KA: What is a baby bucket?

[_Sam Harris]

Much appreciated, Jersey Girl. The fact that I have a living being inside of me has now set in, and I find myself daydreaming. My biggest fear is that my child will have my childhood. All kids have nightmares, all kids scrape their knees and elbows (I managed my chin), but I don't want my child dealing with those hurts and fears alone like I did. I could defnitely use help on how best to help them develop into health and happiness.

It's amazing, I remember when I used to hold the little girl in my avatar, and I felt (and still feel) such a deep love for her. I wanted my own, but knew I was too young. I figured I'd never have kids, and now the day is fast approaching. I can't think on it too much because I'll cry. I bought a baby journal, but haven't filled too much of it out because it makes me emotional. I'm going to be a snot ball on "birth-day".

[Guest]

Also Sam, you can catch a few Brazelton videos on youtube just to get an idea of his nature. I just finished watching them. He's so old now and still advocating for children and parents.

p.s. When your baby is born s/he will be assessed using a Brazelton score assessment. :-)

I love Dr. Brazelton, Jersey Girl! What a wonderful man. I have read his books, too, Jersey Girl, and think he's the cat's meow.

Also, I love Mr. Rogers. He wrote children's books that are wonderful. What a truly gentle man he was.

He taught me that I wouldn't go down the drain. :)

KA

[_Jersey Girl]

Sam,

I'm going to make you up a little list of some of the things I see pro's do for the nursery but I want to tell an anectdote about Brazelton, just because I want to.

When I was preg. with my first, I pretty much consumed child development books (which was a good thing considering the profession I later took up) and once I had her, I found that Brazelton had a cable show. I watched that show every single day and just totally loved his gentle and common sense approach. His attitudes were the complete opposite of Dr. Spock (whom you might not know about) and I particularly loved the scenes on his show where he'd pick up a baby, look in it's eyes and just fawn over the baby. Just so loving!

Fast foward to said child in her 20's who by now has also taken up the profession of her mother. (And she's very good!) She had a chance to go to an all day conference where the main event is (you guessed it) T. Berry Brazelton all day long. She bought one of his newer books (I'm going to give it a closer look to see if you could use it yourself) and he did a book signing.

When she got to the table he greeted her, asked her name of course for the book signing and she told him "My mother said to tell you that you raised me." And he smiled and said "Aw! That's so cute!" and she had her picture taken with him.

One day I hope you can look at a picture of your grown child up front and close with someone who influenced your early parenting, be so proud of how she turned out and also thankful for that person who helped guide and encourage you even if it's on a television or in a book. I so treasure that photo of her and Brazelton. He was a huge influence on me as a new mother, a source of reassurance and I hope that when you go to the library next, you check out one of his books and see what I'm talking about.

I'll get back with you on a "good ideas" for the nursery list and let you know about the book I mentioned.

[_Sam Harris]

I miss Mr. Rogers. One of the few good memories of my childhood. I used to swear up and down he lived right around the corner from me...I always wanted to go knock on his door.

[_skippy the dead]

I'm going to be a snot ball on "birth-day".

LOL - "snot" will be the most benign of fluids on "birth-day"!

Small anecdote: When my first was born, they laid her on my chest fresh from the chute - she was so damned slimy, I just poked at her with my fingertips at first. Who knew that they were so gunky? And, of course, there's all the other stuff that they kindly whisk away before you see too much of it. Although I cracked up when my OB held up the placenta and amniotic sac and asked my husband if he wanted to see where the baby had been living, and he stupidly turned to look then instantly blanched. I thought he might retch. Awesome moment.

[_Yoda]

I'm a Brazleton fan as well. His philosophies are very sound. He also knows how to advise young parents without making them feel stupid, which I was when I was pregnant with my oldest. LOL

Sam, you're going to be a great Mom. You are a mature, loving young lady. ;)

[_Sam Harris]

I'm going to be a snot ball on "birth-day".

LOL - "snot" will be the most benign of fluids on "birth-day"!

Small anecdote: When my first was born, they laid her on my chest fresh from the chute - she was so damned slimy, I just poked at her with my fingertips at first. Who knew that they were so gunky? And, of course, there's all the other stuff that they kindly whisk away before you see too much of it. Although I cracked up when my OB held up the placenta and amniotic sac and asked my husband if he wanted to see where the baby had been living, and he stupidly turned to look then instantly blanched. I thought he might retch. Awesome moment.

I'm kind of grateful that Steve has been through this before, though he has been telling me stories of "what it's like" from his POV. He told me once, "the birth smells funny". I just looked at him, didn't know what to say. Though he did almost have a heart attack when I said I wanted a home birth. Insurance issues being what they are, I'm still in transition right now as far as an OB is concerned (and it's worrying me, but I try to just relax and do what I'm supposed to), but there is a clinic that I liked, they have some cool midwives, and I saw the facility a few years back. Still, I'll probably end up at the local hospital (good thing I work ten minutes away!!), which is no problem.

My brother and his wife are having a boy, two months before me. Ethan Logan, what a lovely name. :-)

I'm still a bit apprehensive about labor and the whole epidural thing. I had a spinal tap once, it was HELL! The nurses could hear me screaming out in the reception area. I'm afraid of needles in my back now...but who knows, the contractions might be that painful, that the momentary stick will be wonderful. :-)

[_Jersey Girl]

I miss Mr. Rogers. One of the few good memories of my childhood. I used to swear up and down he lived right around the corner from me...I always wanted to go knock on his door.

I never watched Mister Rogers as a kid and the only awareness I had of him for years were Eddie Murphy skits on SNL. I came in contact with his work via my professional life and have enormous respect for him. His statement on behalf of children on or around 9-11 had tremendous impact on myself and others.

[_Sam Harris]

I'm a Brazleton fan as well. His philosophies are very sound. He also knows how to advise young parents without making them feel stupid, which I was when I was pregnant with my oldest. LOL

Sam, you're going to be a great Mom. You are a mature, loving young lady. ;)

Aww, thanks. I'm still an emotional wreck over this. Most of my friends don't even know, and I'm sure that's the same with family, it's still on the "down low" for the most part. I'll be showing soon, I'd better say something. Steve teases me a lot, and says I probably won't let him hold the baby for the first week or two. I'll try to! It's gonna be so different, I'm already a baby-freak, and this one belongs to me. I am really going to try not to be the obnoxious mother hen. I swear!

But if my child is anything like I was as a baby, they won't want to go to anyone but me. I clung to my mother as an infant, well into toddler years. Only bribes of food and candy pulled me away. :-) And then all I'd do was eat your goods, look at you funny, and go back to my mom. :-)

[_Jersey Girl]

Sam,

I need one teeny tiny bit of information before I come up with a nursery good stuff list. I won't put it up right now. Are you physically okay with sitting on the floor or are you someone who needs to be in a chair? (I'm sure that sounds like an odd question...it's really not).