Just a Saturday

We had date night last night & registered for peanut.  Sad to say hubs had the scanner, we have 2 1/2 pages of toys. He also had fun scanning some girl & boy things to throw people off as to what we are having.  I have to go online today to clean it up, cuz a few things show as discontinued,

We went out to dinner afterwards. It was 9:30 when we got to the restaurant. Suffice to say I have leftovers for today ( yum ).

Our town has a big Harvest M.oon celebration all weekend. So I am spending my relaxing morning going up with my nephews to play on the bouncy's & buy some apples.


Later on, I we are heading to a pumpkin farm for a work event, that I am hosting. I am most excited about the bonfire at Dusk.

Bump week 20

Still no real bump to talk about.. Have my 20 week appt this afternoon. We'll see what the good doc has to say about it.  After HynoBirth class last night I have a few questions for him! 
In the next week we get really busy for the next 5-6 weeks. Like every weekend, booked solid. So hubs calls me today & says. Let's go register this weekend. otherwise we're not going to have time til November & we are trying not to have a last minute shower. So this weekend looks like the Non-Preggo looking chic will be going baby registering.  **UPDATE** Doc says again not to worry about anything, everyone is different. He was happy that I have only gained 1 lb so far for the pregnancy. My blood pressure was rock star today!! Usually after the long drive to their office I am a little high when I get there. Today, I was lucky enough to get there & he was running behind & I Got to see my FCP sitting there when I walked in, she was in for an appt w/ the doc. So we got to talk for about 15 minutes before she got called back ( they were running super behind) & I got to see her new little one.  I was the last appt of the day.. So I got all the TIME I wanted w/ the doc.

So for our registering adventure what do you recommend?

What are your A) must haves  &  B) don't waste your time/money on  baby items.

We were given already from our nephews(my sister )
bins of clothes for every size.
Infant Car seat/stroller combo thingy.
High Chair
Clamp on table high chair.
Boppy
bouncy seat
Exersaucer
porta-crib
Changing table
Crib
Baby Towels/washcloths
Shopping cart cover ( she never used)


Things I know I do not want.
Fancy Diaper disposal system
wipes warmer
expensive crib bedding set... a few sheets & a breathable crib bumper are fine w/ this momma.

Anyone bought a baby bullet ( for making food ) or will I be fine w/ my food processor?

First week of Hypnobirthing

I have been very wishy-washy lately. I can't make my mind up about much of nothing, but
Hypnobirthing has been the only thing I can say I am 100% happy about. Hubs was kinda skeptical
going into it. The first myth that got debunked right away, we are not going to be swinging a watch clock back & forth to "hypnotize" anyone. 2nd thing we were told, not all births happen like T LC shows. #3 Don't listen to stories about birth/take advice from others, sounds weird, but to keep you calm, they want you to create your own experience & not try to "live" up to others expectations, or do better than someone else.

We of course are the oldest couple in the class. One couple is 7 weeks away from their DD. they are actually taking the class, because they were freaked out after taking the hospitals  recomended class. I can't imagine waiting that long to take a class. The other couples are ALL birthing with the same midwife group in a hospital setting(diferent than mine). The instructor really likes my doctor, saying he's very open to ALL birthing options. My doc also goes in 1 -2 times a year & speaks on NFP at this Hypno center. Now I'm interested to find out his C-Section rate

I read a little over half the Hypno book this past weekend. Pretty easy read, so far. I haven't worked on the breathing & relaxating CD's yet.  Our instructor recommends taking the class early like 2nd trimester(unlike hospitals who want you to take classes 1-2 months before delivery) so you take the class early so that you can practice breathing & relaxation.  I have a lot of questions to ask my doc this week, at my ultrasound I found out my placenta is in an anterior position & my uterus is still tipped in.  Double reasons why i'm not "showing" at all. That's good though, cuz I still haven't found any maternity clothes I like & the consignment stores don't start taking "winter" clothes til Oct 1 & Oct 30 ( at the other store ) I will have to do with stretchy clothes from my closet for now.

Next class is tomorrow night, class is til 9:30 PM& it's a 45 minute (evening traffic) drive from our house. Not complaining just knowing i'm going to be tired on Wednesday.

Need Baptism Gift ideas

Hopefully the wonderful blogger world can help me out.

My husband is the Godfather to his newest niece.  The baptism is in 2 weeks.

My idea was something personalized for her, but since, mom, grandma & grandpa, don't know how to spell the baby's  name.. ( we haven't even been told the middle name,  ) something personalized is not in the books this time. The baby naming thing is a huge problem in hubs family. I know of at least 3 kids who went home from the hospital w/ no name.. & 2 that their names were officially changed afterwards, because the mom's felt like it.

What does blogger land recommend for a baptism gift from the Godfather, for his little goddaughter?

Five Fav's Week 19 edition

1. Baby is healthy
2. Baby's Heartbeat 145
3. Started Hypnobirthing last night. very calming
4.Baby is measuring perfect
5. Is it a boy or girl???????????????????????????? 

How well do you know the Charity you are giving to?

How well do you know the charity you give to?

This has been pondering our household this week.

 

Hubs & I have had several conversations on this, for a couple of reasons. I am on a board at work, that decides what organizations we donate/partner with throughout the year, second I saw a post from an organization that infuriated me, and third because hubs grew up in the non-profit world.

 

Some tips:

Tips for Giving Wisely

1. Know your charity.

2. Do you know where and what your dollars are going towards

3.  Keep records of your donations

4. Tax Exempt/ Tax Deductible . what's the difference

5. Check the charity out, even if they sound familiar.

6. Don't be persuaded by emotional appeals

7. Is the charity registered?

8. What do they do with "in-kind" donations.

9. Donations of your time/talent.

10. When they pass your test, give generously.

I also check out Charity navigator to see if there are comments about the organization, and what kind of expenses/budget the organization works with.

Hubs family has been involved with a pregnancy center his parents started 30 years ago. They also have 2 other organizations they have started over the years.. I can tell you when funds are needed, they are very specific what they are being used for.

An organization we follow, recently was asking for money, just saying it was for operating costs.
Some people asked, if they could make in-kind donations, which they said yes. Then I find that these donated items are not all necessarily being used for the organizations purpose, but being sold  to raise funds for the organization. A conversation ensued with hubs, I said did your parents org, ever sell items intended to be used in the mission of the center.. he said absolutely not. He said that if they ever ran out of room, they would look for donated space, use their garage, or see if the giver could hold it til they had room.

The board at work, had some discussions on several organizations people proposed. Some were omitted, because they receive National funding, and was potentially questionable.  An organization we have donated to for several years, is awesome, when we tell them we are doing something, they usually give us some specific items they need, for either in-kind donations or a specific purpose of monetary donations, which people seem to donate more to, if they know exactly what it is for, or I kind of like to think, that people like to know that their money is going to good use. Also this place, sends us frequent updates on their org, they invite us to their building, and we can see where & how what we give is used for.

Do your homework when giving, I have been greatly enlightened this week & we will greatly be changing some of our giving habits.

18

 

OMG!!!

18 Weeks.

Every week, I seriously just take a step back & thank God!

I still don't look  that pregnant.. The all the time nausea has gone away.

I still don't feel that hot, when we are in the car for a long time. 

I keep thinking next week will be the week, that none of my clothes fit.

I know it seems ridiculous, but having a visual sign that something is growing in there,

will really help out my mental state about this pregnancy. Next week about this time, we

will be having our anatomy ultrasound done!! Can't wait to find out what Peanut is.

Now hubs is having second thoughts about finding out what it is.

The billing people @ my docs office haven't called back, I'm hoping they

 don't so when we go in next week, I can let hubs handle it. After our

ultrasound, we are going to have dinner in the area of our doctor/hospital, then we start 

Hypnobirthing that evening! I'm excited that we've been given so many baby things, that we 

can spend the $$ money on the expensive Hypnobirthing classes. I think hubs & I are both

going to benefit from them. Hubs has been going thru 100's of scenarios, what if the baby comes early, what if you go into labor and I'm not home, what if you can't wait to have it for us to drive an hour away(hospital that far if snowing) I keep reminding him that Hypnobirthing is going to Calm you down, so you can be in control & not freaking out! I had my pregnancy evaluation with my FCP last week, & she had a bunch of helpful pointers about our doc & hospital. 

All & All It's 18 weeks & we're looking onward & upward!  

rant

My dear SIL had kid #5 about 20 days ago.  Even though  I am still bitter that someone who got married 2 months before us is having kid #5 & I barely have 1.   I(we)graciously sent a package last week, with a couple of cute outfits for her new daughter (she has 3 boys & only 1 girl before this one). We also got a bunch of goodies for the brothers & sister for quiet time, partly cuz I think homeschooling will be on the back burner for a few more weeks.

We found out in some text messages that were accidentally "reply all" that my SIL & BIL were given new I-PHones after the birth of #5.(from my in-laws) I would assume my in laws are paying the bills too, but who knows.   Yet my mother in law bawked at having a shower for me & hubs. she's like you guys have so much money, & so much stuff, you don't need a shower.

I kinda expect by now, that with a bunch of help that has been floating in & out of town helping them, that by now, we could at least have an e-mail, ( or text with their new phones) with the kids name/birthdate, etc. maybe even a picture.. ummm.. the kids name is not "traditional" so it might be nice to know how u are spelling it.

Give the phone to one of the kids & have them call & say thank you for the fun stuff, instead of my crazed SIL, who calls & rambles & is like well um we are planning on having a baptism (really) but doesn't know when & um I guess i'll have to call u back when I know more.. geee.. like what's your kids name. ( oh yea, she didn't even call me, she left a message on hubs work phone) she's like oh I got a new phone& don't have everyone's' phone #'s. gee maybe u should have transferred them.

Heck have one of the kids draw a picture  & send it to us, I seriously think, this may be the last baby we acknowledge.

My promise to blogger land, when peanut arrives, name, birth info will be posted, ASAP, not MONTHS later.

Love hate relationship with the animals in our yard.

I planted 2 packets of sunflower seeds.. I should have had cut flowers for about a month. Instead the only 2 sunflowers that survived the Deer & Groundhogs of my yard were these 2.  None of the mammoth seeds I planted made it. ( the heads on a mammoth, can be 12"-18" across )

The groundhog, bunnies  made a mess of my veggie garden, that I'm so embarrassed to even take a picture of it.

I have to put netting across the whole thing, to keep the deer /birds /bunnies out. Someone made it over the 2 foot fence & had a field day w/ the netting & trampled all the tomatoes/ green beans/pumpkins  that were growing. then the groundhog got in.. & it's all history now.

Since they have ate their way thru the gardens, now they are starting on my container planters. (that are on the deck) Today I discovered the groundhog demolished the purple potato vine, but apparently doesn't like Coleus, because he has not touched that . 

 

This groundhog has been caught once already, that I know of, but someone let him go, while I was at work. I suspect he has been let out of the trap more than once.. I just want to relocate this guy to some nice woods away from our neighborhood when he's caught ( this weeks challenge)

Kudos

One of the businesses, we planted flowers at, and did some minor landscape modifications at earlier in the summer, was awarded for the first time ever a Beautification award by their township. If you go back to June, this place inspired my post about "Coral, White & Purple."  ( can't you see those colors )

This is one side of the sign. The bed used to only be as big as the yellow Daylilies & the Brown light post.  We added the rocks to define the bed, and help the dirt & flowers not wash away. Hard to tell from the pictures, but it's got about a 5 foot slope from one side to the other.

 

Both sides of main road the sign.

 

This is at the main entrance to their building.

Hard to get the whole thing in one shot. it's about 60 feet long.

One length has "purple & white " the other has "coral & purple "

plus trying to take pictures without getting cars in the picture.

Up until about a week ago, the red daylilies were still in bloom.

 

This is also the same on the other side of the entrance.

 

We moved the red daylilies back about 3 feet, to allow room for the annual flowers.

Their pictures from last year, you could not see any color last year.. they could barely put any annuals in, because they didn't allow any room for them.

 

In full disclaimer, we don't do 100% of the landscaping at this place, ( we don't cut the lawn) but since the sign is in our flowers, & that is the only change this year, I feel pretty good, that it was due in part to our modifications & plants.

 

I was also 5 weeks preggo when this was done.. I am letting peanut take credit for the inspirations!