Ladies due in Sept/Oct/Nov 2012, gather here!

[Mochagirl]

Glad to hear your results went well, Mocha, so exciting! Have you found HB on your own since that one time?

Twice I've managed to find the heartbeat for a few seconds before losing it - the last time was 2 days ago. My midwife tried to find it yesterday and couldn't, but she said she rarely can hear it at 10 weeks.

As for the SAHM/D and housework...honestly, I often do the bare minimum and not much beyond that. I run the dishwasher daily and do and fold/put away about 1-2 loads of laundry a day (that's what having 3 little boys, two of whom wet the bed and one of whom is in cloth diapers means). Other than that, I might pick one project and do it - like maybe I'll move the furniture in the living room and sweep underneath, I'll clean a bathroom or maybe I'll clean the kitchen floor. My place always looks like a wreck, though, and I don't have the time or energy to care about that. Yes, I do get a wee bit of downtime while ds3 has his nap and ds1&2 play their Nintendo DS's, but that's the time of day I catch up on email, read this site and do the bits of freelance writing I do for some extra money. Actually, to think of it - I do most of the few household chores in the evening while the kids are asleep - that's always when I do laundry and dishes - in the day I spend more time grocery shopping, baking and planning/cooking meals.

Anyway, to make a long story short, yes there are some supermoms/dads out there who can manage being a SAHP and keep a beautifully clean house, but I'm definitely not one of them and perhaps your dh isn't either. If I were you I'd cut him some slack - days go past when I don't talk to any adults other than my dh and I break up about 100 fights a day between my older sons, and I'll spend an hour cleaning something only to turn around a minute later to see my ds3 has completely undone all my cleaning - honestly there are days I think my DH is the lucky one getting to spend the day doing work in his quiet office and having lunch and socialising with his (adult) colleagues.

[Hobbermittens]

Good news TTC5, now stay on bedrest!! Take care of yourself and your little bean!

[auroara78]

Thanks for the perspective, Mocha...I think I needed it I guess he just sold me this story before he became a SAHD because he was totally miserable in his crappy paying job, and the picture he painted has not come true at all yet. But it's only been two months.

On the other hand, I don't know how many of ya'll believe in this, but the psychic Cara got back to me yesterday and said she saw a girl for this pregnancy, and that she saw another girl, really really close in age to this one, so that if I don't want a 4th, I shoudl be careful! LOL, it just made me feel bubbly inside, like I still really do have a chance at hearing "girl" at the U/S, which I'll probably book for 19 weeks. I really really want to go to a private scan but we don't got money for that. But if I did get some spare money, I might convince hubby to do it at 16 weeks, maybe. I dunno. Depends on cost too....anyone looking to do a private scan early? What's the earliest they can clearly tell gender, 15 weeks??

[Hobbermittens]

Also, DH, stay at home Dad, is misbehaving the last two days and hasn't done a single chore housewise (of course he's fed and watched kids, etc)....how mad shoudl I be? should i cut him a break? he claims today he's gonna drop kids off at his grandma's so he can whip the house in shape, but I am really ticked that he hasn't even done the dishwasher for two days. I was going to do it for him last night but i said "F it" to myself and didn't do it, and this morning as a result I was using a plastic spoon to eat my oatmeal, lol.

He claims 9 month old baby has been into everything and he's been too "busy" minding the baby to do chores. the thing is: when the kids are napping, he hops on his Xbox to play call of duty. I understand everyone needs a break...but anyway, I'm looking for some perspective from stay at home moms who may understand what it's like more watching kids day in, day out...

I can speak to this. I am a SAHM, and I have days where not much gets done... I have a VERY BUSY 22 month old who keeps me on my toes--she pretty much messes things up faster than I can clean them. However, the days that I get nothing done (no dishes, laundry, etc) are usually days when I spend too much time on the computer, or reading, or whatever. If I bust my a$$ every day, and don't take a bunch of breaks, the house looks better (though never perfect by any means). Today, for instance, I have already gotten a roast in the oven, done a load of dishes, taken my son to preschool, and it is only noon. I will still do some laundry, sweep and (hopefully!) vacuum before DH gets home.

I can see your DH wanting some time to play his X box, but can't he do chores too? I think there needs to be a balance. The days that my DH comes home to a messy house, he isn't very happy.

Edit to add: I am not a very good house keeper, so my standard of a clean house isn't the same standard as other people's, probably. There is always a pile of laundry to put away and some assorted clutter on other surfaces. I call it a win if the toys are put away, the floor is clean, dishes are done, and the bathroom looks nice.

[Plum3]

Auroara, your DH sounds exactly like mine! I work two days a week and when I am at work he stays home and looks after the kids. But, that's pretty much all he does. No cooking, cleaning, washing or anything like that. If I ask he will do it but not without whinging first. And when the kids are having their nap he plays COD on xbox as well. I can't sit and do nothing if there is housework to be done. But in saying that, my resolution this year was to not be so obsessive about having a clean house and just get out and enjoy life! Maybe I'm just jealous of him?!

[Plum3]

My beta results from 19dpo were 4868. A big jump from 181 at 13dpo. DH is convinced it's twins.

[Hobbermittens]

My beta results from 19dpo were 4868. A big jump from 181 at 13dpo. DH is convinced it's twins.

How exciting Bec! When can you find out for sure?

[Plum3]

How exciting Bec! When can you find out for sure?

I have my ultrasound in 12 days

[Hobbermittens]

If you had twin boys, that would be perfect!! FX!!

[Mochagirl]

Very exciting, Bec!

I have a question for my fellow girl swayers: have you found it hard to revert back to your usual carnivore lifestyle? I was on the diet for a total of 6 months over the past year, and I think my body really started to get used to being vegetarian. Now that I'm back to eating the amount of meat I used to, I'm not really enjoying it. Don't get me wrong - the occasional hamburger is nice, but last week after about 5 suppers in a row that featured meat at the main dish, I suddenly felt I couldn't take it anymore. For 3 nights I went back to eating veggie pasta dishes - one night I even ate my old standby of veggies, creme fraiche, pasta and parmesan...and it was very tasty! I think I'm going to start including less meat in our meals, which will be healthier for all of us!