FTM check-in 7/11

ab_canada

How far along are you? Have you felt kicks?

Any appointment updates?  

Rants/Raves/Questions/Dear Diary? 

GTKY: What songs will you have on your baby's lullaby list?

ab_canada

How far along are you? Have you felt kicks?

19+4 today; have been feeling little kicks probably every day for the last 2 weeks 

Any appointment updates?  

Anatomy scan in 2 days!

Rants/Raves/Questions/Dear Diary? 

It's Stampede week (rodeo, rides, midway), so it's casual dress/jeans week at work. I am wearing workout leggings instead of jeans and I have never been so comfortable at work in my life! This week has been fantastic.

GTKY: What songs will you have on your baby's lullaby list?
All the songs I can never get tired of singing:
House of the Rising Sun - The Animals
Seven Nation Army - The White Stripes
Skyfall - Adele
Hello - Adele
May it be - Enya
What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong

kadeephd

@ab_canada Good luck at your anatomy scan! 

How far along are you? Have you felt kicks?

18+5 and yes!  I've been feeling kicks since around week 15, but more consistently for the last week or two.

Any appointment updates? 

My next appointment is my A/S on July 19.

Rants/Raves/Questions/Dear Diary? 

I'm going to a wedding this weekend for a HS friend (actually one of my first serious crushes who I had an on off thing with for years) and it might be weird.  Not because of the on off thing since we are way past that, but because this person still lives near my hometown and the wedding is going to be mostly people from my graduating class who I have not seen or talked to in a long time.  I wasn't friendly with most of his group of friends and I won't even be able to drink to ease the awkward.  At least one good friend of mine will be there.  Pregnant weddings are not so fun.  I also can't decide what to wear.  I don't have a pronounced bump so I could still get away with something looser to hide it, but I don't really have anything appropriate that is looser. I guess I'll wear something more form fitting and have people wonder if I am just a little tubby around the middle

GTKY: What songs will you have on your baby's lullaby list?

Hmm good question!  I have sang in a lot of choirs and plan to sing to baby a lot, but I am now realizing I don't know many actual lullabies.  Maybe some kind of slow songs that might be soothing like Danny Boy, Georgia, The Coolin?

ab_canada

@kadeephd

I completely avoided the last high school reunion because I had no interest in seeing anybody - I felt like it would just turn into a popularity contest! So I feel you.. Maybe you could have fun with some virgin drinks instead - I love virgin mojitos.

As for lullabies - I don't know any either! I figured baby wouldn't know the difference as long as it's somewhat comforting, hence my list. Also, I doubt I would love singing the same lullabies over and over again, so I figured I would pick songs I already seem to sing all the time.

kadeephd

@ab_canada I'm sure babies wouldn't care if you are singing death metal as long as you sing it softly and calmly.  I have this idea of knowing lots of lullabies though so I'm going to try to make a good list of songs that are lullaby-ish that I know and try to learn some more.  I just remembered I sang in a "sleep" theme concert relatively recently so I have some new ideas:

Sleep by Eric Whitacre

Sure on This Shining Night by Morten Lauridsen

Only in Sleep by Eriks Esenvalds

Ballade to the Moon by Daniel Elder

This is fun!  I am definitely using this question to procrastinate work...

tumbleweed-1

@ab_canada have you heard of Rockabye Baby? It’s a collection of cds that take music like the Beatles, nirvana, Queen, etc and turn it into lullabies. They remove the lyrics, slow the music down/make it more acoustic, and add in nature sounds like croaking frogs. We had a couple albums for naptime at the first childcare center I worked at. And HS reunion- my 10 year is this summer, and yeah, I don’t want to go to that. 

How far along are you? Have you felt kicks?

16 weeks! I think maybe I feel movement sometimes, but idk. I haven’t felt anything definitively yet. 
Any appointment updates?  

Just had the 16 week appointment on Monday (according to my file I’m 16+1 today) 
Rants/Raves/Questions/Dear Diary? 

I mentioned on the 12/25+ check in that I got a new job, but for those here who aren’t on that thread, I’ll add again. I’ll be working as an infant assistant in a preschool. I start next week. It’s an opening shift (I’ve mostly worked closing shifts in my life, so that’s something to adjust to), but it will give me afternoon time for my future prenatal appointments. 

GTKY: What songs will you have on your baby's lullaby list?
That’s SO’s job. He’s way more into music than I am. And he will most likely be stay at home dad until there’s an infant spot available at my new work, so he’ll be doing naps. I imagine it will be lots of soundtrack music from movies he likes and lotr/fantasy type stuff. 

kadeephd

@tumbleweed-1 Good luck at the new job!  And yeah like you and @ab_canada I had no interest in HS reunions.  I skipped 5 & 10.

ab_canada

@tumbleweed-1
I will have to look for Rockabye Baby - that sounds really awesome! That made me think of another idea. I have spotify, so I wonder if they have some stuff like that already on hand - it would be easy to set up.

@kadeephd
I've sang some Eric Whitacre stuff but I can't imagine just singing my line without the other parts. His harmonies are so complex that I imagine it would sound weird (but I am an alto, so maybe he gives all the weird lines to us!). I actually follow him on facebook. He's the only "celebrity" on my feed.

kadeephd

@ab_canada It definitely wouldn't be the same without the other parts, but I am a soprano so I tend to have more melody.  I haven't tried Sleep on my own though... maybe it would be weird.

whitneyb89

How far along are you? Have you felt kicks?

18+4; I've definitely had fluttering. I'm pretty sure I got kicked/jabbed in the bladder the other night though because it was a quick second of suddenly feeling like I had to go, but went away
Any appointment updates?  

Today in an hour!!! It's a sonogram and the wait is killing me!!! 
Rants/Raves/Questions/Dear Diary? 

Not really anything at the moment. Just waiting for the reassurance that everything is going well with the baby. 

GTKY: What songs will you have on your baby's lullaby list?
what songs won't be? Lol. Definitely, you are my sunshine (since I've been singing that when I'm by myself anyway, lol) and alot of Disney songs. 

echo-charlietango

@kadeephd Maybe find something that’s form fitting and still forgiving? I was hiding a fetus at the last wedding I went to, but my issue was hiding bloat (I wore one of these dresses from Amazon and loved it). Luckily they had dispensers of flavored water that were delicious and easy concealed my sobriety.

@tumbleweed-1 Congrats on the new job! Also I think our babies will be listening to the same things

@ab_canada A friend uses Spotify for bathtime playlists with her infant, so I’m sure lullabies are readily available too.

How far along are you? Have you felt kicks?
18 Weeks today - no kicks yet. Sometimes I think I feel something at night when I lay my hand on the tum, but it's always fleeting and infrequent. *shrugs shoulders*

Any appointment updates?  
Received test results from AFP - normal! Two weeks until the anatomy scan

Rants/Raves/Questions/Dear Diary? 
Dear Diary, our household goods are due to arrive on Friday! It sucks that we'll miss DH's official class meet & greet, but we are more than ready to have things like our washer & dryer, kitchen appliances, and chairs. You may ask "But Echo, if you knew that you needed to live out of your suitcase, why didn't you pack better?" Well, it's because we packed for 10 days as per our delivery agreement. They pulled the rug out from under us and said "Nevermind! Nobody can deliver your stuff for another 2-3 weeks." Uggghhhh.

GTKY: What songs will you have on your baby's lullaby list?
None thus far! Kiddo is going to be exposed to what we listen to at home, largely Ramin Djawadi's compositions and Daft Punk & various EDM. 

ab_canada

@whitneyb89 Good luck on the sonogram! Let us know how it goes!

@echo-charlietango Lol, EDM should make for an active baby

morgantu

@ab_canada is stampede week specifically at your work, or in your town? sounds fun! 

@kadeephd good luck with the wedding, i don't really seek out opportunities to see people i graduated with, either. but hopefully having one good friend there will be enough to make it enjoyable! 

@tumbleweed-1 yay new job! Congrats...and it will be awesome to have your LO in there with you...eventually

@whitneyb89 good luck today! Hope it's great

@echo-charlietango yippeeeee on finally getting your stuff! You are a trooper. 

How far along are you? Have you felt kicks?

17+6, I don't freaking know. I think yes, but it was only once or twice, and just for a second. I hope it becomes more recognizable/consistent soon

Any appointment updates?  

Nothing till the 24th. Looking forward to it, though!

Rants/Raves/Questions/Dear Diary? 

Today is my first day back at my "real job" (i work a modified academic calendar) since i've been telling people about the pregnancy. I have run into 4 people to tell today, and they have all been wonderful, but I still find it weird and awkward. Also one of the women said "oh, i thought it was just your shirt making you look like that" lol. Welp. 

GTKY: What songs will you have on your baby's lullaby list?
I had not even thought of this but it's a super fun one!!! 
Wildflowers- tom petty
Blackbird- the beatles
Long may you run- neil young
Buttons- eric bibb
Lots of folk and bluegrass

mag1cbeli3ver

@tumbleweed-1 Congrats on your new job! I hope you love it!

@echo-charlietango Hooray for getting all the things! Hope Friday comes quickly for you!

How far along are you? Have you felt kicks?

19 weeks 4 days! And...maybe? It's hard to tell! I think I've felt some kicks in my lower right side a few times, but I'm just not sure. I found out at my last US that I have an anterior placenta, so it may still be a few weeks til I really feel something.

Any appointment updates?  

Nothing happening appt-wise til August.

Rants/Raves/Questions/Dear Diary? 

DH and I had our 1st real disagreement about baby-related things yesterday. We were talking about what our plans are for when I go into labor (when to call our parents, asking them to call our siblings, etc.) and we got on the subject of who would be invited back to see/hold the baby first. At our hospital, you're allowed to have 3 people in the maternity ward with you. One will be DH, and that leaves 2 others. DH suggested having grandmas come back first, then grandpas second. I am much closer with my dad than my mom and I totally want him to be in the room first. When I mentioned that, DH suggested my dad and his mom first. Would that be weird? I feel like my parents should go in together (and I obviously would want them in first so my dad can be there), but that's only b/c I don't want my mom to feel like she's less important to me. Right now DH isn't willing to make his mom wait, and I am definitely having my father be the first to come in. I also feel like my dad and DH's mom are always trying to one-up each other. If they're both in the room at the same time, it could be a struggle to have one hold the baby before the other. I mean, I feel like the mother's parents should come in first, right? Their daughter did just give birth. Ugh! I'm so stressed already, and this is still sooooo far away! I blame the pregnancy hormones! Definitely looking for suggestions or how other people plan to handle this (if you've even considered it yet).

GTKY: What songs will you have on your baby's lullaby list?
Oh, this is tough! Stealing You are My Sunshine from @whitneyb89 (I've been singing that already too!). Some Elvis songs for sure, like Love me Tender, and probably lots of Journey and Billy Joel!

echo-charlietango

@mag1cbeli3ver If I were in your situation, I would make the family draw straws to see you in the maternity ward! Why? Just let randomness decide who sees you first - you can’t change the hospitals rules, so it shouldn’t be your burden to choose the first/last parents to see you and the baby. I suggest popsicle sticks numbered one through ten. When it is time, YH will conceal the numbers and the waiting family will draw sticks. Numbers one and two will go first, then switch out with three and four - and so on.

ETA: Let them swap numbers if they want to! If I did that with my family I think that numbers one and two would be swapped to let the moms in first - just because I know my family!

tumbleweed-1

Thanks everyone for the new job well wishes. I’m so excited! Childcare industry tends to be really high stress and high turnover, so I’m thrilled about the staff development and benefits that I’ve heard of so far. Having my baby in my class might be nice, or it might be challenging. Lol, hopefully my baby will understand when I’m helping a dif infant and he/she needs to wait. 
@echo-charlietango probably! We saw Ramin Djawadi when he came through our town a year/two ago doing GoT concerts. It was very pretty. 
@mag1cbeli3ver I think having your parents go in and then YH parents go in makes more sense than his mom, your dad. I haven’t thought about who would be in the delivery room because all of my parents live 2-4 hours away. But I do think about this sort of stuff in general because my parents divorced when I was young and I was raised by my step dad, but also don’t want to ever offend my birth father. I also get along a lot better with my step mom than my mom, and obviously don’t want my mom to feel like she’s less important. I’m always walking on eggshells. 

hkom

How far along are you? Have you felt kicks?
19 weeks + 1 day.  I'm pretty sure I've felt kicks.  There is just nothing else it could be in my mind.  It feels, well, exactly like a tiny person is kicking me from the inside.  It's still fairly infrequent though - only every few days / maybe twice a week.

Any appointment updates?  

Anatomy scan on Monday!

Rants/Raves/Questions/Dear Diary? 
H is out of town until Sunday and I am sad   

GTKY: What songs will you have on your baby's lullaby list
This hasn't even been remotely on my radar, but now that I think about it, lots of Doc Watson, John Prine, and Paul Simon.  Generically, bluegrass, folk, and old time.  

@mag1icbeli3ver  I guess I really don't understand the importance of being THE FIRST to see/hold the baby.  I agree with echo, just explain the hospital rules and pick randomly.  Then let them figure it out amongst themselves if they want to switch it up.  And give them a time limit so the first people in don't hog.

@kadeephd I agree on the sober weddings, or any type of big party, being difficult sober.  My BIL's wedding is in a month with H's HUGE extended family.  We told H's parents that they get to tell all of their own siblings (so, our aunts and uncles) that we are having a baby.  We figured since it's their first grandchild that they would be super excited and tell everyone right away, but we actually aren't sure if they've told anyone yet.  I swear on all that is holy, if I go to this wedding in a month and have to individually explain to every one of the 200 people there that I am pregnant...

@tumbleweed-1  Yay for your new job!!

Agree with everyone on the HS reunions.  Skipped my 5 and 10, and will probably continue to not show for subsequent ones as well.

Anyone else having trouble with tagging??  The actual website usually isn't glitchy like the mobile app, but it's terrible today.  

ab_canada

@mag1cbeli3ver
Having an anterior placenta would suck. One of the ladies at my work has one and she says she was able to feel baby at around 25 weeks.

I like echo's idea of drawing straws. Nobody would get offended that way. And if you don't want to risk separating your parents, you can agree that parents only draw one straw and go in together. Or else talk about it some more as the time goes on - sometimes people change their minds. So far DH and I haven't argued about anything like that yet but I could see myself getting caught off guard if his idea ends up being something opposite of what I thought. But there is still lots of time to figure that out.

ab_canada

@morgantu

Stampede is definitely a whole city affair. It lasts about 10 days and downtown just parties the whole time. The corporate community is very supportive of it (especially downtown offices), so it's super fun. There are free breakfasts (yucky eggs and breakfast sausage, but still fun) all over downtown, music playing, etc. 

morgantu

@ab_canada wow! I love stuff like that! Hope you are able to have some time to enjoy it  

kadeephd

@echo-charlietango Glad you are getting your stuff!  Also, I am not trying to hide that I am pregnant at this wedding, but like @hkom I don't feel like explaining to people that I am.  We'll see how it goes.  Also @hkom my husband's cousin is getting married next month and I also hope everyone has been told.  That will be my third, and hopefully final, wedding pregnant (at least this time around).  We are turning down an invite in September because it's far and just not worth the stress of the trip.

@whitneyb89 Hope your sonogram went well!

scaredunprepared

Good luck everyone who has anatomy scans this week! 

I am also on the avoid-hs-reunions train.  And on the I'm-not-sure-if-it's-kicks train.  So frustrating not knowing!

@hkom it's so difficult when your SO is away, I feel you.  I didn't love it even when I wasn't pregnant, but now that I am, it's even harder. I need him there "just in case".  You military wives out there are tough cookies having to deal with this on the regular! 

How far along are you? Have you felt kicks?
16+2.   Not really sure, but 4th of July evening I thought I maybe felt something, then again on the 5th, but nothing since. 

Any appointment updates?  

Had lots of blood taken today. Next Wed I have a follow up with the endocrinologist about my thyroid levels. Hopefully it's all good news. That's about it until August!

Rants/Raves/Questions/Dear Diary?
Thankful to my sister for giving me a bunch of maternity clothes!  And to Old Navy for having decent sales.  I might get through this pregnancy without spending a small fortune on a new wardrobe. 

GTKY: What songs will you have on your baby's lullaby list 
You Are My Sunshine, country songs, Disney songs, and classical music. SO also had some specific songs he wanted to sing to baby but I forget them because I can't remember anything lately. 

hkom

@scaredunprepared Yes on the military wives.  I couldn't do it.  H has mentioned it in passing before and I am just like you will not.

whitneyb89

Update on the appointment. Everything looked good so far! Even though the baby was bring kind of stubborn, so the doctor didn't see everything she wanted to. So, I have another sonogram in a month to try again. At least she got the gender.

echo-charlietango

Re: Mil wives
I say "it's not too bad" but I am also fiercely independent and have helped out several other spouses deal with deployments. Having DH at home is good, but sometimes I need my space too!

@whitneyb89 Happy you had a good appointment

omnommer

How far along are you? Have you felt kicks?

16+5. Have definitely felt flutters a few times, but not regularly at all. I felt the earlier one around 13 weeks, and since then maybe 3-4 more times. It's definitely not gas! Haha. I feel that all the time and it's way different.

Any appointment updates?  

My next appointment is next Tuesday. It's like watching paint dry waiting for it. Haha!

Rants/Raves/Questions/Dear Diary?
I'm feeling super thankful to a bunch of people right now! One friend gave me her entire maternity wardrobe. She's a bit taller so 3 of the pants don't fit, but everything else is perfect. Another friend is coming this weekend with some clothes, a diaper genie and a bottle warmer. Then another friend who has a newborn is going to stockpile the toys when they're done with them for me to take afterwards.

GTKY: What songs will you have on your baby's lullaby list 
You Are My Sunshine - like everyone else. Haha. Disney, jazz (since that's my background, but nothing too fast or high energy ). I haven't even thought about this yet. I'll probably find some pre-made spotify playlists too!

echo-charlietango

Re: Spotify lists
I just looked - lullabies is a genre!

mag1cbeli3ver

@scaredunprepared Hope all your blood work comes back great!

@whitneyb89 congrats on a good appt!

Thanks everyone for your advice! I'm thinking the drawing for position will be the best way since I don't expect our parents will be able to act like adults. Leave it to chance! Thanks, @echo-charlietango!

binxybaby

How far along are you? Have you felt kicks?
I am 19 Weeks, 3 Days today. Baby is an active little bugger in there so I've been feeling lots of kicks. Also, my uterus is the size of a planet for some reason so I just imagine him swimming around all day.

Any appointment updates?
I switched OBs, which was a huge hassle, but I think I'll be happy with my choice. Time will tell. Unfortunately, this does mean that my anatomy scan was pushed out another week so now it's on July 30th when I'll be 22 weeks. My dad says that's good because baby will be bigger and more developed, but I'm anxious to see baby boy NOW!

R/R/Q/DD?
I had this whole ordeal last night with my brother and I got really stressed and upset and then felt bad that my emotions were probably being felt by baby. Long story short, my brother asked me to fly across the country to take care of my nephew for a weekend when I'm 22 weeks pregnant and I would have to take one of my PTO days, which I am hoarding for maternity leave. The flights were at awful times of day too. I wanted to help because I love my brother, but I have to think about my body and my baby first. 

GTKY: What songs will you have on baby's lullaby list?
Danny's Song made me blubber like an idiot the other day so I'm sure I'll sing that to baby. Beyond that, I'm sure lots of songs will be in rotation. I really want to check out Priscilla Ahn's lullaby CD because I love her.

binxybaby

@mag1cbeli3ver Journey! Yes. Baby is going to hear some Journey!

ab_canada

@echo-charlietango

OMG "Soothing Strings" - my baby will be edumacated! 

echo-charlietango

@ab_canada Ha! DH was sitting with me when I found those playlists, but I said “Soothing Strings? Hope it’s full of string quartets and cello ensembles”

morgantu

YOU GUIZEEEEEEEEEEE! i can feel it! I can definitely feel it! I had been second guessing the kicks for the last few days, but today is undeniable. Especially when i bend over and my belly gets scrunched up. Omg it's so neat! 

ab_canada

@morgantu Congrats!

scaredunprepared

@morgantu enjoy those little flutters!

brookeef26

How far along are you? Have you felt kicks?

18w, 2 days. May have felt flutters but unsure, I'm FTM.

Any appointment updates?  

Anatomy scan next tuesday!

Rants/Raves/Questions/Dear Diary? 

I think my belly may have grown a little but I'm unsure! So I'm not really showing yet and definitely not noticable to others... are any of you in the same boat? 

Also I didn't start off super thin, so my lack of a baby bump has nothing to do with me having wonder woman abs. 

GTKY: What songs will you have on your baby's lullaby list?

Haven't thought about it really... he will definitely be listening to  the Avett brothers!

kadeephd

@binxybaby That does seem like a long trip to watch your nephew for one day!  

@brookeef26 I'm 19 weeks today and I don't think I'm obviously showing yet.  I definitely have noticed a change over the last couple of weeks though and I think I'll be undeniably showing pretty soon, within the next few weeks.  I've read that some women make it to 30+ weeks without having an obvious baby bump, especially the first time around.  Every body is different I guess!

brookeef26

@kadeephd thanks for your response. I feel better knowing I'm not alone!

echo-charlietango

@brookeef26 Lurk on our HDBD threads, most of us specify our pregnancy week, and whether we’re FTM or STM+. 

brookeef26

@echo-charlietango thanks! New to this and still trying to figure it out!

echo-charlietango

@brookeef26 Make sure to read the ***READ FIRST*** thread, and introduce yourself in the introduction thread I’m on mobile, so disregard if you already have !