Ten Things Tuesday

KH826 · August 2014

Happy Tuesday Everyone!

Please share with us any 10 things on your mind today. PIPs (pictures in post) are of course always welcome. Let us know what you're thinking about... ready, GO!

ATXmommas · August 2014

1. Starting my list at 7:29am. Will put my finish time in #10.

2. Need to revisit the thread @KH826‌ started about couponing. We spent a fortune on groceries this month. Can't figure out why, but need to make a concerted effort to reign it in next month.

3. We ended up buying another window unit it put in Ash's room until our central unit is replaced. We all slept soooo much better with him back in his crib.

4. I think my supply is bouncing back. After reading a little bit, I'm thinking my illness from a couple weeks ago caused my supply to tank temporarily. We'll see how the rest if the week goes, but I'm feeling hopeful today.

5. I've decided on a red wagon (radio flyer style) for Ash's first birthday. My parents are going to help pitch in for a real wagon as his gift. Now I need to keep myself from buying all the cute stuff on Etsy.

6. I totally forgot to brush my teeth this morning. :-q

7. Thoughts on a TBT PIP edition? I think it would be fun to for bumpies to post their own baby/childhood pic.

8. My kiddo suddenly hates when I try to brush his teeth/gums. I use a xylitol paste with a soft washcloth and he screams bloody murder even though he used to not mind. Any tips?

9. Rubber ducky, you're the one. You make bath time so much fun!

10. 7:48am. Record time!

Amber&Reva · August 2014

1. Looking forward to my N/T scan tomorrow can't wait to hear that everything is okay and see the flicker of a heartbeat.

2. Excited about all the new babies born this past week in our little community looking forward to seeing PIPs of them.

3. I get a mini vacation starting on Friday! Originally we were going to go camping but R didn't get the time off work so it may be a staycation. Lately I have been counting down the days until my next day off work hasn't been enjoyable at all.

4. Video of a great white shark sighted just off the cape on the TV right now. Makes me think of the movie Jaws which lately I have been really wanting to watch for some reason.

5. I have been trying really hard to eat healthy however I still have developed enough of a blump at 13w that someone asked me yesterday if I was pregnant. I really think that second time around you start showing sooner because with Brynlee I was 18w and still fit into my same clothes.

6. Elastic waist bands are my new best friend.

7. I am lowering my interest rate on my mortgage so excited to save a little extra money every month.

8. I know I need to tell my family soon that I am pregnant again but I am nervous because I didn't get the best reaction from my mother last time around. She started crying and they weren't happy tears.

9. I miss @StacyLH826 I understand her need for a break from the board but I still miss her posting.

10. Gotta brush my teeth, thanks for reminding me @ATXmommas and then leave for work.

HAPPY TUESDAY!!!

herbunmyoven · August 2014

@ATXmommas I don't have time for a full TTT today, but I wanted to let you know that at our 1 year dentist checkup our dentist told us to do "whatever works." He said it is more about routine than anything else right now. He said not to worry about toothpaste if it is causing drama and that switching from a cloth to a toothbrush or toothbrush to cloth might add novelty. He was also fine with M having most of the control over the brushing experience for now.

We switched to a little toothbrush right around 10 months (when he finally got a tooth). We are pretty hit or miss, but have found that if I "help" M brush his teeth while A is brushing her teeth we have less of a fight. He also likes to chew on his more rubberized toothbrush when he is teething.

Hope that helps

KH826 · August 2014

1. Today is my 2 yr wedding anniversary. PIPing a couple of my favorite wedding photos just because!

2. Tomorrow Will will be 12 weeks old. That is so crazy! I have been back at work for over a month now, and I can’t imagine if I was still at home on mat leave. I think it was good for all of us for me to go back when I did. Got us into a routine and we have a good sense of normalcy now. That being said, if I have the opportunity in the future to take a longer leave with Will’s sibling(s), I am sure I will take it!

3. Speaking of siblings for Will…my wife and I had some good discussions over the weekend, and we have a tentative plan for TTC#2… some of the big decisions:
--I will carry again
--Contingent upon us moving to a bigger house in a family neighborhood first, we will try to do an FET in August or September next year
--I THINK we are going to roll the dice and transfer 2 again… knowing that we did that last time and ended up with a singleton. We are nuts, but I think we are willing to risk multiples over not getting pregnant. Financially, I don’t think we can afford to do more than one FET next summer if it doesn’t take. We will be paying for everything out of pocket again.

4. I lost 4 more pounds last week!

5. I desperately want to move in the Spring, but affording what we want in our next house if going to be tough. We are on one income now, and I refuse to be house poor. If it wasn’t for my darn student loans things would be much easier! Oh well, it will be what it will be…

6. Sooooo, remember how I want a new job? Yea, I still do…

7. Seriously, am I just totally incapable of being comfortable and in one place in life for more than two seconds? Geez!

8. My wife found a set of dining room chairs on craigslist that will go really nicely with the new table that she built before Will was born (yes, we currently have a dining room table with no chairs shhh….). She negotiated the seller down to $125 for the set – a super good deal. We are picking them up on Labor Day! I’m excited!

9. Will was not a super sleeper last night. I soooo can’t and am not complaining, because I know we are super lucky. He usually sleeps through the night (7-9 hours at a time), but last night he had a hard time settling down and wouldn’t go to sleep. He laid in his lounger (graco version of the RNP) and just kicked and “talked” to himself for a while… then he had a massive poop, then he was a little fussy and just couldn’t settle down. He finally went to sleep around 11:15pm, then he randomly woke up at about 12:30 and fussed a little. I picked him up and rocked him and he was asleep again within like 3 mins. After that he slept until 6:45am, so that was fine. I have to get up to get ready for work at 5:15, so I didn’t get to sleep until 6:45, but my wife did HAHA. Anyway, I know that still isn’t bad, but I am a little tired today. Oh well.
12 weeks is a wonder week, right?!?!
My wife keeps saying he is getting ready to “do big jobs!”

10. Pumpkin coffee has apparently made its triumphant return to all of my favorite places to get coffee (Dunkin, Starbucks, Wawa…) – I am super pumped. Fall is on the way!

KH826 · August 2014

@ATXmommas - my couponing/money saving efforts are still a work in progress. I am still struggling with a way to buy the quality and quantity and selection of produce that I want at a decent price. I mean, there are certain things that I am just going to buy regardless. I can't live without green grapes, blueberries, asparagus, eggplant, fresh mushrooms, fresh spinach... I buy that stuff (and more) every week. 75% of my cart is fresh produce and other fresh foods like milk, eggs, cheese, etc. Plus I usually buy either salmon or shrimp each week, and that stuff is NOT cheap, and I buy fresh because frozen and packaged is just not as good. So yea, I don't know when it comes to that stuff. I am still at a loss. Literally.

I did recently open a Target Red Card, and I have been using the Target Cartwheel App as well as paper coupons, and I have been buying all of our health & beauty, household and baby stuff at Target. This weekend I bought a whole cart full of essentials (including diapers, formula, laundry detergent, paper towels, shampoo, etc.) and the total came to $156 before coupons, but after I used my Cartwheel App and my paper coupons it brought it down to $118. I was pretty impressed with that for someone who is just starting to use coupons.

Oh, and also, I LOVE the TBT PIP idea with baby pics of bumpies!

@Amber&Reva - I miss StacyLH24 too!

AandStilltrying · August 2014

1. Looking forward to a 3 day weekend.

2. Wanting to go home and pick up yard while it's not 100 out but that's not going to happen!

3. Wanting to do #2 because the dogs are eating something in yard that's making them really sick.

4. To go with 2 and 3, I'm tired of cleaning up an SMELLING dog poop! Gross!

5. Tuesdays are lovely because I only have to work at school and go home. No evening lessons.

6. Sarah's boss is giving is $2,000 to buy baby furniture!

7. We have our Anatomy Scan Sept. 8th and I'm so excited/nervous!

8. Wondering when BEST time to travel 7 hrs. Away for a "hometown" baby shower would be? Thoughts??? Due date is Feb. 14th but will deliver no later than end of Jan. We were told travel will pretty well STOP after thanksgiving depending on how she is doing (maybe sooner).

9. Baby bump is getting much more noticeable. She flipped out this mornig when belly was bigger than boobs! Lol. (She was rather "blessed" in that department)

10. I'm ready for fall.

trisholio · August 2014

1. I am going to start off with pregnancy related stuff and see if I can think of anything else :-)

2. I am 39 weeks today. This little girl could come any day now. I am not overly anxious about it, which I am relieved about.

3. We had a great weekend of nesting and getting a bunch of little things completed, finally.

4. We finally met our pediatrician yesterday, well we met one of the nurse practitioners in the office. The office is one of two in our area that offers delayed or no vaccination option and that is the original reason we decided to meet with them. They are the perfect combination of 'traditional' medicine and homeopathic medicine that fits my and my wife's beliefs.

5. K's 1 year birthday was on Friday and I am happy to report that her mom showed up for the visit and also brought presents for her and M both. It was a good visit and I am glad that even though K had no idea it was her birthday her mom has that memory of being there on her 1st birthday. M did pretty well with K getting so much attention over the last week. They both have enjoyed playing with new toys.

6. Both girls have Dr appointments tomorrow and I am looking forward to seeing how much they both have grown. I am not looking forward to K getting three shots :-(

7. I am struggling with getting the girls to nap together. They sleep in the same room at night with no problem, but lately at nap time M will jump on her bed, she ripped apart the seam of her box spring, broke her blinds, ect. She talks and yells at K and then neither one sleep. I spent 4+ hours multiple days last week trying to get them to nap. It is exhausting and frustrating and I am at a loss of what to do. If I separate them baby K sleeps great and M eventually goes to sleep, but we only live in a two bedroom townhouse and our room is pretty full with the stuff for the baby. Plus the baby is going to have to sleep in our room, so I won't be able to put baby K in there forever. Everyone just keeps telling me that I have to just leave them in their room, but I can''t let M continue to destroy stuff and I don't have 4+ hours a day to dedicate to making them nap, I am going to have a newborn soon and I can't go up and down the stairs a million times during nap time.

8. On that note, I try to take advice in stride but my family really irritates me sometimes. M is 2.5 and is acting out for sure right now. They keep telling me to not get upset with her, well that is so much easier said then done. They think just because she mostly behaves around them that I am the problem. There is a big difference is spending time with a child a few hours here and there and being their parent 24/7, of course she is going to act out with me more than them!

9. I am not one of those women who is DONE being pregnant right now. I am uncomfortable and exhausted constantly, but it doesn't feel like the end is that close. But on the other hand I have noticed that I have a very short fuse the last few days, especially with my wife. She teases me or says something and I snap at her and even have the urge to yell at her for really no reason. We got into a fight the other night (first one where we yelled in a LONG TIME) and I almost threw a glass at her I was so angry. But then I didn't want to clean up the mess so I didn't throw it, haha. I am not a violent person and never throw stuff, but I just felt irate for a second. Eh we all have our moments.

10. I am hungry and time for lunch, baby K is waking up from her morning nap and these kiddos require food and attention :-)

Have a great day everyone!

ATXmommas · August 2014

@KH826‌ - I need to look into the cartwheel app again. I think I downloaded it a while back, but immediately deleted it once I realized I had to sign up through FB. But my need to save money will probably win out. But, I'm really in the same boat as you. The majority of our groceries is produce, but there are some areas I can probably do a better job at saving.

ATXmommas · August 2014

@herbunmyoven‌ - thanks for the input and the tips. Yet another thing off my worry list. I get worked up and convince myself that all his teeth are going to rot if I don't do a thorough brushing every am and pm!

KH826 · August 2014

ATXmommas said:

@KH826‌ - I need to look into the cartwheel app again. I think I downloaded it a while back, but immediately deleted it once I realized I had to sign up through FB. But my need to save money will probably win out. But, I'm really in the same boat as you. The majority of our groceries is produce, but there are some areas I can probably do a better job at saving.

You definitely don't have to sign up through FB. I didn't. I think you might have to create a Target account online (not a credit card or anything), and register your email, and then you can install the app that way.

Karlamo · August 2014

I haven't played in awhile.

1. R is down for a nap. I really hope it's a long one [-O<

2. I successfully broke the center console on my car and fixed it myself all within 24 hrs.

3. We are in the process of buying tickets this week to SF for Oct. I'm excited and petrified of a cross continental flight with a 8 month old.

4. I went running last night and hope to go again tonight.

5. The new house is on a 1/2 acre. It's more yard than we need and it's taken me 2 days to mow the whole thing. We just got a quote to have someone do it for us. I think it may be money well spent.

6. My friend found a quote in the sand while running on the beach. It said
" Forgive yourself" words I needed to see today.

7. My boy is 6 months!!!! Last night I looked at him in the crib and he was huge to me.

8. We are headed to Maine this weekend to visit a great Aunt. She lives in a gorgeous house on the ocean. She never had kids. I think I'm more worried about this than our flight to SF!

9. I'm still getting bills from TTC/RE. Reread #7 and see why I'm so annoyed by this.

10. I blame @ATXmommas‌ for mentioning her love for salted carmel dairy free ice cream awhile back. I've been eating it and at $9/pint it's eating my wallet. $-)

ATXmommas · August 2014

KH826 said:

ATXmommas said:

@KH826‌ - I need to look into the cartwheel app again. I think I downloaded it a while back, but immediately deleted it once I realized I had to sign up through FB. But my need to save money will probably win out. But, I'm really in the same boat as you. The majority of our groceries is produce, but there are some areas I can probably do a better job at saving.

You definitely don't have to sign up through FB. I didn't. I think you might have to create a Target account online (not a credit card or anything), and register your email, and then you can install the app that way.

Oh yay! Good to know!

ATXmommas · August 2014

Karlamo said:

10. I blame @ATXmommas‌ for mentioning her love for salted carmel dairy free ice cream awhile back. I've been eating it and at $9/pint it's eating my wallet. $-)

So sorry! I'm trying to refrain from buying it (see my grocery budget woes above), and it makes me sad. I miss my treat!

ATXmommas · August 2014

Oh, and happy anniversary, KH! Gorgeous wedding photos!!!

KH826 · August 2014

ATXmommas said:

Oh, and happy anniversary, KH! Gorgeous wedding photos!!!

Thank you!

Karlamo · August 2014

@ATXmommas‌. I have sweet lavender in my fridge staring at me.
Did you know in Cambridge Mass there's the ice cream parlor where they make them. You can do "flights" of different ones. In case you need another reason to visit Boston.

ATXmommas · August 2014

Karlamo said:
@ATXmommas‌. I have sweet lavender in my fridge staring at me.
Did you know in Cambridge Mass there's the ice cream parlor where they make them. You can do "flights" of different ones. In case you need another reason to visit Boston.

Dairy free? [-O<

gayby · August 2014

1. I'm finally able to bump! It's seriously feels like it's been months...
2. Work started up last week (I'm a teacher) and we have preservice weeks and I'm soooo tired :-@ of all the meetings and blah blah blah!
3. Congrats on Simone!!! Yay! I read the birth story last night before I went to bed @2MamazInSeattle‌ and coincidentally had a crazy labor dream...I'm not even pregnant!
4. I'm going to help my mom move this weekend. It should be fun and super exhausting. With any luck I won't be able to move until December

5. Currently, I am sitting on our patio listening to the waterfall in our courtyard--super relaxing...only two more workdays left in this week then Labor Day weekend! Does anyone have any plans?
6. My classroom is starting to resemble a classroom, which is good considering I have parents coming on Thursday night. Still so much I need and want to do. I hope my OCD doesn't want to take over.
7. After I finish up my TTT I need to
update my TTC-- it's seriously been forever since I've been able to bump.
8. Any thoughts on where to get the beat prices CBE digital one month supply OPK?
9. Sorry for the randomness; my tiredness is beginning to set in!
10. Have a wonderful evening and week!

Jazibel · August 2014

1. Kaden is running around talking to himself in "gibberish". He's covering a decent amount of ground.

2. Today is day 2.5 w/o EV. She's up working on the house and I've been juggling the boys. It's not an easy job being responsible for two 24/7.

3. I am seriously depressed and upset today. The back story. A recruiter contacted me for a job, we had a great phone interview and they invited me in today to meet with my potential boss. I scrambled to purchase an outfit, prep for the interview, slept 4 hours, drove 2 hours to the interview, paid a friend $60 to watch the kids and had a great in person interview. I felt so elated. I love the job, company and my potential boss. Then come to find that the salary they are offering is half of what the average salary for this position is in the Bay area. I don't even know how they'd get a candidate qualified enough who'd take that salary. I'm upset. I spoke with the recruiter and gave her my bottom line number. She told me that they'd had other candidates turn the position down for the same reason. I vacillate from feeling defeated to being mad that I wasted my time.

4. Our prospective tenant had a very untimely death in her family, and we're not sure she will still take the place. I'm heartbroken for her and her family.... and frustrated for us if we have to start this process over and carry the mortgage. But I totally get it if she decides to change her mind. It's hard to negotiate trying to be sensitive and supportive and yet require that she decide in the midst of everything going on.

5. Kaden brought me a handful of stones from the yard, and they are now on the floor. Having a toddler brings new meaning to "indoor/outdoor" living.

6. It did feel nice to wear low heels, make up and a skirt today. I even dusted off my old designer bag. ;-)

7. EV's meeting a friend for dinner so we're having frozen mini-tacos from TJs and salad.

8. I'm really looking forward to this 3-day weekend. Hopefully we can schedule in some family fun time, and a nap or two.

9. Owen is awake more and more.

10. Sometimes I wish there was a hotline you could call that would tell you what you should do with your life and the exact steps to get there.

Jazibel · August 2014

@KH826 - Happy anniversary!! Beautiful wedding pics.

@Amber&Reva - I'm looking forward to your a/s results tomorrow. Are you finding out the sex or team green?

@trisholio - 39 weeks!! Adalyn will be here any day now.

@gayby - I used amazon for a larger pack, but also used the cheap Wondfo's, once I got a darkening line with the Wondfo I'd start using the CBE, but that way a pack of say 10 would last 2+ months.

gayby · August 2014

Thanks!! @Jazibel‌

doodah1013 · August 2014

1. Last week we decided to buy a house.

2. Today we are putting in a bid on a house.

3. Life is crazy and sometimes doesn't make any sense. And then sometimes it does.

4. I am on vacation all this week and it has been awesome so far.

5. My poor pregnant boi body cannot stand this heat and humidity.

6. I think I caught a stomache virus... It was a pretty gross couple of days.

7. I did a science program for 2nd and 3rd graders on Saturday. By the end of it I was so tired I thought I was going to fall over.

8. I am going to my parents house for a few days in rural Kentucky... Wish me luck.

9. Did I mention we may be buying a house? What?!?

10. My niece is the coolest kid on the planet. She is at our house everyday and when I am home we have so much fun. Here is a pic from today.... And one of her imitating me doing yoga from a couple of weeks ago.

Jazibel · August 2014

@doodah1013‌ & @firstcomeslove2013‌ - How exciting wishing you both tons of luck on your bid!!

redrockmama · August 2014

1. Well I only spilled a little milk all over my pants and flashed probably a handful of people, I'd consider my car pumping experience a win.

2. I'm so tired, I just want to snuggle up with my baby and take a nap.

3. J has to work a ton tonight so I guess it's a good night for baby and I to head to bed early.

4. Our nanny dresses M in the strangest outfits. He has really cute matching clothes, but you would never know it when she dresses him. I'll have to take a pic one of these days.

5. I wish we could fast forward time and I could find out who our new ED is. It will be a huge factor in whether I stay home and pursue my art career or not

6.M is addicted to breastfeeding. Anyone else experience this? Will it ever end? I don't mind it usually, but I'd like to play with him too sometimes.

7. I had a glass of wine for the first time in forever. It was delicious! If I wasn't recovering from a migraine I'd have more tonight.

8. My sisters and I are really worried about our mom's mental health, but don't know what to do. So complicated.

9. I want to call her "therapist" and tell her how unethical she is and that she needs to refer my mom to someone who can really help her.

10. J is going to D.C next week. I'll be on my own with M and have to work. I'm slightly terrified.

Karlamo · August 2014

ATXmommas said:

Karlamo said:
@ATXmommas‌. I have sweet lavender in my fridge staring at me.
Did you know in Cambridge Mass there's the ice cream parlor where they make them. You can do "flights" of different ones. In case you need another reason to visit Boston.
Dairy free? [-O<

Yup. FoMu ice cream.

ball.and.chain · August 2014

1. One day behind but that's not too bad! I was two days behind on the Parenting Check In.

2. I started WW today. 60 lbs to lose. I know I can do this because I did 85 before, but it's going to be SO much harder with an infant.

3. Ben is waking up. Wonder how many more I can get through before he loses it.

4. We had lunch with my ex-BIL, who we are still friendly with. He is a financial advisor and gave us advice about 529s. Ready to get one going! I don't think we'll actually be contributing to it for a while, but the grandfathers want to.

5. Meltdown. Oh well, I'm done.

mallory4284 · August 2014

I'm a little late, but better late than never!

1. At 7pm I finally got up the motivation to pick up around the house and successfully cleaned the kitty box, vacuumed, cleaned up the kitchen, and put a load of laundry away!

2. It's amazing how much better I feel after doing the above mentioned chores. There's something more relaxing about sitting around in a semi-clean house than a cluttered house....

3. I can't believe it's only Wednesday!

4. I've been working overtime all week (plus had an hour long staff meeting after work last night) and for whatever reason this week is dragging....

5. We're going to Chicago to meet up with my little cousin (okay, so she's 20, but she'll always be my little cousin) on Saturday. Pretty excited about that!

6. Also super looking forward to the three day weekend!

7. I swear my dog knows the word "no" yet feels the need to ignore it unless I raise my voice... She's obsessed with the "cat" room and is always getting yelled at for trying to go in there (she's not allowed in there cause she eats the cat food and the cat poop!!)

8. I've always been excited about starting a family with J, but lately little things have just increased my impatience to do so. She's always been supportive about our TTC journey but since we started the "at home" stuff I feel like she's disassociated from it, but lately she's been randomly asking me how it's going (how my temps are and what i found out about my ovulation... Little things) and it makes me happy to know that she is interested in knowing what's going on

9. Plus, and this is silly, but seeing her dote over our new kitten makes me want to see even more how she interacts with our baby.... It's insane I know, but just based on seeing her snuggle and play with our kitten, I can picture her rocking a baby or being silly with a baby.... It's cute.

10. And I made it and that was all very random!!

firstcomeslove2013 · August 2014

I haven't done TTT this week so here's my Ten Things Thursday!

1. C left yesterday with his dad to go to KY for a few days...I'm sad w/o C here but I am so busy I am hoping it flies by!

2. As mentioned in #1 I feel SO busy and stressed!!! It's all super wonderful things but geez...do they have to all happen at once?!?!?! We are almost 25 weeks pregnant and planning for our wonderful miracle, my job is expanding and helping us support our family (and I really love it) and we put an offer on a dream home yesterday. All of these things are amazing but also stressful and happening at the same time. I feel so lucky but still stressed.

3. I went dairy free on Aug 15 in preparation of pumping. It's been hard (I LOVE cheese) but it's getting easier!

4. I start pumping on Monday...I'm scared!!! @Karlamo‌ I've been meaning to message you!

5. My little brother is getting married next weekend...I am DREADING it and I feel bad about that.
We are flying, I'm not crazy about his future wife and it's going to be really not our style...BUT I realize it's not about us...just really whiny about it.

6. Looking around our TINY house I can see we have SO much packing to do...if we get this new house we'll be doubling in size!

7. Secretly stalking @2MamazInSeattle‌ and looking at picture of little baby S...can't believe she's here!!!!

8. I need to get out of bed and start working but I'd rather finish my TTT.

9. One perk to being home alone is I am currently stretched across the length of our bed...sometimes it's nice to have all the space! :-)

10. Running my to do list in my head I am realizing how much I actual have to get done today and that I should probably get up...

Happy Thursday all!!!

2MamazInSeattle · August 2014

Only two days late! I read along on my phone but couldn't respond to everyone's personally. But they were great reading while feeding the baby!

1. For the couponers - @KH826, @ATXMommas - have you guys looked at Amazon Mom? They have a great trial. You ultimately need to get Amazon Prime ($89 a year and OMG totally completely worth it). With Amazon Mom you get 15% off kid stuff, it's delivered to your doorstep AND there are "online coupons" you "clip" and they automagically apply when you check out. Just a suggestion but the prices seem good, and you can even set up auto-monthly deliveries of things you know you need.

2. My baby boo is a week old today. It's going so fast but we have been doing great! I will post a parenting check in today (or so is my hope).

3. Things I LOVE about not being pregnant anymore....

Having an appropriate amount of pee come out when I have to go pee
Sleeping on my STOMACH!!!!!!! At least until my boobs hurt too much to do so
Bending over. Period.
Weighing 22 pounds less than I did 1 week ago!
Having my baby on the OUTSIDE!

4. We got our annual raises and bonuses communicated to us this week - sadly, the awesome raise/bonus I was expecting was slashed (along with everyone else's - it wasn't personal) at a higher level in the company. I had a great year, but sadly got a very 'average' set of rewards.

5. Still, I got a raise and a bonus. And 12 weeks paid mat leave. And you should see my total for medical expenses for the year that I did not have to pay. I will stfu now.

6. Breastfeeding is going well! I will detail in my parenting check in - we had a few hiccups the first few days but thanks to my doula coming and doing a few 'coaching sessions' along with my IRL friend who brought me fresh breastmilk to close the gap until my milk came in, we are in a fantastic rhythm as of Day 6. Not bad, though I know it'll change as soon as we get used to it.

7. I weigh 17 pounds less than I did the day of our first ultrasound on 12/26. Thanks Simone!! I actually lost weight while pregnant. Now, I am waiting until 6 weeks post-partum to start WW'ing and get all of the TTC weight off. First goal is back to before my first pregnancy (22 lbs); second goal is my ultimate weight (another 15 lbs). Doable!!

8. My family has rocked it for us! We have so much food in the freezer I think we'd survive a zombie apocalypse.

9. A HUGE thank you to all the parents who guided me on filing my hospital bag. While we were there a very short time, I felt so secure knowing the bag was so well stocked. Many of the items have come in handy since getting home - especially some of the recommended nursing bras.

10. Last - I really, truly cannot thank you all enough for all the love and support in my journey to getting to bring home a baby. It has been long, and such a mix of joy and fear and trust. Having all of you on my side made a huge difference. The other day J was telling someone about the board and saying how it's such a tight community, how you are all a huge part of my journey, etc. - it was very sweet to hear her spontaneously telling people how important you are all to me!!!

Want a personalized experience?

Ten Things Tuesday

Re: Ten Things Tuesday

Choose Another Board

Search Boards