You know the old saying, if it's too good to be true, then it's probably not true? Well, it seems that big house being offered at $195,000 was too good...
Natasha and I are gonna have to "come back down to reality," and find something more in our "range." (I'm unable to upload a photo of just such a house)...
It would have been nice to have a home with 4 toilets, until I had to clean them (note: Kevin is typing this)...
I explained to Natasha that we don't have that many parties, anyways. So, really, we'd be fine with only 1 toilet.
We'll see how it turns-out...
Monday, August 4, 2008
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Nesting - Searching for a Home
Natasha and I are starting to feel the "need to 'nest!'" (see explanation below)
We went and checked-out this house, today (see above). It has 4 bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms and 2 half bathrooms. 3,500 square feet. The asking price is $195,000. We're not sure if we should make an offer. There is currently 1 contract already accepted, but if we offered more money, the bank could reject the first offer, and accept ours.
We realize we don't need such a big house, but this house would sell for alot more, once the market goes back up.
We'll see...
Nesting Instinct
Around the fifth month of pregnancy, the "nesting" instinct can set in. This is an uncontrollable urge to clean one's house brought on by a desire to prepare a nest for the new baby, to tie up loose ends of old projects and to organize your world.
Females of the animal kingdom are all equipped with this same need. It is a primal instinct. Just as you see birds making their nests, mothers-to-be do exactly the same thing. The act of nesting puts you in control and gives a sense of accomplishment toward birth. You may become a homebody and want to retreat into the comfort of home and familiar company, like a brooding hen. The nesting urge can also be seen as a sign of the onset of labor when it occurs close to 40 weeks of pregnancy.
Nesting brings about some unique and seemingly irrational behaviors in pregnant women and all of them experience it differently. Women have reported throwing away perfectly good sheets and towels because they felt the strong need to have "brand new, clean" sheets and towels in their home. They have also reported doing things like taking apart the knobs on kitchen cupboards, just so they could disinfect the screws attached to the knobs. Women have discussed taking on cleaning their entire house, armed with a toothbrush. There seems to be no end to the lengths a nesting mother will go to prepare for her upcoming arrival.
This unusual burst of energy is responsible for women ironing anything in the house that couldn't out run them. Being preoccupied with ant killing, squishing them one at a time for weeks on end. Packing and unpacking the labor bag 50 times. Cleaning the kitchen cupboards and organizing everything by size to the point that you make sure the silverware patterns match when it's stacked in the cutlery drawer. Sorting the baby's clothes over and over again is a favorite theme. Taking them out of the drawers and re-folding them, putting them away and doing it over and over again. Nesting will provide interesting stories for years to come.
When your "nesting" urge hits, try to follow these precautions:
When painting: In the final weeks of pregnancy suppress the overwhelming urge to paint the baby's nursery. Perhaps you could do the planning and designing of the room and let someone else do the actual painting. Paint is a substance to avoid for pregnant women. Pregnant women should avoid exposure to oil based paints, old paint that may contain lead and some latex paints that contain mercury. Most water-based paints can be used but always check the label for contents that could be harmful. Painting should always be done in a large, well-ventilated area to minimize breathing fumes. Wear protective clothing and gloves and never eat or drink in the painting work area.
When cleaning: There are no real issues with disinfecting your house as long as you know the safety of the chemicals you're using. There is no evidence to suggest that there is any link between the use of household cleaners and birth defects. It's a good idea to avoid oven cleaners and dry cleaning products and be careful never to mix ammonia with chlorine-based products, like bleach or cleanser, as the combination produces toxic fumes. Wear rubber gloves when cleaning and try not to breathe strong fumes.
If you have a cat or know that cats are present in your garden: Cat feces can contain a parasite that causes toxoplasmosis, a rare but serious blood infection. If this infection is passed on to your baby, it can cause birth defects such as blindness, deafness or mental retardation. Always wear rubber gloves when cleaning the litter box or assign this chore to another family member until after the baby comes. Avoid all yard work or gardening in areas where cats may have contaminated the soil with feces. It's better to avoid these activities than run the risk of infection.
Nesting can be one of the more humorous aspects of pregnancy. One that you and your partner are sure to laugh about in the years to come...if he ever forgives you for sending him off to work and ripping down all the wallpaper in the hall! You may laugh about it now but you probably won't laugh when you're in the middle of it. No one can pull you out of it no matter how silly your behavior may seem. It simply becomes something that you must do!
Around the fifth month of pregnancy, the "nesting" instinct can set in. This is an uncontrollable urge to clean one's house brought on by a desire to prepare a nest for the new baby, to tie up loose ends of old projects and to organize your world.
Females of the animal kingdom are all equipped with this same need. It is a primal instinct. Just as you see birds making their nests, mothers-to-be do exactly the same thing. The act of nesting puts you in control and gives a sense of accomplishment toward birth. You may become a homebody and want to retreat into the comfort of home and familiar company, like a brooding hen. The nesting urge can also be seen as a sign of the onset of labor when it occurs close to 40 weeks of pregnancy.
Nesting brings about some unique and seemingly irrational behaviors in pregnant women and all of them experience it differently. Women have reported throwing away perfectly good sheets and towels because they felt the strong need to have "brand new, clean" sheets and towels in their home. They have also reported doing things like taking apart the knobs on kitchen cupboards, just so they could disinfect the screws attached to the knobs. Women have discussed taking on cleaning their entire house, armed with a toothbrush. There seems to be no end to the lengths a nesting mother will go to prepare for her upcoming arrival.
This unusual burst of energy is responsible for women ironing anything in the house that couldn't out run them. Being preoccupied with ant killing, squishing them one at a time for weeks on end. Packing and unpacking the labor bag 50 times. Cleaning the kitchen cupboards and organizing everything by size to the point that you make sure the silverware patterns match when it's stacked in the cutlery drawer. Sorting the baby's clothes over and over again is a favorite theme. Taking them out of the drawers and re-folding them, putting them away and doing it over and over again. Nesting will provide interesting stories for years to come.
When your "nesting" urge hits, try to follow these precautions:
When painting: In the final weeks of pregnancy suppress the overwhelming urge to paint the baby's nursery. Perhaps you could do the planning and designing of the room and let someone else do the actual painting. Paint is a substance to avoid for pregnant women. Pregnant women should avoid exposure to oil based paints, old paint that may contain lead and some latex paints that contain mercury. Most water-based paints can be used but always check the label for contents that could be harmful. Painting should always be done in a large, well-ventilated area to minimize breathing fumes. Wear protective clothing and gloves and never eat or drink in the painting work area.
When cleaning: There are no real issues with disinfecting your house as long as you know the safety of the chemicals you're using. There is no evidence to suggest that there is any link between the use of household cleaners and birth defects. It's a good idea to avoid oven cleaners and dry cleaning products and be careful never to mix ammonia with chlorine-based products, like bleach or cleanser, as the combination produces toxic fumes. Wear rubber gloves when cleaning and try not to breathe strong fumes.
If you have a cat or know that cats are present in your garden: Cat feces can contain a parasite that causes toxoplasmosis, a rare but serious blood infection. If this infection is passed on to your baby, it can cause birth defects such as blindness, deafness or mental retardation. Always wear rubber gloves when cleaning the litter box or assign this chore to another family member until after the baby comes. Avoid all yard work or gardening in areas where cats may have contaminated the soil with feces. It's better to avoid these activities than run the risk of infection.
Nesting can be one of the more humorous aspects of pregnancy. One that you and your partner are sure to laugh about in the years to come...if he ever forgives you for sending him off to work and ripping down all the wallpaper in the hall! You may laugh about it now but you probably won't laugh when you're in the middle of it. No one can pull you out of it no matter how silly your behavior may seem. It simply becomes something that you must do!
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Baby's Heart-Beat (from 1 month ago)
I'm uploading the video of our baby's heartbeat. It's from 1 month ago (late June).
This was the first time we heard our baby making "noise!" (I imagine it won't be the last)...
Just yesterday (August 1st), Natasha went back to the Doctor's office, and got to hear our lil' one's heartbeat, again. I didn't go, because I had to work.
Natasha's next Doctor's Appointment is August 28th. She said they'll do an ultrasound / sonogram, then. (This means we should get to see what our baby looks like, and maybe if we're going to have a boy or girl)...
Remember to vote for your preference.
This was the first time we heard our baby making "noise!" (I imagine it won't be the last)...
Just yesterday (August 1st), Natasha went back to the Doctor's office, and got to hear our lil' one's heartbeat, again. I didn't go, because I had to work.
Natasha's next Doctor's Appointment is August 28th. She said they'll do an ultrasound / sonogram, then. (This means we should get to see what our baby looks like, and maybe if we're going to have a boy or girl)...
Remember to vote for your preference.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
STRESSING OUT!!!
Natasha and I love each other, very much! I keep telling her, and once she calms down from one of her temper tatrums - she usually tells me...
It's just that Natasha seems to be "stressing-out" more than usual, these days.
Honestly, I've noticed these mood swings have grown exponentially, as her belly has grown. (I have a strong feeling there's some "connection" there)...
After searching the Internet, I discovered "Psychoneuroimmunology" ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychoneuroimmunology ) - basically it lists important experiences in your life, and how much stress is associated with these.
From the following website, http://chipts.ucla.edu/assessment/IB/List_Scales/Social%20Readjustment%20Rating%20Scale.htm :
Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS)
Background: The following instrument is based on the premise that good and bad events in one's life can increase stress levels and make one more susceptible to illness and mental health problems (Holmes & Rahe, 1967)
Assessment:
1. Death of a spouse 100
2. Divorce 73
3. Marital Separation 65
4. Jail term 63
5. Death of a close family member 63
6. Personal injury or illness 53
7. Marriage 50
8. Fired at work 47
9. Marital reconciliation 45
10. Retirement 45
11. Change in health of family member 44
12. Pregnancy 40
13. Sex difficulties 39
14. Gain of a new family member 39
15. Business readjustments 39
16. Change in financial state 38
17. Death of a close friend 37
18. Change to different line of work 36
19. Change in no. of arguments with spouse 35
20. Mortgage over $ 50,000 31
21. Foreclosure of mortgage 30
22. Change in responsibilities at work 29
23. Son or daughter leaving home 29
24. Trouble with in-laws 29
25. Outstanding Personal achievements 28
26. Wife begins or stops work 26
27. Begin or end school 26
28. Change in living conditions 25
29. Revision of personal habits 24
30. Trouble with boss 23
31. Change in work hours or conditions 20
32. Change in residence 20
33. Change in school 20
34. Change in recreation 19
35. Change in religious activities 19
36. Change in social activities 18
37. Loan less than 50,000 17
38. Change in sleeping habits 16
39. Change in no. of family get- together 15
40. Change in eating habits 15
41. Vacation 13
42. Holidays 12
43. Minor violation of laws 11
SCORING
Each event should be considered if it has taken place in the last 12 months.
Add values to the right of each item to obtain the total score.
Your susceptibility to illness and mental health problems:
Low < mild =" 150-200" moderate =" 200-299">300
Low < mild =" 150-200" moderate =" 200-299">300
Adding up for Natasha - She has more than 300 points! (I probably have somewhere near the same amount of points).
Let's hope we remember to count to 10 and take deep breaths...
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Managing Blog
I'm trying to manage this blog.
I want to include different options, like a "slideshow" and a "visitor counter," but it's sort of hard to understand.
Natasha's doing fine. I'm pretty sure she has a doctor's appointment this Firday, so maybe we'll learn a little bit more about how the baby is growing.
Yesterday we started to get nervous, because we were beginning to realize that once our baby is born, we'll have to find someone to babysit during the day, so Natasha can continue working...
We started to look-up possibly having someone come and live at our house, and watch our baby during the day.
Natasha was thinking one of her cousins could come and live with us...
We'll see how things go. We'll probably end-up finding someone who is willing to watch younger children.
Please feel free to post comments...
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Introduction
My name is Kevin McMahan, and my wife's name is Natasha.
This is the first entry in our blog!
We're starting this blog mainly to follow Natasha's pregnancy.
But, after that, we'll just see how long we can keep making entries...
I don't think I ever kept a blog, so I'm not sure how long I'll be interested in it...
That's it for now, I don't want to give too much information.
I'll post some pictures, if that's possible.
Later,
Kevin
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