UO Thursday 1/4

catlady1215

I don't have anything right now. but figured I'd get it started to entertain my work day

LaceyBee522

My unpopular opinion is that I LOVE the snow! I know it is a pain for people who have to drive and it will make my commute tomorrow hell, but today I'm enjoying it. Also, it never feels as cold when it is snowing, so you can really go out and walk around in it. I'm really looking forward to my kids being big enough that we can go sledding and build snowmen and make snow angels, etc. 

krash_

I've decided that I don't care if my family/friends think the items on our registry are expensive/overpriced or that we're being particular. We've decided on some more expensive baby gear because we have done the research and know what we like and what will suit our lifestyle. I'm still including things of all price ranges on the registry but IDC if people scoff at a $300 play yard. I'm not expecting people to spend that much money on things for us but the point of a registry is for people to know what we want so I'm going to put what I actually want on there. 

MissKittyDanger

@krashke I was really hesitant on putting expensive things on registry {since specific things we wanted aren't cheap} but someone made a point that people may pitch together on a larger gift. If people scoff at your high priced stuff, you can mention that

RatParade

I think most professional maternity photos end up looking corny.

dinodna3

I think those Amazon Dot and Google Home things are creepy. I don’t want either of those companies listening to everything that happens in my house. 

doxiemoxie212

@RatParade o m g I spent the morning researching if there are any photographers in Palm Springs or LA that don't do incredibly corny, tacky maternity photos since we're planning a vacation there in February, and I found one I maybe like, but all the others I was like HOW DOES ANYONE LIKE THIS? Like, I just want pretty, relaxed photos of DH and I to document this. I don't want to put on a crop top ball gown and push a stage pram amidst a smoke-filled backdrop. WTF. 

doxiemoxie212

Mine is I don't like green smoothies. I prefer to eat my greens in salads! I love salads!

kmurdock925

krashke            - similar to what @misskittydanger said, it may encourage people to give more gift cards as well.  While many people don't think it is as thoughtful of a gift...to me, when it comes to baby showers (with the exception of a few close family members)- you aren't looking for sentimental things (ie: you end up with 10 baby blankets that don't get used because great aunt sue that you see every 5 years made)...you want practical things that will get use.  Quality over quantity.

I have a drawer with about 10 baby blankets in it I never used, plus a drawer with 15-20 receiving/muslin blankets (my mom is obsessed with using receiving blankets...I wasn't really), plus about 5 stacked in the closet that I actually did use.  I would have much rather received gift cards or had people pitch in for more expensive items.  Now I have a bunch of blankets that I feel guilty about getting rid of...

MoonOverGoldsboro

OMG, yes, @dinodna3. Sorry, I don't want to provide an easy way to listen in on every move that happens in my home. Everything is data, man, and these companies are definitely using/selling every bit of data you're creating by using those systems. Super creepy! 

PatientlyWaiting10

@MissKittyDanger I’d suggest adding expensive things to your registry because you get the coupons at the end for anything left on there! Don’t not add them because you’re worried what people think. Who cares! It’s your baby and your family. Do what works for you!!

doxiemoxie212

@krashke @MissKittyDanger @kmurdock925 I've only been to two baby showers in my life -- entirely different crowds, entirely different states -- and I was literally the only person at either that shopped from the registry. Every single other person just bought onesies with "cute" sayings on them that they liked. It's one of the reasons I'm extremely hesitant of having a shower at all. I don't have room for stuff we don't need/like/want. 

stephcat421

What @PatientlyWaiting10 said...I too was hesitant/embarrassed to register for the expensive items but babies r us offers 15% off all non purchased registry items so we just loaded up on anything we thought we may want to purchase ourselves.

PatientlyWaiting10

As for my UO...I think it’s weird when women don’t shave their legs in the winter months because “it’s cold so no one sees them anyway”. 

I have to shave my legs or they feel weird in my pants/knee high socks. 

kmurdock925

doxiemoxie212 - I hate the non-registry purchases unless it is from a STM providing useful stuff I didn't know about.  I hate all of the clothes...they go to waste.  I kept the tags on and returned so much of it to any store that I knew sold that brand.  With that being said- I did get a lot of useful things too...people also seemed to LOVE buying bath stuff (I am still using soaps from my showers that were in June 2016).

With that being said- most everything is returnable so it isn't a complete loss if you don't get what you registered for.  You could also just have a diaper party or something of that sort if people are insistent.

krash_

@PatientlyWaiting10 I was considering waiting until just after the shower to add the expensive items so I can use the completion discount on them but I decided I don't care. Maybe people will want to go in together on something or maybe they will just give a gift card but maybe someone wants to be more generous and will buy us that expensive item that we were going to buy ourselves and I will save some extra cash that I'm sure we will need for the baby. 

rnielsen321

So, we registered for the "expensive" stroller (which is  THE most popular one in our metropolis), and were gifted it. (Yay MIL!) And play yards are $300 new. That being said they will probably go on sale 2 x before our LOs arrive. People, I find, want to give you things, so let them know what you want. 

@kmurdock925 Would it help to pass them (the extra blankets) on to a women's shelter? I sent some extras that way, then I could honestly say they were being used, and loved. 

I am +1 on gift cards.... Love it... 

Also, I can honestly say, some of the best things I received at my shower,  the ones I used a lot, were things not on the registry, but came from other moms. Paci Clip, BIG flannel blanket for playdates, Bottle Cooler, feeding supplies (spoons, containers), fever stickers, teething necklaces.... all not registered for. But super useful.

I did get to return a LOT of stuff... duplicates - sheets, blankets, tub, swing, etc. to BRU and Snuggle Bugz that added up to quite a bit to help complete my registry for other things... So... hope you get gift receipts!

Here's my UO... I want a "Sprinkle" for number 2.  And frankly I am ashamed to even mention it out loud.  We worked HARD for this baby too... IVF is no joke. So a wee celebration would be awesome. I can't host myself... These showers are just "not done" in my social circle. 

sunshineandwhiskey

This seems like a good UO today: I absolutely hate baby showers or wedding showers. More power to ya if you want one. But I refused one with DD. Makes my anxiety go through the roof and I would prefer to just get the things I want. 

Now, give me a diaper party any day of the week 

momlyfe29

@rnielsen321 we always throw sprinkles in my group for our friends- it’s mostly just a dinner and everyone brings a cute outfit and we pitch in for a gift card. It’s defintely not a huge shower by any means, just something to show we’re excited for the new babe! So me personally I see nothing wrong with wanting a sprinkle  

aharv77

@sunshineandwhiskey Totally agree! They're so awkward. 

dinodna3

@doxiemoxie212 I ended up donating a lot of clothes I got at showered that people just randomly bought. I have very particular style and prefer to buy clothes myself. People did, however, chip in together to get the big, pricier stuff like a stroller, car seat, swing. I think the only thing we ended up buying ourselves was the crib. 

lisa2589

@kmurdock925 I agree with you so much on the gifted clothes. I returned the ones I couldn’t stand- I really don’t need cutesy little animals wearing bows on every item she wears. Plain and simple is okay people. Also the onesies with what they thought were funny sayings (Poops, I did it again). No thanks. The outfits that I loved and enjoyed putting on her the most were the ones I bought while I was still pregnant and dreaming of the day I’d be able to put it on her. 

becca_123

@krashke I'm worried about that too, but others here make a good point about people chipping in for a larger item.  It makes me feel better about adding them!  There's no point in putting a lesser version of what you want on there if you're not going to be as happy about getting it.

@dinodna3 I have an Amazon echo/echo dot pair linked up in my house and they're more annoying than helpful.  Every now and then she will just light up and say "Sorry, I didn't get that" even though nothing was said.  Or she'll say nothing at all and just light up blue, which creeps me out as if someone is listening.  But I still keep them because neither of us really have anything interesting to say anyways.

Totally can't think of a UO right now, I'll add one if I can think of one.

rnielsen321

@boymama29 That's awesome... Lovely to share in the joy... I may have to start dropping some hints around the friend group... 

kmurdock925

rnielsen321           - Yes!  I was actually just talking to someone at work about looking for a shelter to take them.  I definitely feel worlds better about giving them to a shelter rather than good will or somewhere like that

lisa2589

Unpopular with my H: I love Doritos on my sandwiches, particularly tuna or cold cuts. The other day he called it the pregnant munchies but I’ve done it for years before being pregnant as well. 

MissKittyDanger

PatientlyWaiting10 said:

As for my UO...I think it’s weird when women don’t shave their legs in the winter months because “it’s cold so no one sees them anyway”. 

I have to shave my legs or they feel weird in my pants/knee high socks. 

OMG I'M NOT ALONE!!!

kmurdock925

@patientlywaiting10 - yes!  while I don't shave every day in the winter...still a once a week minimum.  Those prickly hairs get caught in my pants and pull!  OOW!

doxiemoxie212

MissKittyDanger said:

PatientlyWaiting10 said:

As for my UO...I think it’s weird when women don’t shave their legs in the winter months because “it’s cold so no one sees them anyway”. 

I have to shave my legs or they feel weird in my pants/knee high socks. 

OMG I'M NOT ALONE!!!

I barely shave my legs in the summer. I get a terrible rash if I do it more than once a week (I've tried everything, literally since I started shaving my legs at 11-years-old), so my motivation to do it is like zilch. I'll do it if I'm going to be in shorts/bathing suit/skirt, but most of the time it's cold SOMEWHERE I'm going to be. Like, in the summer it's arctic inside. In the winter it's arctic outside. MOAR WARMTH!

krash_

Do people shave their legs more than once a week? Even in the summer I find I can pretty much get away with once a week. 

MoonOverGoldsboro

Leg shaving is for the birds. I only do it if I really, really have to, which is admittedly maybe easier for me since my leg hair is fairly fine and blonde. @PatientlyWaiting10 @MissKittyDanger @kmurdock925, you have to let it grow out past the prickly the stage! Once the hair is grown out, it's nice and soft and a woolly blanket against the winter chill. 

kmurdock925

ha, wooly blanket.  Love it.

In the winter I'm a Saturday shaver...In the summer I usually shave twice a week unless I know I'll be inside a lot wearing pants. 

I also find that if I don't shave often enough I get ingrown hairs/little bumps of dead skin cells (I forget what its called...it starts with a K) so shaving helps to exfoliate as well.

Austenista

I’m glad with this second baby there’s less likely to be anyone wanting to do showers. All the two that were done for me did was stress me out and almost no one even consulted my registry. Some even complained that I didn’t register at Walmart so it would be more convenient for them. I ended up with a bunch of clothes I didn’t want, a bunch of hand me down stuff, and used nursery furniture I felt obligated to accept and use rather than getting to pick out what I wanted. The upside to this being a second LO is that I’m going to get to do everything I want and buy it myself from the get go. I’m still in the process of doing my son’s bedroom and repurchasing furniture for him and he’s 13mos. 

I say all that to say, if you can avoid being the people pleaser that I tend to be, stick to your guns and get the things you want yourself. And also +1 times a million to hating showers. All the etiquette and stress and tip toeing around the person’s feelings who is supposed to be throwing the shower. Stupid games and awkward gift opening in front of an audience. Nope. Hate it all. 

MissKittyDanger

PatientlyWaiting10 said:

@MissKittyDanger I’d suggest adding expensive things to your registry because you get the coupons at the end for anything left on there! Don’t not add them because you’re worried what people think. Who cares! It’s your baby and your family. Do what works for you!!

Well at this point I'm actually unsure what will make it to the registry! A customer of my mum's is giving us a whole truck load of stuff next week. Apparently there's a lot of stuff we had mentioned in the sense of "I'll put it on the registry but if we don't get it, whatever" and things we wouldn't think of asking about lol
We got pretty lucky in timing

RatParade

I plan on having a shower (co-ed).  I don't care for the games but I'm ok doing them.  However, I don't want to open presents in front of people.  It's so awkward.  But I don't know how to go about requesting that without it being weird.

MissKittyDanger

@MoonOverGoldsboro I've tried lol! A few years ago I opted to try sugar waxing from a spa nearby before a trip. I had to cancel because I couldn't make it the 6 weeks without shaving lmfao

MissKittyDanger

krashke said:

Do people shave their legs more than once a week? Even in the summer I find I can pretty much get away with once a week. 

I don't have to, but I do shave multiple times a week. Mix of habit, and annoyance. I could go less, but I have a serious texture problem.

Austenista

Also, +1 to @doxiemoxie212. Things stay pretty hairy over here unless there’s necessity. Sorry not sorry. 

catlady1215

i shave a few times a week. But I have dark hair and feel it's noticeable. But right past my knee is super light and thin, so sometimes i just run a razor on my lower legs and knees real fast. I don't need shaving cream or anything. Just a few swipes while showering.

catlady1215

@lisa2589 we grew up putting plain chips on lunch meat sandwiches. Something about that crunch that was so satisfying. I should try it again soon.

becca_123

@lisa2589 growing up in England we put plain chips (crisps) on all of our sandwiches!  Grate up some cheese and mix in some chopped onion and you have yourself a crispy cheese and onion sandwich. I loved that crunchiness... I never do it now though.  It kind of faded out when I stopped eating ketchup sandwiches (yes you read that right) and salmon paste sandwiches.  I was a wierd child. 

edit because I forgot to tag @catlady1215