KRISTIN

Both have pros and cons like thewet seasons hotter but with less overcast. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Its for my honeymoon.

It starts to feel almost itchy and wierd. Does this mean its empty? I read its impossible to run out of milk, but I feel completely drained right now and i'm freaking out. I also pump about 6 ounces a day and she bottle feeds that at night when her dad feeds her so I can sleep. The last few days it feels like my milk supply is way down, and right now, an hour after a feeding, I feel like there's nothing in me. I only have 2 ounces in the fridge...what if I am out? An almost clear 'milk' is coming out of me right now-is that even milk? I'm so confused and scared:( I have a thing of similac, but I don't want to suppliment if I can help it.....

Thanks for any help you can give.

vaginal fluid, and this is my 2nd child. I know what true contractions feel like and they hurt BAD-much worse than this. Are they Braxton Hicks-I didn't feel them with my first-or could it be the real thing? The baby just started moving around a LOT, ttoo, like she can feel them. I can actually see her kicks. And now I'm feeling a tiny bit of crampiness, but not period cramps-more like I have to go to the bathroom. What do you think it is?

I'm pregnant with my 2nd girl-due November 2nd. My other daughter is 4 1/2 and she was 1 week late-I had to be induced, so she would've been even later. I don't remember feeling this way with her. I'm not sure if it is anything physical or not, but I feel like she's not going to stay in for another month. I was just at the doctor Tuesday and everything looks great. Her heartbeat, my weight, my size, etc. My irons a little low, but I've been taking supplements.

Physically, I am tired. I didn't work when I was pregnant with my 1st, but I'm working now, about 30 hours a week mostly on my feet. My back hurts after work as well, but that goes away after a little relaxing when I get home. She kicks like crazy-she's actually more of a pusher, though. I've had stress if that matters with my question.

It's just this weird feeling I have, not sure if it has anything to do with how I've been feeling physically or not, and I was wondering if any of you felt this way, and if you've already given birth, were you early? I see my doc next week, so I'm mentioning it to her then. I probably just sound crazy-my fiance said he thinks I'm just being hopeful, but I honestly don't mind being big and pregnant, so I don't think it's that.

I don't know, lol. Thanks in advance for any answers:)

In the bible, does it say that God gave man dominion over the earth and all of its creatures? I have not read the bible, nor am I a religious person, but I'm pretty sure I've heard this a few times in my life. My father just said it to me, and said to read the bible. I said I don't believe in the bible, but I do believe in God-just not organized religion. He told me I was picking and choosing, lol, but I thought it was our job to make our own decisions on the subject, otherwise it isn't real belief anyway.

SOrry, I'm venting and veering off topic.

So, what exactly does the bible and religion say that this control over all other life on earth means? Does it mean that we can use them for food and work and pets, but still we must protect them? Would most farmers who raise livestock for meat get in trouble with God for how they treat his animals (according to the bible)? Or does it mean that we can basically do whatever we want to them, no read to respect them and try to live peacefully with them? According to the Bible, would God not care that we sent many animals into extinction, that we barely care for the endangered ones, or that we treat others as if they should understand what a human woould want and not want from them?

My questions come from a newspaper article about the bear in Sussex County, New Jersey. We carted so many here because they were causing problems in their original homes, and we've cut down the forests, taken away much of their food sources, and expect them to behave themselves or they are killed! Would this be okay with God according to orgganized religion and the Bible? Does his giving us dominion over all life on earth mean that we can carelessly kill off his creatures (and planet, but that's a whole 'nother argument), change them and the earth to fit our wants (not really needs), mean that we can do whatever we want with them/to them?

I am honestly curious what organized religion has to say about this-what the Bible says about it. I am

trying not to be critical, though I have strong beliefs in who I believe God is, so not being critical is VERY hhard, and I am so sorry that I am unintentionally. I really would like a theology lesson, though. What does that statement mean exactly-and what is the exact wording in the Bible? I'll look it up, but is it the same in every single Bible, or are their variations?

Thanks in advance for any pleasant answers....

My parents have a beautiful backyard with a pond and waterfall, gazebo, etc, so since I can remember, I've wanted my wedding AND reception to be here. We'll get married behind the pool just before sunset, and then head up to the backyard for the first dance, reception, and all that. We're having a buffet and I've sold my fiance on the idea of a 'world buffet' (lol, I made up the name-maybe international buffet would be better)-we'll have some Chinese, some Italian, some Mexican, etc. Dessert will be a small 3 tier cake, candy buffet (because I saw a gorgeous pic online of all different colored candies in clear vases-all shapes and sizes-like in one vase it'd be all orange M&Ms, another would be all redhots, another would be all yellow gumdrops, and so on), and we'd also have some other desserts to choose from, like a cupcake tree, cookies, or whatever. Dessert will be in the gazebo, all lit up with Christmas lights. Christmas lights will be EVERYWHERE, on trees, the decks, and the tree house. I have aa 4 1/2 year old daughter, and we're expecting a baby in November, plus we both have 2 nephews each, so kids are a BIG part of this wedding. I love the idea of lighting the treehouse up with Christmas lights, and after dinner, they can play-the sandboxes will be covered, though, lol, because they'll still be in their nice clothes.

We'll have an open bar, and I'm going to look into bartenders and how much it'd cost to hire one for a few hours. I know where to put everything, I have a great idea of what I want in my head, and my fiance is on board with it all-he's even helping of his own free will, lol. Since it's a night wedding, we'll be leaving the following morning for our honeymoon, probablyy to the South Pacific somewhere-Samoa is number one on my list so far-it seems like a cheaper alternative to Tahiti and Fiji, and more private without tourists popping up everywhere we look.

Anyway, no wedding planner. It's a small wedding, I want it very private, and we'll be doing most of it ourselves, like the decorating and setting up. His MP3 player will be our music, and we'll have a special file on it dedicated to our wedding with the songs we choose. This is the wedding I want. But there are sooooo many choices, so much stuff to choose from. It's a bit overwhellming. I know I have over a year (we're waiting so long so I can lose all the baby weight first, and he has a few pounds he wants to lose, plus saving money), but a year doesn't seem like a very long time without a pro helping. I know I can do this without help from a wedding planner, but if you have any advice, tips, ideas, anything, I would seriously appreciate them. Stuff like, how to choose a good photographer, where to get some decorations (like the Christmas lights, centerpieces, etc), any websites, any ideas for a nighttime, fall wedding, or really anything, lol. We live in northern New Jersey and want it to be when the leaves are just changing color to the oranges and reds and golds-they'll be the weddiing colors. And lots of flowers-I love flowers.

I guess I'm just very scattered and unorganized, and overwhelmed with how to find exactly what I'm looking for. Whatever help you can give, I will appreciate it sooooooooo much:) And we are on a budget, so nothing too outrageous. Thanks in advance and sorry this is so long.

It ended so fast. One second he's saying Kasey, and the next it goes to the credits and that guy in the mask:( And please, don't spoil anything else for me. I just want to know who got kicked off tonight PLEASE!

I know all kids are ready for things at different ages, and I think my daughter is ready to start the 'process' of learning how to read. This is what I do with her so far to hopefully help:

-I read to her every night, and sometimes during the day as well.

-She knows her ABC's, the song, can identify the letters well, and can write them all. We work on writing almost everyday for like 10 minutes until she gets distracted-I don't force her to sit with me.

-I wrote out a couple songs she knows, such as Twinkle Twinkle, so as she sings them, she can look at the words and hopefully that'll help.

-We practice her speach because she has an inter-dental lisp, so we work on S, F, Sp, Ch, and all those sounds everyday-I remind her often to keep her tongue in.

-And just yesterday I began teaching her what sound certain letters make. She's already a pro with B, D, F, G, L, M, P, R, S, T, and W. For example, I ask her what letter startts the word Whale, and exagerate the W sound, and she says W. Or I ask her what words start with an S, and then exagerate the S sound, and she says Snake, Sun, Star, etc. And the biggest-she spelled the word CAT!!!! I am super proud of this. Just a few minutes ago, I said, "What letters spell the word cat", and exagerated the sounds for her. It took her only like 20 seconds to say C-A-T.

This is why I am positive she is ready to start to learn how to read. And she has a LOT of books to practice on-I'm a big book lover, so of course I've bought her a lot over the years, plus she inherited some of my old ones. I think I'm going to start pointing to easy words, like dog and bird, and asking her to sound them out.

And don't worry, I am not forcing this on her-she seems to be excited aboout it, and she initiates most of it. She even just picks letters, trying to make a word, and asks me what they spell. Sometimes she'll get one-sometimes not.

Should I start trying tto teach her vowels, or should they be less of a priority? And letters like C, K, and Q are confusing because they often sound the same. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I want to keep making it interesting for her, too, because I don't want her getting bored with it. Right now she really is excited and very interested.

Thanks in advance for any help you can give:)

I don't have the live feed anymore, and I never had after dark. I'm too impatient to wait until Sunday, so if someone can tell me who won the hoh tonight, I'd seriously appreciate. I'd rather not know too many details, though-I like being surprised with everything but these kinds of hoh's that you don't know the results to right away.

Thanks in advance:)

am pregnant with another girl who is due in November. My daughter's father split when she was 2 months old-his own choice-and for so long, I've made every decision. My fiance will be adopting her when we are married, and if something happened to me, she will be his. But it is hard for me to adjust to her suddenly having a father. I don't know how. Making decisions on your own is a lot easier than having to consult another person all the time. And I'm afraid we'll end up disagreeing a lot.

He is a great guy, and seems very excited about the new baby, but also being my daughter's father as well. It just sounds so strange to hear him occassionally say, 'Our little girl', and I don't know how to say that yet. They adore each other and I think she understands the changes going on. We'll be moving in with him in the beginning of October. I honestly think I am having the hardest time with this-it's just so different from the past 4 1/2 years, and I've never been very good with change. I am also nervous that he doesn't completely know what he's getting into. He's never lived with a child before besides when he was little growing up with his younger and older brothers. Girls are different, and he's going to have 3 alll of the sudden.

I guess I'm just freaking out a little. And if you have any advice or anything, I'd appreciate it. I'm not even sure what my question is. I know I'm lucky to have found a great guy who loves my daughter so much, but it really is just so new!!!! I've never even lived with a man before!

Thanks in advance....

I am due in the beginning of November with another little girl-my other daughter is 4 1/2. I know babies are a lot of work, as are puppy's. I grew up with 2 golden retrievers, and then 2 chihuahuas. We really want a boston terrier-we just have to convince my fiance because he really wants a boxer. I want a boxer when we have our own house and property, though. I'vee researched them and boston terriers, and I know how hyper boxers are, and I know about their needs and wants.

I will not be returning to work until probably at least the end of January, so I'll always be there with the puppy, baby, and 4 year old alone, except on the days we're at my parents (we can bring the puppy with us there). My fiance works from around 7-5 everyday, so it'll just be me and 2 babies (human and dog) and a 4 year old. I know i can handle it, but I'm afraid I'll get overwheelmed and turn into a crank-monster. Also, how do we find out if the baby is allergic before we get a puppy?!

And when the girls are older, we plan on adopting an adult dog-my own paranoia makes me NOT want to now, though, for fear that it was possibly abuseed in some way, and has a temper that no one has ever seen before until a 1 year old starts pulling on its tail-you can't teach a one year old not to pull on a tail. My 4 year old is much more respectful of dogs, but a baby won't be, so when they are older, we will happily rescue. But for now, I want a puppy. I know it'll be more work than an older dog, who may already have a lot of training, but I really am too paranoiid to adopt right now.

How long would you wait before getting a puppy (most likely a boston terrier) if you were us? And should I let the baby have some supervised time with my parent's chihuahua to know if she'll be allergic? How else can we find out?

Any advice or anything would be appreciated. Thanks in advance, and sorry this is so long-my questions and answers always are:P

I have a crappy job which barely covers my bills, and that's normal in my life-not any crazy stress causing there, and after the baby's born, I'm going to finish college and fix that. But just this past week, the restaurant where I work has a new owner. The previous owner told no one it was sold, didn't talk with us or anything. The new owner is nice-not friendly, but nice. But he is always there, which is going to cut back on our hours. That is why I'm stressed. I barely have the money to pay my bills now-if I lose even 5 hours a week, I'm screwed!

My fiance is there and more than willing to help with my financial situation, but I have a 4 year old daughter-the beauty in the picture. I've been a single mom her entire life-her father ouut of the picture-his own choice, and I've always been determined, until someone is officially her father, to do it on my own. I don't want to take his money-he says it's ours, but it isn't ours yet! And he just started a new job, so it isn't like he's rolling in the dough right now, either.

I am so incredibly stressed out, I literally get sick over it. I know it's not good for the baby, and I can't stop it, so that just makes it worse worrying about the little girl inside me. I have no energy, throw up at least 2 times a day, if anyone argues with me or even says one thing that bothers me, I throw up again, I get occassional headaches (just got one now as I'm writing this), and I could cry any moment. I am often so tense that on top of my nausea, my back starts to hurt. And I feel guilty about this because the time I have with my 4-year-old when I'm not working, I'm laying on the couch 3/4 of the time, about the throw up or with a headache, so that guilt just adds to the stress...it's a never ending circle of crap! And she often cries before I leave for work that I didn't spend anytime with her-more guilt, more sick. And this was not me a month ago-this is nothing like me before I got pregnant. It's completely new, and totally scary and overwhelming

I see my doctor in a week, and was wondering if they will help me get on early maternity, even a month earlier. I live in New Jersey, if it matters. I've always been someone to dwell on the negative, repressing it when possible, but it resurfaces too often. With all these pregnancy hormones making me emotional on top of my financial situation (which will get better when my fiance, my daughter, and I move in together in October because I'll be more willing to rely on him more), I am a mess. And it is hard to see a silverlining to this giant black cloud that seems to be hovering over me every second of the day. I did not have this stress when I was pregnant with my daughter because I had 1/4 the bills. What can I do? Is early maternity an option? I don't want to put my baby in anymore danger from my stress-it's making my life miserable right now...and it would kill me if something happened to her because of my constant worrying. I just can't get it out of my head. I don't want to get out of bed in the morning becaause I know all the stress that's waiting for me out of my bed:(

My sister has had the same hermit crab for like 8 years now, give or take a year. It's gotten pretty big and used to live in a very tiny tank. When she moved out, she left it here, and my father takes care of it. He upgraded it to a tank that's a little larger, but still, it's a prison cell where it has lived its entire life in a dark room with a little light on it, I gguess to keep it warm-I don't know much about hermit crabs.

My sister has recently said that she wants to take it to her apartment, where she lives with her husband and my 2 nephews. She says it once in awhile, but hasn't taken it yet. But if she does, it will definitely be doomed to spend the remainder of its life in that glass prison, where it's physical needs are well met (hopefully still would be by my sister, but she's a little oblivious when it comes to living things that aren't human, so it may end up starving or dehydrated to death).

So...what if I freed the poor thing and told her it died?! My mother agrees with me. Her, my father, and my fiance would be the only ones who knew the truth. We'd go to the shore one day, and while my fiance distracts my 4 1/2 year old daughter somehow, I'll slip it out of a box and let it go (my daughter wouldn't be in on the secret, either). I'm not stupid-I know the chances of it surviving out there for more than a day after a lifetime of captivity in a tiny tank with its food and water and warmth handed to it, never having to live on its own, but what kind of life is that?! Doesn't it deserve even just 1 day of freedom?!

Besides the lieing to my sister and everyone about its death, how wrong would this be? Would it be crueler than letting it live years in that tank, only to die in it without ever knowing anything but that 1x2 foot space?!

I know a lot about many animals, but not much about hermit crabs. And I'm not ignorant to the fact that this may have something to do with the feeling of me being caged right now, lol-I sound like an idiot, but it's the truth. I just can't stand looking at the poor thing everytime I walk into that room-it's so sad and disgusting that all it knows and will ever know is that tiny little jail cell.

And it would be freed at the New Jersey shore-we live in NJ, if tthis matters, which I'm sure it does. Thanks for any help or advice. No need to get nasty, either. I'm asking because I honestly want to know if this is the wrong thing to do-if I wasn't going to listen to your answers, I wouldn't have asked!

and suddenly today my allergies are bothering me. I can't remember what my sister was allowed to take wheen she was pregnant with my nephew, and it's been 5 years for me, so I have no clue. Thanks:)

If they've already had nominations, which I doubt, but if they have, please DON'T tell me whose on the block, or who is probably going on the block. I used to get the live feed online, but I never had the time or money-still don't-so I don't have it this year. And I like being surprised with most of it, like nominations. But these competitions bug the crap out of me. I don't have the patience to wait until Sunday, so if you know who stayed on the ski's the longest, I'd LOVE to know. If not, I'll find out tonight cause my fiance has after dark, but still, too impatient, lol. Thanks so much:)

I live in New Jersey, and I got into trouble a few times between the ages and 17 and 22. I had a drug problem and stole a couple hundred dollars worth of dvd's from shoprite before getting caught. I'm 27 now, have been totally problem free for about 5 years, but I have a minor felony on my record. I was wondering if that'll ever go away, and if yes, when? I worked at a bank when I was 17 and loved it. I'm looking for a good job with good hours until I finish school for social serviices. Could I work at a bank? Will I be able to do much with social services? I haven't touched drugs in about 5 years, haven't even had a speeding ticket. And I'm a mom, totally good now. How will my past offenses effect me now and in the next few years?

And is this in the wrong category? I had no idea where to put it. Thanks in advance for any help you can give.

I am due on November 2nd with my second girl. My daughter will be 5 in January. Her father has not been in her life since she was 2 months old-a decision he made completely on his own-so I've been her only parents up until now. The girl I am carrying, her father and I are engaged, and he will be adopting my 4-year-old once we get married. He's a great guy and will be a great dad, but until we say 'I do', I am a single mom. He won't be daddy until then.

Since we told my daughter about the baby a few months ago, she's been extra clingy to me. Everyday when I leave for work, she cries and says she wishes I wouldn't go. Preschools out for the summer, but thhe last month and a half was a nightmare. She would scream and cry everytime I dropped her off-thank God for the one teacher there who made that easier for both of us. Seeing her react this way is so heart-breaking though. She's excited about the baby. We talk about how she can help once the baby's born, what it'll be like, and how it'll be to live with Ed, my fiance. We talk about the puppy we'll get after the baby's born, and all of it. She's really excited, but I think something is bothering her cause she is so clingy and emotional everytime I even leave the room for a few minutes. Her teachers said this was normal-that she may be a little confused.

I encourage her to ask me questions, and when the baby gets a little bigger, she'll be coming to an ultrasound with us. Is there anything else we can do? Any advice would be great. Thanks:)

We are sure we're going to write our own vows. We both write all the time, and I actually am in the process of finishing my first novel, which he's helping me edit, so it'd be jusst wrong if we took thee easy way out and didn't do our own. And I have a million ideas, but I've never done this before. I know there are websites that can help, and I've looked at a few. But if you have any advice, I'd very much appreciate it. What would you consider to be the most important things to say in your vows? How long is too long, or too short? And should I avooid making myself cry while saying them? Or does that just make it more sppecial?

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks in advance for your help.

I've spent weeks now looking up a bunch of different places where I would love to go. My fiance and I were pretty set on Belize, but then I found out that their hurricane season is at its worst during September, October, and November, and we are most likely having a fall wedding, so that doesn't work:( I'm not looking at the Carribean now because of that.

We won't be getting married for about 14-15 months. We live in northern New Jersey annd I want it to be when the leaves are just starting to change colors, which is usually in the beginning of October. It's both of our favorite season, and we'll be leaving for our honeymoon the following day. The south Pacific has really caught my eye. Tahiti was at the top but then I read they're very expensive and overly populated with tourists. So now my favorites are:

-Fiji

-The Cook Islands

-Madagascar

-New Zealand

I know we've got lots of time to plan this. I just get impatient, lol, when I'm seriously excited about something. I've been going crazy looking at wedding stuff, too. Which one of those would you choose, and why? And iif you have any other suggestions, I'd love to hear them. My must haves for our honeymoon are:

1. Beach and the ocean must be at least close to the high 70's, or warmer-I read Madagascar is around 82 F-I like that. Being from New jersey, I'm used to cold ocean temps, and I don't like it!!!!

2. More than just the ocean to look at, such as ziplining, hiking, caves, etc.

3. Budget friendly. Not over-the-top-expensive (like Tahiti seems to be).

4. Won't be over-crowded with tourists and other honeymooners.

5. Hopefully the humidity isn't too bad.

I'm sure there's something I'm forgetting, but that's the main points that matter to me. Thanks for anything you can say:)

It'd be after normal dinner time with about 40 people on the guest list. A whole lot of appetizers, like shrimp, stuffed mushrooms, mini eggrolls, etc, and then dessert. Is that strange? Does it look cheap to have no dinner, even though the appetizers will be abundant enough to stuff everyone, and lots of variiety? Any advice or ideas? Thanks for anything to can give!