hey ladies, i poste din the baby is here section but ill post over here too. i have an email with coupons for a free pack of pamper diapers with no experation date on it. i have printed them out for awhile and have been able to use them. you just have to make sure your store accepts computer printed coupons. if anyone want them just pm your email address and i will send them to you.

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Buffett1 - I didnt even know that they had a caffeine free regular coke out there...I would try it BUT I know me...since I KNOW that it is caffeine free, I probably will not like it...its like some mental game with me...if I know that something is different and I am TOLD that it is different, then I tend NOT to like it...like I said, I am sure that its all mental but at the same time, I dont know how to get rid of that feeling.

Claire - It was a TERRIBLE feeling that the receptionist was like that. I just talked to my mom earlier and she asked if I called back to see exactly what they meant about seeing if they can accomodate me. I told her that I didnt want to call back and if they could accomodate me, they would call back and let me know...I feel like the receptionsit at the doctors office should ALWAYS be nice to you...they have no clue what you are going through...you could be in serious pain and then dealing with someone like that doesnt help at all! Its just a shame. The way I feel about people and customer service is if you do not have the patience and you know that you cant handle or deal with people then DONT DO IT! Go find something else to do where you are NOT interacting with people...its not for everyone and thats ok! Thanks on the cokes...Im trying my best...

Chrystie - I am so excited that I have someone to go through this with. I will be sure to keep you updated with my appointments (as long as I can get an OB that will see me)...I cant wait to hear the heartbeat...I know that will be such a joyous occasion...I think DH cant stop smiling now...I can imagine how he will be when that happens. I wish these weeks would go by so my baby can start developing and I could experience these things...Why do you feel poo poo now?

Bugaboo - Congrats on getting tenured! I just wish some of the professors that I had while in Undergrad were NOT! I feel like EVERYTHING I put in now (even being so early on in my pg) will have an affect. Its like I am so much more conscious of what I eat and drink now...its crazy! I do hope to remain this way because I know that it will be better for me...plus I also need to set a good example for my little one. I hope I dont experience that same downside because I am sure I will want him/her to come out when its time...

On a side note, I feel like I am not eating as much as I have eaten in the past...its like my stomach is smaller now or something...and I dont know what the deal is but we had cake and ice cream for a few co-workers birthday...I had a little but I ended up not eating it...that is NOT me! I dont k now whats happening to me...ha ha ha....I guess it is for the better but the cake and ice cream was like a turn off to me...has anyone else experienced this and if so, was it so early on (I am not even a month pg yet)...

Also, I went for lunch today...I had a yummy mexican lunch...I had to spend a minimum of $10 to use my card so I ended up getting an orange soda. It tasted so good BUT in the end, I felt guilty for having it! I know that it is ok to have a soda every once in a while but for some reason, I felt so bad doing it that I didnt even finish it. I threw the rest of it out and drank the tea that I still had from earlier...

Should I feel guilty?

Also, I am not a big fan of water but I know that I need to drink (a lot of) water...any suggestions on how to ease my way into drinking water? Any recommendations on which waters taste better than others? Im willing to give them all a try. Anything for my baby!!!

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Kanieka-Oh I hear ya about customer service. But around here I've delt with receptionists who are on their cell phones (personal calls) while they are trying to register you. Customer service isn't a real priority around here-culturally.

What you were decribing about having a smaller stomach is VERY familiar to me. Happens at everymeal-either I can't finish or I get ready to eat it and have a sudden AVERSION to it. Although I did manage to eat my whole wrap for lunch today.

I prefer Dasani water. I think it tastes better than the others. But I drink ALOT of water, so I'm picky

Bina- Thanks- I am really stuck on diet drinks, too. I KWYM about regular being too sweet.

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Claire - Try 7UP, it has natural flavors and no artificial colors. Also Splenda is just as bad, if not worse than aspartame. You can always use Agave Syrup or Stevia to sweeten things. Agave Syrup is actually pretty good.

Kanieka - I am a water snob. I LOVE Fiji water, but it's expensive, so I don't get it a lot. Dasani is my second favorite.

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http://rchiprean.abmp.com/index.html

Heidi -when you sai end of oct,that made me feel better. We do have a little time. My bf class is on 10/13. I am actually looking forward to it - I think I have alot to learn.

Kanieka - I use the single serving of Crystal light in my water. I bought a water bottle (22oz) & try to fill it at least 3 times during the day. I also allow myself one soda - 20oz or less per day. My theory is: everythign in moderation. I did cut out all caffeine in the 1st tri, though....but then I decided not to deprive myself of something i like.

Krissy -Congrats!! Thats such great news!!

Jackson found my ribs last week & he seems to be very comfortable there. I wish he would find another place to hang out!

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Kanieka--I have a friend who doesnt like water, either, and during her pg she drank lots of koolaid and homemade lemonade. When you think about it, it is just flavored water. She also would buy these things (I think they were made by koolaid?) that you can put into your bottled water. You just dump it in and shake it up, and then you have some flavor. Also, maybe you will like those waters that come with flavors in them? I hate them, but I am also sort of a water snob. I love to drink water, and since I have been pg DH sometimes says he can't believe I don't float away from all the water I drink. Maybe you will start to like it now?
Claire--My stomache was the same way early on; I had lots of food aversions and could never finish anything. Trust me; it goes away! By about 14 weeks I couldnt eat enough. I also think that your tastes change somewhat during pg; so while junk food may have sounded like a tasty snack before, you may find yourself suddenly wanting to snack on apples. If you gave me a choice between chocolate cake and pineapple I would probably choose pineapple, and I would never have said that before.

DH and I just got into an argument over naming Godparents. I have two sisters and he has one sister and three brothers, so we both have people that we would like to choose (unfortunately, they are not the same people). What a depressing thing to think about. I don't want to hurt anyones feelings, either. I guess we just canNOT die, because I don't trust anyone with this little man.

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Krissy

Quick thing on the water: Dasani is the best tasting plain water and at work I have a water bottle I fill with koolaid. You can buy the packets that make one bottle and I just keep a handful in my purse. It's about the only way I can get it in me. And I think Publix sells Boars Head. Or at least the ones here do.

On the carseat and bags, me and DH decided to get all that done and in the car at 35 weeks since at that point they won't stop me if I go into labor. I'm gonna pack everything but toiletries, but i'm doing little baggies for each of us with travel size deodorant, and a few days worth of body washes(we couldn't leave that stuff in the car here, it can stay in the 80's well into October), toothpaste/toothbrush, etc. I'm also packing a couple baggies of snack food for while we're stuck at the hospital. Those I just hope we remember. If not we'll be sending someone or another to get them.

Meanwhile, EVERYTHING is in boxes. It's so odd. Tomorrow we start the actual moving and then the furniture goes saturday. I can't wait to pick up my new living room furniture!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh and I'm off work for five days straight. I haven't been off that long in like 2 or 3 years, even between jobs. Chyea buddy.

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Kanieka- I bought an Ethos water from Starbucks and made a point to have two full bottles (I just refilled it) a day. It wasn't that difficult since I only had to fill it once during the day.

I think I am getting mastitis in my right breast. It hurts! I'll call my dr tomorrow am.

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Hey all - I haven't had time to read, but I just wanted to check in and let you know I am doing well. I can feel little sprout kicking lots now, and we have the big U/S on Thursday at 1:15, my mom and DH will be coming as well as big sister, CJ. We hope to find out the sex, too. I will get on afterward and let you know what we find out!

Maybe tomorrow I will have time to read up and what you all have been up to!

Jess

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Claire- I know exactly what you mean and it drives me nuts!! I keep questioning everything I eat. Here's a link about Splenda. I bought some Stevia but boy does it taste nasty. I will have to try Bec's other suggestion. I think what helps is just avoiding those processed foods that would contain it. It seems more and more than most my shopping is done at Whole Foods. I find myself buying less pantry food and more fridge/freezer unprocessed foods. It IS more expensive, but I have def felt a lot better health-wise since eating less of that stuff. I can't wait to see your baby bean!!

Maybe I need to just drink water, organic milk and unsweet tea. Anyone recommend a good bottled water that isn't expensive but is really GOOD water (no chemicals etc). I do prefer spring water since it has the needed flouride and trace minerals.

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I think I'm just going to get a water filter.

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Jess--I can't believe you are already going in for your gender u/s!!! How exciting; can't wait to hear what color bean is in there!!

Stacey--I got a water filter at Menards that DH hooked up to our kitchen sink. It was about $80, but now all the water in the kitchen is purified, and it tastes really good. I keep two pitchers of water in the fridge so that they are nice and cold and it is no hassle to get some (I don't have to get ice and everything), and just refill them. As for bottled water, in reality I think they are all pretty much the same. Some taste better to me, but I don't think any are actually better for you; I sort of think it is just advertising.

Jo--Mastitis!?!? How do you know? Let us know what the doc says. Is this common while nursing?

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Krissy

Krissy- from what I've read, mastitis is pretty common for bf-ing moms, especially in the first two months. I just nursed Dominic on the right side for about 15 minutes and the hardness went down and it feels SO much better. Maybe it was just engorgement? At lunch today I brought a bottle so we skipped a feeding. That's probably it. I don't have a fever, so hopefully it was just an over-full boob. I just pumped both breasts to empty them out. He's not scheduled to eat again for a couple more hours so that worked out well. This bf-ing stuff isn't as simple as just sticking a boob in the mouth. I'm learning more about my boobs than ever.

Funny story: tonight I had DH feel my right boob to feel how hard it was and he said, "I haven't felt them in so long, I forget what they normally feel like." Poor guy...

Jess- how exciting! I'll be waiting to hear how it goes.

Dominic and I are going to Party City tomorrow to hopefully get his Halloween costume. I'm not sure what to dress him as. Any suggestions?

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Kanieka, you can try the vitamin waters put out by a couple of differant companies. I love them but they are fairly high in carbs, so I try to limit them

Stacey, you may want to try xylitol if you dont like Stevia. I use it in baking and for drinks and I love it

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