I sent out a Calling All Moms email numbered 1-9 with questions ranging from breastfeeding to baby carriers and got a ton of excellent responses. After reading them all, I came to a few conclusions:
1. I won't be induced unless Sienna is later than about Aug 8-10. My aunt Rita, who is also a nurse, outlined some very important reasons why it's not a good idea to have your baby early.
2. I'll most likely skip the jogger stroller, as I'll probably go out running while the nanny is watching Sienna and purchase a more cost-effective model. It was suggested by many to get a swing, a baby bathtub and the Baby Bjorn.
3. Only one out of about 30 moms said they used cloth diapers, so I decided to go with the disposable ones.
4. Some of you may be disappointed, but I don't believe I'll be a breast feeder. At least half of the moms I emailed had so many problems, they didn't do it or they did it for a very short time - and these were at home moms and moms that had several months of maternity leave.
Because I'll be heading back to work after giving birth, I won't have the time needed to figure things out and I don't need the added stress to go with a new school year and a new baby. I'm trying to visualize myself during an always hectic school day when I barely have time to check my email, breast pumping in the bathroom with my nursing bra and pads, hoping my boobs won't ooze when I'm trying to teach the Revolutionary War to my fifth graders! No gracias.
Neither I nor my sister were breastfed and we were perfectly healthy babies and continue to be healthy adults who don't suffer from detachment.
5. I will definitely be making my own baby food. Several friends did this and said it was incredibly easy, especially with a live-in nanny at home!
Other than that, my belly is growing, but not as much as my breasts! I'm already excited for them to go back to normal. I'm feeling great and sleeping pretty well - I was waking up in the first trimester a lot and I'm sure that'll return for the third tri and about a year after Sienna is born, so I'm storing it up!
Students and co-workers have already been giving me cute gifts for the baby. In the picture, I'm holding little booties that my friend and co-worker Bhumika crocheted for me, along with an adorable little hat. When my friend Danna was visiting from Mexico, she bought a super cute hat and a doll for Sienna and my Saipan roommate, Renee, was here from California and gave me a toy to hang over the crib. Whenever somebody gives me little baby pjs, I lay them on the bed for a few days admiring how cute they are and anxious to put them on baby Sienna.
I went shopping the other day at a maternity store, but the pants all have ridiculously long crotches and I just don't think my belly's big enough yet to use them. I don't know that I'll ever wear the pants with the huge bands that stretch all the way up your belly button; I think I'd rather go for the below-the-belly types. Tops are the easiest because today's fashion really caters to pregnant bellies, so you don't even need to buy maternity tops.
On April 30, I'll be moving into a new apartment with a beautiful outdoor pool, so I'm excited about that!! It's a two bedroom, two bath with a maid's quarters and bathroom, as well as a small kitchen, laundry room and a large living room with a patio overlooking the pool. It'll be great to have the extra space for the nanny and be able to start decorating Sienna's room. The apartment is also located in a perfect spot in the middle of zone 10 where all the great bars and restaurants are. I'm looking forward to being within walking distance of all the action and also able to relax and lounge at the pool with a book.
Everything is great! I'm really looking forward to my trip to California and Minnesota at the end of June. I can't believe another school year is over in 9 weeks!! Enjoy Spring!