@EErin86 when I was in Italy they did a whole cheeses and honeys platter and it was super fancy and soooooooo good! Here I have nothing fancy so it's my kid's school lunch string cheese and store brand honey from a squeezey bottle, lol. Still good though.
So I'm looking on pinterest for bathroom design inspiration this morning while getting ready for work, and all it's really making me want is a new house haha. I'm very appreciative of the humble starter house that we're in, but I know we will be outgrowing it soon. Ah, a girl can dream.
@nlc8424 Pinterest can be dangerous in that way! ... so can Zillow!
@knitknitread: yay for sushi! And for not sharing with DD... children always try to steal the good stuff! My DD is fond of saying “little bit!” With her thumb and index finger squeezed together and her face scrunched up.... it never ends up being a “little bit”... thief.
DH is going to Hawaii for business in June and trying to convince me to go. So much pro/conning! I don’t know what the answer is. I really want to go, but the what if’s scare me.
@southernlady07 Haha counter FFFC, my favorite ring sling is pink so our little boy will probably be constantly confused for a girl. He'll get over it.
@nlc8424 As a stager/stylist, that's one of my biggest struggles. I like our starter townhouse and we plan on staying at least another 2-3 years. But I tour newly remodeled homes all the time, or new builds in great locations and get serious real estate envy. The zillow ads on FB definitely think I'm house hunting
@EErin86 I want too but the Six month pregnant thing makes me nervous. And DH would be off working for 3-4 days... like unreachable working . But it’s hawaii and will be amazing. I haven’t been in years. I’d need to convince grand parents to watch DD.
DH is going to Hawaii for business in June and trying to convince me to go. So much pro/conning! I don’t know what the answer is. I really want to go, but the what if’s scare me.
That's still early enough that I would probably go, depending on what kind of flights you're able to get. Coming from the East Coast I would want to fly to LAX or somewhere then head to Hawaii just to break it up with a chance to walk around between flights.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________ MMC 8/5/15 at 8 weeks DS born 9/13/16 BFP 1/13/18 - EDD 9/20/18 - It's a boy!
@Lcardinal04 well I'd say that's still the tail end of second trimester, maybe ask your doctor if she has any concerns about the travel? Lol free time in Hawaii while DH is working sounds amazing, you could slowly wander shops or just chill on the beach or do touristy things. If anything he will just be super jealous of you. Good luck with the decision
Hey, this is random (I’m in the right thread!) but this morning, I showed DH a pic that a friend had posted of her 3D US and he said “I’d like to have one of those.” Personally I’ve always found them a little creepy, no offense! But I don’t have a problem if he really wants it. Question is, I know it’s not necessary and doctors don’t do it, but is there any negative to going to one of those places and getting it? Is it potentially harmful?
@ashh2018 did you have your anatomy scan yet? Depending on their equipment they might be able to get a picture then. I think with my first pregnancy the technician switched to 3d view just to show us. I think it's work asking/waiting until after the anatomy scan.
@EErin86 I had my scan last week! We have video that DH took but baby moved nonstop so we don’t have any of the classic “that’s clearly a baby” profile photos. He also wouldn’t show his face - doctor finally caught a glimpse enough to check his lip but that was it.
@ashh2018 my US tech at my office switches back and forth between regular and 3D and makes it a point to try and print some of each. At this point there probably isn’t much harm since you’re not trying to find out anything specifically. But, I don’t know how much I trust boutique places and their equipment, but that’s just me!
@ashh2018 - With DS our u/s tech asked if we'd like to see some 3D shots during our anatomy scan and turned it on for us so we could see him in 3D. Same techs, same equipment so I imagine we'll get the same option this time. But that doesn't really help since you already had your a/s.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________ MMC 8/5/15 at 8 weeks DS born 9/13/16 BFP 1/13/18 - EDD 9/20/18 - It's a boy!
@Lcardinal04 go to Hawaii! I’d check with your OB first but mine is ok with me flying until 36 weeks (I gave my husband a 32 week cutoff though). We’re going in a few weeks and I can’t wait! I am most looking forward to all the pool time and a massage since I know that’s what will help my pregnancy aches and pains.
@ashh2018 I’d do my research just to make sure it is a reputable place but I know tons of people who get 3D ultrasounds. I personally find them a little creepy too but if my DH wanted one I’d be ok with it.
Random: my sister is coming to town this weekend with her two kids. Her visit was initially to come Friday evening and leave Sunday afternoon has now turned into, "we will be there Saturday night around 6:30,my husband can't come due to spring football practice (he is a college coach), and we are leaving Sunday around 11:00 AM". My sister was primarily coming to run a marathon, but then wanted to make a weekend out of it has now turned into, can you pick up my packet on Saturday for me, can you clean your house, and can you watch my kids? It is fine and I am glad to see my niece and nephew, but so typical from my sister.
@spottedginger - IMO I don't really think making your 13 and 11 year olds cook every meal for an 18 person family because she decided to have that many children makes her supermom.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________ MMC 8/5/15 at 8 weeks DS born 9/13/16 BFP 1/13/18 - EDD 9/20/18 - It's a boy!
@DanyTargaryen very valid. I’m not on board with the super mom status, but I am in awe of the fact that she seems to be a functioning human and not in the loony bin. (Spoken as a mom with only one human I chase on a daily basis). Edit bc autocorrect
@spottedginger I'm going to be super judgey and say that's a nuts to have that many kids. Yes, it seems like all their needs are met and they're responsible and yada yada but even with homeschooling she can't give them enough individualized attention. Even my parents who had four kids, I often felt like I was pushed to the wayside because a younger sibling needed more than I did. Just saying, I'd like to see an article from the older kids' perspectives on a family that large. Also, I HATED being homeschooled once I hit middle school age and can't imagine how much more I would hate it if I was "forced" (the view of a preteen) to stay home, watch the younger kids, cook meals, and help with other chores. My entire life would revolve around that house and it wouldn't be my choice at all. But maybe I'm just projecting.
Oh those poor kids I had to watch my younger sisters nearly every evening and weekend for the majority of high school while my mom went to nursing school.
@spottedginger - IMO I don't really think making your 13 and 11 year olds cook every meal for an 18 person family because she decided to have that many children makes her supermom.
This. I grew up in an area where most families had 6 or more kids. Once you get to a point where you are incapable of taking care of that many and make your older kids do all the babysitting and diaper changes and feeding toddlers...you are a bad parent to your older kids. I was friends with a girl who was the second eldest of 12. She couldn't do high school extracurriculars or sports or go to friends' houses because she had to do diaper changes and make baby food. It's unfair.
My best friend in middle school was one of 9 and she could never do anything since she always had to take care of her younger siblings. We eventually fell out of touch since I could never see her outside of school. It was really sad. I think having that many is really unfair to the older ones
@spottedginger she does seem to have it together. She still pees when she sneezes though You know she does.
Haha...no amount of kegels or squats are helping that for sure! And I feel like she manages time to herself because she has her kids doing the cooking and cleaning. I believe in chores, but are ANY of your children getting enough of your love and attention?
So I just answered a call from a number I didn’t know and it was a coworker who I am getting one of his clients. He mansplained to me how he thinks I should manage this client relationship. I just multi tasked while he talked for 20 minutes. The reason I am getting the account is because they don’t like him. This is my second client to acquire because they could not stand him as their AM. Pretty sure I do not need your opinion on how I should manage this account since I have not only proven I kicka** at my job, but I have successfully turned around clients with issues and I am being given this one because they don’t like how you manage them!!
@spottedginger she does seem to have it together. She still pees when she sneezes though You know she does.
Haha...no amount of kegels or squats are helping that for sure! And I feel like she manages time to herself because she has her kids doing the cooking and cleaning. I believe in chores, but are ANY of your children getting enough of your love and attention?
So, I've actually had talks with my husband about the whole chores thing and kids. I've come to the conclusion that I think a certain level of contributing to the household and being responsible for your own life needs to happen, but that as parents we need to make sure we aren't shrugging off out responsibilities onto the children. So, all kids in my house will take turns helping make meals and will daily at all the meals clear their own dishes. Turns will be taken by all, including parents, for washing dishes. Kids will clean their own rooms and do their own laundry. Kids will pack their own lunches. Kids will take care of their own pets including picking up poop from the yard.*
Kids will NOT be in charge of yard work. My husband and I wanted a big yard with trees and grass. The kids didn't pick that, we did. So that's our responsibility. The kids are not in charge of pets that my husband and I have. Sure, I think it's awesome if they want to help but taking care of MY chickens is MY job. Kids will be expected to clean their own bathroom or take turns cleaning a shared bathroom, but will never be asked to clean the guest bath. Again, I picked out the house with the half bath for guests, not my kids. Kids most certainly will come out to the car and help vacuum sand they got in the car, pick up trash around their seats and wipe their fingerprints off the windows, but unless my kid wants to borrow my car and drive it, they will not be asked to do any other cleaning or maintaining of the car.*
If the kids want to earn extra money or special favors they can do extra work but I do not believe in assigning them chores to help me with the life that I chose for myself. So, while I would expect all of my however many children to take a turn with cooking* I would never assign one to be in charge of cooking for everyone on a regular basis. Nor would I make any of my children do anyone's laundry other than their own. I would not make them clean a bathroom that wasn't thier's, ect ect. I've gotten real bent out of shape with relatives who get mad at older kids for not watching their younger siblings. Um, no! Those are YOUR kids! Not your kid's kids! Your 8,10,12, whatever year old didn't choose to have more babies, you did! Watch them yourself or hire help.
*Add "as is age appropriate" to all statements.
I feel that children need responsibilities (chores) and to help around the house because they need to learn to be fully self sufficient. NOT to be a source of free labor to the parents.
My best friend in middle school was one of 9 and she could never do anything since she always had to take care of her younger siblings. We eventually fell out of touch since I could never see her outside of school. It was really sad. I think having that many is really unfair to the older ones
I don't think having many children is unfair to anyone necessarily, but like you said with having the older in charge of the younger I do think is unfair. I think you could have a big, big family and it would be fine as long as you don't decide your older kids are going to be your free nannies. Either watch your kids yourself or hire an actual nanny/babysitter. Which, it's totally fair if you ASK your older kids if they'd like to earn money or extra privileges by babysitting, but you have to ask and have it actually be their choice.
@stothi we have similar views on chores. I want my children to contribute to the home as the grow they will have more responsibilities. This is because they live here too, and one day I want them to be able to survive and live on their own. Doing chores is how you learn what it takes to survive. Our children will likely help with mowing, but only our small front yard. I think it’s important to know how to do this for when you have your own one day.
My husband and I were raised pretty opposite in terms of chores. In my house it was basically “you have to do xyz, and your homework, and then if you want to do any extracurricular activities you’ll figure out how to do that AND get all your other work done....oh, and you need to buy stuff for that extracurricular? You better get a job, too. No slack allowed because of your chosen activities”. Some of it was a necessity from my family having very little money, some of it was my parents philosophy about hard work and life being tough and getting used to it. In my husband’s family it was “school and your activities are like your job and that comes first, so you should focus on that and we’ll take care of everything else for you”. He did also have a paper route and I’m sure did some basic picking up after himself, but he turned into a adult who had basically never chopped a vegetable or learned how to actually clean something! And he struggles with juggling multiple priorities.
We’ll be aiming for something in the middle. I don’t want my kids worried about the cost of their sports equipment or girlscout uniforms, or being constantly stressed to get everything done like I was, but I also want them to have to deal with competing priorities and have to figure out the best way to have fun AND get some work done. And obviously I want them to know the basics of taking care of themselves (cooking, cleaning, etc.)
@stothi and @MandyMost I love both of your ideals/plans here. I'm definitely hoping for balance. I had a single mom and a much younger sister, I had to do a lot of work-which isn't to say that my mom didn't. But I definitely want some responsibilities and some allowed to be a kid. Great thoughts.
_______________________________________________
Me: 33 DH: 32 Married 7/18/15 1st born at 35+4 on 6/6/16 Team green turned BLUE! 2nd born at 38+6 on 8/30/18 Team green turned PINK! Due with #3 on 6/6/20 Team Green
Random/AW/for sushi lovers.... I finished the burp cloths for my sushi loving friend having a May baby! Sushi fabric from Joann's and the backing is "diaper cloth"
Re: Randoms | week of April 16th
@knitknitread: yay for sushi! And for not sharing with DD... children always try to steal the good stuff! My DD is fond of saying “little bit!” With her thumb and index finger squeezed together and her face scrunched up.... it never ends up being a “little bit”... thief.
DH is going to Hawaii for business in June and trying to convince me to go. So much pro/conning! I don’t know what the answer is. I really want to go, but the what if’s scare me.
@nlc8424 As a stager/stylist, that's one of my biggest struggles. I like our starter townhouse and we plan on staying at least another 2-3 years. But I tour newly remodeled homes all the time, or new builds in great locations and get serious real estate envy. The zillow ads on FB definitely think I'm house hunting
MMC 8/5/15 at 8 weeks
DS born 9/13/16
BFP 1/13/18 - EDD 9/20/18 - It's a boy!
MMC 8/5/15 at 8 weeks
DS born 9/13/16
BFP 1/13/18 - EDD 9/20/18 - It's a boy!
@ashh2018 I’d do my research just to make sure it is a reputable place but I know tons of people who get 3D ultrasounds. I personally find them a little creepy too but if my DH wanted one I’d be ok with it.
@ashh2018 3D U/S are pretty standard now. I had one for each of my past pregnancies. I think they are a little creepy tho.
Random: my sister is coming to town this weekend with her two kids. Her visit was initially to come Friday evening and leave Sunday afternoon has now turned into, "we will be there Saturday night around 6:30,my husband can't come due to spring football practice (he is a college coach), and we are leaving Sunday around 11:00 AM". My sister was primarily coming to run a marathon, but then wanted to make a weekend out of it has now turned into, can you pick up my packet on Saturday for me, can you clean your house, and can you watch my kids? It is fine and I am glad to see my niece and nephew, but so typical from my sister.
*possible tw, very fertile woman* link in spoiler
MMC 8/5/15 at 8 weeks
DS born 9/13/16
BFP 1/13/18 - EDD 9/20/18 - It's a boy!
Edit bc autocorrect
I hated it so fucking much.
Kids will NOT be in charge of yard work. My husband and I wanted a big yard with trees and grass. The kids didn't pick that, we did. So that's our responsibility. The kids are not in charge of pets that my husband and I have. Sure, I think it's awesome if they want to help but taking care of MY chickens is MY job. Kids will be expected to clean their own bathroom or take turns cleaning a shared bathroom, but will never be asked to clean the guest bath. Again, I picked out the house with the half bath for guests, not my kids. Kids most certainly will come out to the car and help vacuum sand they got in the car, pick up trash around their seats and wipe their fingerprints off the windows, but unless my kid wants to borrow my car and drive it, they will not be asked to do any other cleaning or maintaining of the car.*
If the kids want to earn extra money or special favors they can do extra work but I do not believe in assigning them chores to help me with the life that I chose for myself. So, while I would expect all of my however many children to take a turn with cooking* I would never assign one to be in charge of cooking for everyone on a regular basis. Nor would I make any of my children do anyone's laundry other than their own. I would not make them clean a bathroom that wasn't thier's, ect ect. I've gotten real bent out of shape with relatives who get mad at older kids for not watching their younger siblings. Um, no! Those are YOUR kids! Not your kid's kids! Your 8,10,12, whatever year old didn't choose to have more babies, you did! Watch them yourself or hire help.
*Add "as is age appropriate" to all statements.
I feel that children need responsibilities (chores) and to help around the house because they need to learn to be fully self sufficient. NOT to be a source of free labor to the parents.
We’ll be aiming for something in the middle. I don’t want my kids worried about the cost of their sports equipment or girlscout uniforms, or being constantly stressed to get everything done like I was, but I also want them to have to deal with competing priorities and have to figure out the best way to have fun AND get some work done. And obviously I want them to know the basics of taking care of themselves (cooking, cleaning, etc.)
DH: 32
Married 7/18/15
1st born at 35+4 on 6/6/16
Team green turned BLUE!
2nd born at 38+6 on 8/30/18
Team green turned PINK!
Due with #3 on 6/6/20 Team Green
I never minded having chores. It was the never having time to have a social life because I was expected to be home to babysit.
I finished the burp cloths for my sushi loving friend having a May baby! Sushi fabric from Joann's and the backing is "diaper cloth"