Our first play date

Ben and I went to visit a friend, Sandra, and her 5 month old for a play date yesterday. We had a great time (as Sandra and I always do). The boys are a bit young to do much interacting, but her son was having fun rolling over onto Ben. It was really nice to just sit and chat and talk about baby things from someone who is going through similar things.

I was able to weigh Ben, since they have a scale. He is now 13 lbs. 11 oz. Oh, and he is also able to wear a couple of 6 to 9 month outfits without looking like he is swimming in them.

Other updates....Ben is fighting naps. I have come to count on this time to get some stuff done, have some time free, and not have him in my arms. I think it may be the pre-teething that is making him uncomfortable. The only time he naps anymore is in my arms. He wakes within 5 minutes of being put down. He is also sitting, unsupported for 4 to 7 seconds. Not much, but quite good for his age. He is also regularly rolling to his side from his back, sucking on 3 fingers (on both hands, no choice of which 3 and sometimes from both hands at once), and playing with rattles and grasping them a bit.

We have some fun pictures from the play date, but no time to upload them now. They will be coming soon.

Basic Baby care and a slight change in plans

Class last night was quite good (as we have come to expect from this instructor). When we arrived, Jeff joked that we were taking this class for him, not for me. Although that was much of why we took the class, I learned a lot of information and got some "hands on" experience with certain things. We were walked through swaddling (something new for me), umbilical stump care, circumcision care, diapering with both cloth and disposable diapers, a variety of options for baby wipes, sponge baths, regular baths and dressing the baby. Apparently the next class, Preparing to be a Parent is much more vital and has lots of important information in it.

One of the topics discussed was diapering and cloth diapers. Susan (the instructor) went over some of the things she would be concerned about with washing your own cloth diapers, including a build up of bacteria in a dry pail. Although I have been able to find nothing to support this, it did get Jeff and I talking again about whether a diaper service is more feasible than washing our own diapers. I came home and began rereading everything I could find about washing cloth diapers and noticed one thing I had somewhat overlooked. Most sites suggest at least a double rinse and a presoak. Seeing as we do not have our own washer and there is no control allowing for either of these things in our apartment laundry room, we have decided that using a diaper service is our best option. In addition to the lack of our own washer, if my Fibromyalgia comes back, having less laundry to haul back and forth from the laundry room is definitely a good option.

So, I have gone through our gift lists and updated them, removing several items we won't need (cloth diapers, large wet bags), leaving ones we will (small wet bags, diaper covers) and adding information about giving a gift certificate for the diaper service we will be using.

2 months left

Wow, time sure goes fast. We have 8 weeks left until our due date. Finished the breastfeeding class. Tomorrow we go and get a new computer monitor and break down Jeff's computer. By the end of the week we hope to have my computer and desk moved into the living room and most of the other extra furniture out of the room so we can really start prepping for Roo to make an arrival. We are hoping to have the room clear and ready for new furniture and such by the baby shower on the 27th. After the shower, we'll start ordering the things we need to have (such as diapers, etc.) so that we will have everything set and ready to go early in case Roo decides to arrive early.

All is continuing to go well. Tiredness and frequent bathroom breaks have become common place. Roo's movements are much stronger and often more like pushing than kicking or punching. At time they make me jump and wince a bit. I will be heading to a couple of nursing stores to look at my options for bras and what not, since I definitely need to get something that helps my back hurt less and that I will be comfortable in for a while. Next Doc appointment is Thursday.

Coughs and Clothes

Went off to an SCA war (week long camping event) last week and had a wonderful time, except for a few things. First, people telling me what I can not do because I am pregnant got very old very quickly. Second, the sneezes and sniffles that I thought were just allergies progressed into a running nose and cough, making me quite miserable when waking in the morning and several times throughout the day, being at it's worst while camping on Saturday resulting in my decision to go home early on Sunday instead of Monday. Lastly, on Saturday, I started to have wicked round ligament pains in my left hip which radiated down to my leg. That was quite painful, made it difficult to walk, sit, and lie down, and screamed at me each time I coughed. Saturday night culminated with my hormones running rampant and having a hormonal, irrational bout of sobbing. My attempts to calm it myself failed, so I got Jeff, who helped me calm down enough to finally go to sleep (at the early hour of 9 p.m.). I awoke Sunday morning feeling better. The cough was less and the ligament pain had subsided for the most part.

I was very happy with my decision to come home on Sunday. It meant I was able to drive the car home instead of the truck, all packed down, which was a bit easier. I got home, rested and watched the (sad) Packers game. Monday resulted in my cough getting even worse and my body aching. Driving home with that would have been torture. I woke Tuesday morning feeling much better and having one more day of work off realized the bras I have been wearing no longer are comfortable or really work at all. Knowing that I started wearing a 34DD (also known as a E) an have grown in the bust close to 3", I chose to go shopping at a wonderful bra shop about 45 minutes away. I got there, was measured and am now comfortably wearing a 34G. While up in that area, I chose to go to a mall where I knew there were at least 2 maternity clothes shops (2x the number of any malls near home) and managed to get myself 3 henley shirts, 3 sweaters, and 2 pairs of jeans. I am quite happy to have some more clothes again. I still need to find another pair or two of suitable work pants.

Apparently, however, the trip shopping and my lungs did not agree. Since arriving home from shopping, my cough has been worse than others, at times making me feel like I was about to vomit or as if I am drowning. Yesterday (Thursday) I finally broke down and called the Dr. office to find out what cough syrup is safe for me and Roo. I promptly sent Jeff out to pick some up for me and found an immediate relief. Without the syrup, the cough is still unbearable. I plan on making an appointment to see the doctor either Monday or Tuesday if the coughing does not subside when off the medication over the weekend.