Countdown to due date: 86 days
I have officially reached the third trimester. (Picture me fist bumping and shaking my booty here-I'd say jumping up and down but that would cause incontinence so I skipped it). I cannot believe in less than three months my little miss will be here. Time is flying by.
First I have to reflect that this time four years ago I was pregnant. I had found out just days ago, and was elated but scared. I was such a different person then than I am now. And even though it took quite a storm for me to be where I am today, I am thankful that I went through all that I did. Everything I went through lead me to this moment, where I am happily married with two beautiful daughters and another kicking around in my tummy. I never would have imagined I'd be in this place. I am so very humbled. This thanksgiving, when we gather around for our family prayer before we eat our meal, my heart will be bursting with thanks. I almost can't even describe the wholeness I feel right now.
I survived the dreaded "Glucose Tolerance Test" yesterday. This test can be done a few different ways and all pregnant women do it. But, the basic outline is: you have to fast (no food or drink for at least 8hrs), go to the lab in the morning, STARVING, and then get your fasting glucose level checked. After they confirm your hypoglycemic state, they give you this drink called "Glucola" which has either 50, 75, or 100 grams of glucose in it. Straight sugar liquid. I thought it tasted like sugary tang. You have to drink this drink (it's about two 8 ounce glasses) in 5 minutes. Then that sugary goodness hits your empty stomach and you feel like crap. You have to then sit in the lab (so they make sure you don't pass out) for an hour, and then they check your blood sugar again to make sure you tolerated the glucose. Some people then have to sit for ANOTHER hour and get a second check. I got the "low risk" version of the test so I only had to do 1 hour- thank God! I was starving. The only caveat is if I fail the short test I have to go back and do the long one. I didn't really get sick to my stomach, and a friend who works at the hospital sat and entertained me for the hour I had to sit there, so it wasn't horrible. But I was spaced out and starving by the end so I booked it to the coffee shop across the street and got breakfast. I then had a monster head ache so I headed home and took a nap. All in all it was pretty uneventful. And I will find out my result at my appointment next week.
Why they hell does the title of this say citrus? I feel like people are always asking me what I'm eating. what I'm craving. And for the past month its been anything citrus. I have been eating entire grapefruits for a snack, mandarins, drinking orange juice. It is all very good. My mouth gets sore though. Other than that I am addicted to anything pumpkin. This isn't that uncommon for me this time of year. I love pumpkin chai lattes from Starbucks, pumpkin pie, pumpkin creamer in my tea. Mmmm. Other than a significant want for nachos the other day that's been it. And yes, I held back on the nachos. You can't have everything.
As for baby girls room, haven't done a darn thing. I have bought a few items for it, but it needs painted, carpet cleaned, crib put together, etc. We will get there, I have faith. I have family flying in two weeks from now for an early Christmas, perhaps after that I'll have time to get going on it. It's not like she's going to come home from the hospital and demand to see her suite, after all.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
Saturday, November 9, 2013
Baby Registry Etiquette
Countdown to due date: 102 days
Now that I'm in the 25th week baby shower talk has begun. I am very lucky that I have people who have wanted to throw my shower since day one, and now that thought has materialized into needing a guest list, picking a venue, etc. It's very exciting. At the same time, it was just shy of two years ago when friends came together and threw me a "Shower for Sisters" when the girls came home. There were probably 35 people in attendance and the girls (and I) got tons of nice things from room decor, to toys, clothes and dishes to welcome them home. With this in mind, I initially declined a shower saying that I had already had my day in the spotlight. Some good friends who know how many things a tiny baby requires insisted I have a baby shower for this little miss.
Since about 12 weeks I have researched countless baby items to find the safest, most practical, and well reviewed baby gear so that when this time came I could make the best selections. This past week, armed with my research, a list, and a dear friend who has had two baby's we created the beginnings of my baby registry. It is a daunting task. I really tried to stick to things that I needed for the baby's first year. I didn't want to put too many things on the registry, but didn't want to skimp either. The hardest thing for me was registering for things that I know I'll need, but that are also expensive. Let me tell you, I am a bargain shopper, but there aren't many bargains with baby stuff.
So what do I do? Load up my registry with expensive items and hope for the best? I am finally realizing why in my years (and years) of going to baby showers people always end up with a mother load of blankets, towels, bath stuff, and clothes. This is the less expensive faire that everyone buys. I know that people cannot throw down 50-100 bucks on baby stuff for me. People have their own bills to pay and kids to clothe. The baby gear business is ridiculous. And they are making a killing.
Nonetheless I registered. I registered for all the things I feel like I need to have for baby girl. And I realize, that I will likely foot the bill for many of these items once the showers have finished and I am at home, off work, nesting and online shopping like crazy while I wait for her big debut. Again, I am very fortunate to have the people in my life that I do, and I know she will get plenty of what she needs from them and their generous hearts. I am just shocked at how pricey some items are. For example, I am very passionate about breast feeding. Because I will be returning to work when she is three months old, and only get three 10 minute breaks and one 30 minute break in my 12 hour day I need a good breast pump to drain the ol knockers at work. That pump, the one that seemed most practical, and came most highly recommended, is about 300.00 bucks. And that is not including the accessory pack I am going to need.
The car seat and stroller saga was another big fish to swallow. I wanted the infant car seat that would snap into a stroller so I could let her stay in her seat and sleep while I run errands, or cart her sisters around to t-ball or dance this spring. I really liked the BOB but was astonished by its almost 500.00 price tag just for the stroller. Britax makes a combo system for a bit cheaper that still felt easy to move and has very high safety ratings. I found it cheapest on amazon.com for 299.00. I did put it on my registry and its about 350.00. These are the types of things that either my family, or myself will have to buy.
I did find the famous bumbo seat on this online yard sale site I use for the girls clothes and other things for 10.00. This awesome seat sells for 50.00 usually, but I got it, cleaned it, and its good to go for little girl. This is how I plan to acquire some items. There is nothing wrong with pre-used in good condition so long as the item(s) can be cleaned.
As for the etiquette….I didn't really find any. Everything says to go ahead and register for what you want as long as you'll use it in the baby's 1st year of life. I don't know who these writers are, but they must have some rich friends. I still blush when I review my registry and look at the prices on some of those baby items. Oh well. I figure all she really needs initially is jammies, diapers, wipes, my boob, and some baby wash. The rest is just frosting.
Now that I'm in the 25th week baby shower talk has begun. I am very lucky that I have people who have wanted to throw my shower since day one, and now that thought has materialized into needing a guest list, picking a venue, etc. It's very exciting. At the same time, it was just shy of two years ago when friends came together and threw me a "Shower for Sisters" when the girls came home. There were probably 35 people in attendance and the girls (and I) got tons of nice things from room decor, to toys, clothes and dishes to welcome them home. With this in mind, I initially declined a shower saying that I had already had my day in the spotlight. Some good friends who know how many things a tiny baby requires insisted I have a baby shower for this little miss.
Since about 12 weeks I have researched countless baby items to find the safest, most practical, and well reviewed baby gear so that when this time came I could make the best selections. This past week, armed with my research, a list, and a dear friend who has had two baby's we created the beginnings of my baby registry. It is a daunting task. I really tried to stick to things that I needed for the baby's first year. I didn't want to put too many things on the registry, but didn't want to skimp either. The hardest thing for me was registering for things that I know I'll need, but that are also expensive. Let me tell you, I am a bargain shopper, but there aren't many bargains with baby stuff.
So what do I do? Load up my registry with expensive items and hope for the best? I am finally realizing why in my years (and years) of going to baby showers people always end up with a mother load of blankets, towels, bath stuff, and clothes. This is the less expensive faire that everyone buys. I know that people cannot throw down 50-100 bucks on baby stuff for me. People have their own bills to pay and kids to clothe. The baby gear business is ridiculous. And they are making a killing.
Nonetheless I registered. I registered for all the things I feel like I need to have for baby girl. And I realize, that I will likely foot the bill for many of these items once the showers have finished and I am at home, off work, nesting and online shopping like crazy while I wait for her big debut. Again, I am very fortunate to have the people in my life that I do, and I know she will get plenty of what she needs from them and their generous hearts. I am just shocked at how pricey some items are. For example, I am very passionate about breast feeding. Because I will be returning to work when she is three months old, and only get three 10 minute breaks and one 30 minute break in my 12 hour day I need a good breast pump to drain the ol knockers at work. That pump, the one that seemed most practical, and came most highly recommended, is about 300.00 bucks. And that is not including the accessory pack I am going to need.
The car seat and stroller saga was another big fish to swallow. I wanted the infant car seat that would snap into a stroller so I could let her stay in her seat and sleep while I run errands, or cart her sisters around to t-ball or dance this spring. I really liked the BOB but was astonished by its almost 500.00 price tag just for the stroller. Britax makes a combo system for a bit cheaper that still felt easy to move and has very high safety ratings. I found it cheapest on amazon.com for 299.00. I did put it on my registry and its about 350.00. These are the types of things that either my family, or myself will have to buy.
I did find the famous bumbo seat on this online yard sale site I use for the girls clothes and other things for 10.00. This awesome seat sells for 50.00 usually, but I got it, cleaned it, and its good to go for little girl. This is how I plan to acquire some items. There is nothing wrong with pre-used in good condition so long as the item(s) can be cleaned.
As for the etiquette….I didn't really find any. Everything says to go ahead and register for what you want as long as you'll use it in the baby's 1st year of life. I don't know who these writers are, but they must have some rich friends. I still blush when I review my registry and look at the prices on some of those baby items. Oh well. I figure all she really needs initially is jammies, diapers, wipes, my boob, and some baby wash. The rest is just frosting.
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