Nursing/Postpartum Tuesday: Riley Plaid Shirtdress

A new person started work here a few months back and sits next to me. I didn’t feel particularly welcome when I first started on the team — though I easily made friends in other departments, strangely – so I wanted to make sure she didn’t go through the same experience and felt welcome here. So, I usually have lunch a few times a week with my friends and I made sure to invite her along, set up some lunches to meet people in other areas, etc. We continue to have lunch with these folks. (Though not everyday or anything -I’m pretty introverted, and enjoy my free time.)
In the last week, she’s gone to lunch with people on our team — the people sitting right by us — and hasn’t invited me. It’s stupid, but it bothers me. I wouldn’t feel this way if it was people in other areas, but it stings because it’s the very teammates who excluded me when I started, and haven’t been particularly welcoming since. I’m not at all saying I should be concerned with who she’s friends with, after all- I sound like i’m 12 – but I do think it’s odd and kind of jerky to not even ask. I truly want her to be friends with other people, because I enjoy my own time, and plus she’s a generally great person and someone i consider a friend.
I should add that it’s not like it’s the whole team up and leaving. But it’s enough people to make it feel odd.

I’m 21 weeks pregnant now, under 35 years old but close. In my first trimester we were offered two kinds genetic testing – an NT scan that wasn’t available locally and a non-invasive prenatal blood test (Harmony). We opted to skip the NT scan and did the Harmony test which came back low risk for everything. At that first appointment, the doctor said in my second trimester I’d also be offered the quad screen and we said yes we definitely want to do that. The doctors never mentioned it again but I didn’t know exactly when it was coming and didn’t think anything of it until my friend who is 18 weeks mentioned having it done yesterday. I looked it up and apparently it’s supposed to be done in weeks 16-18 and can’t be done past week 20. I’m really upset that I missed my chance to have it and also feel really guilty for not raising it with the doctor at my 18 week appointment even though I know it is their job to offer it to me and I shouldn’t have to demand it, especially after I already told them I want to do it. Any insight into how standard this is and how much of a goof it is that the doctors seem to have just forgotten about it? It seems from online research like maybe it isn’t as standard for women who’ve done the Harmony test, but I would still have liked to have had a conversation with the doctor about it, especially since it was first mentioned at the same appointment where we decided to do the Harmony test.
Unfortunately I live in a small town with one practice and so there’s no option to switch unless I see an OBGYN in the big city 1.5 hours away, which seems like a logistical nightmare once I get into the third trimester and have biweekly and then weekly appointments (I work full time and need to be in the office, not working remotely).

my 8 month old is pulling himself up to standing in his crib. right now he just sleeps in footie pjs but i think i want something warmer in the coming months (his room is also quite chilly). do i buy a wearable blanket and he’ll just stand it that or do i get one with the feet on the end that looks like pajamas anyway? looking into the woolino brand but open to all suggestions. help! thanks!!

My MIL is getting a huge award, like getting inducted into the hall of fame for her industry. I would like to celebrate her achievement, but need ideas. One thing that would mean a lot to her is to have her grandkids watch the ceremony, but there are no kids allowed. Any ideas on how to get grandkid involved? The only one that is old enough to understand anything is 3 years old. I was thinking of having kiddo make a card and present it to her..?

Help! My 9 mo has decided he absolutely hates getting into the carseat. I mean full on real tears and screaming and it’s of course not a fun way to start the day. I sometimes give him a bottle while I’m strapping him in, but don’t want that to be a constant crutch. Is this a phase? Will it pass? Any ideas on what I can do to help him? He has never loved going in but usually fussed for 20 seconds or so and stopped – now it’s just awful. Thanks in advance for any tips you have!