April ‘baby’ showers 2020

[motherofboys]

Fingers crossed for you star!

 

[swedengirl]

Ahhh so cute ”hearing” you say Reuben!! Hope drawer shopping went well. I’m starting to get excited about going through all the clothes and washing and getting ready! I’m feeling really strong nesting urges.

hope the GTT results are good star!

I started to feel really pregnant! My feet swelled last night and feeling tired in my body. Get a bit anxious with the swelling due to preeclampsia history but myBP is good. I’m hoping it’s a good sign actually, I never felt pregnancy was hard/tiring or like I was fed up with being pregnant with DD and obviously she was tiny when born due to reduced growth- so hoping this bubba is thriving and maybe packing on the pounds a bit more hence my feeling really pregnant feeling!

 

[motherofboys]

Fingers crossed that's the case Sweden.
Due to needing storage for the younger two's bedroom as well we went with these plastic drawers from home bargains. They are actually pretty roomy, I was surprised no such we got in them.
Today I've been through the clothes my niece gave me again and sorted the first few sizes in to the drawers, I will wash them but not until a bit later. Just need DH to get the boys old bits from the loft too.
I ordered some of the more boring things, like nursing bras and such, so got a bit more ticked off my list. I also bought a little top the other day that says BROTHERS MAKE THE BEST FRIENDS (SOMETIMES) which I thought was cute.
It feels like there's still so much to do. I really want to just gut my room, there's so much in there that I really don't know why we even have still, that I feel like going in with a bin bag and being done with it
I'm starting to think of him by his name more and more often, the boys call him Baby Roo as well. I think it makes it more exciting.

 

[swedengirl]

Oh baby Roo- that is unbelievably adorable! and what a cute top you got.

yes I’m starting to feel like there is a crazy amount of things to do! I have a crazy next few weeks at work but after first week in feb I can get into baby game. I’ve started a few things going- got a theme picked out for her room and started buying a couple of things for that! Clothes wise I’m waiting until our growth scan and then will have an idea if I’ll need premature for her first onesies (I want new coming home outfit etc) but other than that she’ll have all DDs stuff. I bought a Moses basket (Down from €100 to €15) as figured that might be handy so I can carry her up and down stairs easily when I’ve got DD home and for that price totally worth a shot.

Trying to decide on when to finish work. I’m tempted to stop end of February this time- last time I planned to stop 2 weeks before due date but the pre-e meant I needed to finish sooner. Only thing is that as childcare is government funded here, if I’m not working DD will only be able to go 15 hours a week- so I wonder if that’s more tiring than working!!

 

[motherofboys]

It's hard to say with the child care aspect. It might be nice to spend some extra time together before baby arrives, but it might also be more tiring for you and she might feel a bit put out that her routine has changed.
What an absolute bargain on the moses basket!

 

[star25]

It’s all starting to get very real now!

Love hearing about all your plans and arrangements

DIdnt hear anything so all clear for diabetes yay!
I just hope I get to experience labour starting naturally rather than being induced again
I will still need a drip for antibiotics and something to prevent a haemorrhage but better than being induced
Wonder if the drip means no water birth, I suppose it will really

Write more soon, kids climbing over me as usual!

 

[motherofboys]

That's great news about no diabetes. I'm not sure with the drip/water birth thing. I would think that you wouldn't be able to have both together but I'm not 100%.

Today I went to Aldi as they've got the baby event on. I got a hooded towel, I'm.pretty sure I've got at least 1 old one in the airing cupboard somewhere, and also there was one in the clothes from my niece, so I'm sure 3 will be plenty as I don't really bath them every day in case I dry their skin out as DH has quite sensitive skin. I also got a changing mat. We decided as the last 2 refused dummies pretty quickly that we won't bother this time. You watch, once he's here DH will decide he needs one. They only really had them because DH claimed he couldn't settle a breast fed baby without a dummy.
I also ordered some cloth wipes, a bucket for nappies and a play mat.
I've only got a few things left on the list now.
I bumped in to SIL and ended up going to my nieces with her. They've said they will be on call for the birth. I won't have them as my only option though, just in case it ends up being while they are at an appointment or if my great nephew is unwell or anything at the time. But having had someone agree to it feels much better.

 

[motherofboys]

Oh, also my new bras arrived while I was out. I tried them on when I got changed in to my pyjamas and omg so comfy.

 

[swedengirl]

Oh I need to order some new bras and also hooded towels too! My DD still uses her hooded towels and think she’ll feel really put out if we try to change those!

We went to have a look round a baby shop over the weekend with her and was so cute. She was running up to things going “baby sisters bed” “baby sisters toys”, “sooooo pretty buy for baby sister”. Makes me get so emotional at the thought of her meeting her baby sister!

I’m starting to panic how close everything feels and how much I feel I have to get sorted. I don’t know why but I have this feeling she’ll come sooner than we expect, and we are expecting 37 weeks as that’s when DD came. But maybe that’s why- we were caught a little off guard with DD!

 

[star25]

Sounds like you’re really on top of things mother and it’s good you have an on call plan, definitely makes you feel more reassured

Sweden, I keep watching the video of when dd came to hospital to see ds for the first time, she looks so little and kept saying mummy, daddy baby and pointing in the cot, she was saying it though in disbelief like she was so amazed!
Can’t wait this time now she is 4 and desperate for a sister!

Over the weekend dh got some bargains in Argos including a 4 door wardrobe for £100 resduced from £400
So we took out our massive ikea one and took it to my sisters, we then took the wardrobe and drawers out of dd room and put in ours then rebuilt the new wardrobe and put in dd room. Bunk beds are arriving today so they will go in there. I now need to move ds clothes from the nursery then get down all clothes from the loft, take out all girls and neutral bits for the nursery
It felt like a nightmare, literally clothes and mess everywhere, my sister was round helping thank god lol
Once I’ve sorted out baby clothes from the loft I will sort neutral bits for my sister as she’s not finding out what she’s having with the twins, very brave haha

Pregnancy wise we’re all good, although the dreaded headaches have made a reappearance!
only appointments now are the 4 weekly midwife ones starting from next Monday. This Saturday is 28 weeks so thinking of getting my birthing ball out soon, used to be a lifesaver to sit on in the evenings and watch tv! The pressure of sitting on the sofa used to be uncomfortable towards the end

Hope you’re all well
Sweden, I can’t remember, have you thought of any names?
My youngest sister had a fit Cos I forgot ge names she likes is Anna and I’ve chose Annabelle lol, she’s over it now, she’s 25 and no plans of kids soon so she can’t get too annoyed and expect me to remember a name she picked ages ago haha
She refused to tell us the boys name she liked in case we steal it (I’ve got 3 sisters) tried to point out to her were more likely to pick it if we don’t know what it is as can’t avoid it, especially if the sister closer to my ages has 2 boys soon lol

 

[motherofboys]

Sweden, bless your daughter. We don't really have any baby shops left anywhere near us since they closed Toys R Us and Mothercare. Our Mothercare went a few years ago so I didn't even get to cash in on the bargains.
Maybe it is because your daughter was early, I do think sometimes we just get a feeling though. With DS4 even though I planned a home birth I just KNEW I would end up in hospital with him. He was transverse for quite a while so I assumed he wouldn't move, then when he moved I thought maybe he'd be really late and I would be induced. In the end I did have him at home, but he had opened his bowels so they transferred us in for 12 hours monitoring. So I had been right in a way.

Star, I definitely feel more organised now, although there's quite a few bits I'm waiting for from friends or for DH to sort out and struggling between my need to be organised and being polite and grateful and not rushing anyone
I remember the first time Ds1 saw Ds2, he was only 20 months old and did this excited little shiver that he used to do whenever he saw his guinea pig Ds2 was 2 with ds3 and I have a picture of him holding him just looking like "what the heck am I supposed to do with this?!"
Sounds like you're doing well organising the bedrooms. I'm not quite sure how we will manage bedrooms once the baby doesn't have to be in with us. I think probably a high sleeper for ds4 so the baby can then go on the bottom bunk where ds4 currently is. It's going to be like a game of Tetris though as back in May DH made some fitted shelving in their room so it really limits the places a bed could go.
Sorry to hear the headaches have started.
Appointment wise we get another scan at 36 weeks as standard here to.check growth. I've got midwife at 28 weeks. I think it will work out just 3 more midwife appointments as long as I don't go too far over. I'm sure it's then late 30s and week 40 and that's it unless you make it to week 41. It's scary thinking there's so few appointments left really.
It's hard with names isn't it? If you know what it is you can avoid it, but some people are quite petty and will take it anyway. I actually knew someone from a forum years ago and when she had her 3rd she had 3 names to choose from, she was stuck right up to the day she went to register him, then afterwards announced he had the same name as ds4. I wasn't too bothered, ds4 is older and they'll never meet. It obviously bothered her though as shortly after she deleted me from Facebook. I've shared the babies name here and to family but that's it as I know someone currently pregnant with her 4th, she has 3 boys and is a few months ahead of me but I don't know what she is having and her kids are at the same school. I'd hate to pick a lesser used name then have him and up with another one in his class. It's one class per year group at our tiny village school too so they would definitely be in the same class. Once she's announced her babies arrival I'll be more open haha

 

[star25]

It really is hard picking a name that someone hasn’t already got or like!
Our mothercare closed too a while ago and no other shops here so everything is online which is a pain if you want to pick something next up quick without delivery costs! I use amazon a lot lol

 

[swedengirl]

Star. Oh it’s so hard with names. We took my sister in laws name (she was not pregnant or had kids at the time) but we didn’t know. She was lovely and only told us like 3 months after DDs birth and she was then pregnant that we “took” her name but was Not upset about it but i couldnt help feel bad. Turned out he was à boy in the end though!

We have a few names! But still not settled as it’s hard with the English and Swedish. So far we have Ottilia (but she would be called Tilly), Eleanora, Poppy, Thea and Beatrice. They are kind of in order or preference. I think Thea would be our top choice but they are pronounced differently in Swedish (sounds like Taya And I’m not so keen on that) and English. We feel we have to meet her I think to get a feel of who she is this time. As nothing is jumping out! So name is still pending.

Star I’m also planning on getting the birthing ball out soon. I sat only on that from about 30 weeks with DD. But I’m feeling more uncomfortable with this little one already (27 weeks saturday) so I think I’ll have to got out to our storage and find it!

Mother that’s interesting your feeling was right. I have a feeling mine will be too! I have a feeling she’ll be here really early April.

I also buy a ton on Amazon! I basically do all my shopping online. Although we have this awesome baby shop close by I find that it’s quite a bit more expensive so we are a bit cheeky and go there to look and then find it for best price online!

So my OH might take 3 months paternity leave with me when little one is born. He still has about 3/4 months of leave from our DD and he brought up that maybe it would be nice to take that from May after his initial 2 weeks after this ones birth. He has to figure it out with work but legally they can’t deny it. But now I’m excited at possibly having 3/4 months off as a family! Would be awesome to have the help too. I’m trying not to get too excited as it’s not the best time for him to do it to his job so he might decide that he can’t morally do it to them, but he will discuss and see what they think!

 

[motherofboys]

Some really pretty names there, Sweden. It must be so hard having to look at every angle from two different languages.
I do most of my shopping on Amazon too. I'd just really like to have a wander and look at it all in person just for something to do.
That sounds great if your DH can take more time. Even of he feels he can't leave them for 3 months, and just takes am extra few weeks it'll be helpful. I don't think DH will be taking any this time because he was told that there was no work over the winter this year so will only be back to work in March. Then there's the worry they will do the same to him this winter so we have to be prepared for that and can't really have him take any time. I suppose at least I'll have help from the boys this time as they aren't little any more.

 

[swedengirl]

Yes even a few weeks would be great! Our neighbours and good friends recently had a baby and it’s reminded me how tough the fourth trimester can be with the fussy hours. So it’s kind of made me worry a bit how I’ll cope! That being said, I can now see how much knowledge I have to help them and also that I don’t instantly jump when she cries- I don’t think our DD went 5 seconds crying before me or OH picked her up. So I think you are also so quick to respond and react to the crying with the first one- but by the second you are a bit more used to the sound and maybe wait a bit more and often they settle themselves after a minute! Not that ill leave her crying but i won’t panic respond with every settling method as I might have done with DD, if you get what I mean? Just dreading the moment DD has a tantrum as the newborn cries- probably in the middle of the supermarket!

that’s a shame your DH can’t take time but as you say you have your older ones! I also like the walking round the shops- problem is it leads me to buy thing I really don’t need just because I get in the moment when I’m out and it all looks so gorgeous together!

 

[motherofboys]

I know what you mean about it all looking so gorgeous together. I have to really ask myself whether or not I actually need it. I'm just as bad with toys, I think wow they will love that and it's such a bargain, but then I have to think will they love it for a few months or a few hours haha

Thankfully DH doesn't work full time anyway due to his health (his work is quite physical and he had a repair on his heart a couple of years ago. He's also quite a bit older than me so it all takes it's toll. Eventually the plan will be to swap roles and I can work while he is home with the kids) so he will be around quite a bit, and if I'm feeding the baby I can ask one of the bigger ones to get the younger ones a drink. My main concern is if they are fighting or arguing when I'm trying to settle him.
You know the first time that they both kick off at once will be in public I really stress about that stuff but it can't be helped and doesn't last forever.

 

[star25]

Love the names Sweden and that’s amazing time off for dh!

Mother i keep thinking how hard it was when ds arrived and now I’m doing the exact same age gap again and this time with a 4 year old too lol
I’m sure somehow we will Cope, I’ll just try not to think about it til the time comes!

I’ve said to the childminder I will stop ds going 23rd March so that’s when I will start maternity leave, be just under 3 weeks before due date so hopefully i can go on that long, work isn’t an issue as it’s office work , it’s just getting there and back with dropping both kids off in 2 different places is Ben problem if I can’t get a lift from
Dh as I don’t drive and it’s mainly uphill!

 

[motherofboys]

You'll manage, ds1 had just turned 4 when ds3 arrived and it wasn't as bad as when I had ds2. A lot of people say the transition from 1 to 2 is the hardest, that was true for me but I suffered postnatal depression after ds2 to that's probably why I definitely found as babies ds3 and ds4 just sort of fit in to our lives, they napped on school runs, they had their baths at the same time as the others. There was a ready made routine.

 

[smileyfaces]

Hi all just wanted to share my 3d scan picture, hes growing nicely and measuring over 3lb already!

Hope everyone is well!

 

[motherofboys]

Awww he's so cute. Wow 3lb already.