Hi Everyone, I'm here. :) Sorry I missed your bumps! Nothing has changed since my last post, still waiting a couple more weeks for my next ultrasound and doctor appointments. Still no symptoms, just feel like I'm living large and gained 7 more pounds stress eating. We haven't told anyone else yet as I want to wait for the NT scan and the Panorama test we are doing (it's the one for Down and other chromosome screening). It was suggested I do it at my "advanced maternal age" and I couldn't not know if something is wrong. It takes 2 weeks for the bloodwork to come back and you all know how I love to wait. It's all I seem to do! I still have no symptoms while all my online pregnant mommy friends are still nauseous or suffering from morning sickness, all sore and tired, crazy cravings, etc. I kinda feel left out with none of it! Whatever I pictured pregnancy to feel like, this isn't it. I tried on some maternity clothes and I just look ridiculous. I ended up just going up a size in regular clothes as nothing looked right yet. I wish it was still winter and I could hide in my sweaters and leggings. Hopefully I'll relax once we get all the test results back and I know everything is ok. We find out the gender from the test too so that part will be exciting. Thank you for thinking of me. I'm trying to stay off my computer as I tend to google like crazy and get myself all worked up. :)

I'm not sure you can get your mom to care about your relationship. If I were in your shoes, I'm not sure I'd keep trying. Sometimes we just have to accept people the way they are, and that's what I'd do in this case (as far as your own relationship with your mom). I'm also not sure you can get her to understand the need for your husband and you to make requests for your child's care. Again, I think I'd give up trying to get her to understand and agree with you. It seems to me that all you can really do is stand your ground on the safety rules. Stay calm, don't get angry, but just have consequences for when she breaks your rules. If she is letting your daughter get in situations where she is truly in danger (playing on the stairs, taking her to a home where things are stacked high and could fall and hurt her, etc.), then sounds like you just need to make sure your mom has supervised visits only with your daughter. In that situation I would just pay for a sitter and not use my mom to babysit unless I was there. The situation with your soon-to-be baby is sad, and I'm so sorry your mom can't see how hurtful her actions will be. That situation will probably take care of itself, though. I'd think your daughter will love her baby sister/brother and when she gets older your daughter will realize how wrong that kind of statement is. If I was dealing with this with my own mom, then I'd let my mom know that kind of statement is harmful to my kids' relationship with one another and that wasn't acceptable to me. Then, every time my mom made a comment like that, we'd calmly get our things together and leave. Your mom doesn't have to understand, she doesn't have to agree, she just has to stop making that kind of comment. So I wouldn't argue, I wouldn't explain, I'd just calmly say, "It's time for us to go now" or whatever works for the situation, and leave. I would try to enforce my rules in a calm, consistent, firm manner. If my mom wanted to see my daughter alone, then I'd tell her she'll have to go through counseling with the therapist and then later with me and a therapist. No therapy, no keeping my daughter alone. Hopefully her love for your daughter will be the impetus your mom needs to get counseling and change her life for the better. This could be what gets the ball rolling on a much better and healthier life for your mom.

I also forgot to mention that actually the baby is in the upside down position now, so the pictures have been turned for our viewing. Alyssa is very active but does like having hands and feet in front of her face and had to be coaxed to move them. Sue

What a great picture. I am at 24 and a half weeks and we went in last week and for the third month in a row the baby had his legs crossed at the ankles and the umbelical cord was between is legs. So we still don't know what it is. We have decided on a different name than Hudson for a girl, it will be Madden. Now to wait another 3 weeks for another ultrasound. On the other hand my sis goes in for implantation of 2 embryos so will be waiting to find out if they take. Stacie Girlsingardens