We had DS3's blessing yesterday, which was nice. My favorite thing was seeing DH, my dad, and my brother (2 months home from his mission) standing together in the circle. DS1 has been sick - he had a fever Saturday night - so we only stayed for Sacrament meeting. I was kind of sad over that because I was hoping that with extra hands to help take DS1 to class I could *finally* make it to Relief Society. I feel bad that we've lived here for two months and I haven't been able to make it to RS yet. On the plus side, next week is General Conference! I'm looking forward to it for many reasons, not the least of which is not having to worry about the logistics of sunday/church.

It wasn't until Casino Royale came out that I had any interest in watching the Bond movies... I'd "kind of" watched them, known what was going on etc but Daniel Craig is exactly how I always pictured Bond in my head. Love, love, love Casino Royale. QoS... meh, it is alright but not great. I really enjoyed Skyfall and found it interesting (and enjoyed!) how much emotional plot they put into it as far as looking at pasts, regrets, loyalty etc.

Well, I'm hoarding a box or two of various resources for high school that I saved from some of my college classes... many of which took place before my first was even born. So... I agree that I wouldn't buy any curriculum very far in advance but literature and reference materials? Yeah, I'd hoard boxes and boxes of them without second thought.

I figured I'd start one :tongue_smilie: Background info: 1st pregnancy: induced @ 37.5 weeks, 21 hour labor, baby boy, 7lbs 13 ounces, 20 inches long 2nd pregnancy: went to 40 weeks 6 days, 5 hour labor, baby boy, 8 lbs 14 ounces, 21.5 inches long current pregnancy: currently 40+1, baby dropped nice and low (surprised my midwife, lol, that baby's head was right there when she did an internal check last night), as of last night I was dilated to a 4 and 'easily' 80% effaced. I had her sweep my membranes on the small chance that it *might* encourage baby a little (My mom is coming down to help next Tuesday and can only stay through Sunday and I would much rather she be here in a "helping with a new baby capacity" than a "be here while I give birth" capacity). other: there is a history of larger, or at least long, babies on both sides of the kid's genetic makeup. My dad was almost 11lbs at birth and 23.5 inches, DH was the shortest of his siblings @ birth (20.5 inches) but the largest at 9.5lbs - his brothers were 21 and 22.5 inches respectively and both right around 7.5lbs. Ready... Set... Go... !

Canada :glare:

Just wanted to clear up that my mom did bail on the phone call as soon as she realized the type of call it was. She apparently told MIL that it was extremely unrealistic to ask us to do that for them at this point in our lives and that if they couldn't afford the trip that they shouldn't take it. End of conversation, which apparently happened Sunday evening and my mom only mentioned it to me because I mentioned something about MIL when I was talking to my mom earlier today (about her being here in the immediate postpartum period to help out for a few days). In-laws are definitely not coming right after baby is born. Baby's due date is Thursday and they're not coming until July. Thank heavens. MIL and I have butted heads a few times over things in the past (extended breastfeeding, cosleeping, homeschooling) and I've definitely come out "on top" every time. I have no doubt that we'll go toe to toe more in the future. I'm also 100% sure that I can chew her up one side and down the other without issue. I can be nasty when I want/need to. I just wish I didn't have to be nasty - especially because my FIL is such a nice guy. How those two people ended up together is a mystery that I will never, ever be able to solve. They're what I think of whenever I hear "opposites attract".

Yes, she called my mother. I didn't even know she had my mother's phone number... (caught my mom off guard too... she had long since forgotten that she had given it to my MIL! My grandmothers were really close friends - a friendship that developed after my parents got married and I think my mom was hoping that a somewhat similar relationship with develop between her and my MIL. My mom thrives on family closeness/togetherness). They don't live in the same country, let alone the same town, and have only ever been in the same place/time once - for our wedding. So it is definitely a boundary thing with MIL. I not sure if it is some faulty wiring somewhere, a choice, or both but she has absolutely no concept of anything outside of how it relates to her and her immediate needs/wants. Yes, by "space for them" I mean a physical bedroom at the front of the house. It is nearish the boys' room, but there is a hall and a bathroom in between. If we didn't have a room we could put them in they wouldn't be staying with us. (Ah, next year... when I can use the excuse of needing that room for baby). We've talked with her a few times, and it will help for about a day but that's about it. Honestly, if it was just MIL we'd be done with her forever, happily, but (for better or worse) FIL loves her and is very devoted to her. He knows how things stand (it is one of his chief regrets that he wasn't home more when DH was a kid to stop the emotional abuse that went on during the day) and has expressed, multiple times, over the last 5 years that if it comes to the point that we have to cut ties with MIL that he understands. However, just by the nature of the kind of guy he is it would also mean by and large cutting ties with him because even though he agrees with us he sees it as his duty to stand by his wife. And we don't want to cut ties with him. He is loving, kind, helpful, and really just a joy to be around - not to mention he is my DH's best friend. I do have no doubt that as soon as finds out that she called my mother for the reasons that she did that my mom will be getting a pretty bouquet and an apology letter. As much as MIL has complained in the last couple of days, FIL has apologized and done his best to distract MIL. She'll stop complaining, for the most part, in a week or so when she figures that she has gotten enough mileage out the situation. The longer I know my MIL the more I think on my DH's initial instructions on dealing with her - "Think of her like a half-grown lab puppy: imperfectly trained and in need of almost constant redirection and socialization."

Well wishes and prayers :grouphug:

My in-laws have officially booked (as of last Saturday) their plane tickets for their annual trip to visit us. Mixed feelings about this. I love my FIL. Honestly, he is one of the kindest people I have ever met. My MIL on the other hand... well, she's not the worst MIL possible, but she is far, far from being a good one. Hence the need to vent, just a little bit, so I don't reach through the phone/computer and attempt to throttle her the next time she wants to talk with me. Like I said... reservations made Saturday. Since then she has: 1) Complained, multiple times about how much the plan tickets cost. Never mind that we found them a better deal than the one they got (would have saved them about $500) but she insisted on using a travel agent that attends their church because of course that automatically meant they would get the best deal. (FWIW, FIL agreed with us, so MIL waited and bought the tickets while he was at work to prove that she could get the better deal... and now we are all getting to listen to her complain) 2)Tried to insist that DH pay for their rental car. We won't have a vehicle big enough by then (and right now we're a one vehicle family) for them to ride with us. We do owe them a little bit of money that they lent us while DH was unemployed, so we offered to use that amount (which we are currently saving up) to pay for their rental and then give them the remaining $ via check... but they would rather just have it as a lump sum (which I completely understand, but this leads us to point three...) 3)Called my mother to tell her that she needs to tell me to "convince" (ie, make) DH pay for the car rental anyway because the "trip is so expensive" 4) Despite repeating, several times, that DH would not be able to take that much work off... she booked the trip for 2 weeks, instead of 1. In theory, I have no problem with this. I understand that this is the only time of year that they get to see their son and grandkids... FIL will be fine and thoroughly enjoy the extra time with the kids. MIL is already complaining that DH won't be home the entire time... 5)Apparently MIL told my mom that the reason she booked the trip for two weeks was because she is just sure that this baby is a girl and she wants lots of time to spend with her. Which, I'll be honest, just really, really pisses me off. I get that she always really wanted a little girl and got 3 boys "instead", but after hearing stories about the crap my DH put up with growing for daring to be that third boy, and getting to see how she treats him in general... this just makes me really, really angry. Angry to the point of shaking, angry. Because while FIL is the very epitome of doting, loving grandpa... MIL's visits typically go like this; Arrive, be happy to see grandkids, buy them a gift or two, take some pictures, and proceed to complain to me/ try to scold them for the rest of the visit because they won't leave her alone/ be quiet so that she can focus on her facebook games. I'm used to her quirks/ emotional abuse tendencies and have figured out how to work around/with her to minimize their impact on DH and the kids... except now the kids (especially DS1) are getting old enough to take notice of these sorts of actions and the thousand, stupid, thoughtless things I'm sure she'll say that DH, FIL, or myself won't be able to cut off fast enough. And if this baby is a girl I know she is going to want absolutely nothing to do with the boys and will pretty much try to ignore them completely. If baby is a boy then I'll get to listen to her feel sorry for me for having the dreaded three boys and she'll keep telling me something along the lines of 'you have to stop having kids now... you can't possibly risk having FOUR boys!" Of course, if baby is a girl I'll get the similar thread of "Now that you have a girl you can stop having kids!' No, I'm sorry, it doesn't really work that way for us... (Is it completely awful that my knee jerk reaction is to really want baby to be a boy just to tick her off even though gender really doesn't matter at all to me?) 6) They will be staying with us. For the whole two weeks. Once again, FIL = fine, MIL = both DH and I freaking out, just a little bit. In the past we never had a place big enough for them to stay... but now we do and so staying in a hotel doesn't even really register as an option for them, especially because it would add another $1000 + to their trip total. And wow, this got really long. Sorry 'bout that... :rant: ETA: I do feel the need to add that DH has already stated, multiple times, that he won't let his mom put his boys through the crap she dished out to him growing up, even if he has to throw her out. That both relieves some of my stress and adds to it.

I've found that I prefer digital for church (takes up so much less space than carrying around my quad) but that I prefer having a physical copy in my hands for at-home study. Church went pretty well this week. DS2 fell asleep during sacrament meeting so I sat with him after it ended and let him snooze on the bench until he woke up (was kind of mad that I didn't have my scriptures with me then - talk about a missed opportunity!) and then I went with him to nursery for the rest of the 2nd hour. That went really well up until the last few minutes when one of the other kids had a rather impressive meltdown because he didn't want snack time to be over, which scared DS2 enough that he stopped being social and crawled up on my lap and didn't want anything to do with anybody else after that. DH took DS1 to primary and while DS enjoyed singing time/sharing time he was definitely very nervous and wouldn't budge from DH's lap the entire time. After the 2nd hour he realized that it had been a whole hour since he'd seen mama and his brother and between thinking that we had gotten lost in the new church and the attempted transition between singing time and class... suffice to say we came home after the second hour. Part of me feels we should have "stuck it out" and not 'rewarded' him by coming home... but I was happy to come home as well (both the benches in the chapel and the little seats in nursery = killer on hips/back. Not to mention that the only dress-y shoes I have are heels which are rather uncomfortable at 39weeks pregnant...).

Bouncy chair Woven wrap Not a Moby - stretchy wraps are nice for the first few weeks but wovens are much more supportive and can do so much more! I currently have a Girasol in a size 7 (5.2 meters). I'm shorter and quite fluffy with some lower back issues... I cannot express how much I love my wrap and how comfy it is to wear! More wraps are definitely on my baby wish list. Mei Tei baby carrier I have a BabyHawk and am kind of freaking out a little that I'm almost done unpacking and I haven't found it yet. If I can't find it soon I'll be ordering another, pronto. It supports baby's weight a lot like a woven wrap does, ie: no back pain for me! Flannel blankets - the homemade kind, that way I can pick out the fabrics and have it be the size I want!

Like the others have said... as long as you're not eating junk you are probably fine. Don't feel guilty. I say this, but if I'd probably be paranoid too... I've always heard that with boys you tend to have that 'always hungry' feeling. It will be interesting to see if it holds true for me. With both DS1 and 2 I was hungry pretty much all the time. DS1 was 7lbs13 oz (induced at 37.5 weeks) and I gained about 35lbs with him. DS2 was 8lbs 14 oz (at 6 days past his due date) and I gained 30lbs while pg with him. Baby #3 (gender unknown) has been different. With the occasional, random, never the same day-to-day exception all food sounds pretty icky, even now at 38w 5 days. Gained 26lbs so far. Big babies run in my family (my dad was 10lbs 15oz and 23.5 inches long!! Whole new level of respect for my grandma, lol!) and DH's family (he was was 9.5lbs).

Neither DH or I really mind bringing him to class with us but it is something we are kind of gun shy about. My parents' ward didn't have a problem with it (he's very well behaved) but the ward before that... there were definitely some people who had a problem with it (even though he wasn't disruptive) and were very vocal to us (and everyone else) about it and quite cruel to DS1 over it. It is why we went to being a "sacrament meeting only" family for over a year and a half. Getting in contact with the primary president and his teacher (there are two sunbeam classes!) is definitely on my to do list. I also like the idea of having some of his classmates over to play/make cookies. As mentioned he usually does fine in singing/sharing time. In our last ward he was fine sitting with his class as long as DH was still in the back of the room and he could run back to DH for a hug if he got overwhelmed - usually during sharing time. He loves singing time. We sing a lot at home already. We usually end up singing throughout the day and we have a routine of primary songs that have to be sung after he's said his prayers and been tucked in bed every night. He has never done super well being away from myself or DH (unless he is with my parents, siblings, or best friend), even as a baby. New places and people make him anxious because he is afraid that he will get left, which is always his response if asked why he doesn't like [insert new place/person]. He calmed down to "just nervous" by the time the passing of the sacrament rolled around yesterday because even though the people/building where different it was still the same routine, same words, familiar songs etc... Outside of that he is a friendly, outgoing, inquisitive kid.

We just moved to a new area last week so yesterday was our first sunday in our new "branch" (branch in " " because, even though it was just split off one of the other 2 wards in the area a few weeks ago it has an average sunday attendance of around 250...). I am cautiously optimistic about it. We spent the last 6 months living with family and attending one of the wards that I grew up in, in which my dad is currently the bishop - so altogether a very, very supportive, loving ward which is exactly what we needed because the ward that we were in for the 4 years prior to that was simply... not good. We only stayed for sacrament meeting yesterday (DH and DS1 were/are fighting colds) but it took us almost half an hour to leave the chapel because we were repeatedly ambushed by people welcoming us to the "branch" and wanting to get to know us. The RS president also seems to very nice and very on top of things... she called me last week the day after we moved in to chat and made sure I had a Visiting Teacher assigned to me by yesterday (a lovely woman who stopped by last night with fresh, homemade cookies to make sure I knew who she was and that I had her contact info... very helpful given that #3 is due on the 21st). If I'm being honest, I'm desperately hoping that this good, welcoming trend continues. We are desperately in need of being in a ward that is a good fit for us. The ward we were in for the first fourish years of our marriage was very unkind to us... especially so to DS1 for the last 18 months we were there. It very much sucked all of our love, even our "like", for the church and the gospel right out of DH and I and made DS1 terrified of church. (Thankfully, the time spent in my parents' ward has taken a lot of that fear away for him) Question: DH and I are really not sure how to handle 2nd & 3rd hours... DS1 is sunbeam age but still cannot go to class by himself. He'll attend singing/sharing time (and enjoy it) if DH goes with him but he still goes into an all out panic attack if we try to take him to his actual class... even if one of us stays with him. While we do want to eventually attend class it is not something we're willing to push too far...(ie: more than taking him there and sitting with him as long as he is comfortable doing so) because the last time we tried more he became so terrified/anxious of church that we couldn't even get him to go into the building for almost 2 months. So we're not sure what to do there, especially because DS2 is just barely nursery age and while he is much more laid back and easy going (no anxiety like with DS1) we did just move to a strange new place with strange new people and church now meets at 1pm - naptime - so we doubt that just dropping him off at nursery would work at this point, ignoring the fact that we're not super comfortable doing that anyway until we get to know the nursery leaders a little. Add in the fact that I'll be having a baby in the next couple of weeks and both DH and I would like to attend some of the adult classes, if only so we can get to know people and listen to the lesson (we're trying to get that like/love back)... :svengo: Any suggestions?

Last night - Pot Roast w/ carrots, mashed potatoes, and gravy Tonight - homemade pizza, fresh veggie sticks Tuesday - Spaghetti w/ meat sauce, garlic bread, salad Wednesday - Chicken Sausage Rice Casserole, broccoli Thursday - Maple Dijion Pork Chops, Rice Pilaf, Green Beans, homemade peppermint patties Friday - Parmesan chicken, alfredo noodles, whatever veg is left in the fridge (probably broccoli or green beans) Saturday - Nachos/ Tacos I'm also making a white lasagna, beef toquitoes, shepherd's pie, chicken corn chili, and a few extra homemade pizzas to stick in the freezer to have on hand for when #3 makes his/her appearance.

I hate waiting. :grouphug: Praying that you get good news very soon!

I'm so excited to getting back to eating this way. We've spent the last 6 months living with my family and my mom is very carb-centered in her eating/cooking/grocery shopping. In preparation for next week's move I've finally allowed myself to make menu plans and shopping lists... who thought such a thing could be so thrilling?? I'm not even planning on doing anything "drastic", like getting rid of potatoes or bread... just the simple luxury of moving back to the "real food", high produce (especially vegs), high protein, high fat diet that has worked well for me in the past.

Not a Herp owner yet but I love reptiles and amphibians... (and, well, pretty much all animals). DH really loves the looks of the Jackson's Chameleons... the man will seriously go out of his way any time we pass any form of pet shop to see if they have "his lizard"... so I have no doubt that we'll end up with one of them someday. I like lizards in general but what I really love are snakes (especially the albino and pale-colored variations. Show me and I'll swoon!) and turtles... Lets not even get into our homestead/livestock, dog showing/breeding, fish tanks (fresh and saltwater), and animal rescue involvement plans...

Breakfast - 6:30 2nd Breakfast/ Snack - 9ish/9:30 Lunch - 12 Snack - 3 Dinner - 6 DH usually has another snack again around 9pm.

I agree. I can remember, vividly, climbing out of my crib at 18 months, untangling my leg from the Christmas lights that were hung around my crib because I found them soothing, and getting into a box of Vanilla wafers because I was hungry. On the other hand one of my best friends doesn't remember much of what happened before she was ten or so.

Juice of half to a whole of a lemon (I like mine more bitter, DH likes his a little less so) mixed with a mug of hot water and a couple teaspoons of honey. Bonus points if the honey is raw and/or local. Or, if I'm not feeling in the mood for lemon... cut an inch of ginger root and toss it and a couple cups of water into a saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce and simmer for 5-10 minutes. Fill mug approx 2/3 the way full of ginger water, add a little sugar or honey, some milk, and top with a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Thanks everyone :) The company will be moving the majority of our stuff (currently in storage in UT - we're with family in NC) and we'll be driving down with most of the basics that we brought with us (my family will bring some of the larger gift type items - ie: christmas presents from grandma - and the kids' summer/extra clothes out with them when they come in a month or so to visit after baby arrives). It's an 18 hour drive that we're planning on splitting between 2 days. I guess I'm not so much worried about the getting stuff there part as I am the unpacking and settling in part... mainly because all the nesting urges I've been suppressing for a while will finally have an outlet. Knowing me, I'll probably over do it a little. So I'm trying to brainwash myself right now to take it easy and go slow...

I thought that since everyone was kind enough to listen when I had a minor fairly significant meltdown/vent and offer me comfort, prayers, and suggestions that I would update everyone with the good news... DH got the job! :hurray: :party: :party: Things are falling into place quickly and we are expecting to move a little less than three weeks from now. Unless baby decides to surprise us (which I don't think is likely, I still feel like I'll make it to my due date, if not later) that baby will be born at our new place. I've even managed to find some midwives that I like and line up meetings with my two favorites for right after we arrive so that see which one fits us best. (Options! I like options...) Of course, now that I've de-stressed quite a bit over the last couple days my body has realized how tired it is and I kind of want to spend the next week sleeping... lol. So... does anyone have great and fabulous tips for moving with two small kids while being 37 - 38 weeks pregnant?

:grouphug: :grouphug: I made a similar choice with DS1 - I really wanted a home birth but the idea really freaked DH out. Plus, we didn't think we could afford it etc. I hated doctors (and doctors' offices) even then so I picked an OB strictly for his office's convenient location (within walking distance of our apartment - we didn't have a car at that point). Hopefully your daughter's experience will end up being better than mine was. :grouphug: Thank you so much for sharing your experience. It brought tears to my eyes to find someone that has experienced pretty much the same thing. You are definitely right, it would be so much easier if I knew just how long I had to keep going! I am so heartily sick of waiting. I am very grateful to have family that is not only able, but willing, to help us out. I'm thankful that this pregnancy has been easy (no complications/ low risk etc). I'm glad that my boys have this opportunity to bond and have fun with family. I know my family is completely enjoying having them around and getting to know my DH better.

Thank you everyone for you prayers, hugs, advice and well wishes. It did help, immensely, to just write it out and have people respond. I felt like I could actually breathe and enjoy the evening a little with my boys before tucking them into bed. I might consider a birth center if there was one I liked... but there, sadly, aren't any in the area. My parents live in a state that is not, politically/legally, very friendly to out of hospital births. There isn't anyone that I feel I could impose on to have a baby at their house (mainly because everyone that would let me also has very young children). I haven't seriously considered using a hotel, but perhaps I should give it some more thought. My mom goes to great lengths to avoid any form of contention/confrontation so I hadn't even thought of having her intercede with my dad, but I think I will talk that over with her and see if she is willing to do anything on that front and see what she thinks about everyone leaving during labor/delivery. I'm trying to figure out how to approach this topic with her because I think she is very excited about the prospect of "being there" for me while I have a baby but from everything I have heard from her about her births we approach labor/birth in very different ways. She very much liked attention, people asking her how she was doing, rubbing her back, telling her what to do etc. I'm very hands off, don't talk to me, touch me, or interact with me unless you absolutely have to. I've talked with her several times about that, but from the way she still talks it is fairly clear that it hasn't sunk in. So right now I just don't want her there at all because she will stress me out, but I don't want to hurt her feelings either.