STM+ Check-in 6/7

missblaze

How far along are you? 

How old are your other kids (Share names if you would like)? 

Current challenges/concerns about being a STM or questions about things your children are going through now?  

Current joys/successes/or happy thoughts about being a STM: 

Rants/Raves/Randoms/Questions: 

GTKY: Who do your children look like? You? Their father? A different relative? Who do you hope this LO resembles?

sbishop426

How far along are you? 
9 weeks 

How old are your other kids (Share names if you would like)? 

My son will be 1 on the 15th!  

Current challenges/concerns about being a STM or questions about things your children are going through now?  
DS started walking. He's always been very energetic, nothing lazy about this baby, but now that he's walking he is a everywhere! And my husband went to get him out of his crib a few days ago and he took off his pajama top. 

Current joys/successes/or happy thoughts about being a STM: 
I'm just really blessed to be pregnant again. It took nearly a year to get pregnant the first time and I'm grateful I didn't have to endure those painful TTC months of disappointment this time- we almost went in to check on possible fertility issues the first time 

Rants/Raves/Randoms/Questions: 
Since mine is a very adventurous baby I think it's just a matter of time before he climbs out of his crib. It's at the lowest level and he can kind of hover over the side a bit- eek. My question is how do you get your LO to stay put in a toddler bed? He spends a good 15-20 min every night playing and crawling around in his crib before he conks out so I just picture him being all over his room lol 

GTKY: Who do your children look like? You? Their father? A different relative? Who do you hope this LO resembles?
He has husband's hair and eye color- blonde hair and blue eyes. I'm brunette and hazel eyes. But he has my facial features- big eyes, dimple chin and nose so he's a mixture of both of us. I'm hoping this LO is blonde/blue eyed also because I think is so adorable and I don't like my dark wavy hair lol 

sbishop426

Ignore my spelling/grammar mistakes. It's early. 

missblaze

@sbishop426 There are a number of things I tried before switching to the toddler bed (because, let's face it, it's impossible to make them stay once you switch). You can try turning the crib to face the other direction, so the higher side is in front rather than back. You can also put him in a sleep sack, which makes it harder to lift a leg over the side. If none of these work and you switch to the toddler bed, I recommend toddler-proofing the room (we basically just have her bed in there with a shelf of books) and put a gate on the door.

How far along are you? 9 weeks

How old are your other kids (Share names if you would like)? Eva will be 3 in July

Current challenges/concerns about being a STM or questions about things your children are going through now?  DD is going through a rebellious phase right now and I'm so exhausted that I'm having difficulty with consistency and putting enough effort into discipline. I know this is temporary, but it's frustrating right now.

Current joys/successes/or happy thoughts about being a STM: I'm so excited for DD to be a big sister. She's been asking for a while now and is so excited to meet this LO.

Rants/Raves/Randoms/Questions: None right now.

GTKY: Who do your children look like? You? Their father? A different relative? Who do you hope this LO resembles? DD looks so much like DH and has since birth. However, she does have my hair and my facial expressions (which is funny to see my faces on his actual face, if that makes sense). I hope that this LO has a mix of features from the two of us.

ETA: last sentence.

jakobaby

How far along are you? 10 weeks

How old are your other kids (Share names if you would like)? Julian, 2

Current challenges/concerns about being a STM or questions about things your children are going through now?  

I need to find a parenting book. Smooth sailing until now. He is into everything and does not listen to me anymore. I find myself very frustrated these days.

Current joys/successes/or happy thoughts about being a STM: Thinking ahead to vacations as a family of 4. Especially Disney, which I never thought I would say.

Rants/Raves/Randoms/Questions: DS slept 12 hours last night. It was glorious. He hasn't slept much in a few days due to HFMD, therefore mommy hasn't slept either!

GTKY: Who do your children look like? You? Their father? A different relative? Who do you hope this LO resembles? DS has my complexion (fair skin, blue eyes) but he mostly looks like my late grandfather which is kind of nice. Sometimes it really takes me back as my grandfather died suddenly and it was a huge shock. DS does have DH's eye shape, though.

Hoping this LO looks like DH. DH has a strong Italian background with beautiful olive skin, dark complexion and dark eyes.

hesitantrenovator

How far along are you? 8w0d

How old are your other kids (Share names if you would like)? two boys, 6 and 3

Current challenges/concerns about being a STM or questions about things your children are going through now?  My boys have so much energy and need to go outside every day. I am starting to realize this baby will come in the dead of winter in Chicago. Oh lord. Hopefully my parents can come stay for awhile to help. 

Current joys/successes/or happy thoughts about being a STM: I am having a very different pregnancy so far than with my two boys, so I can't help but wonder is this is a girl. Trying not to think too much about it. I'm just thankful to not have horrible morning sickness like the last two times!

Rants/Raves/Randoms/Questions: I opened up the baby stuff the other day and realized my organization the last time I put it away was non existent. I'm kicking myself. So many things to sort and clean. 

GTKY: Who do your children look like? You? Their father? A different relative? Who do you hope this LO resembles? One of my sons takes after MH and the other takes after me. My husband is better looking than me (and was blessed with a much better metabolism!) so while they are both cute I hope this baby takes after MH. 

[Deleted User]

How far along are you? 
8+5

How old are your other kids (Share names if you would like)? E will be 1 on the 26th

Current challenges/concerns about being a STM or questions about things your children are going through now?  

Still sleep issues. I'm really holding out a lot of hope for that 1 year mark that things will finally change, but I'm not too optimistic.

Current joys/successes/or happy thoughts about being a STM: 

I've been thinking a lot about next summer with 2 kids. Hanging out at the lake, maybe taking a vacation..

Rants/Raves/Randoms/Questions: just under a week until my first appointment! Anxiety is building the closer it gets.

GTKY: Who do your children look like? You? Their father? A different relative? Who do you hope this LO resembles?
She is a really good mix. There are times she looks just like DH, and times she looks just like me. It also depends on who you talk to.

debrum524

How far along are you? 
7 weeks

How old are your other kids (Share names if you would like)? 
1.5

Current challenges/concerns about being a STM or questions about things your children are going through now?  

How will I keep up with 2?!? I'm barely hanging on with fatigue and nausea; I'm terrified of whenbaby actually gets here. Hopefully by the my DS will be able to sit still for more than 5-10 min....

Current joys/successes/or happy thoughts about being a STM: 

DS has been playing with one of my old dolls, holding and kissing it like a baby. I can't wait to see him as a big brother ❤️

Rants/Raves/Randoms/Questions: 
Have an US on 6/12 and cannot wait to make sure everything is progressing normally 

GTKY: Who do your children look like? You? Their father? A different relative? Who do you hope this LO resembles?
100% his father. I wonder when I take him out in public by myself if people think im the babysitter. I have brown hair and brown eyes and am petite. DS is blonde hair, green eyes and huge! All from his dad...

bainidhedub

How far along are you? 

My EDD got changed yesterday so 8 weeks

How old are your other kids (Share names if you would like)? 

Zach will be 3 in late September

Current challenges/concerns about being a STM or questions about things your children are going through now?  

Z started preschool this week after 2.5 years at an in-home daycare, and it's giving me feels. Yesterday I had the morning off for my appointment so I went along to drop-off (normally H does them) and he cried and held onto me when I tried to leave the room. This morning they left early, same time as me, and he didn't want to get in H's car. Ugh, why you gotta make me feel guilty, kid?

Current joys/successes/or happy thoughts about being a STM: 

He's a good kid. We haven't told him about the baby yet, but I show him pictures from my S14 group of other kids his age and their little brothers & sisters. Plus he was around babies at daycare so hopefully he'll be okay.
Also I'm on my 3rd straight day of adulting and feeling good. I've been cleaning the kitchen and packing lunches at night, so when Z wakes up stupid early in the morning we can just hang out and have breakfast.

Rants/Raves/Randoms/Questions: 

GTKY: Who do your children look like? You? Their father? A different relative? Who do you hope this LO resembles?
Strangers think he looks like me, but I usually think he looks like H. Plus he looks crazy similar to H's niece at the same age. We were both blonde blue-eyed kids who turned into brunette green-eyed adults, so there's not much to go on in that sense. He have some of my facial expressions and copy the way I say things sometimes, which is weird to realize.

BelhurstBride

How far along are you? 
6w3d

How old are your other kids (Share names if you would like)? 
Stella's 7 and Evelyn's 3. 

Current challenges/concerns about being a STM or questions about things your children are going through now?  
Evelyn's 3. I think that about describes it all. 

Current joys/successes/or happy thoughts about being a STM: 
Stella's going to be thrilled to have another baby in the house. She doesn't yet know and we probably won't tell her for a few more months. 

Rants/Raves/Randoms/Questions: 

GTKY: Who do your children look like? You? Their father? A different relative? Who do you hope this LO resembles?
DD1 is completely DH. She has my coloring- blond hair, blue eyes, fair skin, freckles, but otherwise is completely her father. Their facial expressions, their personalities, the types of things that stress them out. 
DD2 is a bit more me. It isn't quite as striking as with DD1 and DH looks wise, but there's no doubt she has my temper. And the white, white blond hair I had as a kid. She definitely has DH's darker skin tone, though. 

muchwanted

How far along are you? 
9+5

How old are your other kids (Share names if you would like)? 
K is 25 months

Current challenges/concerns about being a STM or questions about things your children are going through now?  
Still not lifting her more than I have to bc of the worries about the SCH.

Current joys/successes/or happy thoughts about being a STM: 

Just bought her a "Big Sister" t-shirt to wear when we visit my in-laws next week.  

Rants/Raves/Randoms/Questions: 
We've started making a list of things we'll need this round, and it's startlingly short! Mostly things we borrowed before and loved, like the Summer Infant Cosleeper. Also a better newborn carrier because the Moby was invented by Satan. 

GTKY:
She looks a LOT like me in kid photos but definitely has her father's brown eyes. I wouldn't mind if this kid has my green eyes, but no strong feelings. 

mommaa1615

How far along are you?
7 w 6 d

How old are your other kids (Share names if you would like)? 

   28 months

Current challenges/concerns about being a STM or questions about things your children are going through now?  

So tired all the time!!! I already noticed it's getting harder to lug her around, not sure how I'm going to do it later in my pregnancy. 

Current joys/successes/or happy thoughts about being a STM: 
I'm so excited for her to have a sibling and become a family of 4!

Rants/Raves/Randoms/Questions: 
my first pregnancy I had the worst morning sickness and would vomit all day for months. So far it hasn't hit, just a few moments when the nausea kicks in. I'm starting to worry and feel myself worrying more then I did with my daughter.

GTKY: Who do your children look like? You? Their father? A different relative? Who do you hope this LO resembles? 

Everyone used to say my husband but now she is starting to look like me!

Ready4theParty

6+5

N is 4 years J is 14 months

N is going through a picky eater stage and refuses to eat.  She's already small.  Dr isn't too worried but man J eats more than her in one meal than she does all day sometimes.

Weve always debated on if we should have three.  We are both 1 of 3.  Now I am glad we don't have to make that choice.

I am hoping this one resembles me.  N was spitting image of DH but now as she's growing up she is my mini me.  J has my head and eye shape but has her own look.  Both girls have brown eyes which are all DH.  I'd love it if this one had blue eyes.

ecolton01

How far along are you? 8 weeks tomorrow

How old are your other kids (Share names if you would like)? 11 month , miss Lydia

Current challenges/concerns about being a STM or questions about things your children are going through now?  Lydia has been spiking a fever every night for the past 2 nights around 102 . She acts fine all day eats drinks normal so I am assuming she is getting a tooth. This happen to anyone else? 

Current joys/successes/or happy thoughts about being a STM: I will be more excited when I quit throwing up

Rants/Raves/Randoms/Questions:  I feel like an aweful mom recently ! I have been so darn sick and the only thing that sounds good to eat is crap food , like the good greasy stuff that helps with hangovers . Unfortunately I have not had the energy to make anything different for DD and she is not picky so she has always eaten what I eat . I am starting to get a guilt trip about what I am putting in her mouth , hopefully this goes away at 12 weeks this time ! I know it's not going to hurt her forever but I still feel like a jerk ... an unmotivated jerk that is 

GTKY: Who do your children look like? You? Their father? A different relative? Who do you hope this LO resembles? She is 100% split down the middle of both of us . It's actually really crazy except for her eyes . I have hazel and dad has dark brown and she has bright blue like my sister

egirl1025

How far along are you? 10+2

How old are your other kids (Share names if you would like)? Tristan turned 1 on Monday

Current challenges/concerns about being a STM or questions about things your children are going through now?  I am interested to see how well I can keep things together with 2 under 2.  My domestic skills are a complete joke in general, so lets add in an infant...woohoo!! 

Current joys/successes/or happy thoughts about being a STM: I am so excited for this pregnancy.  I do not have any of the anxiety that I experienced the first time.  I wouldn't say that have completely connected with the new baby, but I know that will come as I start to get bigger and feel movement, etc.

Rants/Raves/Randoms/Questions: My DH taught our little guy how to give head butts in addition to the hugs and kisses we get.  Yesterday while picking him up from daycare, I am talking to his caregiver and having him stand on the counter while I hold him up and out of the blue he head butts me!!  I look at him and he has this sly little smile on his face!!  Such a cute little stinker!  I could rave about this kid all day, here's hoping the next one is just as easy as he was.

GTKY: Who do your children look like? You? Their father? A different relative? Who do you hope this LO resembles?  Well facial features he seems to be a pretty interesting split between DH and I.  He has his daddy's coloring along with his daddy's nose, ears and eyes.  He has his daddy's smile, but my mouth/lips and both of our dimples.  I think he mostly looks like his dad, but it was inevitable since he is a brown-haired, brown-eyed Asian and I am a blue-eyed, blonde-haired white person.  His genes seem to win out there.  This picture was awhile ago, but will show some of the resemblance.

rupeam12

How far along are you? 8 weeks

How old are your other kids (Share names if you would like)? DD (Amelia) is 5.5

Current challenges/concerns about being a STM or questions about things your children are going through now?  still terrified to have 4 kids total

Current joys/successes/or happy thoughts about being a STM: 

Rants/Raves/Randoms/Questions: tired of feeling like crap

GTKY: Who do your children look like? You? Their father? A different relative? Who do you hope this LO resembles? My DD looks like me mostly, but is built like her dad. SO kids look a lot like him. I'm hoping this LO was does too.

EmilyLove25

How far along are you? 10 weeks

How old are your other kids (Share names if you would like)? Emily is 20 months.

Current challenges/concerns about being a STM or questions about things your children are going through now?  Poor Emily has a bit of a cold. Nothing major, but she definitely isn’t 100%.

Current joys/successes/or happy thoughts about being a STM: Just cannot wait to give Emily a sibling!

Rants/Raves/Randoms/Questions: Will we ever feel normal?

GTKY: Who do your children look like? You? Their father? A different relative? Who do you hope this LO resembles? When Em was born, she looked more like her father. Now she is definitely a mix. We always say we want LO to look like a mix of us but with a third party nose! 

mamakassie2

How far along are you? 

8+5

How old are your other kids (Share names if you would like)? 

N is 4

Current challenges/concerns about being a STM or questions about things your children are going through now?  

He's pretty awesome right now, my concerns are all with my own abilities.

Current joys/successes/or happy thoughts about being a STM: 

Rants/Raves/Randoms/Questions: 

GTKY: Who do your children look like? You? Their father? A different relative? Who do you hope this LO resembles?
DH and I looked surprisingly similar as babies (we were once mistaken for twins when we were 17) and N is a pretty even mix of us both. I'm hopeful the LO is similar, considering my sisters are both adopted and I don't really see a resemblance to my parents, so I don't have anyone that I "look like".

[Deleted User]

@egirl1025 OMG he is too cute! Happy birthday to him

burnsmommy27

How far along are you?   10w 2d

How old are your other kids (Share names if you would like)?  A will be 1 on the 16th, happy birthday to all the LOs turning 1 this month!

Current challenges/concerns about being a STM or questions about things your children are going through now?  A is being VERY clingy as of late. I'm not sure if it is Leap related or not. It's been super hard to try to get anything done. Her grandma came to play with her today and all she wanted to do was have me hold her. 

Current joys/successes/or happy thoughts about being a STM: I didn't feel like our family was complete after DD was born. I'm curious to see if it feels complete as a family of 4.

Rants/Raves/Randoms/Questions:  for those of you with older children, anyone have any trouble getting your kids to eat regular food. DD only will be bread or pureed baby foods. Even my day care lady said she's never had a baby not eating table food by 1 before.

GTKY: Who do your children look like? You? Their father? A different relative? Who do you hope this LO resembles?  she is definitely a mini me right down to the dimples and nose. Sometimes I can see DH in her too but her features are mine.

@ecolton01 I know what you mean with the mommy guilt. We just have to make it a few more weeks. My house is seriously suffering too. I mentioned it and my mom told me she would come help me clean but I just can't have her do that.

fishee333

How far along are you? 8ish weeks? Dating scan will be next week.

How old are your other kids (Share names if you would like)? 16 months

Current challenges/concerns about being a STM or questions about things your children are going through now?  Sleep! I feel like my daughter is stuck in an early wake-time (5:30 am) and early-ish bedtime (6:30/7) routine and I need to get DD to sleep in later! She is only doing 1 nap at 11:30, and lately it's been only 30 minutes!!!! Both DD and I need some more rest! She has never been a good sleeper and I think she's like her dad in that she doesn't need as much sleep as most, but come on. Please at least nap for longer! She is sleep trained too. So please, any suggestions about sleep schedule or how to get her to sleep more would be great. 

Current joys/successes/or happy thoughts about being a STM: I'm excited for the 2 of them to play together. DD is so social and loves being around other babies/kids. 

Rants/Raves/Randoms/Questions: I am so done with always feeling exhausted and nauseous. And my sleep issue mentioned above

GTKY: Who do your children look like? You? Their father? A different relative? Who do you hope this LO resembles? A good combination of both of us. 


@burnsmommy27 My DD (16 months) has always been picky. At 12 months, her diet pretty much consisted of bread and the sweet potato & beet combination food pouch. Those are still her favorites, but she's finally branching out a bit more over these past couple of months. She would rather play than eat...

jakobaby

@burnsmommy27 In my experience, DS was not full on eating table food by 1 either. He would gag on it. He was more interested in the pouches and milk. Within 3 months of his 1st birthday he became very interested in table food and he started to refuse pouches.

Dani0329

@sbishop426 Originally, we were going to wait until she started climbing out but she 2 years, 2 months and we went for it! We took the front off the crib first, so it was like a day bed.  Did that for 2 months and then converted it to a full. I was thankful we transitioned before she started climbing out because it was never on her mind. She still waits for us to come get her 6 months later! 

How far along are you? 

5 weeks, 6 days... ish

How old are your other kids (Share names if you would like)? 

DD is 2 years, 7 months

Current challenges/concerns about being a STM or questions about things your children are going through now?  

Pooping on the dang potty. She is in big girl underwear but won't poop at school and asks for a diaper at home to poop. Any tips?  We tried not giving her the diaper but she will withhold for 4-5 days and already has digestive issues.

Current joys/successes/or happy thoughts about being a STM: 

Hearing her tell me stories about her day and explore with imaginative play. Right now she saying, "thank you, my daddy/mommy".  She has been asking for a baby brother and calling my husband her sister?! We aren't telling her there's a baby on the way until we hear the heartbeat.  This was an unplanned pregnancy and we originally thought I was 7 weeks and I was only 4 and change. So, just want to be sure!

Rants/Raves/Randoms/Questions: 

Caffiene? I didn't have any during my first pregnancy. I was planning to wait until 2nd trimester to have a cup here and there. Is anyone drinking caffiene now or have recommendations for a pick me up? I'm dragging.. 

GTKY: Who do your children look like? You? Their father? A different relative? Who do you hope this LO resembles?
DD looks just like her Daddy. She is full of my sass, though

Kezzy44

How far along are you? 7w5d

How old are your other kids (Share names if you would like)? DD will be 3 in August

Current challenges/concerns about being a STM or questions about things your children are going through now? I'm so dang tired now. Last time, I'd come home from work and nap, this time I have a toddler using me as a jungle gym!   

Current joys/successes/or happy thoughts about being a STM: 
 we started potty training over Memorial Day weekend and it's going very well! We tried a few months ago with no real luck so this is great!

Rants/Raves/Randoms/Questions: 
had my first appointment yesterday- everything looked good from the outside but #1 my paperwork calls me "elderly" and #2 my new insurance means I can't have an US at my OB ms office unless I pay out of pocket.

GTKY: Who do your children look like? You? Their father? A different relative? Who do you hope this LO resembles?
she looks a lot like my baby pic- has my nose mouth cheeks and completion, but has DH eye color/shape and curls
no real preference this time although I'm hoping that at least one of my children would inherit my blue eyes.

mindaa

How far along are you? 
8 weeks

How old are your other kids (Share names if you would like)? 
DS just turned 2

Current challenges/concerns about being a STM or questions about things your children are going through now?  
This was a bit of a surprise, I'm still kind of mentally adjusting. I had some plans for the year that will be put on hold!

Current joys/successes/or happy thoughts about being a STM: 
Hearing the heartbeat and seeing the u/s was awesome, but also made it very real!

Rants/Raves/Randoms/Questions: 

GTKY: Who do your children look like? You? Their father? A different relative? Who do you hope this LO resembles?

DS looks like dad

[Deleted User]

@Dani0329 I didn't do coffee 1st tri with DD but since we get no sleep around here it's necessary this time. I usually have just a small cup but I've had a coffee aversion for about a week now. Sometimes I have a can of pop in the afternoon, but that's pretty rare. 

burnsmommy27

@fishee333 thanks I'm so glad I'm not the only one. DD plays with it as well and smooshes it to pieces. I just don't want to do her a disservice but still giving her baby food for every meal.

@jakobaby thanks, maybe I'll pick up some pouches and see if she wants those. 

agalvarado

How far along are you? 7w3d? I haven't gotten my first ultrasound

How old are your other kids (Share names if you would like)? 

Emilia is 16 months

Current challenges/concerns about being a STM or questions about things your children are going through now?  

I'm freaking out! We were TTC for 4 months and I was really excited but now that it feels more real, I'm really nervous about having a two year old and a newborn. I'm sure when this LO is here, we will adapt but for now, FREAKING OUT

Current joys/successes/or happy thoughts about being a STM: 

I'm excited for Emilia to have a sibling, someone she can plot against my DH and me lol

Rants/Raves/Randoms/Questions: 

I just want to stop feeling so nauseous!!

GTKY: Who do your children look like? You? Their father? A different relative? Who do you hope this LO resembles? my DH is Filipino and I'm Mexican so she looks very different but she's got my body type and my husband's hair, facial expressions and personality. When I spend time with her, a lot of times it feels like I'm spending time with him! As for LO, it doesn't matter to me

GraceUponGrace09

How far along are you? 6 weeks

How old are your other kids (Share names if you would like)? 
7, 6, and 4

Current challenges/concerns about being a STM or questions about things your children are going through now?  

Just slightly overwhelmed to have 4 kids!

Current joys/successes/or happy thoughts about being a STM: 
I cannot wait to tell the kids. They've been praying for a baby for a long time. Lol!

Rants/Raves/Randoms/Questions: 
I cannot wait to have our first appt and the US!

GTKY: Who do your children look like? You? Their father? A different relative? Who do you hope this LO resembles?
DS looked 100% like DH when he was born. As he's grown, he's a little more of a mix but all we hear is that he looks like my DH and FIL. Which is awesome, because my DH is the world's handsomest man. No really. He is!