Baby Stuff!

[CohenCottage]

Well, I thought it would be a good idea to start a baby thread so that I didn't hijack the projects one completely!

Thanks so much for all the well wishes and support! I really appreciate it :D I'm so glad that baby c is going to have so many aunties! I will be sure to take lots of pictures and keep track of what's happening so that I can go back and remember later. It's been really fun to internet surf for baby stuff!

We just painted the guest room (aka nursery) a gray/blue color with a lighter shade of the same color on the ceiling. I think that will work pretty well for either a girl or a boy, so at least we won't need to repaint. I'll post some pictures of the room this weekend so y'all can start planning :)

I'm thinking about one of those Stokke oval cribs b/c it has wheels, takes up less floor space, and converts from a bassinet to a crib to a toddler bed. Have any of you ladies ever seen one like that? I thought the wheels would be especially good b/c we could just wheel the crib out of the nursery when we need it to be a guest room.

We are also going to use cloth diapers...so many cute covers out there! If you want to die of baby rabies check out www.greenmountaindiapers.com

Ok, here is one of my biggest questions:

-When did you tell people? Did you wait until the end of the first trimester or just after 8 weeks or so?

Also, what baby stuff did you get and love and what stuff did you get and not use?

[annielinz]

The room color sounds perfect for either sex.

Since my "baby" is 22 I have no recent memories of what the hip thing for new mommies are. The crib shape sounds incredible tho since it converts to a toddler bed. Regarding telling folks....I think I waited till almost the first trimester to tell people. My Mom guessed before I told anyone :)

[ChapterTwo]

Congrats on your wonderful news!

As soon as the doctor confirmed what the pregnancy test told us, I told everyone...this must have been about 7 weeks or so. I never regretted it.

[CohenCottage]

Here is that link to the crib we are considering (http://www.stokke-nursery.com/en-us/stokke-sleepi-crib/product-details.aspx)

I like the gray and the white! What do y'all think? They are kind of weird looking but they fit through a standard doorway...

[RoseMary]

I love the way that crib looks. Sounds like a very neat thing to have and it will be in use longer than the average crib.

We told everybody as soon as we knew with our first pregnancy:D.

[shabbychick]

I think that crib is a stupendous idea! It looks like a great investment. Congratulations on your pregnancy! I've never had children, so I will be of absolutely no use to you on that front (though as a librarian, I can recommend some good books to get your baby started on a nice little library of his or her own!).

[Heather]

I was told 12 weeks before letting the news out. My 12 weeks was up on April Fools Day and because my husband (only boyfriend then..) worked in the same industry, alot of people knew us. We told our co-workers respectively that April Fools morning and that was so fun! The phone calls were flying, people trying to figure out if it was the truth or not - it was a good laugh!

[Lynzee]

Congratulations, Cohen! :D

If I remember correctly--my youngest is 29--we told everyone as soon as we knew each time.

The crib is so sweet. And I think the room colors will be perfect!

Oohhhhhhh...this is so exciting. A baby! :D

[yarborough house]

Lets see on #1 I told when the doctor confirmed.
On # 2 the same.
For #3 and 4 pretty much everyone knew when we did as we did IVF- they just didn't kinow how many till later.

I am excited..
The one thing I used the most with the last two - other than diapers and bottles was the carrying aparatus that hooks to your body to carry them around in. I would recommend the Bjorn as they are definitely more comfortable and less strain on your back. They can be pretty pricey but there are tons out there used that are in great condition.

Other wise the basics- crib, stroller, carseat, lots of gowns for the beginning- even on the boy as it is much easier to change a diaper - you just push it up and then pull it back down(less stress on baby). Lots of bottles.

Are you breastfeeding or formula?

[CohenCottage]

That's hysterical about telling people on April Fool's day Heather! That will be when I hit 12 wks too, so we might steal your idea. I want to tell my mom and friends now, but I don't really want to tell my in-laws. I just want to show up at my in-laws with a baby even though I totally know that is unrealistic!

Tammy - Were #3 and 4 twins? My step sister has twins that are 2 (from IVF) and my sil and bil have twins (no fertility treatments). I can't imagine how much work that would be. I'm all about the baby-wearing slings and carriers. We've been baby sitting for our neighbor's newborn and it's so nice to be hands free. I'm planning on exclusively breast-feeding for as long as I can.

ShabbyChick - I will definitely love advice on great children's books!

[Heather]

When we wanted to tell my parents we went over there and Hubby (still just boyfriend then...) dressed head to toe in hockey gear - on the outside of his clothes. He was sweating buckets and "hid" behind me when we told them. He pretended to cringe and then accept blows from my Dad. It was hugs and congratulations all around and we knew it would be like that - we just wanted to make it fun and memorable!

[vintage girl]

I love those cribs. I also think the colors of the walls will be perfect and so sophisticated for a boy or girl. The things I used the most were the carrier that Tammy mentioned, along with stroller and binky (pacifier). The one thing I tried and absolutely hated was cloth diapers. No matter what I tried, my daughter was always wet. I waited until the beginning of my second trimester before I told anyone. I also used a baby monitor and I loved it, and my daughter loved her windup swing and her little rolling playseat. She rolled all over the house in it. My daughter is 19 now, so I know that there have been a lot of innovative things invented since she was a baby. I loved being pregnant and I truly feel there is no greater joy than a baby. I loved my daughter when she was just a "thought", but had no idea the depth of that love until I held her in my arms for the first time. There have been ups and downs over the years, the terrible two's, the hormonal joys of the teen years:rolleyes:,and now the joy of seeing her grow into a lovely young woman and her own person. The journey goes so much faster than you can imagine. Enjoy and embrace each moment:)

[yarborough house]

Ditto what vintage said- it does go so fast.
My first was just a single baby.
My second was identical twins - boys but I lost one due to twin-to-twin transfusion at 20 weeks. That is one twin is getting all the nutrition because they share a cord and one just doesn't thrive. Bad part as they were identical I had to carry and deliver both..yuck.
Anywho- the third -boy was 4 embryos implanted and twins till about 10 weeks then one. And princess was 5 embryos implanted and twins till 9 weeks.

I would have loved twins and for my second he really needed it. He has some issues to this day with being alone and stuff. He did not sleep well at all when born and had big eating/allergic problems. We tried to get him to sleep but he would sleep in only 2 hour spurts - he always woke himself up thrashing his right arm around. His pediatrician went back and looked at all my ultrasounds- since I had to carry -the demised twin- that is what they called the one I lost. They had to check blood and do an ultrasound every 7 days to check and make sure the demised twin was not going toxic and would hurt Jon or me..so anyway she went back over all his ultrasounds and said she knew what his sleeping problem was. She said in all his ultrasound pictures he always had his right hand on his twins head so that is why he thrashed around - he was looking for him. She recommended we put a doll in his crib. And lucky for me I still had my cabbage patch kid from when I was a kid- it worked but it was sad all the same.
That was the hardest pregnancy and why I had my tubes tied right after delivery. So, hence the IVF for the last two.
Had we not had such a long time trying to figure out why the tubal reversal didn't work and there was 8 years between number 2 and 3 I figure I'd have about 6 kids by now.
Jeez not mormon or catholic - just love being a mom.
tammy

[memmey]

Oh my I can't offer any information. I had 1 and only 1 at 33 years old. Yar you can surely be the one to advise a new Mom. Oh I wish we could all have coffee/tea together I would love to hear the whole story of your babies, sooo interesting.

I can say that I had only one and my nephew told me after I delivered Emil ,"Mem I could hear you hollering down the hall" *L*

I needed to have others because Emil got the undiluted Mom/me. He has a little twitch...he inherited it from me or I gave it to him . LOL
I just know I love my little baby and now he is 25. Emil's family nickname is Johnny Danger.He has always been an "extreme sport" sort of guy.
It is a family joke to say " Some people brag becasue their child graduated from LSU.... I just come back with" how nice"... my son repelled off the parking garage downtown, and didn't get arrested.:cool:
I gave up trying to put this wonderful round peg into a square hole. He lives in Austin and is a racing bicycle mechanic.
I shoulda had a few more.......:rolleyes:

[yarborough house]

Ahh Memmy my hubby would love your son. My hubby is a UT grad and loves Austin but he loves bikes better. Bicycles - he races them as an old guy now in his 40's. He did the "hotter-ne-hell" bike race in Wichita Falls twice..weirdo thought it was fun to race a bike 100 miles in August with temps above 105 and do it all in one day. I say -man they invented cars you weirdo. :)

[CohenCottage]

Tammy - I'm so sorry that you lost one of your twins, but glad you were able to have a healthy pregnancy with your other son. So far I don't feel any different, which is good, but it's hard to remember that I'm really pregnant.

I just called to make my first prenatal appointment at the midwives office. It's just bloodwork and meeting with a social worker, etc. so nothing too exciting.

[memmey]

:D:D We will never forget and you have 9 months of us asking you everyday about it! I forgot to ask is this your first or did you tell us that already?:)

Yar, I can see now that you feel my angst.... bicycles.... not regular bicycles. I would interested to know what your husband has spent on that racing bike? Emil built one the other day for a guy that was $7000.

CC I'm stealing your baby thread...sorry I'll move this discussion later to another thread. We can call it "Why I worry about eminent injury happening to my kid/husband."....on a bicylce.

[CohenCottage]

yes, memmey - it is our first, so we are pretty excited. and no worries i love bicycles too. dh and i met at a mountain bike trail head. while both wearing spandex.

[cheapdiva]

any contraption to carry a child is a necessity!!! front packs, back packs, umbrella stroller, buggy, bike carrier (they didn't have those when my kids were little - they had to be big enough to go into a seat behind you). I'd avoid a changing table - get a dresser that you can use a pad on. Changing tables are quickly outgrown.

As for the crib . . . unless you are planning on spacing kids several years apart so by the next baby the first can go into a regular bed, you'll end up buying another crib or youth bed. My daughter was going to buy one of those "grow with the baby cribs" until I pointed out to her that she'd have to spread those kids out at least 3 years. She had her second child 1 year 3 days after the first and she was glad she didn't do the "growing crib". She did put the 2nd baby in a bassinet and then moved the first child into a youth bed at about 18 months.

Do what YOU feel good about. Every parent thinks their ideas are the best!

[CohenCottage]

CheapDiva, I'm in the "window shopping" phase I think. I've been looking at lots of slings b/c i despise lugging around those infant carriers, and the one I borrowed from my neighbor made it so easy to cook dinner and do stuff hands-free. Yesterday I spent a good while researching breast pumps (exciting I know). Cloth diapers, wool diaper covers, glass bottles, and other "crunchy" things have been keeping me occupied while interweb surfing too.

Thanks for the tip about the crib/youth bed dilemma for closely spaced children. This will most likely be our only child, and if it isn't then I'm a big fan of spacing your kids out at least 3 years, so it shouldn't be an issue as long as we don't have an oops.

[CohenCottage]

Ok Tammy, I've got a question for you...When should you buy maternity bras? My current bras are worn out and not fitting properly anyway, and my plan had been to go get re-fitted for some new ones this week or next. Now I'm thinking that any new bras I buy should be maternity/nursing bras so I have the chance at more wears for them. I'm worried my boobs are going to go nuts and I'll have to keep buying bras. I already wear a 34 E, so it's not like I can go get bras at Target or get away with ill-fitting ones.

[memmey]

Ok girls this harmless conversation is gonna send the spammers into nirvana.
The freaks dream of a conversation like this on the forum. PM so they won't go nuts over these posts. I don't think they get the same "charge" over paint and curtains.......:rolleyes:

[cheapdiva]

hahahahahahahahhaha Mem!!!

Good luck, CC with this one. You'll be multiple sizes between now and nursing time (and probably will find you may need 2 sizes then).

[Lisa S]

I can't believe I missed this thread until now! Congratulations!

Babies are wonderful with a little scary thrown in. My kids are 16, 10 and 8. I love my kids and wish I had 5 or 6 more, but being a new mother was overwhelming and difficult for me. I remember feeling that motherhood was easy for everyone else. I never heard anyone say it was hard for them and I felt like a complete failure. So let me say it: Motherhood is hard! Let people help you. Enjoy each moment (because as the Aunties here say: it passes so quickly). Don't worry about the little things like clean teeth or clean floors. Embrace the chaos. It doesn't last forever.

When my neice was born a few months back, I cried when I smelled the top of her head. There is nothing like the smell of a baby. I told my kids that they had a kiss magnet on their heads.

My husband and I still say things like "grocey door" for grocery store and "dumb heepo" for Home Depot. You're at the very beginning of building your family and what could be better than that? Where did those tears come from?

I'm thrilled for you!

[CohenCottage]

okay, i know we are jumping the gun a bit since i haven't even had an ultrasound yet. the oval stokke crib that i wanted was posted on craigslist in atlanta last night, so i emailed the poster. she emailed me this morning and told me to come see it this afternoon. i couldn't go, but my sweet hubby went for me and came home with the whole shebang. the crib, bassinet and toddler bed conversion kit, canopy, mattresses, and two sheets. all of this stuff would have been over $1800 new, and we got it all for $650. such a good deal! here

[yarborough house]

That is an awesome deal. And I am sure it is well built. So, good money spent. Nothing like having a kid standing in a crib shaking it wanting out and it falls apart - the cheap ones do that :)

bra's- it is true..i wouldn't buy any nursing ones now as you will grow and get a bit bigger after the baby- so buy some very supportive ones now and then you can spend on the nursing ones later. Sorry I replied to that later than sooner- must have missed it.

Any color choices yet? Themes or such?
this is so exciting. And Lisa was dead on with the baby smell..there is nothing like it in the world. I still can almost smell it in memory when I hold one of my kids close and smell their head. It is the most amazing scent and one that you will never forget and always miss.
Yeah where are these tears coming from?

[CohenCottage]

yes, it's very sturdy and has excellent safety ratings. the bottom of my poor hubby's crib fell down with him in it when he was little! we should be able to resell it for the same price when we are done with it too. they really hold their value! what do y'all think of the canopy? one of my friends said she thought it looked like it belonged on the baby jesus' crib!

no decisions yet on color (other than the wall color), but we did order the cabinets to put on either side of the windows to make the "built ins". they are in and we pick them up tomorrow night.

i went with my friend to get fitted for bras, and i got 3 good sturdy ones that have some stretch that will fit for awhile. also got an athletic one and a sleeping one (that is for nursing too). my new size is ridiculous. i'll give you a hint without attracting spammers. a b c d e f G!!!!:(

[annielinz]

Cohen that crib is perfect, exactly what you wanted and such a deal!

Regarding the girls, as big as your feel now....just wait till the nursing begins, OY, can you say MOOOOO.

[Lynzee]

You got a great deal, CC! That crib is precious! And I love the canopy. It is going to be so sweet!

[shabbychick]

I like the canopy. I don't think the baby Jesus had a canopy in the manger.

[cheapdiva]

baby smell . . . it's like they are born with the smell of baby powder coming out of their lovely little pores. I sooooo miss that - time for another grandkid! And Lisa is right - many mothers feel helpless or hapless, that's normal. And it doesn't have to be post partum stuff . . . it can be tough.

I try to give new parents the gift of babysitting or bringing a couple of meals as opposed to things. Ask for meals, cleaning help, a night out, etc. I had no family around with any of my kids and would have loved someone to offer some of these things instead of gifts. So ASK for help or don't turn it down!! And let's hope someone invents a perfume that smells like new babies!:p

[annielinz]

Saw this on a blog and thought of you Cohen.
Love the wall pediment and the alphabet.

[CohenCottage]

Thanks Mary Ann! That's a great photo. I love the changing table too...

[yarborough house]

I bought a changing table for the first child and never used it at all.
On the others I used an antique dresser that I had and put a changing pad on top with a shelf to hold wipes and such. It was so much better as it could be used for space storage and it looked better.

[CohenCottage]

ok, y'all may think i'm crazy for asking this but i need to poll the audience.

do you think it is worth $60 to find out the sex of the baby a full month before i would normally find out at my midwife's office? there are lots of places in atlanta that do those elective 3D/4D ultrasounds, and they also do sex determination as early as 15 wks (that's a little under 2 weeks away). they send you home with photos and video to email and give to people, and they let you peek at a 3D ultrasound to see facial features, etc.

[Gigi]

Sixty dollars? Really only if it's really worth every penny of that to find out. BUT how exciting it would be NOT to find out! Now (dating myself) ~ that's the way it use to be...

Such an exciting time for you! Hugs.....

[yarborough house]

Naaa save the 60 bucks and use it later on to get that same ultrasound so you can visably see that baby suck it's thumb, see their chubby cheeks, and precious toes. Fortuantely or not with me being high risk each time I got tons of ultrasounds but my fave were the 3D ones..save the money and see the little one when they have something worthwile to see besides a penis or not. :) Just my opnion

Hey what colors are the baby's room again? any pics of bedding? you know we need to know to work on a baby gift - duh.

[Heather]

I'd probably pay the $60 and find out but then again I'm the kind of person that snoops for Christmas presents.

[CohenCottage]

Me too Heather! And I HATE surprises... I totally respect people that have the patience to wait to find out, but I am not one of those people :)