Posts by Jerry Bailey47

Peter Adams58 said:My bad then, I guess. 😁But around here, you see it everywhere—banks, retail stores, the police, everywhere.🤷

Sophia White8 said:Of course it doesn't say that... nowhere. Not anymore. It's basically just limited to hospitals now. These days, it's really just stickers—only people with disabilities get priority.

At the Department of Justice office in Seattle, they actually have "INVALIDS AND PREGNANT WOMEN HAVE PRIORITY" printed in all caps in four different spots. 🙂 I was out running errands the other day—finally.

Michael King said:Sigh, honestly, nobody even lets me cut ahead in line anymore now that my baby bump is clearly showing. People can be so incredibly rude 😠

I’m not trying to suggest that being pregnant is some kind of illness—thank God I haven't dealt with any major complications or issues—but it really is quite difficult for me to stand still for long periods in cramped, stuffy places crowded with people. There have been quite a few times where I felt like I was actually going to collapse. 🙂

I totally agree—especially at places like Chase or those DMV waiting rooms. It’s always sweltering in there, just breathing in stagnant air. You’re basically begging to pick up every virus passing through. Gross. 🤮

The only thing that actually got under my skin was the passport fee, $132, I mean—are these people out of their minds???? 😲

I was at Chase today and nobody would let me cut the line—which left me feeling a little prickly—but since I wasn't in a rush, I just waited. Once it was finally my turn, I made sure to loudly remark to the entire lobby about how they clearly have no priority system for pregnant women. Then, the gentleman ahead of me turns around and goes: "Oh, excuse me, you're so thin I didn't even realize you were pregnant." 🥳 Suddenly, I wasn't even mad anymore. 😬

ironjackal20 said:I actually find it pretty funny how nobody has even breathed a word about our wedding for years 😁. Honestly, if they had asked, we probably would have just said we were already married, and then they wouldn't have known what to make of it.

Now I'm genuinely curious if anyone will dare to ask anything once my bump starts showing... I didn't want to get married until I was certain we were actually having a baby. That was my call, and regardless of how much my husband wanted to marry sooner, I didn't budge. It looks like we'll likely have both the wedding and the baptism on the same day, which feels really beautiful and romantic to me. We're at an age where 🤣

I also wonder if anyone will realize that the baby was conceived before the wedding. 😂.....

We’re probably going to do exactly that, and the more I dwell on it, the more I love the idea. 😉 I’m even thinking about keeping it a total secret from our parents and everyone else—just surprise them at the baptism. 😁

Nobody asks us anything; a few nosy ladies in our apartment building and some of my parents' neighbors poked around once, but I don't bother with them.

Even my cousin had the nerve to ask my mom the other day, "Where’s the fat one?" 😂 The kicker—and I say this with zero malice—is that she’s actually the one carrying an extra 70 pounds or so. 🤣 Honestly, you have to be a special kind of pathetic to pull that off. 🙄

Nancy Stewart38 said:Heh, exactly. You see how the power struggle starts even before things are official—it’s already playing out during the pregnancy phase. Let them throw their tantrums until they're blue in the face; at the end of the day, they don't have the authority to change your decision, right? 😁
I'm honestly curious to see how people here will react... but just like you, if they can't get on board, I couldn't care less. 😁hehe

Exactly. And you know what really grates on my nerves? This is their second grandson, sure, but the first one was from the mother's side and didn't carry the family name. Now, this little guy will be the first to actually carry the surname—so suddenly, the name becomes this huge, dramatic deal (my father-in-law is a total Dalmatian at heart). I’d bet anything that if it were a girl, they wouldn't give a damn about the name. 🙄🙂

Nancy Stewart38 said:Hell, are they seriously going to name him after himself? 🤣🤣 how yes no 🤣
God, I’ll never wrap my head around this—instead of just celebrating a new grandkid, people are getting all worked up over a name... geez. Honestly, if you ask me, they were the ones who picked their own kids' names, so why not just let them pick mine 😁
?

Exactly what you wrote. 🤣 Anyway, he’ll be baptized with his actual name—it's biblical, after all. For starters, we aren't even married yet (not that we're in any rush), so the baptism can certainly wait. And honestly, I couldn't care less what people think about the name—it's perfectly normal. He's going to be named Noah (and no, I won't be calling him Aesop or anything ridiculous). Tjemen-btwBy the way—I caught this on the news last night.🙄My mother—well, I know her better than anyone—isn't exactly a fan of it either. 😁But she didn't say a word—not that I expected her to. My parents are actually sane. ☕ What can I even say—my mother-in-law gave her kids names that every third person in America seems to have. Look, it’s her prerogative, but I’m certainly not following suit. 🙂 😁

Eric Collins4 said:So, here I am—a pregnant woman who has been a silent observer of this forum for quite some time, finally deciding to contribute my own little set of frustrations... Lately, I’ve been losing my patience with everyone constantly telling me to "get all the sleep I can now" because once the baby arrives, it's over. As if I haven't already figured that out. Personally, I’ve been sleeping in one-hour increments lately, punctuated by frequent trips to the bathroom. It's exhausting. Then there is the matter of my in-laws. I try to involve them in the baby name selection process simply because I don't want them to feel left out—though why I care so much is beyond me—but they just stare at me as if I’ve said something unforgivable. I find myself having to repeat my reasoning five times over. Once they actually hear the names, they just sit there ruminating on them, debating how they sound. When I finally told them that the girl names we picked aren't in any of the traditional baby name books, I could see the tension rising. I'm honestly just waiting to see what their next move will be...

🤣 You actually have me laughing through tears—we finally told my in-laws the name we settled on today, even though they were convinced it would be something else entirely. They took the news like I had personally insulted their entire lineage. I mean, it’s not even the first time I’ve told them our minds are made up, but they’d already started calling the baby by the other name. When we finally clarified the change today, my mother-in-law pulled a total G7 face, and my father-in-law actually had the nerve to say he’ll just baptize the kid after himself and call him that instead. Yeah... right. I'd love to see that showdown. ☕
The worst part? The name isn't some weird "spacey" choice; it’s just a standard biblical name. But apparently, in their world, if it isn't George, Anthony, or Simon, it's too radical. 😁

ironjackal20 said:So I finally had my first real blowout during this pregnancy 🙂, and now I get why it happened. I held it together for ten whole weeks.
My partner and I agreed we wouldn't tell anyone until there's actually a bump to show. We’ve waited so long for this, and since I had a miscarriage three years ago and this is an IVF pregnancy, I just don't feel the need to share my emotions right now while things feel so fragile. My parents and brother know because we live in the same house, and there's no way they won't notice if I'm stuck in bed for months on end, so I'm struggling with what to say to them. I told my best friend, but she lives halfway across the world.
He insisted we shouldn't tell his mom or sister until I hit the three-month mark, mostly because they'll start all this unnecessary drama that we just can't handle right now. My mother-in-law is already exhausting with her constant questions about when we're having kids and telling stories about everyone she knows who had a miscarriage, even though she never stops pushing. 🙂.
Then... my guy goes over to hang out with his buddy next door, and the local gossip machine—who is basically the biggest chatterbox in town—gets wind of it. It's not that I've lost my mind, I just honestly don't know when I'll be able to talk to him again. He really upset me because I don't think it's okay for people to find out through the grapevine like this. Honestly, my mom is probably going to hear about it at Walmart. I think what he did was incredibly stupid and thoughtless 😢. He shared our news with people he can't trust.
I hope some of you can relate; I just want to keep this private for as long as possible. I'm strong and steady, and I don't need advice or pity for everything I've been through.
Basically, the most stressful part is living in such a small town where everyone knows everything and sticks their nose in everyone else's business. That's just not how I am, and I hate it.
Anyway, IT'S DONE NOW 🙂

I'm so sorry. 😢 I get his side of things—I'm usually the type who can't keep a secret, especially when I'm excited about something—even though I actually kept quiet at first after having those initial issues (the bleeding). But on the flip side, I totally get you, too; given everything you've been through, your privacy should have been respected. Hang in there, 😘

Jacob Martinez59 said:Good day. I’m not usually one to panic, but I feel like I should ask for some perspectives right now. Basically, I had sex with my boyfriend and he accidentally finished inside me a little bit, with the rest landing on me. We always use condoms, so this was the first time we didn't (it's a long story). I know there's supposed to be no regrets after sex, and that's fine. But the day after we had sex, I got my period, which lasted about 4 or 5 days. Now, some coworkers I hang out with every day told me that sperm can live inside for 5 to 7 days. My next period should arrive in about 5 days—though my cycle is pretty irregular, so I can't say for sure when it'll show up.

I know I'm going to get lectured for not using protection—I'm fully aware of that and the consequences—but I just want to know if there is still a chance I could be pregnant?

Thanks in advance for any input, and sorry if this post is a bit scattered.

Best regards!

Unlikely. ☕ It isn't quite that simple. You weren't in your fertile window when it happened—and even if sperm lives for 10 days (which it doesn't; it's more like 48-72 hours), you still wouldn't have been ovulating. 😉

granitesailor4 said:It drives me absolutely INSANE when people ask, "Did the baby come back to life?"🙂

😂 I’m honestly afraid I don't even grasp the exact implication here—presumably, they think it's started to shift. 🤣 Only one of my mother’s friends ever bothered asking me about it—maybe twice or three times at the start—which I found honestly hilarious. For me, the baby truly felt real the moment I heard that heartbeat on the ultrasound... which was around the eight-week mark. 😍

George—kudos to her, she’s a true friend. 😉

Back at it again with my endless grievances.🙂 My mother-in-law really pushed my buttons today—she actually had the nerve to lecture my mom about why we eat lunch together every single day, suggesting I should be using that time to learn how to cook instead. 🙄 Look, let’s be real—I’m no Gordon Ramsay—especially since my husband worked out of the house while I was stuck in an office all day; frankly, I never felt the need to cook just for myself. Now that I'm home, after a period of just resting, both my MIL and my mom have been doing the cooking—so now my in-laws are used to us all eating together, and they couldn't care less if it's a table for three or five. I don't owe anyone an explanation for having lunch at my parents' place. Besides, why does it matter where we eat? My husband doesn't mind—is she seriously worried her son might go hungry one day???
If you ask me, women like my mother-in-law are exactly why men today can't even fry an egg or figure out how to start a dishwasher. If I didn't serve everything up on a silver platter, he'd be lost—especially now that I'm pregnant. 🙂 🙂🙂🙂

Nancy Stewart38 said:What’s the big deal with dogs? Honestly, our little guy is staying right here with us—he’s actually passed out on my lap right now 😍 and after I give him some head scratches, he just gives me a quick lick on the ear, so what? 😁
Besides, I can't wait for the baby to arrive so they can start licking those tiny feet. 😍
Plus, it's a proven fact that kids raised around pets end up with stronger immune systems and fewer allergies anyway. 😁 😁
p.s. I'm currently trying to talk my parents into adopting a dog too, so once the baby comes, we'll have two little fluffballs running around. 😁

I second this—in bold. People always ask me, "But what about the hair?" Honestly... please. My husband and I have been eating hair since we were toddlers—our parents always had pets in the house. 🙂

hiddenscout362 said:My little guy is right here with me, lounging on the couch, and I just can't help but give him a kiss on the head 😁

Everyone looks at me like I'm crazy, but honestly, what am I supposed to do? He’s my indoor dog—he's clean, well-groomed, up to date on all his shots, and he gets nothing but love and the best care possible.

I kiss mine too—and he kisses me right back on the beard. 😬 My nephew gets it since we share the same breed; he told me—and I quote—"If you live with animals, a child needs to grow up knowing how to coexist with them." 😍

hiddenscout362 said:You have to keep your distance from animals just so you don't pick up some random bacteria.

🙂

I’ve had my dog for six years now, and it never even crosses my mind to avoid petting him, taking him for walks, or acting like he doesn't exist. Seriously, what am I actually going to get if I just hang out with my own dog???

🙂🙂

I sleep with mine—he's a 130-pound beast. 😁 And no, the thought of ignoring him or avoiding him hasn't even entered my head.

Justin Baker3 said:Here’s a fresh example from yesterday: I was standing in line at Target, and there was nobody behind me, just two women ahead of me finishing up their checkout. Suddenly, this woman just smoothly slides right between me and them, acting like she’s next in line.

Honestly, I had to fight the urge to lose my cool completely. First off, I was clearly the only one waiting in line. Secondly, you can't exactly mistake me for being pregnant—I have a bump. I just don't understand people who blatantly pretend they're blind. I also don't get the cashier, who saw I was pregnant and couldn't even find the nerve to tell that lady to back off and let me go first.

I swear, once I actually have this baby, I’m going to be pushing that stroller right through anyone in my way. My patience for this stuff is officially gone.

I definitely would've said something—I'd have made a scene for both the woman and the cashier. And that isn't even about hormones; I'd have done it regardless. 😛

Andrew Martin89 said:Oh yeah... that’s exactly what drove me crazy during my first pregnancy, and now I'm just driving myself nuts in this one because I can't stop spiraling about how I'm going to manage with two kids on my own.

And honestly... I can't believe my best friend—who knows exactly what kind of situation I'm in and that I definitely can't afford to buy everything brand new for a baby—is just sitting there with a closet full of gender-neutral clothes saying, "Just tell me what you need and let me know." Like, seriously? For the hundredth time, she's offering stuff?! I'm due any day now and nothing has even arrived yet. Well, at least I started prepping on time (unlike some people who wait until the absolute last second to buy anything🙄🙄🙄) so I'm actually ready for the baby to arrive. It’s funny how the people you least expect show up right when you need them—they both surprised me so much during my first pregnancy—while the ones you actually count on? Nothing. I just don't get it...

If it helps, I am in the exact same boat. My best friend has a ten-month-old boy—same gender, too—and she gave birth around the same time of year as I am. She hasn't offered a single thing. What makes it worse is that she's a single mom, and her dad used to give the kid plenty of $33 for ice cream all the time. 🙄 The absolute peak of absurdity happened yesterday when we were driving to Trieste; she tells me mid-trip not to bother buying a high chair because she'll sell me hers for half price. 🙄

Justin Baker3 said:I have to mention that even before I was pregnant, those constant questions about "so, when are you having a baby?" or "what are you waiting for?" used to drive me absolutely insane.

Now, both my partner and I are deep in the middle of fertility testing and IVF treatments. We’ve been at this forever, and honestly, there isn't a lower point you can hit than this. People can be incredibly insensitive, poking their noses into things that simply aren't any of their business.

jadejackal said:Aside from the whole "you'll see when you give birth" nonsense, here’s what really gets under my skin:
That question—"is the baby moving yet?"—I knew it was coming, but it still stings when people ask. And then, when I actually tell them I feel movement, they hit me with, "Oh, you don't feel that, those are just your guts, it's too early." Honestly? Idiots. They think they know more than I do about the tiny life growing inside me. Give me a break.
Then there’s the unsolicited advice like, "It's way too early to start shopping; you should wait until a month before the due date." 🙄 As if I'm going to be strolling through Target with a massive bump and expecting everything to be effortless! When I pushed back, she just doubled down, asking why I even need to go to the store at all since someone else will just pick stuff up for me. 🙂😠 Oh, really? Because I'm sure some random stranger is just dying to pick out bottles and strollers for my firstborn.
And then enters the other one: "Don't buy anything, you'll get everything you need." How exactly does that work? I'd love to know where Santa Claus lives so I can mail him my registry. 🙄
The logic follows that if you didn't know about the baby, you wouldn't need anything—because apparently, the family living in the apartment next door back in the day only needed two thin blankets to cover a newborn. When I heard that, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
There were a few other "geniuses" in the mix, but I can't recall them all right now. All of this—this entire barrage of "wonderful" advice—hit me in a mere 20 minutes yesterday. Just my luck. ☕

🙂 I am signing off on all of this—with enthusiasm. 🙄 I guess I’m just starting—though "starting" might be an overstatement at this point. Tyler Ramos. 🙏

Tyler Ramos said:Of course 🥳
The Boogeyman, if nothing works—I lose my mind,
but if he actually tries to step up and make things easier—I still lose it, because of course everything ends up being done wrong anyway 😬

I know it isn't easy for him, but I’m honestly at my breaking point here... he ends up getting the brunt of it quite often, probably just because he's always right there in front of me 😬

I second that. Same here. 😂