We never did this, but at our doggie class they recommended taking the stroller out while walking the dog to get the dog used to walking with a stroller. So it's an excuse...
We won our single stroller at a baby event when I was 16 weeks pregnant for our first and hardly showing yet. It was funny and a little weird strolling that empty stroller around looking barely pregnant.
We may have actually settled on a first name!! We already had a middle name and it was husband who was waffling on it but yesterday he agreed to my choice!! Elliott Samwise. He likes Elliot but I suggested we go with the double T at the end so that since it's more commonly spelled just so he doesn't have to spend his whole life correcting people on the spelling. He still doesn't want to let me share the name until the baby is born but at least now we can call him more than "baby"
@camichael84 - When we registered, we came home with new trucks and toys for Emmett as well, and did the same saying "Well.. 2 babies will get use out of this!" Seems like every time I shop for 1, I shop for both.. whoever said having a second baby of the same sex was going to be way cheaper... doesn't know how I shop!
What do you ladies think about threads on the following topics? Is it too early?
- life insurance, wills, other financial stuff - birth plans
Dude, we still do periodic posts about life insurance and wills in my A13 facebook groups because there are several members (with three year olds!) who don't have wills or life insurance. (Yes, I'm judging. It's mind boggling why you wouldn't have that set up for your child.) Never too early to get that taken care of.
@PSUBecky23 I judge with you hardcore, especially as when it comes to wills it's simple and in regards to your kids guardians can be as easy as a letter dated and signed by the two parents expressing their wishes. My parents and I were super up in my brother and SILs face about getting this done. Especially as they both traveled often and you never know what's going to happen and because even though we knew should anything happen that they wanted me to be guardian, we also knew that unless written down and specified as their wishes, her parents and brother would fight us tooth and nail on it.
Having insurance is needed, but having a Will, no matter how morbid it sounds, is essential. You should never leave the future of your children in doubt and without a will, no matter how many people you 'tell' it will be in doubt unless otherwise written down.
We haven't done a will yet because we want to talk to SIL's and her soon-to-be-husband about being this and any future kids' guardians should anything awful happen to us. We feel this conversation should be had in person and not over the phone/text/email. We will see them in 2 weeks and ask then and as soon as we get back from vacation we will draw up an official will.
@AnnaS930 I so badly want to test drive my stroller but I have no kid and no kids around me and I am pretty sure I would look like a loon wandering the neighborhood with an empty stroller or worse if I put my dog in it.
I took my GD test today at a lab, their were quite a few people in there taking various tests and some of the woman cheered me on as I drank it. lol
Bahaha I cheered on another girl that was having a hard time drinking it a few months ago. I asked her if it would be helpful if I changed "chug!" For her, she said yes. Haha
@AnnaS930 Me, too!! SIL told me my brother couldn't understand why we were registering since we already had everything for a girl. One, I thought he knew me better than that. Two, he doesn't have children so he doesn't understand all that they need! And three, other than clothes, what sex specific items did he think I'd be getting a boy?
I need advice on a purchase... I have an Ergo now but wanted another carrier that was lighter-weight and that would be better at the infant stage. Several people suggested a ring sling. At the advice of @Sporty1216 I joined Babywearing on a Budget on FB and have been "observing" posts for a month or so..
It's so hard! I had no idea there were so many brands and sizes and fabric types and don't know what it all means, haha. Therefore I have been hesitant to purchase anything...
But I did see a post for a Linen Sweet Pea Ring Sling w Pocket...75" long...$75 incl shipping. What do you ladies think? Good price? Brand? Fabric? I'm 5'11...will 75" be long enough? TIA!
Also posted this to the old babywearing thread...gotta move fast on these things!
It's not a ring sling, but I loved my Baby K'Tan with my oldest daughter and plan to use it a lot this time. It was so easy!
Regarding a will, the recent conversation made me realize that it isn't totally laziness that has kept us from making one. We still haven't decided if we want his brother and SIL or my brother and SIL to be the kids' guardians. Anytime we discuss it, we talk in circles and never get anywhere on our decision.
How would you handle a neighbor with vicious dogs?? The people that live caddy corner to us and share 1 section of fence have 2 90+lb boxers and they are MEAN! We have had to reinforce the fence twice and they snarl and jump every time my 2 year old and I are outside. I'm afraid they are going to break through at some point.
@camichael84 - It took DH and I a long time to settle on a guardian, too, (we've been talking about long before we even wed) but we both realized that a) we don't want our parents to take our child and if we don't draft one that is what will likely happen and b) really, both his and my sister would be great guardians. There is no better option between them, just different, and ultimately, they'd both love and raise our child to the best of their ability with the values that we all share. And really, I'd rather have my second choice (his sister), than my last choice ending up with our child (his mom).
If you're curious, we ultimately decided on my sister, simply because we think she'd be more conscious about including our child's paternal family in our child's life, and my SIL would be less likely to do that. Though we may include in our will something that says that should my sister be unable to care for our child, we would prefer his sister. It's a tough decision for sure.
@lovelylauren86 - That's a really hard situation. I had a neighbor complain to me about my dog barking a few times and it really bothered me (granted she is 12 pounds and sweet as can be.. he was just annoyed by her), but with dog owners it can be a touchy subject. You gotta say something though, I'm just not sure quite what. Do you see them often? Or would you have to go ring their doorbell to have a conversation? Either way it's worth it... even just to ask what their temperament is (even if you know what it is) since you have a small child and another on the way and would like to know how to handle it if their dogs cross the fence when your littles are around.
Regarding a will, the recent conversation made me realize that it isn't totally laziness that has kept us from making one. We still haven't decided if we want his brother and SIL or my brother and SIL to be the kids' guardians. Anytime we discuss it, we talk in circles and never get anywhere on our decision.
We debated this for 2 years before my husband caved! It is that biggest reason it has taken us so long to get things done. He wanted his brother, I wanted mine. I don't have much of a relationship with his brother and SIL - they have just never opened up to me and she can be very bitchy to me (in an incredibly passive way that my husband doesn't notice too often). With the relationship I have with them, I was not comfortable having them be guardians. It was very hard to have a conversation with my husband about guardianship without it turning into me complaining about my husband's brother and SIL. I think my husband may have started to notice how they treat me and he eventually consented to having my brother and SIL be guardian.
@lovelylauren86 - Also, don't be afraid to involve the cops if you need to. If they bark, growl, snap constantly and can break the barriers that secure them, you might be able to file a public nuisance complaint (depending on your local ordinances). At the very least, you can talk to the police about your concerns with the animals that might endanger your child and they might be able either a) talk to the neighbors and do the dirty work for you and b) be aware of the situation so they can monitor it a little better.
Growing up, we had several dogs in our neighborhood removed from their homes because their owners refused to properly train, secure or care for them (one of the dogs barked CONSTANTLY out of neglect ). We also had neighbors who really realized the problem after a conversation with the police and took action to rectify it - which is the best outcome. Animal safety is no joke, and sometimes hearing the concerns from a community official will help owners take the task more seriously.
If the dog was just yapping a occassionally, I'd just talk to the neighbor directly, but when it involves serious safety concerns and you don't think this neighbor will be receptive, I think it's okay to get the local law enforcement involved.
@lovelylauren86 - That's a really hard situation. I had a neighbor complain to me about my dog barking a few times and it really bothered me (granted she is 12 pounds and sweet as can be.. he was just annoyed by her), but with dog owners it can be a touchy subject. You gotta say something though, I'm just not sure quite what. Do you see them often? Or would you have to go ring their doorbell to have a conversation? Either way it's worth it... even just to ask what their temperament is (even if you know what it is) since you have a small child and another on the way and would like to know how to handle it if their dogs cross the fence when your littles are around.
I would have to walk a quarter mile to ring their doorbell. So no we never see them. H has asked them to reinforce their side of the fence before and they agreed but never did anything. We are big dog lovers, we have a westie, we have known several awesome boxers I have nothing against the breed. These guys just are not friendly
@lovelylauren86 - Because you never see them, and they haven't followed through before, I'd reach out to the police to see what can be done or if they can check things out with your concerns.
Re Guardianship. I don't love any of our options. I've known several people raised by their grandparents and whether they do the best they can I don't want my kid at the age of 15 having to start taking care of his 70 year old grandparents and ultimately losing them by the time he is 30. I wish I could say my parent get him till they are 65 and then switch. We will ask BIL and his wife. BIL is so much like H but the wife is not much like me. I would love to have my best friend raise him and really think she would be the best out of everyone BUT her husband isn't really a kid person (they do not and will not have kids because of him). Can I ask for my parents to have partial custody like one weekend a month two weeks a year type thing?
I'm also in the I don't know who I'd want to give custody to boat. For a while we discussed DH's cousin and his wife, but they already have two kids close enough in age to our (will be) two, also boys, and I think that'd be a lot for them to handle, not having signed up for it, if that makes sense. And there's a possibility they'll have a third in the near future. My SIL is also an option, but like someone else mentioned I don't know how much my family would be involved then and DS is super attached to my parents, like have a meltdown when the leave attached, and I just don't always agree with SIL's parenting choices. It's just not my style (granted, her kids are lovely children, pretty well behaved, so really, does that matter in the end?) Ugh, it's a really really hard choice and I just don't know. I have a brother but he couldn't handle taking care of kids full time and I feel that way about DH's other 2 siblings (all of the above here don't have children and aren't married, albeit they are all older than me, so it's not something I see changing anytime soon?) so yea, I just can't seem to settle on a decision. While DS has a great relationship with both my parents and DH's mom, they're all in their sixties, retired, and I wouldn't want them to have the responsibility of raising kids, again. So if I could just be around for the rest of my children's pre-adult life, that'd be great
@PoodleDoodleOoo Right!?! Aren't they the most amazing things? Once I brokedown and got one after my other bras wire broke and began stabbing me...I was all 'OMG where has this been all my pregnancy!' It's the most amazing thing and still manages to make the girls look like good assets.
@jhems776 - that's probably a really good question to pose on the guardianship/wills and life insurance thread (if you haven't done so) - might be helpful to those that don't read the randoms thread but are in a similar predicament.
Like others I'm terrified about something happening to DH and I and who would take care of our kids. Both sets of grandparents are significantly older (crappy thing about having kids late in life) and are in poor to at most fair health. Not one of them could drop off and pick up at school much less change diapers and be up half the night with a crying newborn or toddler.
DH's sister did a poor job with her son she had at 16 and their relationship is strained. My brother and younger sister have their own issues - 1 refuses to work and free loads off my parents and the other spends all her money on pills from Craigslist while living off my parents. The only option is my older sister who is wonderful. It would be so hard for her but she could raise them and do a good job. As scary as it is to talk with her about this I need to suck it up and have a conversation with her about it. Any suggestions on approaching this?
I haven't seen @SarahDarah333 in a while I hope she's okay
i was thinking this too.
AND RE toenails. i have not been able to do this for awhile. my man said hed do it for me and shave my hairy legs. hes the bomb dot com. but i just have to wait for him to be home... good luck with that.
The guardianship thing was tough for us, too. My SIL is pretty amazing, but she's in and out of a marriage with an addict, and I REFUSE to let my kids live in that kind of chaos. It was a difficult discussion with DH, because he adores his older sister. Luckily, he thinks BIL is a loser, so we worked some wording into the will that says she only gets custody if he's out of the picture.
Otherwise, it will be my aunt. It's not a perfect option, but it seemed the only viable one. My mom is gone, my Dad is, ummm....emotionally unavailable....and MIL is older and slowing way down.
I'm just hoping we never need our guardianship!
Regarding talking to family about being a potential guardian, we started the conversation with something like, "There is no one I trust more then you. I hope this will never be necessary, but should the unthinkable happen..."
I guess the only benefit to having just 1 sibling is that guardianship was super easy for us to decide. I have 1 sister who has twins who are 4, and although adding a couple more kids to her household would be difficult I know that she would take it on and be amazing (and would surely receive help from other family). My husband is an only child so we didn't have to consider any BIL/SILs as well.
My boobs got even bigger seemingly overnight, like huge. They've grown a lot and four new bras and an extender later, I thought I was done. Until I put on my bra at the last loops(?) of the extender. I already was a 34D and I'm not a fan of flaunting them so I don't do cleavage but it's inevitable now. DH just stared at them last night and said "babe, your BOOBS" like a schoolboy.
Typically it's the godparents who are guardians, or were when I was growing up. When it comes to our kids, I'd like my brother and SIL to be this baby's godparents, but should anything happen to us, I think his sister and BIL for guardians. I love my brother and SIL but they have kids already and as awesome as they are, my bro and SIL have way too much of an attraction to their electronic devices, and I don't want that for my kids. That being said, it'll be written in the Will that my bro and SIL or my parents get to see the kids at least one weekend a month and on major holidays. My DH's sister and BIL are great, but I could see them getting distracted and forgetting about allowing time for interaction with my family.
@AlwaysAuntNeverMom , that school boy part made me giggle. but i hope they stay put for a bit. the constant growth thing is a pain in the butt. AND BACK!!!! mine have been kinda constant for awhile, thankfully but my SO is always like "these are niceeee" i was like youre ate up, enjoy them now before the creeper claims all ownership of them
Have anyone's nips grown in size? Mine are freaking huge! Last night DH and I were joking at the size of them and he stated how <TMI warning> he couldn't fit his mouth around it so how could an infant? I was dying!!!!
Bigger nips here, too, and frankly they weren't small to begin with. I used to wonder how my first would be able to fit it all in her mouth as well, and DH agreed it wouldn't be possible. She managed to get most in, which was enough to get the job done.
@PoodleDoodleOoo- As much of the areola as you can. I'd kind of hold my boob with my hand on that same side in a C position and flatten the breast a bit. His mouth was gaping open and flanged out fishy lips.. he got pretty much all of it in there.. the more he got in the more comfortable it was
How would you handle a neighbor with vicious dogs?? The people that live caddy corner to us and share 1 section of fence have 2 90+lb boxers and they are MEAN! We have had to reinforce the fence twice and they snarl and jump every time my 2 year old and I are outside. I'm afraid they are going to break through at some point.
hmm this is really hard. My dog goes crazy when the neighbors are outside (or their dog) and he sounds vicious but he really isn't, the difference is he weighs 18lbs. As a dog owner, if my neighbors are outside I never leave my dog out there more than 5 minutes and usually I stay with him because he is calmer when I am there. I would leave a note maybe on their door expressing your concern? You can also try to spray that part of the fence with a cider vinegar cayenne pepper mix. we use that to keep my dog away from areas I don't want him near.
I deal with the fact that many of my neighbors just let their dogs wonder in their front yard all the time. 2 are very nice labs, a pit and a doberman. They are all big and though I love dogs very much I NEVER just trust a dog and it makes me uneasy sometimes when I am in my own yard.
Me: 32 DH: 31
TTC #2 since January 2018
Baby #1 DD Born 8/25/2016 BFP: 8/11/18 Due: 4/26/18
On trusting dogs: my brother just emailed to let us know they're probably going to have to put their 9yo dog down. She just bit my 4yo nephew again (first time when he was 2 -he's ok, superficial injuries both times), and they have an 8mo as well. She's sweet, just skittish and excitable. The shelters are full (they're in the south), and they can't rehome her into a place w kids. Such a tough decision, they've had her 8 years. We love dogs and dogsit neighbor dogs often, but always try to maintain awareness of young one interacting with them. Anyone know anything about senior dog rescues? I told him I'd try to find some resources.
My nipples are ridiculous. I knew they were going to get bigger but it wasn't until a couple of weeks ago that I noticed that not just the areola expands, but the skin actually changes. I have two freckles about an inch away from my non-pregnant areolas. Husband pointed out that both freckles are now completely covered in my new pregnancy nipples. It's so trippy and also I'm bothered a little because my nipples were big to start off with and now I feel like they are huge
Re: June Randoms Thread
We never did this, but at our doggie class they recommended taking the stroller out while walking the dog to get the dog used to walking with a stroller. So it's an excuse...
We won our single stroller at a baby event when I was 16 weeks pregnant for our first and hardly showing yet. It was funny and a little weird strolling that empty stroller around looking barely pregnant.
Having insurance is needed, but having a Will, no matter how morbid it sounds, is essential. You should never leave the future of your children in doubt and without a will, no matter how many people you 'tell' it will be in doubt unless otherwise written down.
If you're curious, we ultimately decided on my sister, simply because we think she'd be more conscious about including our child's paternal family in our child's life, and my SIL would be less likely to do that. Though we may include in our will something that says that should my sister be unable to care for our child, we would prefer his sister. It's a tough decision for sure.
Growing up, we had several dogs in our neighborhood removed from their homes because their owners refused to properly train, secure or care for them (one of the dogs barked CONSTANTLY out of neglect
If the dog was just yapping a occassionally, I'd just talk to the neighbor directly, but when it involves serious safety concerns and you don't think this neighbor will be receptive, I think it's okay to get the local law enforcement involved.
Seriously.
DH's sister did a poor job with her son she had at 16 and their relationship is strained. My brother and younger sister have their own issues - 1 refuses to work and free loads off my parents and the other spends all her money on pills from Craigslist while living off my parents. The only option is my older sister who is wonderful. It would be so hard for her but she could raise them and do a good job. As scary as it is to talk with her about this I need to suck it up and have a conversation with her about it. Any suggestions on approaching this?
DD 10/4/02
DS due 9/28/16
AND RE toenails. i have not been able to do this for awhile.
Otherwise, it will be my aunt. It's not a perfect option, but it seemed the only viable one. My mom is gone, my Dad is, ummm....emotionally unavailable....and MIL is older and slowing way down.
I'm just hoping we never need our guardianship!
Regarding talking to family about being a potential guardian, we started the conversation with something like, "There is no one I trust more then you. I hope this will never be necessary, but should the unthinkable happen..."
Not an easy conversation to have!!
My nips are also a lot darker, and I've notice certain spots on my skin have gotten darker/changed pigment, like my lips, under eyes and armpits.
DS1 -- 9/30/2016
I deal with the fact that many of my neighbors just let their dogs wonder in their front yard all the time. 2 are very nice labs, a pit and a doberman. They are all big and though I love dogs very much I NEVER just trust a dog and it makes me uneasy sometimes when I am in my own yard.
BFP: 8/11/18 Due: 4/26/18