[designdiva32]

Shelley you look great! The girls are right, if you didn't have the big bump you wouldn't look pregnant at all. I on the other hand have started to notice my butt and legs are widening at an alarming rate and keep trying to stop myself eating...but I have this ravenous hunger lately. Which is a huge change from a few weeks ago when I couldn't even stomach looking at food. I hope I don't get too fat.

Its great reading up on all the products you girls are getting. I wish I could have a baby shower and get everyone to buy them for us...but both DH and my families have already shown confusion on the whole thing. I think we just have to lump it and accept we will be forking out for all of it. Thankfully I've figured out ways to help cut the costs...like buying the diapers in bulk from Costco and clothes from ebay etc.

I notice you girls mentioned the washing of clothes/blankets etc, do we need to do that to all of them or just the items they will use early on? We have some clothes that are for 6-9 months..would we bother washing them or will the baby probably be alright wearing these as is. I already have the washing liquid, it was from Babies R Us and was specifically for baby items. It wasn't too expensive either. I just don't know which items to wash now. Like, would you wash the waterproof protector sheets etc?? This can be very confusing!

[Justine]

Shelley, you really do look great! I bet actually seeing the cribs would help us with the acceptance of the baby (ies).

I'm going to Burlington CF hopefully this weekend to check out their Baby Depot. I really do need to get on the ball, especially if I have premature issues. I want to wait until IKEA has the cribs I want in stock, but don't think I can wait until the end of July or August--I could be giving birth then! Maybe I'll do some shopping and then if in a few weeks they're not available I'll move onto Plan B cribs. I can't wait forever!!

I did look into the Pack and Play and found for twins they are about 180 vs 100 or so for single baby. However, then they do not advise putting more than one baby into the playpen at a time?! But, they have two bassinettes on top...confusing!

[sarahelaine57]

Alana-i would wait to wash the bigger clothes because you would probably have to wash them again...

And I so don't believe in the old wives tale that if you gain all over it's a girl, because EVERYTHING is expanding! I have gained 10 pounds so far and 5 of those in the last two weeks! And I was chubby before so I was told I wouldnt gain as much as a normal pregnancy, but wow! I too have been hungry all the time, last night I had to get up out of bed and eat a breakfast bar, probably where the 5 pounds came from, lol!

Fossie-I think as long as you wear a good sun screen then you should be fine. And I too have been dopplering every day, DH wanted to send it back so we dont have to keep paying for it every month but I told him until I feel consistent movement I am keeping it!

[fossie]

Alana - I think my nose is spreading, that is NOT good!!! I've wondered about the washing thing to...

Justine - I had not heard that about not putting two babies in the pack and play - that is crazy. We have some friends who swore by it and that is literally what I was planning to do for sleeping arrangements for the babies for the first couple of weeks/months. I'll have to look into it. It is definitely more expensive that a regular one but I thought that was doable if it was instead of buying two bassinets, now who knows.

[fossie]

OH I see what is says - Use bassinet with only one child in each section. That's ok - that just means put only one child in each bassinet. It does say only one child in the playard but we are not really getting it for the playard and that sounds like just an over cautionary thing because I have seen lots of kids play in those things together.

[Justine]

Fossie,

Thanks for clearing that up. They probably don't want you to leave two in the play yard unattended. I think it is a good option and as Alana mentioned the authors of Baby Bargains recommend buying this over a bassinett alone as it has multi-purpose. I think I'll go for it.

On to car seats!! I'll try to start reading this section tomorrow to get some info under my belt. Also read reviews on Play and pack item too. Busy, busy....hope you're all feeling well.

[larklynn]

I can't remember who asked but if you normally use he detergent you can use regular and you just cut it in half. The repair man who fixed our washing machine let us know and also told us to use less he detergent. I have always used dreft for my babies clothes and will probably use it this time.

I have an older pack and play that I had planned on using that had not been recalled... but my mother is not giving it back. She said my grandma plans on getting me a new one with the bassinet and changing area. That tells you how old mine was...

Im getting my crib back next month and I am starting to get excited. I have been so moody latley and not feeling well that I tried to talk my mom out of a shower but it looks like it will be in late July if no one changes there mind.

Shelly you look great!! I know what everybody else means about spreading all over... Dh brought that up a couple of days ago.

[sarahelaine57]

Fossie and Justine-I dont see the problem with putting two babies in the pack n play, especially since I have heard that twins do better when they are together...but then again this is only based on what I have heard.

Oh and if you are looking for car seats I like the Graco Snugride, it got good ratings and it is affordable. The only problem is that the baby can grow out of it by 22 pounds I believe, but the other Graco Saferide I believe it is called is the one that can go up to a higher weight...

And not to scare anyone but if you have bought a Simplicity crib, you might want to think about taking it back, DH was looking at cribs last night on the net and found a recall for them because the side rail was not safe, it caused two deaths and many injuries...they is just so much to worry about with what to buy!

Amy-Isnt that sweet of your grandma to buy you a new pack n play...how handy will that be?! My friend got one with the changing table and still uses it and her daughter is 2 and a half, not so much now that she is potty training, but still I was amazed that she could use it that long.

[larklynn]

Sarah- the second car seat you mentioned was the one I was looking at. LOL you absolutley have to love grandma she has always been such a big help with the kids I don't know what I'd do with out her. Some of my cousins would disagree... I am usually a favorite.

[larklynn]

Sarah- I looked at you registry the other day and looked again today. It gave me some good ideas in addition to some I had. I started registering on line but have not finished and may still add or subtract things as time gets closer. It is way to much fun!

[fossie]

A word of caution on the two differing Graco carseats - when I was being a big dork this weekend putting carseats on strollers and carrying them around, etc. - the snugride seemed noticeably lighter than the others. They all seem very heavy, especially after you add a baby, but I just hadn't thought about the fact that if it holds up to less weight like the snugride then it is probably a little lighter too. The big plus for me on the snugrides in addition to good ratings and review is the size of it - I drive a volvo s40 and can't afford a new vehicle at this time and there are very few carseats that fit in that backseat but the snugride does because it is a little smaller - insane!

[sarahelaine57]

I agree Fossie, the snugride is lighter, and I figure about the time the baby will be growing out of the little car seat it will be around Christmas time maybe, so we will either give the baby a car seat for christmas or ask a grandma for one....after all what do you get a 3 month old for Christmas?! Oh and I too was getting the strollers out and pushing them around the store, Dh kept telling me to stop and I said if I was going to register for a 250+ dollar travel system I was going to try it out!

Amy-I know what you mean about adding things...I looked at some other random registries and got some other ideas but it seems like I have covered most of it, I tell you though the baby bargain book really was super helpful!

Ok must go, this heartburn has hit me hard today and it is so bad I think I might cry!

[BabySteps]

Wow, I've been tired lately.... Thanks for the comments girls. I have put weight on everywhere though. I have noticed it mostly in the last month. I am starting to get the pregnant puffy look. LOL My butt and thighs are much larger, which feels awkward because they have always been the smaller part of me. I am really clumsy now, like I have poor judgement of how large I really am...bumping into door ways and stuff! LOL I must look drunk!

I had a measurement scan yesterday. I have to wait until next Thursday to discuss the results with my doctor. errrr, hate the wait. The tech to me my cervix length and the weight of the babies. My cervix is 4.3 cm. At 12 weeks it was 5.1. Do you think I should be worried? I haven't had any contractions, that I know of. Do you think it is shortening because of the pressure I have been feeling. I guess I really do need to stay off my feet.

The babies weights are: 1.69 lbs, 1.56 lbs and 1.44 lbs. The girl is the largest I was not told if this was good or not so I had to google it. I found a couple of websites that said that the average weight for 24 weeks was 1.3 lbs. Babygaga.com said that at 24 weeks the baby weighs 2 lbs. hummmm. Does anyone know what a baby should weigh at 24 weeks. Does anyone know how much their baby weighs? I want to try and get them as big as I can because they will be premature, little micro babies

Shellie, be careful in the sun. I was told that when you are pregnant you burn more than normal. I use to love being in the sun but this year I am just too hot and uncomfotable. I find I have been getting some color even when sitting in the shade. I hope you have a great time!!

I did a load of wash today with non-HE detergent. I only used a couple of tbsps of detergent and there were lots of bubbles! I also picked up some Dreft today so I will also try that. I found HE dreft online at amazon but you have to buy like a case!! I'll see if I like it first.

We have been given 3 infant car seats from SIL and friends. Normally I would not accept used car seats but we know that these have never been in an accident and they are under 2 years old (possible even one year, since the babies just grew out of them) They are a mix of Graco snug ride, Evenflo and Peg Perego. With 3 babies and two vehicles we will need a few. I am hoping that we will be able to get 3 in the back seat of my Malibu??? Possibly not Eventually we will be getting a mini van. Oh how cool will that be....just joking. Oh well.

We also plan to get the Sunshine Kids Radian 80 convertible car seats. They have excellent safety ratings, are steel enforced and are one of the most narrow car seat available. They claim that they fit babies up to children who are to 80 lbs. They might just be too large for my preemie babies. Sunshine Kids Baby

WOW sorry so long. I had a chatty moment

[fossie]

Shelley - I have been told that anything over 4 cm with no "funneling" is good and that the measurement can vary somewhat depending on who is doing it and and the angle, etc. I think you sound like you are doing excellent with everything - baby weights and cervix length!!!

I think it is perfectly fine to accept car seats and cribs and the like from people if you know the history and know they haven't been recalled. My dad has two adopted little girls and he is passing along two carseats from them once we are in the convertible/bigger style - he doesn't have the infant carrier ones :-(.

I am really nervous about all this pressure I seem to be feeling lately - anyone else have a pressure sensation in your lower abdomen? I think I too have been overdoing it at work just with small things like picking up folders from the floor and moving them to and from the file cabinet and preparing things to be moved from old office to new office tomorrow - I think all the bending and lifting is just getting to me but I have noticed this pressure for about a week now. Not contraction like, no tightening or anything just feels like a weight in my belly sort of!?!?

[designdiva32]

I'm tired too these days Shelley. I wouldn't worry too much about your cervix either hun, while it does seem to have shortened slightly, it still sounds to be in the very normal range. I guess its to be expected when you are carrying around three...just stay off your feet and get your DH to pamper you as much as possible. Doctors orders!!

Sarah, sorry about the heartburn hun, I hope it gets better so you can be more comfortable.

Argh...so much to buy and so little time. Its frustrating I think that the travel system car-seats only last for a few months and then you need to purchase another one. Thankfully the Baby Bargains book kinda prepares you for all this stuff and tells you what you can and can't wait for. Like for instance you don't need to purchase a high-chair immediately, which is very good to know. Theres lots of other items too which I'm very happy about. I actually had a really nice sales lady at a baby store tell me how much extra stuff babies seem to have these days and how her daughter didn't need any of it in her day. I mean, here she is with her own baby store yet she doesn't think we need most of what is in there. I will definately go back to her for more advice.

I think I'll go to bed now and try to get some rest before another long day. Chat to you all tomorrow.