*~*~* ftm check-in 01/21 *~*~*

AMShark

Welcome to the First Time Mothers (FTM) check-in! 

This is a thread for the FTM's in our PAIF community.  Check-ins will be posted every other Thursday.  On alternating Thursdays, I'll post a FT & BTDT moms' "Play Date" thread - in which we inexperienced first timers ask for advice and feedback from the more experienced ladies in our communities.

Congratulations, FTM!  Let us know how you're doing this week.  If you're new to the group, please provide your EDD and advise your trimester (I'd do it myself, but you know, math) - Let us know too if you're carrying more than one little bean/grapefruit/bowling ball (depending on how far you are along).

I'm adding a separate item for our FTM's, ordered by EDD (I think the list is just too long to post correctly).

QOTW:  With all of the drama that's been going on at the hands of our corporate overlords, there have been a lot of serious discussions around here. As a break from that, I'm all about a fluffy QOTW  

So, is there something that you've always wanted to learn?  A class to take, or a skill you'd like to acquire?  Please share.

AMShark

FTM's List

Third Trimester

12/15/14 - @xc1148

01/21/15 - @hopeby2015

01/24/15 - @Lady2010

02/02/15 - @WA1215

02/07/15 - @jaztastic

02/11/15 - @MissEm15

02/17/15 - @weansworld09

02/19/15 - @Escarabeo217

02/22/15 - @BeckyP005

02/22/15 - @runawaylaurel

03/14/15 - @Margritli (twins)

03/21/15 - @KT416

03/23/15 - @poohniki

04/17/15 - @pblge

AMShark

Second Trimester

04/25/15 - @BalletAn

04/25/15 - @Canuck13

04/29/15 - @AMShark (twins)

05/01/15 - @LO95

05/02/15 - @gsancho

05/05/15 - @rella22

05/07/15 - @sugar4bri (twins)

05/16/15 - @Aimothy

05/16/15 - @sunshinedaisies000

05/20/15 - @Lesliem0901

05/21/15 - @holberry5

05/25/15 - @1220winterbride

05/25/15 - @Champs28

05/25/15 - @Regan1976

05/25/15 - @yvonne0001

05/26/15 - @HCAMP123

05/26/15 - @viola27

05/28/a5 - @ky29

05/29/15 - @kittenmittens9

05/30/15 - @MJ14323

05/31/15 - @IFinTN

05/31/15 - @sweetpotato123 (twins)

AMShark

Second trimester part 2

06/03/15 - @turquoisequeen

06/04/15 - @wendyful

06/06/15 - @Andy99

06/11/15 - @starlightgator (twins)

06/12/15 - @PurpleDaisy923 (twins)

06/15/15 - @jessimi06 (twins)

06/18/15 - @hbanana18

06/24/15 - @erbear84

07/02/15 - @katemonster1

07/08/15 - @theblessingofababy

AMShark

First Trimester 

07/21/15 - @chicory (twins)

07/28/15 - @Nutmeg8484

07/28/15 - @sorellam30

08/04/15 - @carrieharry79

08/04/15 - @RunCC37

08/06/15 - @alpCRNA

08/06/15 - @Shelbeans82

08/15/15 - @DSculley1824

08/20/15 - @MeatandBandP

08/24/15 - @luna0803

08/26/15 - @katers79 (twins)

08/27/15 - @Justone13

10/01/15 - @CML11

PAIF Angels:

amylev80

CarSaidYes (little Ryan, gone too soon)

missmarypoppins

RunCC37 (vanishing twin)

AMShark

Graduates:

@Cutiecruz327 - Welcome, baby Manny, b. 10/22/14

@lincoln79 - Welcome, baby William Ryan, b. 10/29/14

@ekc0630 - Welcome, baby Jackson Thomas, b. 10/31/14

@rox825 - Welcome, baby Joseph Thomas, b. 11/13/14

@Ashris13 - Welcome, baby Elizabeth (Ellie) Victoria, b. 11/23/14

@heleng5 - Welcome, baby Annabelle Jade, b. 12/10/14

@CandaceC1020 - Welcome, baby Alaina Grace, b. 12/23/14

@MKateG - Welcome, babies Karlee Astor & Cason Thomas, b. 12/30/14

@SaintElizabeth - Welcome, baby Adeline Marguerite b. 01/06/15

@SouthernYankeeGirl - Welcome, baby Ryan, b. 01/10/15

AMShark

Sweet mercy!  Our FTM list is so long - and now, TB won't let me post it in one discussion.  When I attempt to post the list in a single reply, I get an error message stating there are too many characters to post.

Maybe now is the time to edit the list down, considering that some ladies have left this incarnation of PAIF.

Or perhaps save the list to a Google drive?  Something to think about.

ASM - 26w1d today - grow, babies, grow.   I had a scan on Sunday that showed good growth in both babies, and parity between A & B (there was some concern that baby A would be behind in growth, due to the lack of amniotic fluid).  My newest hospital roommate (roommie #5 for those keeping track) is also a PPROM patient - its kind of nice having something in common, even though its an awful thing to have in common.

QOTW:  I never learned to play an instrument.  If I ever find the time, I would like to take guitar or piano lessons.  I picture leading my kids through the park and strumming my guitar, a la Maria in Sound of Music (albeit with a lot fewer kids).

sorrellam30

Hi girls,  13 weeks....4 days? I can keep track of the weeks but kinda suck at keeping track of the days!  

I had spotting last weekend, it was brown and I have a home doppler so I wasn't really worried but called it in anyway.  They had me come in and we got an ultrasound, slight placenta previa, no restrictions other than no sex for a week.. Baby was measuring right on track and I got to see it again so that was exciting.  

I'm excited to enter second trimester, it seems really surreal and odd.

QOTD-I took 5 years of spanish and now I teach esl and I am always wishing I had kept at it more.  

katers79

Thanks for the checkin @AMShark‌ !

9w1d here. XP from the roll call post-- i had a freak out moment yesterday with sudden bright red bleeding. My OB was able to get me in within 2 hrs, and by that time it had stopped. My NP couldn't find the source of the bleeding, and both babies are doing great (Thank GOD!), so we're A-ok now. But holy crap, that was SCARY! Limited activity, no sex, and no lifting >25# for 2 wks. I can live with that.

QOTW- I would love to learn photography. I may still try to pick it up before babies-- it would be nice to have good quality pictures of them without having to shell out $$$ for a professional all the time. If I'm actually any good! Trying to convince DH to spring for a nice camera might be a challenge right now though...

Have a good weekend ladies!

turquoisequeen

Hello!!

@amshark glad you are hanging in there day by day. You may be able to shorten the FTM list by those that don't check in over the next couple weeks

@katers79‌ glad all is ok!

21w1d here and not much new to report. Our crib did arrive this week so I want to put that together this weekend to make sure all is good with it.

QOTW: I would really like to learn how to use photoshop for photo editing. I've gotten into photography over the past few years and can do a few things by googling tutorials but am by no means great at Photoshop or an expert.

pblge

Hi Ladies,

Had another check-up and my big batch of tests today, including the GTT. Bad experiences at the lab, but it all got done. FX for good results, but I'd be shocked if I have GD. I'm more worried about the Rh test. Cute moment: midwife got a really good kick when she went to measure my stomach. She gave a sweet smile and a, "Oh, hi, Baby!" Also said, "Well, we know Baby is just fine, but let's listen to that heartbeat anyway." Feeling really good about my choice to deliver with these ladies, although getting to them, and using their lab, is a real PITA. It's still a hospital birth, so it seems like the best of both worlds.

QOTW: Forgetting Spanish and never learning a musical instrument are definitely my regrets. DH is a composer, so we anticipate having our children take music lessons, and we frequently debate which instruments are "allowed." E.g., no drums, trumpet, saxophone--we agree on those. My mom really told me that she will be insisting that this LO get a language immersion course early on. I dunno, man, something she read!

1220winterbride

Thanks for the checkin @amshark

I think everyone here has seen my updates so I'll just say I feel great and have a GTT to look forward to in a few weeks. 

*I'm taking a birth prep class w/ DH at the hospital on Sunday! Too real, I feel like a character in a book. surreal- 

So, is there something that you've always wanted to learn?  Yes, Guitar would be so cute!! cooking or knitting would be practical I took some art classes but I am not great at anything. I'd love to be great at Watercolor. 

Regan1976

Hi everyone still here! And just think @AMShark figuring out how to deal with all of us on the list might occupy a little time. It's odd to watch your name creep up the list. 

22w4d here and JP is really starting to move around more. SO still can't feel him though but has commented that my tummy is starting to feel much firmer. And not in the "you've been working out way." :-< Not always what a bigger girl wants to hear but it means he's growing in there. Hands have been really acting up this week and has this snow baby praying for no more snow. 

QOTW: Calligraphy. Of course one of the things I've always wanted to get good at involves me hands. *le sigh*

sweetpotato123

Hi all! I'm still here!

@turquoisequeen‌ - I haven't been ignoring you! I just haven't had a chance to get to my computer for the PM.

21w4d here. No real complaints, just the usual tiredness and my ankles disappear on some days. The nursery dresser should be delivered tomorrow, so that should occupy us this weekend. Thinking about ordering some prints to start decorating, but may wait a bit longer.

QOTW- my OH is fluent in German and I wish I had the motivation to learn. I'll need to since he wants these boys to be bilingual, it I'll be in trouble!

jessimi06

Hi ladies!

@AMShark‌ - I'm glad the babies are doing so well! Is this the im going to hide behind my curtain roomie, or a new one?

@katers79‌ - glad everything is ok!

AFM- There's nothing new over here; I'm still chilling at home on bed rest. I have an OB appt next week to check on the babies and the previa.

QOTW- I've always wanted to learn how to quilt. I have a machine and can see basic things like comforters, curtains, pillows etc but I haven't had the patience this far to quilt.

turquoisequeen

@jessimi06‌ quilting scares me too. Particularly the binding part but I've seen a few tutorials on if you are doing a quilt with a bunch of squares pieces together you can sew the back and front main pieces together and then just do a straight stitch across in a couple places (which is fairly disguised by the squares) to secure it from shifting so I'm going to attempt one for this babe.

@sorrellam30‌ glad the spotting turned out to be ok

@pblge‌ fx for great results!

@sweetpotato123‌ no worries!

CML11

Thanks for the check in @AMShark‌!

I just did my intro yesterday, but I believe I am 4 weeks. My Betas are on the higher side, 720 on 10dp5dt and 2284 on 12dp5dt, so we are thinking we have a possibility of twins! I won't know for sure I suppose until my first U/S. I can't wait for that!
Next Beta is Tuesday!

QOTW: My folks really didn't encourage sports or playing an instrument. I come from a bigger family, so my parents wouldn't let us get involved in it due to money. I hope to be able to offer those experiences to my kid(s), especially if they show interest.

Lady2010

Hi Ladies,

39+5 over here and baby seems to be snug as a bug and not wanting to leave. He/she has been very active this evening and kicking/moving so I have told our LO if he/she wants more real estate there is a simple solution - come out into the world!

Other than that - just getting anxious, impatient and waiting...

QoTW: I wish I could fluently speak my parents' native language. I did get a Rosetta Stone a few years back before went on a trip but only got through the basics - which I kind of already know. I know enough to get by but my grammar, accent and pronunciation are terrible. I would really love to be able to pass this down to our little one.

WA1215

38 weeks, 3 days pg today! I go to the hospital on Sunday night for my induction!!! I got great news today at my weekly BPP ultrasound - baby girl has flipped again, she's now head down and no longer breech like they found she was last week. Thank goodness, now I just hope she stays! I'm getting SO nervous and anxious. I hope I can pull it together and do this!

Canuck13

Hi ftm's I don't have much new to say...26w, 4d and feeling pretty good, except sleeping is not so comfortable any more, and I know it's only getting worse from here on out. I had my glucose test last week and they didn't contact me, so I'll assume I passed??

QOTW: I have always enjoyed photography and have a really good camera, that I still don't know all the ins and outs of. I'd like to take a class to learn more about it. I also taught myself to knit a few years ago but haven't really tried anything too difficult so I'd like to knit a few baby projects. 

Aimothy

23w5d here.  Just chugging along.  We finalized our daycare choice, and I'll be dropping off a deposit on Monday.  Such a relief to have that piece taken care of.  She's also holding our spot for the summer, but not charging us (I'm a teacher), so we are SUPER excited about that.  We do have to pay for any days during the school year that we don't use (ie, Christmas break, Spring Break, etc) but I think it's a fair trade-off for her to hold our spot. We have friends that take their two boys there, so we are excited that our little man will get to be with "friends" during his day. We'll have to use Grandpa and Grandma daycare for my first week back to school in the fall, until she's got a spot open, but we can handle that. 

Our anatomy re-scan is tomorrow to check on his growth (which I'm not worried about) and get a good picture of his pulmonary valve.  And I'm also going to make them double check that his penis is still there.  I've been having daydreams that he's really a girl. Sigh.  As if the picture wasn't completely obvious....

chicory

@Aimothy‌ I giggled at your "make sure the penis is still there" comment! @jessimi06‌ @turquoisequeen‌ I think quilting is way easier than any other kind of sewing! Full disclaimer, I only do patterns with straight lines, I only piece the tops, and I send them away for actual quilting. But the binding is totally doable if you have someone show you once! AFM, 14w2d and doing well. I still eat like a horse and I broke down and went to Goodwill to buy some pants one size up from my usual. I made it this far without having to pee more often, but in the last week I've become unable to get through the night without getting up at least once to pee. I can't imagine how much worse that's going to be when the babies start getting some size to them! Next OB appointment is next week, and next growth scan is at 16 weeks. QOTW: I wish I'd learned to play piano, that I hadn't let my Spanish get so rusty, and that I knew how to use all the features of my digital SLR camera.

Justone13

@AMShark‌ mind adding me please? FTM (but I'm a bonus/stepmom also) I'm 9w. I can't believe I can say that. One little snowflake on the way with an EDD of 8-27. Graduated from my re this past week and start with my obgyn on the 29th!

QOTW: I wish I could learn to fly a small airplane. I always enjoyed flying but would really like to learn to fly on my own.

shelbeans82

Hi Ladies!  12w1d here.  Still spotting from SCH and anxiously awaiting our NT scan on Tuesday to make sure the beans are a-ok!  I did call my OB because I had stopped spotting and then started again and wasn't impressed with the response I got.  I have my 2nd OB appointment 2/6 and we shall see how it goes and if I'm not happy I will find a new OB. 

QOTW:  I would like to learn how to crochet.  My grandmother crocheted and it would mean a lot to me to be able to do something that she did. 

turquoisequeen

@chicory @Canuck13‌ what helped me a lot with my SLR was starting by learning how to just shoot in either aperture priority or shutter priority first where you are just learning how to adjust one thing and the camera adjusts the other piece for you. Then you can completely get off of using auto. Pioneer Woman has some great posts describing these settings and when you want to use which. Low aperture setting (low f number) is awesome for getting picture of babies where the background is that "pretty blurry look".

I later took a How to shoot in manual class offered by a local photographer and it really wasn't as hard as I thought it would be and it has made a huge difference.

Sorry for such a long reply. PM me if you want to talk about it more.

AMShark

jessimi06 said:

Hi ladies! @AMShark‌ - I'm glad the babies are doing so well! Is this the im going to hide behind my curtain roomie, or a new one? ....

@jessimi06 - This is a new roommate.  Roommate #5 came the same day that "hide behind my curtain" left.  

I really should get that guest book going - and maybe start making "Welcome to the Room" baskets.

gsancho

Hi!  I love that we still have so many ladies checking in here.  

I'll be 26w tomorrow!  This week has been a blur.  I've had to travel for work all week, and I'm reminded of how exhausting this is when pregnant.  I can't wait to head home tonight.  We are bringing our old dresser out of storage tomorrow to sand down and paint.  It will be the last bit of big furniture for our nursery, and then we can start decorating and storing all the tiny clothes I got at my shower.

QOTW: I love cooking, but I'd like to take classes to learn even more.  I'd like to learn to make sushi...I know, sounds like a first world problem...but I could seriously eat sushi every day.

gsancho

Holy shit - just realized I'm down to 99 days left

pblge

@gsancho - making sushi is super easy! The hardest part is finding the good quality raw fish, if you want that. But it's really easy to put veggies in. You need the wooden roller, sushi rice vinegar, and the nori, but everything else is probably in your pantry right now. Invite a friend over and try it!!! Congrats on being in the double digits!

weansworld09

Hi ladies!

36w3d over here! Nothing to report. No Braxton hicks, wasn't dilated at my cervix check at 35w.

I'm happy to see many ladies are hanging out here still

QOTW: I would also love to take cooking or baking classes. DH always says I should open up a bakery. At any rate, I wouldn't mind learning professional techniques

AMShark

@pblge - I know it sounds crazy, but I'm kind of with your mom on this.  My mom regrets that she didn't start us all on Spanish early.  I've read that the human brain is more receptive to learning languages at a very young age - I guess your mom just doesn't want your LO to miss the window of opportunity.

@Regan1976 - Since there's been such a good response to this week's thread, I might use it as the base for updating the FTM lists.

@CML11 - Welcome !  I've added you to the list.  I estimated your EDD based on your post.  If you want to update it, let me know.

@Aimothy - I really need to get my butt in gear on child care options.   Glad you've gotten yours worked out.

@Justone13 - Welcome!  I've added you to the FTM list.

@turquoisequeen - Thanks for the DSLR tips.  I'll bet a lot of ladies went "oh!" like I did when I read your post.

@gsancho - Don't feel bad it you just make a mess of your first maki attempt, like I did.  I think the important part is cooking the rice correctly, after that, it probably is easy, like pblge says.