Monday, July 27, 2009

Our little mango-23 weeks!!


Baby girl is kicking up a storm these days. Alex was able to see her kick over the weekend...that was neat. :) We put the doppler on my tummy to hear her heartbeat and she started kicking it...to the point that it became uncomfortable for me. They say her sense of movement is well developed by now and she can feel me dance. All I can say about that is - we don't want baby girl to inherit my lack of rhythm...trust me on that one. I do put the speakers up to my belly and we rock out to some of my favorite tunes. I don't know what I'll do if this baby can't carry a tune. My Mom says, you just have to start working with them early...that's what she did with us. So I'm starting NOW! (LOL)

She is more than 11 inches long and weighs just over one pound - about as much as a mango.


No progress on the nursery last week. I looked for the paint color that I had seen online and it no longer exists, so I guess I'm going to take a Tiffany's box into the paint store and have them copy the color. I did pick up some mattress/headboard covers, so we can store the queen size bed. Her closet is gradually collecting clothes. I only had two pieces hanging in there and now one side of the closet looks like this. I'm putting all of her newborn & 0-3mo. on pink hangers, since she will be able to wear those first. Everything she has to grow into goes on a white hanger...because I'm weird like that. :)

Summer sales have been awesome and with the way that certain stores size their clothes, she should definitely be able to wear these (at some point) next summer. Unless she is a gi-normous child. But I'm willing to risk it. I've found her the cutest swimwear for the beach next year! I just laugh everytime I look at these teeny-tiny clothes. She's going to look precious. Fall clothes are just coming out, so it will be fun to shop for clothes that she should actually be able to wear, soon after her arrival.

Thank you to everyone who shared your tips on monitors, bottles and more! Many said they didn't use a monitor. I'm just not comfortable NOT having one. She will be in our room at first, but once she moves to her own room, she will be on the other side of the house and I won't be able to sleep in my own bed, unless I have something that allows me to hear/see her. I know me. I will be up constantly, checking to see if she's still breathing. I do that with my nephews/nieces when they stay with me and some of them are teenagers. (LOL) As for bottles, there were several that recommended the Dr. Brown's. I'm going to check those out at my next visit to Babies R Us.

My question for you this week is: Is it true that I shouldn't be wearing an underwire even now before she gets here? I've heard that it can have a negative effect on the milk glands for breastfeeding? True or False? For any men that might be reading this blog...sorry to speak of underwire bras and milk glands, but a clueless mama has to know these things!

And to end this post, I ask you to lift up Stellan in your prayers. He's back in the hospital and not doing well at all. You can find updates on his condition, by clicking on his picture on my sidebar.

Love you guys,

25 comments:

Jen said...

Look how big she is getting! So fun! I haven't seen your belly in a while.... too cute.

I always wear underwire and I have with both of my other pregnancies and never had any trouble with milk production. I actually hadn't heard that until the other day, but I plan on sticking with what has worked for me. If you are really concerned you could mention it to your doctor. Sorry, I realize this isn't much help :)

Amber said...

What a great idea with the hangers! It sure does beat searching through the tags trying to see what will fit...I'll remember that one.

I heard that about the underwire bras as well, but I assume it's an old wives tale. Guess we'll see when you get some responses.

Hilary said...

Well first off Jill you look adorable!!! Second I've never heard of the underwire hurting you..it didn't with me! My son and I were milk buddies for a year so it really is probably a comfort issuse in the end really for you if you use wire or not...Have a super week!!

amy said...

cute cute! as far as the underwire... i've heard the same thing, but don't know if it's true or not! i'm no help! i sent you a little something in the mail today. :)

becca said...

I don't blame you... if my baby were across the house when I was sleeping, I'd want one too. I've never been more than a few feet away while sleeping... til they are a lot older.
I was worried I'd have a tone deaf child too... but they all have better ears than I. I think it has come from me ALWAYS singing harmony along with whatever song they are listening too. Abigail can make up harmony better than I can. They sing chords now. If I ask a question they'll sometimes answer in a chord. Ha, we are music nerds, what can I say? But I didn't teach them to do that, they just worked it out on their own.
I bought my *first* article of clothing for this little guy on Saturday. I realized I don't have any jackets... never had a little one during winter... and they had one clearanced at Old Navy. I think I can manage with everything else though.
The bra thing... yeah, 'they' say not to wear them... and I didn't with my other pregnancies, but this time around I'm wearing whatever I have... and if it's underwire, It's underwire. It probably *is* best to stay away from them but if you DO wear them, I imagine it is very important that they fit correctly and the wire is not pinching, or up too high.
I started to read about Stellan earlier but I just couldn't do it. I'll pray for them but reading about these struggles gets to me and I can't get over it.
Glad you liked the jelly!

cady said...

i'm color coordinating my hanger based on size too! i've found four different colors, so i'll one for each size group. it definitely seems like the easiest way to organize clothes.

Heather said...

You are cracking me up about the hangers...that is totally something I would do!
I have never heard that about the underwire, and I wore one with both my pregnancies and didn't have any Breastfeeding probs. I didn't comment about the monitors (I don't think....I don't remember doing it, but I do have "baby brain"-ha!) but we have a Graco one and I would NEVER go without it. In fact, I had it in Connor's room until after AK was born and started napping some in her room. So Connor was "monitored" until age 4!!! It's just nice to hear them. OH- and I do the same thing as far as checking on my kids' breathing. Seriously. I check on AK every 10 minutes. You are I are two peas in a pod! :) Can't wait til we have lunch...I will e-mail you soon!

Mandy said...

I color coordinated my hangers too, but I went a step further and repeated shades of blue and white, each size a different color! If you know me at all, though, you don't even question how anal it sounds :-)

As for your question about underwire, I've continued to wear my underwire bra throughout my pregnancy and have yet to have any problems. I've been producing colostrum for 10+ weeks now and haven't had any problems due to my bra. I heard that it can cause problems before and after birth, but when I went through my childbirth class, they simply recommended that when you breastfeed, you fully support and lift up your breast with one hand which will prevent blocked ducts or (mastitis?) the swollen masses and fevers that trouble people.

As for now, I'm sticking with that, and I'll let you know if it causes me any trouble!

Chanda said...

I think what you do with the hangers is awesome! If only I could be so organized! It is so fun to shop for them, I love hitting the clearances to buy for next year still now (and just hope they fit in the clothes the next year, so far, so good!). Underwires never bothered me or my glands! But I didn't wear them during breastfeeding too much because they were not comfortable to me.

Paige said...

Hey- I foudn your blog through--- i can't remember- but we are expecting a baby girl too so I am enjoying reading!! If you are looking at doing tiffany blue then check out http://angelicagracedesigns.com/blog/labels/Tiffany%20blue.html she has a great one!! AND, if you are organizing clothing sizes I found these plastic tags you can put in your closet the seperate sizes- just a thought!!

Faith said...

Oh my, baby A is getting big!!! You just keep getting more and more adorable. I love that you are having so much fun shopping for her - I know that must be a blast! Love the hanger idea...that's great!

amy said...

I ALWAYS wear underwire. The "girls" just aren't right without it. I had no trouble with milk glands. I even found a nursing bra that had non-metal wire in it which is supposedly better (according to the lady who sold me the bra). I think the most important thing is for the bra to be well fitting.
Also, I didn't wear underwire bras the first few weeks with my son. I wore nursing tanks. I had two really nice (which means expensive) ones from Bravado but really really loved the Gillian O'Malley ones from Target.

Shannon said...

You are looking good and so is A's closet! My sis in law has a video monitor and loves it! I do too when I keep Zach.

Chanda said...

I gave your blog a lovely award :) Check it out over at my Other Everyday Stuff blog!

Unknown said...

You look great! We had a regular monitor for our first, but got the video monitor this time around and I LOVE it! We have the handheld one, so I can take it all around the house with me during the day... totally worth the $200.00!
For bottles, we used Avent both times & loved them. Both my babies transitioned well from breast to bottle using them...As for an underwire, I wore them while pregnant and nursing, and it never affected my supply...for comfort, of course, I wore nursing bras without an underwire at night...(that was one of the hardest things to get used to while breastfeeding...wearing a bra ALL the time, even at night... ha)!

Cheryl said...

You look great! So cute! I LOVE the color coded hanger idea. That will make things soooo easy! I was also going to tell you that we listened to a podcast from the author of Baby Bargains. It was so helpful in giving us information on baby monitors, strollers, etc. I think they have a web-site but I haven't had time to check it out. Hope you have a wonderful week!

Mary said...

I don't think it's dangerous to wear underwire bra, it is just really unconfortable... I am 27 weeks now and I haven't worn it for 10 weeks, because my boobs got SO huge...

Emily said...

Nursed all mine for 13 months and never switched bras...wear whatever is comfortable!

Alice said...

Our girls are 2 and 4 and I still use a monitor. I am like you.....I know myself and I know I will rest better if I can hear them.

We used Platex drop-in nursers for the first little bit with both girls (until they were drinking more than 4 oz at a time). Loved them because there was not as much to wash.....when you are a new mom you don't need more work, you need less work. We later used Dr Brown bottles. Cleaning them is a big pain but they did work for us.

You are such a beautiful pregnant mamma!!!!!

Mazzy said...

What a cute photo!!! I wore underwire bras before L was born and I never had any problem! I also have 2 Medela nursing bras with underwire that I wear now whenever I go out and they are just fine. I only wore nursing tanks during the first few weeks post partum because I was so uncomfortable from my milk coming in, but it got back to "normal" pretty quickly!

I couldn't live without my monitor. I use it all throughout the day when she naps and all night long. People tell me I will hear her cry and I shouldn't worry about it, but she doesn't cry when she wakes up. She usually just lies in her crib and babbles until I come get her. I would hate for her to have to get to the point of being so hungry, she cried!

Kim said...

I wore an underwire with all my pregnancies and {exclusively} breastfed each child for about 11 months each!! I never had a problem!

Joy@WDDCH said...

You're not weird!!! It's called nesting. You'll clean and organize a ton more in the coming weeks and it may not make sense to anyone but you... but you go ahead and do it anyway!

And I actually love Avent bottles (with the breastlike nipple). I've heard DR. Brown bottles have a ton of parts and are a pain to clean.

Never heard that about underwires! My chest is way too large for me not to have underwires and in the past it never affected my milk supply.

Joy@WDDCH said...

P.S. Yes, get a monitor!!! Even with it you'll probably get up and check on her throughout the night anyway (at least that is what I do). You'll be amazed by your Supermom senses (including amazing hearing and being able to wake from dead sleep and find yourself in her room rocking her before you even wake...) but a monitor still gives you a sense of security.

Kristen said...

hey! I never heard that about underwire...I personally think it is silly. I worry underwire my whole pregnancy and ALL 14 months of nursing the twins and had TONS of milk. I think you will be fine. :) I would worry about it. Yes, I think my kids will have a monitor until they are in kinder. I like to know what is going on in there. You are getting SO close. :) Can't wait to see the room. My friend did that...she did her baby girl room in Tiffany blue. It was pretty!

Sarah said...

Hi! I've never commented before but I have been following your blog for a while! I too feared my baby would stop breathing. A friend of mine gave me the most wonderful monitor - it's the Angel Care monitor by either Graco or Bebe Sounds. It has a motion sensor that goes under the crib mattress and if there is no movement after 20 seconds an alarm goes off! It is a HUGE reassurance to me and I still use it every single night even though she is almost 1 year old. I too would not want to go w/out a monitor!