Updating on my nephew and the touch-and-go relationship of my parents with their only grandchild: FANTASTIC news. They’ve visited the baby several times and my sister invited my mom (her stepmom but she’s been in my sister’s life her entire life) to come stay with her for a few days.
We have a family group text and she sends us new baby pictures every day. They facetime with the baby every few days.
My father, a man who’s very much “I don’t like babies” is 100% wrapped around his grandson’s finger. He even changed his diapers. I’m not convinced he changed OUR diapers haha.
I’m so happy. Honestly, sometimes I think about the family being back on good terms and just want to sob happy tears. It’s been such a long few years of tension and bitterness.
@romanigypsyeyes, I am so happy for you, your sister and your parents. Nothing like a sweet little baby to bridge a gap. Facetime is a wonderful invention as are shared albums! My day doesn’t feel complete without a new picture of our little guy.
Also the baby has so much hair. SO MUCH HAIR. It sticks up a solid 2+ inches and is thick. My sister and I both had a ton of hair when we were born but he puts us to shame.
I can already see my sister’s sass on his face but he currently has more of his dad’s personality. He is such a good baby.
My daughter and SIL live 1000 miles away from almost our entire family. A few relatives would like to host a baby shower which would required my daughter to come to town one weekend. While she will be visiting at some point before her due date in July, she is not sure she wants a shower. Besides the logistic of getting gives back home, she believes baby showers are bad luck. This is not something anyone will force on her, and she is still thinking about how she feels.
I was thinking if she decide she would like one, maybe we could make it a coed shower, without the games and such. Maybe just a cookout with family and friends, so not so much a shower, as a gathering. This would allow them to include their male friends and family members, who don’t get to see the couple often as they just moved to the states this month.
Anyone been involved with a coed baby shower; did the men handle it well? Any ideas and suggestions? My favorite shower I attended was a book only shower to help build the baby’s library as the mother is an avid reader. The guess were asked not to bring older children’s books as the mom still had all of her copies, so the goal was to bring books published in the 90’s or later.
My DIL had a coed shower. She lived on the West coast and her family lived on the east. Her sisters wanted only women at the shower, but DIL said she doesn’t see everyone that often so “demanded” that her father, my DH, BILs were invited. My S participated by Facetime.
The theme was building the baby’s library, altho not all guests kept to the theme. Shipping books to CA wasn’t difficult, and DIL packed some of the clothing she got in her suitcase.
There were no games (not my DIL’s style anyway). A buffet was served. Ultimately, I think it was the kind of shower DIL wanted.
We had co-ed showers for two of my nieces at houses of my relatives. We had a few co-ed shower games at each. They were potluck and mostly a nice extended family gathering with some gifts for the expectant couple.
My D’s "shower,
" really just a family gathering, was co-ed. No silly games.
I’m actually surprised anyone has women only ones as all those I’ve been to recently have been co-ed.
Not sure why the men would have a problem. It’s a welcome into the family for everyone, and it definitely takes two to make a baby, and in most cases, two will be raising it. So the gifts are for mom AND dad.
I definitely say follow her lead. D was not going to have one, but decided finally that the family ritual of supporting and welcoming the future child its family made sense.
DD/SIL had the coed baby shower - it was all their couple friends, single friends, DD2/my h/me at their city (100 miles from us, and about 50 miles from DD2). A friend offered her home (their apt complex wanted to charge too much to use the club house), and SIL cooked out burgers and DD and her coordinating friend had all the food. It was fun. DD2 did a lot of the decorating and coordinating with DD’s friend.
It really depends on the bride to be/groom to be - and their circle of friends. Geographic distance has made some of the relative/home town friend bridal showers difficult to plan/coordinate/have.
At book club last night, had the story about my friend delivering her daughter’s baby who came too fast (2nd baby) in the night. Firemen/EMT arrived after baby was delivered in bathroom - EMT clamped/cut the cord and delivered the placenta. Baby was over 8 lb (first baby was almost 8 lb). All doing well. Grandma had stayed over (from out of town) when she went past her due date. Good thing! 911 was on the phone as she was doing her mid-wife work! Baby’s daddy was pacing around, coordinating/fetching. I know he was greatly relieved that baby’s grandma was there handling business!
Interesting, is there some medical rationale for this? My DIL told me that doctors today seem to consider 39 weeks ideal but even as a high risk (because of maternal age) pregnancy, her OB told her she would have let her go one week past her due date. She delivered on her due date - as she and my S said in their announcement, “Runnersmom’s GS is the son of a reporter – he respects a deadline!”
She said the doctor said he really didn’t want to get past 41 weeks and apparently 39 weeks is the optimal time according to research or something. I was surprised because when I was pregnant they didn’t really like to induce first time moms.
My DIL is due mid April. She said that at every “measuring” appointment she has had, she measures one week further along than she supposedly is, which means a) her actual delivery date could be a week earlier, b) the baby is bigger than average, or c) nothing.
She is worried because delivering a week early is not optimal for her work schedule. lol.
I am surprised that they want to induce at 39 weeks. I read some research that said that women actually deliver on average more like 41 weeks from LMP, if not induced or given C-sections. (And, joining the club here! DD due in September - still a long way to go!)
Doctors will not induce before the due date unless some medical urgency requires. I knew I would need to be induced for my 2nd, due date was the 20th. My mom’s BD was the 19th and he would only schedule to induce on the 20th or later. DD’s birthday was when it was supposed to be.
DD’s doctor wanted to make sure DD’s baby was not over 8 lb because it would hinder her from having natural delivery. DD’s water broke so she delivered a few days before her due date (7 lb baby). Will see if her 2nd (due in July) will be early. I have yet to tell DD about my friend delivering her grandchild when the baby came so quick!