[Justine]

Katrina--just saw your photos and want to tell you that you look GREAT!

Mattresses: we just got ours: Colgate Classica foam, which was recommended in Baby Bargains. Difficult to find locally, and was more expensive so this worked out well. Since our cribs can convert to toddler beds, it can be used for the first few years, so we went with the III which was 10 dollars more but has a softer second side for toddler use. Got a great deal on them from Great Beginnings Great Beginnings Baby & Children's Furniture Store - Baby Cribs, Beds, Bedding, Strollers, Car Seats, High Chairs, Accessories and their shipping was free and fast. Totally recommend them, also got a cute lamp, changing pad, cover, and maternity footstool--all were on sale too.

Here's the IKEA crib we got:

I have a concern about crib safety and wonder if anyone here may know.....IKEA cribs were deemed safe and recommended, however, all that I've read advises there be no space between the mattress and slats. On our model, the mattress fits perfectly into the mattress box, however, there IS space on the side. It looks like that is the design, intentional, just doesn't jibe with my understanding of safety rules. I'm confused. We have only put one together, so other is in box still. Any advice?

[charms]

Shelley - they did the test because i had some contractions that were not braxton hicks last weekend, and since my P17 shot on sunday they have not returned, so they wanted to rule out possible preterm labor again....since the shot stopped them in their tracks nothing this weekend far so.

Sarah - i think once you start counting movements, you will be pretty surprised too. last night was only 18. they told me to call if i could only feel 4 after drinking a cold beverage just in case the baby was sleeping.

Justine - nice crib, our matress fits pretty snug in the crib we purchased from Stork.craft - but there is enough room to tuck in the bumper pad all the way around perfectly. If i had a way to mail the egg rolls, i would! I could give you the recipe.....very very easy.

1 lb of ground (pork or chicken)
1 teaspoon of salt, pepper, garlic powder
2 large shreaded carrots
1/4 lb of shreaded jicima
2 bundles of bean thread noodles soaked and soft
(cut the bean thread so it is not too long)
1 tablespoon of fish sauce - found in the oriental part of the grocery store by the soy sauce
2 large eggs
1/2 bundle of green onions chopped (just the green part)
mix it all together
roll into egg roll wrappers (not rice paper spring roll wrappers) - using one additional egg as the glue to hold the seal ---- one egg will seal about 100 rolls (so use a small egg if you have it or remove the egg white and just use the yolk.
deep fry
voila - egg rolls this is a small batch but will make about 20-40 egg rolls, depending on the size of your roll, i then to make my long and thin so they cook faster.

vietnamese have two type of egg rolls, fried meat, and rice paper spring rolls


I actaully spent 30 mins trying to get my legs shaved this morning, so i could wear shorts, it is just way way too hot to be wearing jeans or long pants right now.
I am looking forward to the weather cooling down.

I think at my next appt I will ask to be put on modified bed rest due to the heat - this way i can work from home 2-3 days a week and only be exposed to the hot driving in/out of town (i drive 25 miles one way to work). It'll also save me on some money

[sarahelaine57]

Justine-I dont have the veins on my legs...well not that I can see that is, lol! But I know what you mean about the bending over, Dh has to tie my shoes now and every time I bend over I dont think the baby likes it because he gives me a good swift kick! On the crib I wonder how big of a space it is? If it is big enough for a little arm or leg to get caught in I would conside getting another matress or crib. It's probably not going to be an issue at first but as soon as the baby is moving it could be.

Christine-its amazing how they can be so active one minute and like a snap they are quiet again! Funny thing is that I notice if I lay on my left side he moves less, same with a cold drink...I read to try both of those things when he wasnt moving a lot last week and tried them but neither really worked...he does seem to like cranberry juice though! And your shaving story made me laugh, I had the same thing happen with clipping the toe nails, it took me forever and my belly kinda hurt after for a little while, the belly is getting in the way more and more! the kids at school know that I cant bend over to tie their shoes anymore so they have to sit in a chair next to me and always say, "Ms sarah your baby belly is in the way huh?" Its just too cute! I wish they could see the baby when he is born because its like they have been with me for my whole pregnancy so far and they are so caring and sweet about it!

DH finally got our pool all set up and go figure it is supposed to rain the next three days here, ugh!! But it will be nicer the end of the week and I have a feeling I am going to need to spend some time in the pool because it is my last week or work!! Wahoooooo! I am super excited to be done for the summer so I can get some things done, but first I have to get through the next three days with summer crazy kids!

[designdiva32]

Sarah I'm very jealous you have a pool! Where I live, close to inner-city Toronto, all the houses are so tiny and close together the only pool anyone could fit on their property would be one of those kiddies paddling pools. I grew up with a swimming pool in New Zealand though so I'm very jealous here. As soon as DH and I finally move away from Toronto (next year definately) if its to LA that will be one of my 'must haves' on the real estate list.

As for baby movements, I'm concerned I still wouldn't be able to count them if I had too. Seriously, he moves alot, but there are still hours when he doesn't move at all and others where he moves all the time. I'm hoping its just because he still has a fair amount of room in there as I'm tall. I would ask my OB but I don't see her for ages. Currently I'm only seeing her every 2 months, thanks to all these NST and u/s I keep getting sent too. Its meant she hasn't been able to see me until they are all complete.

Actually, I'm getting kind of annoyed at my OB now, by the time I do see her she moves to Australia a week later and I'm stuck with someone else. Unfortunately in Canada theres such a shortage of doctors I don't really have any choice who I get stuck with. I just hope all this doctor swapping doesn't leave Reed unmonitored with heart problems. Its very tempting right now to fly back to New Zealand to give birth.

[sarahelaine57]

Alana-I dont understand why she wouldnt see you on a regular basis, I am at the point where he is seeing me every three weeks now and after then next time I see him after this week I believe we move to two week intervals. I would think that because Reed might have heart issues (which I hope and pray he doesnt) that you would be more closely monitored. Sometimes the health care system just does not make sense! As for the movements I think they must have longer sleeping patterns than they did before because that is the way my little one is too, he will kick like crazy for an hour or so and then nothing for a couple of hours, its just crazy! It's so weird to see how far along our tickers are, just noticed that and it amazes me that we were just talking about getting through the first trimester it seems and here we are entering the third!

THe pool looks so nice but it is still cold and rainy so we will have to wait until the end of the week to use it, ugh! But our lot is a double so there is a lot of room even though we are in the town limits. Have a great monday ladies!

[designdiva32]

Oh, and I almost forgot, Jill do you know of any reasonably priced hotels in New York (downtown or somewhere close to everything) as we were going to be staying with DH's friend but I don't think we can now. Her spare bed is supposedly a lumpy futon, which won't work with my bad back, and shes in Queens which will mean lots of trips on the train or taxi, which my bladder won't cope with. Seriously, I need to pee every half an hour at the moment!

[designdiva32]

Originally Posted by sarahelaine57

Alana-I dont understand why she wouldnt see you on a regular basis

I don't understand it either. I think its the Canadian system, they are so bogged down with lack of doctors etc I actually know of a girl who didn't see an OB until she was over 7 months! She had not one u/s or check-up before then as no doctor would take her...its ridiculous!

I am worried about the lack of monitoring etc too. I know everyone will be doing the GD tests soon but I don't think my OB even does that. I actually have no idea what she does do, which is why I know I'm not missing much. The appointments with her have always been pointless. I'm more worried about the birth and Reed's heart than anything, I'm starting to wonder if we shouldn't be crossing the border to the US for proper medical care. Argh...maybe I'm just starting to freak out because its almost the 3rd trimester!

[charms]

Alana - I wish the Canadian System was much better! You could always come down to AZ and stay with us to have Reed! I heard that they are sending some women to the US to have their babies since there is no room in the hospitals either.

Yesterday was my brothers birthday - i cooked a ton of food and we had some friends over. just shortly after everyone left i layed in the bean bag and had two very nice contractions! Not sure if they were braxoton hicks or not coz i took my P17 shot and didnt have another one, also did my count and Aedyn was a little less active at 10PM. I didnt realized it was so late already.

It is gonna be another excessive heat warning day in good ole Phoenix - 113 to 117 today.

Not much else to report.....oh never did get to Aedyn's room this weekend, but we did get our hospital bag packed and it is sitting by the front door

[sarahelaine57]

That is just rediculous (sp?) to wait 7 months! I would have been a nervous wreck! Well it sounds like the u/s are showing that he is doing well so I am sure he will be born perfect! I feel the same way about the doctors visits at this point, I just go so I am that much closer to my u/s!

Christine-hope those contractions stay away! And I hope you are sitting in front of the ac and doing a whole lotta nothing! And aren't you prepared with your hospital bag! I haven't even gotten a bag to take stuff in yet!

[Celeste]

Alana - that stinks about how amazingly hard it is to see a doc. That is unfortunately, one of the problems with more socialized healthcare. It's starting to happen in this country too, due more to high malpractice insurance rates. There are almost no OB's in the entire state of Pennsylvania and that is becoming true of other states as well.
I am sure all will work out fine and that baby Reed will be happily in your arms in a couple of months!

Christine - I totally start having contractions after an active day. Yesterday we were very busy and I was fine all day until sitting in the car on the way home and I had 3 contractions in an hour. But they are not at all regular and not painful, albeit a bit uncomfortable. Braxton-Hicks I suppose... I hope the FFN test is ok, if it is negative you have like no chance of deilvering in the next 4 weeks!

I see my OB once a week now due to the cervical shortening. I will see her again tomorrow and hope that the cervical length is status quo.
And if it is, I think that I might finally get up the courage to do a little baby shopping...

[Justine]

Good luck on your appt tomorrow Celeste!

Christine-thanks so much for the recipe and hopefully you will be able to work from home soon.

As for the hard to reach areas: I'm dying to give myself a pedicure, but so hard to reach my toes I may have to have them done. It's a struggle to wash and moisturize my body in place, but I'm managing, so far.

[bellasmom318]

Justine, that's too funny, I'm having a hard time shaving my legs in the shower! And with it being summer I really can't let it go! I just got a pedicure on Saturday & was totally worth the money. I too cannot bend down to do this myself. Did you have a baby shower? That was one thing I got for one of my friends @ her shower - a gift certificate for a mani/pedi. Perhaps whisper that in someone's ear that it would be a nice mom-to-be gift!!

BTW, can someone assist me in uploading pictures? I can't think & am getting so frustrated that I can't figure it out!

I finally picked out bedding today! My mom said she would get for me instead of a baby gift - I gladly said "no problem"! And I think I got a deal on some furniture. I stumbled into a kids furniture store today that happens be trying to get rid of everything for some restructuring they're doing. My DH said to just get it as they did slash the prices pretty low & got an additional 10% off. Will take about 5-6 weeks, but that's ok since we're still working on the baby's room.

Hope everyone is doing well!

Jill

[fossie]

I too am having trouble with shaving - I have started shaving in the bathtub which works well but then getting out of the bathtub is a problem!!!

[charms]

it is almost time for DH to do the shaving duty - Thank goodness we bought an electric shaver

[bellasmom318]

I too have veins creeping around, actually from my 1st child. My dermatologist said to hold off on taking care of them if I want more children. They are getting worse with this pregnancy - the varicose veins hurt sometimes. But the spider veins are all over my right outer thigh of course for summer. I'm getting really self conscious about it.

Christine - I hope your contractions have subsided. That must freak you out a little. I had a few braxton hicks contract. a few weeks ago after doing some gardening. It scared me a little until I realized what it was. I have relatives in Glendale & Tucson, they have said the heat is pretty unbearable. Try to stay cool. Get one of those hand held misting fans. I have one for the beach & it's great.

Alana - I hope you're able to get a good doc after your OB leaves. That really stinks. I will ask my DH about some hotels in the city. If you want to be around all the night life I would suggest mid-town. Also check hotels.com & priceline.com. 2 Septembers ago my DH & I agreed to go on this tour of the Manhattan Club (time shares) just for the dinner gift certificate & hotel room @ the Helmsley Central Park. It was a beautiful hotel room overlooking the park. We took a carriage ride, went to Tao & a few other bars. We had a blast! It was our anniversary so we wanted to spend the night in the city. Are you staying for a long weekend - 3 nights? You may be able to get a better deal.

Celeste - hope all goes well with your appt. tomorrow. I really haven't done any baby shopping yet either. I finally looked @ furniture today!

Oh, check out this site about the snake found in a baby's crib. It was thought to come out of the crib mattress! Crib snake mom to sue mattress maker - UPI.com

Probably just a freak thing, but I looked @ mattresses today & got a little uneasy about buying one. Will have to get it soon, but I think I'll wait a few more weeks. Just inspect your mattress thoroughly, please.

Jill