@slartybartfast We used to do screen free Wednesday nights. Nothing from the time we got home from work until Thursday morning. Then we started making excuses for a one day exception, then one more, etc. until it just died off. We should really reinstate it. It really does force you to spend much more quality time with people. Thanks for the reminder!
Newest idea on how to become a millionaire: open a Tim Horton's or Second Cup in a hospital. The food here is worse than airplane food and the coffee shops have been making a killing off of us!
@slartybartfast I love when I have my phone, no one wants to talk to me, but as soon as I leave it in my purse or at home to focus on whoever I'm spending time with, everyone has an emergency and they have to talk to me rightthissecondomg. Why am I not answering? Am I dead? Am I IGNORING them?! But seriously...am I dead? Please respond.
@dmontgo - that happened to me over email too! Though I am thinking it's a good reason to def do this more often. I think it'd be good if people felt like I'm not reliable for an immediate response. Bring year 2004 back! (the year I got a cell). Additionally at first when I saw rightthissecondomg I was like ...what's that say? condom what?
@dmontgo and @slartybartfast I am such a terrible cell phone communicator that everyone I know, including my parents, just goes through DH instead of me. And I totally prefer it that way. I rarely answer my phone, and I get lazy with my texts. DH is a prompt responder, so he can handle all of the outside communications for our house Just leave me in my hermit mode.
@slartybartfast@LinziLoo09 At my baby shower on Saturday, I left my phone in my purse. Got back to 7 missed calls, 2 voicemails, and 10 text messages. Didn't respond to a few of the people, and the 3 I did respond to...it was stupid: "Oh, just wanted to tell you my dog has like, 2,000 Instagram followers now!"
I'm SO GLAD you had to blow up my phone to tell me this IMPORTANT information.
@dmontgo, I am thinking of leaving my phone in my purse for my shower this upcoming weekend. I just know that I'll be getting texts or calls from people apologizing that they can't be there (happened on my wedding day too, seriously). We got a nice camera to use for when the baby comes, and my DH will be using that to capture photos (he's very anti-social, perfect job for him). My thing is, I will call you on my drives to/from work, but once I am home, I won't answer calls (unless it's my brother that's in London), and I will screen texts with response according to level of urgency or if I am in a place to text back. I am really getting over cell phones in general.
For lunch I got crabby fries from a food truck. For non Mid-Atlantic people - it's french fries with crab dip on the top. Not at all healthy but completely hitting the spot today.
I just had this random existential worry today. DH texted me that someone at work had passed on an extra car seat and a lightweight stroller. That was so awesome. I was so worried about getting all things and it was all for nothing because now we are starting to get a surplus. God is so good.
Anyway, my awful worry: "You better keep up your end of the deal and produce a baby because we have all this stuff." Sigh. I wish I could install a brain filter to block thoughts like that from popping in my head.
To answer my own question from months ago over when the fear was going to go away: apparently that would be never.
I called DH to just talk it out because I feel like stuff becomes less scary/big/awful if it say it out loud (which is why I'm telling you guys too), and I teared up a little talking to him. Here comes my sweet kitty who always shows up when I start to cry lately. He snuggled right up. Sometimes I really don't deserve my pets. Especially when they go out of their way to make me feel better.
@Austenista - hugs. You are not alone. I won't even admit it to DH, but I don't want to unpack all our gifts or order anything that's not returnable due to fears about that exact thing. Hang in there. Not much longer now.
@Austenista that's great about the car seat and stroller! Also, hugs. You're definitely not alone in those thoughts. I've definitely had quite a few of thrm as well. It helps me to talk to DH about them as well.
@Austenista I'm right there with you on the anxiety thoughts. It's coming into my dreams too - last night I dreamed I had given birth, but was still going to work and just forgot about the baby for a few days - left her in her crib and forgot to change or feed her. I woke up with the worst feeling today!
@Austenista Same here!!! I had a dream last night and it only included DD and baby girl (where was baby boy???). We've bought carseats, but held off on almost everything else yet. I always keep in my mind "if God brings you to it, he'll bring you through it" so no matter what happens it will be okay. And I totally agree on voicing fears out loud- a burden shared is a burden halved- right!!??
I wish I could say that the anxiety stops. Unfortunately there's plenty to worry about once the baby arrives, and for some reason I would get even more worried about it because the baby was no longer attached to me. I missed the times when I knew she was safe in my belly.
I will say that I've worried less this pregnancy than I did with DD. I think having done it before, I feel more certain that it will work out until the birth at least. But yea, I'll be anxious about my kids until I'm dead.
And damn every news story about someone hurting a child. I have to scroll past those headlines so quickly because they are so upsetting. I just think of DD in all of those scenarios. It kills me.
I hate to say it but that same little voice that begs for a healthy newborn and whispers that the alternative is a possibility keeps talking after birth when you have an outside baby, toddler, child whose health, well being, and happiness aren't something that ever feel guaranteed. I think this is all a part of the parent experience. Not letting those whispers get too loud is the challenge and important part.
I don't think this is the best scenario to say "well I'm glad I'm not alone." But it does help to know that other people experience feelings and thoughts like this too because that makes it less ominous or isolating.
A part of me still finds it inconceivable that we're going to get another human out from inside of me. Like you said @LinziLoo09, I imagine experiencing that phenomena once before does help it at least seem more plausible. I also had that thought you mentioned this weekend - about nothing being really able to hurt him inside of me like there is outside. I guess, welcome to parenthood, which is basically just going to be me being terrified all the time from here on out. At least I'll have his cuteness to help soften the blow. Sheesh.
Yup...cherish the time when you are the one protecting your kid all the time on the inside. Because even with delayed cord cutting, they're not going to let you walk around attached to the umbilical of a 3 year old It's hard to trust your kid in the care of others. You get better at it, but it's hard. And I will also say that the fun and awesome times far outweigh the anxious times for me at this point. So please don't think you'll be anxious 24/7 after the birth. It's just a totally new emotion you have to get used to. I've seen a quote something to the effect of how having children is like having your heart on the outside of your body. It's completely true.
The fear and worry is real. You think as they get older that you can worry less, but old fears are just replaced with new ones. We just have to try our best, use good judgment, and try not to go crazy from worrying. When DD1 was newborn, I constantly had nightmares that I forgot her places. The worst was when I dreamt that I forgot her at the airport! I woke up crying and freaking out.
On a side note, fitting with the random thread, I saw the funniest bumper sticker today:
I would totally get it if DH approved, but I know he wouldn't. It's hilarious though.
You guys. I just realized I'm only in the office for 3.5 more weeks! I'll still work up until I go into labor, just from home - very thankful that's an option for me. I am a little freaked out at how much needs to get done between now and then though...
You guys. I just realized I'm only in the office for 3.5 more weeks! I'll still work up until I go into labor, just from home - very thankful that's an option for me. I am a little freaked out at how much needs to get done between now and then though...
I'm feeling that freak out. My shower is on Saturday so I'm hoping that will kick me into gear!!!!
You guys. I just realized I'm only in the office for 3.5 more weeks! I'll still work up until I go into labor, just from home - very thankful that's an option for me. I am a little freaked out at how much needs to get done between now and then though...
I have the same option of working from home and will be doing that starting the Monday after thanksgiving. Only 4 more mondays to drag my pregnant butt into the office
@jennbaylor12 Depending on how intensive the chart should be, I am a fan of Visio. I think it's a bit easier to navigate than excel for a solid flow chart... and there's not cells everywhere making things look busy.
@jennbaylor12 Depending on how intensive the chart should be, I am a fan of Visio. I think it's a bit easier to navigate than excel for a solid flow chart... and there's not cells everywhere making things look busy.
@jennbaylor12: I 3rd Visio, but it might be hard to find. If you can't use Visio, you should actually try using PowerPoint. One of my coworkers uses PowerPoint for flowcharts all the time!
Re: Random 9.30
Haha.
Baby #1
Baby #2
~04/19/16 EDD 12/26/16~
SaveSaveSaveSave
I'm SO GLAD you had to blow up my phone to tell me this IMPORTANT information.
Baby #1
Baby #2
~04/19/16 EDD 12/26/16~
SaveSaveSaveSave
I also got a cupcake from a different truck...
Anyway, my awful worry: "You better keep up your end of the deal and produce a baby because we have all this stuff." Sigh. I wish I could install a brain filter to block thoughts like that from popping in my head.
To answer my own question from months ago over when the fear was going to go away: apparently that would be never.
I called DH to just talk it out because I feel like stuff becomes less scary/big/awful if it say it out loud (which is why I'm telling you guys too), and I teared up a little talking to him. Here comes my sweet kitty who always shows up when I start to cry lately. He snuggled right up. Sometimes I really don't deserve my pets. Especially when they go out of their way to make me feel better.
man that's a lot of quotes for a monday...
I wish I could say that the anxiety stops. Unfortunately there's plenty to worry about once the baby arrives, and for some reason I would get even more worried about it because the baby was no longer attached to me. I missed the times when I knew she was safe in my belly.
I will say that I've worried less this pregnancy than I did with DD. I think having done it before, I feel more certain that it will work out until the birth at least. But yea, I'll be anxious about my kids until I'm dead.
And damn every news story about someone hurting a child. I have to scroll past those headlines so quickly because they are so upsetting. I just think of DD in all of those scenarios. It kills me.
Baby #1
Baby #2
~04/19/16 EDD 12/26/16~
SaveSaveSaveSave
A part of me still finds it inconceivable that we're going to get another human out from inside of me. Like you said @LinziLoo09, I imagine experiencing that phenomena once before does help it at least seem more plausible. I also had that thought you mentioned this weekend - about nothing being really able to hurt him inside of me like there is outside. I guess, welcome to parenthood, which is basically just going to be me being terrified all the time from here on out. At least I'll have his cuteness to help soften the blow. Sheesh.
Baby #1
Baby #2
~04/19/16 EDD 12/26/16~
SaveSaveSaveSave
When DD1 was newborn, I constantly had nightmares that I forgot her places. The worst was when I dreamt that I forgot her at the airport! I woke up crying and freaking out.
On a side note, fitting with the random thread, I saw the funniest bumper sticker today:
I would totally get it if DH approved, but I know he wouldn't. It's hilarious though.