Please Don't Tell Me

Encouragement and advice can be great things.  I know that people care, but please stop telling me:

1. That most first babies come late.
That’s not what I want to hear right now.  I’m hoping every day that the baby comes.

2. That I need to stock pile my sleep now.
I’m having trouble sleeping, so telling me to sleep more just makes me frustrated.

3. That my life is about to change forever. 
I know and I’m excited about that!

4. All the crazy labor stories that you’ve heard or have had happen to you.
I don’t need to be thinking about everything that can go wrong!  And every pregnancy and labor is different.

5. It’s all worth it.
It’s great to hear this, but I’m excited to figure this out for myself.

6. That I look great.
That’s very nice to hear, but I don’t feel great.  I feel huge and uncomfortable

If you have said any of these things to me, don't worry, I'm not mad at you, but Adam says I'm starting to get snippy, so this is advice for the future ;)


Coming Soon:  Final Pictures of the Completed Nursery!!
 

 

Surrounded by Samples

One thing you get when you start going to parenting websites, registering, and doing all the things pre-parents do, is a lot of samples.  Here is my growing supply of samples. 

 

I personally never say no to free samples.  There may be some stuff that I never use and just clutters up everything, but there could also be a few gems in there too.  These are the things that I would call my gems so far:

 

 1- Nursing Pillow from NursingPillow.com.  They sent me a free gift card for this pillow, so I got to pick out everything for it and didn't have to pay anything!  Mark one thing off my registry.

 

2-Nursing Cover from Uddercovers.com.  This is a sister company of NursingPillow.com so it worked much the same way.

 

3-Baby sling from sevenslings.com.  This one worked the same as well.  I liked getting and using these free gift cards because I got to pick out what I wanted and still get the free product.

4-This is from pampers and it is awesome.  It's just a little travel carrier for wipes and diapers but it already seems so convenient.  It's cute and it was full of coupons!

5-I was going to buy one of these anyway and now I don't have to.

6-Avent Bottle.  You can never have enough bottles.  And someone told me to keep the samples around because maybe one night the baby won't like the bottle you're trying to give them.  If that happens I will be trying anything, and maybe that night this bottle will save the evening.

7-Pacifiers.  I think these are probably like diapers, you can never have enough!

So get lots of samples, start researching, and if it’s not for you, then there’s no pressure!  It’s just a bunch of options that you can look through in the comfort of your own home.  And maybe you too will discover some gems!

10 Things I Learned During my First Trimester

 

1. There is such a thing as too much morning sickness

At the end of the 1^st trimester I told the midwife how sick I had been and she was shocked and said “Why didn’t you come and see us and get some medicine?”  Well, everything you hear about pregnancy is how sick you are.  I didn’t know there was too sick.  If you throw up more than 2 times a day, you probably need to tell your doctor and get some medicine.  By the time I knew that, my sickness was pretty much done.

2. Buy some comfy Pj’s because you will spend a lot of time in them.

During the first trimester I slept more than I ever thought possible.  I was tired all the time, and even after sleeping all the time I was still tired.  I could never get enough sleep.

3. Housework is the first thing to go

Either you’re too tired, you’re too sick, the smells bother you, or you just don’t want to do it, there will be some reason to not do housework.  Take the excuse and lay on the couch.  People will understand if your house isn’t pristine, you’re growing a person you know.

4. Don’t eat until you’re full

I threw up many times just because I had eaten too much, so eat little meals throughout the day and you will feel so much better.  Again, something I learned at the very end of the first trimester. 

5. If you think you are drinking enough water, drink more.

You need tons of water just to keep going.  You will drink so much water that pretty soon you will hate it, but its way better than getting dehydrated. 

6. Keep walking

Even though you are exhausted, keep getting out and doing things.  You still need your exercise, and you need to have some fun.  Don’t stay in your house wrapped up in bed with your trashcan. 

7. Always know where the bathroom is

Since you’re going to be going out and doing things, always know where the quickest bathroom is…just in case

8. Everyone has a surefire way to ease nausea, and none of them will work for you

Don’t get discouraged if every single thing you try fails, just keep trying until you find the one for you.  And it could be something that no one ever suggested.  My way to ease nausea: eating Oreos.

9. Your husband will laugh at you

Your husband will find your cravings and aversions funny.  He will find your pregnancy brain hilarious.  And if he’s anything like mine, he’ll even find you running to the bathroom funny because you have always wanted to be pregnant.  Just don’t let it get to you personally.  He’s enjoying this part of the pregnancy for you.  And he loves you, he just doesn’t get it.

10. It will end

The first trimester is just that, the first.  It will end.  I’m not saying all of your nasty symptoms will magically go away once you hit the 14 week mark, but at some point you will start to feel better.  You will have more energy, you will eat more, and you will start to enjoy yourself.  I know I am!

 

 

 

Drowning in Documenting?

Is it possible to over-document your pregnancy?  If it is, then I am probably guilty of it.  This is my first pregnancy and my first child, I do not want to forget any part of this experience, but am I taking it too far?

How I’m Documenting

1-Writing this blog

2-Having a baby website on “The Bump”

3-Posting on Facebook 

4-Keeping up with my Belly Book

5-Keeping up with the Baby Book

6-Writing letters and prayers to the baby in a journal.  I plan to continue this all through high school and give it as a gift when they leave for college

7-Making a baby blanket.  While I am making it I am dreaming, praying, and thinking about the baby

I am enjoying doing all of these things, but is it too much?
Will I be able to do this with any future children?  And if I do not, will they be let down?

How much or little do you document?
Do you wish you had done more?

I’m enjoying what I am doing, and I am hoping that my child will enjoy looking back on it as well.  I am just wondering, can there be too much documenting?

We document everything our child does.  We take pictures, videos, all sorts of things to remember their milestones, why can’t this start in pregnancy?  I think it should.  It’s all part of the journey and the story of their life.

I do not think I’m doing too much, although my husband may disagree, but I want to know what you think?  Is this a case of too much of a good thing?