Ten Things Tuesday!

KH826 · March 2014

Happy Tuesday Everyone! Please share with us any 10 things that are on your mind today -- anything at all! PIPs (Picture in Post) are always welcome too!

KH826 · March 2014

1. I forgot to mention this in my pregnancy check-in yesterday (which is weird b/c I was so obsessed with it last week), but I had my 1-hr glucose test last Thursday. I will start off by saying I passed - thank heavens!!! However, it was pretty awful for me. I don't eat a lot of sugar in my diet normally, and the amount of sugar in that darn drink just about made me nuts. I felt nauseous and light headed and jittery and just gross for most of the day. I had convinced myself that my reaction to the test meant that I had failed and was already mentally preparing myself for the 3-hr test, but the nurse at my OB's office called and said my results were right in the normal range and I passed. I was so relieved!

2. I did post yesterday in my check-in that baby girl had been having a lazy couple of days and not moving around as much, which was making me a tad on edge (but I think I was managing my anxiety about it pretty well for me...), anyway, she was very active last night (my wife even felt a few good kicks after dinner), and she is moving and grooving again this morning. I am feeling like a much more relaxed person today b/c of it.

3. 28 weeks today! 3rd Trimester! 84 days til EDD according to my ticker. Holy smokes!

4. We are getting new windows installed on Friday in the nursery and our master bedroom. That is a big thing off the pre-baby checklist, so I am excited. I am also working from home on Friday so that someone will be there while the work is getting done. I am also happy about that!

5. We have a friend who's mom is an amazing seamstress, and has offered to make bedding/teach my wife how to make bedding for the nursery. My wife is super pumped about it because she loves DIY stuff, and she had been looking around at bedding, but hadn't seen anything she loved (remember, the nursery is her secrety project). Well, anyway, she went out and bought all the fabric and supplies she needs and this Saturday she is spending the day with our friend's mom and they are making all the bedding, changing pad covers, etc. for the nursery. I am really excited. I won't get to see it until the nursery is all done, but I know it will be great. My wife does a super job with projects like this, and this friend's mom is very talented and has made things for us before, so I know it will turn out great. I can't wait to see!

6. So, our baby shower is being planned by our moms, and everything was supposed to be a surprise to us except for the date (we picked the date - April 26th)... anyway, the invitations went out last week and in the last 2 days 2 of my wife's friends have managed to tell her the major surprises of the shower, so now we know. We know where it is being held (at the venue where we had our wedding, which I am super excited about!), and we know the theme - children's books (every guest is being asked to bring a book instead of a card and write a personal message on the inside cover to the baby) -- which I also love! I can't decide if I am excited to know these details or if I am annoyed and disappointed that it won't be a surprise. We aren't going to tell our moms that we know, because they will be really upset. They have put a lot of time and effort into planning this and making it a surprise. My mother-in-law in particular would probably be heartbroken to know that we already know so much. Anyway, I am hoping that we don't find out anymore. I am really excited for the shower now, though!

7. It is supposed to be 62 degrees outside today! Heatwave!!!!!! I can't wait to leave my office at the end of the day and not be freezing. I also can't wait to see if today's temps manage to melt the remaining snow that we still have on the ground (which is now just dirty and gross). Bring on Springtime, please and thank you!

8. Aaaaand a further look at the extended forecast shows me that Thursday's high is supposed to be 28. Seriously?!?! Oh well, I shall enjoy today's 62 regardless. But I cannot wait until the cold is officially gone. This winter has really been a tough one.

9. So I am going to officially be old a week from tomorrow. No I'm not, just kidding. I am turning 30 though, which feels like kind of a milestone. It also feels kind of strange to think about, being 30. 30 feels so much older, more mature, more established than 29. I know it is just a number, and I am not at all one of those people who freaks out about getting older... it just feels kind of "weird" to transition from my 20s to being 30. Oh well, ready or not it is going to happen next week, so I better wrap my brain around it. HAHA

10. Yesterday one of my co-workers from our parent company was trying to convince me to travel to our corporate office in Indy in 3 weeks for a meeting. Ummm.. no thanks! I will be 31 weeks pregnant, and while I know people travel then and are fine, I have no interest in flying by myself at that stage of the game. I can totally participate in this meeting remotely by webconference/teleconference, and I refuse to feel guilty about keeping my feet firmly planted on the ground here in Philly. I used to be really bad at telling people no, especially when it comes to work, but I didn't hesitate to say no to this. Perhaps pregnancy has made me a bit more pushy HA!

doodah1013 · March 2014

1. I am some excited that A an I finally got a "win" last week... I got a big promotion that will set us up nicely financially. We have had such bad luck since we got married. A lost her job, we have struggled with TTC, we lost our funding for a house (because of stupid student loan debt, and then we lost our little chicken wing.). It is amazing knowing that good things can still happen to us.

2. We made wine with A's family this weekend. It was so fun! It takes 6 weeks to ferment and I hope by the time it is ready I can't have any...

3. I am excited to move into my big new office! It has a door and everything.

4. I have been running again and that has been very enjoyable. I didn't realize how much I missed it.

5. We have had some warm days here and that has been also helping my mood!

6. I am so excited to get seeds started soon for our garden. This year we are adding a potato container garden and a berry patch.

7. We are gearing up for another IUI. Probably at the end of next week. I am so stinking glad that this stupid "off month" is coming to an end.

8. I am still so excited for @healz413‌ and @Manada‌ ! 2 little Rockies just growing and growing!

9. @healz413‌ has suggested our theme song for this cycle is "Tubthumping" by Chumbawamba. We are running with it.

10. Stupid mobile bump won't me let post a picture.... I will try again later.

shelly2314 · March 2014

don't know if I'll make it to 10, but here goes nothing

1. Super tired today. I REALLY hate this time change. It is so hard to get up and drive to work when it is pitch black out!

2. Why oh why have almost all of our students lost their minds. These last two weeks have been hell. Thank God spring break is only 1 more week away. I think we all need a hiatus from here.

3. Just did a snack exchange on reddit gifts. Seems interesting enough. Haven't received my snack yet, but had a great time selecting some for someone else. I love gift exchanges---might possibly be addicted to them

4. Speaking of gifting. I keep going over our finances and cannot figure out where our money goes LOL. I guess, in our defense, I have managed to pay off all of our credit cards. I am just super over-bearing when it comes to money management. Twins should be an interesting blow to the budget LOL

5. I think I am cranky today...mood swings are fun...NOT. We do have a dinner planned with a good friend of ours tonight that we have not seen in almost 2 years. She lives 20 minutes away but has become a bit of a recluse and backed out of plans a lot over the last year so we just stopped trying. She initiated this time so hopefully she will not back out. We are going for sushi (mine will be cooked!!!) but very excited about it.

6. Maybe I am cranky b/c I am tired. I think I will need to go find a teacher's lounge and take a quick nap!!

7. BTW, feel guilty about #6 b/c I don't like to be lazy at work, but I cannot help how exhausted I get sometimes.

8. my cell is starting to piss me off. I am almost at the end of my contract and don't want a new phone, but this stupid thing keeps freezing. M swears it happens on purpose so the phone company forces you to get a new phone. LOL. I don't want a new one b/c Verizon did away with their unlimited data, so if I get a new phone I lose that plan. And I don't want to bother looking through the hundreds of phones available. Here I go being lazy again

9. what do you know, almost made it to 9. I am bumping at work to try to stay away. Probably better if I just did #6 and got it over with.

10. I hope you all have a terrific tuesday!

healz413 · March 2014

1. The dog and I have an excellent cuddle going on right now. She's curled up with me on the couch with her head in my lap. I love this so much and it's been a while. It seems M's been getting all the good dog cuddles for the last couple months.

2. Guess what, y'all! Veronica Mars the movie is coming out this Friday. I'm SOOOO excited

3. And then Divergent is coming out on the 21st. I can't wait!

4. We're 6w6d today. Next ultrasound is Thursday at 7w1d. I'm anxious.

5. I'm trying to figure out a plan to get work done on my dissertation before the babies come and to figure out what I might be able to do after that fact.

6. I had a dream that I was trying to figure out if I was having a heart attack and woke up to heart burn (which I don't have very often so it freaks me out each time). I was awake for an hour after that.

7. We bought a used "Your Pregnancy by the week" or soemthing like that book at the thrift store and it is very neat to know how much is happening every day this early on.

8. @doodah mentioned the song that we picked out for him and @firstcomeslove2013 this cycle but didn't explain that it is the "I get knocked down, but I get up again" song. I would not have recognized it by it's title.

9. M and I have been checking out the multiples board. It's a whole different world, eh?

10. I'm glad @amandag47 and her partner are having success with their twins and with partner breast feeding. I'm super sad that amandag47 has to be back at work, though.

trisholio · March 2014

1. It seems like I am in good company these days, I am just so tired! I don't know if it is the time change or what, but I just can't get enough sleep.

2. In related to #1, baby K has been sleeping from 9pm to 5am, which is awesome! I feel like I should feel more 'rested' since I am not getting up to feed her but I am still waking up a ton of times to pee. I just can't seem to get restful sleep.

3. I can't believe I am 15 weeks pregnant and having a GIRL! It makes it even more real now, we keep talking about the little person we hope she becomes.

4. My wife's parents are good people and we just adore her little sister. Her dad has had problems over the years keeping a job and they have spent a lot of time on government assistance. It is there for people that need it, but they almost make it part of their life and expect that is how people live. They keep harping on us to sign up for WIC and other programs. We are by no means living the high life, but our bills are paid. We have a budget and have plans to provide for our child without government assistance. It is frustrating to explain to them over and over that #1 we don't qualify for those programs and #2 we don't plan to use them. We didn't spend $15,000 to have a child just to ask for a handout from the government.

5. In relation to #4, I do not have a problem with most people that are on government assistance. We are looking into WIC for our foster children, but really we just want it to cover the cost of formula. And I understand people hit hard times, but we are not going to try and get assistance when someone else could use it more.

6. I have a meeting today with both of our social workers, one thru the county and one thru the private agency. The best part is that they come to my house! They love to play with the girls and we also discuss plans to help them develop and updates on bio mom. I am interested in what they have to say this week since bio mom showed up to visits late and high last week.

7. We are really going to focus on potty training this week with M, the toddler. She says she has to pee 100 a times a day and always says she is thirsty. It is so much work to take her to the bathroom all the time when I have the baby to take care of also. But it is something we really need to focus on.

8. I am so excited for all the newly preggo's on here lately! There is also a little part of me that is jealous of the multiple sets of twins. I know that I am crazy to say that. I have two to take care of right now that wear me out. I could never handle two more! But I always wanted twins.

9. Our lease is up in May where we live now and we are trying to decide if we should move this year or wait another year. I would love to move and have more room, but I don't want to spend too much more money a month and over-extend ourselves before the baby gets here. But I would love to have a nursery to decorate (even though the baby is going to be in our room for awhile in a cosleeper) I also would LOVE to have a play room! Our living room has been taken over by toys and it is only going to get worse. Another bonus of moving this year is that I will be 6 months pregnant and won't have to move anything! :-) I hate moving! It is so stressful

10. I am proud of myself that I wasn't feeling great last night but my wife and I went for a walk around our neighborhood. I had baby K in the moby and my wife walked and held M's hand. We could have used our new double stroller, but I wanted M to get some energy out. By the time we got home my back and hip were hurting, but I am glad that we did it!

JGY · March 2014

1. I'm just going to get all the negative out in the first 5, so I can be rosey and happy for the last 5 things.

2. The plague that S had for the past 2 weeks has NOT, in fact, miraculously skipped me. I now have it and it's miserable, and I'm just praying Gabe doesn't get it. Not sure how we're going to keep that from happening though, since I'm still nursing him and co-sleeping some (from about 2am-6am) and coughing on him the whole time.

3. The ice dam damage to our house is not getting repaired any time soon. The insurance check is taking forever to come back from the mortgage lender (didn't even know about this step). It leaves us without an entire room, and Gabe's birthday is coming up in 2 weeks. We're going to have a house full of people. This is a nightmare.

4. Ooooh, 2 more negative things left, and I only have 2 more things to complain about! So through this ice dam issue we found out that the local roofing company (as in, has a storefront 3 blocks away and prides themselves on their neighborhood business) who did our new roof a few years back, did a completely $hitty job. They used inappropriate materials and methods for our climate and geographic area. This is likely what caused the over $10k of damage to our house. Turns out our next door neighbor paid them a visit and basically read them the riot act about it, and they promised him they would call us and find a time to come fix it. THEY NEVER CALLED US. I feel so stupid for trusting them. I know a lot of things about a lot of things, but I know NOTHING about roofing. I'm irate but was feeling in control and like I could sit down and have a reasonable conversation with them about how they are going to fix it for us. But of course the owner and the project manager are both out of town. How convenient.

5. Last whiney one ... so because of the ice dam(n) damage, we were able to see into the ceiling in the office. And we spotted a pretty majorly awesome leak in the toilet plumbing. I guess this isn't as negative as it is positive. I mean yeah, it's a PITA that we have something else to fix and pay for, but awesome that we caught it when we did!

6. On to the good stuff. The weather here the last few days has been pretty damn refreshing. Onward towards Spring!

7. Gabe has mastered walking in normal shoes, so I feel like this Spring is going to be awesome because we can go outside and he'll be able to walk anywhere he wants!

8. I feel extremely grateful today that I have a job that allows me to work from home when necessary. So while I'd rather just take the day off and sleep, I'm not forced to burn vacation time and can actually work/bump from my couch.

9. The teachers at daycare told me today that Gabe likes to chase the "Big girls." And by big I don't just mean older, but physically the biggest as well. Apparently one of those kids bites. I guess they were giving me fair warning, but considering Gabe pushes them once he catches them I'd say he likely has it coming. All the teachers think the whole thing is hilarious. I worry because if there's one thing I WILL NOT tolerate it's my son being a bully. But I do get a wicked little charge over the fact that he's racing after kids almost twice is age.

10. I need to give a shout out to my wife. While things are still pretty rough, and I'm sure she'd still answer the same way if asked if she was happy about having a kid (mostly that she isn't), she has REALLY stepped up in terms of participtation level. And she clearly loves the little Dude. Now I just need to get to the next step of believing that she's doing these things because she wants to, not only because she feels like she has to. But that's my issue. This is still a BIG positive.

Happy Tuesday!

Jazibel · March 2014

1. I'm going to rush these - if possible. Kaden seems a little clingy for my attention today, so I'm trying to catch up on the Bump and then go spend the morning with him. I'm bribing him with Cuties (oranges) which he loves.

2. My head is aching. Ugh

3. Yesterday I took our comforter to the laundromat, and washed our sheets at home. Kaden and I went to the library while the blanket was in the wash. It was so nice to shower last night and crawl into a clean bed - felt like being at a hotel.

4. EV and I stayed up late last night. We're talkers, we love communicating, planning, dreaming and discussing everything. Anyway, we decide to strongly considering selling our house here in CA. Our tenant's lease is up in May and they're moving to be closer to work. We're thinking about putting in new floors, painting and doing a few other small things and putting it on the market. Home prices have risen as of late and we'd hope to recoop enough to buy another house and make some other financial strides. I'm feeling really positive about this decision - but we have more research to do before we know what direction we go in for sure. Plus we'd like me to have my RE license so that I can represent us and help save on the commission expense. That means finishing my classes and taking my exam within days/weeks of Owen being born. EV says I'm a 'gangsta' and can handle it. Hrmmmmm I have my MBA Capstone project too so I'm not sure how 'gangsta' I'll be feeling, but I'm up for a challenge.

5. If we do buy a house (or work out a shared investment with our current landlord) we have to decide where and that decision would likely put us in a house for the next 5 years. That seems like forever since we're kind of gypsy's at heart. But with Kaden growing up - we want to find a place to settle down and it just might be in our current area...

6. The freesia and lily's are blooming outside as is the cherry tree. I love the Spring. It's going to be between the 60's - 80's this week.

7. Our midwife is coming over for a visit tonight. So excited to see her. Best part of meeting with our midwife is that she's a good friend and it's an opportunity to get together.

8. I have to work on our taxes this week (I had to request a document which finally came in the mail). Booo not looking forward to it. For projects like these I sometimes bribe myself with a treat or gift. This time it will likely be 1-2 things off our Owen Amazon wish list.

9. I decided to dig out a few more baby things from the garage today, and do a general overhaul on getting organized. Hopefully there's still time to make potato leek soup...

10. Yesterday and today I only want to eat cake and chocolate.... Where this is coming from? I can only blame baby. I ate some dried mango - hopefully that will curb the cravings.

firstcomeslove2013 · March 2014

I have done one of these in a while so I'll play today!

1. On sunday our washing machine passed away peacefully. Not only do I need it for us but I need it for work. We have been talking about getting a new one so now is apparently the time! C and I have been talking about it over e-mail all morning (we are the WORST at making decisions) but I think we are going to go ahead and get the washer AND dryer (we rent so we don't own the ones we have anyway...the landlord is not replacing the one we have so we might as well get the set). I think we have settled on a set. Stupid grown up purchases.

2. I have started watching another child during the day. It has been a big change going from one kid to two...it does give me a really good look into what we are going to get ourselves into! :-)

3. I am OVER THE MOON excited for @healz413 and @manada they are going to make the best parents and they are going to raise those little rockies to be the coolest kids!!!

4. I'm sitting in our living room and the sun is streaming through the window...its amazing!

5. We made wine with my parents this weekend and it was SO fun! The older I get the more I really appreciate and like my parents. I have always loved them but now I truly like them!

6. The time change is kicking my butt a little...I feel like we are still getting enough sleep and still waking up on time but man, I'm just sleepy.

7. Due to #1 I went to the laundry mat this morning...it was kind of nice to get everything I needed to wash done at the same time...I know...its nerdy!

8. I know I haven't been the most active on this board lately but I still follow and read all the stories (a bit of a lurker if you will) but sometimes when people pop in and leave I wonder what happened to them. If you are a lurker but were active at some point, fill us in on what is going on!

9. Next thursday/friday we should be doing our IUI...I am really ready to not be on a break anymore.

10. We have decided to start opening up the thought of purchasing a home...I think it is a good decision for us!

Have a great tuesday everyone!

Manada · March 2014

1. On Friday I both threw up for the first time AND came down with the stomach flu! It was horrible!   I thought I was on the road to hyperemesis gravidum and was super miserable.   I was actually glad to find out that H. and I both had a temporary bug that passed by Sunday....

2. Compared to the weekend I feel like a million bucks!   Talk about a way to put it into perspective for you!   A little bit of nausea and tiredness is nothing compared to being ravaged by the norovirus. I'm just hoping the Rockies made it through okay too....

3. I was a little sad today that my new maternity jeans won't stay up on their own yet (my blump just won't hold them up!), and my regular jeans are just a tad too tight for me to wear comfortably all day...   so I'm jeans-less for awhile I think!   I settled for cords today, which fit just fine still, thankfully!

4. We have our next u/s on Thursday, but I want to go sooner... I want to know that both Rockies are still growing and hearts are beating normally and everything.

5. I declared yesterday that my relationship with the transvaginal ultrasound can be described as Stockholm syndrome.... it's true, and pretty sad.   I am a little afraid of what we'll do without it and not knowing.

6. I have to work late practically every day this week in order to accommodate evening events!   It's lovely to sleep in and relax in the morning, but I get so tired by afternoon!   I need a camp cot for my office naps!

7. I swear the last time I was looking for it (okay, this was in 2009 probably) - The Birth Partner was between editions or something and was impossible to find online and in stores in Canada!   I was working in a midwifery clinic at the time and we needed more copies and I had to track a few down from various special-interest bookshops across the city who had a few in stock!

8. Before we got pg H. and I had the Uppababy Vista (in green!) picked out as our stroller of choice.   Now that we're looking at twins that has had to chance completely!   I think I'm currently pushing for the City Mini double, but the whole double stroller world seems totally intimidating!

9. I found out the other day that my work's provided travel insurance won't cover me, or our babies, if we travel to the USA at any point during a "high-risk" pregnancy. I'm finding this a bit stressful because we usually visit H's parents during the spring/summer period.... I'm still seeking an insurance plan that may cover us to travel by car up to even 26weeks.

10. Good luck to everyone doing IUIs and home inseminations this cycle!!!! Don't forget to sing to your gametes!   My favourite song was the cycle H. started calling our (hypothetical) embryo Pokey-Pokey to remind those sperms to keep on poking until they got through!   It didn't work, but it made for a good nickname that cycle.

redrockmama · March 2014

1. I finally found Bubbles' heartbeat with the fetoscope last night. So cool! I feel pretty accomplished haha

2. Met with the midwife last night. She is great, I really like her. She suggested we get a doula and keep prepping for a homebirth and if we find out we have to do a c-section we will just change plans then, our follow up U/S is in 8ish weeks.

3. I feel a lot better now about moving forward in a direction instead of feeling stuck and not knowing what to prepare for.

4. She also explained how the closest hospital (and the one she works at) does c sections. J wasn't too thrilled. The residents do the surgery and the attendings supervise. There is really no way to pick someone who would do ours. At another hospital, we could pick the OB, but the U of U hospital is the only breastfeeding/baby-friendly hospital here. That matters a lot more to me than who would actually do the surgery.

5. For anyone that wanted the homemade laundry and dishwashing detergents. These are the ones we made

Laundry: https://www.houselogic.com/home-advice/green-cleaning/which-homemade-laundry-detergent-recipe-best/ We did recipe #1 and it's working great

Dishwashing: https://www.houselogic.com/home-advice/green-living/which-homemade-dishwasher-soap-recipe-best/ We did recipe #2 because the kool-aid was easier to find and cheap. We will probably try a different one next time, but it does work well, just doesn't rinse all the way off.

6. One of our therapists put in his notice yesterday. I'm so sad. He's my favorite person at work. We've had so much turnover lately, it's exhausting and stressful.

7. My sister's family is moving this weekend, which means we get to watch the baby. I'm so excited. We don't see them often because they live so far away and my sister works weekends. It'll be fun to have them so close after the move.

8. Our midwife thinks we are hilarious because we know the sex of the baby and aren't telling anyone. She asked why, and definitely understood why but laughed and laughed about it. We are the only couple she's worked with that isn't telling everyone. Are we that unique?

9. My younger sister had a phone interview for a job in Utah, she just found out she didn't get it. I hope she keeps trying, I want her to move back here.

10. My dad is helping us re-do our closet this weekend. I can't wait to have more useful storage.

PIP: Our pup Xena was snuggling Bubbles the other day. I wonder if she could hear the baby or if she was just being super snuggly.

holdingThumbs · March 2014

My first TTT! Let's see...

1) My office building is right next to the Courthouse where they perform marriages. I just walked by the cutest lesbian couple taking pictures on the front steps, which they had covered in rose petals. They were positively beaming. So sweet!

2) There are two Courts in my building, both for minor offenses (e.g., public urination, sleeping on the subway, etc.). Folks come in throughout the day with their summons, and while waiting for the elevators, or getting through security, I can't help but to try to guess what "offenses" they committed. That said, I think most people would look at me and guess Public Intoxication, or Disregard for Authority, so, you get what you give.

3) I wonder if it is an offense to strew rose petals on the Courthouse... minimally, it is probably a liability.

4) We want to renovate our bathroom. I am tall and busty, and I want a tub where I can get FTI - full titty immersion. We meet with a contractor this weekend, and S made me promise I wouldn't use this term in front of him. We yapped instead about 18" vs. 23" standard issue tubs, or the expense of a custom tub, but really, I just wanted to scream, "Get these girls under water, and we have a deal!"

5) The estimate for our ideal re-do came to $13,000, which is about $11,000 more than we planned to spend. Who knew?! (possible answer: anyone who has owned a home for more than 3 months).

6) I am so excited about all these pregnancies!

trisholio, I love reading about your fosters. S's sister is adopted - she came into the family when she was about 5, and had been in foster care for about a year before that. She is still very close to her foster family (20+ years later!!) - they hold a very special place everyone's heart.

8) I am (supposedly) running a Half Marathon this weekend, for which I am profoundly under-trained. Maybe I will just do half of my half...

9) I started running 6 years ago after having my heart ripped out. I was staying with some dear friends, and half in jest, they presented me with two options - (1) sit around and be bitter, (2) run your ass off and become a better person. Thousands and thousands of miles and several marathons later, we still joke that I made the wrong choice.

10) This was hard!! Thanks for reading.

healz413 · March 2014

redrockmama said:

8. Our midwife thinks we are hilarious because we know the sex of the baby and aren't telling anyone. She asked why, and definitely understood why but laughed and laughed about it. We are the only couple she's worked with that isn't telling everyone. Are we that unique?

I don't think you're unique. I think it's quite common, especially among LGBTQ families, to not find out or not tell people the projected assigned sex at birth of the baby/ies. We live in a world that is so quick to gender babies and (often unintentionally) place limited expectations on them based on sex. If you can postpone that at least until the baby is born, you can at least limit the number of super gendered presents you'll get at baby showers. I think this is increasingly common among straight couples, as well. It strikes me as amusing that your midwife would find it so funny. Does she serve a more conservative/traditional clientele?

AmandaG47 · March 2014

1- @healz413 thank you! I'm still a but of an emotional wreck these days so I teared up reading your number 10 ☺

2- @manada - those stroller choices were ours exactly! We went with the britax version of the city mini double because it was on sale and my MIL was buying for us (its a tad larger but smoother handling). I've used the city mini double and like it a lot. We also have a snap and go double but probably won't use it much as we go out together and just babywear.

3- I have Tuesdays off and am enjoying snuggling Vienna right now ☺

4- The weather outside is amazing! Although I may cry if it does in fact snow on Thursday, I'm so happy we are moving towards warmer weather

5- Alexandria is a really noisy sleeper (she is next to me and keeps snorting and grunting loudly)

6- in June we are either moving back to the Northwest for a year or visiting for the summer before moving to PA for school. Both seem great to me now, although I hope we will be going to PA because that means ill be going to school in the fall.

7- my sister and her fiancé are visiting in a couple weeks and I'm very excited to see them and introduce them to the babies. Her fiancé is the first guy she has been with that I approve and he is fantastic!

8- my MIL is staying with us currently and helping SO much. I may cry when she leaves

9- I'm running out of things to say... My brain feels like mush

10- have a great rest of your week everyone and goo luck Thursday @healz413 and @manada!

firstcomeslove2013 · March 2014

@redrockmama - I am with Healz...we may find out the sex of our baby before it is born (once we get pregnant) but we do not intend on telling anyone. We don't want people to choose a favorite color for our child or suggest they will be something before they even develop a personality or decide on their own gender. Way to stick to your guns and not reveal the sex!

2MamazInSeattle · March 2014

1. Yesterday, two women at my prenatal yoga class were 40w3d!! I hope I'm still at yoga post-dates. On Saturday was the first time I wasn't the most-newly pregnant - one lady was 6w and one was 13w. I find the class is predominantly 25-36 weekers. I am so glad for the calming effect, staying in touch with my body (not disassociating, which I tend to do when I feel fat), and the community of other pregnant people.

2. The Winter Daphne I planted two years ago is thriving, it's in bloom and smells AMAZING. I am loving spring is springing - btw daylight savings time and it being 60 degrees, I feel like we're winning here in Seattle.

3. Along those lines, our hens are finally laying again! We went from none to 4 a day just like that! It's good because of my protein goals I'm trying to eat 2 a day and no longer have to fight J for the fresh eggs

.

4. I updated this in my pg checkin, but we have an appointment on 3/21 with a medical geneticist at Children's hospital. She is a pediatrician who works with kids with chromosomal abnormalities - and has treated Trisomy X girls before. I'm hoping to leave this meeting with a plan for when we will do assessments in her first 6 months and the just drop all the worry. More and more, we are worrying way less about this and just being excited for our little girl!

5. Last night I made spaghetti squash and meatballs - while it's a healthy alternative to the pasta, I still kinda always wish it was...pasta.

6. J really wants to adopt a senior dog. I try to argue that 3 cats, 4 chickens, and a newborn are enough. But it seems like this is likely going to happen at some point. I'm ok with it.

7. I did a big pass on the basement last weekend! I definitely don't have the energy I had before being pg, but it's looking pretty amazing down there for an unfinished space. And, I rearranged so all of the baby-staging area is far more accessible than before.

8. Our 6-month old zillion dollar fancy dryer died this weekend. Thankfully after doing ALL the laundry - and they said it'd be a week to fix it! Ug. We do laundry pretty regularly, and J esp. likes to do her workout clothes right away...so this is a bummer.

9. I have one more work trip, and then our Maui trip, then no more airplanes. @KH826, I am with you on a 'no fly zone' for third tri. My MFM actually restricts flying after 27 weeks as standard, which I'm kind of glad for to not have to argue with work about it. I'm sure it's fine, but it just makes me feel uneasy.

10. I'm glad you're all here! I love reading your updates and about your lives!!

redrockmama · March 2014

healz413 said:

redrockmama said:

8. Our midwife thinks we are hilarious because we know the sex of the baby and aren't telling anyone. She asked why, and definitely understood why but laughed and laughed about it. We are the only couple she's worked with that isn't telling everyone. Are we that unique?

I don't think you're unique. I think it's quite common, especially among LGBTQ families, to not find out or not tell people the projected assigned sex at birth of the baby/ies. We live in a world that is so quick to gender babies and (often unintentionally) place limited expectations on them based on sex. If you can postpone that at least until the baby is born, you can at least limit the number of super gendered presents you'll get at baby showers. I think this is increasingly common among straight couples, as well. It strikes me as amusing that your midwife would find it so funny. Does she serve a more conservative/traditional clientele?

Well, where we live is pretty conservative and traditional so I guess most of her clients are too. She was completely supportive of us not telling anyone else, we're just such an anomaly here I guess. A lot of friends and family are quite angry, one friend told me it was the stupidest thing we could do. My mom said we will change our minds and want gender specific stuff when the baby is born and that when she finds out she is going to go buy a bunch of gender specific stuff. It drives me nuts. J has slipped up a few times, but quickly corrects herself. We are still calling the baby it and Bubbles so that we don't let it slip on accident. I'm glad to hear we aren't the only ones.

We actually gave it a thought to not tell people when the baby was born, but people already think we are weird enough and I don't want people stealing my baby to look in it's diaper.

AandStilltrying · March 2014

1. Omg so glad my work day is over!!! What a long day! Time change is kicking my butt.

2. Planning our school talent show and actually got people to volunteer to help with auditions and MCing the whole thing.

3. I laughed so hard...go watch these

https://youtu.be/PKffm2uI4dk and

https://youtu.be/Xw1C5T-fH2Y

In case the links don't work look at sad cat and sad dog diary videos on YouTube.

4. Only 2 1/2 weeks until I track out for 3 glorious weeks!

5. Going to an Arts Integration for special education workshop at the beach the last Sat. Of this month with friends from work and we are thinking of spending the night. It's only an about 1.5 hrs away, but would be fun to cut loose with my friends after finishing this quarter.

6. Tuesdays are fun for me because I get to be introverted. I spend the evening alone because Sarah plays pool on a league on Tues.

So today I think I'm gonna have a glass of wine on the deck and enjoy the 80 degree day we have had!!! Maybe have some take out!

7. Our principal is a pain and doesn't understand the importance of equality! Which is about to put my team over the edge today.

8. I really miss my family! Thinking I need to call my mom today. Excited my sister, niece and mom might come down in 2 weeks. Trying to talk my mom into spending 2-3 weeks and then let me take her home. However Sarah might kill me. Their relationship is hit or miss. Sarah tries hard with her but they are both opinionated and don't know when to shut up!

9. Soooo long story short...got a new car Dec. 18th... Dec. 21st the engine started makin weird noise. Took it to dealer who said cracked engine block from manufacturer an it needed a whole new engine. WTF?!?! Got lemon law lawyer...Kia supposed to put me in a replacement vehicle. Paper work taking FOREVER...2 weeks ago (paperwork still not done) they called to make me come get the fixed lemon and drive until paperwork finished. 2 days later the car caught on fire with me in it. Thank god I am ok. Now they tell me they SOLD my replacement vehicle and have to ORDER me one. I said no...give me a 2015 that's on your lot to replace the 2014. Thank god they said yes and I am getting new car tomorrow...so they said yesterday. We will see! Ready to be done with all this.

10. Sarah started today...soooo we can call and schedule our HSG for next week!!!

oddduck1979 · March 2014

Reading these posts makes me realize that about 90% of the people have some type of construction activity going on. Allow me to introduce myself! jk... but I do work in construction as an estimator and I owned my own company before "we" decided to move closer to family, so anyone who has any questions can totally take advantage of my free advice.

#1 - Work is going well. Will find out shortly (within a week) if I added another $3m to my yearly quota.

#2 - It looks like they are doing performance reviews at work... I HATE these.

#3 - Sperm comes tomorrow!

#4 - Found a house that we like, might buy it. Has over 9 acres of land.

#5 - My dearest told me she is at high fertility right now.

#6 - It's so pretty outside today but the snow is coming tomorrow!

#7 - Found out my insurance covers IVF but everything else is out of pocket

#8 - I made Kass happy on Sunday, I cleaned the living room and kitchen! I'm awesome

#9 - I'm so happy that Twinkies are back

#10 - Hoping for a tiny miracle with our first TTC moment!

ball.and.chain · March 2014

1. I am obsessing about what childbirth class to take. Again. Overthinking is my middle name.

2. Ditto for research on bottles and nipples.

3. Pregnancy brain is bad. Or maybe because I was already flaky it is just making me over-the-top flaky. I thought it wasn't real but I am a disaster lately. I keep throwing things out that are not trash, then looking all over for them only to find they are in the trash. I left the bathroom faucet running for an hour and a half while I went to yoga on Sunday. And at work I keep staring at the computer screen with NO CLUE what I was planning on doing. It's sort of disconcerting.

4. Consequently, I am having trouble getting through TTT today.

5. Why does Mr. Baby want cupcakes? Why doesn't he want effing carrots? @Jazibel, I am with you on the cake/chocolate cravings. I also blame the baby. I had a sweet tooth before, but it was easier to resist.

6. My wife's birthday is Friday. She is working a late shift, so we will basically see each other for about an hour or maybe two total all day. Needless to say we have pushed the celebration to Saturday, but I feel bad not doing anything at all for her on Friday. We agreed not to do birthday gifts this year, which makes it harder.

7. I have had this open and unfinished for hours. But I am proud to say I ate the snacks I brought (an orange; yogurt with muesli) instead of going down to the cafe for sweets.

8. My feet are outgrowing my shoes. I knew this might happen but I was hoping it wouldn't. Why are good running shoes so expensive?

9. @holdingThumbs -- I dream of FTI! Never going to happen in our old house, but a girl can dream.

10. @AandStilltrying -- I love the sad cat diary! Our kitty definitely thinks she has a hard life.

healz413 · March 2014

@holdingthumbs and @ball.and.chain, I dream of FKI--full knee immersion! I'm 6'1 and most of that is in the legs so unless i'm sitting completely straight in a tub (and even not then sometimes) I can't get my legs straight. It makes for loser baths.

HollynLeana · March 2014

1. I want to be a SAHM.
2. I am sick of working.
3. I love dogs.
4. I love this board, you guys are so great!
5. I have to go to Virginia this weekend for my dad's 60th birthday...should be interesting, me and my wife, my gay bro and his partner in the bible belt....fun.
6. I really hope that was my last IUI.
7. It's a glorious 67 degrees in CT today!
8. I teach spin classes with music videos...and my favorite video is L8 CMMR by Lily Allen...well today it is...youtube it...it's adorabe.
9. It's only Tuesday...I wish it was Friday.
10. I am nervous to leave the dogs with the vet tech over the weekend.

StacyLH24 · March 2014

I was going to not post at all on vacation, but I'm gonna break that rule for today...

1. Today we are in Ridge Manor, FL...it is beautiful!

2. I have a mang-o-rita sitting next to me. Delicious!

3. We have been staying with friends of C's for the past few days. There is a house down the street that is potentially for sale. I think we are seriously considering it. It needs some work, but looks like all things that we could do. I'm going to call the realtor tomorrow and see if it is on the market or not.

4. Back home we are going to be getting a storm starting tomorrow morning. Projected snow totals are 7-12 inches. I'm glad we are in Florida!

5. The change in weather and being on vacation is exactly what I needed. I feel so much better. Normally baby making is on my brain 24/7. Since leaving home, I have barely thought about it.

6. Yesterday we went to Palm Bay and got to see the Atlantic. I love the sound of crashing waves.

7. Tomorrow we are heading to Anna Maria Island. We are going to stay there until Saturday and then head back to Ridge Manor. I can't wait for a few days on the beach. We plan to get massages on the beach on Friday.

8. It is so peaceful outside right now.

9. I stopped painting my fingernails and toenails when we started TTC. I painted my toenails for vacation and it makes me happy. Sometimes it's the little things that can make a difference.

10. I am happy and relaxed. I have not a care in the world. It is the best feeling ever right now.

Here are my happily painted toes in the sand today. Also a picture of C and I from earlier today.

doodah1013 · March 2014

redrockmama said:

healz413 said:

redrockmama said:

8. Our midwife thinks we are hilarious because we know the sex of the baby and aren't telling anyone. She asked why, and definitely understood why but laughed and laughed about it. We are the only couple she's worked with that isn't telling everyone. Are we that unique?

I don't think you're unique. I think it's quite common, especially among LGBTQ families, to not find out or not tell people the projected assigned sex at birth of the baby/ies. We live in a world that is so quick to gender babies and (often unintentionally) place limited expectations on them based on sex. If you can postpone that at least until the baby is born, you can at least limit the number of super gendered presents you'll get at baby showers. I think this is increasingly common among straight couples, as well. It strikes me as amusing that your midwife would find it so funny. Does she serve a more conservative/traditional clientele?

Well, where we live is pretty conservative and traditional so I guess most of her clients are too. She was completely supportive of us not telling anyone else, we're just such an anomaly here I guess. A lot of friends and family are quite angry, one friend told me it was the stupidest thing we could do. My mom said we will change our minds and want gender specific stuff when the baby is born and that when she finds out she is going to go buy a bunch of gender specific stuff. It drives me nuts. J has slipped up a few times, but quickly corrects herself. We are still calling the baby it and Bubbles so that we don't let it slip on accident. I'm glad to hear we aren't the only ones.

We actually gave it a thought to not tell people when the baby was born, but people already think we are weird enough and I don't want people stealing my baby to look in it's diaper.

When we told our parents we were not finding out the sex of our baby, their first response as, "You have to! Otherwise we won't know what to buy it!". Point proven parents.... Point proven.
When I look at the extremely girly stuff my mom put me in as a baby, it makes me feel so sad. I never wanted to be a girl, and expressed that as soon as I was able... But I just wish i hadn't been forced into a box before I was able to decide for myself...

trisholio · March 2014

StacyLH24 said:

I was going to not post at all on vacation, but I'm gonna break that rule for today... 1. Today we are in Ridge Manor, FL...it is beautiful! 2. I have a mang-o-rita sitting next to me. Delicious! 3. We have been staying with friends of C's for the past few days. There is a house down the street that is potentially for sale. I think we are seriously considering it. It needs some work, but looks like all things that we could do. I'm going to call the realtor tomorrow and see if it is on the market or not. 4. Back home we are going to be getting a storm starting tomorrow morning. Projected snow totals are 7-12 inches. I'm glad we are in Florida! 5. The change in weather and being on vacation is exactly what I needed. I feel so much better. Normally baby making is on my brain 24/7. Since leaving home, I have barely thought about it. 6. Yesterday we went to Palm Bay and got to see the Atlantic. I love the sound of crashing waves. 7. Tomorrow we are heading to Anna Maria Island. We are going to stay there until Saturday and then head back to Ridge Manor. I can't wait for a few days on the beach. We plan to get massages on the beach on Friday. 8. It is so peaceful outside right now. 9. I stopped painting my fingernails and toenails when we started TTC. I painted my toenails for vacation and it makes me happy. Sometimes it's the little things that can make a difference. 10. I am happy and relaxed. I have not a care in the world. It is the best feeling ever right now. Here are my happily painted toes in the sand today. Also a picture of C and I from earlier today.

I have to say I love the ocean and the beach! I am super jealous of you right now, but more happy for you than anything :-) It sounds like a vacation was just what you needed! Could you drink an extra mango-arita for me? And take an extra few seconds to listen to the waves for me? That is my favorite sound and instantly relaxes me. Enjoy, you deserve it

ball.and.chain · March 2014

Manada said:

3. I was a little sad today that my new maternity jeans won't stay up on their own yet (my blump just won't hold them up!), and my regular jeans are just a tad too tight for me to wear comfortably all day... so I'm jeans-less for awhile I think! I settled for cords today, which fit just fine still, thankfully!

@Manada, at 22 weeks my full-panel maternity pants still don't stay up! I am wearing demi-panel maternity pants which work much better for me at this point. Mine are from the Gap but I think a lot of places sell them.

ATXmommas · March 2014

I started this list yesterday, but never finished. Very interesting considering the conversation above about telling folks the sex of the baby considering my #1-3...

1. How bout the twin and girl explosion as of late?!?! Seems like we had a string of mostly boys for a while, but the tide has turned. I've always heard that IUIs result in more boys than girls, but we have seen many girls coming from IUI lately.

2. I heart my little boy with every cell in my body and can't imagine him being anybody other than who he is, but I admit I would love to have a girl one day. My RE told me during our recent baby visit that the odds of having a boy via IUI are only slightly higher. Still, I have a feeling we'll be mommas of 2 boys, which will be amazing and special, I know.

3. I don't know why it even matters since I wouldn't plan on raising a girl any differently than our boy (or our boy any differently than we would raise a girl). I think it's because I have such a close relationship with my mom. My mom has pointed out to me, though, that she and my brother also have a very close relationship. I feel conflicted about my feelings.

Anyhoo...

4. I made it out the door in time to make it to work by 8:30 this morning (have to leave house by 7am)! That's my goal every day, but hasn't happened that often. I nurse LO when I drop him off, so that adds a good 20-30 minutes to my morning commute.

5. In other news, I spilled my oatmeal twice this morning.

6. Congrats on the promotion, doodah! That's awesome and seems very well deserved!

7. For everyone who plans on pumping, I would highly recommend the Simple Wishes hands free bra. I used the Medela hands free at first, but it was terrible. One size was too small, next size up too big. And the zipper got stuck all the time and usually I would just pull it over my head instead of having to mess with the zipper every time. The Simple Wishes is adjustable and covers a wide range of sizes. Love it!!!

8. Another pearl of wisdom, zipper pajamas rock. So much easier to zip/unzip than fiddle with snap buttons in the middle of the night.

9. I'm really tired. I've been fiddling on my phone until about 9pm every night instead of just going to sleep at 8pm (when little boy is down for the night). I think I need to push bedtime up so I can get as much sleep as I can. Yawn.

10. @B&C - do you have any particular questions about nipples? I've learned some since having a baby that I did not know during pregnancy. @healz & manada - Just thought I would mention that we have the britax b-ready stroller. Obviously, we only use it for a single baby, but you can set it up to use with two car seats and later two toddler seats. We bought it knowing that we wanted to have a second child and I wanted something that would convert to a double stroller. You can configure it many ways. It is bulky and kinda heavy, but not to the point that it causes a problem. We like to baby wear, but there are times when I find a stroller more convenient. Including when he falls asleep in the car and I don't want to wake him up to put him in a carrier.

Happy Tuesday! Ooops, I mean happy Wednesday!

KH826 · March 2014

ball.and.chain said:

Manada said:

3. I was a little sad today that my new maternity jeans won't stay up on their own yet (my blump just won't hold them up!), and my regular jeans are just a tad too tight for me to wear comfortably all day... so I'm jeans-less for awhile I think! I settled for cords today, which fit just fine still, thankfully!

@Manada, at 22 weeks my full-panel maternity pants still don't stay up! I am wearing demi-panel maternity pants which work much better for me at this point. Mine are from the Gap but I think a lot of places sell them.

So, I found these pants at Babies R Us that I LOVE! The panel is a thicker knit material, and it is meant to grow with you. https://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=16934896&cp=2273443.2255982.17435736.16772986&parentPage=family&cid=1203626

I bought a black pair the day after Thanksgiving (I was about 14 weeks then) and they were baggy, but fit OK and super comfy. I just wore them yesterday and they are the perfect fit now, but I have been wearing them at least twice a week to work since I got them. I went back and got a grey pair in January. I love them. Plus, they are affordable.

I haven't tried the jeans from Babies R Us, but I might soon b/c the ones that I have that I bought in super early pregnancy (probably about 8 weeks) are starting to get tight.

The one thing about the Babies R Us pants I will mention is they seem to run a little big. Mine are a Medium, but the pants I bought from Motherhood are a Large (I like the Babies R Us ones MUCH better and they were about 1/3 of the cost).

KH826 · March 2014

ATXmommas said:
7. For everyone who plans on pumping, I would highly recommend the Simple Wishes hands free bra. I used the Medela hands free at first, but it was terrible. One size was too small, next size up too big. And the zipper got stuck all the time and usually I would just pull it over my head instead of having to mess with the zipper every time. The Simple Wishes is adjustable and covers a wide range of sizes. Love it!!!

Question, please! I have been stressing a little bit about nursing bras lately! I am pretty darn busty since getting pregnant (currently spilling out of my DDs, but dragging my feet on spending the money to go up a size until I get nursing bras)... I feel like I need a TON of support, and I have never worn a bra without an underwire. All of the nursing bras that I have seen do not seem to have an underwire, and I am really worried that I won't have enough support. I am planning to exclusively nurse at first, but transition to pumping as early as possible since I will be going back to work by 7-8 weeks postpartum and I want my wife to be able to feed our daughter as early on as possible. At any rate... I know you and I have talked about bra sizes before HAHA, and I recall that you had similar size issues, so I am wondering if you have struggled at all with finding a bra with enough support. Where did you buy the Simple Wishes bra? Did you get fitted for it, or just picked the size you thought would work? Did you start wearing them at all pre-delivery?

Thanks for tolerating my 1 million questions about this - it is one of my current favorite things to stress about

ATXmommas · March 2014

@KH826 - I will happily answer your questions during a pump break later today!!

KH826 · March 2014

@ATXmommas - thanks so much! Looking forward to it!

ball.and.chain · March 2014

I have the same nursing bra concerns as @KH826. And @ATXmommas, I always appreciate mommy advice! I will explain the nipple stuff later on when I'm not mobile.

ATXmommas · March 2014

Three areas to consider - night time nursing bras, day time nursing bras, and pumping bras.

Pre-pregnancy, I was a 34D (large C/small D). I went up to a 34DD during pregnancy. I continued to wear non-nursing bras with underwire throughout pregnancy. I will say that the underwire did get uncomfortable towards the end as my rib cage expanded; however, I didn't want to buy a nursing bra because there was no way to tell what size I would need when my milk came in. So, I just stayed bra-free at home as much as possible. Before giving birth, I bought two night time nursing bras so that I would have them in the hospital. Although your breasts don't get really heavy until your milk comes in and night time bras don't offer as much support as day time bras, you will be in pajama mode the first few days and it provides enough support to feel comfy. I went to a specialty store (probably around 37-ish weeks)and they were able to help me with sizing/brand. I lived in my night time bras at home for the first few weeks.

I recommend waiting to get a daytime bra until after your milk comes in. I went 11 days PP, but I only waited that long because I gave birth the week before Thanksgiving and was dealing with holiday closures and avoiding Black Friday shopping crowds. You could go as early as 5-6 PP if you are up to it. Waiting wasn't a biggie, though, because I didn't leave the house except to go to the pediatrician's office during the first couple weeks. Again, go to a specialty shop and they will fit you. I tried on tons of bras until I found the ones I felt most comfortable in. Underwire is a big no as it can inhibit milk supply. My bras have some type of structured support, but not underwire. It doesn't provide as much lift as underwire, but it does offer enough enough support to make me feel comfy.

I'll also note - I ditched the night time bras once my supply regulated and my breasts didn't feel so heavy all the time - maybe 8/9 weeks PP. But, I've never worn bras while sleeping, so whatever your preference is now may continue to be your preference while nursing.

The Simple Wishes is my pumping bra. You only use it to pump. So, I wear a daytime nursing bra to work and when it comes time to pump, I just let down the cups and put the Simple Wishes bustier over the bra. Voila - hands free pumping. I bought mine on Amazon. It only comes in two sizes (XS-L & L-XXL) because it has an adjustable band. Amazon has a sizing chart to help you figure out which size will work for you.

healz413 · March 2014

@ATXMommas, I just copied and pasted that all into an email to me and Amanda so that we can find it when we need it in 7 months!

ATXmommas · March 2014

@healz413 - oh good! I hope it's helpful info!

ball.and.chain · March 2014

@ATXMommas and anyone else who cares to read/weigh in...

So basically the thing about bottles/nipples is that I was trying to figure out what to register for. I will be bfing as much as possible, but at some point I'll need to start pumping and get him used to a bottle so a) my wife can feed him and b) he can go to daycare! The woman at BRU recommended registering for a Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature starter set, which we did, but in retrospect I felt like a) she was just pushing a higher-priced line b) I didn't trust her since she also told me I won't need baby gates if I give my baby an iPad, and c) I'd seen a lot of positive reviews of other bottles/nipples that made me wonder what was so great about TT.

So at this point, I have checked consumer reviews on Amazon, Diapers.com and BRU, read Lucie's List and Baby Bargains, and Googled. And what I am finding out more than anything else is that no matter how favorably something is rated, what one baby likes is not necessarily what another baby likes. So I ditched the TT starter set and just registered for 3 single bottles I was interested in --Medela Calma, which is supposed to be the most like bfing, TT because it does get good reviews, and BornFree. I figure we will try them out on him and see what works for us, and then we can buy a bigger supply of the kind(s) we like.

BUT please correct me if I'm wrong...and feel free to recommend what works for you and Ash!

And thank you for breaking down the nursing bra thing!

KH826 · March 2014

Thanks so much @ATXmommas!

So, a few areas where we seem to differ... I always sleep in a bra (at the moment I have these cotton sports bras that have thick padded straps and have an underwire. I think they are made by Lilly of the Valley - I got them at Kohls. they are very comfy, but they provide support and lift, so I like them. I have slept in a bra since I was in high school, and I don't think I could sleep comfortably without one. I also REALLY need the lift. I was a D-cup pre weight loss, and went down to a C-cup after I lost weight. I used to joke with my wife that my breasts were like empty gym socks (I know, attractive, sorry...). Someday when I am done having kiddos and nursing, I may consider a lift, but as long as I am wearing a good bra I am always fine.

That is so interesting about the underwire constricting milk production. I would have never guessed that, but I guess it makes sense.

I really just don't want to look all saggy and unsupported when I go back to work, so I am concerned about that. I have a feeling I am going to have to try several different things before I find something that works OK for me...

Thanks so much for the tips and the insight. This is super helpful!

newmompeanut · March 2014

Maybe my experiences will help too...

@ball.and.chain, We used the Babies R Us brand of bottles for N. N took a bottle very easily and never seemed to care what the "carrier" of milk was, but only that it was full of milk. lol I've heard from a ton of friends that they end up going through multiple different bottle brand until they find one that their LO likes. This happened with my sister and want she suggested to me was to register for a couple different brands and see what the baby likes and then go out and get more of that brand (hopefully with gift cards from the baby shower!)

@KH826, I'm a very different size than you (A prepregnancy, B during pregnancy, full C nursing, and now small A) but I always liked an underwire bra because otherwise I look a little flat! I agree with @ATXmommas that when I was getting further along the underwire would actually hurt because of my ribs. I was able to find a nursing bra from Motherhood Maternity that had what the sales lady kept calling a "fake wire". I never took the bra apart so I'm not sure what it actually was, but it was structured like an underwire bra, but was completely flexible so that I could even wear it while 36-40 weeks pregnant. Also, I typically don't wear a bra when I sleep, but while nursing I could never go without a bra and the nursing pads, especially if I hadn't nursed in the past couple hours.

Hope that helps!

redrockmama · March 2014

wow @ giving baby and ipad means you don't need a baby gate. I wouldn't trust her either.

KH826 · March 2014

@ball.and.chain - We registered for the Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature starter set too. I also registered for a few different types of Lansinoh bottles, including their starter set, since the breast pump I am getting from my insurance company is Lansinoh. I read a million reviews, and most of it seemed to point to personal preference for parents and baby, so that is what we went with... I wanted to have at least 2 different things to pick from early on, in case she doesn't take to one particular bottle/nipple... also, that comment about the iPad is completely ridiculous! I too would not trust that salesperson!

@stringy813 - Can I ask what drove your preference for the glass bottles? Is it an environmental issue. I am just curious! Trying to learn!

ATXmommas · March 2014

@ball.and.chain - My bottle and nipple two cents - I honestly don't think you can go wrong with any of the bottle choices you are considering. We went with Dr. Brown's based on recommendations from friends. Our doula and child birth instructor (who is also a doula) are both very natural mommas and pro-BF and they recommended to introduce a bottle by 3 weeks to ensure Ash would take a bottle by the time I needed to go back to work. So, we gave Ash a bottle every 2-3 days beginning around 3 weeks. We have only ever used the Dr. Brown's bottle/nipples, and Ash has had ZERO nipple confusion. I think the nipple confusion is less about the actual bottle and more about how/when you introduce it.

I do think it's smart to start small and buy more later to make sure that what you have works for your baby. I think we started with a pack of 3 4oz bottles (we didn't get a starter set, just a set of 3 bottles). When I returned to work, I bought another 6 4oz bottles so that we wouldn't have to wash bottles every single day (he receives 3 bottles/day during the work week). If you want to try different bottle types, I would definitely recommend just getting a small pack of each type and seeing what works best for your baby before buying more.

What I regret - registering for 8oz bottles. For as long as a baby is breastfed, they really don't need more than 4oz of breast milk at a time (and that's on the high end based on my research from reputable sources). I have no idea if I will ever use the 8oz bottle. By the time he takes in more liquid, it is possible that he will be using a sippy cup. We haven't used formula, but I would think that even if you choose/need to combo feed, you still wouldn't need to give more than 4oz of formula at a time, but I could be wrong as I have no experience with this and I see much bigger bottles in the fridge at Ash's day care. And, I don't want to get too off topic about amounts because I know that's not your question, but I have read a LOT about how to feed BF babies.

I also regret purchasing nipples in various flows. With BF babies, you only need the newborn (or even preemie) flow. You don't want your baby to get accustomed to a faster flow if you plan to continue BF. I'm not sure what is recommended if you choose/need to combo feed, although I would still think that a slower flow nipple is preferable.

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