**********SUNDAY'S OPEN FORUM************

Hi Everyone! Hope you are all having a great day!

How are all the pregnant gals doing? Give me an update on how far along you all are, it's hard to keep track. And let me know if you know yet if it's a boy or a girl.

Any more BFP's?

CMN and Jayden's Mom are you having any pregnancy symptoms?

[Kristen26]

Hi, haven't heard from you in a while. How is your pregnancy going? How is DH doing? Is he recovering well from his valve surgery? Did he start cardiac rehab yet? Hope you are doing well.

[sthomab]

I am currently 26weeks 2days pregnant.  Only 96 more days left yah!  This is our first and it is a little boy. We dont have any names picked out just yet.  Poor thing wont have a name until he's 18.  I can'twait until July.  Suzie

[shari13]

Good morning!
Well I hope I havent jinxed anything, we went shopping yesterday (which is very rare for dh) and bought a rocker/glider chair with ottoman, and 2 maternity outfits! Now the chair is not "baby-ish" so if anything does go wrong, we can use it anywhere. But since Casual Friday's clothes are getting unconfortable, we thought, maybe we should get some. What a fricken challenge that was! I am sure that I would have bought all the clothes that I liked, even if it were 10 sets, but all we saw were 2 at the Burlington Coat factory. We went to a Maternity store, and it looked trashy! I mean, I dont get it. YOu see cute clothes on pg girls all the time, where are they getting them?
My husband mentioned that his first wife said she would only shop at Laura Ashley if ever she got pg. I havent checked it out yet, but I think I will go online today and check out JC Penny's and Dillards and Foley's.
Any suggestions?
Shari
14 weeks:)

[blondie72]

Hello - Angie here - I am 19.5 weeks along and we are thinking we are having a boy.  The u/s looked that way anyway.  If it is a boy we have decided on Christopher David William Woods.  If by some chance it is a girl we like Krista.  We have not agreed on a middle name.  I like Randelle because my dad's middle name is Randall and I wanted something close to that but somthing that sounded girly.  My DH is not to fond of that one though.  I am hoping for a boy I guess since I already have my girl.  I just wish I could start feeling more movement.  It makes me nervous.  Hopefully this will be my calm child who actually sleeps.  Well Good Luck to all of you preggers out there and to all who have had  recent BFP's.   Bye

[Kassimom]

Shari-SHUT UP!!! You are 14 wks and just started showing!!! LOL :) Girl I am only 9 wks and we had to go maternity shopping two weeks ago!!! ;) I went and bought only a few outfits because you are right, the MOtherhood store I went too only had uglly clothes. I asked the same question about cute clothes recently. YOu know what I did, I went on ebay and looked for cute maternity clothes, they always list brandname or where they purchased, then I go to that website and look there. Some are pricey, but to get jsut 2 or 3 outfits that make you feel amazing are so worth it considering you have to be big for half a year! Sorry but to me that's a LONG time to not wear something cute and comfy!

Everyone-I go for my second u/s tomorrow!! The appt is early in the morning so I probably won't get on right away. I have to get my OB panel done too. You know, they take my blood, urine, history, first born, etc. Wish me luck. I am hoping by some miracle that they find even the tiniest of winkies (I know, he/she is only 9 wks! but hey a Mom can hope right?) That way the mystery is over and I can shop!

[ni]

Did you ever try lightly tapping on your stomach?  When I was 19 weeks thats what I used to do to stimulate movement and it still works to this day. I felt it more when I was lying on on my back.  I used to get concerned too because I would only feel movement once in a while but JUST WAIT!  I get punched and kicked all the time now!  I first felt movement when I went for an US at 16 weeks but it was never consistent..Everyone is different...my friend did not feel movement until she was 20 weeks.

Gina

[shari13]

YOu are tooo funny! But this isnt your first baby, is it? I hear its normal to "show" earlier with the 2nd, 3rd.....
But I went to A pea in the Pod! I almost fell out of the chair! Almost 100.00 for a short skirt?!?!?! That Laura Ashley place, HA! They wont be getting any of my money:) I did just buy a real cute bathing suit from Motherhood Maternity, on line. Its navy blue with white poka dots and a ribbon around the belly. You see where my priorities are? I need work clothes and there I go to buy play clothes!
Next weekend, I hope to try a different mall!
How many outfits have you bought, so far?

[kat23]

Old Navy has great maternity clothes that aren't too expensive.
Also, check department stores - the ones in Canada have a good selection.  
karen edd nov. 8 (12 weeks today!)

[ni]

Gap online has good deals.  If they don't fit you can exchange them at any gap store.

[shari13]

thank you! I will go on line today. Maybe if i get the energy, I will go to old navy, its not far from here. but i need a nap first. LOL

[Kassimom]

LOL-Hey you need play clothes too! None of my shorts or t-shirts fit me! I bought only 3 outfits when I went the other day and didn't realize that I would NEED to wear all 3 everyday. Didn't realize how big I had gotten!  

Yes this is my 2nd baby but still!! Showing at 7 wks!! :)

Old Navy does have cute stuff. Gap is okay, I like colorful and Gap maternity tends to be too "Gap" for me!! :) I like pretty feminine and colorful and Gap to me retails alot of more khaki-neutrals.I did buy a pair of small khaki maternity pants and they are SOOO comfy. I like Mimi, too. SOMETIMES they have super cute things. A friend of mine bought a crochet tank that was rainbow colors last year, and I haven't been able to find it online! they also have cute halters and strapless for going out to dinners, or summer BBQ's. Now THAT is the kind of maternity I am talking. Not that stupid mumu **** most stores try to sell you on.

[msklar]

Hi, well as far as having children close together, I think a 2 year gap is a very common choice. My first two are 25 months apart. and then my baby is close to 2 1/2 yrs younger. I am not sure about the age thing, although I will be dealing with it. I just turned 30, but I still want one more. I do not want one more for a couple of years though. There is a risk in waiting too long as far as fertility, but it is all individual. You may still be fertile when your 40.. Hard to say on that call..

If you are ready now though, I say go for it. I think 2 years is plenty of spaceing...

Good luck

[andileigh]

Ok I hate to bring everyone down but I am a bit bummed out...I started yesterday morning so no baby this month...as if that weren't enough I was completely crampy all day, so not only was i bummed but I didn't feel well either :o(

Oh well, guess we'll start trying in a week...my cycle is only 25 days so it seems that all I do is bleed or wait since there are so few days when i'm fertile.

Don't know if there is a website but there's a clothing store here in town for maternity clothes called "Pickles & Ice Cream"  haven't been in but I liked the name!

Good luck
Andrea

[andileigh]

ok so i checked and you can't buy online but if there is a store in the area the clothes look cute...hope this helps

[silo]

I got tons of maternity clothes at Pickles and Ice Cream about a month ago.  They have the cutest clothes I've ever seen.  They're pretty expensive, but I sure look cute!LOL  I think I'll just take all of my maternity clothes to a consignment store after the baby's born.  At least I'll get SOME of the money back that I spent.  You can't see their clothes on their website..kinda stinks.  I'm not sure where all of their locations are either.  I live in Dallas and a friend lives in Toledo, Ohio.  She told me that there's one in Toledo.

[andileigh]

You can't shop online but the Louisville,KY store will show you the clothes in the store.  There are locations in Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Louisiana, South Carolina, Texas, Kentucky, Ohio, and Virgina

I'm anxious to get pregnant so I can shop there :o)

[shari13]

ok, I'm awake now. I had to take a shower to REALLY wake up. I had such big plans for today, laundry, vacume, general cleaning.... all down the drain. I may still get some things done, but.
DH left today for Costa Rica. He will be back home Friday night. So, I can be on line every night when I get home. Its easier that way, Its hard to keep up with everyone when you miss a couple days. dh gets jealous of my time when i am on line, but since I have told him that I have met people who have similar situations as us, he is a little more understanding. The parts he really likes to hear are of the people who are a couple weeks ahead of us, so he knows what to expect. He is so funny sometimes.
Time to walk the doggies. Talk to ya again soon
Oh yeah, when i get back and start the laundry, I will go online to check out ebay, old navy and the gap. Thank you girls:)
shari

[riley722]

hi everyone
i have never posted before.  i have read through many of the past postings and am looking for some advice and wisdom.  i apologize if this isn't the right place to do this.  i will be 32 in june and have a 14 month old son.  we are almost weaned and my periods have returned.  i would like to have another child but cannot decide if it is better to start trying again asap or to wait another year or so.  i've heard and read too many scary things about having a baby after 35.  anyone out there been through this?  how hard is it physically to be pregnant again so soon?  what about having children so close in age?  what about dropping fertility rates as you age?
good luck to all of you out there.  and thanks for your input.

[jaydens mom]

Hi thanks for all your responses i was feeling positive up until i took another test this am and no faint line(i checked back 15 minutes later and there were 2 dark lines but not sure if its b/c i left it there so long) I have some symptoms, sore bbs, somewhat of frequent urination and eating all day long(not the good part). I am going to call the dr tomorrow and make an appointment. do you think i still may be pregnant? I hope so!!!!!

[Still_AndiJ]

I have one word for maternity clothes...eBay!! I have bought a ton of really cute lots of maternity clothes off of ebay. I get more compliments on my maternity wear and the best part is I have gotten close to 1000 dollars worth of clothes for under 100 dollars!! Another place I had never thought to look but stumbled upon yesterday while looking for a nursing gown was Value Village. I went in there yesterday and hit the motherload. Tons of great deals on nursing wear and maternity stuff. I was able to get a set of nursing jammies (shorts and shirt), a nursing gown, a maternity dress, nursing shirt, and a really cute sleeveless nightgown for under 30 bucks!! They all look brand new and are all the famous brand names (motherhood, laura ashley, gap) I would rather buy used and nearly new for less than 1/10 the price!!

Good luck!!

Andrea

[shari13]

Hi, that's what happened to me, except I threw the test away and my dh got it out of the trash about 10-15 later. So, its very possible. Good luck! BestWishes!
shari

[Kristen26]

I took an Answer brand hpt yesterday. It was a BFN, so maybe this is not my month. I guess it's not really over until AF shows, but my hopes are not up anymore. I'm officially depressed now. I know I can get pregnant, I just was in November!!! And I didn't even really try then! Thanks for everyone's support, I know others have been on this maybe I'm pregnant rollercoaster. I'm hoping that I soon will be pregnant too. I turn 27 Aug 30th, so that's my new goal, Babies before 27!!! Wish me luck!

[Kassimom]

I like ebay too for cute maternity clothes. My only concern is pants... although I bought a brand new pair of the cutest pants the other day from there (NWT Motherhood) and they are a little big, so at least I know I CAN wear them eventually!

riley-I have heard so many conflicting things myself about age spacing and what is too close or too far apart. My DD will be 6 when I deliver in Nov and I woudln't have it any other way. I have enjoyed focusing on her for 5 yrs and when the baby is born she is less likely to have jealousy issues and regression to deal with on top of a newborn. For me presonally I would never want two in diapers or one potty training with one in diapers.

HOWEVER, I have several friends with babies close together and THEY say they woudln't have it any other way either! In fact one of them found out she was pg with her second at her 6 wk post partum checkup!! She had her second child before her first was 1 yr old!!  But she says she loves it that way! It's like raising twins she says!

My point is, that what is right for youm is right for you as a mother! There is no magic age range that is perfect, just perfect for your individual family! If you want them 2 yrs apart, get to BDing girl and try for that 2nd baby!