I don't have any kids yet (pregnant), and am working nanny share side, too, but that isn't without it's flaws either unfortunately. I am trying to arrange care both ways to try to avoid zero care.

There ya go then!

What about a subforum sticky on the expectant moms thread? Just a due date thread subforum sticky do others can start threads there within the expectant moms forum.

Just a thought!

<--- I'm mouth breathing because I'm stuffed up. I thought it was a cold, but apparently stuffed up head/sneezing during pregnancy is a thing? If I have this for the whole 9 months, I'll be sad since I can't taste anything Though, maybe a mixed blessing? lol

If you have smell issues, one thing you might want to try also is a cup of decaf mint tea - even if just to smell it. The heat keeps it smelling good for a while. I often have some at work just to get the "funk" out of the windowless fort I'm in. It smells great. Lemon in hot water is great, too.

Nope, went in and went right to work after it.
It's unpleasant but really not bad - my recommendation, though, is to bring your own pad - at least at GW they give those giant matress pads of a panty liner and they're horrible. Bring one or two regular ones and you'll thank yourself.

Same for any ultrasound you might have during any cycle. The goo drips out (sooo sexay!) - better pads are key, yet somehow I forgot them at home 8 times out of 10!

I already have a great sense of smell (just like my mom) and I can smell things like the white board markets DAYS after they've been used - and we had a meeting with them this morning and eewww.
Nothing really makes me gag, though, except for my coworker's microwaved lunches or when they eat fried chicken - some of them had Popeyes the other day and I was so grossed out. People's parfume makes me gag, so I guess there's that too - but it always has, just now it's worse. I wonder if they realize how much they're wearing sometimes!

There should definitely be a "due date' section somewhere on DCUM - I'm on the Oct thread and it's been lovely to see how the other women are getting on and I hope that as we get closer, we can have a meet up or have play dates etc when kids are born. I'm not sure if that's too "social networky", and perhaps the anonymous nature of DCUM prevents it, but I think it would encourage community a bit more of expectant parents. Just a thought.

Start a Sept due dates thread - you'll find others!

No, I'm in DC. I spoke with the woman at the Dept of Energy Bright Horizons and she said that if you call your other two top choices, they can confirm that you are on the wait list a couple weeks after you submit your main application. So, I gather I'll be following up.

our second choices will be FTC and Energy because the others were "years and years for non-agency families" OR were over $2k a month. If i'm spending that much, it'll go to a different company or a nanny. Energy isn't even that convenient - I like the idea of one more central so I can stop by and nurse or whatnot, but at this point a priority is making sure my child has some sort of care.

We're going to apply at CCLC in Foggy Bottom, too.

Someone was asking about costs - here's what I found out:
Bright Horizons Triangle Tots $1,714
CCLC @ 2200 Penn $1840/month
Bright Horizons FTC Kids $1,685
Commerce Kids $385/week
Bright Horizons @ 1111 Penn $2,112/month
Bright Horizons @ 2101 L Street $2060/month
Dept of Energy Bright Horizons $1647/month

Thanks for the constructive comments, PPs....New Carrollton won't work as I work at the pentagon. Downton or foggy bottom is ideal because I can do nursing drop bys and all tht.

Interesting abut the doubts regarding the top three choices....I gues th only way to know is to continually follow up?

We're applying to commerce kids as well...and also trying for tiny findings.

Ok, so SEEC is a lottery...I'd your kid doesn't get in, the what? You're a bad parent? I am also considering CCLC but again, $2k a month.

Anyone have a realistic recommendation? A lottery is too risky to bet on when you have to go back to work unfortunately. A plan b and c are required here, it seems.

I am open to other suggestions/recommendations...but other than Bain Capital being involved with them, what else is bad?

Child care in DC seems to be impossible and a nanny share is an option we are looking in to, but it has it's own issues especially for the long term. And being a stay at home mom isn't a possibility since we both don't earn that much (we are both Feds but not high up on the GS).

$2000 a month isn't doable for us but instead of saying Bright Horizons sucks if you could recommend alternatives that would be helpful!

Hm, energy is close to my husband's work....do you metro there? What was your wait list like if you don't mind me asking?

The 'open to all' places are the ones that are in the $2000 range which seems a bit ridiculous to me.
How does anyone save for their child's future?!?

I don't have all the costs yet but I'll share when I do.

I thought about IRS but it isn't convenient to work... I metro to work and that's th only way I can do drop off/pick up. Well, bus and metro.

I am really just wondering if some day cares aren't worth being put on the wait list (like Just Us Kids or Diplotots)

We are filling out the "three choices" for the $150 application fee. We are both feds, but none of our jobs has priority at any day care (DOD and DHS).
Is it worth putting Triangle Tots on or is that list ridiculous?
What about FTC Kids?

The Bright Horizons NOT associated with an agency are ridiculously expensive - the East End one was $1975 a month and the GW one was $2200 a month!

Anyone else have any facilities they think it's a good bet to get on the wait list now for that won't jerk me along just to get the fee?

I'm going to do Commerce Kids, too....unless I hear it's also a ridiculous process that I won't get in to within my kids first 2 years?

(FYI, I'm looking for an early Feb 2014 start date....)

thanks!