I agree with the above post. Lose the extra weight before trying to conceive. I was about 15 lbs heavier than I like to be when I conceived (last February) It was right after the holiday eating binge and I fractured my foot and was unable to work out for a month and a half which led to the weight gain. I was thrilled to be pregnant, but not to start out fifteen lbs ahead already! My baby was born 11 weeks ago, and I have 10lbs till I am down to where I was at when I became pregnant, but then I STILL have fifteen more to go after that! YUCK! Be careful though, you don't want to lose too much, or lose too fast because that could upset you menstrual cycle and all your hormones. Maybe just exercise a bit more and make sure you are eating a healthy diet. I would start on prenatals because they are so important! My doctor said the ones over the counter are just as good as prescription. I would take a vacation, or even just stay in a hotel for a night. Save $$ as much as you can. I am a teacher, and when school lets out in May I will not be coming back...my baby needs me...I miss him so much right this minute I could cry! You will want to be with your baby if at all possible so start that home based business. Don't buy baby things till your pregnant, and even then, I have just recently learned...DON'T BUY NEWBORN STUFF! My baby is 2 1/2 months and this morning he is comfortably wearing a 6month outfit! He is not fat...just so long! So many people will give you newborn stuff, they will wear it once. Save your $$$ for when all the gifts quit pouring in. When I was pregnant, I started stockpiling diapers. This has helped a TON. I kept all the receipts in case my baby didn't do well with a particular brand I could return them, but so far he is doing great. We haven't returned any! We just went and bought a jumbo pack of diapers every pay period while I was pregnant. That sure helped. We probably won't be buying diapers for a year! It's nice, because since we are paying daycare until May money is tighter, and diapers are expensive even with coupons, so it was nice to get that out of the way. I will quit rambling, everyone else answered so well it looks like you have tons of great help! Aspen (and baby Logan)

Igloo, I am sending out huge positive vibes for a successful pregnancy. So glad they finally came up with a better term than they used when we went through the process of trying to have a 'test tube baby'. Moved into my new closet and refinished the outside of the tub. Got the feet back from the sandblaster. Tomorrow I'm heading to Sacramento to 'Mac, the antique plumber' store to procure fixtures and fittings for it. Been mowing our 2 acres between (unseasonal) rains. Leaving for a week's vacation at our beloved cabin on the lake in the Sierra's on the 13. No cell phones, no TV, no computers. Just a kayak and lots of unread books. But I'll be busy next week getting everything ready.

oh, I want to reach out and just hug you! feeling stressed and tired and aches are the worst, when one is trying to be even normal, let alone sane, during the holidays. I was the grinch in my household and it stayed that way, till the bitter end... then Marilyn, my porcelain painting mentor, called me and asked if I would like to go over to her house and bake cookies for gifts...she was feeling the pangs of an empty nest at her house. she's always baked and been on top of the holidays and this year it wasn't happening. she told me that I make her laugh and she wanted to 'join forces' and do this project together...how could I refuse? so, I did go, two days before Christmas Eve.. we baked all day, for the two entire days and painted, during the cookies cooling and baking. we baked a full table full of different kind of cookies and then wrapped them up on plates, with colorful tissue paper and celophane wrap, with bows tied to each one...she did all of this for me, to be able to give to my family...6 grown kids and the 6 grandkids..and spouses and girl/boy friends... I also made 6 hand painted ornaments for each of my grandkids...little porcelain, oval broach sized things, with fir boughs and holly berries on them, with Merry Christmas 2007, in the centers. I didn't think they would make any impact on the kids and I was so surprised, when the two older ones opened them..the 14 yr. old boy and the 10 yr. old girl... "gramma, you MADE these?" "they're awesome!" let me tell you....coming from kids, in this day and age...I could have died and gone to heaven at that very instant! such simple things, for such heartwarming rewards....

Wow....what an amazing list of people.... too many of them no longer with us or active here. It is nice to remember some of their names and their struggles that we shared. Thanks for the memories.