Chaz Moms and Moms-to-Be Chat (everyone welcome)

[boneyjean]

I have done several canvas prints and also metal prints. I have decided I really like the metal prints because they have much sharper details and just seem brighter. I can almost always find a Groupon for metal prints (as well as Canvas) so be sure to look there.

All these adorable babies make me want another one....for a fleeting second...then I remember how much I am enjoying this 3 and 5 yr old stage!

 

[CaliTerp07]

Seconding groupon. They constantly have deals. I just peaked and there are 8 different ones on mine right now!

I also made an alert on slickdeals for canvas prints--I've gotten several small ones for free (just paying $5-10 shipping).

I admit that I'm not super critical--I like the pictures, so I like the canvases

 

[milos_mommy]

Today Lillian took her first steps and said her first word!!

(The word was, of course, "Benji" (or "behgee"). She also learned to clap. And started sleeping through the night this weekend.

I love this age. Being a mom is much more fun in nice weather, lol.

 

[milos_mommy]

Is anyone TTC right now? We've been nt/np, but he wants to start really trying, and I'm a little nervous!

 

[sparks19]

Is anyone TTC right now? We've been nt/np, but he wants to start really trying, and I'm a little nervous!

I can't believe I'm posting this but...

We will be lol. It's really been strongly on our hearts a lot lately and one night I just flat out asked him if he'd been feeling the same thing I have and he was but said he didn't want to put pressure on me because he knows how I'd felt about it in the past lol.

We were looking into adoption but it is SO expensive and they don't tend to favor families with biological children and international isn't an option since I don't fly.

But having another baby has been weighing very heavily on our minds and hearts so I think in May... it's a go lol

 

[joce]

Go Sparks! You guys are so good with her and she is so sweet I thought you'd have had many more already lol!!

We want to have ours close together but definitely not trying again yet! Dr said at least nine months to a year since i had a c section and I also need to wait till I get more sick and pto time saved up. My boss and moms friend both have kids born in the same year because they got pregnant within a couple months of giving birth. Not sure I could imagine that lol!

 

[Beanie]

I can't believe I'm posting this but...

We will be lol. It's really been strongly on our hearts a lot lately and one night I just flat out asked him if he'd been feeling the same thing I have and he was but said he didn't want to put pressure on me because he knows how I'd felt about it in the past lol.

We were looking into adoption but it is SO expensive and they don't tend to favor families with biological children and international isn't an option since I don't fly.

But having another baby has been weighing very heavily on our minds and hearts so I think in May... it's a go lol

Whoo!!! Congrats!!

 

[skittledoo]

We aren't really trying right now, but we don't prevent either. A lot of our friends are having babies though and baby fever keeps popping up.

 

[CrazyDogLady]

Just found this thread I'm a step momma to two amazing kids!

Kyler is 3, going to be four in November. He will start preschool here soon, which we are very excited for. He knows his colors, numbers though about 15 or so and half his letters. He is alllll boy, loves to roughhouse and climb trees and just be a terror in general lol. Keeps us on our toes that's for sure!
Snuggling with Olive

On one of our hikes

Same hike, both of us

Brooklyn is going to be 14 in a couple of months and a freshman in high school in the fall. Teenagers are fun She is an amazing artist and wants to go to school to become a professional chef once she gets of out high school. She is exactly like I was at that age, which my mom finds absolutely hilarious (the whole "you're going to have kids just like you" curse) since they aren't mine biologically.
Brooklyn, my wife and I at the Seahawks parade freezing our buns off

With one of the horses at my old work

Her school picture from this year

 

[stardogs]

MM, We're probably going to start TTC in Nov/Dec. Eeeks!

CDL, your step kids are adorable!

 

[Taqroy]

I can't believe I'm posting this but...

We will be lol. It's really been strongly on our hearts a lot lately and one night I just flat out asked him if he'd been feeling the same thing I have and he was but said he didn't want to put pressure on me because he knows how I'd felt about it in the past lol.

We were looking into adoption but it is SO expensive and they don't tend to favor families with biological children and international isn't an option since I don't fly.

But having another baby has been weighing very heavily on our minds and hearts so I think in May... it's a go lol

Congrats!!

MM, We're probably going to start TTC in Nov/Dec. Eeeks!

CDL, your step kids are adorable!

This is probably the timeline we're looking at too. The plan is to open the floor for negotiations once Falon is 18 months.

 

[milos_mommy]

We're still technically nt/np, but his face just completely fell when I told him I got my period this month, and he wants to officially start trying. I'm scared though! What if we can't? What if we do? And on one hand I want Lillian to have a sibling close in age, and I'm not worried she won't get enough attention between her dad and grandparents and myself, but I'm afraid that I'll miss out on stuff because of the new baby or something! And what if I can't handle two kids! And what if I can't finish school with them!

But Lillian is so much fun and she's so good and she brings us so much happiness, and I really want her to have siblings to be close with.

Plus, we want a big family. And I'm not about to wait 5 years then pop out 3 in a row...I figure I might as well have two under two while I'm young and healthy and have the energy.

 

[~Jessie~]

Awesome news, MM and Sparks! Tanya, I was wondering if you were going to add to your family! I remember you've talked about adoption in the past. I'll send lots and lots of baby dust your way!

I'm almost 30 weeks pregnant and I can't believe that my due date is less than 11 weeks away! Baby's name is Nora Grace

We started the nursery yesterday... we have to paint it, get new carpet put in, and order the rest of her furniture, bedding, and decorations. We're going to do a chocolate, mint, and pink color scheme with pink and chocolate ladybugs. One wall will be chocolate and the rest will be mint green.

I feel relatively prepared! We start birth classes next week, and we're also doing breast feeding and cloth diapering classes. I'm excited about getting cloth diapers (so cute!).

We had our 3D/4D ultrasound on Saturday and it was amazing! It was so cool to see her in action. She kept grabbing her feet and trying to fit her fists into her mouth. She's SO adorable... I can't wait to meet her and cuddle her!

NORA_60 by Chihuahuaesque, on Flickr

NORA_25 by Chihuahuaesque, on Flickr

 

[Fran27]

Sparks, you can look into foster to adopt... it's free, and some agencies will only place you with low risk infants if it's what you want. Might want to look into it if you're really set on adopting.

CDL your kids are beautiful!

Jessie, I love the name and she's adorable! So excited for you.

MM, exciting, hope it happens quickly for you.

We're totally done here, but we already have our hands full with these two! I love it now that they are older, and can't imagine dealing with a newborn again, lol.

 

[stardogs]

This is probably the timeline we're looking at too. The plan is to open the floor for negotiations once Falon is 18 months.

I might be a wee bit irrationally happy that I might have a Chaz friend (or several!) to be preggers with. LOL

 

[~Jessie~]

I might be a wee bit irrationally happy that I might have a Chaz friend (or several!) to be preggers with. LOL

I'm pretty jealous! There haven't been many pregnant people on Chaz lately. I was hoping this thread would be more active, but I think only Caliterp and I have been pregnant during the same time.

 

[JacksonsMom]

Jessie, I loooveee the 'newer' sonogram pictures. I love that you can see their little faces so well. I'm so excited for you. And I love the name Nora.

And congrats to all others trying and/or pregnant now. Me = not ANY time soon, LOL, (like 10 years, preferably :rofl1 but wanted to wish you all well.

 

[~Jessie~]

Thanks! We've kept the name Nora as our baby name for at least the past 4-5 years! I made sure to not use it as a dog name Marlie was our other option for a girl, but we like Nora more. If we have another girl, she'll be Marlie

I'm so amazed by ultrasound technology. I remember when babies in ultrasounds just looked like potatoes with sticks for limbs. Now we can see facial features and individual fingers and toes. It's incredible.

 

[sparks19]

Thanks everyone

Awesome news, MM and Sparks! Tanya, I was wondering if you were going to add to your family! I remember you've talked about adoption in the past. I'll send lots and lots of baby dust your way!

I'm almost 30 weeks pregnant and I can't believe that my due date is less than 11 weeks away! Baby's name is Nora Grace

We started the nursery yesterday... we have to paint it, get new carpet put in, and order the rest of her furniture, bedding, and decorations. We're going to do a chocolate, mint, and pink color scheme with pink and chocolate ladybugs. One wall will be chocolate and the rest will be mint green.

I feel relatively prepared! We start birth classes next week, and we're also doing breast feeding and cloth diapering classes. I'm excited about getting cloth diapers (so cute!).

We had our 3D/4D ultrasound on Saturday and it was amazing! It was so cool to see her in action. She kept grabbing her feet and trying to fit her fists into her mouth. She's SO adorable... I can't wait to meet her and cuddle her!

NORA_60 by Chihuahuaesque, on Flickr

NORA_25 by Chihuahuaesque, on Flickr

Those ultrasounds are amazing. Really! Love that little face. Congratulations

Sparks, you can look into foster to adopt... it's free, and some agencies will only place you with low risk infants if it's what you want. Might want to look into it if you're really set on adopting.

.

Now we are really feeling strongly for trying for another one. We thought about the foster to adopt route but I just don't think we could handle that. we talked about it and the pros and cons and I don't think it's something we are prepared to handle even with low risk fosters there is always the chance that they could go back to their parents. I'm all for kids being returned to their homes when possible but I think I would harbor a lot of anger if a child was in an abusive or drug abused home and was returned to that home. I know that the parents have to take classes and go through counseling, etc but I'd be devastated and I'm just not sure I could deal with that.

But now I'm kind of looking forward to pregnancy again (even with the morning sickness I had lol) and going through all those firsts and then having a toddler again... oh toddlers are so fun.

for YEARS I said Hannah was it and I really didn't want to do the new born or dependency stages again now that Hannah is so independent but then things started weighing heavily on me for another one. My boss at work was talking about her girls and how after her first one they couldn't have another and they adopted and she said "I really wanted at least two kids. When I'm on my death bed, I'll feel better knowing they at least have each other after we're gone" and that REALLY hit me hard. As many issues as I have with some of my siblings (which was one of the reasons I didn't want a second child) it's true that after my parents go... I'll still have family here somewhere.

then our Pastor preached some sermons around the same time that just hit it home .

now we're super excited. it's a big age difference but it will actually be the exact same age difference that's between me and my little brother and we are by far closer than we are with any of the other siblings

 

[Fran27]

I agree, adoption is a roller coaster no matter which way you look at it

Age difference doesn't matter I think... there are siblings close in age who don't get along, and others 10 years apart who really do... I think the most important is that the parents are ready, lol! Plus Hannah will be way more independent than she would have been a few years ago and will probably love helping with the baby.

And I agree, it's nice when siblings have each other when the parents die... Even if they don't always get along, at least you tried! Good luck, it's pretty exciting.

I do find it funny how everyone loves every stage differently though... I'm so not into the baby and toddler stage and at 6 I find them way more interesting :rofl1: