna, you are a kind wife. I hate the barfing sickness. Please keep it in Wisconsin!! We had a form of it (rotovirus) at camp last year, tore through the counselors but only infected 2 kids thank God! it was awful!!

Hooray for heartbeats Heather!

we have no exciting plans for the weekend, we are invited to a friend's daughter's third birthday party on Sunday and I'm trying to find a suitably Waldorf-y gift for her. She's the perfect age for a knot doll but there weren't any left in the school store. I could make her a pillow doll, but I don't have the pattern anymore... Hm.

I and the furbabies wish you all well.

jen

[adventuregirl]

The weekend is here! Yay!

I got to visit with and hold a one month old baby today, it was so wonderful! I got to hear all about her birth and life so far, and even borrowed a bunch of pregnancy books, including a name book! I think names are going to be so hard to come up with (and agree on)!

Our town is having a festival this weekend. It is probably the strangest festival you ever heard of. Its called Frozen Dead Guy Days. Yup, I typed it correctly. The short story is that there is a cryogenically frozen guy (who we affectionately call Grandpa) who is in a shed in our kooky little town. They bring him dry ice every week and he is just there, it was his grandson's big idea, he thinks he can bring him back some day. Anyway, the local media went nuts on it, an independant movie (Grandpa's In The Tuff Shed) was made about it and the town decided to capitalize and make a festival every March. So they have all these events, a parade of hearses, coffin races, Grandpa look alike contest, music, arts, a ball, and more in good old Grandpa's honor. I know this must sound completely morbid and off the wall, but its light hearted and fun. My dh has always participated in the coffin races, you make your own coffin and have a team that runs it around an obstacle course with a person inside. People wear costumes and its lots of fun. So that's my big weekend plans, to attend events of Frozen Dead Guy Days. Starting with the pancake breakfast tomorrow morning, I am all ready for that!

OK, way past my bedtime, happy days to you all!

[JenInMpls]

OK, adventuregirl, you piqued my interest there... I admit to googling frozen dead guy days. You live in a really pretty area! I would never be able to keep myself going in one direction, I would be so aghast at the mountains and would do something dorky like drive off the road.

Enjoy your pancakes!!

jen

[Caroline248]

Wow adventuregirl, that sounds cool!! We are boring out here...does your husband ride in the coffin? I have an uneventful weekend...my children are already nagging the heck out of me!! They can't wait for the warm weather...neither can I. I made the mistake of allowing a Play Station in my house this Christmas...we always said we wouldn't. Now all I hear is begging to play, when they know we have very set rules about it. Ugh...

Anyway...I may be listing a Play Station on ebay this weekend...:LOL

My children would kill me...

Caroline

[Lazuli]

Adventuregirl, that sounds like a fun festival. Definitely quirky, but fun all the same.

Today is my birthday and I'm in a fairly decent mood today. Was all sad and depressed yesterday, which was really not fun. We're going to go to Ikea and the Japanese mall today. Yay!

*laughs* We broke our futon this morning while having sex....oops! I found it hysterically funny and was glad there were no kitties under it at the time or they would have gotten hurt.

Hope everyone has a great weekend. :D

Lazuli

[hjohnson]

Adventuregirl you live in Nederland don't you? I used to live Aurora just east of Denver. Ol' Grandpa is quite the talk of Colorado each year. The festival sounds like fun!

Man I miss the mountains of Colorado. Especially Loveland Ski Area.

[Caroline248]

Happy Birthday Lazuli!!! What a bday present...:LOL It has been a long time since we broke anything having sex....what a way to start the day!



:birthday:


Caroline

[4under6]

Frozen Dead Guy Days sounds like fun!

Wow, Lazuli!
Broken futon!
At least someone's gettin' her some! LOL!

I went back to work Friday night. My toe was mighty sore by the middle of my shift. But I figured a different shoe situation out, so yesterday's shift wasn't so bad.

I was at a good friend's baby shower last night. It was coed and I overheard one guy describing the circumcision to other guys, and I was about to chime in tell them what I learned about circumcision and why I'm against it now, but I didn't. Now I'm mad at myself!
The shower was fun, though. Good eats! I ate like I hadn't eaten in three days!

It is so windy here today! Our ancient windows are rattling like crazy!

[adventuregirl]

Hola from the crazy mtns of Colorado!

We had lots of fun yesterday, my dh's coffin team didn't do really well, but they were the most fun to watch which they were very proud of. They are just out there to have fun and drink beer. The rider in the coffin was one of our friend's ds, he's 8, I think. The rule is that you have to carry a living person that weighs at least 75 pounds, they fudged a little with this boy, just put heavy things in his pockets. Some people did two little kids to add up the weight. A very fun day overall!

Heather, how cool you used to live in Aurora! I am actually about 8 miles outside of Nederland, but its our town because nothing else is up here!

Jen, it truly is gorgeous here, I am so in love with this place. We have a name for drivers as you described yourself possibly being, Gapers. You don't stop gaping ever, I think, but once you get used to the roads, you can gape and drive the speed limit at the same time.

Happy Birthday Lazuli! I hope you had fun shopping yesterday! Kinda funny about the futon, hee-hee!

Danielle, I'm glad your toe is getting better and you got a better shoe situation.

I turned 15 weeks yesterday, yahooo! I can't believe it! I must admit I am a little preoccupied with hopes of feeling movement soon. I know it could still be a while, but its totally possible right now! I am trying to keep a level head about it, but that just seems like the coolest thing ever and I can't wait!

Happy Sunday!

[JenInMpls]

Tee hee, Lazuli, I got a good laugh out of your futon breaking. And I am soooooooooooo green with envy that you are going to IKEA today... we spent 3 hours in that store (I'm assuming you're going to Schaumburg). We will have our own IKEA in the Twin Cities in May. 'bout time! And HAPPY BIRTHDAY fellow Pisces!

adventuregirl I would be a total gaper. And I would be so filled by that beauty. I experience a change in mindset and self every summer when I go up to Bemidji to work in the woods for 5 weeks (only 3 this summer) and also when we go up to the north shore of Lake Superior. There's something about that beauty in nature that fills a gap I didn't even know existed. Mountains especially do it to me. You ought to see me when I'm in southern Germany, it's so ridiculous. Sorry your dh didn't do well in the coffin race but I understand it being for fun. We have two races for fun in the Twin Cities; one is the Bed Race for Bridging that raises money for a local charity where you have to race down a ski slope on a mattress; in the summer there's the Aquatennial Milk Carton Boat race. Teams construct boats out of milk cartons and the teams must cross the finish line and the boat still be afloat with team members on board.

Caroline: you go ahead and list that Playstation! We have one too and if it's not the Playstation, it's the computer sucking Jo's attention out of the real world! And kids and Playstations, it's incredible, the effect it has on them. You could always disattach an essential cable and claim that it's broken...

I have been feeling ooky so far today, I think I waited too long after breakfast to take my pre-natals and the iron did me in. Bleah. We're supposed to be at a friend's 3-year-old's birthday party in a 1/2 hour. I really don't want to go but I do want to see the little one's face when she opens up the pillow dolly I made her. So I will try to rally myself...

Oof,

jen

Danielle: hope that foot's feeling better soon...

[JenInMpls]

Holy cow. a 3-year-old does not ever need a party with 15 adults and 6 children and a dozen gifts. Talk about overstimulation!!

2 gifts before mine came this doll. Plastic, vinyl hair, eyes that shut when the doll lays down, something like an "American Experience" doll named Dakota, she was supposed to look American Indian. Got lots of ooooooohs and aaaaaaahs from the collected adults. I thought oh sh**, my doll is going to be a complete flop compared to this fancy plastic number with her hip peasant shirt and bell bottom jeans and cowboy boots...

Well, Isabella opened up her very different package (I wrapped the doll in a silk scarf) and proceeded to tote the doll all over the house. The doll was received with a lot of "ohhhhhhhhhh!"s by the adults in the room. Moreover they could not believe that I could *make* such an adorable doll. I am anxious to hear from Bella's mother how the doll is received (whether dolly gets a place of honor in bed, etc). It looks similar to the sand babies at http://www.islandtreasuretoys.com/waldorf_dolls.html but is stuffed with wool and not sand.

It was such a different reception, though, than the gentle story I told my friend's son, Ian, when I gave him a pillow doll. That pillow doll still has a place of honor in their play (and now that Ian has a full-formed Waldorf doll, the pillow doll is called "mama baby", since it is older and therefore obviously the mama!).

I did learn that it is VERY possible for a child to have too - WAY TOO - many toys. Phew!

Jo's cousin Stephen is coming up from Chicago to take our queen futon and return our twin, and Jo's giving away (believe it or not! amazing!) her coffee table and end tables to our friend who's just bought a house, so it is possible that we might be able to make our guest room into a primary bedroom for us + sprout and then eventually move ourselves back into our current bedroom. Whoopee! I feel space happening!

nighty night,

jen

[badomama]

It's Monday!

Hey Lazuli, Happy Bday and congratulations on breaking the futon!

Adventuregirl, that festival sounds great. I'd make a trip just to go see that it sounds so interesting.

Jen, did you say IKEA in the Twin Cities in May?! Oh dear. Maybe I can talk dh into yard selling our ancient, raggedy, uncomfortable and ugly dining room table for something IKEA-simple and clean. And maybe I'll get some dresser drawers! Haven't had any since I was a kid. I've been living out of crates for a freaking decade!

I had a california roll yesterday with enough wasabi to clear out all sinus passages. It was heavenly. But for about 3 days now, I just can't get Thai food out of my head! Coconut chicken hot spicy with basil. All I can think of is food. Spinach ravioli with sage butter sauce. Miso soup. Mmmmm.

The lentil soup that I brought for lunch is so far from what I crave!

Ok, have a good week!

Steph

[sistermama]

Happy late birthday Lazuli!

Steph - my midwife was out of town so it took her a while to answer your question. What she said about the dates not agreeing was not to worry about it and that ultrasound is an imperfect science. Many times they induce mothers because the baby is "huge" only to find out at birth that it is a little six pounder.

Jen - what gorgeous dolls at that site. I bet yours was even cuter, though.

DH has to sleep most of the day on Sat, because of working the night before, so my mom and I took the baby out most of the day. We ended up at a California Pizza Kitchen for lunch and ds fell asleep in the stroller on the way in. How lovely - to be able to eat lunch while not amusing and monitoring a toddler!

I can't believe I'm 14 weeks tomorrow. Oh and get this, I ordered a plain pair of black "dressy" maternity pants from ebay, and the woman I got them from sent me a really nice pair of crop khakis as well, for free! She said they just didn't sell. Good feedback coming from me.

Happy Monday!

[adventuregirl]

A new week, and closer to Spring we get! I went down to "the flats" on Friday (45 min drive, 3500' down in elevation) and saw crocuses blooming! It was so beautiful! I am so excited to see my crocuses come up! Probably in May...

Jen, I'm glad your doll was received well. Kids can tell when love has been put into something rather than fancy plastic molds.

No great news to report here, just happily gestating, hope you all are as well!

[Lazuli]

Thanks for the birthday wishes! :) I had a pretty decent day. My inlaws took us to an Irish pub for lunch and my gift from them is that they're going to pay for putting in a sewing area for me in the basement. I bought my first baby outfit Saturday. I just had to! :) I got a onesie with lions and tigers and elephants on it and a little matching hat that says 'Roar!' on it and a pair of socks. :D When I told my mom about it she said she thinks it's bad luck to buy baby stuff before the baby's born and we shouldn't have a baby shower until after the baby's born.

We went to Ikea yesterday and found a bed we like and a couch. Now to find the money for them..... I love Ikea, though it's such a complete zoo on the weekends. Oh, my husband was able to fix our futon on Saturday...I suppose that's a good thing. :LOL

Jen - I'm glad your present was well received. I added that link to my bookmark list. What nifty toys!

I'm feeling pretty energetic today, I think I'm going to go work on baby quilts. Hope everyone has a great day!

Lazuli

[4under6]

Jen-
I bet your dolly was adorable!

Sistermama-
I work at a California Pizza Kitchen here in MN.

Stephanie-
YUM!!! Thai food sounds delightful! When are you coming to Mpls?
You, Jen, and myself must get together!

Bananagirl-
Hope you and hubby are on the mend. Barfies are the worst!

[banana girl]

Hello ladies

We had a very productive weekend at our house. did alot of cleaning and organizing! We re-arranged all of the furniture in our bedroom. It feels sooooo much roomier in there now. And i now have a view out the window from my side of the bed! I watched the sky lighten and saw birds flying by during my usual semi-wakeful hour or so before the alarm actually goes off.... and because of where the bed is now, happy cheerfull rays of sunlight came in across the bed while we were getting up and snuggling the kitties.
so the weekend was good, but i am having a really tough headache day today, I finally gave in and took a tylenol, and am now functional again, barely.
don't feel like I should go home, even if I am miserable, cause I missed so much work last week. I am gonna run out of sick time and I am only 1/3 of the way through this pregnancy! gonna have to suck it up!

Got a new bra this weekend and some big cotton panties. I found some that look like boy undies, complete with fly and all, that have the Superman symbol on them, so cute! anyway I was trying on this new bra with my "Super" panties while my husband was on the phone with his brother. the new bra is a maternity / nursing bra, so a hook closure allows you to release the breast for nursing. Feeling mischevious, i walked up to my hubby and told him i was a new super hero "Super Boobies" and proceeded to flash him with my handy new bra. He just about peed himself laughing and then had to explain to his poor horrified brother what was so funny..... i must be starting to feel better!

Well i must go deliver some mail, duty calls.

hope you are all having a great day!!!!
Love and kisses
Anna

[4under6]

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT:

babystyle.com has free shipping for $75 and over...and they carry the Britax RoundAbout carseat for $199.

Use coupon code GOTTAHAVES

They sent me an email today.

I know some of you were talking about the Britax.

Plus they have awful cute clothes!

[Jodie]

Hey everyone, glad everybody is doing ok.

Anna~ I hope your head gets to feeling better.:hug

We had a good weekend here.
Went shopping! Got some overalls and a tank top at Motherhood.
DH was great. The lady asked if we wanted offers from similac huggies and something else. I said noooooo. Dh was like oh we can get things like parenting magazine and fake baby food, in a sarcastic voice. The lady says,"well those coupons come in handy." DH tells her we plan on using the free food nature provides and that fake food is alright if you can't make any of the real stuff.:D I just smiled and nodded my head.

We also went ahead and got a crib to side car to our bed. It was on sale at Kmart so we snatched it up. We also got the Cosco Tourvia car seat. It fit ok in the car, just need something to keep the seat belt tight. A friend of mine said she had an extra belt tightener so we will so if that works.

I hope everyone had a good day and a great rest of the week!:)

[JenInMpls]

Golly, Anna, you *must* be feeling better! :LOL

adventuregirl, sigh, all we have is grey skies, wind and promises of maybe hitting 40 later in the week... after it snows tomorrow. Drink in the sight of those crocusses for us poor souls in MN, please...

Lazuli: you're going to have to dress the baby in SOMETHING after its born! I understand not having the baby shower until your 7th or 8th month, but having it afterwards? Feh. Baby should go naked til then? It's in your 8th month that you really deserve a party thrown in your honor anyway, wouldn't you say? :D

Sarah congrats on your peaceful lunch!

Danielle thanks for the public service announcement.

I feel like I have been steamrolled today, for some reason. And today I got to hear a 5th grade boy utter a Beavis and Butthead-esque statement, which really made me sad, because the children in our school are so sweet and innocent... except for those who have teenaged brothers in public school, it seems :rolleyes: One boy asked me which spelling words I thought he should pick and I told him to pick a few that were long and hard... and this kid sitting next to him overhears and snickers to his buddy, "heh heh, long and hard... get it? heh heh." gag!! At any rate, i'm ready for a bit of a nap. Jo fed me kix for dinner and it hit the spot.

ciao, jen

[JenInMpls]

ps to jodie (we cross-posted): wooo hooooo! to your sassy husband! I got the same offer at Motherhood and said "well, we're not feeding formula and can't use disposables, so, um, NO, thanks!" People don't realize that disposables REEK so badly of perfume! Not tomention the crap that's in them...

lazuli: lots more really wonderful toys at three-sisters.com!! And the doll I made looks a lot like the towel doll... except stuffed. And since you sew, you would probably find it very easy to make. I can send you a pattern sometime, if you like.

j

[greenbeing]

Hi girls!

Glad to hear you all had a pleasant weekend! Dh and I were having so much fun, I didn't do a lick of cleaning. There's always next weekend, and if I don't touch the place then, well spring break is just around the corner.

A gal at school today gave me 7 AIO's!!!! They are sooo darn cute, even my husband was interested in them, and he's not too sure about the whole cding thing.

Just found out today (by accident, well, really by pestering another teacher until I got some info :rolleyes: ) that my principal is going to ask me to move to 4th grade :crying . I'm soo sad, because my team is awesome and I don't want to take on a new position being that pregnant and then having a new baby. I'll have to go back to work in January until dh graduates in June. She hasn't talked to me yet, so I'm trying to come up with all of these reasons why I CAN'T move!!!
Sorry for the vent.

Some of you are already in your 2nd trimester!!!! The time has flown by....

[badomama]

Hi all!

Sistermama, thanks for the answer to my question. It really doesn't look like an exact science!

Jen, I also checked out the dolls and immediately emailed the site to grandma-to-be as the first toy I am actually interested in. It sounds like fun to make one yourself though. I might try it if you are willing to give some advice!

Danielle, oh yes, we definitely have to go out to eat together. I was just remembering Sindbad's on Nicollet. They have fantastic gyro or doner kebab sandwiches and falafels. They also sell olives, feta cheeses, figs and many other amazing things. I'll be there end of May and can't wait! Just up the street from Sindbad's is Jerusalem's with the greatest lemon rice soup. There are so many Thai restaurants but my favorite one is the one Selby in St. Paul. You wait for hours but it is worth it!

My food obsession is completely out of control. I'm going out to a movie with a friend on Wed and am already thinking about how I can get another dose of wasabi. I don't even care what film we see as long as I can eat a California roll. Pathetic.

Anna, glad to hear you are feeling better!

Lazuli, it does seem impossible to only buy things after the baby comes when it is hardest to go shopping!

Greenbeing, congrats on the free AIOs and I hope you don't have to move to 4th grade!

How far below your belly button are y'all feeling your uteri--if that's a word?

Steph

[4under6]

Stephanie-
End of May....it's a date!

I can feel my "bump" right below my belly button. Tomorrow is the end of week 16 for me!

[adventuregirl]

I wrote a big reply this morning and lost it when someone called and my computer freaked out, damn!

Anyhoo, Steph, when lying down I can feel my uterus a few inches below my belly button, its rising up so much higher than it was, yay!

greenbeing, nice score on the AIO's. I hope you don't have to move to 4th grade!

Jodie, nice comment from dh, that's awesome!

Anna, your Super Boobies story made me crack up! :LOL

Danielle, thanks for the PSA, very good to know!

Jen, I'm going to visit the crocuses today again, I will think of you. But don't worry, I come home to blowy cold snow, which I do love, but the tastes of Spring sure are lovely.

OK, lots to do today, better run. Happy Day!

[banana girl]

Hey Ya'll

I'm feeling pretty spunky today. got some loooviiin from my hubby before the sun even rose, been eating well and happily, and it's really quiet at work this week (spring break) and my boss is being really laid back! i even ate some chocolate today, ummmmm.

i have an appointment on Thursday to see my MD for the 2nd time. Have yet to find a midwife, but have been sort of put off by the costs. The numbers scare me,... I know we could come up with the ching, but.... should we be spending that much out of pocket, when I am otherwise completely covered already?????

Also I am still really struggling with the concept of having a "home birth" in an "apartment". It just doesn't feel.... permanent. But some random hospital room isn't permanent either, so I'm not sure what my hang up is about. Maybe we just need to put up more art on the walls and stuff in our apartmant, you know.. feel more moved in...or something. Bah!

Happily, the "super bra" seems to be helping support my breasts better and my rib is bothering me less. My chiropractor is now calling my rib "hypermobile", I can push on it and feel it pop in and out of place. Feels weird, but doesn't exactly hurt, but it creeps my hubby out when i do it. you know, like when someone can pop their shoulder out, and pop it back. Your mind just goes EEEWWWW! that's not supposed to do that! anyway, the muscles are still sore, but swimming seems to be helping and the "super bra" is helping alot.

Just happy not to be barfing!!!

love to all
Anna

[sistermama]

Anna - we are probably going to be in an apartment for this birth, but I think we might go to my mom's instead. That is where Jack should have been born, and then she can help take care of me for a couple of days afterwards. Part of me worries that my neighbors would call the cops or something if they "heard" me and who knows if cops know that homebirth is legal?

Anyone else think that might be starting to feel some little baby movements? I don't know if I'm imagining things or not...

All this food talk is making me really hungry - mom is taking me out to eat, and Jack and dh are at mil's - so, babyfree dinner for me!

[sistermama]

Anna - I also meant to say about the home birth versus hospital birth, with Jack I ended up transferring to the hospital after a LOOOONG time at home. I had to fight for it, but we had a beautiful, fabulous birth experience of my dreams. In Florida we are lucky because by state law insurance has to cover home birth. I think that if I had to pay out of pocket for a homebirth, I would let my insurance pay for the hospital - but we are in a really tough financial state right now. Also you should find out if your insurance penalizes you by choosing an out of pocket homebirth if you then have to transfer to the hospital, as I have heard that some do.

[banana girl]

Sarah,
ideally I would really like to give birth at "the farm" but am worried about the logistics of making it work. The farm is a century old farm house, where I grew up at and have day dreams of buying from my dad and renovating. it has gorgeous gardens, animals all over the place, and a 5 minute ride to the river, for swimming. the building itself has a tranquility and peace that i absolutely crave. It is a super cool, good energy home where real people have been born, lived and died.
However, it is 3 hours from where I am. It is very old, dirty and in major need of massive remodeling. we're talking plumbing, heating, structural stability....
My mother is planning on staying with me for an extended length of time before and after the baby is born and while she doesn't have a problem hanging out with my gay dad and his boyfriend, she hates the filth of the farm.
the farm is a good half an hour from a hospital if we needed to transfer and i don't believe my insurance would cover me being there... although if I set it up ahead of time, maybe they would be okay with that.
also my husband needs to work, and may be starting his student teaching stint in late september so depending on when this kid decides to come it may not be possible to have us both just hanging out at the farm, waiting for the birth. as wonderful as that sounds to me.
Plus, that means I would have to find a midwife in that area, and drive to see her for my monthly checkups! Yikes!

the crazy thing is that despite all those obstacles, it where i really want to be, and when i envision myself giving birth it is the only setting i can see......

What do you guys think? do all those obstacles seem like more stress and worry than it is worth, or should i follow my heart and insist on making it work?

with love
Anna

[hjohnson]

I am dragging today! DS is cutting 4 molars at once and he is not sleeping through the night anymore. Thankfully he is still nursing so that helps. I tried napping this afternoon while he was napping but I kept getting interruptions in the form of the front door. I didn't think my second pregnancy would be this tiring.

[badomama]

I only have 8 more days of work, and I don't have to work this Saturday! I thought this job would never end, but now that it is, I am actually enjoying it. People have been awfully nice to me especially after hearing that I am pg. The whole time I've been here people have been asking me why I don't have kids yet and telling me that I should have at least 5...and to hurry up about it. Then I have to explain how expensive everything is in the states, and they end up feeling lucky to be Africans. They are also truly amazed at the tales of induced births, drugs and epis. One TZ friend got pg with twins in the states and moved back to TZ to have them because she knew the doctors would know how to get both out vaginally whereas she was being threatened with inevitable c section (and enormous bills) in the states. Still, mortality rates do not convince me to stay here, but I do find it interesting.

Sorry for the long blog. Back to food...I ate so much last night that it literally hurt. There was absolutely no room for anything to move and I looked 6 months if a day. By morning I was back to my minute bump.

Happy growing to all,

Steph

[JenInMpls]

Anna - I am always one for following my heart. At the same time I'm a listmaker. I'd make a list with a line down the middle and put pros on one side and cons on the other side and see which one there are more of. Then look at your list of cons and see which ones of them you can change ahead of time (dirt can be cleaned, will heat matter in early September?, how big are the plumbing problems?), and if you are able and willing to deal with them, you can cross them off the con list.

I'm thinking that the serene surroundings might be just the thing to make you relax and have a good birth. They say that pregnant women often experience labor stalls when they get to the hospital because they are so nervous and in unfamiliar surroundings. But you're right, it has some problems that need working out before you commit to it. I would bet it would be possible to find a homebirth midwife who would come out to you, though.

Steph, enjoy your 8 (now 7!)-day countdown to finishing work. And congratulations on your food obsession, I can't find anything that tastes good to me nowadays :( and regardless of what I eat after 4:30 I feel like I want to throw up (although I don't), and then I have heartburn before going to bed.

A co-worker gave me "What to Eat When You're Expecting". Now, I really don't like the What to Expect series, mostly due to their blatant heterosexist writing style and not to mention the picture of the expectant mom on the front who just looks so Stepford-Wifey, but at least this book has recipes and concrete suggestions. But I always feel so guilty after I read any pregnancy diet book... oh jeez, I had a teaspoon of sugar in my tea yesterday... oh no, my noodles in my homemade mac and cheese aren't whole wheat... oh no, I'm craving fish and chips!! I haven't had my 5 vegetables today! (Do I ever manage to eat my 5 vegetables a day? Give me a break!) Aargh! Mayday! Overload! Guilt, guilt, guilt. I would think that the guilt would be worse for my pregnancy than a teaspoon of sugar. Anything uplifiting or inspiring to say?

Jen, trying not to feel guilty about the butter she put on her toast this morning, and the fact that her strawberry jam had sugar in it...

[Caroline248]

Jen..real quick..I have to run...but I was the "perfect" eater with my first, I even had a journal that I kept track of my daily intake....I relaxed a bit with my second, and by my third, I decided that coffee couldn't be THAT bad if I had it every other day...I definatly slacked on the third. The only difference in them all was my third was the smallest, but also was early as opposed to late like the other two. WIth this one, I am not drinking ANY coffee, just can't tolerate it now...but I also can't eat veggies...

My point is, I am NOT stressing this. MY midwife keeps telling me, the baby gets first dibs..you get whatever is left over. So I am only hurting myself..I can live with that!! Just do your best, I am sure you are not being obviously harmful!!

Caroline

[Lazuli]

Jen - I would like the doll pattern. :) I think I could make one easily. I have some cute flannel in the other room and a pattern for a stuffed lamb that I'm goign to make. (I'd bought the fabric and pattern to make a present for my cousin's little boy, never got it made...oops!)

I'm worried about food myself. I haven't gained any weight, which worries me a little. I weighed 208 when I got pregnant, and I'm down to right around 190, some days the scale dips under 190, other days it goes up to 195, but for the most part is staying right at 190. I try to eat, but it's hard because nothing sounds appetizing. I make myself eat things, but I should be eating more. I also have the problem that I know nothing about meal planning or servings/portions. I've been making myself eat eggs even though I really don't like them. I think the whole eating/food thing is stressing me out / making me worry.

Lazuli

[adventuregirl]

Happy St Patricks Day! One of my favorite holidays, and the first that I can't have me a Guinness, wah! I'll have a sip at dinner, we are having friends over for a traditional Irish meal, it will be fun!

Anna, sounds like some soul searching is in order for you. I totally understand the logisitics issue, but you just have to decide if it is worth it to you. How strongly do you feel about each scenario?Seriously think about how you would feel to do it in the hospital, how about a birth center? Some people feel strongly enough about homebirth, they will make it work no matter what they have to do, some feel the stress of making it work is not worth it, and feel OK with a different birth scenario. You have time, so really explore all of your options.

Jen, first of all, don't feel guilty about butter, you need whats in there and its all a myth that its bad for you anyway. Remember that books are just a guide, and it really helps to look at your amounts on a week scale rather than daily, there will be some days you eat a ton of veggies and days that you don't. It often balances out, and if you don't quite get it all, hey, that's what prenatals are for. My mw doesn't reccomend prenatals, she is heavier on the diet. I still take them kind of as a safeguard in case I'm not getting everything I need from food. When I was feeling nauseated, I couldn't look at a green veggie, but now I'm way into them, I didn't feel too bad since I knew the prenatals were giving me the vits I was missing. I think a conscious effort to eat well and not letting yourself stress too much is a good road, you will make good choices and the stress isn't good for you or the baby.

Lazuli, I have read that its not a big worry if you start out at a bigger size and don't gain much in your pregnancy. It sucks when nothing is appetizing, but hopefully that will pass. Hang in there and try not to stress too much.

Sarah, I have been hoping to hear of someone here feeling movements! I am really conscious of it, but don't think I've actually felt anything yet. I know I am about in the stage where early feelers feel movement and I am so hoping to be one of them!

Steph, that is wonderful that you only have a week of work left, yay!

:kid:

[Jodie]

I'm with you Lazuli.
I am 180 and have not gained any weight. Sometimes my scale dips to 175, but hovers around 180.
I don't think I eat near as much as I should, just don't really want to. I had a few days where there were no gagy feelings and I could not get full. Now its back to feeling gagy and no real appetite. Also my family has a history of growing small babes. I was only 6#130z when born and I was 3 weeks late. I want to grow at least a 7#er idealy an 8#, so I feel like I should be eating more. You can only force yourself to eat so much. This is probably something we shouldn't stress over. I've just been trying to eat as much as I can when I wanna. But I know not worring and stressing over stuff is easier said than done.

I did have to fill out a diet for my midwife and she said it looked great just to eat more greens and all should be fine.:) So I quess I shouldn't be worrying, but I still do.

[4under6]

Lazuli-
Many heavier women don't gain much weight during pregnancy- me for one. I started out about 30 pounds heavier than you with my 3rd and gained only 7 pounds! And trust me, I eat, and I eat pretty decent foods. And I had a healthy baby weighing 6/8, but she was early.
Last time I was weighed, I had gained about 3 pounds from before I was pg, and I have another prenatal on Friday, so we'll see.

[hjohnson]

I hate the book What To Eat When you are Expecting. Makes you feel guilty if you even think about anything with sugar in it.

[sistermama]

Jen - the pregnancy guilt is just preparation for the overwhelming sometimes crippling mother guilt!!!! :p

Lazuli - I was 215 when I got pregnant and now I'm 205, but I'm thinking the gaining will start soon now that I'm not puking twice a day. No worries - any mom who cares enough to be on this thread is most likely doing the best they can to take care of themselves.

I ate a HUGE dinner out last night and it was so nice to eat all I wanted and not feel sick, plus to drink glasses of iced tea! People not from the south usually don't understand how were are about our iced tea down here, and I haven't been able to stomach any for months!

Spring break is this week, so the playground was crawling with unsupervised day care groups. I had to be playground patrol and do other people's jobs for them. One "teacher" was encouraging her charges in a game where 2 would stand on a metal balance beam and fight eachother off of it, ala Survivor. :angry I wanted to follow them back to the daycare and wait on their parents to let them know. I settled for calling the daycare facility instead.....

[hjohnson]

What did the daycare facility say? I would be in shock if I was a parent of one of those kids playing that game.

[sistermama]

Well, there were kids screaming in the background when I called, and it really didn't seem like the woman was that shocked and horrified. The van had the phone number on it, but not the name of the daycare place. I'm hoping she will at least address it with the staff, it can't be fun to get a phone call like that. I work at a children's nonprofit and I know we in the office would go crazy if we had a report like that!

[hjohnson]

Too bad you couldn't find the name of the Daycare Center. From the sound of it, I would be warning people to stay away from there.

[banana girl]

It snowed here today..... BAH! Where is that spring that I keep dreaming of?

I have an appointment tomorrow and my hubby is going with me. We are gonna try and compile a list of questions and concerns so we can discuss our birthing plan and see how the MD reacts. Am feeling nervous about refusing an ultrasound again, but the hubby and i are in agreement that it simply isn't nessesary right now. If it's twins, there's time to find that out, and it really doesn't seem likely to us that I am a month farther along than we thought.
We realized something weird was going on with me at about 2 weeks, at 6 weeks I started barfing and now at 12 + weeks I am starting to feel better. All that makes sense. why should we freak out because I am bigger than she "expected". How about measuring my fundle height... huh?

wish me luck, and strength
with love and kisses
Anna

[JenInMpls]

*lovestrengthlovestrengthlovestrength* Anna if the snow is the same snow we had it will be gone by midday tomorrow. We had 2.5 inches when I woke up and it is all gone, gone gone now. Was a gorgeous day today here, pushing 50 degrees. Good luck at the appt and you too Danielle!!

I thought I had started off pregnancy somewhere around 190 but I had been training for an inline 1/2 marathon starting in November and it could be that I had lost some weight before getting pregnant; at any rate I weighed in at my 8-week appt at 184 and the 12-week at 177. I had to come back 2 weeks later and be weighed again and was up to a whopping 178 :) we'll see this next time. I'm definitely curious because I weighed 180 or so when Jo and I married and my rings are *way* loose right now; I lose weight in the strangest places.

The same colleague who gave me What to Eat when you're expecting also gave me What to Expect in the First year. Trust me: don't bother. In the first 20 pages alone it told me about why circumcision is medically a good idea, why cloth diapering is a pain and not worth it, and that I should consider getting a walker for my nursery. Phew!

I am not worried much about the size of the baby I grow. Of course I'm hoping s/he is not a whopper at 10 lbs or whatever, but that doesn't run in our family at all... my sis was just over 5 lbs and I was 5 lbs and change. Granted, my mom smoked and drank copious amounts of coffee during her pregnancies, which probably accounted for some of the low birth weight, but her sister also had small babies, and she didn't smoke. I'm hoping that's the case. Our donor is not a small guy, 5'10" and medium to large bone structure, hopefully not *too* broad shouldered! :LOL And oh, maybe, just maybe that baby will have the same red hair... cross your fingers!!!

Hopefully, too, this baby will *not* be like me and sit breech until about 3 days before birth.

Sarah, was it good sugared southern iced tea? There is nothing finer!!!

I got to go out to dinner on one of the faculty members Jo supports this evening... we ate Greek and the restaurant was accordingly deserted thanks to St. Paul's Irish roots! It was delicious and very fun to enjoy going out to eat.

And now it is time for little Jens to start getting ready for bed... nighty night,

j

[badomama]

Wow, maybe I'm glad that Tanzania doesn't really have any of those books. I'd be stressing out far more than my normal worry-wort self. I've been eating whatever (all kinds of fried things) and just trying to eat out at restaurants as much as possible--they import some healthier stuff. Last night I scored my california roll with wasabi again! Now I'm over that phase. I eat a ton of bread and cheese. I'm just relying on those vitamins for three more weeks. Sorry Jen that you don't find anything appetizing yet. I hope you will be up for Vietnamese soup by May!

Anna, I hope you find a good peaceful situation. It sounds like you are willing to put the effort into finding something.

Has anyone signed up for birthing classes yet? I've been trying to find a bradley class in the Twin Cities now because we will be on the road until June. Does anyone know the average cost? What are y'all leaning towards? Bradley? Lamaze? Study yourself? Been there done that don't need it?

Happy appointments to Anna and Danielle!
-Steph

[JenInMpls]

I would like to go to a Birthing from Within class, but the nearest mentor/teacher is in Madison (aha, Anna!). Oh well. We will be going to a childbirth/parenting prep class at Methodist Hospital where our Birth Center is located simply because that will look good for Jo's adoption work. I've told her that I'm sure there's nothing she'd learn at that parenting prep class that I couldn't teach her, but perhaps she will enjoy schmoozing with all the other hapless partners there who don't know how to wrap a baby in a blanket.

It's amazing the things I learned as a child being a kid who played with dolls and who babysat (two things Jo never did).

We won't be doing Bradley because neither of us can get past the extreme overuse of the phrase "husband-coached childbirth". I was interested at first, but we could not find ourselves within their language. Besides, Jo is convinced that she can in no way coach me to give birth. Assist, support, advocate and slip me food when the nurse isn't looking, but not coach! The birthing, she says, is in me. I guess she has a good point.

Lamaze, I have heard, works exactly against natural childbirth by tiring out a woman long before she should be. Any other opinions?

I need to get ready to go to school, as I am subbing for the music teacher today with the fourth grade. I've gotten to see them every day this week and twice tomorrow! Lucky children! :wink

j

[adventuregirl]

We are doing an Informed Homebirth Class through my midwife. It's 7 weeks, 2.5 hour sessions and costs $200, covering everything about birth, relaxation, labor rehearsal, emergencies, baby, breastfeeding and postpartum. I'm not sure when we will start, I'll have to see when my midwife has them scheduled. I have an appointment next week, this will be a good topic to discuss.

I got a box of clothes from my aunt yesterday and I am so excited! I now have 5 new dresses that I will be able to wear for at least a few more months, if not the whole time, yay! I also got some tops that are long and roomy, long sleeve and sleeveless, just what I am needing! I just realized yesterday that two pairs of pants that fit a few days ago are tight enough to make purple marks on my belly from the buttons, ouch! So they are now on the only wear unbottuned pile. Pants selection shrinking.... dress selection increasing, phew! Glad its becoming dress season. I don't know why, but I am so resistant to buying clothes right now.

Anna and Danielle, hope your appointments are great!

[4under6]

Well, we of course are going the "been there, done that" route!
With my first birth, my husband was clueless and was not really into being my support. I got an epidural and yes, it was lovely!
With the second birth, my husband's sister Donna came with us, and was an outstanding doula, though she's really not a doua. She got me through the first 5 cm like a breeze, but I was SO programmed that I was going to get the epidural that I got it, and as nice as the first one was, this one was that much more horrid. It didn't work, and I had terrible complications. It was enough to make me say NEVER AGAIN.
With Lucy's birth, I wanted to go drug-free, and Donna was with us again, and I did indeed go drug free! Of course, the birth was only 1/2 hour from beginning to end, so I kind of "cheated", but still.....LOL!
And dear Donna will be at this birth, too. Hopefully I won't deliver in the car or on the side of the road! But, we have all already discussed that we will read up on emergency childbirth procedures, just in case. I did really want a homebirth but two things made me decide against it: we couldn't afford it, and Lucy had to be resuscitated when she was born, she almost had a cord accident, and I bled a lot after her birth. So, I will go the hospital route. But I feel so experienced at this now, plus I used to practice as a doula, so I know how to get what I want. PLUS, two women whose daughters are in Charlotte's dance class for the past two years, who I have become friendly with, are both labor and delivery nurses at the hospital give birth at! So that is definitely working in my favor.

Did I tell you all that I am already obsessed with cloth diapering??? This will be my first time doing it, and I'm already going nuts with it! I see myself becoming one of those diaper hyenas in no time!:hyena :D

[wardermom]

We've done this before, so we won't be taking any classes. We never have.
The best things I know are warm water in the tub, and counter pressure on my lower back. Plus a lot of encouraging words.

I've felt baby movement! It was later than some of my other pregnancies, but the placenta is anterior, so that could explain that.

Having that food chart on the fridge is really making me more aware of my diet. I just slide the thing over to show when I've had a serving of whatever, and I can keep track of how much of each kind of food I've eaten. Mind you, it doesn't have a section for sweet stuff. I have a problem with sugar, I like it too much. I guess I need to work on that.

[banana girl]

Well, the appointment went well. My hubby came with and was mostly a usefull and well behaved man. although he did start giggling when the Doctor put on a really silly looking fetoscope. Bad boy! (She did look awfully silly though)
Anyway, for a 14 ish week mama (LMP) my fundle height was pretty big at at 17 cm. Soooooo....... I'm really thinking twins. I refused an ultrasound again, and refused doppler too. We couldn't hear a heartbeat with fetoscope yet, so didn't get the heartbeat thrill today. Ah well, no biggie.
We may go for the ultrasound later in the pregnancy, but I just can't believe I was pregnant the whole of December and didn't notice anything unusual. I pay alot of attention to my body. I am a super healthy chiropractic freak, I have had a thyroid condition for years and have got it under control. I pay attention when my body does anything weird.
I am so convinced that it is twins that i will be shocked if not. Twins... jeepers!

Well, i'm signing off, heading to the pool to go swimming tonight, so i gotta get my act together and head for home.

Love to all
Anna

[JenInMpls]

woo hoo! a double dose for Anna?

My twins in 3rd grade would be very excited for you! (They were quite disappointed when I said that it appears I am only carrying one.)

Glad it was good (and uneventful)!

jen

ps: I don't blame hubby. Fetoscopes do look funny. Does anyone know why they have to push with their head?

[sistermama]

Glad you had a good appt Anna. I went and gave my gallon of blood today so that my mw will have the results in time for my appt next week. Is it possible that we are all another MONTH pregnant already????

I think that we are going to take a Hypnobirthing class over the summer. I didn't take anything last time but was mentally in a really good place. I ended up with a hospital transfer and I just don't want to freak about that and end up transferring - so I'm hoping that the hypno and affirmation will help with that. The class is $200, includes book and cds and will just be us and one other couple. The instructor teaches it in her home and only lives about 1/4 mile from us.

I was off work today - Jack and I went to one of the Disney water parks (we have passes). It was the first time since August and it was so beautiful and relaxing. He napped there while I read my new Mothering and we lazy rivered for hours - it was lovely!!!

All you poor snow women can make me feel jealous of you when it is August and 100 degrees here!

[JenInMpls]

All you poor snow women can make me feel jealous of you when it is August and 100 degrees here!

haha, yeah, when it's 100 degrees up here too and the humidity is so high you could cut it with a knife? I hate late MN summers!!! But your day at the water park sounded idyllic :)

j

[RaeInBC]

Hi All:

I've been reading your messages for several weeks and decided to join in: it's been great lurking and getting to know you but I'm ready to participate now. I'm due on Sept. 15 with our first. I especially wanted to note that I despise the book _What to Eat When You're Expecting_. I eat fairly well usually, but the book took such a scolding tone. When I mentioned it to a friend (with two children) she responded "welcome to woman as vessel." Since then I've been enjoying food (morning sickness basically over) and trying to follow my instincts. It sure feels better, anyway!

A question I've been dying to ask: I turn 35 in August, and am therefore eligible for amnio--in my province, our medical insurance covers it then. My doctor is not giving me much guidance. I've decided not to do it, as the only reason would be down syndrome and I don't think I could go through with a termination anyway, not to mention the risk of miscarriage. And travelling four hours. But, I was wondering if anyone else was wrestling with this at all.

[badomama]

Friday!!!

RaeinBC welcome! RE: Amnio, if I were wrestling with it, I'd like to come to the same conclusion you have!

Anna, congrats on the appt. I can't wait to hear more about your potential babIES.

Wardermama, oooohhh, you felt movement! Cool!

Sistermama, a waterpark sounds great right now. And Jack took a nap, aren't you lucky!

Jen et al, it's true. Bradley-rhetoric does always say "husband" and "coach," which also makes me cringe and think Bradley is on the unprogressive side if they can't realize the impact of these words. Birthing from Within sounds like a better alternative, but alas that's a 4 or 5 hour drive to Mad. I know I would hate LaMaze, and I know I would feel wistful and out-of-place in a homebirth class (just can't consider paying for that right now), and I really want dh to get more involved. He tends to get panicky when in school and I'm really hoping that he will take this seriously and feel like he has to prepare for this as much as he'd prepare for an academic test. Bradley (and I) won't let him off the hook in that department.

Ate an entire jar of olives last night and immediately fell asleep dreaming about riding my bike from Salt Lake to Chicago alone. I think I'm subconsciously having "motherhood will limit my freedom" dream-issue-management stuff. Know what I mean?

Happy weekends to all,

Steph

[JenInMpls]

Welcome Rae!! I have even decided not to take an Alpha-Fetoprotein test (AFP) because its false positive results, which are more common than usual with blood tests, can lead to recommendations of chorionic villus sampling or amnio, which are two tests I am not willing to have. I am in the same boat as you: even if my child has Down Syndrome, I could not terminate my pregnancy. If I'm meant for some reason to parent a child with Down, then who am I to change what I believe is my destiny?

Anyway. Woke up hearing ice pellets on the air conditioner. And the wind is blowing like crazy. It's supposed to get up above 45 today?! Doesn't look like it!

The only really good thing about "What to Eat" is the recipe section in the back but the edition I have is from the anti-salt 80s and there is nary a pinch of salt in any of the recipes. I made the banana muffins yesterday and wow, are they BLAND. Putting about 3 tablespoons of almond butter on them helps them considerably, though.

A whole jar of olives steph?! Phew!!! :)

Happy Friday to everyone! Gotta scoot, have Kindergarten this morning. They give me belly rubs :D

Jen

[hjohnson]

I refused the AFP as well. If my child has Down's so be it. I didn't want to spend the rest of my pregnancy stressed out and it has too many false positives. I am not about to abort either. I can't believe how many doctors will actually counsel you to abort if the AFP turns up positive. My friend had a positive AFP and the doc was really pressuring her to abort. Sick doctor! Her baby was born normal and healthy so she ended up with a false positive on her AFP.

[adventuregirl]

Welcome Rae! Its great to have you with us! I wouldn't consider amnio personally, too much risk involved and false pos results are too common, as well as I wouldn't abort...

Sarah, the water park sounds heavenly! Its officially spring here in the mtns, snow one day, 70 degrees the next, today being a 70 degree day, I think I'm going snowboarding, hee-hee! Love it.

Anna, twins! Yikes! Better to be mentally prepared than surprised! My mw was telling me how she sometimes finds a "hidden" twin when they were just expecting one. Woo-wee, that would be a scary surprise! Glad your appt went well!

I have become a dress addict, I went to consign some old clothes yesterday and of course HAD to check out the maternity section while I was in the shop and found the cutest dress! It fits me now and has stretchy room for lots of expansion, I couldn't resist! My first official maternity purchase, only 12 bucks!

I also went through my closet and dresser and packed away everything I can no longer wear, in addition to a bunch of very summery things that I will definitely not be able to wear when the time comes, I have so much room now. Feels good to purge, and it will be nice to open up a box of clothes I will forget about when I am ready to try them on again.

Happy Friday! Any fun weekend plans out there?

[sistermama]

Hi Rae - we are due on the same day!

If you really are having twins Anna, we can help you come up with really hideous matching names, like Jenny and Ginny or Chad and Thad... :p

My favorite spring art festival is this weekend, so my mom and I will be taking Jack to that tomorrow. Still trying to decide if I can handle him in the sling since I don't really want to shove the stroller through grass...

I think I am definitley feeling some baby movements now. It makes me happy because I haven't been thrilled about being pregnant, so its nice to start getting excited.

[banana girl]

I'm so glad you have decided to chat with us! Isn't it wonderful to eat again!!!! Today, I was craving orange juice, which has been on my "No Freaking Way" list of foods for about 2 months. So here I am happily drinking my OJ,...Yeah!

Any body noticing a new surge of hormonal / emotional intensity? Ive been feeling "crazy". Like right before you get your period and you feel all out of control, super mood swingy and giddy. I have been tickling, teasing and tormenting my hubby mercilessly. And then I crash... Feeling all needy and weepy and misunderstood. It's so goofy.

BUT! It has been almost 2 WEEKS since I last threw up! HOORRAYYYY!!!!!

Love to all
Anna

[banana girl]

Hey, Do you guys know if it's okay to get a tatto while pregnant? My hubby is getting one in the next few weeks and I have a really cool idea for a little tiny one, but I wonder if the ink could get in my blood stream and be really a bad NO, NO!

I have wanted to get a tatto for years, but have always waited. something has always held me back. Any tattoo experts in the bunch?

With love to all
Anna

[sistermama]

Anna, about the tatoo, I would think that you would just take the same precautions that you would normally take when getting a tatoo. Like making sure that you went to a really good place, that is was obviously hygenic, etc., etc. I can't imagine what would make it riskier to do while you were pregnant....

[JenInMpls]

Wow - I have a window open!! 50 degrees and I feel like it's summer. Whoopee! Plus a bonus: my colleague Phil told me to just go straight home after dropping off our mentor at the airport instead of coming back to school, and he said he'd take his class himself during German time. Yahoo, afternoon off!!

Oh, here's the most unbelievable twins name combination I've ever heard: Paul and Paula (fraternal). I also had twin girls at my last school named Emina and Edina. They were from Bosnia.

Re: Tattoos: here is a quote from "The Ultimate Guide To Pregnancy for Lesbians (How to Stay Sane and Care for Yourself)" by Rachel Pepper: "Pregnancy is not the time to indulge in a new tattoo or piercing." The rest of the paragraph is about how to maintain any piercings you already have that would be affected by pregnancy (primarily nipple and genital piercings), and she doesn't give any reasons why you shouldn't indulge in a tat, but I think part of it has to do with the increased elasticity of the skin and the fact that you may stretch and gain weight in unheard of places by the time that baby comes out (um.. especially if it's twins...). Once a tat stretches it does not return to its original form, so it might end up looking different than when it was new.

I'm thinking now of all the places one usually gets a tattoo and to be honest, I can't think of one that might not expand and stretch - butt, small of back, ankles, wrists, arms... one place that might be safe would be a shoulder blade, but you never know.

I too wanted a tat for my 30th birthday, the same one I've been thinking of my whole life (ivy twining around my wrist), but I think that I'll still hold off until the baby's here, if I do it at all... Jo hates tattoos.

Sarah have a great time at the art festival... we are lucky to have one of the best ones in the Twin Cities in a park just 4 blocks north of us, but it's in ... August!!! I hope it's not too hot for me to waddle up there!

weekend! weekend! adventuregirl, how was snowboarding? Have you noticed any difference in your balance yet?

jen

[4under6]

Had my 16 week prenatal today; heard the heartbeat for the first time, finally! It's lovely!

[hjohnson]

It is 67 degrees here in Charlotte and it feels wonderful. I was going to take DS to the park after a wonderful Indian buffet lunch but he fell asleep in the car.

Adventuregirl I would go skiing but all the so-called ski resorts here in NC suck! I miss the mountains of Colorado. Were do you go to Snowboard? El Dora?

[banana girl]

Hey Jen, do you live in Uptown? I remember a great art fair near there in the summer,.... I used to live in Mpls and worked in the Calhoun Square Mall, that art fair brought people out in droves,... wasps too. ick!

Well i better get going. my brother in-law and his fiance are staying our place tonight. We are all heading to Eau Claire this weekend to see my hubby's dad (he just got home from having one of his kidney's removed:( )
But in the meantime I get to entertain the in-laws while my hubby is at work. Should be fun, but i am just so darn tired! Maybe we'll rent a movie or something.

Later, all you crazy mama alligators!
Anna

[JenInMpls]

Actually, nope, we live near Powderhorn Park, which hosts the "kinder, gentler" art fair the same weekend as both Uptown and Loring Park. Many of the suburbanites who live in Minnetonka or Wayzata and drive huge SUVs or other expensive cars fear that their cars will get vandalized or stolen in our neighborhood, and so they go to Uptown, have a horrible time trying to parallel park :LOL and the Powderhorn festival remains mostly a true urban festival. We always either walk or ride our bikes.

The Powderhorn art festival is held in Powderhorn Park so if you get tired of walking around and want to rest a while, you can rest against a huge old elm tree on nice green grass and watch the world go by. That's a little harder to do in Uptown, less so in Loring Park.

There is no milk in this house and I am going crazy!!

xo, j

[badomama]

Ok, so I went to work on Saturday. Someone begged me to help them, and I decided it is worth leaving on a good note. I was rewarded by seeing a group of about 30 Masaai teenagers (picture red and purple gowns, white sandals, lots of beautiful beadwork, sticks that look like cow hip bones, long tightly braided hair--very very cool looking people).

Jen, Powderhorn Park is the best neighborhood in Mpls! I think they have a great neighborhood group and wonderful festivals, and you can get real hot tamales at the supermercado any day. That's where we hope to find an apartment. Maybe we can be neighbors!

I am about to order two pairs of maternity pants...drumroll...that my MIL will bring to me when we meet up on our way back to the States. I imagine in three more weeks I really won't fit into even my exand-o-waist pants anymore. Hopefully.

Happy weekends to all.

Steph

[JenInMpls]

Steph: at the rate they're going finding new tenants, the 1-br duplex down the street will still be looking for renters by the time you get here!! Plus they got BRAND NEW windows last week! :) but all around the park there is good apartment housing and even a few true co-op buildings, too. Will you be here in time for the May Day parade?

I am in the biggest sourpuss mood this morning :angry after someone (1) had draining sinuses around 3 in the morning and proceeded to roll over close to me and snort every 30 seconds for about an HOUR and then (2) forgot to turn her alarm clock off so it woke us up at 7:15 in the morning!! Check that - it woke me up. She hit snooze once and it went off 9 minutes later, at which point I nearly yelled to turn the f*ing thing off, which she did (hit reset so it will wake us up tomorrow!) and promptly fell back asleep, but I'm not a snoozer, so I'm very awake. Oh well, at least if it wakes us up tomorrow I can get up and go to Meeting.

Sydney is trying very hard to cheer me up.

Last night at the movie store the owner asked me when my baby is due. I guess I must be showing! Jo said it was the maternity clothes I had on - the shirt especially - but the non-maternity clothes just don't feel comfy. What's a girl to do? Smile and say "September!" I guess!

yawn.

j

ps: Anna: hope your FIL is doing ok.

[adventuregirl]

Hey Chicas!

Snowboarding was really good up until my last run. I fell. I still am not sure how it happened (could be related to balance, Jen, I don't know, could have been a tricky unanticipated patch of snow), but I am ok. I kind of bashed my head (I wear a helmet) and did a roll. My body took the impact at my head/neck/shoulders which I am glad for. But the biggest hurt was to my emotions, I was so upset and mad at myself for allowing it to happen, or more so, being in the position where it happened. I am an expert snowboarder and have scaled back a tremendous amount, go so much slower than usual and only go on blue square runs (usually I am on double black diamonds) - for any non-skiiers, green is beginner/easy, blue is intermediate, black is difficult and double black is expert. It was pretty traumatic for me emotionally, so I am ending my season.

Heather, I usually ski at Eldora, it is 15 min from my house.

About tattoos, my dh is a tattoo artist and he wouldn't let me get one while pg. The main reason being is that it does tax your immune system, which is already a little lower than usual because of the baby. Bringing it any lower could open you up to infection, and your healing time would be much slower.

Hope you all have great weekends!

[JenInMpls]

Adventuregirl I'm so sorry you wiped out!! All is well, you and baby are okay, try not to be too mad at yourself...

Whatever happened to some of our prior posters extraordinaire - Lynsey (mom2baldie), for example? starrynight? bellasmum? Are you out there? Are you lurking? Just wondering!

Jo is trying to redeem herself by having taken the grocery list with her... alone. hee hee hee!

here comes the sun, doot n do do...

j

[banana girl]

Hey adventuregirl, sorry to hear about your tumble, sounds pretty upsetting. Glad you are doing ok, physically if not emotionally. remember that your emotions are extra sensitive right now, it's ok to get all torqued up about stuff.

Happy, happy, happy first Day of SPRING! It is soooooo nice out today, i can hardly wait to leave work. Hubby and I decided not to drive to Eau Claire this weekend as i have come down with a nasty head cold and do not wish to give it to my FIL whose still recovering from surgery! Maybe we'll go next weekend.... anyway, my brother in-law and his fiance are gonna stay a second night with us, (they are on spring break) and I think we might grill out for dinner! Ummmm.

Hope everyone has a great weekend and has lots of fun out playing in the SPRINGTIME!!!!

Love to All
Anna

[JenInMpls]

I mentioned this recipe long ago, but just got off the phone with my friend who made it for us and she gave it to me again.

I imagine that you could play with the ingredients to make it more nutritional - add some more veggies or cut the half and half to maybe 1/2 half and half and 1/2 milk (sounds like a math problem, doesn't it? If you cut your half and half and substitute milk for 1/2 of it, what ratio do you REALLY have?), but I would advise you to leave some (if not all) of it in, because the half and half really made it taste GOOD.

Here you go. Very easy!:

Potato-Cheese Soup

2 potatoes, peeled and cubed (2 c)
2 c water
1/2 c chopped carrots
1/2 c chopped celery
1/2 c chopped onion
2 tsp chicken bouillon granules
1/4 c butter
1/4 c flour
1 pint half and half
1/8 tsp fresh ground pepper
2 oz Swiss cheese shredded
2 oz sharp cheddar cheese shredded

Cook vegetables in water and bouillon until tender. Melt butter in a pan, add flour. Add half and half to thicken. Stir in cheese until melted, then add cooked vegetables. Do not boil. Makes 8 small servings or 4 meal-sized servings.

Guten Appetit,

jen

[RaeInBC]

thanks for your welcoming responses! It was the first time I've ever posted to a discussion board, and I felt a bit shy about it. Your responses strengthened my resolve about the amnio.

I thought I'd say a bit more about myself: my partner, Cameron, and I have four cats (Sam, Gracie, Barky and Becky) and a hyperactive dalmatian cross named Jack--so we already have a fairly full house and some worries about everyone's adjustment, as well as fears we have used our "best" names on our animals. I teach English at a small university and usually love my job but have had a huge amount of extra work dumped on me this term since our chair quit. Just when you need more--your first trimester. Anyway, I'm looking forward to the end of those responsibilities and classes by mid to late April. I'm slated to teach an intensive writing summer course in July. I'm doing it for extra $$ but will make sure I feel up to it closer to the date. I'm also a runner who completed her first half marathon in October. I was pretty much off running for much of Jan and Feb with the very cold weather, my running buddy's demanding new job, and exhausion, but am starting back. I've definitely lost fitness but it feels good to be out there again, especially now that it's officially spring. Anyone else running?

OH yes, I'm delighted to be going to a conference in San Antonio next week. I need the warmth and sunshine, as well as the break from my everyday life.

Anyhoo, it's lovely to pipe in, as I keep track of your replies as well.

hello especiall to sistermama--my due date time twin.

cheers,

Rachel (my full name)

[JenInMpls]

Rachel, I want to know how you came to have a cat known as "Barky". :)

I am not a runner but I was training for an inline half marathon when I got pregnant! Kind of sad to not be doing it but it's in July. Just sounds like a bad idea.

Best, and greetings to my cats from yours,

jen

[banana girl]

Hey Rachel!

I'm not now, nor have I ever been a runner, but am enjoying swimming immensely. It does feel soooooo good to have the energy for exercise again, doesn't it! sounds like you have a very full household, with all those kitties and all. My two rotten kitty babies have been crazy lately. I think they can tell spring is in the air. Seems to make them wilder than usual. They slept through the thunderstorm we had last night though! i believe i was the only one who woke up for that, made me smile to see that rain pouring down.

Well, i need to skeedaddle for home, my brother in-law, just called. their rental car was broken into last night outside of our apartment and they need to call the cops and all that fun stuff. Sooooo i'm off!

Happy first day of spring!!!!
Love to all
Anna

[JenInMpls]

Thanks for the inspiration, Anna, I grabbed my suit and went to the YWCA and swam. It felt really good!

:D Jen

[adventuregirl]

Thanks Anna and Jen, I am feeling better about it all now, I was just so upset with myself and scared. But I'm on to new activities with this lovely new season that is upon is! Yay!

Rachel, I'm glad you decided to chime in, it is a little intimidating to start posting, but after a while you get addicted, well, at least I did! Not to mention all the great peeps you get to know.

Jen, I think that the combination of potatoes and cheese is one of the best inventions, ever! The soup sounds great, I will try it.

Anna, I hope you feel better! My dh has been fighting the beginnings of a head cold for about 24 hours, and now he is off on a ski trip for 4 days. I hope his efforts pay off and he can enjoy it!

I have a story for you all, my family mostly all lives up and down the east coast. So my aunt was chatting with my mom this week and asks when I am going to come out there to show everybody the baby. :confused: My mom said, I don't think that's going to happen, and when she told me, I said, IT DOESN'T WORK THAT WAY! I'm the one having a baby! I was very shocked that I was expected to take a tiny baby on a 3+ hour flight, which is always more than one plane, just so my relatives don't have to visit me? Whatever! The aunt who said this would have to fly from Connecticut to Florida anyway, because most of my family lives there. I was a little offended, but I think it was just an odd assumption, we get along really well. I was just so surprised that someone would think that. If they don't want to visit me, they will just have to wait until our next planned trip for my brother's wedding next May! Sorry, but the planes fly both ways! OK, just needed to vent that. :)

Happy Spring everyone!

[4under6]

Adventuregirl,
I hope you're doing better!

Jen-
The soup sounds yummy!
I love potato soup! My mom is a fantastic homemade soup-maker.
By the way- I'm joining you in the not gaining weight department. Yesterday at my prenatal, I had lost 2.5 ponds from last time. So I am about 2 pounds down from where I started before I was pg.
:scratch
Well, let me tell ya, I EAT! :D
My doc is totally not worried. This happened to me with Lucy, and as long as I'm choosing decent foods, and enough of them, which I am, it's all good.
I am one of those weird women who feel the most beautiful
when I'm pregnant. It's the only time when I am completely comfortable and accepting of my body.

Sistermama-
Baby movement already? Wow, that's exciting!
I never felt mine until 20-22 weeks! Course I do have some extra padding they have to kick through!


:LOL

I got my first batch of cloth diapers in the mail the other day- they are so cute, soft and yummy! This will be my first time using cloth, and I'm excited!

[JenInMpls]

All you potato cheese lovers, should I share my famous recipe for potato torte? Mmm, mmm, good and if you cheat and buy a pre-made pie crust, oh so easy... say the word, I love swapping recipes!!

Danielle, at the YWCA today I stepped on the scale and it says that i'm up to 180, which means I have gained 2 pounds since my last appt about 4 weeks ago. I can't eat any more than I do and I'm sure that this baby isn't suffering. I get my milk, I get my protein and I'm making a concerted effort to eat more fruits and veggies. If I gain half as much weight as I'm "supposed to", then so be it.

adventuregirl your relatives made me want to either :splat or :soapbox - they wanna see that baby, they can come to you, stay somewhere else and offer to cook and clean while they're visiting you! For heaven's sake.

We are already thinking about Christmas and are probably going to go to Ann Arbor to be at my sister's simply because it will be easier to travel by train with a 3-month old than with a 15-month-old!!! can you imagine a 14-hour trip with a 15-month-old!! Oy!!

Time for bed. Jo brought home groceries... including a STEAK. Which we had for dinner, and which was very, very good.

xo, j

[badomama]

Hello September Mamas,

Jen, I am going to print out that recipe and make in TONIGHT! We have all those ingredients and I can just smell how great it will be.

Re: apartment by y'all. Can you pm me and tell me more? We are willing to start conversing with landlords about paying for something starting in May. Unfortunately we will miss the MayDay parade, but I plan to dress up baby and myself and participate next year.

Adventuregirl, double black diamonds? Ok, you've chosen a good name for yourself! Sorry about the fall. Sounds like it wasn't hard on your bumb though. If your whole body took the impact that should be much safer. Sad way to end your season though.

Rachel, I also run, or should I say jog, since my dh can basically walk as fast as I run. I haven't done a half marathon yet, but it is on my goal list with baby (hopefully it will love the baby jogger). I haven't been running much because I am living in Tanzania and it is hotter than h£*&, but I plan on picking up my soft jog again as soon as I get back to the states (three weeks). Can't wait!!! Is it cold where you are?

I've gained 2.5 pounds approximately. I'm getting a little anxious to really grow. It seems like I've looked and felt the same for weeks now. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a big growth spurt in the next three weeks. Progress is nice.

Talked to my mom this weekend and she actually suggested that I get an u/s done for free by a rad tech student so that she could find out the sex. She says she wants to bond with it and needs to know the sex even if we choose to be "funny about it." HELLO???? Yeah right!

Bye, Steph

[badomama]

Jen, Bring on the potato torte! Once we are back home I'll post a swiss chard soup recipe. It is my favorite.

steph

[JenInMpls]

Steph - I wouldn't be surprised if you do experience that growth spurt in the coming weeks... in month 4 baby is supposed to go from 3.5 inches to 6 inches. :eek

Wow, I can't believe what your mom said. Not her kid! I think you get first dibs on bonding!!!

If I knew how to link to a post, I'd put it right here, as I typed up the potato torte recipe for the Twin Cities Mamas... but you are all clever sorts and can probably find your way to Finding your Tribe/Minnesota-Wisconsin/ TC Mamas March 20-26. The recipe is on the first page.

Another weekend gone so fast, and now we have the last week of school before Spring Break... and my brain is already on spring break!!! Not to mention my will power. Oh well! Off to school I go,

j

[adventuregirl]

Jen, I will find that recipe, sounds delicious! Mmmmmm.....

Steph, your mom and my aunt are probably friends.... I have a feeling we are going to encounter some pretty outrageous comments from family/friends in the coming months, or should I say years... um forever?

I'm going to lunch with some girlfriends today who I haven't seen in a while and therefore, they do not know that I'm pregnant. I'm going to wear that maternity dress I told you all about, it definitely accentuates my belly, and if you know me, it leaves no question. This is going to be a fun telling.

I am still planning on posting a picture, I asked dh to take one Saturday before he left on his trip, but he was all caught up in packing, and we both forgot. But I may have my girlfriends take one tomorrow when the three of us go to some hot springs. We'll see if I'm brave enough to post a pic in my bathing suit!

Happy new week! I'm in my 17th week! I can't believe how close to half way that is!

[sistermama]

I like having our due date list current, so I can keep track of people. If anyone who isn't on here wants to add themselves, email me and I will update! Also let me know if you still want to stay on the list, so we will know who our current Sept. mommies are! We are, sadly, missing some of the moms below!

9/1/04 - 3under3 (Danielle) - 4th baby - hospital

9/2/04 - Austinmomma (Kim) - 1st baby - hospital w/ doula

9/2/04 - JenInMpls (Jen) - 1st baby - birthcenter

9/3/04 - Chumani - 5th baby - homebirth

9/3/04 - hjohnson (Heather) - 2nd baby - hospital

9/4/04 - wardermom (Melanie) - 7th baby

9/5/04 - Adventuregirl - 1st baby - homebirth

9/6/04 - Caroline248 (Caroline) - 4th baby - hospital

9/7/04 - Lazuli - 1st baby - homebirth

9/11/04 - mama2annabelle - 2nd baby - homebirth

9/13/04 - Bananagirl (Anna) - 1st (maybe 2nd!) baby - hospital

9/15/04 - RaeinBC (Rachel) - 1st baby - hospital

9/15/04 - sistermama (Sarah) - 2nd baby - homebirth

9/21/04 - cuddlemama (Leigh) - 3rd baby - hospital

9/22/04 - Greenbeing - 1st baby - homebirth

9/24/04 - Jodie (Jodie) - 1st baby - homebirth

9/24/04 - bellasmum - 2nd baby - homebirth

9/25/04 - Mom2Baldie (Lynsey) - 3rd baby - homeVBAC

9/28/04 - chrissy (Chrissy) - 2nd baby - home or birth center birth

9/30/04 - Boobykinmama (Heather) - 3rd baby

[austinmomma]

Welcome, Rachel! Hello to everyone else... sorry I haven't written in a while but I just returned from visiting family.

Everything is well. I went for a check up a week ago and I am a bit further along than they thought according to the ultrasound doc. I'll be 17 weeks on Friday. They couldn't hear the heartbeat at first so they sent me up to see him. I got to see the little heart just pumping away. They also let it slip that it looks like I'm having a girl. Well, I kind of asked since they scanned over that particular area and didn't see anything there. I wasn't going to but just got too curious after seeing nothing there. And now at least I won't have to worry about the circumcision decision. I didn't want to circumcise but got all sorts of worried looks when I said so. I also went to see Raul Malo play during a big music festival (SXSW) here in Austin and ran into a friend who is a labor and delivery nurse. She offered to by my doula. No charge, of course. I'm so excited!

Jen, my knitting book still haven't arrived and I've really got an itch to start something new. I hope I get them soon.

The potato recipe looks awesome! I've been craving them, too. That might explain why I've already put on 12lbs during my pregnancy. :eek

It's also wonderfully warm here, about 80 degrees. I love, love, love warm weather!

Take care!
Love,
Kim

[hjohnson]

sistermama, I just emailed you my due date.

Austinmomma I like to knit too! Right now I am working on an afghan for my friend. I have two weeks to finish it.

[chumani]

I haven't posted for a while. We just bought a house YAY!!! It is so roomy for our bunch. We are mostly moved in mainly books left in boxes and some organizing. There are so many moms due in Sept. I am so excited!! I am due Sept 3 so I am 16w3d. It is just flying by!! We are planning our 5th homebirth. I am so excited! I always say I can't wait for labor (but don't remind me after it starts:)).

I need to go put Jonah for a nap and finish homeschool now that lunch is done.

Have a great day!!
Sarah

[Lazuli]

Jen - I must print out that soup recipe, it sounds soooo good (except for the half 'n half :D ). I'm going to have to make that sometime soon, i think.

I'm slowly able to eat more things and some foods are starting to sound good to me. I'm making a lentil loaf for dinner. Between the cheese, eggs, and lentils it *has* to be pretty high in protein, which I'm worried I'm not getting enough of. I've really been craving spicey Asian food lately, like Thai or Vietnamese. Sadly, we live in a place with no ethnic restaurants. *sniffle* We may have to go to Chicago this weekend to feed me! *laughs* I've really been wanting salads too. Why is it so hard to find a salad bar?? Are they just not fashionable anymore or is it once again the place where we live?

I just had veggie sushi for lunch. It was very good, but not enough. I should learn how to make it for myself....and now I'm going to wander off and work on a puzzle.

Lazuli

[austinmomma]

Heather,
I think there are lots of good knitters on this thread, Jen (I think) is one of them. She recommended a beginners book for me. I can't wait to get it. I've started a blanket but it is very basic. Good luck on yours!

Kim

[JenInMpls]

Yahoo knitting! A mom at my school is passing along a book of baby hats and sweaters. She said I'll want to knit every one. Oh, dear! I've just finished a very sweet hat and am working on the matching booties... I love it but I am sure that my mom will say that it's for a girl because it's pink, green, yellow and white-purple marble striped. (Love self-striping sock yarn!!) The loop on the top and the top inch or so is also pink, so the pink really stands out. It is a ridiculously easy pattern if you know how to knit in the round on 3 needles. Everyone who wants it, raise your hands!

Kim - you put on the weight you put on. More, less, it happens. Just feed yourself well and it will all be fine!! I've been hungry for potatoes lately, too. I've just been trying to balance them with protein.

Chumani-Sarah, congratulations on your house!!!

Sister Sarah (sittin' in a shoeshine shop... do you know that song?), thank you for posting the due date list.

Lazuli - a little milk fat is good for you! Not all the time (although some might argue that, too), but now and again! Those good essential fatty acids. Mmm, mmm. Lentil loaf? Want to share the recipe? :) Jo wouldn't touch it with a 10-foot pole but I looooooove lentils! As for salad bars - we've found that pizza joints seem to have them most often. Go figure. And sushi is supposedly quite easy to make... to me it seems kinda labor-intensive, but what do I know? I've never tried it.

As I skipped a meeting due to a headache, I'm going to crawl into bed for a while with a peppermint washcloth. I think that it's actually a reaction to the cold, because a colleague asked me rather spur-of-the-moment if I would take his class for lunch and recess and I didn't have quite enough cold-weather clothing as I needed - it was also colder than I anticipated today. But tomorrow it should be close to 50...

hogs and quiches,

jen

[banana girl]

Hi everybody!!!

It has been so nice to hear from you all today, it's always fun to catch up on monday, i've just been a lurking today, cause I feel way too MISERABIGGLE to write. The head cold is awfull. I sound like Darth Vader, my eyes are all red and swollen and my nose is a lovely shade of maroon! Today i actually sneezed so hard my lip split and bled all over the place! BOOO hoohoo. I can't wait to go home!
But i stuck it out like a trooper, at least I'm not barfing eh! Seriously though, Am i ever gonna feel good again? This is getting ridiculous.
First massive daily nausea for two months, overlapped by 3 + weeks of headachesplus the rib that's popped out of place aching at night and now a patheticly awfull head cold!

OK. All done complaining, On a lighter note, I had a really great dream about a baby. S(he) and I were sitting on the floor in a ray of sunshine, and I was dressing the baby. I wasn't doing it very well, and the baby almost started to cry, but then we looked at each other and shared the most wonderful smile instead. It was really special, all warm and loving, like a look shared between two dear friends. The sunshine on the baby's face was radiant and I felt so loved when I woke up.

sending Baby smiles to you all
Anna

[austinmomma]

Anna,
What a good baby dream! Split lips really hurt... I had one, too, a couple of weeks ago due to allergies. I hope you feel better soon.

Jen,
Yeah, I'm pretty much eating with wreckless abandon. Not all bad stuff but A LOT. I'm only up to 111lbs but that's kind of crazy for me. I had lentil soup yesterday and it was sooooo good! I've got to find some of the Aveda oil you wrote about earlier in the thread. I just would rather not go to the mall but a peppermint wash cloth sound so soothing. I have some spearmint oil at home. Do you think it would have the same effect?

Vegetable minestrone for dinner with a side of hummus and pita. I know they don't really go together but it's what I want!

Kim

[JenInMpls]

Kim - if you want a peppermint washcloth then some plain old peppermint oil (10 drops in a sinkful of cool water) or even cold peppermint tea will do the trick. The Blue Oil by Aveda is just really handy because you can really target the pain, and you can take it with you and use it anywhere. I don't know if spearmint would have the exact same effect but it seems to be regularly indicated for headache on herbal health websites and it's not contraindicated during pregnancy according to the wise woman herbal. And re: weight gain: smaller women (as you seem to be) tend to gain more... be not afraid!

Anna I send you a bowl of soup, much echinacea and a big :hug while you get better. And I'm so sorry about the split lip, those HURT! and are so hard to heal. But honey, are you at work?!! Stay home! get better!!

I think I got a serious chill today at recess... I feel miserable. I don't have a fever, but I feel like it. I'm crawling back into bed now...

j

[badomama]

Chumani, Congrats on the new house! Very exciting.

Anna, sorry you are sick! I hope you recover quickly.

Lazuli, I would love to get that lentil loaf recipe. For some reason I always think we need lentils when I shop, so now we have a huge over-supply.

Jen, I do know how to knit on three needles in the round, so I guess that means I could make socks. I am raising my hand.

Dh made the potato and cheese soup last night, but forgot the cheese. And it was great! We melted cheese on bread to go with it. Thanks Jen! Unfortunately, Dh had some salami with his bread and cheese and ended up moaning in pain all night long. Bad salami. I got some practice in being sympathetic and sleep deprived.

mpaka kesho (until tomorrow),

Steph

[Jodie]

Hello ladies.
Its good to hear how everyone is getting on. Some of you guys are almost half way!:)

I'll be 14 weeks on Wed.:D

Not much going on in my world. I did have a baby dream the other night. I dreamt I had twin girls. Gave birth at my friend's house, then waited an hour to call DH. I felt normal like I hadn't given birth. I nursed one of the twins and proceded to walk home with them in a double stroller. :LOL

I hope everyone's week goes wonderfully.
Recipes are great!

[JenInMpls]

I can just see Steph eating Lentil Loaf every night to try to use up those lentils before leaving the continent...!

Anna, I forgot to tell you my host family's secret weapon against head colds: chamomile steam for your sinuses. Boil a lot of water. Throw a handful of chamomile flowers into a large bowl. If you don't have flowers, empty out the contents of 4 or 5 tea bags. Pour the boiling water over the flowers. Allow to cool for about 5 minutes. When you can stick your finger in the water very briefly without getting burned (just a quick dunk will do), drape a towel over your head, set a timer for 15 minutes, and put your head over the bowl - not into the bowl, about 8 inches above the bowl - and use the towel to keep the steam from escaping around the sides. Breathe through your nose, your mouth and nose, whatever works. Keep your eyes closed. If your nose drips, don't worry about it. If you feel the absolute need to blow your nose, take a break and do so. This really does help!

Jodie, your dream is hilarious! I hope we all feel that good and energetic after giving birth!! Mine continue to be bizarre - 2 nights ago I was in Washington DC, accidentally stepped on a freight train and ended up in Virginia; last night I was on a loooooooong bicycle ride home from the co-op and was attacked by a dog. I think I was integrating the neighbor's dog barking in my dream. I also think that means that I should repair my flat tires on my bikes and get out and ride!

At least the headache and chills are gone. Yay.

Swimming after work today yippee!

Splashingly,

jen

ps: if you saw my cats' webpage then you probably saw that I wear glasses. I have worn glasses since I was 3. This year I indulged in a major way and bought a pair of swim goggles with my prescription in them. When I went swimming last Saturday, I looked up and actually could read the clock for the first time in my life. It was a moment!!!

[adventuregirl]

Lazuli, the best salad bars around here are at the health food stores, Whole Foods or Wild Oates. A little spendy, but the best salad you ever had! Do you have any of those close to you?

I make nori rolls at home for dinner, veggie, cooked fish and when not pg, raw fish if I can find the perfect cut. They are pretty easy, and soooo delicious! I can share if anyone would like my recipe/technique.

Anna, I am just coming down with some sinus garbage myself. I am going to do a peppermint steam just like jen described when I am done online. I did this with a prior sinus infection and it worked wonders, chamomile sounds nice too.

Peppermint and spearmint are virtually the same medicinally, so whatever you have, Kim.

I am pretty sure I felt movement! :love I have been having these odd sensations of pressure in my uterus for the past few days, but yesterday it was really distinct. It felt like a wave of pressure going across my uterus, almost like a big gas bubble. It happened at two separate times yesterday, so I ran and asked a mama friend of mine and she thinks its movement too! Yippee!

I could probably blab all morning, but I better go, its almost time to leave for the hot springs! I'll enjoy my soak for all of you (don't worry, I will be sure not to get too warm).

[JenInMpls]

Yippee for movement adventuregirl! Enjoy your hot soak. When I was at the YWCA on Saturday I walked by the sauna and smelled the hot wood and was very sad... I love to sauna! According to most Americans, pregnant women shouldn't sauna... according to most Finns, pregnant women can sauna as they see fit, for short periods of time. I have to wonder: why the disparity? Are we erring on the side of caution in the USA? Is it part of the woman-as-vessel/walking womb mentality? :scratch

I thought for sure that I was getting kicked - albeit gently - on Sunday, but everyone around me just dismisses me :( "It's too early for that!", say they. Hmph.

j

[austinmomma]

Adventuregirl and Jen,
Yay for kicks (maybe)! I can't wait until the day comes for me. I also think that I'm going to do a chamomile steam (sounds so good) followed by a spearmint washcloth, or do you think that would be too much?:scratch

I'm having Indian food for lunch at a restaurant called the Clay Pit, yummy! I can't wait for all of the peas, cheese, tomatoes, potatoes, and curry. I wish they had samosas on the buffet but they don't.:( I really shouldn't complain about small things, even with all of the craziness in my life now, I'm so so so happy that I'll soon be a mother. I know all of you know how I feel.

Have a great day and great lunches!

Love,
Kim

[RaeInBC]

Hi All!

It sounds like most of you are starting to enjoy food again like me--woohoo. I sure missed enjoying it there in some of the bleak weeks of the first trimester.

Jen--re: a cat named Barky. Our animals are part of a blended family and Cameron brought Becky and Barky with him. He was studying 18th century (I think) literature at the time and named cat #2 after a certain little known literary figure--Bishop Barkley (pronounced in the British way, with a silent "l"). I once made the mistake of actually trying to communicate this to a vet's receptionist. Duh! We just call him "Barky" now. Funnily enough, Barky is a bit dog-like and persistently meows when he wants something. And Becky is short for Beckett, as in Samuel.

The weather here has been fabulous--sunny and 18 C (sorry, I don't know that in farenheit). Wonderful after 5 months with snow on the ground. I was born and bred on the BC coast which is much milder (like Seattle) and am still adjusting to this desert belt. We actually have cactus here and very dry summers--last year really scary forest fires all around. I do like the sunny days, though.

I'm off to a San Antonio, my first trip someplace totally new in ages. I'm hoping to eat ribs, tex-mex and whatever they've got on offer.

Oh, and sistermama--please add me to the due date list: Sept. 15--first child--hospital birth.

Have a great springy day, all.

Rachel

[sistermama]

It is officially my first day in maternity clothes. I feel so much more comfortable. Dh went to storage over the weekend and dug them all out for me and I got them sorted and put away today. I feel a little silly wearing them, since I don't look very pregnant yet. But I was definitely not fitting in my regular clothes anymore. Plus, I have WAY more maternity clothes than I remembered having - guess I have to stop buying on ebay. But it is fun to have a whole closet full of "new" clothes. I was so bored of my wardrobe!

Anna - your baby dream was so sweet, it made me a little teary.

Adventuregirl - isn't it funny to think that now we are excited for movement and in a few short months we will be begging our babies to be still for a while?

Jen - Aren't you about 17 weeks? That certainly isn't too early to feel movement. Pooh-pooh to them...

All this food talk is making me so hungry and all I have at work is cottage cheese...

[wardermom]

Hi all.
The kids are sick. Yuck.
I was awake early, thanks to sick kids, and as I lay in bed, the baby was doing a lot of kicking. It was the most I've felt.
You know, it doesn't matter if it's your first or your seventh, it's still such an amazing feeling!:love

I'm off to make that Potato and Cheese Soup!!!I can't wait!

[hjohnson]

Melanie, I hope your kids feel better soon.

I know I am feeling some kicks. DH, DS and I ate at a Thai restaraunt last night and halfway through dinner, I was feeling barrel rolls LOL! I am not sure if the kid likes spicy or not.

Anyone have some good homeopathic remedies for allergies? I am miserable right now.

[austinmomma]

Should I be feeling kicks? Should I be worried if not since I'm almost 17 weeks?

Kim

[sistermama]

Don't worry at all - I didn't feel ds until 18+ weeks. I know lots of moms who didn't feel anything till 20+ weeks.

[JenInMpls]

Heather what are all of your symptoms?

I know that there is Zicam which is available for the traditional runny itchy nose stuff... then there are some combination remedies by the big brands like Boiron and Nelson's, but they always make my nose hurt, they dry it out so much.

I used to have a book from Boiron for all of their remedies, I think I lent it to my mom because I haven't seen it for a while now. But I'd be happy to brainstorm with you.

If you can stand it, try nasal irrigation, it gets the itchies out and it also loosens some of the mucus. You can just use a squirt bottle with salt water, or you can try a Neti pot which really flushes stuff out more (in my opinion).

Kim - I'd give your skin on your face a little rest, like maybe an hour or two, after you do the steam, because it will be more sensitive after doing the steam and the mint might aggravate it a little.

Sarah, congrats on your "new" wardrobe and thanks for the pooh-pooh ;)

Melanie, I hope those kids are feeling better soon...!

I'm making stuffed peppers for dinner, so I had better go start the brown rice or we'll be eating at 8...

:D jen

[banana girl]

I have been hesitant to mention the weird sensation i have had, thought i was over reacting, but hearing all you guys mentioning baby movement makes me wonder...... Maybe it wasn't gas. It reminded me slightly on the feeling when a muscle twitches uncontrollably but could have just been gas bubbles moving through my intestines. But idt felt flutteryer than that. I know that when it happened I froze in place and thought, "hey, that was weird.... could it be?"
I later told my hubby about it, and he of course, proceeded to grope my tummy in hopes of feeling movement too. Poor guy, he's been left out of so much of the fun of pregnancy, itchy skin, vomiting, peeing every half an hour, getting up to eat in the night and not falling back asleep for 2 hours... you know all the fun stuff! The poor man, he must feel so deprived! te hee he

Yesterday, on the way home i had a big boo hoo about being sick. i couldn't breathe through my nose and was feeling very sorry for myself. Well the hormones must have been surging, cause I started crying,.... and you know how crying makes your nose run, well it couldn't get out! My nose was so plugged that it just started filling it with snot, i was choking on my own snot! I sounded just like a hysterical little kid chocking on their tears.
My hubby said i needed an EBT. An EBT is an Early Bed Time. A punishment in my house growing up, but now a treat and a delight. So he fed me and put me to bed by 7:45! Boy, did I need it!
Feeling a bit better today, but ready to GO HOME! I hope you all have a lovely evening, and that everyone gets to feel happy baby kickings sooooooon.
Hey Jen, do you still have that hysterical little song you posted to "Oh When the Saints.." laying around? I think we are all starting to experience some of the stuff you wrote about wishing for!

Good night everyone!
Anna

[wardermom]

Jen-that soup was soooo good! What a nice lunch. The kids loved it too! (Only 1 was feeling too bad to eat, but she's a whole lot better than she was.)

Just got up from a nap. I needed it!


Gotta start supper too. I'm thinking some kind of a taco salad.

I don't know if it's just my constant allergies (I'm allergic to my house), or if I'm getting sick. I hate being sick. I'd better dose up on garlic, etc.!

[chrissy]

hey everybody,

just jumping in to say a quick hello! my computer crashed and we are waiting on a new hard drive. probably won't be here until the weekend (2 weeks since it broke!). dh borrowed a laptop from work so i could check in quickly.

from my quick scan it sounds like all are well. yay for first movements!! and feeling better all around!!

i'm 13 weeks today. yay!
miss you all,
chrissy

[badomama]

Wow, lots of movement. That's very exciting; I can't wait!

Jodie, your dream was great! I love that fact that you pushed them home in the stroller.

Anna, I'm going to co-opt the EBT idea. I need them semi-regularly.

Re: US erring on the side of caution. I think that is quite true. I've read a few things about alcohol and caffeine consumption from other countries that are much less rigid. Many say to limit to one glass of alcohol and fewer than two cups coffee or tea per day, while the US seems to say no alcohol or caffeine. I've also read one article that claimed there was an intentional decision, on the part of a California group who conducted a public health campaign against fetal alcohol syndrome, to choose zero alcohol over a more complicated recommendation. Ultimately, the campaign's decision became the national level recommendation even though much of the original research doesn't go so far as to recommend zero alcohol or caffeine. I'll try to find the article if anyone's interested. (I decided to go cold turkey anyway.)

Anyway, Adventuregirl, hope you enjoyed your soak!

Sounds like there is something going around in the water here because other people are saying they've had the same stomach problem. Dh is still sick, poor guy. I am soooo glad I made the decision to stop drinking unbottled water months ago!

Happy Wednesday all,

Steph

[JenInMpls]

Shoot, I thought I'd beat steph here this morning, but she was ahead of me by an hour... woke up from a dream and can't fall back asleep. Good thing I went to bed (somewhat) early, I won't be a zombie at school, at least...

OK, so here's my latest dream for your assessment:

I am in my mom's house (where I grew up). I am folding cloth napkins. Suddenly I am on the boulevard outside of the Dairy Queen in her town setting a "table" for 4 (although I'm doing it directly on the boulevard, right next to the street). I am being meticulous, folding the cloth napkins all fancy and everything. Some conservative Christian man comes by with a tv crew and corrects my place setting by moving the glasses to the bottom right hand of the setting saying that they must go there because Christ was at the right hand of God. I wander off up to the DQ and am dismayed to see it closed so early in the evening, but I notice that the hours that day are 9-3. when I lean on the door gently to rest I find that it is unlocked and I consider calling the police to let them know. When I go back to my place setting I find that 4 people are eating (in front of the tv crew) and having a Scandanavian dinner with lefse and boiled potatoes and lutefisk and caviar. And then I woke up...

The connections I can see: the current ongoing battle in Minnesota (as other places) about gay marriage and the fact that the conservative Christians think that I'm doing everything wrong; the stray cloth napkin that I washed; an inner voice telling me it's time for new placemats :LOL but I am not seeing the message of the place setting on the boulevard in front of the DQ or the lutefisk dinner. Maybe I am craving ice cream?

I guess I'm going to try to go back to sleep now for 5 hours before it's time to go to school... thank you for permitting my insomniac rambings...

jen

[greenbeing]

Good morning! Lots to catch up on, but little time now...

Congrats to those of you feeling movement! A few more weeks of waiting for me.

adventuregirl-how were the hot springs? That sounds awesome right now.

Girls, what's your intuition telling you about the sex of your baby???
I'm thinking girl, but dh is saying boy and usually his intuition is right on. He keeps telling me, "I don't know why you're calling the baby a she. He's definitely a boy. I know." :LOL

Hope you all have a great day!

[Jodie]

Jen~ Your dream was quite amazing. Can't even begin to guess what it might mean.

Anna~ I hope what you felt was movement.:D I can't wait for that moment when I think or realize I felt the baby move.

14 weeks today!!:)

Hope everyone who is sick feels better soon.

Have a good Wednesday y'all.:D

[austinmomma]

Jen,
How do you stuff your peppers? I LOVE any kind of pepper. Oh, I did the chamomile steam followed later by the spearmint washcloth and it made the biggest difference in my sleep. I slept like a baby. I'm going to do it every night as long as I don't experience any kind of irritation. I think a little spearmint oil got in my hair, too, which was nice since the scent lingered throughout the night. I should have washed it out this morning but instead decided on more sleep. I just got up and brushed my hair back into a pony tail for work.

Your dream was definitely strange and loaded, I'm sure. I'm sure you'll try to figure it all out... I always do.

Anna,
I hope you feel better. And it's o.k. to feel sorry for yourself, especially when you're choking on your own snot.

Good morning to everyone else!

Love,
Kim

[adventuregirl]

The hot springs were wonderful! This place has 20 something pools and they are all different temps, so we pool hopped a while. One was defintiely too hot for me, so I just put my feet in. The rest were like nice bathwater, aaahhhh.... But I was so exhausted when I got home and this sinus thing wrecked my night. I was in bed at 7:30, but was up almost hourly to pee and blow my nose. Yick! I steamed, irrigated and bathed this morning and feel lots better, but think I'm going to nap. Even though I was in bed for 11 or so hours, my sleep was pitiful. Good thing dh is still away, I would have made him miserable. He comes home tonight though, so I hope I can make some progress today.

Anna, I hope you feel better soon, I know how you feel, I had a pity party for myself this morning, wishing for my honey to be here to take care of me.

Jen, I agree, poo-poo on them! I think you are a few days ahead of me too, we are feeling movement! As you know, I was a little obsessed with anticipating it and did some searching around here and looked it up in all the books I got my hands on, right now is completely within the normal range. Kim, the other end of normal is 20-22 weeks, so no worries.

Jen I have no idea about your dream, but I could sure go for some DQ right now! Mmmmmm......

greenbeing, I have been having girl vibes, but I am too afraid to trust them. I try not to think about it much, I don't want to be biased, or just plain wrong.

Chrissy, its good to see you! Hope the computer problem gets fixed soon so you can come and blab with us some more!

OK, gotta go continue to nurse myself back to health! Have great days!

[banana girl]

Well greenbeing was thoughts on the baby's sex are all mixed up by my uncertainty regarding twins. Early on in the pregnancy I was convinced it was boy, but then i had a couple dreams with twin girls, so i started thinking two girls, well nowI have a had some dreams with alittle boy in them, so jeepers what do i know!!!

Speaking of dreams I had pretty funny one last night where I was getting ready to breastfeed my baby for the first time, and wanted my older sister to give me some advice. i was worried that it wouldn't be easy, that the milk wouldn't come out. anyway, when i put the baby up to my breast, my nipple transformed and "squirted" milk out. as the baby continued to drink it became a little tiny puppy and kept nipping me right on the nipple. I told it that if it it bit me one more time we were stopping and it turned back into a baby! for the rest of the dream, it kept changing from baby to puppy and back again.

Later!
Anna

[4under6]

Hi all!

I took the kids on a road trip (Brainerd) to visit my mom for three days, and am glad to come home to this 64 degree weather!!!:)

My mom came back with us for a few days, so I'll have a clean house and clean laundry once again :LOL

Aren't I a loser????

Wheeee! I'm 17 weeks today!
I don't expect movement until at least 20 weeks, though.

Jen-
Your recipes sound divine!

Am glad that most of you are over the ickies!

[sistermama]

Hello Mamas,

I had a mw appt today. I do love her but she is always late!!! At least she just leaves the office unlocked for me so I can go in and read good magazines and books. Everything was great. I can't believe I'll be 19 weeks when I see her again!!!

Hope you all are feeling well.

[boobykinmamma]

Hi Everyone! As usual, I've been reading all of your posts daily, but haven't had a chance to post, but ds is amusing himself and dd is asleep, so I have a moment.

Anna--I hope you're feeling better. Wow, the possibility of twins. Hey, I hope I wasn't too pushy with the US thing a few weeks back. I don't believe in routine US/not having one this time, etc. It's just that if I might be having twins, in my case I'd want to know early, especially since midwives can't attend twin homebirths in AZ, but I think it's great that you've stood your ground and refused all US until absolutely necessary. Oh, and your description of possible baby movement sounds exactly like baby movement to me.

Jen--It's definitely not to early for movement! With dd (second pg), I felt it at 13 weeks, and by 16 saw a kick or two from the outside. I'm pretty sure I've felt some tiny flutters in the last few days, at not quite 13 weeks (from my count by conception date, 14 by my adjusted due date) Yay for everyone else feeling movement as well! It's so exciting, whether it's your first or your tenth baby. It all seems so much more real at that point. I can't wait for real kicks and flips and playing with those little feet!

Sarah--I'm starting to wear some of my maternity stuff, too. I look a tiny bit pg in them, and it's so nice to be comfy. The pants are still loose on me, but I can't even zip my regular stuff anymore. I really need to buy some new stuff for summer. I love the tanktops with the built in bra. I think my MIL is going to take me shopping for maternity this weekend.

Greenbeing--I don't seem to have any intuition about the baby's sex this time. With my first, I thoughtj/felt girl until about 7 months, then realized I had no idea. With dd, I felt girl throughout and was right. This time, I had boy feelings when we found out about the pg, but now I just don't know, and love that it will be a wonderful surprise at the birth.

adventuregirl--hotsprings sound so nice! Sorry to hear about your wipeout. That would shake me up too!

To everyone else I didn't comment to directly--I hope you're all doing wonderfully well. I think we're all in the second trimester now, if now just a few days away. Wow, seems like I just posted my first post at 5 or 6 weeks!

We have our names pinned down. DH and I kind of got in the flow while discussing it the other day, and just KNEW, as we said them, what our baby's names should be: Girl: Bhavani Dharma, Boy: Krishna Deva. They just feel exactly right.

I'd better go check on my sleeping dd! Hugs to all of you, be well, and happy baby growing!

Heather:grouphug

[badomama]

Hi mamas,

Heather, I've been wondering where you went. Nice names. I especially like Bhavani.

Chrissy, glad you are back and hope you get that computer fixed soon!

Jen, wow, your dream is hard to interpret. I like your interpretation though. Maybe there are other layers, like you need a Blizzard :) Mmmm. Now I have a new craving.

On baby sex vibes. I have no clue. Everyone is guessing something different. I daydream of different sexes in turn. Plus, when I get back I have the book Middlesex (re: being born with both) waiting for me. Anybody read it?

Anna et al. I read somewhere on the web that it is very common to dream of animals during pregnancy as our brains prepare for bonding. I wonder if you had a puppy when you were little? I dreamt last night of getting a pet snake and letting it climb all over me in and out of my sleeves. I think I had this dream because we had three pet snakes (Harold I, II and III) when I was little and my mom used to let them climb all over her when she was writing her thesis. Nice memory. And they do make wonderful pets (unless they escape).

Today is my penultimate day of work. They are having a lunch for me, which will be an hour of speeches Tanzanian style. I hope I don't cry.

Steph

[JenInMpls]

Lord, I am so tired.

Yesterday we had an exhausting personnel committee meeting, followed by an informal chat between me, the 5th and the 4th grade teachers in which we found out that possibly 4 of our 5th graders will leave (leaving 5), 3 of our 3rd graders will leave (leaving 8), and the 3rd grade teacher is thinking of leaving because he can't afford to feed his family. If 4 children leave from the 5th grade, the 5th grade will be dissolved and there will be no 6th grade next year. All this goes on while a committee of parents pushes forward with a vengeance to start a $4 million capital campaign to build us a brand new school building. We can't even pay our teachers living wages but they're willing to raise that kind of money to build a school building?! Anyway I had flashbacks to my layoff 3 years ago, and then I thought about the fact that we're going to have to live on $1200 less a month - we've always said I earn a pittance of a salary given the amount of work I do, but looking at it as $14,400 a year it doesn't seem like as much of a pittance - and I got onto one of my crying jags at 11 at night. And I woke up early this morning, my bags under my eyes are incredible and I'm once again in the mindset of "what the hell are we doing thinking we can raise a baby?". And there's also the whole gay unions thing that is going to a vote this fall in MN, and I can't read the paper without reading something about gay couple did this, gay activists did that, here's another synopsis of both sides of the story... I suppose I should be glad for the fact that it's finally coming to a head, but I personally am not optimistic about the outcome, and I would rather live my life where I am surrounded by love and support than constantly feel like I am in a spotlight for being who I am.

sorry, I'm getting really long-winded. I think it's because I'm tired. And my dreams were tiring too... a dream of visiting an ex at her apartment which she shares with her new partner... except that my ex is no longer a she and is now a he. This is also messing with my brain. (This is not just the case in the dream, it's true in real life.)

I didn't act on the DQ aspect of the dream, but I did go for a long walk to the local custard shop in the town where I teach yesterday and got a banana malt. Has fruit in it, at least, and since it's custard it has extra protein from the eggs in it.

Kim: I stuffed my peppers yesterday with rice pilaf, ground beef, sauteed onions and seasoned with garlic, salt and pepper. To Jo's I added spaghetti sauce because she's convinced that peppers need to be stuffed with something like Spanish rice. I added cheese to the top of mine. It was all very good. I would have used brown rice but ours had gotten musty smelling (you know, when rice gets old... the German word is muffig, I can never translate it right).

I don't have any vibes about baby but am convinced it's a boy, not just because of our statistical chances being so high but because I was raised in a household where boys were really put down upon and I always figured I would be dealt the life lesson of learning how to love a boy. And that my mom has it coming to her, too, as a grandmother. Karma: it's everywhere you're going to be. Jo says, however, that the odd fact that Billy Joel keeps coming on the radio every time we're listening means that it's a girl and we have to name her Alexa (since we got the name Alexa from a Billy Joel song).

I'm going to see if I can fall back asleep for a while, even though Syd just arrived and flopped over to show me her tummy. I'm sure she'll follow me.

in exhaustion,

j