Hellobee Boards

@AprilFool: two adorable choices!

@coopsmama: Omg, I'm sorry -- my dad had shingles a few years ago and I know how miserable it is. I hope it passes quickly for you and they can offer you options to ease your discomfort!

@ShootingStar: ahhhh, that outfit is so, so sweet!

@AprilFool: unicorns outfit is from Hanna Andersson! they're expensive but having been having sales. not sure if their international shipping is reasonable because they're Swedish?
@MRSWHIT1: omg, those headbands are so funny and cute.
@pregnantbee: I LOOOOVE your hummingbirds, you must be excited to be getting girl stuff this time!
and @MrsSCB: the trees are so placid and sweet, that is going to be adorable on.
@agold: agh, flamingos make my heart sing--is that from HA too? the other one is great as well. I read on lucie's list or somewhere that those kimono tops are nice and accommodating for the belly button stump.

@ShootingStar: this is great to know about sizing, thanks!

I bought my outfit in NB, but then was doing another order and saw it on mega-mega-sale and got it in their next size up, too. going to bring them both along. I also got 88 NB pampers swaddlers, and a larger box of size 1's. I guess I'll return the NB stuff if he's huge. and @agold: agree, my husband and I are tall and I have always had womanly farm animal birthing hips, but I have literally said god help me that I don't have a 10-lb baby more than a few times

@T.H.O.U.: love that your daughter is passing along her own outfit, I'm sure she will be a fantastic sister and helper.

@Silva: I didn't know 32 weeks was a milestone for preemie delivery, that's interesting and so reassuring--congrats on getting there! I was 30w yesterday and I'm closer to the tail end, so we'll all be there soon enough

@LCTBQE: Glad your appointment went well! Is your arm sore from the tdap? Mine was for a few days, but it wasn't too bad...I still need to get my husband to get his.

@MrsSCB: super sore. My husband complained about it, too. I actually got it exactly a year ago before we started trying--I went to my regular physician to see if my MMR was still valid (it had worn off over the years) and they gave me a tdap while I was there. But my OB told me she wanted me to have another one during the third tri because of benefits of passing the antibodies to the baby. I actually know a couple of people IRL who have had whooping cough lately, it's no joke about the herd, so I'm glad to do it. when my SIL was pregnant my brother made our mom and dad get it since they're active grandparents, and I'm going to make sure our in-laws have had it, too.

ETA jeez I sound like a PSA for the CDC.

@coopsmama: I'm so very sorry you may have shingles. That's awful. My mom caught hand foot mouth disease from my niece recently and got it so bad that she thought it was on par with the miserableness of shingles. I've been so scared to catch it since its running rampant around my town. I hope you can rest and get some kind of relief from the pain.

@LCTBQE: I don't know what HA is. The flamingo one piece is from a brand called Kissy Kissy. I'm obsessed with it. Pima cotton.... so nice. Kissy Kissy also has adorable baby boy clothes. And yes on the kimono top. I've heard something about that too. That's why I sort of picked that alternative outfit. It was as cute of a "functional" thing I could find with a feel similar to pima cotton.

"womanly farm animal birthing hips" Hahahahah. That's me, too!! I always think to myself that it will be such a shame if I can't easily push my baby out with the width of my hips. Like, what other legitimate function do these hips serve???

@LCTBQE: My doctor didn't approximate my baby's size. My appointments with the OB are honestly like 3 minutes long max. So crazy, but I suppose if she needed to tell me something, she would. I did ask my doctor about birthing classes... she said no need for them and that I will have a nurse there to help me with everything. I said I'd like to try for an epidural free birth but will do what I need to do. She said, "that sounds great. just keep your mind open to options." I hope that she really thinks its great and she wasn't just blowing smoke!

@LCTBQE: Glad your appointment went well and that the dr doesn't really care what the fundal measurement. As we've all seen....it doesn't matter and is inaccurate! I'm getting the Tdap today and am so not excited about it. My appointment is in 45 min. Wheeee.

@coopsmama: How are you feeling? Is it definitely shingles?

@ShootingStar: Glad your appointment went well, too! And that you have a plan in place in case you go into labor early on your own.

@coopsmama: Well, I'm glad they confirmed and can give you something to help. I'm still sorry that you're going through this. Any sickness during pregnancy is no fun at all -- but this one sounds awful I hope your kids don't get chicken pox -- but if they do, it sounds like they'll be done with it by the time baby is supposed to arrive, so that's a good thing. Keep us posted. xo

@coopsmama: I'm glad you got some answers, I hope it starts improving quickly!

OMG. My boss just told me to take how ever long I can take under disability [revised pending confirmation]. That is pretty unbelievable.

I told my boss that I'm hoping to not work at all during my leave, but that I would be happy to help with some very SMALL things that I can do from home a couple of hours a week IF NEEDED.

Does that all sound okay??

@agold: I would not sign yourself up for working during leave, even a couple hours a day. Trying to get 2 hours of things done while having a newborn will seem like a herculean task. And you may only get 5 or 10 minutes here there between a baby sleeping on you, needing to feed every 2 hours (or less), exhaustion from being up every 2 hours, etc. If you get 15 minutes of time to do stuff, take a shower!

@ShootingStar: @pregnantbee: Ha! You girls are so right. And gosh you make those first newborn days sound miserable! I actually never have any desire to be working. Not even right now as I sit here at work. And I am not planning to commit myself to do any amount of work at all. I just know that I can do some short telephonic conferences and such that won't require much prep here and there. And I just can't pass up the pay. We were already planning to go without it, so now we have (in just the last 10 minutes) made some great plans for this unexpected pay that will really benefit the baby. Maybe I'm crazy! But I think it will work out great!

@agold: I will say that I wasn't a newborn person with my son. I had a really really hard time. Others do better. I will wouldn't commit to any work on leave until you know how you feel during that time.

@T.H.O.U.: Good thinking! I will revise my previous post until I get this figured out. ETA: My work isn't large enough to qualify for FMLA.

@pregnantbee: Great to hear that baby girl is doing well!!

@agold: I agree with @pregnantbee: @ShootingStar: @T.H.O.U.: . My maternity leave was hard. I had tons of additional appointments for LO and for me due to complications during and post birth. I was in no shape to work, and even after I was (which would have been rough shape around 8ish weeks), I just wanted to *be.* I knew I would be back at work before I knew it, and I really just wanted to maximize cuddles and snuggles. Everyone is different, but I think you have the right idea with the wait and see approach!

@pregnantbee: Yay for a great appointment! I had my 30 week appointment today--a week late due to last week's unexpected hospital slumber party--and everything looks good and is on track! I'm sorry you're so uncomfortable. I am finding it harder and harder to be comfortable, especially at night.

@ShootingStar: So glad you had a good appointment too, and that everything is chill on the BP front!

@LCTBQE: My tdap hurt like a son-of-a-Idon'tknowwhat. I was incredibly surprised at how sore my shoulder was and for how long!

I am LOVING all the going home outfits!

@MrsSCB: Now that's just insane!! YUCK.

@MrsSCB: I hope you have access to a pool that you hop into!

@LCTBQE: yes!!! Let's have a delivery date at sinai! maybe our babies can play in the nursery together haha. I'll be there a few days, so it's a good possibility! Btw you were able to order the pump already? I think my insurance makes you wait till 30 days before your due date.

OMG tdap... Last time I got it, my arm, shoulder and neck were inflamed and in horrible pain for a week! Not looking forward to getting it again.

@coopsmama: you poor thing I hope you feel better! And that your family doesn't get chicken pox.

@agold: awesome news about your leave! Just to give you perspective from the other side, I worked while on leave. My leave was totally unpaid, so it was great being able to make a little money, and also to have a little chance to use my brain and get back to normalcy before heading back to work. I found that newborns sleep a lot, so it wasn't a big deal. But I guess I had an easy newborn? I think not committing to anything is a good plan, but you don't need to totally write off the idea. I think it also depends if your husband will be around to pitch in (like if you need quiet time for a conference call or something).

Thanks for the reminder, I need a going home outfit! Loving all your choices!

@MrsSCB: Hahahaha outside in the shade? Yeah, that'll be much better. <insert eye roll here>

I've also started getting the "you're gonna be hot this summer" comments. I reply with something like...."well, so will you. Good thing I have access to air conditioning wherever I go!"

@MrsSCB: I literally just laughed out loud at my cube at work. I hope my boss doesn't ask what's up.....