Advice Request:
Here is this week's advice request:
-Is it worth spending twice as much to get a solid wood dresser instead of a composite wood dresser in hopes that baby girl will use it for a long while?
-Where and when should we register?
How I am feeling:
I have officially told the kids at school, which was nice. They were all so sweet about it. Some of them even clapped when I said it! I love 6th graders. I have also received a lot of emails from parents congratulating me. It's amazing how there is just an outpouring of love when you're pregnant. I also think it's awesome to have my bump a little bigger (did I just say that???). I have always been pretty overly critical about my weight, but I am LOVING having this belly. All of our friends, family and colleagues have just been so amazing to us and made us feel so loved. Can I be pregnant all the time??? (Let's see if I am still saying that in a few months!) Here is what I look like at 21 weeks:
Baby movement:
She is moving up a storm! I feel very attuned to her movements now because I can even tell where she is in my belly and I am learning her habits (i.e. when she moves and when she doesn't). Luckily she is very quiet while I am teaching, so that hasn't been too distracting. Darren felt her move for the first time last week and it was absolutely amazing. He was so excited! I think it started to become even more real to him because the next day he mentioned going to Home Depot to look at paint colors. His nesting instinct is kicking in too! Part of our nightly routine is now Darren putting his hand on my belly to feel her move and the smile he gets on his face is so pure and genuine it makes my heart melt. I think I am not only falling madly in love with my baby, but falling even MORE madly in love with my husband.
Shout Out
I need to give a shout out to my girl, Jess L., for surprising me by sending us a diaper bag for baby! It was such a nice surprise and we love the bag. It's even black, white and red - the HGMS colors!
Also, shout outs to Rachel and Jess R. for your great advice so far on my blog! Come on other moms, send your advice my way!
Nursery:
The big dilemma right now is the dresser. I hesitate to get a wood composite dresser because I would ideally like this to last, but the solid wood dressers are twice as much. This is not good for a family on a budget. I also worry because so many of the reviews I have read online say they are difficult to put together. We have found several that we like (again, they all kind of look the same):
We are still debating the color of the nursery as well. I am usually very good at decisions, but for some reason this is so hard for me. I think I want everything to be perfect for our little girl! I am putting pressure on myself to impress a newborn! How silly.
Favorite Names:
No major update there. Our favorites are still the same!
Labor and Birth:
I am searching for a birthing class right now. It's so difficult because Darren and I have crazy evening schedules with drama classes, tutoring, murder mystery rehearsals...etc. I found a few that meet on Saturdays, so I think we'll go that route. I wanted to take a Bradley birthing class but these classes run for 12 weeks straight on an evening, and most of them are 20-30 minutes away. That is just hard for us to commit to. Obviously this is important though, so we are going to make it work.
What I am reading:
I just started Husband-Coached Childbirth: The Bradley Method of Natural Childbirth by Robert A. Bradley. This book should give us some tips on how to cope with the pain of a natural childbirth as well as what to expect.
I am also planning to rent the documentary "The Business of Being Born". This was recommended to me by not only my friend, Jess, but also our doula. This documentary goes along with the amazing book I read by Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein, Your Best Birth.
I am also planning to rent the documentary "The Business of Being Born". This was recommended to me by not only my friend, Jess, but also our doula. This documentary goes along with the amazing book I read by Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein, Your Best Birth.
We registered at Babies R Us, which is great because it had a lot of the items there in the store to touch and feel (rather than having to do it online). However, I've often wished I'd registered at someplace like Target, because their prices seem to be a little lower, they're more accessible, and they've got more than just kid stuff (for all the gift cards you'll get, or when you have to return something for store credit). I hear a lot about BuyBuyBaby, but I think their brick-and-mortar stores are less common.
ReplyDeleteNo real help on the dresser: Decide if this is something you want baby (and subsequent siblings) to use for a long time. I imagine that right about the time you're getting bored with her furniture and ready for something new, another baby will come along, and you can put this stuff in his/her nursery and get your eldest some new stuff. But if you aren't planning on having any more kids, then a cheaper dresser might be fine... it'll be wearing out just about the time you're ready for some new stuff!
I love how this experience is bring you and Darren closer together! Don't forget to have him talk to her every night too; her ears are developed, and she can hear! I'll bet she'll even start responding! I will never forget Andrew's voice, every night while pregnant with Jake: "Hello baby, it's your daddy..." Also, save these blog posts in one long word document for her when she's older!
I didn't take Bradley courses, for the same, pressed-for-time reasons as you. However, I know people who have said they were the best decision ever. Not just because of what you learn, but who you meet. Just think, you'll be sitting in a class with 10 other fist-time-parent couples, all in the same place in life, going through the same stuff, all due at the same time. I've seen friendships formed in these classes last for years; through mommy-girl-time with newborns, to playdates, to birthday party guests! Your babies have ready-made friends!! But 30 minutes is a long way to drive for that!
Love your dresser choices :0) Isn't it horrible that I don't know what the difference between solid wood and composite wood are!? I guess that's why I rely on my mom and sister for everything.
ReplyDeleteI love being able to use my old bedroom furniture in Allie's room. It was the furniture I got when I was 11, so I guess that's a little different than baby furniture. But, it has lasted this whole time and saved us a lot of money when Allie was born.
Go with what will make you and Darren feel the most comfortable right now. It'll be great either way.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE your new diaper bag! I'll let Jess know that she can shop for me any day!