Tuesday, January 8, 2008
HALFWAY THERE
The weeks seem to have flown by, I am at week 20 in my pregnancy. It's been pretty easy so far, with nutrition and clothing being the biggest challenges. I have just started to feel the baby kicking, how exciting now that I know what it is!
My husband and I have signed up for a number of classes at the hospital including Infant CPR, an 8-hour class on childbirth, and classes on caring for myself and the baby after the birth. I will be taking lots of notes.
I went to stores this weekend to get ideas for baby furniture and all kinds of other "equipment." I also saw some cute cribs on the internet and some girls I work with say they are not that difficult to put together (ha!). Some co-workers like Gerry and some producers behind the scenes gave me baby clothes for Christmas, some of the cutest outfits, I will have to put some pictures up. Do I sound like a first-time expectant mom or what? Everything is so thrilling.
I am now looking at rocking chairs and gliders, asking people how long they used them for in the nursery. I guess I'm trying to figure out how much to spend on the chair and ottoman.
Thank you for all of the great comments to my blog entries, I read and enjoy each one. If you enter a comment it may take days to be posted, please be patient :)
Posted at 4:14 AM
19 Comments:
Lisa,
Noticed tonight that Keisha was sitting in your seat. I did a little checking & what a fabulous surprise to find that your expecting! Congratulations!! Hope everything goes smoothly with the pregnancy & delivery. It took my husband & me 8 yrs.,but we have a beautiful & very smart 6yr.old daughter! Enjoy every minute of your pregnancy! I sure did. I even kept a daily journal I wrote to the baby the day I found out I was pregnant. When she's 18 she'll get it for her birthday & then she will know how I felt & the things I did when I was pregnant with her. It's aure to be a memorabel keepsake. Congratulations again!
Marie Elena
Hi Lisa! I used the glider chair/ottoman until my daughter was about 3 (she's now 5). The chair/ottoman is still in her room but it now serves as a "home" for stuffed animals! It's a mint-green Dutalier with the nursing ottoman if you'd like to buy it (it's in excellent condition)!!!
Congratulations! Having a baby girl is such a joy!!!
I'd love to see what Gerry got you. Do you think he picked it out himself?! You seem to be doing everything just right in preparing for your baby. Just be prepared for the unexpected! It's hard to believe parents are sent home from the hospital in a day or two without a thousand page how-to manual! But somehow we manage.
Linda
P.S. I bought a rocker for the nursery, but really didn't use it much. It doesn't go with the rest of the house, so 23 years later, it now sits in the "office" (which was the nursery)!
Hey Lisa - enjoy your newscasting and stumbled upon this blog. As a single gay male - so far removed from child bearing - but with a keen sense for literature (both fiction and non), I always like to recommend an inredible incredible author to anyone - but more importantly expecting moms. Suzanne Finnamore. She has written 'Otherwise Engaged' (a hilarious but very accurate account of her impending marriage) then she followed that up with 'The Zygote Chronicles' (this is where you come in. This is one heck of an account of her pregnancy! Absolutely amazing. Witty throughout and at times, a bit intense but again, an inredible read for ANYONE!). This April, sadly, she releases 'Split' her memoir on divorce which I cannot wait to read and it's been getting a lot of early buzz too. If you don't know her - you should soon. I'm a huge fan of Augusten Burroughs (another recommendation) and he dropped her name to me. The books are fairlly quick reads but they are so satisfying - and again, I think it's rather funny that I would highly recommend a book to an expecting mom - but trust me - I think you'll really enjoy it!
Thanks for the updates Lisa! We're TTC and having a difficult time. I'm living vicariously through your blog.
Halfway there - that's great! Those classes are a great help for 1st time moms. Books are great too.
Picking out baby furniture is so much fun! Putting the crib together is not much fun at all, lol. One thing that is a must-have for every nursery - a baby swing. It's a life-saver. Now they make them with the ability to put the seat down flat so newborns can use them too. I repeat - this is a must-have! Cranky babies almost always calm down in a swing.
I didn't have a glider or a rocker, so I'm no help on that front.
I have 2 daughters - so I know how much fun it is to buy clothes for little girls. Have fun! Just remember, they grow fast and you will get lots of gifts. They're out of those newborn clothes in no time. Especially if you have a big baby. My first girl was 9 lbs. 4 oz. and 22" long. She never wore the newborn clothes. She immediately went into the next size up. Keep that in mind.
Lisa R>
My son just turned 2 and I still use my glider/rocker when we read books before naptime and bedtime. It was the best place to nurse him, too -- especially when he was older and distracted by EVERYTHING. I simply darkened his bedroom to minimize those pesky distractions.
Spend money on a comfortable glider (you'll use it a lot in the middle of the night), a sturdy crib, and a good changing table that'll convert to a dresser when your baby's out of diapers. But order the furniture early!
We bought our's from an unnamed store here in CT, ordering it when I hit 20 weeks, and it finally was delivered when I was 35 weeks. And getting it to our house required many stern phone calls to the store manager. Most places require you to prepay for your order, so you really have no leverage to make threats.
Lisa: Congrats! As a first time mother of a newborn it can all be overwhelming thats for sure. I found it helpful to take an experienced mother with me when I registered. They can tell you what items you really dont need and those that you cant live without. We purchased our crib at USA baby and it was really convenient. Order early...it takes time for a crib to be ordered no matter where you buy it. Resist the urge to buy clothes...you'll get TONS of clothes as gifts, even after the baby is born.
I loved being pregnant. It really was a special time in my life. Dont worry about gaining weight but dont over do it either. Forget trying to exercise...I had all I could do with keeping up with Corp America from 9-5.
Enjoy this special time.
Lisa, I too took a lot of time comparing prices of the furniutre. Babies R Us had the best prices and quality..you just weren't paying for the name. They have to meet standards and a $800.00 is no better than a $300.00 crib. We also bought one that the sides do not move so no chance of it coming detached and the baby getting caught. As far as the rocking chair...it was hard. I really wanted one. You think of different movies with scenes of mothers rocking the baby. Honestly I have barely used it. My daughter is 7m now. I used it a little bit more while I was breast feeding..but only for the night time feeding. So I "plan" on using it more as we try to get her into a routine. Like before she goes to sleep a little down time reading books and rocking then sleepy time. I didnt buy the ottoman though (glad I didn't. I am only 5' 3" and didnt have a problem..a small firm pillow would work and a lot cheaper. I found stores like USA Baby rediculous. The prices were sky high for the same items else where. Hope this helps.
Hi Lisa - I watch you every evening. I've noticed you have a different type of happiness about you since you became pregnant. The "glow" everyone talks about, I guess!
I used a glider and ottoman in my daughter's room to nurse her and found it very, very comfortable. In fact, I often fell asleep during those early morning feedings and would wake up to a sleeping baby and an odd feeling of exposure :-) I used a small pillow (such as a travel pillow) under my arm for more comfort.
Wait until the baby gets a little bigger and then you start feeling your belly trying to figure out what part of the body you are touching! It's amazing!
Lisa: I love my glider and ottoman! They are so comfortable that after I stopped using it for the baby we moved it to the family room! Best of luck for the rest of your pregnancy!
I have 2 girls now and have used my gloder and ottoman every day for almost 4 years now! That is an item to invest in!
GOOD LUCk!
Lisa,
One of the best pieces of advice I got when glider/rocker shopping was to buy one that reclines. I had many a good night's sleep on my back in that chair. Splurge on the recline option, it's well worth it :)
Hi, Lisa
I had to look on the web site to make sure you were still with us. I am so happy to hear you are pregnant. The biggest advice I tell most moms is to bring their own bottles and nipples with them to the hospital. When you have the baby, they tend to get used to the hospital disposable nipples that they put on the bottles, when they come home it is SO hard for them to get used to what you have bought. It just makes more sense to bring your own and have them get used to it right away. Your husband can always bring them home and clean them for you. Also, bring a special outfit for her to wear in the hospital as they will be taking her picture. Have your husband bring his bathing suit when you are in labor.. believe me the shower and hot water will be so soothing as you are in labor and that way your husband can be right their with you. The other thing I like to tell mom's is not to keep buying bra's as the months go by, you are much better off buying a couple of maternity bra's for breastfeeding, believe me if you are not breastfeeding they are still a godsend when you are pregnant as the straps are adjustable and most comfortable. So save your money on all the bras and just buy the maternity ones you will be much more comfortable. I did have a rocking chair with my two children. The one thing I did too much was rock with my oldest as he was the first. Try not to get in the habit of rocking before bed too long as they will not learn to fall asleep on their own. As far as the jeans go.. I was more comfortable with the over the belly jeans the low jeans did nothing for me and I felt like you... like I was going to loose my pants. LOL
Nice talking with you and I am so happy you are still at NBC.
Melissa R.N.
I loved the rocking chair and would definitely get one. It was as soothing to me as it was to my two girls. By the way, you look terrific--positively glowing!
From Mom of 3 girls (7, 6, and 4)...truly the best advice I got was:
1. "put that baby on your schedule! Don't let him/her dictate the entire day to you!" Keeping this in mind gave me the "permission" I needed to go about my morning with each baby-work out, errands, etc. I made sure to be home by noon time for meals & naps.
2. I have been labeled the "baby sleep boot camp" lady. I had no problem (some would disagree, but mine all SLEEP IN THEIR OWN BEDS with no issue!) letting each of my girls figure out how to put themselves back to sleep...yup, the 'ol cry it out method-once they sleep through the night, you know they can do it! Be confident in you gut feeling. Our girls also did not and do not to this day sleep in our bed. Off limits...they have their space, we have ours.
3. In the early stages (0-3 mos.) when your daughter wakes to eat, put a heating pad down in her cradle while feeding to keep the area warm-it won't seem like such a shock to go from the warmth of mom to a cool sleeping spot.
4. If another older child (niece/nephew/friends child) is manhandling your baby in any way you aren't comfortable with, speak up.
You will get so much advice (like mine!) and have to filter out what works best for you and your husband.
Best wishes to you both!
Kind Regards,
Kim from Glastonbury
Hi Lisa~
I missed a few days of the news cast last week. Saw you on Friday evenings news and you are absolutely glowing. Pregnancy definitely agrees with you.
Enjoy your pregnancy...the 9 months really do fly!
Hi Lisa-
Congratulations! You're looking great. I'm a 1st time mom of a 9 month old girl now. I have a very comfortable glider and ottoman, which gets used EVERY day. It's especially great in the middle of the night. (Yes, she still gets up twice a night at 9 months) I would highly recommend a glider. i also recommend a bouncy seat. I used that the most out of all the accessories. You can put it in the bathroom while you take your shower, bring it in the kitchen to make dinner, etc. It's very portable. The baby will love the soothing vibration of it.
Best of luck. Keep us posted.
Hi Lisa, Thanks for sharing your pregnancy with all of us! You look adorable!
As for the rocker/glider - I was so NOT into getting one, but my husband wanted to buy me one. My son is almost five and we still sit in it every night to read books.
My suggestion is this - go for a good glider that will last - but don't bother with the glider ottoman. I have a "nursing stool" that cost a lot less and it is way more comfortable. You can get them in Babies R Us - which will become your favorite place to shop!
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