STM+ Check-in | Nov 15

sunshineandwhiskey · November 2017

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5020794/uploads/editor/cl/1cfxzzyyk8dp.gif

How far along are you?

How old are your other kids?

Current challenges/concerns about being a STM+ or questions about things your children are going through now?

Current joys/successes/or happy thoughts about being a STM:

GTKY: What is your favorite Thanksgiving food? Extra points for a gif

May14th2011 · November 2017

10 weeks today!

4yo girl, 2yo boy.

Slowly starting to work on potty training the 2yo. He has to be almost fully trained before he can go to preschool so I'm starting now.

My kids are so cute. I'm biased, but I'm pretty sure they are the cutest kids ever.

I love Green bean casserole! Or Chocolate pudding pie. Yum!

MaraJeanily · November 2017

How far along are you?
10+5
How old are your other kids?
DS will be 3 next month.
Current challenges/concerns about being a STM+ or questions about things your children are going through now?
We have been trying to include DS as much as possible, but I'm worried about when baby actually comes. We are having a scheduled C-Section, and being in the hospital for 3-4 days worries me with him. He will be staying with my parents and DH parents, so I don't think he's going to feel "abandoned," but I also don't want him to think we love him any less. Thoughts or ideas on how to make our hospital stay easy for DS?
Current joys/successes/or happy thoughts about being a STM:
Having another tiny human to watch DS love is going to be amazing.
GTKY: What is your favorite Thanksgiving food? Extra points for a gif
Pumpkin Pie and Deviled Eggs. GIVE ME ALL OF IT.

jsl82 · November 2017

@MaraJeanily I read somewhere (facebook, pintrest maybe?) about a family that sent the new baby to the hospital nursery as their first born was on the way to the hospital. The older child got to reconnect with mom after not seeing her for a day without the new baby being there- and then the dad and child when to the nursery to get the baby together. The story said the older child felt like they brought the new baby to the family... and were included in the process. I love the idea but DD is too small, I doubt she will even really understand that she is getting a brother or sister but a 3 year old would be a great age for this technique.

How far along are you?
11w1d

How old are your other kids?
10.5 months

Current challenges/concerns about being a STM+ or questions about things your children are going through now?
I was sick Saturday night- throwing up where I haven't been throwing up with this pregnancy. Sunday I was weak and pale and basically not able to do anything. DH stepped up and took care of her all day- which was so needed and appreciated, but I don't know how she's going to handle the recovery period. I am worried about taking care of 2 under 2...especially for the first month.

Current joys/successes/or happy thoughts about being a STM:
DD is learning and figuring out new things everyday... and it's just amazing to watch. It's gonna be amazing seeing it all over again in about a year.

GTKY: What is your favorite Thanksgiving food? Extra points for a gif
I second the Green Bean Cassarole. I also love mash potatoes and stuffing. I'm really worried about my MS preventing me from enjoying Thanksgiving this year. Hopefully I'll be calming down some more next week as I'll be 12 weeks and just 1 week away from 2nd trimester.

katykat03 · November 2017

How far along are you? 8 + 2

How old are your other kids? 3 next month

Current challenges/concerns about being a STM+ or questions about things your children are going through now? I’m interested to see how she reacts when we bring baby home. We’ve asked her if she wants a baby brother or sister and she just says, “Nope.”

Current joys/successes/or happy thoughts about being a STM: I’ve kept a human alive for almost three years! Wow!

GTKY: What is your favorite Thanksgiving food? Extra points for a gif Stuffing...all of the stuffing. And cranberries from a can, icy cold.

catlady1215 · November 2017

How far along are you?
11+6

How old are your other kids?
DS is 5

Current challenges/concerns about being a STM+ or questions about things your children are going through now?
I'm starting to wonder how/what we're going to do for child care. MIL and my mom watched DS since 3 months old.
but I'm just running through scenarios now that it'll be 2 kids... cause DS will be starting kindergarten 2 weeks after I go back to work... so pick up from that, then if MIL watches the baby (25 mins away from us). when she'll already have a 1 yr old she'll be watching some days and another grandchild she picks up from school those days also. so that's a lot of very small children to be running around with. ugh, I dunno.

Current joys/successes/or happy thoughts about being a STM:
I think we're going to tell DS tonight!!! ahh!

GTKY: What is your favorite Thanksgiving food? Extra points for a gif
turkey, mashed pots and gravy is up there. but I looove the simplest thing that dh's gram makes. just long flat (not sure names of noodles) noodles in homemade gravy. mmmm

MaraJeanily · November 2017

@jsl82 That is a cute idea, however I really want to see DS face when he first sees baby. I was glued to him during our first ultrasound because his face lit up like a Christmas tree. I do like the idea of spending some time with just him at the hospital, so maybe DH could go get baby and bring him/her into us? Something to think about!

@katykat03 Both our older children are December babies of the same age and now we're both due in June... That's so fun to me!

sunshineandwhiskey · November 2017

@May14th2011 good luck with the potty training!!
@MaraJeanily I agree with @jsl82. I don't know if I saw the same article or what, but it definitely said to have your child see you without the baby first, spend some time, and then introduce the new baby. I think we will go this route even though DD isn't quite at the age where i think she understands whats going on.
@jsl82 props to your DH! That is great that he helped so much this weekend. I definitely worry about the same thing - DD is in a phase where she just wants "up" and I dont know how she will deal with the fact that I can't hold her like that as i'm recovering. The 2 under 2 is terrifying. But we got this! If other people can do it - we can too, right??
@katykat03 yay for keeping a tiny human alive for 3 years! We went out the day before DD birthday this year and celebrated the same thing

@catlady1215 GL telling DS!! Update us

How far along are you? 8w 4d (I time traveled!)

How old are your other kids? almost 16mo

Current challenges/concerns about being a STM+ or questions about things your children are going through now? ugh. I don't even know lol. We're in tantrum hell. teething hell. and she's got a cold. Its been a great week haha

Current joys/successes/or happy thoughts about being a STM: DH cried at the ultrasound Monday. It just makes me happy that I can make him happy by giving him children.

GTKY: What is your favorite Thanksgiving food? Extra points for a gif
uhhhhh everything

I am definitely partial to the generic canned cranberry sauce, and the stuffing

May14th2011 · November 2017

@MaraJeanily my Dd was 2, almost 3, we hyped up the baby so much. We talked for months about how great the baby would be, how much fun DD would have with the baby etc. She was so excited and ready to meet the baby, so by the time the baby came, we had no problems at all.
We just had MIL bring her in to my room, DH sat with her and showed her the baby and she was thrilled. I let her sit with me on the bed (carefully since I had a csection lol), and talked specifically to her for a little bit.
When we got home, I played up the big sister/big girl part, and gave her a variety of tasks to help me with that only big girls could do. I also took her with me on short errands, leaving baby with DH, so she still go one on one time with me. Never had a problem

oneblessedmess · November 2017

How far along are you? 8w5d

How old are your other kids? 2 yo DD

Current challenges/concerns about being a STM+ or questions about things your children are going through now? DD is doing great with potty training and only wears pull ups at night, but she still refuses to poop in the potty and instead waits until after we put her to bed, because she has the pull up on. Trying to figure out how to break the habit because it feels like such a waste of pull ups.

Current joys/successes/or happy thoughts about being a STM: We had our first ultrasound on Monday and it was awesome. DD came with so it was cool getting to "show" her her new sibling (even though I'm sure she had no idea what she was looking at!)

GTKY: What is your favorite Thanksgiving food? Extra points for a gif Pretty much everything! I think I mainly love the meats though. My family is from the Caribbean so in addition to the traditional turkey, we usually have curry chicken, jerk chicken, ribs, etc. Our Thanksgiving cuisine definitely always has island flair!

katelynrae86 · November 2017

oh you guys, all this thanksgiving food talk is making me so hungry. Yummy...I want a big turkey sandwich right now!

How far along are you? 8 + 5

How old are your other kids? 13 months

Current challenges/concerns about being a STM+ or questions about things your children are going through now? We had our first ultrasound today and DH and I brought DS. He did pretty good, but my hubby definitely had to entertain him and he got a little antsy. This worries me a little for future OB visits. We don't have any local family or childcare so I'm bringing him to my appts solo. I hope it works okay...I figure if I bring the stroller with plenty of toys and snacks it will work. I just don't want him to have a meltdown or annoy the Dr. I also don't want DH to waste a bunch of leave to come to the appt when they are literally 10 minutes (pee in a cup/measure tummy/doppler/?s).

And don't get me started about my premature stress about where he will go for the actual birth. I told my mom she needs to take off at least a week off work on either side of my due date so she can stay with us and be "on call". I don't think her or my hubby are on board for that idea

Current joys/successes/or happy thoughts about being a STM: Between last week and this, DS has gone from a few wobbly steps at a time to a full blown walker (well, still a little wobbly). I can't get over how fulfilling it is to watch him master new skills!

GTKY: What is your favorite Thanksgiving food? Extra points for a gif Thanksgiving food is some of my all time favorite. If I'm at a diner and they have a turkey dinner or turkey/cranberry sandwich, that's what I will always get.

My favorite thing is a tradition my sister and I started as kids. For our "seconds" we make a mini sandwich on a dinner roll. A layer of stuffing, potatoes, gravy, turkey and cranberry. All the food stuff in one bite!

sunshineandwhiskey · November 2017

@katelynrae86 if you are ever in DE you need to find a Capriottis. The sandwich is called a Bobbie and it’s heaven on a roll - esp after you described those “seconds”

Putting a pic in a spoiler box

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5020794/uploads/editor/dj/416aitkx7v0v.png

knitsandgiggles · November 2017

8+3

4 years, 10 months & 3 years, 4 months

DS has been doing great with potty training, but he gets so distracted and just seems to forget he has to go until the last second. Usually by then it is too late. But progress is progress!

Favorite Thanksgiving food is my grandma’s sausage stuffing! I can’t wait to make it for Thanksgiving dinner. It might end up being the only thing I eat, haha.

knitsandgiggles · November 2017

@catlady1215 - let us know how telling DS goes!!

fulcher_mama · November 2017

How far along are you?
8 weeks 3 days

How old are your other kids?
6, 3, and 2 in January

Current challenges/concerns about being a STM+ or questions about things your children are going through now?
I am so scared we are having another girl. We have two already and they are the sassiest little handfuls. I think I might cry if I find out it's a girl. Is that bad?
Also my oldest has been acting out so bad. I'm trying to think of a way that dh and I can spend time with just her so she feels included. Currently we take a photo of my tummy and her every week.

Current joys/successes/or happy thoughts about being a STM:
My oldest two will both be in school and it'll just be my littlest and myself. It makes me feel less stressed knowing it'll just be us for a bit.

GTKY: What is your favorite Thanksgiving food? Extra points for a gif

ROLLS! My dh's grandmother makes the best rolls from scratch!

knitsandgiggles · November 2017

@katelynrae86 - we are in a similar boat with no local family at all. Appointments were a struggle when I was SAH while pregnant with DS. Luckily I made some great mom friends who helped out and watched DD during my appointments and also the night DH and I were in the hospital with the delivery. Not having family close by is stressful!

katelynrae86 · November 2017

@sunshineandwhiskey You're killing me, that looks so good!

@knitsandgiggles I do have a couple good friends in the area l. One has kids and I know she would watch him, but she has 2 very rambunctious little boys that are bigger than mine (and the 2 year old is a hitter...) so I think it stresses me out more to leave him with her. Does that make me a helicopter mom, or something? Lol

marcus7676 · November 2017

How far along are you? 11+6

How old are your other kids? 2

Current challenges/concerns about being a STM+ or questions about things your children are going through now? We are potty training next week. Any tips / suggestions for things to do to keep DS busy during the day inside the house?

Current joys/successes/or happy thoughts about being a STM: DS is just so excited to be a big brother (not like he really knows what it means).

GTKY: What is your favorite Thanksgiving food? Extra points for a gif Does gravy count?

catlady1215 · November 2017

so we told DS last night. it went well I think! we showed him his 12 week ultrasound pic so he could kinda understand when we showed him this baby's. then he gave my belly 2 kisses ::swoon:: I asked him if he would share his dino toys with the baby and he said they can't chew on them though

then this morning I showed him my belly progression pics of his pregnancy, to help him understand more. he said I was going to break lol.

knitsandgiggles · November 2017

Hahaha, that's great @catlady1215! Glad to hear DS took the news so well! DH is convinced that our DD will be super excited by the news, but that DS will be less than enthusiastic as he is "my baby." We haven't figured out when to tell them yet, but my DD sure does love to tell me that my belly is getting more squishy, lol. So perhaps sooner rather than later.

catlady1215 · November 2017

@knitsandgiggles lol squishy lol. luckily, my belly is already squishy so he hasn't noticed

I bet it will be tough for him to give up the 'baby' spot. but he still has lots of time to cuddle up and be the baby! maybe doing it right along a growing belly will help him.

oneblessedmess · November 2017

@katelynrae86 My DD got antsy during our first appointment too. She did ok during the ultrasound but then we went to my OB's office just to go over some stuff and DD wanted to explore so my husband ended up taking her back to the waiting area. My doctor was really cool about it though. For the shorter appointments I think a plan of snacks and books/toys in the stroller is good! Like you said those only last about 10 minutes or so so I think you will be fine. I would say just try to schedule them around a time your son is usually in a good mood! And even if he does get cranky, honestly most OBs should be used to moms having to mom. It happens. Hopefully yours doesn't get annoyed!

@marcus7676 I bought a jumbo pad of paper and we did art stuff, played with some new puzzles, made muffins, etc. Just lots of hands on activities!

llamamama14 · November 2017

@jsl82 @sunshineandwhiskey @katelynrae86 2 under 2 survivor here. There were many rough days but we survived. DS and DD are so fun together now that DD is walking and interacting and they entertain each other. No one makes her laugh harder than big brother. I'm excited to have the third closely spaced. They'll be like triplets spread out a couple years

.

8 weeks

almost 3 and 14 months

DS turns 3 next week. His party is on Saturday. He's so excited And keeps asking who's going to be there. My baby's not really a baby anymore, sigh.

Fave Thanksgiving food: This year I'm most looking forward to the stuffing.

dinodna3 · November 2017

2u2 survivor here too. The hardest part for me was that DD didn’t speak much, so communication was very challenging at the time. Luckily, DS’s speech is much more advance and is already answering questions.

11+3

DD is 3 and DS is 16m

We weaning DS this past weekend while I was in New Orleans. He’s had no issues but my poor boobs are so sore.

I have my NT scan on Monday and I’m anxiously waiting to see this LO for the first time. Idk why I’ve had so much anxiety over having twins but I’m ready to know how many are in there.

Probably an UO but I’m not really a fan of thanksgiving food. I’d much rather have fried chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy than turkey. I don’t eat anything else that is common thanksgiving food.

goldenlola · November 2017

How far along are you?
10w4d

How old are your other kids?
DD - 3 yo

Current challenges/concerns about being a STM+ or questions about things your children are going through now?
Sad that this will be our last.

I work from home running my own business therefore I won’t be taking a traditional mat leave (1 year currently being extended to 18 months in Canada). I’ll likely take a month off to adjust, but am stressed about juggling it all plus work.

Current joys/successes/or happy thoughts about being a STM:
DD loves other babies. She’s so interested and always wants to chat with them and check them out. I can’t wait to see her become a big sister.

GTKY: What is your favorite Thanksgiving food? Extra points for a gif
Stuffing and dessert.

UO - pumpkin pie is disgusting.

knitsandgiggles · November 2017

Oh man, I don’t know how, but I forgot about the 2u2 Days, DD And DS are 18 months and a day apart. Those first few months are a blur. DD has no speech at 18 months and by 21 months she was in EI for intensive speech therapy.

Good news, we all survived and the kids seem to like one another, for the most part, haha

knitsandgiggles · November 2017

@catlady1215 - that is a good point! It was much easier with the transition to 2 because DD was too ylate my to really know that she had been the only child at that point.

llamamama14 · November 2017

@goldenlola yeah I don't really get the pumpkin pie thing. Apple is ok. Really I just want chocolate though, let's be honest.

kmurdock925 · November 2017

How far along are you? 10 + 6

How old are your other kids? 16 months

Current challenges/concerns about being a STM+ or questions about things your children are going through now? DD only wants me at night if she is having a rough one so that concerns me a bit for when there will be a baby who needs be consistently through the night. Knowing that new babe will be here a month before dd turns 2 and that there is apparently a 2 yr sleep regression for most kids sounds super fun...

GTKY: What is your favorite Thanksgiving food? Extra points for a gif definitely stuffing. I'm a big fan of thanksgiving sandwiches throughout the season though but the place that had the best one closed so now I don't know where to go...whomp whomp.

katelynrae86 · November 2017

Thanks to all the 2 under 2 survivors sharing your experiences...I'm sure those of us going into that may have more questions for you ladies as our due dates get closer (or I will anyway).

And I was thinking, it must not have been too terrible for anybody 'cause you're all here doing it again

Lilpenguin3 · November 2017

How far along are you? 12 w today

How old are your other kids? 19 months

Current challenges/concerns about being a STM+ or questions about things your children are going through now?
SAH w/ a newborn and a 2 year old
Current joys/successes/or happy thoughts about being a STM:
DD has recently been playing with her babies more and gives them hugs and takes care of them. it's super sweet to watch.
GTKY: What is your favorite Thanksgiving food? Extra points for a gif
Mashed potatoes!

juneandboo · November 2017

How far along are you? 8 w 3 d

How old are your other kids? He'll be two at the very end of January

Current challenges/concerns about being a STM+ or questions about things your children are going through now? Just running through so many daily scenarios in my head and trying to figure out how to navigate two little ones. Kind of overwhelming!

Current joys/successes/or happy thoughts about being a STM: I tear up every time I think of my son having a little brother or sister

GTKY: What is your favorite Thanksgiving food? Stuffing and green beans!

Want a personalized experience?

STM+ Check-in | Nov 15

Re: STM+ Check-in | Nov 15

Choose Another Board

Search Boards