Hellobee Boards

@MaryM: So happy to hear that your appointment went well! Baby size is so hard to predict - I know relatively small people who have had big babies and then very tall people with average or small size babies - who knows!? I also think it's funny how hard it is for doctors to even estimate how big the baby is towards the end of pregnancy - I guess it will be a big (hopefully not that big!) surprise

@kristinleigh: so happy to hear your appointment went well! My doctor was also very reassuring about the risk of anything happening at this point, but it is definitely still hard to relax completely. I am trying though! I think getting excited about baby stuff (like the baby quilt I am starting) and starting our registry is helping me to focus more on the excitement and less on the scary stuff

@Kimberlybee: how was your appointment?

@lauren0817: It'll be interesting between me and DH. I'm 5'3 and he's 6'4, so our baby could really be any size!

Ugh, just got my first maternity leave guilt. All summer long, some of my extended family and friends have said some dumb things like " Oh, so you'll just have the baby in January and take the rest of the school year off, right?" As if workplaces just give out 5 months of maternity leave regularly... And as if that wouldn't totally put my school in a horrible bind, violate the terms of my contract, and lose me all of my benefits.

Well, today I just ran into a parent of a student of mine this year. When she learned that I would be taking 12 weeks of maternity leave, her face immediately fell and said "Oh no, my son will have a substitute for 3 months?" .... and in 8 hours I have to break this news to 100+ parents. Ugh. Like, I know I'm totally justified in taking 12 weeks, but..... in education there's a lot of guilt and manipulation bc it's all "for the kids."

Ugh okay so I'm trying to word this so I don't sound ungrateful so bear with me..

My stepmom (well, she's my dad's girlfriend, but it's just easier to call her that) is doing all the decorating/favors and stuff for my shower in December. The theme I'm going with is "Winter Wonderland". I saw these cute little mason jars with hot cocoa mix and marshmallows and a teeny bottle of Bailey's attached to each jar. For my friends/family I thought it would be the perfect idea. I sent it to my stepmom and now she's like "That doesn't fit the theme... angels fit better..." because she loves angels. Angels remind me of the baby I lost because we have little cherub ones in our house in remembrance. I'm getting really frustrated because my in laws are the ones actually paying for the shower and I figured I would include my stepmom by asking her to do the decor instead of having the planner at the venue do it. And when I don't agree with a theme or something she is doing she gets very mad and resentful.

I just don't know what to do. I told my husband that I'm ready just to have the planner at the venue do it since they do an AMAZING job and my only reason for having my stepmom do it was to include her in all this (and she is good at decor and what not) but now it's just really getting irritating. I don't know what to do.

@MaryM: baby size is totally random. My husband and I are a foot apart height-wise, but our first son was born just a bit above average (75%ile).

@DesertDreams88: I teach too and I gave it all an Eff It attitude for my first leave. I was out for 15 weeks & my sub ended up being a dud, but I didn't care for a second of my leave. I prepped well before I left; what else can you do? Giving moms guilt over their leave is a grade-A asshole move (we get so little as it is!) - try not to feel bad!

@kristinleigh: ugh that sounds rough! Can you just tell stepmom no angels because they're too bittersweet for you, especially at a baby shower? I hope she understands!

@MaryM: Nobody in our family really knows a few close friends do but that's it. I'm wondering if it would be a good time to maybe mention it to her, but she had infertility herself and a few MC so i'm afraid to bring it up to her at the same time. I like the idea of the religion aspect though. I think she thinks my hot chocolate idea is tacky or something and not "elegant" because she keeps using the "elegant" word a lot.. like hello I'm not throwing loose packets of hot chocolate in front of everyone LOL.

Or maybe instead of angles, could you find something baby related to attach to the gifts (like, an angel without wings?)

That way you're acknowledging her wish to do something slightly different, but maybe compromising on what you're doing so you're not offended by it?

@mrs.shinerbock: @travellingbee: My maternal instincts for this baby was totally off, LOL! I kept on thinking baby will be a boy because it's been so much harder and different than with DD. It turns out we're having another girl!

@Kimberlybee: that's so awesome!!! Congrats!!! I LOVE having all girls!

@Kimberlybee: congrats!! woohoo!

@Kimberlybee: and @oliviaoblivia: congratulations on your girls! Sisters are so special

@kristinleigh: I think the hot chocolate idea is so cute! Maybe you could compromise on the Baileys though (peppermint sticks are nice) and she could compromise on the angels. You could even make the hot chocolate mugs together, like bonding time... If you want that I know I have to have purposely plan things like that with my MIL and even my mom.

@kristinleigh: i think it's worth having a conversation with her. "Angels remind me too much of the baby we lost. I really want that day to celebrate this baby." Honestly I think as soon as you tie the angel decor to your miscarriage she'll back off. I think the hot chocolate is actually way more elegant than the angels.

I picked up a cold this week and it's really kicking my butt. I've felt awful all week, but today was bad because I could not stop coughing. Combined with always having a semi-full bladder because I'm pregnant and week pelvic floor muscles - I've been peeing my pants all day! This is so not fun.

@mrs.shinerbock: I am so sorry. I'm wearing liners every day now. I'm not sure if my bladder is leaking or if it's extra mucous, but either way it was getting bad! I hope you feel better soon

@kristinleigh: Those animals are sweet! how fun!

I've rescheduled my anatomy scan. I was going to get it over with and meet with the doctor I don't like, but I have an important meeting at work that day. They fit me in two days later with the PA. 21 days until we find out!

@MaryM: Same day as my anatomy scan, but the closer we get, the more I am leaning towards team green. Has anyone gotten all the way through on team green?

Weirdest/cool thing this morning. I sleep on my left side turned toward my stomach. When I rolled over onto my back I totally felt a baby/uterus sized hard lump just below my belly button on the right!

I've felt for my fundus before, but this was way more pronounced! Maybe because my bladder was so full? Once I peed my stomach was squishy again.

It was a fun FTM moment

Is anyone feeling kicks yet? I *think* I am (I'm almost 19 weeks), but it is still very subtle and occasional. At first I felt very gentle flutters (kinda like popcorn pooping), but in the past few days I've felt something more like a strange muscle spasm. The first time it happened I kinda jumped a little bit - it felt so strange Now that I think I've felt something, I just want to feel it all the time! I can't wait for the big kicks that my hubby can feel, but I think we have awhile for that

No idea what is my uterus vs just my tummy, but I have DEFINITELY started feeling things this past weekend (16w4d, etc). I used to feel things down really low, but now they are halfawy in between my belly button and pubic bone. on Saturday morning I laid my hand on that area for about 30 minutes and I felt 3 distinct "pops" even on the outer surface! like you @lauren0817 I can't wait until they are more regular and DH can feel.

Haha sorry @DesertDreams88: Ive been keeping track on my phone but was waiting til my ultrasound on tues to update.
kimberlybee & littlebug both have girls.