2015 October Owls! | The chicks are hatching! *16 boys & 8 girls so far!*

[CrazyMumma]

MMMMM just made a berry smoothie with yoghurt blackberries and strawberries. Finally something my stomach didn't churn at!!!!

Damn eating pregnancy friendly with allergies is a pain in the bum!!! So hard to find things I can stomach and actually eat!

 

[Aliop]

GP, I found with my first everything was daunting! I had literally no idea what to do with him and even said to my husband once we got home 'what do we do now?' and we both had no clue so fell into hysterical laughing which ended up in me crying LOL We have no family and no support so we just muddle through on our own. I am a teacher -which is no way preparation for a baby, I am 'good' with children but babies still give me grey hair!! and I can remember going to our local breastfeeding association and begging them to tell me what to do and when to do it and they kept saying 'just follow your babies lead' seriously WTF?!? finally I found an awesome lady there and I said to her that I need a bell to ring to tell me what's next! and she got it she understood I needed a routine (teacher coming out in me maybe lol) and ever since I started a routine things just fell into place and I had a happy baby and happy mum THANK GOODNESS haha as I was totally flying blind and drowning trying to follow this little persons lead who didn't seem to have a clue what he wanted LOL I guess what I am saying is do it YOUR way, if it isn't working then change something until you find what works for YOU. Your first is an extra special time as you really can give yourself completely to the experience, sleep when your baby sleeps and all that. If you are a perfectionist like me in the home and you can afford it, get yourself a cleaner. I still have one and my sanity needs it

 

[Hit Girl]

Room for one more? My EDD is October 24th.

 

[ClaireJ23]

GP, I wish I relaxed and followed my instincts a bit more with my first daughter. I would have enjoyed it a lot more.

Newborn babies do sleep a lot so you can get housework done during this time. Saying this, if you want to hire a cleaner and can afford it, this is good advice. Also agree with letting DH take on board some responsibilities. I would stock up your freezer with meals before baby arrives so you don't have to worry about cooking too much. Early house guests should be those who would help out rather than judge.

 

[ClaireJ23]

Room for one more? My EDD is October 24th.

Welcome Hit Girl

 

[Hit Girl]

Thanks Claire!

 

[tallybee]

Welcome hit girl!

Gp yes I was petrified first time round. I'd never changed a nappy before. Other people's children found me scary lol. But babies teach you as they grow. Their needs start out pretty basic. Keep fed warm and clean... of course your overwhelming love for lo means all else will follow.

House chores will take a lesser priority and you'll do well to accept help with them. A new born IS a full time task to look after, but I can't wait to do it all again

 

[Hit Girl]

It used to REALLY freak me out about how much work I heard newborns/babies were. The thing is though, it's work that you actually don't mind doing. Although it's hard to explain, it's because you love them more than anything else in the entire universe - you'd do absolutely anything for them. This is coming from someone who had pretty much never held a baby before having my own and never really being 'baby-crazy'. I was never one of those people who felt their destiny was to be a mum. Don't get me wrong, I have always loved little ones but nothing like now. Believe me, it will be the best thing that even happen to you, tough moments and all.

 

[tallybee]

It used to REALLY freak me out about how much work I heard newborns/babies were. The thing is though, it's work that you actually don't mind doing. Although it's hard to explain, it's because you love them more than anything else in the entire universe - you'd do absolutely anything for them. This is coming from someone who had pretty much never held a baby before having my own and never really being 'baby-crazy'. I was never one of those people who felt their destiny was to be a mum. Don't get me wrong, I have always loved little ones but nothing like now. Believe me, it will be the best thing that even happen to you, tough moments and all.

Yup xxx

 

[GingerPanda]

Thanks, ladies! I think all of this was brought about because I've been too ill to get a lot of stuff done around the house, and it's starting to look like a mess. And hubs was worried about my ability to keep our home in order WITHOUT a baby, much less with one. He has pretty severe clinical OCD, so he needs the house in order. That's why I'm a SAHW. I want it to be in order if we're putting a baby in it too! I understand the baby becomes your first priority, and people shouldn't judge you if the house isn't clean while you have a newborn, but that's not an option for us. So we're trying to a anticipate how hubs will need to help in the future.

We ended up coming up with a list of stuff to be done each day, Monday through Friday. I'll try to get it all, or as much of it as I can, before he gets home. But anything I don't get done, either he will do, we'll do it together, or he'll watch the baby while I take care of it.

It's just going to have to be that way. I'll probably get a sling so I can carry baby through chores if I need to.



Welcome, Hit Girl! I'll add you in!

 

[3boys]

I found a stretchy wrap amazing for getting the housework done. Baby slept for hours in it. Plus it was an extra workout for be squatting to clean with baby attached. lol

 

[2have4kids]

Thanks, ladies! I think all of this was brought about because I've been too ill to get a lot of stuff done around the house, and it's starting to look like a mess. And hubs was worried about my ability to keep our home in order WITHOUT a baby, much less with one. He has pretty severe clinical OCD, so he needs the house in order. That's why I'm a SAHW. I want it to be in order if we're putting a baby in it too! I understand the baby becomes your first priority, and people shouldn't judge you if the house isn't clean while you have a newborn, but that's not an option for us. So we're trying to a anticipate how hubs will need to help in the future.

We ended up coming up with a list of stuff to be done each day, Monday through Friday. I'll try to get it all, or as much of it as I can, before he gets home. But anything I don't get done, either he will do, we'll do it together, or he'll watch the baby while I take care of it.

It's just going to have to be that way. I'll probably get a sling so I can carry baby through chores if I need to.



Welcome, Hit Girl! I'll add you in!

I highly recommend a house cleaner now and then if you can't take care of it all. We have an agreement and a list of stuff we each do. DH has his own co outside of his day job and couldn't keep up with his chores, I always told him the minute either of us starts hounding each other we need to get a house cleaner. We have s lady we recommend to tenants on move outs who does the whole house for $100/cleaning session. So we brought her in every 2 weeks and it's really helped out. Even if you have a baby shower this might be something others might want to gift you in advance. Marriage saver (I don't even hve kids now mind you we have several businesses with me taking care of the rentals and him with his lab work...but I think time spent on family is so valuable if you can swing it)!

 

[GingerPanda]

Unfortunately, his OCD means that someone absolutely cannot come into our house and touch our things. It would cause so much more trouble than it would help, as I'd have to go behind her and reclean every single thing she touched. So it's just me and hubs. He says if we try for #2, it wont be until #1 is old enough to help with cleanup.

 

[ClaireJ23]

GP, I feel really sorry for you. I don't really understand what severe clinical OCD means, but if it means you have to be a SAHW and can't get a cleaner then it must be pretty terrible. Your list plan of chores sounds like a good option. Babies also like things like swings and baby bouncers so you can do chores around them and they can watch you.

 

[GingerPanda]

I don't HAVE to be a SAHW, we just decided that was the best move for our family. Plus, the only jobs I could get for years were retail and customer service, and I HATED it! Besides, we wanted kids, and my measly pay would have barely covered daycare.

OCD is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. It's a mental disorder that means different things to different people, and it's kind of hard to explain what it means to our family. It can be treated with medication, but hubs would have to be on such a high dose, it would basically make him feel like a zombie with no emotions. So he decided he would rather deal with the OCD and have emotions than be a zombie.

He's doing very well with overcoming parts of it. He's been cleaning out the litter box, and says diapers will be a piece of cake after that.

He'll just need rubber gloves, is all.


But he'll never be okay with a stranger coming in and touching all our stuff. And I'm not really sure I am either.

 

[ClaireJ23]

I'm sorry I didn't mean to upset you. I just misinterpreted your post as you described your DHs condition and then said 'that's why I am SAHW'. Good luck with it all

 

[GingerPanda]

I'm not upset, honey! Please don't think that! I was just clarifying, because I think I've been giving a bad impression of hubs, like he keeps me locked up or something! LOL

 

[nmpjcp2015]

Happy mothers day UK ladies
I'm 12 weeks today! Feels like such a big milestone x

COngrats and ditto on the Happy Mother's Day. I hope it was great for you all. I'm excited to be below 200 days left! And less than 1 month until I find out if baby is pink or blue.

Welcome chathamlady and Hit Girl!

Wow, you guys have been in deep discussion. I think a cleaning lady is a great idea. I'd like to have one come 2x a month once I'm further along. Hubby and I both work full time, so we share household chores, but he's always lax on his. I won't be able to pick up his slack and stay sane after the baby is born, so I'll be having someone come once in a while. Also, our daughter who is 11 will be helping with the cleaning.

 

[ClaireJ23]

OK good, no it's better to clarify things.

 

[ClaireJ23]

Happy mothers day UK ladies
I'm 12 weeks today! Feels like such a big milestone x

COngrats and ditto on the Happy Mother's Day. I hope it was great for you all. I'm excited to be below 200 days left! And less than 1 month until I find out if baby is pink or blue.

Welcome chathamlady and Hit Girl!

Wow, you guys have been in deep discussion. I think a cleaning lady is a great idea. I'd like to have one come 2x a month once I'm further along. Hubby and I both work full time, so we share household chores, but he's always lax on his. I won't be able to pick up his slack and stay sane after the baby is born, so I'll be having someone come once in a while. Also, our daughter who is 11 will be helping with the cleaning.

My two-year old likes to help with cleaning, she follows me around with a little cloth or feather duster and tries to copy. Bless her.