1. Nusery Ideas? – Christen I
Actually my brain has been stewing with good ideas for our nursery…our most important feature being price and storage. Stay tuned this coming week for my moodboards for both girl and boy rooms.
2. I am curious to see how your pregnancy effects your DIY-ing. – Erica
Actually Erica I have been doing pretty good. Sciatica is my biggest DIY foe right now…but for the most part, I try to keep truckin along. It helps to have a boyfriend who is willing to rub my pinched nerve (luckily for him it just happens to be in my buttocks). Up next – tiling the basement floor 🙂
3. I am also Katie…also pregnant…due 4/13. Are we BFF’s and don’t even know it? –Katie
Either we are BFF or I am your clone (created to be a backup for parts just in case you get diseases). Both are very real possibilities.
4. Just how bad or good was your first trimester? Just nausea? Add any vomiting? Headaches? – Katie
First trimester was not too shabby. I give it a B-. My biggest complaint was a constant carsick feeling combined with needed naps. It is possible that the naps were just an indulgence that I could get away with though. No vomiting. But now that I have been in the 2nd tri-semester (that’s what I like to call them)…I have definitely popped my share of Tylenol for the headaches. Prior to pregnancy I would get migraines – so I will take a headache any day of the week 🙂 And since I am on the complainin train – can someone please explain to me why the sciatic nerve in my hiney won’t stop crippling me?!
5. Since you mentioned that your boyfriend is a telecommuter, what is his field of work? – Grace
Jeremy works for Equifax. He does commercial sales. Like I’ve said before…we are just like all the other DIYers out there. We sometimes tell people that he is in exports/imports…or an architect….just to see if they watch Seinfield as much as we do 🙂
6. Have you photoshopped together pictures of you and your boyfriend as babies yet? – Sandra
No. When we were dating we did one of those ‘CHILDREN OF’ machines – where it takes both photos and predicts what ninja turtle your kid will look like. We did both boy and girl. I cried.
7. What’s the best and worst stories friends and relatives have told you since they heard the news? – Sandra
Nobody has really told us stories. One lady at church told me that I could have the seat next to her because it was reserved for fat people. But that wasn’t really a story. Just a crazy flagrant insult. We watched a couple episodes of “I didn’t know I was pregnant” – that was pretty wild…I have never seen so many toilet babies in my life. But I think that the worst story actually came from me. I told Jeremy about my sister’s birthing of Cole. It starts like this “Lori looked up after giving natural birth to Cole and asked me if I was going to be alright”. And ended with “It was a casserole dish of afterbirth”.
8. Have you thought about possible color schemes for the nursery? – Leigh
Yes – we definitely have. And like I said before – we are gonna reveal our initial thoughts here in the coming week so stay tuned!
As a little appetizer here are some details of what to expect. We like white obviously. But also blues & browns for a boy and pinks & blue for a girl. The boy theme will definitely be something a little more rugged…think modern hunting lodge or chic cabin in the woods. And for a girl – well, I am a sucker for a Domino-esque room. One element that we have been considering as a optional piece is a changing table. I don’t think it is a must for me. And actually, I think I prefer changing out the stinker on the floor. So let’s keep that one in our thoughts and prayers, ok?
9. Have you given much thought to the controversial ‘Birth Plan’? – Erin
Hmm. Not really. Here’s how I roll. If my sister can do it…well, in my brain, I think I can do it. She went all-natural. And in the competitive spirit of child-birthing, I aim to do as she does. Some might think that is insane. Well, to them I say…it worked for walking, didn’t it?!?! Seriously. I credit her with my ability to walk. Anyhoo. I am attempting to go natural but if that doesn’t work out or the doctor recommends for the health of the baby that we get shot up or go ceasarean, then so be it. I just want a healthy baby – and the ability to keep up with Lori 🙂
10. Have you thought about cloth diapering? – Mandy
Actually this is the subject that I have gotten the most guff about. Jeremy & I discussed it and are going to attempt to do cloth diapers. It is better for the environment and better for our wallets (longterm). However, for trips or for babysitters or for any other random event – we are not against whipping out the disposable. We also think we have a method to control the madness (or poop as some people call it). In the bathrooms, we will have a large jar with a water-proof, stink-proof lid…and will act as a diaper pail for after we wash out any solids. Hopefully we will have enough cloth diapers to wash a load every other day. And the boyfriend agreed to change the pooper scooper if we invest in diapers that look like, well, diapers….such as the BumGenius or the Fuzzi Bunz brands. But for the most part I will be on doodie duty.
Any other questions that haven’t been answered here or in FAQ part 1 or part 2 yet? Well partner, put that inquiry right there in the comments and I will give it a look-see 🙂
hey katie bower….thanks for answering my morning sickness question. Again-super weird…but, I had major, major, major migraines prior to pregnancy, and I’ve been headache free since being pregnant! I mean, I’m only in my 16th week, but FOR REAL!? That is a miracle in and of itself.
Anyway-thanks for all the updates. We’re cooking up a nursery ourselves 😉
Hey Katie, thanks for answering my question! I’m so excited you are going to try to cloth diaper…and by that I mean hopefully you can share your trial/error so we can learn from your enviro-friendly and money-saving ways!! : ) I have been so impressed at the resources out there now. Good luck!!! : )
Congratulations!
My comment is about the cloth diapering…I did it, and it’s so easy! Don’t get overwhelmend with all the information, just get in there and start doing it, and you will figure out what works best for you. Oh, and don’t let the grandparents give you a hard time (like mine did). They will get over it and then learn to accept it, and may very well talk behind your back about how crazy you are for using cloth diapers, but so be it. Besides, that’s what families are for, for talking about you behind your back.
And let me tell you, babies look so stinkin’ cute in cloth diapers. You’ll love it!
It’s funny Courtney that it was your grandparents that didn’t board the cloth diaper train with you. I told my Mummum that it took a regular pair of Huggies 550 years to decompose and she gasped in genuine shock and told me that the cloth diaper was the right way to go. My family has been most supportive. It’s our friends that think we are crazy. I guess they figure I am so loopy (and Jeremy is oh-so-clean) that we won’t be able to keep up with this important duty. pun recognized 🙂
XO – Katie
i was a cloth diaper baby AND delivered sans drugs and look how i turned… er, nevermind.
congrats again! 🙂
kelly
As someone who has sciatica I feel your pain. Sometimes walking helps relax the nerve or sitting with hip raise a little and a heating pad underneath. I’ve gotten in both hips.
Have you thought about G-diapers instead of the disposable when you are on the go? They are super cute “hybrid” diapers and you can flush or compost them.
Love the FAQ! So what were some of your food cravings? Have you had any preggo brain moments yet?
Try a bit of caffeine for the headaches. Half a soda worked wonders for me.
And YAY for cloth diapering!!
Actually I have never heard of the G-diapers! Thanks a bundle (heehee) Recycledhousewife! I will definitely go check them out!
XO – Katie
I was up for hours last night with that pesky sciatica in my butt cheek. Isn’t it the worst. I popped 4 motrin, and that calmed it a bit. I know I need to get my butt over to the chiropractor. The way it was explained to me is that the sciatic nerve is acutally in your lower back and when your back is out of alignment, it pinches the nerve. The nerve ending is in your butt cheek, so that’s where the pain radiates to. Ugh! I can’t take it anymore. I can swear by the chiropractor – Dr.Mike fixes it every time! I’m not sure about seeing a chiro. when you are pregnant. I would ask your OB first.
Hey Katie Friend! Can I just say it’s killing me, KILLING ME, not to be able to see your cute little prego self getting pregnater and pregnanter and sit on the couch with you eating junk food and commiserating about the wonderful weirdness of growing a human!!! Anyway…just wanted to chime in about sciatica. I had it pre-pregnancy so it was ON FIRE during and after pregnancy. I would strongly suggest going to a prenatal massage therapist and/or chiropractor. I finally went to a chiro. about 4 months post-partum for sciatica and crippling pubic symphisis pain and it was miraculous. It is safe during pregnancy; I would imagine one of the midwives would be able to point you to a good one. And you know my thoughts about cloth diapers… you CAN DO IT!!!
Hey Katie – I did natural child birth with my second and it was a WAY better experience than the first (which was induced labor for 20 hours and an eventual c-section). You can do it! Check out “The Business of Being Born”. It’s a documentary on natural child birth and I found it to be inspiring!
My mother used cloth diapers on me, she has always said they were better than regular diapers. Cant wait to see your mood boards…and the bebe!
We Lurv our Bum Genius! You can even get a sink sprayer and attach it to your toilet for easy rinsing. If you’re breastfeeding though, you won’t need to rinse until you start solids!
Congrats on the pregnancy, its been great reading along with you, I really enjoy the blog. I just got back from the chiropractor (who saved me from a life of pain but that’s another story for another time) and I read about your Sciatica and though I had to at least suggest you see a Chiropractor for the Sciatica. You shouldn’t have to live with that, there are many techniques that can treat it. Headaches also might be able to be resolved by a chiro. Nothing can be better for your dinobug than you getting proper blood flow to your spinal chord and feeling good throughout the pregnancy!
My sister went all-natural for the birth of her two daughters. Its funny because I plan to do the same: if she can do it so can I!
Hey Katie…you might try out prenatal yoga for your sciatic pain. I had it too and my instructor was great at teaching me poses to help alleviate the pain when it flared up. And ditto what the others have said about the chiro. My yoga instructor also recommended that.
Hi Katie!
I’m pregnant right now too so it’s so fun following along. I’m 17 weeks and due April 22nd. I have noticed I’ve been getting a lot more headaches in my 2nd tri too.
I got myself two kids and have never used a changing table. They get changed on the couch, floor, bed, my lap….
I just always thought of it as a waste of money to buy that. Seriously you will use it like twice. Unless you can find one on Craigslist for super cheap.
Sorry I don’t usually comment on your blog even though I am a faithful follower. I remember when I had my first I thought changing tables were just a waste of money. The day I got one was one of the best. They are really nice to have. Trust me after 3 kids I can tell you what not to spend your money on but a changing table I would say go for it. I probably would go the second hand route if you don’t want to spend the money on it.
Can’t wait to see your nursery ideas! My 2 year old never got a nursery with moving, so I’m finally finishing her room now! I don’t normally comment so much, but we seem to be on the same brainwave or something right now. (Though mine is a few years behind or ahead?). I’ve diapered 2 children with cloth and disposable diapers. I just posted about diapers: http://homekidslife.blogspot.com/2009/11/baby-week-diapers.html
Give the cloth a try, you’ll be recommending them to everyone you see. It’s especially great when the hubby’s on board! In the future, let us know what diapers you go with and how you like them. Congratulations again!
My mum has just been recently treated for sciatica – she said that hydrotherapy works wonders because you are able to move your leg/hip/butt without the weight of your body. Something for you to consider!
Just adding my two cents here, as I am due three weeks after you! Someone mentioned G-diapers, and I’ve used them, and they’re great. We only used them short-term (for a backpacking trip – yes, we took our 15 mo old out for 4 days!) as they are more expensive, but I think they combine the best of cloth and disposables and are cute and easy to use. Great website too. I’ve never been convinced cloth is so much better because of all the water and detergent you have to use. To each her own! Also, another everyone-has-their-own-opinion subject: changing tables. Someone said in another post said not to get one, they’re not necessary, but my mom got me mine from a second-hand store for $55 and it was my favorite thing I used for my daughter. It was a little taller than most, perfect, comfortable height for me, had one drawer in front (that was indispensible for stuffing hairbows, baby tylenol, thermometers and other baby junk (oops, I mean gear). I highly recommend a couple of open shelves that you can keep diapers, wipes, spit-up rags, blankets, etc. right at hand’s reach. Just another opinion to round out your thoughts!! At $55 it was half the price of the comparable one at BabiesRUs, which didn’t even have a drawer. Plus, it went with our crib, so most people thought they were a set (they weren’t!). I loved it!
Hey I did all my 3 natural (at home actually) AND did cloth diapers. I will tell you– if you breastfeed, cloth diapers are NO problem. You dont even have to rinse. It’s when the little stinkers (literally) start eating real food that its a challenge… for me anyway! But by then you’re not changing near as many! So I think it’s such a great plan!
And I have to plug business of being born as well and a Bradley Childbirth class which I know I said already but seriously, tried it and lamaze…bradley was much more effective for me!
Dont you love all the unsollicited advise you get being preggo!!??!
i’m looking forward to see what ya’ll come up with!
off topic … look more bacon in cupcakes
http://www.sweetestkitchen.com/2009/11/chocolate-pb-toffee-bacon-cupcakes/
Clone Katie – since I adore you, it’s mutual. Extraneous body parts are up for grabs. Although, after this whole baby business, you might want to steer clear of the boobies.
Yay for another (potential) cloth diaper-er! My husband and I are thinking mostly cloth diapers with the exception of when we are traveling. Now to remove the goalie in the net couple months. (We are big planners and have already researched cloth diapers before trying, I know that makes us weirdos.)
Katie! Congratulations on your new fearfully and wonderfully made little dinobug! Are we going to be seeing progressive preggo shots as you get rounder??
Hey Katie, I’m also going to try cloth diapers. A word of advice, my best friend uses them and swears by the spray attachment you can get for your toilet. It makes getting rid of most of the mess easy. When your done you can toss it in the diaper pail and wait till laundry day. She does laundry every other day and has about 25-30 inserts. Good Luck!
Take care,
Lisa
Oh one other thing…I suffered from what I thought was Sciatica until I went to a chiropractor after my midwife suggested it. Best thing I ever did. Not only did she determine that it wasn’t sciatica, rather a muscle in my butt cheek that didn’t stretch with the rest of my body. She did a few rubs, bends and tricks and I walked out of there a new woman. I totally recommend trying to see one. I had previously talked with my massage therapist, but they were unable to fix the issue.
take care,
Lisa
I too didn’t think a change table was a necessity but believe me, it is! Best thing I ever bought, especially when you have back problems. Saves so much bending and you use them for a couple of years for each baby so we worth the money. I got mine second hand and painted it up.
Also, I used both cloth and disposable nappies. Pros and cons for each but don’t just assume that cloth are cheaper or better for the environment. It’s surprising when you look at the math and the carbon foot print how they balance out.
Our friends thought we were crazy, but we did bumgenius and LOVE them! My only regret… I wish we would have went with the organic so we could have all snaps… the velcro is wearing out a bit! The gDiapers I do think would be great for out and about as you just flush the insert, it isn’t as cost effective to do all the time though but we have thought about throwing them in the mix! I’m sure you’ll get lots of feedback but thought I would throw mine in the mix. Also, if you don’t already, you might check out http://www.babysteals.com – they have a deal a day and I have seen gDiapers and bumgenius on there in the past. So fun hearing your story, good luck!
Congratulations!
Oh and I love the Art Vandelay reference. Gotta love those importer/exporters!
If you are looking for someone to do a mural or painting in your babies room I am for hire! I can email you some pictures of baby rooms I have done. I live in GA. Just throwing it out there 😉
Hi — do you have home goods near you – I just bought 3 of those tea lights there – I love them— not to mention they were $3.99 ea !!!
Please, please do NOT have a “birthing plan”! I’m all for planning a natural birth and all, but (i’m a doctor) the absolute craziest women who come in show up with their birthing plans in hand – i’ve seen all sorts of craziness….no monitors, no noise whatsoever, women sitting on bouncy balls as they wait for the time to come….come to think of it, it’s actually pretty entertaining!
Cloth diapering also reduces the risk of diaper rash, b/c they breathe better, and I’ve read much about parents finding them more leak proof. Not to mention the disposables contain chemicals. I’m looking into Gdiapers. But I am also going to take a realistic approach and use both cloth and disposable when cloth is inconvenient.
I had really hoped to use a midwife or birthing center but the area I live in is not so progressive when it comes to those alternatives. But our hospital is seeming to be flexible when it comes to birthing positions (i.e. employing gravity), and using birthing balls. I even heard that someone was able to bring in a birthing tub. Oh to be near a hospital or center that has tubs built just for birthing (like non-inflatables).
I am putting together a birthing plan just to have it all listed out, then I will simply commit all to God and trust that His ways are wisest. But simple plans on paper help me visualize. For ex., labor at home as long as possible, avoid petocin shots, no epidural, but I’m open to other forms of drugs with affects not as long lasting in case I need to rest (still researching those), make sure the nurses do not give the baby a pacifier or a bottle so that baby can learn to latch onto me. So yeah, lots to consider, but a plan may help me, my husband, and possibly a duela if labor and delivery pains render me unthinking. 🙂
I suffer from sciatica too! I’m not pregnant, mines from working on my feet for too long lol. Whenever mine is acting up I lay down and my boyfriend uses his elbow where it hurts. It works pretty well for me!
I recommend the BumGenius – especially ‘used’ from cottonbabies.com. They look brand new and are considerably less expensive. However, they don’t have inserts. But the microfiber inserts feel awful on your hands so I didn’t mind them not coming with inserts. Instead, I bought bamboo insters online. They work great! I tried Fuzzi Bunz and they were sooooo soft but much bulkier. I also really like smartipants.
Thanks for the recommendation Alyssa – I am on my way to check out cottonbabies.com right now!
XO – KB