Jan/Feb 05 chat - Thread #3

[branwen]

Oh gosh...so much to say, respond too, where to begin.

Tarri- that is so great! Go Emily!!! woo hoo!

Joanne- Baby #2 is a hard topic for me for some reason.  My bro and I were 11 months apart :shock: and my husband and his sister were 1.5 years apart.  We both grew up insanely close to our siblings and then of course hated each other for awhile, and now are close again.  It's just both my husband and I have those "special' memories of growing up with a sister/brother.  For that reason I think I would love to begin trying soon but financially and logistically it sounds like a nightmare to me.  I am also getting really selfish and wanting things for me. :oops:   In some ways it makes sense for me to do it now, so baby is here, and then I can look forward to many years without breastfeeding, pregnancy, etc.  I mean just when Eirwen goes off to school then to have another baby at that time, makes child rearing a lot longer.  The other thing about closer together though is that I feel like just when Eirwen's toddler world will be opening up to her my time and attention will be consumed by baby #2, so that would make me sad.  At the airport when my dh and I and Eirwen were sitting together I felt a moment of completeness with the three of us.  Oh, these dilemmas!!! Maybe I will just have an "accident". :lol: Then I won't be able to think about it so much!!!!

I second Heather's idea about missing the mark in the pm.  When I miss her cue she will only nap in the afternoon maybe one cycle, sometimes even less.

Kate- when you get back here in CO we should get together!  Eirwen needs way more sleep that most babies at 11 months but when I looked at the routines posted on the EASY forum, some babies at 11 months were going to 1 long nap a day.  Some babies have this long nap in the am, some in the pm.  Eirwen is at 2 naps.  The am one has lengthened to 2.5 hrs and the pm one is much shorter.  Also it says the night time sleep also can decrease to 10 or 11 hrs.  You might try a later bedtime and move the pm nap later as well.  You could also try lengthening the intervals between naps.

Heather- keep us posted on the echo!!! Oh And great idea on the babydoll/toy in crib for sanding!  I am so going to keep this in my back pocket when we get there!

Jaime- re: hair.  No problem! I just got so frustrated one day.  It is finally considered long, almost to breast length. I am so excited because it was so hard to grow out.  It is also, for the first time in years, my natural color. :shock: I will let you know how all the tips work out!

Hazel- re: cushion- your plan of attack was my plan so don't be embarrassed!!!  We only abandoned the cushion about 2 weeks ago.  I stopped doing it when Eirwen ccould go from sitting to laying down (she still can't pull to sitting from laying though :oops: ) but because I know she can lay herself down safely, and rolls and arches and crawls (pulls) herself in all directions I feel better about it.  I think I could have ended sooner but I wasn't comfortable with the wood floors in our house.  Now that we have carpet in the condo I am more relaxed too. 

Christine- have fun on your vacation!!! Cool place!

JulieB- how are you and Asher???

 :?: who of you are on jusspress? now dropshots?  I feel as if I am missing people? I want to add you all as friends! I posted more stuff today- pictures of Pearl Street, etc.!!!!

US- No standing for us just yet but I've been reading more and apparently some babies are very particular about the sequence of events.  rolling to crawling to pulling up to standing to walking...and also that some babies cannot be rushed no matter how much you practice.  I also read that some babies are just working on other less obvious skills and that if you try to make them do stuff you're actually interrupting the way they are choosing to take in the world. hmmmmm...why doesn't this make me feel better!!! :lol:   I am trying to remind myself of these things- over and over and over again :oops:  :roll:  :oops:  :roll:

Boulder is going great- although I have never seen so many men under the age of 30 with overgrown facial hair and women with dreads! HA!  Gosh I love this place.  I am already meeting people- how psycho is that?!!! Today Eirwen and I met Dennis, a nice 50 something gentlemen and Mark, a student.  Don't worry, they were smitten with my dd not with me :wink: 

[Schae]

Hello ladies!

I started a response last night, but got caught up by events at home.
Everyone sounds really well, and I'm determined to write a proper reply, so please bear with me as I'm planning on this being a longgg reply

Kate: How is your back now? That must've been very scary.

Deb: Well done on the potty training. I love hearing about Alex too, lets me know what I have to look forward to.

Tarri: that's such a cute pic of Emily! And she sounds like she's doing really well... walking! Wow! How did the Xmas dinner go?

Hazel: How is your SIL doing? Being separated from your newborn must be so hard! Daniel sounds like a real character. Luka also plays with his 'finger food' and prefers to be fed... typical man  :lol:

Deborah: I hope the helmut issues are sorted now, I also didn't realise exactly how difficult it's been for you.

Branwen: Yay on the move!! You sound so happy.

Christine: Hope you enjoyed your mini-break, the place looks lovely.

Heather: Hoping for a good response from the paed.

Nappy Size: We use Pampers, and Luka is on size 4+ (9kg - 20kg/ 19lb - 44lb). We just recently changed because I found the size 4 was a bit restrictive despite claiming to go from 7kg to 18kg (15lb - 39lb). Luka weighs 9kg (19lb) on the dot, he sounds so small in comparison to the babies on this thread :oops: But everyone who sees me says he's 'fat'  :roll:

Breastfeeding: I was planning on bf till Luka was a year old, but with that being 2 months away, I've changed my mind. Will probably continue till he's 2? Not sure. I don't know how I feel about child led weaning for us(I'm having visions of stopping by at first break/recess at school and bf Luka  :lol: ) We're on 3 and sometimes 4 feeds a day. But will have to drop to a definite 3 when I go back to work (will express that midday feed). He still feeds at night (genuine hunger) because we are struggling to get him to eat solids during the day - don't know where my good eater vanished to.

Baby #2: No plans here. Maybe we'll start trying when Luka is 2 or 2.5. Sometimes I'm not even sure if I want another child. A friend of mine is staying with us (long story) and she has a 3 month old and it's made me so NOT broody. Cute as she is, little as she is, adorable as she is, I much prefer my 9.5month old with established naps and nearly sleeping through the night.

US: We had bad news, a friend of ours lost her husband last week, very sad. Makes me realise how short life is, and how many things there are to be thankful for. Especially at this time of the year.
Good news: Luka is standing on his own.... for a whole minute  :lol: He's growing so quickly it's scary. When I read about your naps, I'm jealous. On a good day Luka will nap for an hour and 15 minutes, if he naps for an hour I'm happy. And we're still dealing with nightwakings, and this worries me because I have a feeling he will have a difficult time adjusting to the move. Branwen, how are you dealing with the adjustment?

We moved some of our stuff today, we're basically moving a couple of things at a time, but the big move is on Friday this week. Hope to be online soon after that.

[thitz]

I've snuck onto the computer while dh is upstairs....uh, oh he's coming back (he's such a computer hog on weekends).  Talk to ya'll tomorrow    Tarri

[Daniel's mummy]

Just a real quick post to let you all know that my SIL is going home today!    She has made a great recovery so thatnks for all your thoughts, prayers and well-wishes.

Also, I just have to mention that I have now lost a total of 9lb        As you can tell I am happy about that.  I'm hoping to lose another lb at least this week and DH is taking me out for that celebratory meal on Saturday.  Yippee.  Only another 8lb to go until I'm happy.

Will write more later.

[Leah's Mom]

Congrats on the weight loss Hazel!!!!!!!! Am so happy for your SIL too.

Baby #2 will come for us when Leah is 2 1/2 or 3. It is such a hard decision though. I like everyone's opinions.

Thanks for posting diaper sizes everyone. I bought Pampers Cruisers size 4. They are a little big, but fit better than the size 3.

Schae - Good luck with your move. Such an exciting time of year!

Our vacation was a blast!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'll post some pictures on our family website when I have a chance. First I need to finish Christmas cards.  :roll: Leah thought the place was just a HUGE bathtub and had an awesome time. As did DH and I. We loved the waterslides!  :wink: I felt like a kid again!

Will post more later. Just wanted to pop in and say hello!

[thitz]

Hazel,  I still put a pillow behind Emily when I first put her down to sit.  But it doesn't take long for her to squirm away from the pillow.  And awesome stuff with the weight loss I've lost 1lb in the last month and it's made such a difference in my clothes    I'm having a hard time getting Emily to eat finger foods other than bread like stuff, she'll easily eat puffs, toast, cookies and rice cakes but won't touch veggies, fruit, meat or cheese finger foods. :?

Heather, your doctors visit sounded like a nightmare, at least it's over.  That's awesome that Kelsey's taking some steps too.  Do you race after her, like I do?  I've got bruises on my knees from me following her around :oops: .  She falls constantly. 

Julieb, I guess you're in Disneyland?  Emily has started clapping when I play Asher's clapping video for her .

Joanne, I'm going to look for that little tykes toy you mentioned.  It would be a perfect present for Christmas .

Branwen, we're on jusspress. http://www.jusspress.com/ER.  The ER stands for Emily Robin.  And I love all your pictures.  It looks absolutely beautiful there .

Schae, my cousin in England breastfed till her baby was almost 2, she started to wean when she was planning to have baby#2.  It must be EXCITING moving into your own house What is Luka's mood like when he has short naps all day?  I wonder if he could be ready to move to just one good nap in the afternoon?  Emily's not even close to that yet because she usually has two good 1.5hr naps.

Us, dh's xmas part was fun.  Emily woke once and the babysitter gave her medicine (that I had premeasured) cause she was biting her fingers off and then she didn't wake till morning:)  So I'd say it was a HUGE success!

I'm starting to think about baby #2 and I'm getting more vigilent about taking my multi vitamin every day again so that I build up that folic acid.  Sometimes I feel like we should go for it and others I think I couldn't possible handle two babies :roll: .  Because realistically, it's me who'll be responsible for them 99% of the time :!: . 

Have a good day/night everyone.  Tarri

[Daniel's mummy]

We've had another good day here.  1hour and 45 mins nap this morning and then 1 hour 35 mins this afternoon :shock:   This crawling thing is brill.  He is just tiring himself out sooo much.

Finger foods - I think Daniel is just bored with the food I'm giving him (pear and banana are the usual desserts).  He is just not interested in picking it up from off his tray.  DH put 3 tiny pieces of chocolate on his tray and... whoosh, they were picked up and eaten in a flash :lol: He just knows what he wants.  When I go food shopping tomorrow I'll try getting a few different things that I can offer him.  As I said in a previous post though, his appetite has decreased significantly.  Let's hope he's not trying to diet along with mummy!

Baby no. 2 - I am soooo broody (I think it's coz of my new little neice).  We are probably going to start trying around April/May time.  I'm guessing it'll be around about when I've just got down to my ideal weight again :x   I had such a sicky horrible pregnancy last time though I am DREADING the next.  I know a lot of people say they are not all the same so I'm hoping for a different one this time    One with NO pregnancy symptoms would be just fine.

Tarri - glad to hear you had a nice time at DH's Xmas party.  Good little Emily for sleeping so well.

Christine - so glad you had a great holiday.  Can't wait to see piccies.

 :?: What, if any, special things have you guys got planned this Christmas?  Are you starting or continuing any special traditions etc?  I read something on another post about someone who is gonna start taking a photo of 'present opening' each Christmas and then making it into a tree decoration.  I LOVE the idea so we are gonna start the same thing.  How lovely will it be to have a photo of our family each year?  We'll have fun laughing at the photos in 25 + years...
Does anyone do anything special on Christmas eve?  We never have really but I would like to start doing something special.  Any ideas would be welcome :?

Must go now and do some ironing :cry: We are just about all out of ironed clothes.

[Leah's Mom]

JulieB - Are you back from Disneyland yet? Can't wait to hear about it!

[dkjokisch]

In good news, whatever was bothering Maya at bedtime seems to have resolved itself.  We would go back in if she got really upset, but would not pick her up if we could calm her down while still in the crib.  However, she has developed another irritation spot from the helmet, so she never wore it overnight, and we're going back to the orthotist today.

Tarri - Glad to hear the Christmas party outing went well.  And yeah for Emily on the walking.

Heather - Keep us posted on the results of the echo.  A friend on mine went through this with her lo, so I know how scary it is.

Jaime - We drive 2 hours to the orthotist (his main office is actually in Winter Park, but we usually go to the one in Deland).  The neurosurgeon we didn't like referred us to this guy.  There is just no one in Jacksonville who is qualified to do the helmet fittings, which is kind of amazing considering all the medical facilities in Jacksonville.

Branwen - Glad to hear you are settling in. 

Schae - Maya still bfs 4 times a day.  I am thinking about weaning her, but she gets so much enjoyment out of it.  Her face lights up when I sit in "our chair".  However, we are thinking about #2, and I don't want to be pregnant and nursing. 

Hazel - Congrats on the weight loss!  I think I am down to about 5lbs above my pre-preg weight, but it takes up so much more space!  I still don't fit in my pre-preg jeans.  As for Christmas traditions, we are staying home this year, and none of our family is coming to visit, so we are going to start our own traditions.  We used to go to Christmas Eve carol mass, but it is at 9pm, and that's too late for Maya.  I think we are going to check out the Christmas Eve children's mass instead.  They do it around 4 or 5pm, so the timing is perfect.

Christine - Glad to hear you had a great weekend.  I think Maya would really enjoy playing in a pool.  We have been thinking of joining the Y, so I could swim with Maya, and dh and I could tackle our thickening waistlines.

Well, my 1/2 hour of reprieve is over.  Dh took Maya to PT this morning so he could observe.  I can't remember the last time I was home alone.

[HeatherC]

For Christmas in my family as children, we always got to open one present on Christmas Eve before bed.  That was always so fun to hold us over until the next morning!  I got an ornament that holds a picture for "Baby's First Christmas" this year.  Other than that, I plan to take lots of pictures and use some for my scrapbook.  We visit dh's mom around lunch time, and my mom and family for dinner time.  Two big meals!  My mom always has lots of people because my brother invites his friends that don't have family nearby and those that just love to visit with our family.

[thitz]

Our Christmas is changing a bit as I insisted that dd is not traveling on Christmas Day.  My mom cried and cried when I told her this because it will be the first Christmas I won't spend at my parents .  So, my parents decided to come up and stay a couple days before and then leave Christmas afternoon cause they are hosting a Boxing Day party for their side of the family at their house 4 hours away.  We'll be going to the party but traveling on Boxing Day (I'm seriously not looking forward to the travel ).  Also, since my parents and dh's parents don't get along (LONG story) we'll be going to their house for Christmas Eve lunch, only 40mins drive.  This also severely upset dh cause he hates that they don't get along and he wants to have Christmas eve just the 3 of us  : x .  So it's impossible to please everyone, but Christmas is about Emily now so I think it's important that she's home for Christmas  

Emily will get presents on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.  It's too much, I think, but it's the only way to at least half-please all the family.

Whew...that was a long story :!: Tarri

[Jaime]

We're staying home for Christmas too.   i never wanted to travel on Christmas day, and when jaina was born it made it easy to say we were staying home.  my parents & ILs come here too.  also nice cause we have the most space.  my parents get a hotel room & ILs stay here   :evil:   (even though they don't like what we have for them to sleep on  :roll: )

2 years ago we went to Sea World on Christmas eve & had a ball.  would've gone back last year but i was 8 months preggo!  we're going again this year and i can't wait.  love it cause teachers can go for free.  and it's so relaxed, we can see everything, leave mid-afternoon, and still make the evening church service.  we'll have a later dinner after the kids are in bed.

the one tradition i want to start for the kids is giving them 1 present to open on christmas eve  and it's new pajamas for them to wear that night. 


and.... to show my total ignorance... just what is Boxing Day?  always heard of it but don't know what it is.  :oops:

[dkjokisch]

Tarri - You're not the only one whose parents and ILs don't get along.  Our parents have seen one another exactly twice since our wedding.  Among other things, I think my folks are still offended that MIL offered to pay for our wedding since she felt my parents could not afford to give us a
"proper" wedding, a proper wedding being one with 400 guests and all the pomp and circumstance.  Dh and I wanted immediate family only.  It really had nothing to do with my parents.

As far as Christmas goes, we will miss our families, but we are very excited to be spending it in our own home.  This is a really busy time for my dad at work, and he can't get away, but my parents are coming in Jan for Maya's birthday.  Dh's family doesn't really travel for Christmas, all their extended family is in San Salvador.  If we don't go see them, we don't see them.  I'd like to change that, but I don't know if that's going to happen anytime soon.

So yesterday I had to go downtown to pick up something MIL ordered for Maya.  I figured if I was going to drive all the way down there, I might as well go the extra 10 minutes and meet dh for lunch.  It was going great.  Maya was extremely well-behaved.  You never would have known there was a baby in the lunchroom.  Alot of his coworkers came over to introduce themselves.  But one of them managed to spill a huge cup of Pepsi all over Maya and her stroller.  She got soaked, and after the initial shock wore off, she just wailed.  Needless to say, we created quite the spectacle.  By the time I got her calmed down, we were both covered in soda.

[Leah's Mom]

Deborah - Poor Maya! I bet she was a sticky mess!

Christmas for us: Both sets of parents live within 20 mintues - mine live next door.  (I get along wonderfully with my mother) This sounds great but it can actually be a bigger hassle. Since we are so close everyone thinks we should go everywhere. Which would mean two places Christmas Eve and three places Christmas Day. I don't think so!!!!!!!! So we offend someone by skipping out of their Christmas.  But, we try to keep it fair. One Christmas for DH's family, one for mine. We will spend Christmas morning just DH, me, and DD. Although I don't know what we will do. We decided not to do gifts between DH and I. And we already gave Leah her Christmas present.  :roll: We bought her the Leap Frog Learn Around Table. Oh well, just a good family time anyway!

? What are you buying your LO's for Christmas? We bought Leah a Leap Frog Learn Around Table. I think that's all we'll get her. I'm pretty sure she will get a lot from other people. I want to start right by not buying her a TON of gifts. I want her to think that one gift is fine to get at Christmas. You woulnd't believe the kids at my school who complain about the number of gifts they get at Christmas time.  :?

[dkjokisch]

I'm so excited.  I wasn't looking forward to this evening as dh has a business dinner and will be home late, and it's just been a long day in general.  But I took Maya to the library to distract her through her evening fussies.  They had a copy of the first season of Desperate Housewives on DVD.  Now I am looking forward to an dh-free evening of popcorn and brain candy.  I get to catch up on the month or so I missed last year after Maya was born.  I just need to get Maya to bed first.