How far along? 24 w 1 d
Weight gained? Not sure. I am afraid to step on the scale.
Symptoms: Pain! In my hips, all the time. Also, I have no real concept of my new size, and keep bumping into things.
Wedding ring on or off? On, but really, really tight now. I don't think it'll make it all 9 mos.
Milestones? We have reached viability! Baby now has an excellent chance of survival if born pre-term
Birth plan? Natural, with an epidural escape clause if needed
Do you plan to breastfeed? If we can do it, then yes.
Cloth or disposables? It depends on if I'm working or not. We'd prefer cloth, but most daycares only take disposables
Mood? Stressed
First things first, I will post a photo of Enzo's blanket. We gave it to Leah and Glenn this weekend, and I think they liked it. :)
Okay, on to the current news ...
We are fast approaching our THIRD trimester! Holy moly. At about 6 months along, I am starting to get really stressed out about preparing for baby. I guess this is when I would normally start nesting, but everything feels so unsettled that I am just awake all night worrying about stuff, rather than getting ready for the baby in the normal nesting way.
Here are the top 5 things keeping me up at night (countdown from least stressful to most):
5) Prep Time / R&R - We have plans for every single weekend from now through the end of July, and I'm sure as time passes, weekends after that will get full, too. When will we get things done? We need to clean, organize baby stuff, change our electrical outlets, register for the shower, embroider valances, make a mobile, buy diapers, set up daycare, attend birthing classes, pre-register with the hospital, and do a million other things. When will we do these things? Most of them have to be done during work hours, and my work hours are jam packed right now. Also, we wanted to take a babymoon one weekend to rest and relax. I don't know if that can happen.
4) Baby stuff - We need to create our shower registry(ies), stat. I am trying to keep in my head all the things we need to register for, and I'm sure I will forget something crucial. I just need to start a list. Leah has been a great help by letting us know what she thought has been great for Enzo.
3) Daycare - We need to set up daycare, and NOW. We're on one waiting list for a place we really like that is close to home, but we need to be on every waiting list everywhere. I don't have time off work to go visit the places, and I don't have time during the workday to even call. The longer we wait, the less likely we'll be to secure a place. Possible solution: Make a list of places for Dean to call and visit. I think he is willing to help where he can.
2) Work - I HATE my job. I am the only person right now who does my job (2 colleagues with my same position quit) and I'm constantly worrying that I forgot to handle something or another. I'd love to quit when Hoagie comes, but I'm just not sure we'll be able to afford for me to quit. The thought of having to carry this workload plus take care of a baby just makes me want to sob uncontrollably.
1) Condo (or, Money) - My condo isn't selling, and we need it to sell. I can't pay that mortgage when the baby comes. Especially with only 66% of my salary coming in and a million doctors appointments to pay for, etc. Possible solution: Dean says if we don't sell this month, we can take it off the market, refinance, and get a management company to rent it out. Sounds like a good plan B, but I'd really love to have it off my hands completely and for good. And Plan B sounds like a hassle, and we only have 3.5 months to get this settled.
So that's all got me worried.
On the positive side, the embroidery pattern has finally arrived, and I started working on the valances last night. It looks *amazing* so far, and I am really excited about getting them done. Here's a pic of the patterns, all jumbled up (not what the valance will look like:
We start the Bradley classes this weekend. I hope we will learn a lot!
Brandon was 5 months old when we sold our condo in CT - which means there were 3 months after he was born where we were paying mortgage + rent in Virginia without my salary. Everything was okay. We found a way. (Spoiler alert: it involved some debt we are still slowly and regularly paying off.) But it was okay. And it will be okay for you guys, too. There are always solutions, even if they don't feel like the ideal solution. Big giant mommy hugs to you! Miss you bunches.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Teri. I had NO IDEA you guys went through that. Thanks for the words of encouragement. It's good to know someone else went through this. But I really want that place SOLD. Like, today.
ReplyDeleteLove the embroidery! It'll look so great in the nursery.
ReplyDeleteSome unsolicited advice:
Hip pain - I had awful hip pain (stupid relaxin) and kept thinking that it would get better so I put off doing anything and then it kept not getting better. One of things I put off was a hip support belt thing that is supposed to really help. I highly recommend trying it (or something) now and not being silly like I was.
Breastfeeding - check out the free classes at the Breastfeeding Center in DC or Greenberries in Annapolis. Make friends with the lactation consultants and don't just rely on the ones at the hospital. I've heard that they are great or awful or not there, basically just inconsistent.
Baby stuff - you will not forget anything crucial. You won't even need most of that stuff for weeks or months. All you need is a crib, carseat, some dipes, and your boobs. Maybe an outfit or two. Baby stuff should not be a source of stress. Skip the shopping and sleep or watch movies. Seriously. This is why you have friends and family. We'll bring you the emergency exersaucer or sophie the giraffe.
Love to you, Dean, and Hoagie!
More unsolicited advice:
ReplyDeleteRe: Breastfeeding - My experience was exactly what Colleen described. I had five different consultants at the hospital, ranging from very helpful to very frustrating. The biggest thing I wish someone had told me is that it can be painful in the beginning...Bran latching on hurt for at least six weeks. I feel like the classes I took and the consultants I talked to all sort of skipped over that point, which would have helped a lot. Also, when my milk came in we pumped and fed him with a bottle for a few days since my melon-boobs were impossible for him to drink from. And that was okay, too. As with everything else, give yourself some breathing room and try not to put too much pressure on yourself. You and Hoagie will learn together.
And, yes, sleeping and watching movies should be a lot of what you do now...Hoagie will have different ideas of fun!