u/Ok_Tadpole6376

I'm trying to figure out the best way to baby proof my basement steps. We have a door that opens outwards at the top of the steps, but we can't close the door since our cat's food and litter box is in the basement. So how would you go about baby proofing it? Do we cut a cat hole into the door and simply keep the door physically closed? Do we put a baby gate there with a cat opening in the baby gate? Or do we put one of those door latch and door stoppers in there so the cat can pass through, but the baby can't? I'm truly at a loss 😅

*edit to add: moving the litter box and cats food is not an option

Just what the title says. My father has been pretty MIA from my adult life and has become very self absorbed in his older years. We barely speak, and when we do it's all about his life and he never asks about mine. Or if I share something about my life he somehow turns it into a story about something related to him. We're doing a coed baby shower that's really just drinks and food with friends and family while also celebrating a soon to be little one! The invitation says all this. His response, "I ain't going to no baby shower." Honestly I'm not surprised, but I must admit it still hurts. It's almost a relief he won't be there because he'd just bitch and moan all weekend about having to do social things with other family members or bitch about going to the party itself. But it still fucking hurts. He knows we've gone through infertility, loss, and IVF to get this baby. This will be his only grandchild too. Oh and he's never once acknowledged this baby/ pregnancy beside a, "Congratulations" when I told him about it. Anyone dealing with anything similar?

Oh and FIL can't go because his stepson has parents weekend that same day... so at least my husband and I can commiserate together about it

On a positive note both grandmas are at least very excited about the little one

I work as a para in an elementary school and a big part of my job is doing recess/lunch duties. We lost a bunch of funding for this year and went from 12 paras to cover K-5 lunch and recess duties to 4 paras to cover all the duties. Which basically means I’m going to have to go from doing one lunch and one recess duty a day to multiple a day. I don’t know my exact schedule yet since school hasn’t started, but I’m really worried about being outside for recess duty for over an hour a day in the insane heat we’ve been having all summer. I already have a problem regulating my temperature as I had a heat stroke as a child and I haven’t been going outside all summer because I feel like shit so I’m really not used to this heat. I’m only 11 weeks and haven’t told my boss yet, but don’t know if I should just suck it up and stand under a tree with a fan the whole time or ask for some accommodations from my boss or maybe even my doctor? This is an IVF pregnancy after a natural loss so I’m just feeling extra anxious about things. Should I ask to switch my recess duties with another para just while the temperatures are so hot? What ideas do y’all have? Has anyone been through anything similar?

Does that seem tacky? We’re doing a coed baby shower cocktail hour type of nontraditional shower. Does “A tini one is on the way” 🍸 seem weird?

So my husband and I are planning our first baby shower for our first baby. The shower will be in November in a cold state so it’ll be indoors and we have a wonderful venue picked out. My MIL is helping us plan it and wants to know what all we want done, but honestly I want more of a non traditional type shower where we’re really just celebrating our baby to be. Over half the guests will be out of town family hence why we want to really just socialize and not play games or open gifts in front of people. But what can we do to fill 3 hours in case people get bored? We’re going to have some appetizer stations, a full bar, and heavy hors d'oeuvres passes out. We’re thinking maybe doing a station where people can guess babies name? Or a write your favorite family tradition type station? Or should we just put these on tables for people?

Also, how do we decorate for this? The venue is in a beautiful glass room with great hanging ferns, a big fire place and some plants around the fireplace. Should we get flowers for the tables or table clothes for the tables and cocktail tables?

I’m about two weeks away from stopping my progesterone suppositories and I’m getting hot flashes almost nightly and sometimes once during the day. For those who took progesterone suppositories did the hot flashes go away for you once you stopped? I’m currently 10 weeks!

Baby has not been born yet, so we don’t know what their temperament will be yet. But my BIL is getting married in Italy in September of next year and the only way we could go is if baby comes with us. Luckily we’d have my husbands family and MIL there with us to help out. But I’m wondering if this is insane to do? We can’t leave baby for a week with just my mother as baby will be too small if I’m EBF and my mother has health issues so I worry about her being the sole caregiver for a week. I also worry about flying for 10 hours without a car seat to safety put baby in on the plane, but then I don’t want us to have to drag a car seat around Italy. Do we get something like the Donna car seat/stroller? We will be flying domestically too when baby is 6 months and 9 months and will need a car seat for those trips as well.

As for the location in Italy it’s still under wraps apparently, but sounds like it’s going to be in Tuscany somewhere and we will have a villa provided for us during the wedding weekend.

I’d love a romantic trip to Italy with just my husband. Especially since we haven’t been able to travel in forever because of fertility and IVF treatments/costs. But at the same time we tried so hard for this baby it does seem like of magical to bring them. But also is this insane?

I know everyone shits on vinyl, but as a couple without a lot of money what are some good roll out vinyl recommendations? Every place either doesn’t carry it or only has one selection that’s tile looking for bathrooms and the rest are wood looking. We’re redoing a bathroom and want something that looks like tile.

I’m normally a pretty confident person who never argues with my husband as he’s the most caring and sweetest man around. But the last two days I’ve been an emotional wreck. I feel like I have zero self worth, I’m worried my husband won’t value me as a mom (I know he will, but still), I’m crying at the drop of a hat over the dumbest things and I feel like I can’t do anything right in my life, work and personal. It’s his birthday weekend and I planned a fun get away to spoil him for being so amazing throughout this whole IVF process. But we’ve both been so anxious it’s kind of been a train wreck and now I feel like it’s all my fault and I feel like shit and I can’t do anything right.

This is our rainbow baby and our only euploid so I feel like a lot is riding on it. My husband and I honestly grew closer during IVF, but this pregnancy all of a sudden feels so much more intense and high stakes.

I just feel like poop 😞 that is all

We got our second beta test back and my HCG 13dp6dt is 1997!!! I know we still have a long way to go and I’m still very anxious since I had a natural loss last summer. But I’m so happy baby girl is sticking around so far!!! We’re still keeping it a secret for a while, but wanted to celebrate with y’all!

I work as an instructional paraprofessional in one elementary classroom all day. My job is pretty easy to be honest. I’m taking a full day off for my FET, but the very next day is actually our last day of school. It’s a half day and the teacher and kids I’m with are wonderful so I know it’ll be a chill day with a movie and lots of hugs from the kids and tears from the kiddos honestly. I’m leaning more towards going in since it’s the last day and this group of kids/class has been my favorite in a long time. I think it’ll be a nice distraction and better than sitting at home all day while my husband is at work. But of course I’m worried that I shouldn’t go in and just call my year on the Friday beforehand. What do y’all think? Also, how do I handle the hugs? Just say my stomach hurts and I need gentle hugs that day?

The nurse just called to clear me to trigger for my modified natural cycle! We’re transferring next Tuesday the 26th our only euploid embryo and I’m so excited, but also so nervous. Send us all your good vibes!!! Any potential transfer twins?