Hi folks! I'm back from visiting my parents in LA. Lovely weather, in the mid-60's the whole time, but unfortunately DH came down with a cold and my mom got food poisoning so overall not the greatest vacation (luckily I seem to have avoided the food poisoning and only gotten a mild cold). I got to see all my relatives though which was good and spend some quality time cuddling my sister's dogs, plus we made it to the art museum (LACMA) which had some nice exhibits and to a couple of my favorite restaurants. I got to have an "enhanced pat-down" at the airport on the way home because I opted out of the special scanner. The sign says it's safe for pregnant women but I figure better safe than sorry. I joke with DH that the reason we're having twins is because I went through those scanners when I didn't know I was pregnant yet.
Bargoo, belated congrats on your 5th maintenance anniversary!
Maintenance is totally out the window for me for the duration of this pregnancy. I'm up about 10lbs right now from my pre-pregnancy weight and I'm supposed to gain 30 more. We saw my regular OB this morning and she calmed us down after the scare the specialist gave us a couple weeks ago. I do have to take a pile of vitamins, but she said basically don't worry about it if I can't manage to eat everything I'm supposed to, and don't worry about all the things that could potentially go wrong because everything will probably be fine. I asked about the other doc saying I'd have to be induced at 36 weeks and she said first off, don't worry about delivery now because it's too early anyway, and second, most people with twins go into labor naturally around then anyway. DH liked the OB and is much more at ease about everything now.
In other news, I think between shopping with my mom while on vacation and xmas presents, I've nearly acquired a complete maternity wardrobe (no point in even thinking about trying to fit into my regular clothes anymore). I think it's somewhat hilarious that when I was heavy I put so much effort into concealing my belly, and now that I'm pregnant all the maternity clothes are pretty much designed to enhance my belly and show it off. I wonder what would happen if fat people just started buying maternity clothes? They're certainly comfy.
Carter did great with his dog sitter. There was a blizzard while we were gone, but she managed to make it to all her visits thanks to a beefy SUV. Of course, now that we're back and trying to get him on his old routine, he's whining at us constantly either because he misses his sitter or because we're doing something differently than she did. Last night after we got home this nutty dog was whining and running around like crazy because he wanted to play fetch with his squeaky ball for like an hour straight when we were tired and wanted to sleep! Oh well, I'm sure he'll readjust soon.
Just got off the phone with a weeping DIL. It seems I have committed the unpardonable sin of spending more for DGD'S Christmas gift than I did for DGS. This has led me directly to the peanut butter jar. Holidays ! Relatives !
Jessica I have noticed too that most maternity clothes now seem to be tight knits that make the pregnant belly "pop" out and show it off. I remember when maternity clothes were tent-like (not that I ever was pregnant) and concealed the belly. Fashions change with the times I guess.
And go back to whatever routine Carter has with you guys. Whenever I dog sit the dog adjusts to my routines in one day, then back to his/her owner's in about the same amount of time. I think Carter may have been so glad to see you guys he didn't want to stop playing and interacting - this was your first long trip away from him, yes? Hence the squeaky ball. He will probably stay glued to you guys for a couple of days too - my dog generally wanted to go everywhere (including the bathroom) with me when I came back. As does Mudpie the cat - she is a labrador in the wrong body apparently.
Just got off the phone with a weeping DIL. It seems I have committed the unpardonable sin of spending more for DGD'S Christmas gift than I did for DGS. This has led me directly to the peanut butter jar. Holidays ! Relatives !
That's why gift cards are great. Everyone gets EXACTLY the same amount! But seriously? She called to complain?
I remember my mom fretting over spending more for one kid than another. I do try to keep it as even as possible. But it's not that easy.
I don't know if I told all of you how I lost my mind before Christmas or not. I had bought a bunch of gift cards--most to give to nieces and friend's kids, but one was for DS. A $50 card to Panera where he likes to go for lunch with his friends (yeah, I know, not a typical 17 year old!). Well, I didn't want him to see the card so I "put it away." And of course I couldn't find it. I even enlisted him to help me (told him it was a $50 gift card but didn't reveal where it was for). We searched. I searched ALL the hiding places I have. Nothing. I finally decided I'd thrown it out by mistake and bought another one.
Christmas morning, he's opening his presents. Thanks me for the gift card and then opens the next present and in the bottom of the box is the other gift card! I didn't remember I'd wrapped it with that present.
I do try to be equal in the amounts I spend and did for everybody else, but I did spend quite a bit more for DGD than DGS , it was not meant as a personal slight. My DIL is very hurt all I can say is "I am sorry you feel this way." Meanwhile the peanut butter is gone. This is the first time since she and DS have been married that there has been any kind of friction or hard feelings between us.
Dagmar, LOL, Carter always follows me into the bathroom. We've been away before, for longer -- he did better with his sitter this time than last time, possibly because last time there were thunderstorms which always freak him out. It was just funny because he doesn't normally want to play that much. He seems much more relaxed this afternoon (and is enjoying the nylabone he got as a present from his grandma & grandpa).
Bargoo, not much you can do other than assure DIL that money != love.
Allison, that is funny about the gift cards! We had a different variety of wrapping experiences this year because my mom got food poisoning, but we weren't sure if it was that or a stomach bug, so she wore rubber gloves to wrap everything to avoid transmitting it to me! (It turned out to be food poisoning, and non-contagious, but still.)
Just got off the phone with a weeping DIL. It seems I have committed the unpardonable sin of spending more for DGD'S Christmas gift than I did for DGS. This has led me directly to the peanut butter jar. Holidays ! Relatives !
That is truly and deeply weird bargoo. And I don't mean the peanut butter. Maybe your DIL is suffering from "post-holiday stress relief syndrome" ?
After unloading all this by statrting out with "I can't keep this in, I must tell you, etc sob sob, there I feel so much better ." She felt better and I felt like a creep .
Oh Bargoo, that is aggravating. First, spending more on one than the other doesn't mean that you love one less than the other, and second, why did it make the mother cry? Did it upset the kids? And, how did they know how much more one gift was than the other? Aren't they still young enough not to really be clear on that yet? Argh. I hate the tearful "I have to tell you this..." conversations. How does she think it needs to be resolved? Or was the crying jag it?
I get a lot of that kind of thing from my mom. It is hard to know what to do or say the next times I talk to her, honestly.
I think you are a fantastic grandmother, from my outside perspective. Don't let her get to you.
Sending cyber hugs to Grandma bargoo for reaping trouble from acts of generosity.
Kids can be so competitive. My story this Christmas is that my 34 yo DS loudly announced to 30 yo DD that he had received 6 gold-colored dollar coins in the toe of his stocking when the know quota every single year since forever is 5 (a quality control issue with tired Santa, LOL). Naturally, this was interpreted as Dad loves me the most. Fortunately, I just handed DD one from my stocking and the problem evaporated. You'd think that 30 somethings would be above a one buck feud, LOL.
Sending cyber hugs to Grandma bargoo for reaping trouble from acts of generosity.
Kids can be so competitive. My story this Christmas is that my 34 yo DS loudly announced to 30 yo DD that he had received 6 gold-colored dollar coins in the toe of his stocking when the know quota every single year since forever is 5 (a quality control issue with tired Santa, LOL). Naturally, this was interpreted as Dad loves me the most. Fortunately, I just handed DD one from my stocking and the problem evaporated. You'd think that 30 somethings would be above a one buck feud, LOL.
That too is truly, deeply weird Bill. But in a hilarious way . I'm so glad you had that coin to even things out.
I have no siblings so can't really relate to the rivalry thing but it sounds like it goes on for life. My DH, who is almost 51 years old, has 2 sisters, aged 50 and 47. His sisters still refer to DH as "teflon boy" because he got away with so many things when he was young. Jeepers ladies, this was over 40 years ago.
I wonder what would happen if fat people just started buying maternity clothes? They're certainly comfy.
We've been away before, for longer -- he did better with his sitter this time than last time, possibly because last time there were thunderstorms which always freak him out. It was just funny because he doesn't normally want to play that much. He seems much more relaxed this afternoon (and is enjoying the nylabone he got as a present from his grandma & grandpa).
not much you can do other than assure DIL that money != love.
