pregnant with 3rd

[Payten&EmmersynsMommy]

Hi ladies. This forum is first place where I can talk about expecting without a whole bunch of family/friends finding out too soon.
Any advice for your third baby?
My daughter will be one on June 14th, so this is really unexpected, and our house is so tiny, so dh and I are freaking out a bit! :sigh:
But the good news is I have my daughter, some friends have baby boys- so clothes will be easy to get, I have plenty of cloth diapers for boy or girl, and breastfeeding is free! I'm looking at the positives.
When did you tell ur families/friends? And a neat way to announce as well as some good clever comebacks for those rude people u know will say too soon. TIA

[raisingcropsandbabies]

I have 4 kiddos, 4 and under. When I had my 3rd, the oldest child was 2. So I feel ya! On the comments... you will definitely get the "don't you know what causes that?". Someone said, on the multiple forum, "a happy marriage" was her response and I use that now! I get some good laughs from it! haha.

For advice: make a list of priorities for you and your spouse, as far as housework/kids/etc. When I had my 3rd, I realized I could not clean my house every evening like I did with 2. So I asked my dh what was most important to him (like the top 3 things) so I could know what to make my priority. For him it was: meal from scratch, no laundry on the couch he likes to sit on, and a wife who's not too exhausted from cleaning all day to spend some "time" with him! haha. So, I didn't sweat the toys on the floor, the laundry piling up in the bathroom, etc. I like to have a clean kitchen and so I at least would clean off the counters in the evening so I had a workspace in the morning. That definitely helped me because I didn't feel like I was a chicken with it's head cut off!

Freezer meals can be your lifesaver (there were for me). Esp. the first 3 months postpartum. I had 6 weeks worth of meals for after my c-section made and it ended up stretching out because friends brought a weeks' worth of meals as well. After those ran out, I would just triple a supper/breakfast recipe and freeze the other 2 and eat the 1... they help on days you have to run, on days you run out of time to cook, on days you are too overwhelmed to even think about supper, etc! And then, you feel good because you know it's healthy food you're giving the family instead of KFC! haha.

[mariamommy]

Originally Posted by raisingcropsandbabies I have 4 kiddos, 4 and under. When I had my 3rd, the oldest child was 2. So I feel ya! On the comments... you will definitely get the "don't you know what causes that?". Someone said, on the multiple forum, "a happy marriage" was her response and I use that now! I get some good laughs from it! haha. For advice: make a list of priorities for you and your spouse, as far as housework/kids/etc. When I had my 3rd, I realized I could not clean my house every evening like I did with 2. So I asked my dh what was most important to him (like the top 3 things) so I could know what to make my priority. For him it was: meal from scratch, no laundry on the couch he likes to sit on, and a wife who's not too exhausted from cleaning all day to spend some "time" with him! haha. So, I didn't sweat the toys on the floor, the laundry piling up in the bathroom, etc. I like to have a clean kitchen and so I at least would clean off the counters in the evening so I had a workspace in the morning. That definitely helped me because I didn't feel like I was a chicken with it's head cut off! Freezer meals can be your lifesaver (there were for me). Esp. the first 3 months postpartum. I had 6 weeks worth of meals for after my c-section made and it ended up stretching out because friends brought a weeks' worth of meals as well. After those ran out, I would just triple a supper/breakfast recipe and freeze the other 2 and eat the 1... they help on days you have to run, on days you run out of time to cook, on days you are too overwhelmed to even think about supper, etc! And then, you feel good because you know it's healthy food you're giving the family instead of KFC! haha.

I love all this!

[austinandashlynsmommy]

Congratulations! I agree with the pp's advice, all wonderful! For me, going from 2 to 3 was surprisingly easy. 1-2 was much harder. I'm expecting #4 in September and my kids will be 7, 5, and 2.5 . I hear the 'Don't you know what causes that?" comment more times than I can count, but I don't let it get to me. I just tell people how much I enjoy my children and how happy we are to be expecting another and then I just get a smile and congrats. When the new baby arrives, give your other 2 children 'jobs' to help with the baby and that will help not only you, but make them feel important. My oldest was only 20 months when his baby sister arrived, but he was able to grab me a burp cloth, or diaper, etc... He loved to help.

[blesdfish]

Originally Posted by raisingcropsandbabies I have 4 kiddos, 4 and under. When I had my 3rd, the oldest child was 2. So I feel ya! On the comments... you will definitely get the "don't you know what causes that?". Someone said, on the multiple forum, "a happy marriage" was her response and I use that now! I get some good laughs from it! haha. For advice: make a list of priorities for you and your spouse, as far as housework/kids/etc. When I had my 3rd, I realized I could not clean my house every evening like I did with 2. So I asked my dh what was most important to him (like the top 3 things) so I could know what to make my priority. For him it was: meal from scratch, no laundry on the couch he likes to sit on, and a wife who's not too exhausted from cleaning all day to spend some "time" with him! haha. So, I didn't sweat the toys on the floor, the laundry piling up in the bathroom, etc. I like to have a clean kitchen and so I at least would clean off the counters in the evening so I had a workspace in the morning. That definitely helped me because I didn't feel like I was a chicken with it's head cut off! Freezer meals can be your lifesaver (there were for me). Esp. the first 3 months postpartum. I had 6 weeks worth of meals for after my c-section made and it ended up stretching out because friends brought a weeks' worth of meals as well. After those ran out, I would just triple a supper/breakfast recipe and freeze the other 2 and eat the 1... they help on days you have to run, on days you run out of time to cook, on days you are too overwhelmed to even think about supper, etc! And then, you feel good because you know it's healthy food you're giving the family instead of KFC! haha.

Seriously, this is amazing!
It took me almost 3 months to figure this all out, I wish I had read something like this before I had my third. My only advice is slow down, stay home, focus on your new normal. I over commit myself all the time, I watch friends' kids, I mentor, I join craft nights/book clubs. You name it. I realized I can't do that now, I am mom and wife and for a few years that is all I am. I even quit my job because I was giving %50 at home and %50 at work and I'm not okay with short changing my family and only giving them my leftovers. It has been really hard financially but my kids are only small for a few more years and I'm going to cherish this while I can!

Good luck!

[blesdfish]

Oh yes I forgot, congratulations!!

[MrsAsh]

I'm due in two weeks with my thrid and my oldest just turned three. The middle one is 19 months. Congratulations!! It may be crazy at times, but I love it.

[nonipie]

Originally Posted by raisingcropsandbabies I have 4 kiddos, 4 and under. When I had my 3rd, the oldest child was 2. So I feel ya! On the comments... you will definitely get the "don't you know what causes that?". Someone said, on the multiple forum, "a happy marriage" was her response and I use that now! I get some good laughs from it! haha. For advice: make a list of priorities for you and your spouse, as far as housework/kids/etc. When I had my 3rd, I realized I could not clean my house every evening like I did with 2. So I asked my dh what was most important to him (like the top 3 things) so I could know what to make my priority. For him it was: meal from scratch, no laundry on the couch he likes to sit on, and a wife who's not too exhausted from cleaning all day to spend some "time" with him! haha. So, I didn't sweat the toys on the floor, the laundry piling up in the bathroom, etc. I like to have a clean kitchen and so I at least would clean off the counters in the evening so I had a workspace in the morning. That definitely helped me because I didn't feel like I was a chicken with it's head cut off! Freezer meals can be your lifesaver (there were for me). Esp. the first 3 months postpartum. I had 6 weeks worth of meals for after my c-section made and it ended up stretching out because friends brought a weeks' worth of meals as well. After those ran out, I would just triple a supper/breakfast recipe and freeze the other 2 and eat the 1... they help on days you have to run, on days you run out of time to cook, on days you are too overwhelmed to even think about supper, etc! And then, you feel good because you know it's healthy food you're giving the family instead of KFC! haha.

Wow, what great advice! I'm expecting #3 in August and we are trying to work out our new roles. There are things we are realizing that just won't be able to get done. I hate taking family time on the weekends to clean or grocery shop but I am having to adjust my expectations. If we work together on the weekends to get it done then so be it. Oh and I found a grocery delivery service that is really helpful since I've been sick this pregnancy and I will be using it whenever needed once #3 comes. I'm going to start the freezer meals in a few weeks too. Congrats!

[nursemama23]

Originally Posted by Payten&EmmersynsMommy Hi ladies. This forum is first place where I can talk about expecting without a whole bunch of family/friends finding out too soon. Any advice for your third baby? My daughter will be one on June 14th, so this is really unexpected, and our house is so tiny, so dh and I are freaking out a bit! :sigh: But the good news is I have my daughter, some friends have baby boys- so clothes will be easy to get, I have plenty of cloth diapers for boy or girl, and breastfeeding is free! I'm looking at the positives. When did you tell ur families/friends? And a neat way to announce as well as some good clever comebacks for those rude people u know will say too soon. TIA

My youngest DD will be one on June 13 and we just found out we are expecting #4! Congrats! Right now we are trying to get all the little projects done around the house that we've been putting off and simplifying life. I plan to do the freezer meals but will probably use them more when I go back to work after maternity leave than we will initially. So far I've managed that postpartum time pretty well but get overwhelmed when I go back to work. Great thread!

[Payten&EmmersynsMommy]

Originally Posted by raisingcropsandbabies I have 4 kiddos, 4 and under. When I had my 3rd, the oldest child was 2. So I feel ya! On the comments... you will definitely get the "don't you know what causes that?". Someone said, on the multiple forum, "a happy marriage" was her response and I use that now! I get some good laughs from it! haha. For advice: make a list of priorities for you and your spouse, as far as housework/kids/etc. When I had my 3rd, I realized I could not clean my house every evening like I did with 2. So I asked my dh what was most important to him (like the top 3 things) so I could know what to make my priority. For him it was: meal from scratch, no laundry on the couch he likes to sit on, and a wife who's not too exhausted from cleaning all day to spend some "time" with him! haha. So, I didn't sweat the toys on the floor, the laundry piling up in the bathroom, etc. I like to have a clean kitchen and so I at least would clean off the counters in the evening so I had a workspace in the morning. That definitely helped me because I didn't feel like I was a chicken with it's head cut off! Freezer meals can be your lifesaver (there were for me). Esp. the first 3 months postpartum. I had 6 weeks worth of meals for after my c-section made and it ended up stretching out because friends brought a weeks' worth of meals as well. After those ran out, I would just triple a supper/breakfast recipe and freeze the other 2 and eat the 1... they help on days you have to run, on days you run out of time to cook, on days you are too overwhelmed to even think about supper, etc! And then, you feel good because you know it's healthy food you're giving the family instead of KFC! haha.

THANK YOU so much!! I'm going to use this advice for sure. I've never done freezer meals though, I'll have to look that up. I can cook and all, is the food prepped or cooked.
And I love that response-.a.happy marriage