It ain’t easy being green-chested
Friday, February 19, 2010
24 weeks, 5 days pregnant
I mentioned yesterday that my boobs look like a roadmap, and thought that probably deserves more of an explanation — I don’t want to freak out preggo newbies!
Boys, you can stop reading now — this is about to get very T.M.I. Seriously. There will be much discussion of boobs in a very un-sexy way.
Nothing about my breastiness has been the same in a long time — like since Week 6 or something. They hurt like hell, they got bigger, they stayed bigger, etc. In short, they are nothing like they used to be. *Tear*
They’ve been vein-y for quite a while, too. But it’s just in the last week or so that I’ve noticed a lot more veins. And they’re so bright! GREEN and BRIGHT and VERY VISIBLE through my pale skin. Creepy! Although it’s entertaining to flash them at Little Sis and freak her out.
Some quick Googling has reassured me that, like most gross things about pregnancy, it’s normal to be vein-y in the boob region. The veins are caused by your increased blood supply, and will go away after you give birth (or after you stop breast-feeding).
I’m very glad the veins are doing whatever they need to do, in order to help Baby Boy get big and strong, but yecccccch. These are tats only Kermit could love.
This is "sew" freaking adorable
Thursday, February 18, 2010
24 weeks, 4 days pregnant
I am SO making one of these car-caddies for Baby Boy! It’s like a carrying-case for Barbies, only … manlier!
Darling Husband had a huge collection of cars when he was younger — I’m not allowed to call them “dinkies,” because he says he used to get mad when people called them that. “Dinkies are stinkies,” — I believe was the exact retort.
Anyway, he loved those cars, so I’m sure our little boy will inherit his daddy’s love of all things horsepower.
Five things about the end of the second trimester
Thursday, February 18, 2010
24 weeks, 4 days pregnant
- Just when I think, “Wow, I’m really getting bigger!” … I get bigger still.
- My boobs are starting to look like a road-map of bright green veins. It’s as scary as it sounds.
- It’s one thing to pee a lot. But it’s much more annoying to feel like you have to pee desperately, only to barely pee at all. What gives???
- My linea nigra not only goes from my belly button down, but also up until it reaches my bra. It’s like I have a huge zipper down the front of me. When did that happen?
- I can forsee a time … in the not-too-distant future … where it will be hard to wipe my butt. Will it ever become impossible? Surely nature would not allow that.
The scoop (the poop?) on cloth diapers
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
24 weeks, 2 days pregnant
So Darling Husband and I will be cloth-diapering Baby Boy …
*dramatic pause*
… C’mon, somebody is going to argue with that, right? I decided that cloth diapers were the way to go more than a year ago — yup, Laptops to Lullabies has been around that long, peeps! — and since then, I have gotten a lot of snickers, raised eyebrows, and outright mocking about our decision to use cloth.
But I have held my ground, done my research, examined the options, and have even started stocking up on cloth diapers.
Luckily, I have had a virtual ally in Amalah over AlphaMom.com. She has used cloth diapers on her two sons, and has written several awesome posts all about cloth diapers.
I’ve compiled some of her best tips and advice, and arranged them so we, the cloth-diapering pioneers, can use them as retorts to all of the non-believers:
For people who say cloth diapers leak:
- Cloth diapers are better than disposables at containing explosive poops. Proven!
- BumGenius tend to be the best at preventing leaks and blow-outs, because of their ruffled leg-bands.
For people who think you have to soak dirty diapers in the toilet (like the olden days):
- For breastfed poops, you don’t even have to rinse off the diapers before putting them in your pail. Seriously. Amalah says “It’s like washing mustard-coloured water.”
- When the poops become more solid (when they’re eating solid food), you can always use flushable liners if rinsing the diapers grosses you out.
- Or you can use a plastic spatula to get it off.
- OR you can use a diaper sprayer that hooks up to the toilet. Awesomeness.
For people who say your nursery will reek of dirty cloth diapers:
- Storing your cloth diapers in a dry pail is the best.
- It can even be a garbage can — anything with a tight lid and a liner.
- Remember that you will have already shaken the poo into the toilet, before storing the diaper. So really, your nursery should smell less than a nursery with a reeking Diaper Genie full of pooey disposables.
- If you have a washer/dryer in your place, it’s actually more convenient to put on a load of laundry than running garbage bags outside.
For people who say the diapers will be permanently stained:
- Charlie’s Soap is apparently the BEST soap to use on your cloth diapers. It’s all-natural but gets the diapers very clean.
- If the microfiber inserts get a bit stained over time, you can wash them separately with a tiny bit of bleach. Your baby will not grown horns.
Thanks to Amalah’s tips and advice, I am totally confident with the decision! We have eight diapers so far, and I spent last night playing around with the snaps and velcro tabs. I was thrilled to hear that they make the same crinkly pat-pat sound as disposables when you pat the little butts. Adorable!
Little aprons
Monday, February 15, 2010
24 weeks, 1 day pregnant
Just saw this super-cute apron pattern over at Nap Time Journal, and decided that I definitely want my son to have an apron of his own. Masculine ones, of course!
I’m not a parent yet, but it seems that getting your kids interested in cooking and baking can only be helpful. They’re with you (rather than doing God knows what in the other room, unattended), they’re learning about measuring and healthy ingredients, and they might develop an interest in the culinary arts — enough to cook for you, when they’re old enough!
My mom taught me how to make scrambled eggs when I was nine or so, and it was a great skill to have. She also taught Little Sis how to make coffee, and we got a huge kick out of making her breakfast in bed. My mom’s a smart lady!
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