[eggy]

The Baby Bargains book came highly recommended to me. I was told it analyzes all sorts of products -- low end to high end, and gives great info on what is the best product (and not necessarily the most expensive), what is the best value, etc. I'm definitely going to pick one up this week!

Originally Posted by infertilitynovice

Chandra ~ I really like that Graco pattern. I was looking at that one yesterday (even though I don't know what we're having yet).

I feel like I'm going blind looking at all this stuff...trying to analyze safety reports, fashions, functions, etc...Does anyone know a good source for this type of info? Anyone have the Baby Bargins book? If so, does it have this type of info in it?

Any help would be appreciated.

[eggy]

Has anyone here started taking prenatal yoga? I've been doing pilates (which I love) but my instructor changed her schedule, so I won't be able to go as much. Accordingly, I'd like to find another exercise activity to supplement cardio stuff. Anyway, if anyone has started with the yoga, let me know what you think.

[eggy]

So quiet out there! How are you all doing? Any big appointments this week? Any new physical developments? What are ya'll eating?

I've got a regular OB appointment in about an hour -- with an ultrasound, so I'll tolerate the getting on the scale part.

[Leah00]

I have an appointment on Thursday for an ultrasound! Hopefully my little sister will get to go.

I've been having some major family problems this past week and I haven't been sleeping well... *sigh* I'm trying not to get too stressed, but that's freaking impossible.

[eggy]

Exciting about the ultrasound, Leah, though I am sorry to hear about your family problems. I hope everything gets better for you. Either way, you can vent to us!

Originally Posted by Leah00

I have an appointment on Thursday for an ultrasound! Hopefully my little sister will get to go.

I've been having some major family problems this past week and I haven't been sleeping well... *sigh* I'm trying not to get too stressed, but that's freaking impossible.

[tamarie]

I have to admit I've been completely lazy since getting pregnant. I keep saying I'm going to go walk but it's so freakin' hot outside here in Florida, I just want to lay on the sofa with the AC on. I did look into a prenatal yoga class but I never actually went. When I asked my Dr about it he said that soon I'm not going to feel like doing anything but resting which is what will be more important. He's my perinatologist and I think he's just expecting twins to be harder on me.

My complaint lately is the round ligament pain. OMG - it can really hurt sometimes. Luckily it doesn't last long. Anyone else experiencing it?

Have fun with the u/s today, ladies!

[infertilitynovice]

Originally Posted by eggy

The Baby Bargains book came highly recommended to me. I was told it analyzes all sorts of products -- low end to high end, and gives great info on what is the best product (and not necessarily the most expensive), what is the best value, etc. I'm definitely going to pick one up this week!

Thanks for the info Eggy. I thought that might be a book I would want, now I know I need to go to Borders or B&N and check it out in person now.

I haven't started the Yoga yet, but I really want to. I had always planned to wait til now anyways. I figure I'll look into it this week and figure out what their schedule is. I think this is something I really need. I've had terrible sciatica (not so much since my massage, but it still hits every now and then), my RLS is about to drive me to absolute hysterics (though I don't know if Yoga will help with that or not...anything is worth a try), and now I've got this strange, dull, achy kind of feeling on my left side around my rib area (not so comfortable).

I hope your OB and US appt goes well. How neat to see the baby again at this stage? Little one should be all over the place. Is this your anatomy scan, or just a reg appt? I'm sorry, I've lost track again.

Leah ~ I'm sorry to hear that you've got some family issues right now. I know it is hard, but try to remember that whatever is going on in your family is not as important as what is going on inside your body right now. If it helps (I don't mean to dimenish whatever is going on with you at all...just adding a little perspective and let you know you are SOOO not alone!) my wonderful husband's lack of financial sense and terminal procrastination has landed us (really him since this came before me, but since I'm married what effects him effects me) in a heap of trouble with the IRS (owing more money than I can really fully understand) AND (yes, it gets worse) the house he shared with his exwife (that he never disolved in the divorce EIGHT years ago) will be forclosed on any day now. It doesn't affect the house we're in now, but basically it means we'll never be able to move again and buy another house without having to pay out the WHAZOO in our interest rate. What I really want to do is completely freak out, but that won't help our situation, my marriage (that man is SOOO lucky I love him so much!), or my growing child. Though things look very bleak for us right now, I have to take care of me and this baby, and I have to have faith that it will be okay in the end. It may take years and we'll have to empty the 401K and start saving for retirement all over again, but when I'm old and looking back on my life, I have to believe that this will be a small blip on my screen of life, whereas the fact that I got to be a mom will not. (Clearly, I'm having one of my better days today...LOL...I'm not always this calm about it). I hope whatever is going on in your family will work itself out soon.


So, have I mentioned that I'm SURE that I'm feeling the baby now? I can't remember if I've already mentioned this, but it is just awesome! The movements that I'm feeling are still quick and light, but they're there nonetheless.

How's everyone sleeping? I wake for EVERYTHING (the cat on the bed, the dog snoring, no reason at all even)! I'm going to the bathroom 2x/night...it's driving me crazy!

I still haven't gained any weight yet. I saw my doctor about 2 or 3 weeks ago and they didn't seemed worried. Should I be? What do you all think?

[hopefull79]

I too have been totally lazy throughout my pregnancy. I've walked a time or two, but that's about it. It's really hot here in Arkansas as well, and honestly, I just don't feel like it!! Really bad excuse, I know!! I go to a regular check up next week, then on the 26th is the anatomy scan!! Woo-hoo!!!
One of the doctors I work with is constantly harassing me about wanting to give me an u/s up at work so we can find out the gender, but I swore to DH I wouldn't find out without him. Sigh. I want to know so bad!! I'm proud that I've fought the temptation to find out without him there, it just really mean a lot to him that we find out together. I think it's sweet.
So have any of you already bought your furniture? I'm thinking about going ahead and ordering it, mainly because just a week ago one of the pieces was out of stock. I don't want to wait a month and then not be able to get everything that I want.
Good luck to those of you with appointments this week, please let us know how it goes!!!

[Sweetpea]

Infertilitynovice-If your doctor isnt worried about it, I wouldnt worry either. Thats so exciting about feeling your baby kick!! Its so fun to be able to have that connection in pregnancy. After DS was born, I really missed feeling him kick from inside. (he was a sweet kicker, not a hard kicker)

on Yoga-The only excersize I do right now is walking. I go w my neighbor in the mornings for an hour. we go really fast, and I love it. I think its because i love my neighbor!! she's so great. I like to excersize outside, and need a change of scene while Im doing it not to get bored (Im really a runner during non pregnancy). I should see if my son would "so yoga" w me.

Tammy-I feel SO lazy too! And I hate that r.l. pain. I cant imagine what you must be feeling w two!

Leah00-sorry to hear about family problems. Hoping for the best for you. hang in there! good luck at your ultrasound. I wish one of my sisters lived nearby. Hope you guys have a fun time.

Chandra-G for Giles is the cutest thing Ive ever heard. I love that pattern! Right now Im leaning toward graco too-for price reasons alone. The whole line is so much more affordable. And it comes in SO SO many patterns. (although in the end Ill probably end up going w the charcoal plain one, bc I like plain. (I know thats totally boring.) yeah, and youre right, I should post pics. I guess I need DH to do it, bc he's the only one around here who knows how to get pictures to post on this site. I keep thinking maybe Ill just post a link to my blog, bc at least I know how to post pics on that.

Eggy-thanks for your response. Thats a good point. Its how many babies w a certain name that are within your circles that makes the difference. And its funny-I know several Sophies, and Sophias too. Its a cute name, but at some point when person after person keeps telling me that this is there new baby, Sophie (or Hannah, for that matter) I'm going to reach a limit, break down and just say "Oh my gosh! ANOTHER???!?"

[Leah00]

My 13 year old sister lives with my mom (my dad and brothers live in Florida) and she's really unhappy because my mom's husband is a drunk a**hole. He is super controlling with my sister (even though he's only been married to my mom for 2 years) and my mom has no say in what happens. He can say whatever he wants to my sister and my mom just stares at the floor. Sometimes when it gets really bad my mom can't take it anymore and will simply leave for a few hours, leaving my little sister alone with the guy yelling at her.
This has been building up and up and my sister told me that if we weren't already going to have a baby, she'd like to live with us. I told her that there will always be room for her here with me... So she told mom and she said that she could and that if that would make her happy then ok. Then of course my mom told her husband and he freaked. He screamed at my sister and told her that she was a worthless ungrateful brat and if she left he'd kill her puppy.... My sister called me sobbing last night. Mom of course changed her mind after talking to her husband and said that my sister couldn't leave.
I talked to my sister later that night and everyone was calmed down and talking about it. My sister was open about everything that she doesn't like there and as of last night everything was "fine".
Nothing is going to change. My mom is supposed to call me today to talk about all this and I'm sure it's going to turn into a big fight.
I want to call my dad and tell him what's going on but I don't think it will help and it will just upset him.

[Sweetpea]

ok, so we're broadening our name pool again.

Here is our pool. Tell me what you think.

Carina
Sarina
Charolotte
Sabrina

middle
still chloe

Do people still like Charlotte best?

[infertilitynovice]

Leah ~ That is an awful situtation! What I'm about to ask is something most people don't talk about, but, ummm...has it occured to you that your stepfather might be messing with your sister? Perhaps, I'm a little hypersensitive to this type of thing, but it occurs so much more than it is reported. I'm asking because this man's reaction to her leaving is HIGHLY suspicious. He sounds like an obsessed lover, rather than a stepfather (though clearly he is no example for a step-parent). Has she ever said anything that would make you think that something, beyond his obvious verbal and emotional abuse, was going on? Too often moms close their eyes to what is going on, even blaming their children for the problems in the house sometimes. I really do understand that this is a sensitive subject, and I hope I'm totally off base, but I felt I had to say this since you explained more about the situtation.

Could she find a friend to take her dog? It doesn't sound like that's a safe environment for it anyways. Perhaps, because of the situation, you could get some numbers of a some rescue shelters in her area and see if one of them will take the puppy?

I sincerely hope this works out in your sister's favor as soon as possible.

[Sweetpea]

Leah, Hate to say it, but I have the same concern. And, you know, even if he's not "messing w her" it sure does sound like verbal abuse, and lets not kid ourselves-thats just as bad.
I'm sorry you're caught in the middle of such a hard situation. I wish your mom sounded like a stronger person. She's the one who should really be responsible here. That leverage w the puppy is so silly. The dog is worth so much less in the long run, than your sister's well being. What a manipulative man. You should tell your sis not to compromise a healthy and happy future to "save" her puppy. He might need a new home.
I just noticed that you're young. Do you think that your sister coming to live w you would work out? When I was 24 we werent really set up to help somebody else out in that way, longterm, and have a baby at the same time. Now, at 27, I would still be unsure. Are there other relatives she feels comfortable w? Good luck. Ill be hoping for the best. Keep us posted.

on a separate note_ I just noticed you guys took fertility blend and it worked for you. Ive heard great things about that stuff. What was your experience? How long were you on it, etc? Our inf. is unexplained and I wish I would have tried it. I still might next time, before using our frozen embryos.

[eggy]

Wow! Lots of action on here while I was out.

Leah- I'm so sorry to hear about your family situation. It sounds like you are an amazing sister -- I can only imagine how wonderful a mother you will be!

Tammy- Um, you are carrying twins. Lying on the couch with the a/c on is NOT lazy. It's brilliant.

Melissa- I wake up for everything, too. I am constantly moving around in bed. And I wouldn't worry about the lack of weight gain if your doctors are not concerned. (Frankly, I'm a little envious!)

Marie- I love the name Sabrina (which is also on our list, but which we probably won't use because my husband prefers other names). Any reason for broadening the pool? Of course, there's no reason not to. We've got tons of time. Why not play around with names until you're beyond certain? Still, Charlotte remains my favorite on your list.

So... I had my OB appointment today. Really, I can't say enough good things about my doctor. I am so glad I found her! The ultrasound was great -- baby's heart rate is 150, and arms and legs looked good (the mere appearance of the limbs is a comfort to me). Of course, I have a very demure child who would not open her/his legs! At one point, we got a tiny peek and my OB is leaning toward it being a girl, but is in no way certain of that. Because we did not have a clear view, I was cautioned not to paint the room pink yet. And so it goes -- AGAIN. My anatomy scan is a week from Wednesday, so hopefully we'll have positive news on the health front and definitive info about gender.

Meanwhile, I've been slightly concerned about my blood pressure, which has been running on the high side of normal at these appointments. Today was no different. It was 138/58 at the very beginning of the appointment. My OB decided to try it again after the ultrasound, and sure enough, it dropped down to 119/65, which is right on the money! Admittedly, my non-pregnant bp is generally even lower than that, but both the OB and I were thrilled that there was no real problem -- just nerves! So now her nurse will take my blood pressure at the end of my appointments for a more accurate reading. So crazy!

As for weight gain, I'm up another two pounds since my last appointment three weeks ago. According to my doc's records, I've gained 10 pounds so far (though by my account, it's a bit more). I'm not thrilled about the poundage, but she says it's on target and that everything looks great. I guess I should get over it. After all, I'm just so glad that the baby is doing well so far....

[GEwifey]

Leah-It does sound suspicious that he would get so upset about her wanting to leave, if he's always yelling at her when she's around, you would think he would be happy for her to leave the house. Your mom needs to put her husband in his place, he has no business talking/yelling at your sister like that. Could your mom possibly be scared of her husband? When your mom leaves she needs to take your sister with her. I hope you guys come to a resolution about the situation soon.

Marie-I'm still stuck on Charlotte, but I also like Carina. IMO, Charlotte Chloe just sounds better to me than Carina Chloe.

Melissa-As far as sleeping, I get up 2-3 times a nite to go potty, and every once in a while, I don't get up at all, but then I wake up when DH gets up which is anywhere from 3:30-4:30 am, depending on his work schedule, and I can't go back to sleep, and I normally don't get up until 5:45 or 6am. But now since the boys are on summer vaca, & I don't have to drop them off, if I can't go back to sleep then I'll just go to work early.

Tammy-Ligament pain sucks, I really don't remember it being this bad with my other pregnancies. I keep telling myself it has to be because little Ashtyn is not measuring so little length wise. Everyone that knows DH, he's 6'4, keeps asking me am I ready to have a 6'0 tall baby...LOL

We changed our crib, we're buying a new bedroom set, cherry wood, and since the baby will be rooming with us, we decided to do the crib in cherry also. I think everything would look nicer if all the furniture was similar in color. The only thing is I may have to order it now instead of waiting until next month, every place I checked says it's either backordered or out of stock.