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Angie Mc
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| Posted: Feb 06 2005 at 11:19pm | IP Logged
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Hi All,
At 27 weeks pregnant, I'm eager to help moderate this forum. My youngest child just turned 6 and he has an older brother 9, and sister, 12. It has been awhile since I've lived this topic  .
Can we discuss concrete suggestions, tips, helps to help prepare for baby's arrival? Let's get a working list together, eventually breaking it down into weekly suggestions. Each week could offer a suggestion for Home, Health, Education, Family, and Faith. My hope is to take the months we have ahead of time to bring joy and peace by, in part, breaking down the tasks into doable steps/options.
Off of the top of my head, we can prepare for baby's coming by:
prepare meals for freezing
prepare space for baby (keeping it simple)
read an excellent child birth book
drink nettle tea (love it!)
give older children time with baby (6yo Ian loves to talk to the side of my belly, telling baby about his day)
special prayers/devotions
develop habits that will help with transition (9yo is learning how to prepare simple meals)
set wrap-up goals for some home education projects
More later!
Thanks for contributing to this forum. I sure do appreciate it and hopefully others will benefit as well.
Love,
Angie Mc in AZ
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Angie Mc
Maimeo to Henry! Dave's wife, mom to Mrs. Devin+Michael Pope, Aiden 20,Ian 17,John Paul 11,Catherine (heaven 6/07)
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cathhomeschool
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Texas Bluebonnets
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| Posted: Feb 07 2005 at 1:44pm | IP Logged
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Angie Mc wrote:
| give older children time with baby (6yo Ian loves to talk to the side of my belly, telling baby about his day) |
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This reminds me of a sweet picture that Tim took -- a close up of our children huddled around my big belly as I was about 8 months pregnant with #4. In the picture, all you can see is a red belly and 3 very happy heads. My boys loved talking to the baby and saying goodnight to my belly before going to bed.
Practically speaking, some ideas for prep might be pull out stored baby clothing to washing and sort, spring clean and give away clutter NOW while you still feel semi-comfortable, have the carpet cleaned (I like clean carpets before a new little one enters our world), plan some independent lessons for the kids that they can do on their own when baby comes (maybe fun worksheets or workbooks, craftbooks and kits to save until baby comes, simple science kits, sewing kits). We've been through this twice recently, but I just can't think of what we did!
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Janette (4 boys - 22, 21, 15, 14)
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Angie Mc
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| Posted: Feb 11 2005 at 5:52pm | IP Logged
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I find that I'm trying to get much of what I do on paper so that others in the family can follow. For example, I never actually wrote down on any paper that we take out the garbage on Monday and Thursday morning. Now it is written down for all to see!
I'm also writing down reminder lists for each room of the house that have "chore" expectations. Gee, I've even written down on an index card exactly what I need to do before I leave my bathroom and bedroom in the morning! I need reminders to take my prenatal vitamins, do my prenatal exercises (which are listed on yet another paper,) and to put on my glasses  I just can't seem to remember things as well as I used to and certainly, my family can't read my mind .
Love,
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Angie Mc
Maimeo to Henry! Dave's wife, mom to Mrs. Devin+Michael Pope, Aiden 20,Ian 17,John Paul 11,Catherine (heaven 6/07)
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Elizabeth
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| Posted: Feb 11 2005 at 5:59pm | IP Logged
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I've done all of that Angie and I put it all into my planner. I had fun recently reviewing that planner from the year Christian was born. I have found that my best labors and my most enjoyable babymoons have been when my house was well-organized and I was rested. So, I do a pretty methodical cleaning and organizing throughout pregnancy.And I get soem exercise everyday, so that I am more relaxed. I tank up on Pregnancy Tea during the day and a chomomile blend after 4 or so to help me sleep.
I also found that my best babymoons are when I am spiritually well-prepared. I can't say enough about confession once a week through that last month. A clean heart, a clean soul and an openness to the wonder of God's plan ease the transition considerably. We are programmed to be introspective towards the end and I think that's a very good thing. But if we can take that introspection and move BEYOND it to the supernatural, then that's a great thing.
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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amiefriedl
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I'll second Elizabeth's notions on spiritual preparedness. For my part, I'm going through the Manual for the Total Consecration to Mary in addition to Mass, Confessions and so on. I am eager to finish the Consecration and really truly 'belong' to Mary completely.
I never felt anything much for the Blessed Mother until after my last miscarriage (3rd) and felt I could only reach out to her for comfort. Happily, she won't let you stay angry with God for very long at all!
I just found out I'm having a girl. And I'm excited about this child like never before. It's partly gratitude for the healthy pregnancy but mostly it's that I can hardly wait to see my 2 children interact with her. They are really excited about the whole thing.
As a former tom-boy and (gulp!) feminist, I feel so, so, so, so, so blessed to be 'getting in touch with my feminine side'. Sensitive, motherly feelings can be such a revelation as well as a rush. I love that I will give my daughters more of that! God be praised!
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In Christ the King through Mary our Mother,
Amie
Blessed with an awesome hubby and Mom of ds10, dd7, dd3 and dd 10months.
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Angie Mc
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| Posted: March 08 2005 at 9:53pm | IP Logged
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Amie,
You make so many love-ly points! Spending time with our Mother is such a natural, nurturing, gift to give ourselves during this special time.
Are you doing anything special to prepare your children for the coming of baby? I would love to hear ideas from all .
You are not alone in finding the beauty of God's design for woman beautiful and fulfilling, in a special way during pregnancy. I give so much credit to our first child for helping me to find my way home again  .
Love,
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Angie Mc
Maimeo to Henry! Dave's wife, mom to Mrs. Devin+Michael Pope, Aiden 20,Ian 17,John Paul 11,Catherine (heaven 6/07)
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amiefriedl
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Angie,
I'm not sure my son and daughter are emotionally ready to see the inutero pictures of a baby growing yet...of course that could be rephrased to say that I'm not sure I'm emotionally ready to show them, even the children's picture books. There are still several months left to decide however!
But what I AM doing is going over the sacremental part of it carefully and often. I read as many Catholic children's stories about baptism, patron saints and how the angels and Our Lord feel about new babies as I can find. Their Hearts Are His Garden by Sr. Mary Marguerite, CSJ is one great source! All of this obviously, is so that they can really be prepared to be curious and observant on the big day of our new baby's baptism. I plan to make as big a deal of it as I possibly am able. I'm blessed to have an eager helper for a husband. But it DOES depend on how much sleep we are getting at the time! 
I love the idea of making the anniversary of baptisms a bigger deal than birthdays and am slowing moving that way. Old habits die hard though, especially as my son's 7th b-day quickly approaches, and for once, it isn't in Lent this year!  I love birthdays! But spiritually speaking, baptismdays are/should be a big/bigger deal. How many great parties can I fit in a year?? 
So for prepping the kids, that is all I can think of that we're doing right now. But just that by itself is LOTS of fun! I could probably *use some suggestions* on kid-preps for new baby from some of the seasoned professionals around here and I hope we get some additional responses!
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In Christ the King through Mary our Mother,
Amie
Blessed with an awesome hubby and Mom of ds10, dd7, dd3 and dd 10months.
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amyable
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Don't laugh, but I realize what I've been doing the past few weeks is "homeschool nesting". I'm not cleaning the house, or washing baby clothes or anything sweet like that - I'm spending inordinate amounts of time online trying to order books we can learn from over the summer when all I'll want to do is either sit outside and enjoy the fresh air, or sit inside and read, read, read! I'm also spending much mental energy making sure my oldest will have had enough teaching time from me before the baby comes, and looking through our shelves to see what I have that we've forgotten about!
I'm much less concerned about the baby's arrival than about ending schooling early and taking much time off! I know, I need to get a grip. :) We'll, I've got about 8 more weeks, so I'll work on that, lol. I don't think I'd care half as much if my oldest didn't have such a hard time learning the "basics" of math/reading, etc.
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Amy
mom of 5, ages 6-16, and happy wife of 
The Highly Sensitive Homeschooler
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Chari
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I was enjoying this thread in my non-pregnant state.......remembering.......
so, I posted a new topic : Sanctifying Pregnancy..........as it was a wonderful book for preparing for baby's arrival, spiritually
and, anyone who reads this, if you could just whisper a quick Hail Mary on my behalf...........for my husband to remember the openess to life he had when we were first married, I would appreciate it.
Thanks...........I remember all of you to Saint Gerard!
In the sweet  of Mary,
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Chari...Take Up & Read
Dh Marty 27yrs...3 lovely maidens: Anne 24, Sarah 20 & Maddelyn 17 and 3 chivalrous sons: Matthew 22, Garrett 16 & Malachy 11
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4Real Forums : Mothering and Family Life
Topic: week by week:preparing for baby's arrival
