Moms to be Part 4

[MommaSnowwhite]

E- so glad your anotomy scan went well.

As far as top items. It has been ALONG time for us. Our DDs are 12 & 10. Things have changed so much in that time! For us car seat, stroller, pack -n-play and crib mattress are huge. To be honest alot of the the other big stuff we are buying off of craigslist or garage sales. We know this is a one time shot for us and I just can't see buying a new swing for jsut a few months. I would probably feel differently if this little girl was my only - I guess for us we are really trying to do a minimalist approach to purchasing. The funny thing is that we have moved 3 times since our youngest was born and we still have the crib. I don't know why we kept it - we just did. It is in the basement all wrapped up, I don't even remember what kind of wood it is!

I don't see anyone having a shower for us - we are really far from my family and with all the stuff with my sister's cancer I don't think anyone has thought of it. My DH's family is weird about showers, but I don't think they would have one either. I am happy not having to feel funny opening the girfts in front of everyone - it always made me feel like I was on display.

 

[starann]

Eilis (Registery stuff)

I registered at BRU and Buy,Buy Baby. After my shower I registered at TArget, not to get stuff for a shower (as it had passes) but to get the coupons!!!! All 3 stores gives you a 'goody' bag of stuff, some samples, and coupons. The Target coupons ROCKED! I also got the complettiion coupons from all 3 stores, so anythign left on my registry will have a discount. Also by registering at BRU I am now on their mailing list and get a lot more baby type coupons then I ever got before, so there is some savings to be had there.

I say register, but use it more so as a check list for yourselves if what you need/want. As you find a sale on it or coupon, buy it and have it 'taken' off your registry. AND should someone want to get you something, you can say I am registered at.....


Things like a highchair, walker/activity center, toys can wait until later.

We got a LOT from my shower (more than with my 1st with the same number of people there!) but the things I have used the most with Casey are

travel system (car seat/stroller/extra base for DH car)
swing (if you really wanted to save $, look for a travel swing, it saves room and $)
pack and play (we have it set up down stairs and it has a changing area in it, so he naps down there and it is helpful not to have to run up and down the stairs to change 100 diapers in the day)
diaper bag
breastpump/stroage bags

I have to put together my bouncey seat, I have yet to use the baby monitor, but will once he starts sleeping more at night. The tub can't be used until his umbilical stump falls off.


I am a HUGE couponer/saver so whenever I see baby wash for a great deal, I pick it up, same with butt cream, bottle liners (we use the playtex nursers with the drop ins) any other of those type items. I am pretty much stocked on wash and lotion for about 6mo to a year and paid next to nothing for it (brand name stuff too!). Diapers and wipes I have done the same thing with, I have sizes up to 3, but mainly newborn, 1's and 2's but I got a lot of those on clearence and from amazon.com for free or close to it.
The pack and play was brand new from Target, but it was only $45 as it was on clearence because hte pattern was retiring, same with the swing, it was only $35 (75% off). My diaper bag was 50% off at tArget (a JJ cole). So if you aren't really fussy about patterns, check stores for clearence.

Let me know if you need any other info/tips, I am happy to share!

 

[esbrick]

Thank you so much ladies! I had your posts printed out yesterday and had Target and BRU shopping lists/registries open searching out stuff! I so appreciate it!!!

Can't wait until 3:30 PM today when I'm on my way to WDW!!!! The weather is so CRAPASSY here so I can't wait to be in the heat!

Hope everyone is well

 

[MommaSnowwhite]

Have a gret trip E!

 

[esbrick]

Have a gret trip E!

Thanks honey! Can't wait!

 

[starann]

Thank you so much ladies! I had your posts printed out yesterday and had Target and BRU shopping lists/registries open searching out stuff! I so appreciate it!!!

Can't wait until 3:30 PM today when I'm on my way to WDW!!!! The weather is so CRAPASSY here so I can't wait to be in the heat!

Hope everyone is well

Enjoy your trip!!!!! Are you meeting up with any of the other moms to be?

 

[scottishduffy]

E: Have fun on your trip!

Tough day at work today, I suppose I'm just venting and getting it out. I have been super emotional the past couple weeks but today we had a shooting at the hospital. In the parking garage actually. One of our surgeons was killed by a crazy person, from what we heard a disgruntled patient or family member. The surgeon was an amazingly nice guy. He was a genuinely respectful and kind person, loved and admired by the entire staff. I did not know him too well as I only worked with him a couple times, but everyone in the OR was a mess this evening... so terribly sad.

There were news cameras everywhere on the way out of work, it was crazy down there. So glad to be home. So if anyone has a kind thought to spare please send a kind thought to this surgeon and his family.

 

[MommaSnowwhite]

E: Have fun on your trip!

Tough day at work today, I suppose I'm just venting and getting it out. I have been super emotional the past couple weeks but today we had a shooting at the hospital. In the parking garage actually. One of our surgeons was killed by a crazy person, from what we heard a disgruntled patient or family member. The surgeon was an amazingly nice guy. He was a genuinely respectful and kind person, loved and admired by the entire staff. I did not know him too well as I only worked with him a couple times, but everyone in the OR was a mess this evening... so terribly sad.

There were news cameras everywhere on the way out of work, it was crazy down there. So glad to be home. So if anyone has a kind thought to spare please send a kind thought to this surgeon and his family.

That is horrible! Sorry you had a bad day.

 

[ArielSRL]

Ariel - are you guys serious joggers? I really like the look and feel of the baby trend but when I read the reviews from several sites and the baby bargains book, it wasn't all that good for serious joggers. (which I am not, so good for me, but hubby has gotten back in to it.)

No way...lol...definitely not a serious jogger AT ALL! Mostly just a walker but figured it would be easier to maneuver than a regular one. But thanks for the info!

 

[ArielSRL]

Renee! Thinking of you today with your anatomy scan coming up! Let us know how everyone is!

Everything went great! Sorry I took so long to get back, but the last week of school is always so friggin crazy! I survived but we (the teachers) do have to go back tomorrow for 1 post planning day, then we are done until August!

Anyway, AJ is great! He weighed 14 oz at the appt. We got some great photos. The only negative was the doctor cautioned me on my weight. Its not crazy yet, but she just doesn't want it to get there. I am hoping it levels off some now that I will be able to work out daily for a little while. I plan to do my walking video, prenatal pilates, swimming, and water aerobics.

Oh, and it turns out this weird feelimg I've been having for about a week or more, is most likely AJ kicking. I just wasn't sure before but it really seems to be that now that it is more pronounced. I feel it a lot at night after I've been relaxing on the couch for a bit.

 

[ArielSRL]

rambling. . .

1. TMI Alert! When you need to poop does anyone else get bad cramps? I swear sometime I'm a little nervous but then I know when I feel the cramps moving a certain way that, yep, i gotta poop. It could be a nothing poop but when it hits

Sometimes but not every time. Mostly its when it is not one of my regulayly scheduled poops...lol (from when I take my fiber) but from when it is more food related (spicy, too much, etc). L:ately my pooping has been all messed up b/c I went on Zantac for my horrible heartburn and it is causing digestive overload!

2. Registry/ Shower ~ My mom has desided and spoke to my Godmother who initially brought it up that "she" would rather throw a baby shower AFTER the baby is born. Since that side of the family and friends are in NY it is travel for me and my last plane travel date is July 4th weekend, unless there is some sort of emergency. My mother and Godmother are not the worlds best planners and they are also the BUSIEST women on the face of the earth (at least that's what they tell us) Truth be told, I'm not sure my mom has the bandwith right now to think about a shower. She is very supportive, and a great person, don't get me wrong. Her ability to multi task however is non existant. I'm really not sure if or when a shower is going to happen. As our baby is expected the first week of October and then bam! We hit the holidays. Everyone has families now and lives and football games and holiday shopping. It comes with being older My sister in laws, who live here, have not brought anything up so I have not put anything together as far as a registry goes. In all fairness my SIL's are both moms to teenagers. One has a DD graduating from highschool next week and the other has end of year stuff going on with her 3 kids and she has been working on some family business which will benefit all of us, so they are really busy. My boss' wife is throwing me a shower a work shower and that will be about 8 to 10 girls which will be lovely. I'm excited for that! All this being said, I am thinking that DH and I are going to be on our own getting ready for this little boy coming into our lives. It's just the way it goes when stuff happens late in life and I'm good with it. It was the same with our wedding. What I wanted to ask all of you is what are the top 5 things you have put on your registry/or even better what are the top 5 things that you have heard are must haves to be prepared for your new baby? There is so much information out there an it's a bit overwhelming as you all know Eventually I will email my mommy girlfriends and ask them too but I want to wait until after school gets out cause everyone is so busy.

And finally, i'm sending my receptionist out for me to get ice cream in a little bit. That's really bad right, it's not gonna stop me, but I know it's bad

I'm older, too but I'm not in the same position as you. All of my family lives here in metro Atlanta so my family is good about doing the shower thing. They did great for my wedding last year. My friends also threw me one and work too. This time my family will and work. Not sure about my friends, so I may invite them to my family one. They want to do it the last weekend in August but I am begging my mom to convince them to have it while I am out of school. Its so hard the first month of school (August) just getting into the routine and having to work long, extra hours to get it all done. I am normally exhausted and this time I'll be 7 months pregnant! Then September will be spent getting ready to be out for 12 weeks. I have to get lesson plans ready and thats gonna take me staying after school as well. I just want to know what all we will still need after the showers and have time to go get it! And I don't know how possible that will be if the shower is the last week in August.

I don't know about top 5 things as I'm an FTM, but I'd say a pack-n-play (AJ will sleep in it in our room for at least a few months), a stroller/car seat system, a bouncy seat, a swing, and a boppy pillow for breastfeeding. Eventually, a good pump.

 

[ArielSRL]

E: Have fun on your trip!

Tough day at work today, I suppose I'm just venting and getting it out. I have been super emotional the past couple weeks but today we had a shooting at the hospital. In the parking garage actually. One of our surgeons was killed by a crazy person, from what we heard a disgruntled patient or family member. The surgeon was an amazingly nice guy. He was a genuinely respectful and kind person, loved and admired by the entire staff. I did not know him too well as I only worked with him a couple times, but everyone in the OR was a mess this evening... so terribly sad.

There were news cameras everywhere on the way out of work, it was crazy down there. So glad to be home. So if anyone has a kind thought to spare please send a kind thought to this surgeon and his family.

Oh my. I am so sorry to hear that. I don't even know what to say except I'm sorry it happened and that would be so scary.

 

[starann]

E: Have fun on your trip!

Tough day at work today, I suppose I'm just venting and getting it out. I have been super emotional the past couple weeks but today we had a shooting at the hospital. In the parking garage actually. One of our surgeons was killed by a crazy person, from what we heard a disgruntled patient or family member. The surgeon was an amazingly nice guy. He was a genuinely respectful and kind person, loved and admired by the entire staff. I did not know him too well as I only worked with him a couple times, but everyone in the OR was a mess this evening... so terribly sad.

There were news cameras everywhere on the way out of work, it was crazy down there. So glad to be home. So if anyone has a kind thought to spare please send a kind thought to this surgeon and his family.

SO terrible. Thoughts for his family and coworkers.

 

[scottishduffy]

Ariel: Glad to hear your scan went well. AJ is almost a full pound!

Well, had a fun weekend. Got to meet Esbrick live and in person, and my DH was thrilled that they were normal people. The last time I met a DISer it was really awkward and the couple was definitely a little bit wierd. So he was a little afraid of another DISer meetup. However, we had a great time! DH had a great time and even said he would love to hang out again... perhaps get the babies together! We met up at Raglan Road on Saturday evening and just had fun chatting while sitting outside.

On Sunday we just had a lazy day, lounging around the house. I get fairly fatigued lately so having one day a week to be vegetable and just sleep is good for me. On Monday we have a couple Groupons we needed to get through we ended up Mini-Golfing on I-drive and then going out to eat.

Today was my 38 week appointment! So far all is well, though I thought it was funny when my OB very gently told me "Ya know, I think you might be one of those people that go right up to your due date. If not a little late." I told her I figured that would be the case. 38 weeks and I still walk straight, have not had a single contraction or Braxton Hick (that i can tell at least), and outside of being tired I am GOOD. My grand total weight gain is now at 11 pounds. All the grandparents called today to see if anything was happening on the baby front and they all seem disappointed that she may come late. I don't mind at all really. I feel pretty decent and will be able to work a little longer. Also, the tummy is relatively easier to manage than the infant.

After my appointment we headed out to Typhoon Lagoon for another day in the sun. Had lots of fun floating in the lazy river and wavepool. This time we had a friend with us so DH had somebody to ride slides with.

As far as the shooting from last week, people are obviously still upset at work. This doc was one of Organ Transplant surgeons and had a regular room and people he worked with. Grief counselors have been brought in to the hospital to help his regular people, and the people who worked on him that night, deal with the loss. The hospital is also helping his family out with counselors and psychologists for his wife and kids. Thanks to those who sent well wishes. Thankfully he was part of a group so his partners are picking up the Organ Donor surgeries he would do (They each specialized in a particular organ/ area), so no patients will lose out because of a crazy mans rage.

Not much else to say! Just working, and waiting on Baby! Hope everyone else is doing well.

 

[esbrick]

Can't believe we are back from WDW and back to the grind! Had a great night with Scottishduffy and her DH! Our guys got along very well and SD is lovely! We were walking out and Mike says, Crap we forgot to take a picture! Typical! We are totally looking foward to visiting with them again when the babies are here So sorry we missed out on seeing Meg! She and the hubby were having a lovely dinner at AKL! Yum! Can't wait to hear aobut it!

I had another tummy pop yesterday afternoon! My DSD Meg was very surprised when she saw me! We are having her slumber party this weekend for her b-day, which is actually at the end of the summer. It will be fun to have the girls around, 9 13 year olds for a slumber party! God help me!!!

On a happy note I received an update from the TTC thread! One of the girls received a BFP so I'm hopeful she will be joining us soon!

On a sad note, and I hope that Rose doesn't mind me sharing, but Rose's sister Jane is not doing well and is in the hospital. Please keep her sister and her family in your prayers during this time as the prognosis does not look good.

Hope everyone is well!

 

[MommaSnowwhite]

E - I am so glad you had a nice trip. I have to say I am a bit jealous. Our next trip is planned for April 2012 - sooooo far away!

I don't mind that you shared about my DSis. I haven't posted on here because it is hard to see in words. Her cancer has spread even farther and I fear I may not get back home before she passes or before she knows who I am. My heart is so broken today that I can hardly function. Having all these preggo homones flowing thru my body really doesn't help.


I hope everyone else is having a much better day.

 

[lillygator]

sorry to hear about your sister. thoughts and prayers out to your family.

 

[scottishduffy]

Snow: I am sorry to hear about your Sis and will be thinking of you.

E: We had a fun time too! Good luck on that slumber party, hope you manage to survive it relatively sane. Also glad to hear about another TTC grad, I know you ladies on that thread go through a lot.

Not much to report here. I got out of work super early today and am just relaxing. DH has been worried about Charlotte coming later rather than earlier, and has been having chats with her every night.

You see, DH's Bio-mom is flying into town and camping out starting June 17 (2 days after my due date). Not a prob, they can get along alright now. The issue is that his Dad and Mom (technically step-mom, he calls her Mom) will want to drive to see Charlie the first weekend after she is born. Dad and Bio-Mom still *hate* each other. Our wedding was the first time they had been in the same room in over 20 years, and remains still the only time that have shared a room. At least at the wedding we had buffer people and they never had to run into one another.

DH is afraid that if Charlie comes on time or late than his parents will have to share a room again and it will be very awkward. Bio-Mom hates the stepmom, the parents hate each other. There will be no buffers between them as both attempt to meet and share the grandbaby.Somebody is bound to be offended or hurt over DH or myself appearing to favor one side, or someone thinking the other is a 'baby hog'. However, if Charlie comes just a little early his Dad and Mom can have their meeting and time with Charlotte before bio-mom even gets here. So, Every night DH cuddles up to my tummy to ask Charlotte if she can perform just one small favor.... show up a little early. It is cute to watch his conversations with the tummy, they are very urgent but sweet little chats. Let's see if she listens to him.

I feel bad that DH has more stress over his parents coming together than he does about the baby! I just wish I could help him with that but there isn't really anything I CAN do. His parents feud ends up being our stress.

Well, not much else to say for now. Keep well ladies!

 

[lillygator]

our crib and mattress our in....now to clean out the room, get it painted etc.....!!

 

[ArielSRL]

Ariel: Glad to hear your scan went well. AJ is almost a full pound!

Well, had a fun weekend. Got to meet Esbrick live and in person, and my DH was thrilled that they were normal people.

Thanks! He's probably at least a pound now, I am thinking!

Glad you had a good DIS meet. I missed one on Saturday here in Atlanta, but will have one this Sunday.

You do seem to be doing great for 38 weeks. I only hope I feel as good as you!