week of September 6!

[Piglet68]

October Mamas Roll Call :belly

momtol&a
Yoga mama
snugglebutter 10/01
mirthfulmum 10/03 BOY! Harrison Eliot Smith
*prediction: last week of Sept, 8 hrs labour*
TracyK 10/04
mhurst 10/04
kraftykathy 10/04 *prediction: Oct 4, short labour, girl*
Jillerina 10/04 *prediction: Oct 6, 6 hrs labour*
water 10/06
KateMary 10/06 GIRL!
Proudly AP 10/08
MamaEmerald 10/08
mayasmama 10/08 GIRL!
FutureMama 10/09 BOY!
bluehalo 10/10 BOY! Noah Daniel
allformyboys 10/11
Lucysmama 10/12 *prediction: girl, Oct 8, 16 hrs labour*
bendmom 10/12
ashleepurdie 10/12 *prediction: boy, 12 hours easy labour*
momadance 10/13 BOY! Gabriel Reed...? or will it be Zappa? :)
*prediction: Oct 23rd*
Mandi 10/14
rhemp 10/14
wannabmommie 10/15
MTBto5 10/15
krnflwr 10/16 GIRL! *prediction: Oct 16th, 10 hours labour*
gmvh 10/16 TWINS! BOY! and GIRL!
Piglet68 10/18 BOY! Sasha Adam scheduled cesarian October 8
MommyMuse 10/19
JenDoula 10/19
BeansMomma 10/20 GIRL!
Mom2Lily 10/20
CourtneyandLogan 10/21 BOY! Zander Julian
*prediction: Oct 18 or 28*
OakEmber 10/21 BOY! Oakley Kai
*prediction: Oct 6 - 10, 6 hours labour*
mtnjenny 10/22
Stanleymama 10/23 BOY! *prediction: Oct 18, short easy labour*
gottaknit 10/24 *prediction: Oct 31 - Nov 4, > 9 lbs*
3boyz4us 10/24 *expected Oct 22*
Ctmom70 10/24 BOY! Alex Richard
*prediction: Oct 14, 5 hrs labour*
Kim22 10/24 BOY!
aspiring mama 10/25
sunshinegal 10/25 Fiona
AngelBee 10/25 BOY! Angelo Richard
truebluexf 10/27 *prediction: Oct 11, 8 hrs labour, boy*
Soogie 10/27 *prediction: Oct 27 or 28*
ameliabedelia 10/29 GIRL! Greta Marie
*prediction: Oct 17, 10 hrs labour*
flitters 10/30
BeauGeek 10/30
AnnR33 10/31
guinnessinu 10/31 TWINS! BOY! and BOY!
BlueMoonTime 10/31 GIRL! Alexis

Hi ladies! Start of another week already. Where does the time go?? I can't believe in another couple of weeks we could be hearing birth stories! As mentioned previously, I'll make a sticky thread for just birth stories, and then we can post congrats, etc in our regular weekly threads, if that sounds good to all of you.

Question of the Week: this is sort of a double question; do you have any stretch marks yet, and also do you have a linea nigra yet?

I'm 34 weeks today!

I remember my linea nigra (that dark line from your pubic bone to your navel) did not show up until fairly late in my PG with Emily, but I thought by now I'd have a clear one. Instead, it's very faint, though I'm getting the black hairs around my navel that I had before. I'm also amazed to report that I have no stretch marks. No NEW ones that is, lol. I got several on my lower belly with DD. Of course, now that I've said this I'll probably sprout a couple of new ones very soon, lol.

Have a great day, and I'll be checking in with y'all later! :love

[stanleymama]

QOTW: I have really no stretch marks, just a few on my butt, but none on my belly :hide: I must just have very elastic skin or something. And I don't think I have ever had the linea nigra. I am pretty fair skinned so I am not surprised by that.

Hope everyone has a wonderful Labor Day weekend. We are laying low and relaxing :thumb I think it is going to rain as well, making it a perfect movie/read a book day. I really want to grill out though. Can you grill out in the rain :scratch

[Court]

Hey everyone!
Well, I don't have any new stretch marks, that I know of. I got plenty the first time around. I also don't get them on my belly - my hips, butt, and boobs took them all. My linea nigrea went above my navel up towards my chest last time. I'm still waiting for it. If I look in the mirror I can see a very faint hint of one forming.

We've been staying close to home this weekend, being really lazy. It's really nice to have dh home helping with ds. He's supposed to take him to the airplane (WWII) museum today. That would leave me time to myself to do a whole lotta nothin.

And I've grilled in the rain before - it was light rain. I just lit the coals under an awning (sp?) beforehand. Ofcourse a gas grill is probably easier.

[Lucysmama]

35 weeks!

QOTW: I didn't get a linea nigra last time, and I guess I won't this time either. I am the fairest of the fair! I can see all my veins, and I burn in about 15 minutes, that is how fair I am! So it doesn't surprise me at all.

I did, however, sprout 3 new stretchmarks this pregnancy....but on my SIDE! It's weird. They are about halfway between my bra and hips, only on one side. I hope I don't get anymore. I got a lot on my belly during Lu's pregnancy, on either side of my navel. They never totally faded - they are still a bit pink.

Piglet - :hug We miss you!!!

[gottaknit]

QOTW: I've had the linea nigra for months, as well as more darkish hairs around my navel (which I waxed off yesterday!) I don't think I have any new stretch marks, just the same old ones I've had on my hips and thighs since puberty. I think I will end up with some on my breasts, though, since they are huge now.

Met with the midwife yesterday and my BP is back down to 100/60. :D She said it was probably due to my reaching peak blood volume and my body just working extra hard. My cold is about over, too, and I'm feeling much much better. Thanks for all your well-wishes!

I spent yesterday washing and putting away our small stash of diapers, blankets, and clothes. :love I love all these tiny things!

My MIL and SIL are bringing a ton of hand-me-down baby clothes when they come out next week. And that's just the gender neutral stuff. When the baby is born, MIL will be back out again with girl or boy stuff.

OK, 72 hours until the inlaws descend upon us. Time to get cracking and clean this house! Have a good week, everyone!

[Lucysmama]

Nancy - :) So glad you are feeling better!!!

I am washing diapers today, too! It is oddly fun and relaxing! When I was putting them into the dryer, I said to dh, "What should I do with these when they are dry?" He said, "I dunno, just stick em in a box in the closet till we need them." I must have looked completely horrified, cause he quickly followed up with ".....Or, I can go get the changing table out of storage and clean it up and you can put them away so they will be ready for the baby." Nice save, honey! :)

[AnnR33]

:jumpers: Don't forget!! If you want to sign up for the gift swap please do so by the end of this week on the other thread located in the October forum.
You don't need to PM me your name/addy, just say you want to participate and we'll go from there. I'm not making it a secret-sorry, not that much time-just going to post the list of match-ups and people can contact their swappee as needed.
This can be for mom, baby or both-before or after birth-it's up to you-homemade or bought-doesn't matter-as long as it's from the heart :love

Have a good week everyone!! :) Will check back later with more time.
Ann

[OakEmber]

Nancy, I'm glad to hear that you are feeling better too! It will be so fun for you to get to sort through all the clothes...I love doing that!

QOTW- I have plenty of strech marks and it is hard to tell but I don't think I have any new ones. Last time there were some that were climbing up over my belly button and nearly reaching my breasts, I kid you not! And I have small breasts too so that was quite a hike :eyesroll This time I am carrying so much lower that there are no new ones above my belly anyway. And I didn't get the linea nigra this last time, and so far don't have it this time either, I'm kinda assuming I'd have it by now if I were gonna get it.

Spent the afternoon tackling more cupboards...yesterday was drawers! This nesting thing is hitting in a major organization way this time...there are floors to be vacuumed, etc. but all my energy seems to want to declutter.

Piglet, a thread just for birth announcements sounds like a good idea :thumb

[stanleymama]

OakEmber I am into the decluttering mode as well. I keep looking around thinking, "ok what can I sell, give away or throw away." I am not much of a pack rat to begin with, but I just want everything unnecessary out of the way so that I can get everything else organized.

Nancy...I too am glad to hear that you are feeling better and that your bp is down.

Chat later, the natives are getting a little restless... time for bed :D

[Jillerina]

36 weeks!!!

Hope everyone had an enjoyable long weekend! We did, didn't do much in fact but that was just fine with me. Went grocery shopping this morning at the local grocer who knows me welll. The Butcher and one of the owners both looked at me and said "your having a boy right?", apparently I "look" like I'm carrying a boy - all the strangers say so! So I'm starting to expect this baby to be a boy. The other owner (a women) looked at me and said "I think its coming soon, it looks lower to me". So accoring to my grocery store, I'm having a boy and its gonna be soon!!

Just this weekend I was inspecting myself in the mirror and I do see some stretch marks starting to creep up. Last time I got just a few, all below the belly button and it looks like it will be the same again this time. No linea negra at all for me. Didn't have one last pregnancy either so I guess I don't expect anything - I'm pretty fair too so I think that is normal.

Going to my midwife appointment tomorrow. I so look forward to each of these appointments, makes me feel closer to the baby when I'm with the midwife talking about pregnancy and the birth. I guess I'll be getting the GBS swabs done at this appointment - DH really wants me to and I don't feel strongly enough not to to fight him about it. Here's hoping it comes back negative!

Night night ladies, I hope everyone gets a good sleep tonight - no 3am posts ok??

[Jillerina]

Did I mention in ONE week I'll be considered term!! OMG, this baby could be here so soon!!! Sorry, just had to get that out :)

[Piglet68]

Katie, I have really really missed you guys, too! :hug

All this talk about washing diapers. On more than one occasion today I've looked at them and thought "hmmm, should I start washing?". But I don't have my changing station set up yet, and I also started to worry that if I had them all laid out, they'd collect dust over the next few weeks, lol. So I've decided it's okay to wait another week until the kids' room is fully set up.

DH and I spent the day sofa shopping. We finally settled on a groovy little sectional just perfect for an apartment size living room. It will be delivered some time this week. I've had only a plastic deck chair to sit in since we moved in, and it's not comfy!!

As for decluttering...sigh. I am the former queen of decluttering, but have been dethroned recently. Mother is downsizing, moving from her house of 25 years to a small condo next month, and has given us waaaayyy too much stuff. She's just been so wonderful with this move we don't have the heart to say no, and it's a big help for her if we take it. So now we have so much stuff it's giving us headaches, lol. We're used to living very small! Ah well, it's mostly kitchen stuff and we'll just give it to charity when the dust settles round here. I figure another week and we'll have all our furniture here and then I can really make this place a home. I will say this though: I totally LOVE LOVE LOVE our new neighbourhood. :love

Oh, and I have some great news: I'm getting a cleaning lady!!! :banana I just can't clean TWO bathrooms right now, and after baby comes it's going to be hard, so we decided to get a maid service to come once a week for the next four months (we'll re-evaluate after that). Of all the things about having a baby, this was honestly stressing me out. My DH is very willing to clean, don't get me wrong but....and I love him dearly but...he really SUCKS at it. He just doesn't "get" the concept of "clean" and I basically end up having to redo everything. He's come a long way, but oh he has so much farther to go, lol.

Hey, has anybody heard from trueblue? I'm wondering if she was affected by the hurricane. Hope she and her family and home are all okay!!

[Lucysmama]

Piglet- YAY on the cleaning help!!! My MIL actually gave us 4 sessions with her cleaning woman as a Christmas gift, but we never used any till last week. (We had her come in and detail our old rental so we didn't have to clean it all to try to get our securit deposit back. I just HATE doing that!) So we still have 3 sessions left. I figure we will use one when I am around 38 weeks to get this place primed and ready for the birth, and the next few over the course of November. I really look forward to it!

Is anyone getting a lot of cramps/twinges/pain way low in their pelvis? I feel like this baby is trying to drill its way out of my cervix. Ouch! I have to stop and catch my breath cause sometimes it really hurts! Other times it is just plain uncomfortable, and I wonder what in the WORLD the baby is doing down there!

[Court]

Is anyone getting a lot of cramps/twinges/pain way low in their pelvis? I feel like this baby is trying to drill its way out of my cervix.

:wave I am! It feels like he's trying to dig his way out or something. Very uncomfortable, especially when driving.

Piglet- Couch shopping sounds like so much fun! I'm glad you guys are almost settled in, and that's awesome about the cleaning help!

Jillerina- I noticed immediately that your post said 36 weeks and I was soooo jealous! :) I can't wait till I'm that far. That's like a magic number to me.

Can I ask you guys who are doing the bead exchange, how you plan on mailing them? Are you just sticking them in an envelope? I was thinking about doing that, just wrapping the bead in a bit of paper first. Are there postal rules about envelopes being bulky (I mean it's just a little bump, but nowadays they seem to freak out about everything)? And to mail to Canada, do I have to go into the post office, or can I just stick 2 stamps on? Sorry for all the dumb questions.

I had so much fun picking out the beads today, btw.

[True Blue]

Hi everyone! Thought I'd check in with you all. :) We definitely made the right choice going to Key West, we had beautiful weather all but Sunday when some bands from Frances passed through. Back at my parents' now since they have power. I don't know the status of my house yet. I know most of the county is still without power (they have cancelled school til at least Monday) and phones, but at least water is back up. DH will be getting there this afternoon (his boat is almost there, yes!) I can't wait to hear how it is there. I'm fairly certain the landlord never boarded up the windows so we shall see. That and our house in a flood zone so it depends how high up the water level went. I saw pics a few miles away with people in the street up over their knees in water, and water up to a few feet away from the edges of homes. Gas is finally being delivered today, little by little, so that will be very helpful in making my way home. Seriously, people have been just running out of gas!! Waiting in lines for almost 2 hours for the chance to get gas in some areas. Grocery stores are almost empty, even here at my parents' since they haven't been able to have deliveries yet. It doesn't look too bad down here, trees down, street lights out, some minor structural damage in places. My county however has been declared a disaster area and the National Guard is there. Curfew, etc.

As for the pregnancy...still hanging in there!! Had lots of contractions the past few days, but it's probably stress. I dont' even mention them to anyone here anymore bc it freaks them out and then they stress me out LOL. I almost got the baby turned yesterday, it was halfway there, but unfortunately giving me horrid back pain....it turned back last night. Ah well. Stubborn thing.

QOTW: No linea negra this time or last, I think I'm too fair. Lots of veins to see! Some of my stretch marks have gotten the tiniest bit bigger, but I had hardly any last time anyway. A couple on my lower belly are getting bigger fast (these showed up I think in labor last time!) since the babe is so low this time.

Supposed to have a midwife appt today but I can't even get in touch with her with the phones out LOL!!!! I'm fairly certain she is NOT planning on me showing up in an hour. ;)

Ok that's it for now I'll let you know what I find out this afternoon!!!

[AnnR33]

Amy, so glad you are safe and well-I was just going to post and ask how you were! I'm so hoping that all your things aren't lost-crossing fingers for you!

As far as pains, cramps etc-I just know that this baby is looowwww and engaged. The mw confirmed this last week and it seems a bit early but my last was low really early too-guess there's not much to hold it up anymore! LOL I'm been having some muscle pulls way down where my thigh meets my pelvis if that makes sense-makes getting out of bed and lifting very difficult! Oh well...

We were at a friends this weekend and she gave me a box of maternity clothes and a box of very cute newborn clothes-yeah! :) At least I get a little reprieve from my old clothes and can make it thru the next 8 wks without bursting all my seams LOL
The baby clothes really are enough to add to what I have that I really don't need to buy anything now-love that! They are even the right gender-though can't say what that is yet....soon!

And we don't even want to talk about stretch marks...after 3 full pregnancies it's just a sad state of affairs I'm afraid LOL
Take care all
Ann

[bluehalo]

35 weeks, 3 days.

QOTW: I did have a lina nigra w/ Ethan, and probably would this time too, but I have a scar that goes from my sternum to below my bellybutton, right down the middle of my belly, so you can't see it anyway *lol* So far, no new stretch marks, thank goodness.

True Blue, glad you're safe and sound! Hope your house didn't incur too much damage!

Have to see the doctor weekly now. Kind of a PITB to have to go every week, but whatever. Makes it more bearable that there's a new yarn store that just opened just a ways down from the doctor's office, so of course I can't resist stopping in just to peek around.

Bought two nursing shirts and some LilyPadz breast pads from Expressiva today. Gotta love retail therapy :)

DH had a good laugh the other night. I had been taking a nice relaxing bath in my big tub, and while the water was draining out I noticed the ring of residue around the tub, and the general need to be cleaned. He comes in to find me still stark naked scrubbing out the tub. Fortunately, he knew better than to make *too* much fun of me ;)

My women's circle is planning a "birth blessing" for me next weekend, I'm excited. I have no idea what we'll be doing, but I just feel so lucky to have this group of women friends willing to come together and support me emotionally and physically during these last few weeks. Both of the women who will be attending my birth with me will be there, and I think it will be a wonderful, empowering, energetic experience that I hope to draw from when I'm actually laboring.

[AnnR33]

Bluehalo-I've had the same bath tub washing experience :LOL
And that is so great you have a wonderful circle of friends, it is so important. I'm sure the "blessing" will be very special and meaningful. That's the biggest thing I do and will miss when the baby comes is that I'm away from my close friends since we moved. And it took so long to find a great network of like minded moms (found most thru these boards actucally) in my conservative part of the counrty. Since we've only been here a month I haven't made any new friends yet though I am going to LLL tonight so hoping to make some new connections.
That's another reason this board is so important! I feel a great connection here and know this has helped me so much in this crazy move!

Ann

[OakEmber]

:hug2 Aww Amy, you are such a trooper, I'd be losing my mind right now! I am so hoping for good news about your home today...but more importantly I am just glad that you and your loved ones are all safe (and you are still pregnant despite all the stress!).

Court- I just plan on sticking mine in an envelope too. I'm not sure what it costs for a stamp to Canada, but I think it would be cheaper to just buy a special stamp instead of putting two on (at least it is going the other way, a stamp in Canada is .48 and I think to mail to US is about .55, so if I were to just put on 2 reg. I'd be wasting postage...but it could be totally different for you.)

Jillerina- I am totally jealous too! I am 33.5 weeks by one EDD that we've been using, but 34.5 weeks by the early u/s and at this point I want to cheat a little and switch :LOL I am starting to get impatient and I think that when one of us has thier baby I am gonna be REALLY impatient! Funny, I don't remember feeling that with my Nov.00 EC...but then again I am so much closer with all of you. :love

Piglet- It's so nice to hear that you are happy with your new home! Congrats on the new couch, sounds awesome! And I am so envious of your getting a cleaning lady!!

Argh...does anyone else find that food just doesn't taste good anymore? Nothing really appeals to me these days, and things that I normally like I practically have to choke down...like rice, even the texture bothers me right now. I am curious to see if it will have any bearing on what Oakley likes/dislikes. Ember is not a picky eater at all and I didn't have these food issues with her. It'll be interesting.

Glad to hear that I am not alone in my obsessive organizing :thumb. My house is so close to being clean and orderly that I am actually excited to pull out the vacuum today, :LOL....now if only I can keep it this way for the next month! And I am trying a little experiment, Dh is still not working and I focused on the "career" zone of our house yesterday...I was following a Fen Shui (spelling?) thread awhile back and figure it can't hurt to try something new.

[bluehalo]

re: food ... yeah, I think I'm driving DH crazy. I'll think I want something, then take a bit, and be like, "eh, nope. not what I wanted to eat after all." I get hungry, but very little sounds *really* good to eat. Although I did make some banana pudding yesterday for a picnic we went to, and I swear I could have eaten that whole big bowl by myself. I was looking forward to leftovers, but everyone ate it all up. :LOL What a little piggie I am :)

[MamaEmerald]

35.6 weeks along,

and the stretch marks are appearing! This is my first (my partner has one up on me, hehe), so my body hasn't been through this yet. I got my first stretch marks on my breasts, even though I can still fit in the same bra as a used to (though I didn't fill it out too well before, and now I really fill it out). Then I saw stretch marks on one of my inner thighs. I was impressed, since I hadn't notice my thighs growing.

But alas, my hips have spread and my thighs have gotten meatier. But I like it. It makes me feel sexy--I've always had pretty slim hips and thighs and envied women with those goddess-like curves.

And within the last week, the belly stretch marks. A few here and there, nothing longer that a quarter or half in in length yet. some on the hips, some on the lower parts of the belly. I have something like 6 hours of tattooing in a waste band kind of thing with beautiful flowers and grey work and I just hope that it's still intact by the end of this. I don't want to be ashamed of my stretch marks, but I really don't want my tattoo to be a mess :(

And I can definately tell that me and baby are getting ready. I wonder if we'll make it past the next full moon. Oct 4th, I think, is when it's scheduled. Baby is expected on the 8th, sooooooo....? maybe?

[Piglet68]

Amy, I'm so glad you and your family survived the ordeal, and hoping that your home isn't too badly damaged! I can't imagine going through this at this stage of our pregnancies!! :hug

Katie: regarding that pelvic pain, oh yeah! I've been doing lots of walking since moving here and it feels like someone kicked me in the crotch. I get lots of discomfort down there. Having to sleep with a folded up pillow between my knees now. Lots of pressure. One thing I also have: belly button pain, lol. For ages now Sasha seems to have had a knee planted right behind my belly button. If I walk too fast (in other words, anything other than a frustratingly slow snail's pace) he pushes there and it actually makes me feel nauseous! And it hurts too. I'm basically one big ball of discomfort these days so I should probably quit whining right here! :)

Kristin: my stretch marks never went above my lower belly, so hopefully your tattoo will remain intact. I have one too, but it's on my upper arm, so not sure what the effects of stretch marks would be.

Ann: I hear ya on the infusion of new maternity clothes. Mum had bought me a pair of jeans while I was in Cleveland and when I got here they just didn't fit me at all. When we went to return them, the place was having a sale, and I got two shirts plus a pair of khaki pants so I felt renewed in my wardrobe enough to get me through the next few weeks.

Court: it would be cheaper to get stamps for Canada, it's 60 cents to mail from US to Can. however, to save you a trip to the post office you could just use two US stamps. you'd end up paying about 20 cents extra per canadian address, but I think there is only 3 or 4 of us, so that would be less than a dollar extra, which in my books would save a trip to the PO. I just plan on putting the bead in the envelope, wrapped in a tissue and perhaps a card or peice of paper, too. The PO goes by weight so it won't matter, and hopefully it won't send alarm bells ringing (though if it does, they'll just open it and then reseal it and it would only be delayed a couple days). Keep in mind mail between US and Can is a bit slow - it took me at least a week to get things from Cleveland to Vancouver.

Jillerina: can't say I'm too jealous of the advanced dates - I'm not ready yet!! Still need to get furniture in here, put things away and wash the baby clothes and dipes! :D

Well, mum's coming over and we're gonna do some more furniture shopping today (have to go pay for the sofa and arrange delivery). Hope you guys all have a good day!

[Soogie]

I'm actually enjoying a little peace and quiet right now. Fiona is napping and Aidan is at a friend's house. Of course there is a a ton of things I *should* be doing, but loafing around is much more appealing!

I'm having some major crotch pain lately. I know tailor sitting is supposed to be good for you, but I can not possibly walk after sitting on the floor or just sitting in general. My pubic bones are already getting all relaxed and separating and I've got the waddle that comes along with an engaged head. My girly bits are quite sensitive. And the babes kung fu jabs to my cervix are not helping! Neither one of my kids turned heads down until after 38 weeks, so to have this one already heads down and engaged, is new to me.

Qotw: No linea negra for me. But am I the only one that gets a fuzzy belly during pg?? My belly looks like a peach! weird. And so far no new stretch marks. But the ones I've had from before are looking a little stressed, so i'm sure more are on their way.

[ameliabedelia]

Amy, I am soo glad you are okay.
32 weeks, 4 days

Katie and Piglet, that is great you have cleaning ladies. I want one. But I doubt I will be able to convince DH it is necessary. LOL

We just moved into our new apartment this weekend. It is sooo nice to finally have out own place. And the one good thing about moving is that it makes nesting sooo much easier. I HAVE to put stuff away and get organized so that fact that I really, really, really want to nest just makes it easier. In fact, I am almost done putting everything away. The only room I have left is the master bedroom, and that is mostly just clothes to sort, hang-up etc. etc. My mom helped so much. She put all my kitchen stuff away, sorted baby clothes, etc. It is great nesting when you can have someone else do the actual work for you. LOL

Does anyone else have their baby's carseat installed yet? I am thinking of installing ours, mainly because we don't have a good place to store it, all our closets are full. But, then I kinda feel dumb installing it this early. I don't think it will matter much. We don't plan on buying anything really big that we would need the space in the car for, and it would get it out of the house.

For the most part I like our aparment. But, it is hard moving from a 3 bedroom, 1500 sq. foot house with one acre yard to our current 1050 sq. foot 2 bedroom apt, no yard. Oh well. In some ways it is good. Less house to clean, no yard to mow, we don't have the hassle of home ownership, if something breaks we just call management. LOL

QOTW; very faint linea nigrea (none with dd, which is weird because I am darker skinned). I am getting stretchmarks down low now too, which I never had with dd. But, at 32 weeks I am already bigger and look more pregnant than I did when I gave birth to dd LOL.

[gottaknit]

Am I too late to participate in the bead exchange? :blush
I don't want to be a pill and mess up the organization, so if I'm too late, that's OK.

Hey, what's with all the new smilies? :hug2 How cute is that?

[True Blue]

Just heard from DH -- no real damage to our house! :banana Some minor little thing by the front door, no biggie. A little water came in under the front door so the doormat inside was soaked, but nothing else. :) Our end of the neighborhood isn't flooded (at least not anymore) so we are good!!! No power yet, so I'll stay here another day or two, (DH can sleep on the boat with the generator) but then head back up. I hear gas is being rationed at 5 gallons per person. The grocery store has only water and dry goods....so there is really no point in being there at the moment!!! :hug Thanks for everyone's concern!!! But looks like we are in the clear, thank G-d.


Amelia -- I know the feeling of your move, we moved from CA to FL and went from a 3 br 1500 sq ft with a small yard (townhouse) to a 2 bedroom 980 sqft apt....it was tight! But it worked out fine!!


Glad I'm not the only one who asks for food then takes a look at it or a bite out of it and decides no thanks...

So I just got my bikini area waxed since I can't see down there anymore and it is still very much pool season here (there's only a couple months when it isn't LOL) so I feel cleaned up a bit. I guess since I won't be going anywhere soon I'll call the salon back up and get my highlights touched up and hair trimmed....maybe I'll even splurge on a massage, that would be sooooooooooooooooo nice right now!!! I need some stress relief, it's been a LOOOOONG week!!

[BeansMomma]

Hello 34 Weeks!

Phew - anyone else utterly exhausted after the long weekend? My best friend from Montana came in for a visit and brought her new fiance. (We're so relieved that we just love him - would hate to have one of those Hollywood plots play out where you dislike your best friend's choice...) Anyhow, they stayed with us for four days and we managed to get in a lot of good touristy and 'big-city' things in for them, including a trip to the Saturday Market and to the Oregon Coast. We also got a chance to see some lesser known movies including "What The #$*! Do We Know?" and "SuperSize Me".

:OT OK - so this movie, "http://www.whatthebleep.com/?" is amazing (mind blowing, even) as it discusses quantum physics and our perceptions of what reality is and how we can affect it. It was filmed in Portland, so it makes it a bit of fun for us locals. If you ever get a chance to see it, I highly recommend it. (Showtimes listed on the site above)

Anyhow, it was great to have them visit but DW and I are now done entertaining guests so it's time to buckle down and get our house all ready for the baby.

QOTW: Stretch marks - uh, yes. My latest additions are creative in their placement - it now looks like I have a little sun where my belly button used to be. :rolleyes
Soogie - yes - peach fuzz belly describes me too! I assume that will all fall out after Bean is born.

I too have that pelvic bone pain - especially in the mornings (getting out of bed is soooo much fun. Not.)

Today is our 2 year anniversary and DW and I both realized yesterday that neither of us have had any time to even think about gifts - sigh. Planning to at least get her something small today - then a bigger surprise later in the week (we're contemplating pedicures and massages...)

Hope everyone has a great short week this week. Amy, we'll be thinking of you as you return home.

[krnflwr]

I am having some serious preggo brain lately, I can't seem to remember a thing and I'm failing miserably at holding coherent conversations. In fact, I just read through this entire thread and had comments and replies for many of you....and now can't think of a thing I wanted to say. :scratch

QOTW: No linea nigera for me, I guess I'm too fair. I never got one last time, either. I have plenty of stretch marks already, from puberty and last preg, and they are starting to look more intense and angry. But nothing major yet. My belly button is almost completely gone, and has this weird ring around it. I'm also a bit fuzzy on the belly, and I'm not a particularly hairy person, so this is new to me.

I'm with you all on the increased aches and pains. Even my beloved belly belt is not hoisting my load like it used to, and I'm really feeling it. I have a massage scheduled for tonight...whew! Stretching and soaking seem to help, but (again) not like they used to. Guess we're just in for the home stretch now, last few weeks.

I totally understand the urge to nest and organize, but just can't seem to find the energy to get much done. And Hannah isn't really very helpful at this point. So I have a lot of half-done projects started around the house, which is just so unsatisfying.

In regards to Gretchen (gmvh), one of the twin bearers, I have seen her a few times recently and can report that she is still pregnant, the twins are doing just fine, one has turned heads-down (which is great news) and they are telling her "any day now". Next time I see her, I will tell her that you guys have been asking after her.

[stanleymama]

Trueblue...that is great that your home is ok. What a relief!!!

As for the aches and pains, I am there too. It takes me forever to get comfy at night and fall asleep. I have been feeling my muscle move to in my thigh---YOWCH!!! And my belly is a fuzzy peach as well :)

I too am not interested in most foods, which ends up being a bit of torture because I get so hungry but nothing sounds good. Its my b-day Firday and dh is taking me out to eat. I hope that I feel hungry then so that I can enjoy my b-day meal. Thursday we are going shopping--I am soooo excited... and get a couple outfits for the baby and some socks. It will be such a treat to get out and spend the day with dh and the boys.

[OakEmber]

Beansmomma- Happy Anniversary! That reminds me, :LOL, as of the beginning of Sept. Dh and I have been together for 10 years...wow, time flies!

I've got some belly fuzz too. And as for the discomforts, I am really getting lots of cervical jabs especially when I am walking and they sometime stop me in my tracks. As for sleeping, I get such sore hips from sleeping on my side and even pillows don't seem to help :angry I want to see the chiropractor one last time but I don't want to see him so early that I will be out of alignment for the birth...so I am thinking I will see in during week 36.

Amy...that is such awesome news!! :) I bet it will feel good to be home again!

Amelia- I'm quite partial to small spaces, forces the family to spend lots of time together ;) We are in a one level home and before when we had a basement, DH was always tinkering down there and it sometimes seemed like I never saw him. I hope that it's not too hard of an adjustment getting used to the smaller quarters.

[blessed2bamommie]

Well, this weekend I was supposed to have my first prenatal (last time was a consult) with my MW; but, she was at the coast attending a birth and my primary (apprentice CPM who needs to attend like 5 more births), was traveling too! I went yesterday.We went out to the dealerships and I found a Civic I liked and I drove it all around town. :LOL Our salesman was so laid back. I took him by my apartment and then down to the gym....he said I needed to drive it. He said go ahead! :LOL

Sunday was church and boy is it getting harder to lead worship with this baby on my lungs! And there's one song that goes..."you have turned my mourning into dancing..." and we turn and I'm making sure I don't bang the baby into the podium since we don't have much room. :eek

Monday I saw my MW. She said that the baby is head down in an L shape. Butt, facing my right side (so I *was* feeling a bootie) and legs facing my left.

I reluctantly went to BRU....Target,TRU and Baby Depot had no furniture! They see you with the scanner and they are overly helpful. :eyesroll

We went to mil and fil and told mil about our plans for a hb. She was amazingly inquisitive without being judgemental. Then she said she needed a cigarette and was coming back in for a glass of wine. :eyesroll

We had cb class that night b/c we're trying to get done by the end of the month. The instructor showed her DS dipes and I'm bringing my stash next time. A mama emailed me today about cds too from class! :D

OK....QOTW? stretch marks? not on my belly but on my hips and around my butt. I've been slickin myself up with some belly oil from the nfs. eta: yeah, I'm black I got it;but, light so its not the reaaaaaaaaaaally dark one like black folks get. Its light brown. dh is funny! He was all excited about seein "the line." :shake :LOL

Well, I'm tired now. :wave

eta: Praise God your home is fine, Amy! \o/

[momadance]

Hey mama's!
Goodness this board moves fast! Glad to hear all of us who have moved are settling in! ;)

QOTW: no stretch marks YET! Faint linea, and lots of fuzz! :love It'S so soft!

I feel real out of touch lately! my mind feels so pre-occupied, but I don't feel like I've been doing much "thinking", if that makes any sense.

Baby feels HUGE! Lots of low jabs, and lots of high jabs. Heartburn is killing me, and my papaya enzymes don't cut it...
oh well, it'll all be over soon. Which feels really bittersweet. This preg. has the potential to be my last, and that makes me feel happy on some level, but sad as well. I'm really ok if it lasts longer then expected :)

I prefer smaller spaces as well. Our home is 1300 sq feet with no basement. We're all always in the same room, it feels nice and old fashioned. We only have one tv too (we only get PBS), I know people who have a tv (with cable, which we don't have) in every room :eyesroll Nobodys ever "hanging" out together. Crazy world!

We really need to get some belly pics, and this cast done befor the flames appear! I loved my stretch marks while preg. with Miles. What a weirdo!

I can't tell if I've been nesting, or just doing the necessary crap you do moving into an older house, and moving in general.
Miles had gymnastics today :love It's so cute watching them do there little "routines"... Does anyone wish they were doing it again with there first borns on any level?

I have been dreaming about ex-boyfriends everynight :innocent Nothing raunchy, but I wake up missing most of them! That's ok right!? I used to have alot of fun with these guys!

[AnnR33]

Hey Beansmomma-I was at the Saturday Market in Portland this weekend too visiting some friends! We may have passed by eachother :)

Amy-so glad to hear your place is in good shape-what a relief!
Ann

[momadance]

Oh I almost forgot! I need some input on a name....

We like the name Jezmund Reed. I can't find any meaning or history of this name when I do a google search. We REALLY like it, but would need to know more befor using it! Any input is totally appreciated!

[Court]

Hey - I thought about going to Saturday Market, but I was too lazy. We hardly did anything this weekend, and it was so nice.

Amy - I'm so glad your house is okay, what a relief! We've been watching it on the news here, and I just can't imagine dealing w/ that mess. I'm so happy your house was spared.

Momadance- me too about the ex-boyfriend dreams. I had thought about mentioning it, but was kind of embarrased. Pregnancy hormones bring up all kinds of weird feelings and dreams. BTW I blame everything on pregnancy now :)

Amie- my hips are so sore from sleeping too! I have to keep flipping during the night, too even out the soreness. I joke w/ dh and say, "yeah, the weight of my enourmous body is crushing my hips at night.."

And Happy Anniversary BeansMomma! That movie sounds like it's right up my ally.

[flitters]

hi mamas!

just going to be quick today - been so busy and have lots of catching up to do at home.

i hope you are all doing well despite the discomforts and displacements and such.

things here are good... still doing lots to encourage the baby to go head down. i think it might have in the last day - not sure - but it will probably turn a few more somersaults before settling - it's very squirmy still.

QOTW: i've been lucky so far with a lack of stretchmarks. i have a few faint ones on my hips and breasts from puberty but nothing obviously new... do they always show up in red so i would have to notice them? i do have a linea negra now. it's not particularly dark, but it is distinct and unmissable. i also am fuzzy like a peach. only my fuzz grew in more places than just my tummy. i can see it when i'm back lit on most of my body. it's funny. my dh calls me fuzzyhunney. he's been so wonderful and so excited for the baby. i am too. yay!

big hugs to everyone!
:grouphug

[Lucysmama]

WOW, so much to respond to!

Amy - so glad your house is ok! What a relief!

Susan and Sheryl - HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! :banana :balloons :banana :balloons Our is next week, (the 15th) 3 years! I saw 'Super Size Me' a month or two ago, we liked it. Reinforced our no fast-food policy. :)

Momadance - Yeah, I do on some level wish I was doing it all over again with Lucy. I guess it kinda hit me recently that I WON'T be doing it over again with her....she will still be 31 months old, and this will be a whole 'nother kid. That freaks me out a little. I will have TWO KIDS. :eek BTW, Jezmund....do you pronounce it like it looks? It sounds a lot like 'Jasmine' when I say it out loud.

Amelia - I moved to a much smaller apartment than our house, too. I think it is less than half the size of our house! I kinda like it, though. Much easier for me to clean and stay on top of the mess, though I think there will be more clutter. :) I got my carseat outta storage today too. (Well, I made dh do it!) I was so happy to wash it all up. I guess I will wait to put it in till we have the baby cause we are having a homebirth anyway, and I don't plan to go anywhere for a few days at least.

I am feeling like a great big whale.

[mirthfulmum]

Can it really be that I have less than a week left until I'm full term? :dropjaw
I feel like I have sooooo much still left to do.

Boy this thread moves fast. I stay away for a day and I have so much catching up to do... so if I forget anyone I appologize in advance :hug2.

Amy - Everytime I'd hear about the hurricane down there I'd think of you and wonder how you were doing. I am so thrilled to hear that your home survived and that you and your whole family are safe.

Beansmomma - Happy Anniversary!

krnflwr - I'm with you. I want a clean home so bad but it seems impossible when I've got a little "helper" (and I use this term only out of a mother's love) offering his assistance with every project I take on. I just don't have the energy or patience to do things at his pace.

ameliabedelia - I'm actually getting my car seat installed next Friday. BCAA (that's like AAA in the States) does a free car installation workshop twice a month here and it is such a relief to have the car seat put in right. 90% of car seats are installed incorrectly, and I am pretty sure that I would be in that 90% if I tried to do it myself.

Amie - Oh the aches and pains! I can not believe how uncomfortable I am at night, and nothing I do seems to help. I given up and am just eagerly awaiting the fast appoaching day when I can actually roll over without having to wake up to do it :eyesroll.

QOTW: No line but I have a couple of new stretch marks around my belly button. I don't know about anyone else here, but I hardly noticed any stretch marks at all when pregnant with Alias, it wasn't until after he was born that I noticed the big prple gash marks that had creeped up my hips. So I don't really expect to see any signficant stretch marks until after Harrison makes his grand debut.

Oh momadance, I almost forgot. Jezmund is a very cool name! It's unique without being too out there. I have no idea either if it has any meaning but if I didn't already have a name picked out Jezmund would go on my list of potential names.

[MTBto5]

*Only 13 more daystill induction!!

Stretch marks...........I don't think I could get anymore, lol ;)
This baby is sooooo low (on my lap) that I couldn't see my line if I tried! Most of my stretch marks came with #1 baby.

[OakEmber]

Wow! Less than 2 weeks and we will have our first baby among us!! MTBto5, you must be so excited! Did I miss you telling us why the they are inducing so early, or is that something you just don't feel like sharing? I wonder if we will have any surprises before then?

Mommadance- I really like Jezmund...I can totally picture him as a little cutie. I didn't come up with anything on it either though, and I was surprised cuz usually I am pretty good at finding meanings for unusual names!

[mandalamama]

*waddles into the room* hihi, i'm new here :)

qotw: no new stretch marks, the old ones just look like white tiger stripes. i'm really pale, my linea negra is just barely visible and all the way up and down. my husband and i are always talking about the evolutionary purpose of things, my theory is that the linea negra is an arrow says "the baby comes out down here!" ;) my line runs to the left a bit, still through the belly button though.

i'm so happy i found a crunchy forum, i love the birth stories folder. i've been in an artistic upswing this week, painting a lot - i guess i'd call them "labor paintings," like the word "open" amidst a lot of spirals and such. and coloring mandalas like crazy!

peace,
meli

[BeansMomma]

...my husband and i are always talking about the evolutionary purpose of things, my theory is that the linea negra is an arrow says "the baby comes out down here!"

:w Was it here on this board that someone suggested that the linea negra is a visual cue for the baby leading from the birth canal up to the breasts for feeding? Makes sense to me...

Mommadance: I love the name, and although it 'sounds' familiar, I'm pretty sure I've not heard it before. Reed is a great choice too.

We're not naming our daughter until we see her - we have a list of names we'll likely choose from, but want to get a sense of her before we label her forever - is that weird? (That and we want certain*#$%@ people to keep their opinions to themselves with our choices!)

Court and Gottaknit - I hear at the Portland Saturday Market that there is a woman who makes the best slings. Unfortunately she was out last weekend - her stand is supposed to be on the east side of the Skidmore Fountain near Front Street. I'm planning on dragging my preggo behind there again this weekend to check it out and will keep you posted.

[mirthfulmum]

:w mellybean. Always nice to have another momma join the weekly thread. I had also read somewhere that the linea negra is a kind of path for the baby to crawl up to find the breast. I also heard somewhere that that is alos why your nipples get so much bigger and darker. Makes for an easy target for hungry little mouths :wink.

MTBto5 - Wow! Less than 2 weeks away. I bet you'll be the first here to have their babe in their arms. I'm also curious why you're being induced so soon. But if you don't want to discuss that here no problem.

BeansMomma - What is it with people and their inhibitions about giving their unsolicited name criticisms :irked:. We had so much trouble with certain family members when we named our son Alias. It still continues to irk me that some of them won't even call him by his name (they prefer to call him "Ali" :eyesroll). They just don't get how disrespectful they're being.

Today is Alias' first day at his new daycare all alone. He is having such a great time there that I could barely get a hug and a kiss good bye from him this morning as I walked out the door (2 years old and already dosen't want his mom cramping his style). So here I am, all alone in a quiet apartment. I've got 2 hours before I've got to leave to pick him up and I'm not sure what to do with myself. The fridge and microwave desperatly need to cleaned. But it would also be sooooo nice to just lie down on the couch and read a book for a little bit, maybe watch a movie. Just how responsible am I feeling this morning? Where's that overwhelmng nesting urge when I need it?

[gottaknit]

Uh-oh Susan. Just what I need: another sling to long for! ;) I've already got three on my registry! (KKAFP, Hotsling, and the Moby.... and I'd like an Ergo eventually, too.) :eyesroll

BTW, Happy Anniversary to you and Sheryl! :balloons

Someone mentioned dreams about ex's... me too! Nothing wild, just like we're hanging out and talking like old times. Very odd. I also have been having dreams about DH abandoning me in dangerous/scary situations. That's so bad! He'd never do that! Guess I have a little birth anxiety going on.

Glad to hear the home is still there, Amy. :) Sounds like Frances wasn't quite as awful as it could have been.

I slept through the night last night! :banana The first time in over a week. I had been getting up every night at 3am for a snack and then staying awake until 6 or 7. :irked: Guess there's something to be said for working myself into a frenzy cleaning house and then collapsing exhausted at the end of the day.

Inlaws start arriving tonight! :crap Whatever hasn't been done by now just isn't going to get done, I guess. At least DH "cleaned" the bathroom last night. How is it that a man can spend two hours huffing and puffing, moaning and groaning, scrubbing a bathroom, and there's still black gunk around the faucet and between the tiles in the shower?! OK that was mean. :innocent He's trying... but, arrggghhh...

[AnnR33]

Mirthful-I hear ya about sending your baby off to school-I had BOTH of mine in school yesterday for the first time and had 2 whole hrs to myself!! WooHoo I vote you should hang out and relax-you won't be able to get much of that done in just a few short weeks! I spent my time grocery shopping and it's soooo much easier without kids begging for things and trying to wonder off...

Went to the local LLL mtg last night to meet some moms-it was a small group with mostly expectant moms which is fine but was hoping for some playgroup contacts. Will have to work on that I guess. There's another mtg on Turs in another close town so may try that one too-guess I'm a LLL hopper

7 more weeks....sounds so close yet so far. It's so weird to think of this baby finally being in my arms. This pregnancy has been filled with so many more feelings-worry from the spotting, intuition about this babe being quieter and more introverted and especially wonder about how my DD will handle this since she's such a mama's girl. With the move a lot of these ideas got put on hold but now that things are settling down I have more time to ponder...probably not all good for a hormonal pregnant mama.

Anyway, changing the subject-anyone else using a naturopath for their family dr with the new babe? I found one I like and will use her but she has very distinct ideas about vacccines that I'm certainly open to but need more info on before I decide. I admit I blindly vaccinated my other 2 but won't do that this time-will space them out at the very least but thinking seriously about them this time. Just curious about what others are doing.
TaTa
Ann

[Piglet68]

I feel like something changed last night. I took DD out for a walk to run errands, and I had to walk so slowly the old ladies with their walkers were passing me. I felt a huge amount of pressure between my legs, and very strong movements from baby. I wonder if he's become engaged. Actually, I realized I'm not sure how to tell...I think I remember that "bowling ball between the thighs" feeling from DD. I'm not there yet, but oh the pressure!

Amy: I am SO relieved for you that your house is okay. How wonderful!!

Beansmama: happy anniversary! DH and I celebrate our 3 year wedding anniversary on the 20th. it's also his birthday this sunday. I fear both events will get lost in all the stuff going on! and thanks for the movie recommendations. that linked one sounds right up my alley. we're also dying to see Supersize Me. Now that there's a babysitter around (Mum) we have a remote chance, but I am guessing it will wait until it's out on DVD.

I also have fuzzy peach belly, with a few black hairs that pop up right around my belly button. Normally I'm a deep inny, but it's flat now, and my linea nigra starts there. I get dark all around the belly button, then a line downwards. I'm not really dark-skinned, but not that pale either. Nipples are very dark, that theory about the reason for the linea nigra and the dark nipples makes alot of sense.

amelia and Katie: i bet you learn to love your small spaces. i can never live in a house again - i get hives just thinking about cleaning it, having to go up and down stairs, etc., lol. I just love one-floor living. I especially love that doing laundry doesn't require me to be out of eyesight from the kid(s). And I agree it does seem to make us feel like we're all together, though we have a couple rooms to retreat to if someone wants privacy (not likely to happen with kids around though, lol).

Letia: wow, you and your MW are really not going to have a whole lot of time together, are you? hope you get a nice warm comfy feeling from her. i had to LOL at your comment about hitting baby on the podium while you sing. i've knocked a few things over with my belly lately, lol.

momadance: yes, I've had some ex-boyfriend dreams. but this particular ex always seems to show up when i'm anxious about something. things ended rather badly between us and he seems to have become my dream symbol for anxiety. i guess my brain expresses it's fears by constructing stories in which he usually plays a major role. dream psychology is fascinating to me, though i really wish this guy would get out of my head. i feel guilty, like i'm betraying my dh. it's not that i do anything in the dreams, it's just the feelings. i have come to accept that the feelings are just dream manifestations of real life stress, and not some secret lingering love or whatever. i'm honestly over the dude, so it pisses me off that he's still in my brain!!

MTB: you may end up being the first to birth here, did they get your EDD wrong cuz if i read you right they are inducing 3 weeks early, did I miss something? :scratch

mirthfulmum: i have to admit i'm a bit envious of Alias' daycare experience. EMily really isn't ready for that sortof thing yet, but i admit it would be great to have some time with the baby if i knew she was having fun. i've become a pretty lame playmate for her lately. i can't sit on the floor, and i'm either busy unpacking/tidying or i'm resting!

Ann: i found a nice family doctor (thanks to mirthful!) and will be discussing delayed vaxing with her. I did most of dd's vaxes, but the 2 month one really was hard on her (and me! i think it took me longer to recover than her!) and i think delaying it would be more humane. in the US they want to do hep B in the hospital which we declined. they don't do it here in canada. and i think they do one less vax here as well (I think it's the prevnar they have in the US that they dont' here). emily also hasn't had her mmr yet. still waffling on that one.

Welcome mellybean! :wave

Okay, DH is out with DD and I'm supposed to be working on my paper, so I'd better get to it lest he come home and find me surfing, lol.

have a great day everyone!

[blessed2bamommie]

:wave Well! OK! I called my mw, whom gives me as much time as I need. We had an hour just this past Monday b/c she realizes we have to make up for lost time. :love She has prenatals on Saturdays so dhs can come. But, the next one was on the day of my pedicure and shower. I was able to get my ped the pm before. Can't miss that starts to look right bad chippin and all! :shake I got my birth kit ordered and about to pay her now and she's in my county seeing the same MW, so she'll drop it Saturday for me to pick up the next. I did my phone list and directions to my apt....dh *must* clean up that dungeon of his for the mws to sleep! We have a home visit the 25th. I have that long to get this place into shape! :eek We worked on the bedroom Friday. I think Friday might be my cleaning day. I have church tonight and nursery and LL and infant cpr and home safety tomorrow. I don't want to wear myself out. Kinda like I did at cycling today. :nana:

:bag: I have a forest on my belly which I think has gotten thicker in pregnancy. Which is why *noone* will be seeing it! The pics will have my belly under clothing, which my photograhper and I agree will be obvious anyway.

Told MIL about our plans Monday pm. She was shocked and asked questions. She's concerned about safety of us and the baby and we told her of the mws preparedness and the vicinity of EMS and the hospital and that I have been fine this pg. Shec can't believe the same girl who told her that her son was ready for babies and I wasn't b/c of the pain is doing a hb! :LOL She also got a cigarette on that note, which has been something she's been working on stopping and said she was coming back in for a glass of wine. :shake She was respectful of our decision which I appreciated. I am already :irked: with one parent so I really didn't want her mess. I was afraid to tell her alone so I waited for dh to be there and I figured it might be the last time before my shower in a couple weeks. Where if folks ask I will tell them (and hope they aren't judgemental :eyesroll ) . I didn't want mil and mama to find out that day...that probably wouldn't have been nice...:angel:. :demon: :LOL

Gotta tell my mama but I told her best friend. I need some cooling off time from mama first. I just wasn't up to it this weekend. :eyesroll

Well, I guess I better jet! I gotta pay for my birth kit and check the weather b/c we've got reamnants of Frances which has spawned tornadoes and torrential rains and decide it its smart to make the trek down to church. (and check on dh's status because I want a..... :hide: hot dog).

:wave

eta: :greet: Meli!!!! :duh :belly brain
waddling into the room huh? :LOL

[gottaknit]

Good luck telling your mom, Letia! :) Sounds like it didn't go too badly with the MIL. Don't they talk to each other, though? You wouldn't want your mom to find out through someone else... Sending you good vibes. :hug2

[momadance]

:nut Glad to hear I'm not the only one dreaming about "ole :candle flames" (hee hee I love to be corny)

Welcome to mellybean! I have a friend (I mentioned this here a few months ago) who's a LLL leader and she's watched a video where a newborn is just placed on mama's belly, and squirms his way up her linea nigra to her huge dark nipples and latches on! Completely unassisted! I'd love to see it myself. SOunds amazing.

Thanks for the positive input on Jezmund.

Lucysmama: You pronounce it as spelled. It's actually from Chalkdust Torture "come stumble my mirth beaten worker, I'm Jezmund the family bezerker"
Oh, did you happen to catch It on pbs? THey did a great job on it!

Gottanit! I love the crap icon!

I got my mothering mag. today, and American Baby. Apparently the woman who used to live here subscribed to it. It's so gross. You know the advocacy clothing Mothering advertises? Well american baby had an advertisement for an infant onesie that says "Lactose Tollerant" and comes shipped in a glass bottle :Puke On the fast food tip, I've been meaning to read Fast Food Nation. Thanks for the reminders! I almost have all my beads ready to ship out :banana!

[blessed2bamommie]

:LOL naw Nancy they really don't! Mama doesn't have the stomach for the drama. I told her tho in case she ran to call her, which she has done a few times to vent about me, :eyesroll that she didn't know. Well...gotta get these PP receipts sent to dh for my birth kit and get my stank butt from cycle class in the tub for church.

:bolt

[Lucysmama]

<-----Pile stress here.

You guys aren't going to believe this....dh got laid off today. :eyesroll Could anything else go wrong? I don't think so.

[OakEmber]

Oh Katie! :hug2 I don't know what to tell you...life is sure throwing a ringer at you, it's not fair. Hope your DH finds something better soon, this things can sometimes be a blessing in disguise (although a tough pill to swallow with everything else that has been happening).

I'm glad that someone brought up the ex dreams again, cuz I had a comment and then forgot it....seems to be a pretty normal pregnancy dream to have, I even read about it in a book but can't remember which one (and it was this pregnancy even :LOL). The books theory about it was because you are embarking on a new life and leaving the old one behind. Piglet, I think that you are on to something...I have the same problem of a certain first love who treated me like crap popping up in my dreams, but I never thought to see if there was a connection as to what was going on in my life at these times :duh Please tell me though that I won't dream about him forever...it's been almost 10 years now since I have even seen him :angry

[mirthfulmum]

Katie - You've got to be kidding me. What is it with the universe and its insistance on picking on your family! :hug :hug :hug :hug Although, as Amie mentioned this may turn out to be a good thing. I have to wonder what kind of employer would lay off a person who is about to have another baby in a few weeks. That seems really :censored low. Feel free to vent, rant and de-stress here as much as you need. We are here for you :hug2.

[AnnR33]

Katie :hug Sending you lots of positive vibes and destressing thoughts!

[AnnR33]

PLEASE READ :)

This is the new thread for the gift exchange-please read if you want to particiapte and to confirm that you are signed up if you already indicated an interest.

http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?p=2004927#post2004927

Thanks!
Ann

[bluehalo]

oh gosh Katie, I'm so sorry. I can't believe you just cannot get a break :( Thinking of you still...

re: old flames. ... I haven't dreamed of old boyfriends, but two nights ago I did have a dream where I ran into about 7 or 8 of my old friends from college ... it was so cool to catch up with them, I was actually dissapointed when I woke up and realized it was just a dream *lol*

I'm so tired today, totally having a hard time not being a crappy mom. Having weekly doctor visits now, which is just a PITB, but really no biggie. Fortunately DS is pretty tolorant of the whole process.

Got my GBS swab today, hoping it all comes back clear. Also gave my doc her copy of my birth plan, and went over it with her. It was pretty quick b/c we've talked about all of the topics at some point or another over the past 9 months, so there were no surprises on either end. I just really love my doc, she's so laid back, but really straightforward, if that makes any sense. I just feel like I really understand where she's coming from, and I don't feel like she'll pull any surprises once the actual event is here (which is what I feared from my old doc ... she talked a pretty picture, but I felt like it was just that ... all talk...) Anyway, I'm just grateful and appreciative of my doctor and the relationship we've developed.

babble, babble, babble.

anyone else thinking they might have a full moon baby? looking like the 28th ... it honestly wouldn't surprise me, although I'm trying not to obsess too much b/c then I'll be even more antsy afterwards if the baby doesn't make his grand entrance. Just wondering if anyone else had been having that thought :)

[mirthfulmum]

I'm hoping that we don't have a full moon baby as I've heard the hospitals are just jammed with labouring moms. I'd rather go in on a more quiet night.

[Lucysmama]

I'm thinking I may have a full moon baby, or thereabouts...though that is 2 full weeks before my EDD, so maybe that is a little soon. But I keep thinking I will go early, so who knows? I just don't wanna get my hopes up for an early baby, and end up carrying till 42 weeks. Yuck, that would suck.

I am seeing my MW tomorrow. I am hoping we can talk to her about her fee. I have heard she will come down a bit if you truly need her to. And right now....we truly need it. We owe her almost $1500, and we are going to be in such a bind now that dh is out of work.

Thanks for the hugs and well wishes! I am just so stressed because there is so much I still need to get for the baby, not to mention the fall clothes and shoes that Lucy needs, bigger diapers for the baby, etc. Sorry for venting, I just can't believe this happened now. Dh's bookshop is not doing well financially, so they had to lay someone off. Dh and I speculate that it was him because they were about to give him the 2 weeks off when the baby is born, so it made it more simple to just give him the axe. Still, a really crappy thing to do to a guy with a toddler and a baby coming in a few weeks. :angry

I just got back from an informational meeting on a Mother's Club. Yikes! That is one group I will NOT be joining! They just chatted about elective cesareans, what TV shows their kids watch all day, how much they hated their thighs, formula-feeding their kids cause it is easier, etc. They even hit me up for a donation for formula and diapers for poor pregnant moms. I couldn't wait to waddle outta there, especially after spending the afternoon hanging with a few MDC mamas. ;)

Christine - good luck on your GBS test!

[blessed2bamommie]

I'm sorry Katie that things are just really not going well for you now. :hug YES! you *know* more can go wrong having m/ced many times, so there's still something to be thankful for that your baby is still in there and thriving. I pray that the Lord gives your dh an even *better* job!

[Jillerina]

Good lord katie - how more stress can you take?!?! I'm impressed you've kept yourself well and the baby inside this long! You are one strong woman, there's no doubt! I'm thinking of you and sending employment vibes your way.

I'd love to have a full moon baby - in fact I'd love to have a baby any time after monday :)

Today I went for a walk with DD and was pathetic. I couldn't walk so much as hobble and I swear I was barely moving forward with each step.

The reason I went out walking was a desperate attempt to get DD to GO TO SLEEP!!! She's driving me insane with her refusal to nap during the day - she's a wreak and as a result so am I. Today the poor kid thrashed around my bed for 45 minutes crying and screaming. I was there the WHOLE time, sometimes I tried calming her but at the end I just picked up a book and ignored her. Eventually she just hopped off the bed and went to the living room where I heard her start playing with her Fisher Price Little People!!! WTF?!?!?! I thought for sure she'd pass out but oh no, not my little energizer bunny!!! Anyway, as you can tell this sleeping thing is really getting to me becasue I NEED the break and when she doesn't give it to me and is whiney and grumpy for the rest of the day because of lack of sleep I become a very un-fun Mommy. I hate myself on those days. Grrr... ok, I'm done complaining (for now:))

[Piglet68]

Oh Katie, this is just not fair!! I know your town is not very big, so here's hoping that your DH can find some work nearby, and soon! :hug :hug :hug

Jillerina, I'm so with you on the snail's pace waddling. I was really a pathetic sight today, wheeling DD in her stroller at such a slow pace. It is very frustrating for me b/c I am normally a fast walker. And also b/c this new neighbourhood has everything you could possibly need within a four block radius and it still took me almost two hours to do my errands this morning!

And you had to bring up DD and sleep huh? :wink

This has been a hellish week for us. DD has two molars coming in, and it's causing her to wake at least 3 times a night to nurse back to sleep. Very tough to bear when I'm already suffering from major insomnia, add to that I'm so uncomfortable and it's like rearranging a room the amount of pillows that need maneouvering every time I switch positions. My sciatic nerves ache on both sides...ugh! And to top it off, DD is having a hard time nursing to sleep these days. I'm sure some of it is a messed up nap schedule, that at least seems to be back on track, but she's taking like an hour to nurse down (usually takes her about 10 minutes) and my breasts are in so much pain! A few nights ago I tried to get her to go to sleep without nursing. It happened spontaneously a couple of times, but only when she was up waaay late. Well, it was a disaster. She bawled and begged for milkies in this pitiful voice. I ended up bawling myself b/c I felt so horrible denying her something that I feel is almost sacred, but then having her nurse was like having needles driven into my breasts. DH tried to help, but it was obvious she was not ready for that step, and we were pushing her too fast. Now my solution is to make her stay up a bit later than usual, so that she's really really tired when we go to bed. Then she can nurse down faster. But it cuts out my evening time. This is the first evening in ages I've had time to myself.

Okay, that's my vent for today. I'm just so exhausted, you know? I remember being PG with Emily and hearing everybody complaining and I was just so loving it all and not in a rush. Now I feel guilty to say that I'm so done with this pregnant thing. I feel disabled and I can't wait to be able to walk again!!

[Lucysmama]

Piglet- :hug So sorry Emily is having sleeping and night nursing problems! That must be soooo hard to finally get comfy and fall asleep and have someone want to suck on your breasts in a painful way! Major props to you for sticking with nursing!!!! I am kinda envious of you nursing mamas, you guys are going to have some extra help come engorgement time! ;)

And I am with you, Piglet....I am starting to feel like I want the baby to be born soon-ish. (But please not until I get unpacked and my birth tub and kit come!) I still have 4-5 weeks till my EDD. How am I gonna lug myself around for another month??? I am waddling and my pubic bone is so sore, I don't wanna do anything but sit or lie. Rolling outta bed is such a huge, painful task. I went swimming the other day and it felt so great to be weightless and floating. But when I got out, I was like, "Oh yeah, I weigh 500 pounds. I forgot, this sucks." What a whale I am!!!

[Court]

Katie- that last line made me laugh, I feel like that all the time. I'm with the others in saying you've had way more than your fair share of stress! I'm still trying to send you some good vibes and hoping your dh finds something soon. :hug2

Piglet- Molars suck so much, I remember when Logan got his last two and it was a nightmare- and took him forever to fall asleep. Here's hoping Emily's come in quick! Sorry you're having to deal with all this night time stuff. My nipples have started hurting A LOT lately for some reason, and Logan is asking to nurse more...so I know how you feel. On another note, your neighborhood sounds wonderful!

And Jillerina- napping vibes to you too! It can be so stressful when the little ones don't sleep when they're supposed too. We need that time too to recharge and be a good mommy.

I'm starting to get really anxious about having this baby. I just can't wait. I'm really looking forward to this birth. I can't stay away from these boards. I even dreamed that one of you had your baby and was posting about it.

Letia- good luck telling your mom about the hb! Can't wait to hear that story! :)

[True Blue]

Ugh everyone, you are not going to believe this. There is another hurricane coming. Hurricane Ivan, that just wiped out 90% of the homes in Granada and has since gotten even stronger....category 5....winds sustained at 160 with gusts to 195...so we'll be running again in a day or two. Can you believe this???? They are already evacuating visitors from the Keys. Soooooo....I'm really not sure I can participate in the beads and gifts swaps, since I can't give anyone an address to mail stuff to since I don't know if the address will be there and I don't have time at the moment to get beads and stuff out to everyone. :(

I have to call my midwife soon and probably cancel my make-up appt on Monday, though I doubt she'll be hanging around either, it's due to reach the Keys as early as Monday and here Monday night. Wonder when I'll ever have another appt??? Thank goodness I haven't had problems lately. Well that's a bit of a lie...I had tons of contractions this weekend I just didn't tell anyone!!! But I keep checking my cervix and I don't notice any change so I'm not really concerned. Had some major swelling in the humidity in Key West, it was really funny...I had Hobbit feet!!! :LOL

Katie, I know we have it bad right now but man you have it so much worse....:hug to you, I'm sure this will all work out for the best in the end SOMEHOW...

Can't reply to everyone, gotta go look for a place to stay!!!

[Lucysmama]

Amy - you are in our thoughts! And I'm sorry hon, but you have it worse! I can't imagine having to run from a storm with a toddler and almost 9 months pregnant! You are a tough mama. :hug Good luck to you and keep up updated whenever you can. How is Mickade handling all of this?

[OakEmber]

:dropjaw Oh Amy, not again! Just think of the stories that you will tell your baby when he/she is older?! I can't remember if you have settled on any names but maybe you should consider Storm or Tempest ;) Take care...and I don't worry about the exchanges....I will still send you a bead, it's no big deal!

I am sending :hug2 to all you with toddler sleep issues (day or night)! Sleep is such a precious commodity these days!

I am with those of you anxious to have the baby, I am not so much feeling uncomfortable (during the day anyway) as just feeling like there is no possible room for growth in there! And I want to enjoy food again, eating is such a chore right now. I'd like to just fast forward the calendar a couple weeks, hehe. I guess it's normal to feel anxious at this point but I don't remember feeling this way last time, maybe it's just one of those things you block out.

Oh I just thought of something funny...I must look a lot bigger because yesterday my niece Icelyn(3) kept exclaiming "look at her belly" to everyone...and I see her often so it's not like she hadn't been around me, but this was the first time she was so involved with my belly. She was telling people "that's my baby sister in there" :LOL.

[ameliabedelia]

Wow, some of you have some major problems.

Katie, I am so sorry about your dh's job. You are amazing to put up with as much as you do. I know it sounds cliche, but maybe it is all for the best. I was super stressed and upset when dh lost his job last spring, but he really likes his current job, adminstation, students, everything so much better and we are tons closer to my family. So, I pray that your dh finds an even better job really soon. It will all work out. Hugs.

Piglet, sorry about the lack of sleep. I can feel your pain on nursing. It is really, really, really hard for me as well. I know I feel terrble and like the worse mama in the world for not wanting to nurse my own child. I hope those molars come in soon and Emily goes back to sleeping all night.

Amy, Yikes... all these hurricanes. I don't know that I could handle that. Good luck and stay safe. I hope that hurricane ends up not coming or veering off course or losing strength or something by Monday for you.

Jillerina, I am sorry about the lack of naps. I go crazy if dd doesn't get her nap in. I must confess I am not against doing things to "make" her nap like going for a ride in the car of putting her in the stroller and strolling her back and forth in a darkened room in the house.

Well, I decided I like my smaller home after all. We moved in on Sun, and everything is already all put away and organized, pictures hung, etc. It is so much easier with so much less stuff (we sold, got rid of and stored tons of stuff in TN). I think I like having less stuff and less space.

[AnnR33]

Oh Amy! Take care mama :hug !!!!! I'll be thinking of you lots And I'll leave you in the gift swap if you want and you can just take care of it whenever you can-no hurry! Just let me know what you feel comfortable with!

Amelia-you're already unpacked??!! You rock! -I'm so jealous! But I know what you mean about less stuff, we got rid of a bunch of stuff before we moved, more after we moved and STILL need to get rid of so much. Of course, about 10 boxes are just kids clothes in various sizes and "fat" clothes and "normal" clothes for me. After this babe comes I can get rid of a lot of those boxes I think. But the toys-OMG-we have to purge big time!!!
Now you've inspired me so maybe that's how I'll spend my free time today when the kids are at school :)

Take care
Ann

[OakEmber]

I just have to say...Wow, Wow, Wow, Wow!! I have heard that Kristen from Hotslings has great customer service and now I have to put in a plug for her ( I think that's OK, right?). Anyway, I purchased one of slings, not directly from her but through a Canadian retailer and I think I mucked up on the sizing so I emailed her and she has been so much more than helpful!! She even offered to send me one off her site and I could keep them both until the baby is born and then send whichever doesn't work back!! :jumpers: I know this belongs on Babywearing, not here, but I just had to tell all my friends! And did I mention that it I heard back from her in a matter of hours, not days?!!

[blessed2bamommie]

you mean your purty pouch doesn't fit. :drool

funny you should mention...I just posted to babywearing!

Got Infant CPR and home safety tonight. One of the must do's I said before baby comes. Went to LLL today. The next meeting.....October 14!!!! :yikes: It was kinda like well wishes because I'm due next month and when I looked at the calendar a few minutes ago when I was telling dh about the meeting its sooooooooo true! :bigeyes But, since baby's don't understand due dates, I'll go and then they can help me with that hotsling! :shake I was looking at the pictures but you gotta physically show me!
Got a :zzz today! I feel like a new woman! :D Its been a while since I've gotten one!

I pray that you weather the next storm, Amy. :hug

[mirthfulmum]

That is so cool Amie! It always makes me feel like I've made the right choice buying a particular product when I hear about how honest and helpful a manufacturer/retailer is. Can I thank you again for telling me about the site we both ordered our Hotsling from :thumb?

Amy - I was thinking about you this morning as I was listening to the news and heard about Hurricane Ivan and wondering if you were going to be affected. I'm sorry to hear that you are once again in the path of the storm. That totally sucks! :hug2.

I've been lucky for the past few days when it comes to sleep (although I may be jinxing myself right now as I write this). Alias has been napping well and going to bed at a reasonable time. I really hope it lasts for awhile. I've been desperately in need of every minute of extra sleep I can get.

Right now my main source of anxiety is my very cluttered home. I have junk piled everywhere and feel like I will never make my way thru it all before the baby comes. In my head I have this picture of a clean, well organized home with a place for everything and everything in its place :eyesroll. Which is of course a complete delusion with a 2 year old running around with his own sense of "organization". Like many of you moving mommas, I think what we need is a good purge!

[momadance]

Hey mamas,
So sorry Lucysmama :hug2 for you and your family! I'm sure your mw will be more than understanding, with all you've gone through!

Only got up once last night! I feel like a energizer bunny today. GOt tons of yardwork done.(tons of fallen limbs due to Francis after math)

True Blue!!!! Your totally road tripping across Fla. running from a storm?! Holy Crap! And contrx! Geesh! :hug2 You have had it ruff this preg.! Lots!!!!! of love heading your way!

Yeah for the hotslings! I ordered one too!

I got my birth kit last week, some lily padz, and today some cloth mama pads! It's so exciting to waddle out to the mail box!

[Lucysmama]

Just saw my mw for 2 hours! :love She spends so much time with her clients, it's awesome! Bad news is my iron is at an all-time low, and I am severely anemic. No wonder I am so tapped-out and tired. She is putting me on a heavy-duty regimen of iron-raising products to get it back to a decent level, though we have our doubts of me being able to pull out of anemia totally in the next few weeks. Good news is the baby is in a pretty good position, hb is in the 150s still, and baby's weight is estimated at around 6-6.5 lbs right now. My BP was up a bit, but I am super stressed, so that is probably why. My mw also said not to worry about paying her right now, just whenever our family can is fine with her. :love Next week is my home visit already!!! WOW!

I am jealous of the hotsling-getting mamas! I wanna see some pictures of some of your sweet snuggly babies in them! I have heard such great things about them. My mom is going to buy me a new sling, I think a KKAFP.

[OakEmber]

I hear ya Mommadance...I am awaiting a couple packages so each day I am eager to get to the mailbox too :thumb I got some MOE nursing pads today and am waiting for thier matress pad. I was checking out those lily pads and they seem interesting, you will have to let us know if you like them.

So did I mention how indescisive I am while pregnant :LOL The good thing about ordering the wrong size is now I have a second chance to pick my pattern...and now that I've had time to think about it more I am going to copy Courtney and order the China pattern that I was drawn to in the first place...hopefully it's still available, it's still listed on the site. Mirthfulmum, :LOL...your welcome...if only the Visa commercials were true, hey?!

Letia, sounds like you've been a busy girl! I was at a meeting last night and the next was scheduled for Oct.13...blew my mind...also got me wondering if I will be attending or not :LOL I remember the feeling last time when my milk was due after Ember was....can't wait for that again :)

Katie- That's so awesome that your midwife is well, so awesome :love Argh, too bad about the iron...I just had mine checked too and will find out the results on Tuesdays appt. I hope you can bring up the level before delivery!

[Court]

I'm glad to hear Kristen from Hotslings is so good about helping getting the size right. I measured myself when I was still my normal size and ordered based on that. Right now I'm so huge, I really can't tell if it will fit or not. I really love that China pattern sling too. It just sits on my dressor and I stare at it a couple times a day. :)

Amy- I've been thinking about you too every time I watch the news...like today when they were talking about the mandatory evacuation of the keys. I don't even know what to say, except stay safe! Hopefully Ivan will change direction and loose speed.

We just got our new carseat that my mom bought for us, and that was really exciting for me. Logan tested it out in the house and he approves. Now I'm just waiting on my nursing bras and tops and ofcourse the beads. :) I just mailed out the last of mine today. I've had so much fun bead shopping.

I guess I don't really have much to say except I'm so antsy, I can't believe I have to wait 6 weeks!

[mirthfulmum]

I talked to a good friend of mine today who just had her second little girl 2 weeks ago and I could hear over the phone the little newborn sounds the baby was making as she nursed... oh I want this baby to come so bad. These last few weeks are just torturously long! It sometimes feels like our babies will never come!

I'm going bead shopping tomorrow, so I should have everyone's beads in the mail this weekend. Can't wait to start getting those little envelopes in the mail and get started on my bracelet.

Katie - That's so great about your midwife. I imagine it's a real load off to know that she's going to work out a payment schedule you guys can handle. I am always struggling with my iron levels too. All it takes is a day or two of forgetting to take my Floradix and I just crash. Take care of yourself.

[Piglet68]

Hey everybody!

Amy, I can't believe you are having to go through this right now. I hope this one passes without incident for you. You really will have stories to tell your child!! :hug

Katie: I'm so glad your midwife is cool about the money. what a relief that must be for you! Hope you get that iron up (do you love spinach, lol...I do).

Well, Emily skipped her nap today, after a nice active day playing with mirthfulmum's wonderful son! We had a playdate today and it was super nice to chat IRL with another October mama! Anyways, DD went to bed at about 7:30 and nursed to sleep in no time. Yay! Of course, last night she woke more than ever, I think it was five times. Luckily she doesn't need to nurse long, but it seems she waits until I just get comfy, and then I have to reposition! The one molar that is already in took about a week and then she was sleeping through the night again. So I'm hoping these two will be out soon and I can get some more sleep!

I'm washing baby diapers as we speak! :love I finally picked out a table to use as my changing station and will be picking it up tomorrow. When that's in, I can start putting the diapers away, and I've already started tackling the clothes. I'm so excited. DH was sounding all tired saying "what should we do about the kids' room" (totally unpacked and stuff strewn everywhere right now) and I was like "Let me do it! Let me do it!" all excited, lol. He's like "sure, whatever turns you on!" relieved that he needn't concern himself with it.

Our furniture arrives on Saturday and I can't wait. I think by this time next week everything will be pretty much in its place, and I can relax and just focus on baby and resting. We had a lovely evening tonight and we are just a couple blocks away from the seawall. I said to DH how I can't wait to be un-pregnant so we can go for evening walks (mind you, by then it will be too cold, lol).

[blessed2bamommie]

Well, I guess that's one of thethings I'll be doing as I wait at the beginning of October...my first of three showers that I'm aware of....I'm starting to think that I'm the first of the :belly girls at the gym who doesn't get a shower....(not like that, its more feeling left out..maybe they *haven't* forgiven me about not attending showers after excuse me, my baby dies and they are giving birth to healthy full term babies! I didn't want to go and cry and I thought they understood I didn't want to be a blubbering idiot at their celebration, one being *on* Jordan's birthday! :shrug) ANYHOO! All the weekends are taken and the last Saturday of the month ends up being my mws coming for a home visit and a shower on Sunday, so....clearly the anxieties I have about the shower this weekend is invading my sleep! They have been very disorganized and I'm *so* the opposite and have no tolerance for anything less. I even decided not to invite my mama and mil, so they won't see how terribly unorganized they were. :blush My best shower was the one that my moms former assistant principal threw for me and I have a feeling it will be the same this year. (although, its a teacher colleague this time) I grew up in an elementary school and they have surrounded me as I married and now throwing me a baby shower. The other one the next weekend will be missing half of my guests b/c one guest is getting married that weekend and taking several of my guests.
She didn't invite us to the wedding and we had no idea, granted I wouldn't have invited her to the shower, yet I was being polite since I invited everyone around her, although we weren't as close as the others. :eyesroll Soooooooooo...I just don't want to bother calling my hostesses asking who has rsvped. *sigh* I edited my registry after my doctors appointment and saying that I can use a regular digital thermometer under the arm and I didnt' need additional therms and a ear one, and I saw a couple things, some sun visors and a wipes warmer gone from my Target registry. I checked all my others and they haven't budged. (such a cheater! :LOL) I don't expect folks from this shower to buy from my find gift registry, especially considering that you can't go that am or the night before. :eyesroll I just wonder if I'll get the traditional packs of sposies and if I'll get the bottles I registered for (only a few for emergency bm), and will I get any binkies. Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee'll see! I'll just hand them right over to the Pregnancy Care Center admin assistant and I can stuff them in the big ol box one of my LLL fellow members gave me full of sposies :Puke (the smell) for the center! :LOL I don't mean to sound like an ingrate;but, if you're gonna spend your money, I'd appreciate something I can use. Or, maybe they'll do better with gift receipts this time around....*sigh* Well, I broke down and hadmy *sixth* tsp of Mylanta today...well, I guess its a new day 3 am....:shrug

Well, I guess I'll check my email and a couple more forums around here. :wave

[True Blue]

Good morning!! It's a sneaky beautiful day here this morning! Got no sleep last night, my belly felt like it was full of lead and it wasn't comfortable anywhere, it was very strange. Then of course I almost drowned when DS peed the bed. :LOL I'm so glad DH said my package with waterproof training pants arrived, he's been wetting more and more lately!

We made reservations to take off today, but we might put it off til tomorrow. I wanted to leave early to avoid traffic and gasoline issues like many faced last storm. We'll see I guess. They still really have no idea where it is going to go after Cuba, it all depends on 2 high pressure systems and how strong each of them remains -- they determine when and where the storm will make its northern turn. I've learned a lot about weather lately!! :) Thank you so much for all your thoughts and prayers. It's nice to know you guys care. :) If you're watching the news and want to keep track of its effect on me, my parents' house is in Broward County (near Ft Lauderdale) and mine is a little farther north, near Ft Pierce and south of Melbourne. Those are areas they mention a lot so that might help you keep track while I'm gone! Though my dad said the hotel we are going to has a pc room so that would be cool.

Seeing the midwife this afternoon so it will be nice to have a little check-in before I go, esp since now it's been 3 weeks since I've seen her.

I think when this is all over I'm just going to buy one of those cool slings and whatever else I want, I think I deserve it after all this LOL!!! I want a cool sling too!!! And mama pads!! I don't think I'll be getting a shower anymore til after the baby comes, too much turmoil to even send out invitations, and who knows when we'll have power at home...I read it could take days to weeks!!

[Jillerina]

Amy, I'm so glad to see your spirits are up considering all the pressure you are under! I'll keep hoping your home and family stay safe.

I just have to share my evening last night, it was what every pregnant mama needs in the weeks before giving birth - Girls Movie Night. Three other mamas and I got together to watch a girly movie and eat popcorn and gab. It was so refreshing to get out and hang out with the girls. Invariably the topic turned to sex and we ended up staying out until 1am sharing funny (and some not so funny) stories. Anyway, I just feel like I need to pack in as many nights like this as I can during these last few weeks so I'll be all refreshed and ready to stay home with a nursing newborn for a few months (although I do remember how comparativly easy it was to bring a newborn out in the first few months).

Another thing to celebrate (sorta) is that DD slept through the night last night without joining DH and I in our bed! Unfortunatly this was a result of another napless day so I'm torn about wishing for it to happen again!

Pregnancy wise I have nothing new going on - still plodding along so to speak :) I'm shopping for cloth nursing pads at the moment (I only used disposable ones with DD) but I'm having trouble finding any that will be discreet enough under my clothes. My boobs are small (even when nursing) so the flat discs show really obviously under my clothes. I need contoured breast pads - do they exist in cloth?????

OK, must go... keep up the good work mamas - we are getting so close.

[AnnR33]

Jillerina, you can get the contoured breadstapads from www.Bravadodesigns.com I have some to use when I have to go out and be less obvious and the plain flat ones for every day use. I'm sure there are others out there too but these I know for sure. I think Lansinoh may have a line of non-disposible ones now at Wal-mrt too but not sure if they are contoured or not.
Ann

[Jillerina]

Thanks Ann - I was trying to figure out if they were "contoured" and was having trouble getting the information (should have gone to the source I guess!). I'll pick some up at the Bummis store this weekend...good, one more thing checked off my ongoing list!

[mirthfulmum]

Letia - Sorry to hear about the insomnia. Isn't it crazy ho your mind will just race with the most stressful thoughts in the middle of the night. No matter how I try to calm down and think of something more pleasant those anxiety filled thoughts just creep back in.

Now, as I am beginning to really take in just how close this baby is to arriving I am beginning to feel anxious about everything! Do I have all that I need for Harrison? Is Alias going to be okay without us when Dh and I are at the hospital? Will Alias adjust well to having a baby brother? How can I figure out how to nurse the baby and still have room to snuggle Alias? Do I have enough food in the freezer? Am I ever going to get the bedroom clean? How did I end up being the mommy?

[blessed2bamommie]

Now, as I am beginning to really take in just how close this baby is to arriving I am beginning to feel anxious about everything! Do I have all that I need for Harrison? Is Alias going to be okay without us when Dh and I are at the hospital? Will Alias adjust well to having a baby brother? How can I figure out how to nurse the baby and still have room to snuggle Alias? Do I have enough food in the freezer? Am I ever going to get the bedroom clean? How did I end up being the mommy?

:nod and folks ask me if I'm excited and I'm like I'm anxious! :yikes

better get back to the retro garden auction! :bolt

eta: \o/ got it! I already have the cover....http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4323332628

[krnflwr]

How did I end up being the mommy?

:twins:
Exactly! I wonder this all the time lately.

[sunshinegal]

Hello all- things have been so hectic!! I took off a week for vaca and since I've gotten back to work, it's been so busy. And we have been filling up our social calendar because we are trying to get everything done before the baby gets here. Like that will happen, at least it is worth a try :) . It has been nice this past week or so. The weather here has been cooler so it has been much easier to sleep. I have also been journaling like crazy. It also seems to help me sleep better. Whenever I am pregnant, my worrying mind seems to work overtime and gets bogged down with all sorts of crazy thoughts, never mind all of the emotions that come along with all of that thinking. Besides, I don't want to wear my DH out with all my hormonal ranting and raving. He has been such an angel. :love
I went to a LLL meeting the other night and saw another mother due around the same time I am. She looks great, while I look like I am trying to hide the worlds largest watermelon!!! I try not to look in the mirror from the chest down when dressing because when I do it's like :eek I love my naked prego body, with all my lovely butt and breast stretch marks, but as soon as I put clothes on I feel like I look like a circus tent.
I just want to sent out some good :hug2 :throb :hug :grouphug positive vibes to all those in need this week, with all the moves, job changes, in laws and crazy stuff going on never mind being pregnant. You mamas have been a great help for me and I only hope that somehow I can do the same for you!!!
:kiss

[ameliabedelia]

Regarding nursing pads, I found this
http://withitmom.com/lilypadz.html

and I knew a mom who used these and she said they worked well and didn't cause any problems like plugged ducts or mastitis.

I think I will try these out, at least for when I go out. I have never had good success with nursing pads. They always slipped off my nipple and looked ridiculous on me. I could never find anything which was unobtrusive.

[AnnR33]

Those are interesting...I'm not sure I'd like some plastic stuck to my boob-wouldn't they be hot and sweaty? I'd still be afraid of plugged ducts though since milk is supposed to be able to be released as needed so if something was blocking it I'd think it could still cause a blockage. Just my 2 cents-sorry to knock it. BUT-obviously they work for some people or they wouldn't be in biz! Certainly can't hurt to try them-maybe they'll be just what you need.
I know some of the wahms amke breastpads but just not sure who right now. I also know there are quite a few wool ones out there that are well liked but more expensive-I'm still trying to decide if I'm going to invest in a pr or not. I wonder if you could crochet/knit some???
Ann

[Lucysmama]

This may be a dumb question, but when I had dd I pumped exclusively....I never had to use breastpads at all, cause I never leaked. Do you think that is something that goes along with pumping, or do you think I may not leak when I breastfeed this baby? Does everyone leak?

And I have another question....this may be REALLY too personal/gross, so you may wanna skip the rest of the post if you gross out easily. ;) My um...bowel patterns are SO different in the last week. I am now like a 3x per day gal, and they are rather loose. I'm not sick or anything. Do you think this is an indicator that the baby is on its way soon?? Maybe due to extra hormones? I meant to ask my midwife, but I forgot.

[blessed2bamommie]

Katie, I remember loose stools mentioned in cb class....its one of the ways the body clears the way for the baby....are you in the window yet tho? I thought you were maybe just days away from 37.

Was that colostrum on my shirt....speaking of nursin pads or just my usual messy self....I think this right boob is a live one...I *have* leaked before from that one quite a bit..:scratch

eta: uhhhhhhhhhh....if the flat nursing pads are....obvious? :eek

[mirthfulmum]

Katie - Well I've heard that when the baby's getting close the body does a "cleaning out". But I think that this happens a day or 2 before labour, but I may be wrong. I've been having similar bathroom expereinces (to put it delicately) for a week or two now. I think we're getting close... but not that close.

And as for nursing vs. pumping leaking... I'd say yeah you're going to leak if you're nursing. I don't think that pumping stimulates milk production as strongly as breast feeding. My guess is that you'll be pretty surprised by just how much milk your body produces when your new little baby arrives. I personally leaked constantly for the first few months (I'm a bit of an overproducer though). But I didn't know any nusing moms who didn't need to wear nursing pads.

[Court]

Hello ladies! I've been feeling anxious all of the sudden too, like it's starting to feel kind of real. Last night, since he was showing interest, I was showing Logan some pictures online of babies being born- they were all homebirth situations and they showed everything. His reaction was, "ooh mama that's gross!" So I was like, "no, it's a beautiful thing!" But secretly on this inside, I was like, "yeah that's pretty gross." I'm awful I know, but geeze I forgot how messy it is. I guess I have this cleaned up, idealized version of birth in my head. And in some pictures um, well you could kind of see some poop too. So, I was reminded of that as well. I don't know why I'm getting squeamish all of the sudden. But anyways after his gross comment I said, "Well that's how you came out!" and he enthusiastically said "YEAH!" I forgot he's a fan of "gross" things. Just trying to prepare him for what he might see you know.

And as usual I'm freaking out at the thought of having to juggle 2 kids, I guess I should worry about that more than giving birth in front of a room full of people.

Letia- my right boob is the more active one too! I hear that about a lot of right boobs. :)

I leaked like crazy those first few months of nursing. I should say "sprayed" like crazy. And I didn't know to get a sleep bra to hold pads in, so I was wearing normal nursing bras all the time and it was so uncomfortable. If I didn't have a bra on, I just walked around the house with a towel under my shirt.

And sunshinegal - it's great to hear that you love your naked preggo body! :thumb I guess I can love mine too.

[Lucysmama]

Thanks mirthfulmum! I don't think we're that close to labor, either - I think I am 2 weeks away from it at the soonest. Just wondering if it could be related, or if there may be something else goin' on in there! I think maybe it is hormonal - I am very sensitive to hormonal changes in general. (My bowel patterns change when I ovulate and when I have my period, too.) So maybe SOMETHING is getting increased in our bodies. :)

And thanks for the leaking tip. I will have to look for some inexpensive nursing pads. I just saw some at some WAHM store for $1.50 a pair....where was that??? Those Lilypadz sound interesting, although I am not sure they would work on my sensitive skin. I usually have to stick to natural fibers against my body, or it drives me nuts with itchiness. Someone let us know how they work, though!!!

[krnflwr]

Just to toss my $.02 in here in regards to leaking...
I really didn't leak that much in the beginning, after Hannah was born. Maybe just a bit for the first few weeks. Nothing too messy. And after that, if I did leak it was only from the lefty. I hardly ever used the nursing pads I had (from Bravado, I believe, pretty nice, washable ones) and I was quite the overproducer. My DH says I have good check valves, although the left one needs to be tightened. :eyesroll He's a bit of a geek.
Anyway, I think leaking is common...but not necessarily a problem for everyone.
And, yes, lots of stool (cleansing of the bowels) is one sign of impending labor. But I think it could also just be hormonal in general. I've been majorly constipated since I was like 5 min preg, but have gone 3x today.....which hasn't happened to me in over a year. A record for me! Guess this is just a poopy day for us all! ;)

[stanleymama]

Playing catch-up here so if I forget someone..I'm Sorry.

Trueblue...Another hurricane!!! Your are in my prayers.

Lucysmama...sorry about the added stress of dh losing his job. Praying it opens the door for a better one.

Piglet...so fun to be getting your furniture and getting settled:)

Well ladies I am 34 WEEKS today!!!! And another year older:) Yesterday was my 26th birthday...I still feel 21. We went shopping on Thurs. and I am now officially set for the baby. Last night dh took me to a micro brewery for dinner (their beer was very tasty..I kept getting sips from dh). I couldn't eat much of my dinner though, I have no room for food anymore. I will eat just a bit and it feels like I stuffed myself to the max. We then went and saw the movie "Hero." Very good and captivating. It moved so quickly, never felt like it dragged anywhere. I definitely recommend it.

I have also decided to close up shop. With #4 coming and moving in less than a year and getting ready to homeschool, I've decided to let my biz go. So if I don't post much, its because I am busy with my sale and getting hopefully most everything cleared out before baby comes.

Have a great weekend mamas!!

[mirthfulmum]

:balloons :balloons :birthday: :balloons :balloons
Happy Birthday Kimberly
It sure does sound like you've got a lot of changes and new responsiilities comming inot your life soon. Good luck in your new phase of life!

[OakEmber]

Happy Birthday Kimberly :jumpers: And congrats on selling your business...it sure sounds like you will be busy enough without it!

Mirthfulmum :LOL that was too cute of a quote...maybe we should all adopt that as our signatures, :LOL!

About the leaking...Katie, yes I think you should expect to leak. I seem to be low on the leaking scale, last time I just used disposies and I think I only only bought one box of them, so I was a small leaker, but I still did. Mostly at night it seemed, I remember waking up in a few puddles :LOL

Can't remember who it was that mentioned the smaller breasts and pads....but I am there with ya! I just ordered some MOE pads and they are soo huge on me :LOL Oh well, they will be good around home and at night. I should look into some contoured too, and maybe even smaller ones. I have a WAHM making me some, maybe I should say I need smaller than usual, :LOL.

And finally some job news on our end :banana :carrot :banana Sounds like Dh is finally getting some work...keep your :fingersx: for us!! Only one problem though....he might have to go to Florida (of all places) a week from Monday...that's starting to get pretty close to term :yikes: Hopefully all the hurricane action will be over with by then. He went last summer for what was supposed to be a week, and ended up being there 3.5 weeks...we don't have that sort of time on our hands now :LOL I don't want to get to excited before it actually is "real" KWIM but we really, really need for this to work out if we want to continue living where we are...there isn't anything in the area for him so contracting from home would be awesome.

[stanleymama]

OakEmber and Mirthfulmom..thanks for the Birthday wishes :) :hug2

And OakEmber...that is great on dh's possible job. Can I ask what exactly he does? That would be great if he cou