March/April Thread #3

[Taylor's Mommy]

Hi Ladies,

Welcome Back to the funny farm!   :lol:  :lol:

You all know the drill so won't go into it again. 

New members please feel free to join in at anytime!

 :arrow:  :!: ATTENTION: NEW CHAT NIGHT!!!!
FRIDAYS AT 9 PM EST
BEGINNING FRIDAY DECEMBER 2ND
(of course you all can start tomorrow 11/25, but it sounds like most of us are busy and many voted to start it next week since we have already technically had 2 chats this week)

Let's all continue the fun!   

[Jayri]

HI there, Only Me.
Boy did I miss you all yesterday, but it was so nice to be able to say thankyou to the lady that has given us duch a wonderful gift as BW.
I got my hair chopped off yesterday, so I will try to post a pic for you all soon. I am now starting to get a little nervous, I feel like I am abandoning my kids, I guess it is jus the usual nerves of going back to work. But it doesn't help that Riley is cutting her second tooth at the mo, and is a major clingy cranky pants because of it.
This is making pd for naps super hard. Our routine is good otherwise, we put her on the 8mth heinz food BTW those homestyle recepies that they have now are really good, they have small peas and small chunks of carrots and potatoe in them. Anyhew, our routine is good, usually up for 2 1/2 hrs, then we have a wind down and on the 3 hr mark is when she usually falls asleep.
I was thinking of pu/pd, but she starts to cry when she feels she is being pd, that and I am nervous of starting it for it taking away time from Jayson while it is done.
Stupid me, I really should do an intro of me;
I am Naomi, 26 mum to Jayson and Riley, the absolute pride of my life. Married to Andrew 24, we just had our 3yr wedding anniversary in nov, and will be together for 5yrs in feb.
I am going staring a new job on mon.nov.28th, I am starting one as a travel consultant for a company that processes customer request over the phone.
Sorry this is a long one girls, I don't want to become a crutch for Ri going to sleep.
Take Care everyone, enjoy your long weekend in the states.
Enjoy your weekend where ever you are in the world.

[sophieandhannah]

Hello Ladies.  Boy did I realize how much I missed you yesterday.  But Naomi yes I agree it was a wonderful opportunity to remember.
Hayley, I don't know what to say about the renters.  Do you do a security deposit?  That would probably give you some peace of mind that you would ahve the money if there were any damages.
Well, first of all, we are definately dropping the df at this house!  I have been waffling and wavering but this morning she only took 3 oz!!! For a morning feed so she can't really be needing the df any more.  If she's not even hungry in the am?
I have been giving about 6 oz at about 9-9:30.  I think I am going to drop down to 4 oz tonight at 9. Then maybe 4 again at 8:30, 2 at 8:30 then 2 at 8 for a couple of days.  Does that sound like a good plan?
I probably shouldn't base much though on last night/this morning.  She has been a bit out of whack since our thanksgiving.
We went to friends' for the day, starting at about 1pm.  We brought the porta crib and she actually took her afternoon nap in it in their bedroom!  I was actually pretty shocked.
She was all miss social butterfly after her nap, during dinner and then around 5:00 or so she started showing signs of being pretty tired (so much stimulation/new people etc). BUT we still had to "stop in" at IL's celebration on our way home.....
So we get in the car and I immediately being "negotiations" on how long we should stay.  I feel like the UN rep for the land of Sophie sometimes
So I said I really don't want to be rude to your family but I really don't think we should puch her past about 7:30...anyhow, long story short we end up not leaving until about 8:30, with a 30 minute drive home.  She was great AT IL's, although soooooo obviously over tired/over stim...as soon as we got her buckled in she started screaming the car down...crickey!!!
She actually stopped pretty quick and all was well.  She went down when we got home no problem but had a few wakings now for two nights.
I think it's a combo of off schedule/overstim/developmental. 
She is trying so hard to crawl.  And yes she has started to "wake up" on all fours in her crib.  Some of the night waking are due to this.  She just can't stop "practicing"  Andrea was it your dh who told Taylor Now isn't the time for you to be practicing new skills?  I need to let Sophie in on that also.
OK, so I don't want to be even more long winded than usual...so I'll stop.
BTW I am Hannah, 32, 4th grade teacher going back to work in less than 2 weeks (AHHHHHH!!!!)  mom to Sophie, step mom to Brendan. 
TTFN
Hannah
PS Naomi, everything is going to be sooooo fine!! The kids will do great.  You have them on such a great schedule, plus they get to be in their own home, no packing up etc.  Everything is going to be great and we'll help you work out any bumps in the road as they come up...if they come up   You are not abandoning them, in fact you are being an excellent role model for them by doing what you want and need to do for yourself.  OK, end of pep talk.
I probably won't be on again much today or tomorrow.  DH and I have our anniversary tomorrow.  We are going to a local winery with a group of ten friends for a wine tasting and horsdouvres...then dinner at the rest. where we had our first date   I think we are going to buy one share of stock for each other and frame it to commenmorate...does that just sound so unromantic or what?  But it is the paper anniversary.  And he wanted to do something together instead of "surprising" each other with gifts.
OK, I'm out of here.  Have a winderful day/night.  I will chack in as soon as I can.
TTFN Again...
Hannah

[mickymuscles]

hi girls!

nice to talk to you all again!

hayley...I agree with hannah.  I would ask for a damage deposit.  You can return it to them when they move out if you are satisfied with how they treated your house.  I'm not sure if they do that over-yonder??

Naomi and hannah- good luck going back to work!  I would be so sad to leave Jack already!  :cry:

Hannah...we try to follow the anniversary "traditions".....Ours was paper last year....now talk about non-romantic.  My DH got me a color photo printer.  :roll:   He was thinking that because I scrapbook that I would love it.  I like it but the problem with it is that he had been talking about wanting one for himself for ages before our anniversary so it felt more like a present for him....needless to say he went out and got me a necklace instead. :oops:   Oops, I really didn't meant to lay the guilt trip on him that bad. :oops:  :oops:   Anyways, I got him 2 tickets (the paper) to the Green Day concert.  He loved it......but that idea flopped too because he had to be at work over the concert and couldn't get time off.  Oh well,  he got a book instead.   :roll:   So I definitely can't say anything about you guys buying stocks!!! :shock:  :lol:

I'm Michelle (aka Micky).  I'm almost 32.    DH and I have been married for just about 3 years together for 4.  Jackson is our first peanut out of probably only 2.  I'm a Respiratory Therapist and not due back to work until March.  But I think I will only go back on an as-needed basis so essentially becoming a SAHM.  We've got 2 dogs, 2 cats, and a fish tank.     So our house is constantly dirty, noisy, and busy!! :shock:  :lol:

[Arwyn's mom]

Hello ladies,

I hope everybody's day is going well... we had a 5:45 wakeup this morning and no DH to put her back down... well, he woke her up when getting ready to go to work so... we have a long day ahead of us.

The nights are getting better over here. Hannah... just as you are dropping the DF, we are starting it back up over here. Last night, she took a full feed at 10:30 pm, woke at 2:15 and took another full feed, and had no problems having a full one again at 6 am this morning :shock: . Usually, all the night feedings interfere with the first one in the morning but not last night! Just when I thought I had it figured out :roll: .

Arwyn started to pull up to standing yesterday. She is becoming quite proficient at it and everything is game for pulling up on. I am a little freaked out by it all because she wants to pull up and not everything is safe for that KWIM? Oh, well... I am just glad that it did not cause multiple night wakings.

Naomi... Post those pics! I can't wait to see you in your "work" mode. I ditto Hannah in that going back to work will be fine... you put in the hard work already and your kiddies know the routine so... the transition won't be too rough!

Hannah... your plan for dropping the DF is great. I was going to ask... you are going back to work on the 8th of December and then it will be Christmas break. Did you plan this for an easier transistion for Sophie? Or for you? I am asking because I am due to go back after Spring Break... just wondering if I should ask to go back prior. We have a 'unwritten rule' that we go back at a natural break but it never hurts to ask, I guess.

I also, am also harping on the times we are out. DH thinks that getting ready to leave when she wakes from her nap is perfectly acceptable while I want him to be ready to go when she wakes. He just doesn't seem to understand that her window of A time is 2.5 hours and we can't just take 1 hour of that to get ready!  :evil: Anyhow, he also thinks that 15 mins to half an hour is not a big deal... then he doesn't factor the drive home, etc. I usually end up nagging and harping all the way there and back when this happens. You would think, he would get it by now. She is how old? I have been nagging for how long? :roll:

Hi Micky!! I know what you mean about the pets. I have two birds... well, DH has two birds, I just married him and they came along for the ride. So, I am constantly dusting and vacuuming because they are so ultra-dusty! How is Jackson doing? Those casts are not bothering him too much?

TTFN

[Arwyn's mom]

Hannah... Happy Anniversary!!! Paper, in any monetary form, is good... not romantic perhaps, but good.  :wink:

[Colesmom]

Hey girls- I missed you all too.  I'm such a sap though.  I didn't realize it was a year to the day that Tracy passed and I got all teary eyed.  Such a wonderful woman.  What would all do without her knowledge?

For those that may join the thread: I am Traci, 34, married to DH Tony also 34 for 2 years September.  Together ummmm 8 years total.  As it says at the bottom I am mom to Cole. He's my textbook, angel and sometimes spirited little cutie.

Judy and I chatted last night.  I hadn't realized we opted to start next week. So I got Judy all to myself.  pffffffffffffffffffffffft!

I'm thinking of weaning Cole off his "dreamfeed" as well.  (wakes for it here).  He's doing so well with solids and doesn't seem overly hungry in the morning either.  I think yours is a good plan Hannah.  Not sure what I'll do.  He's refused the second breast a couple of times so I might just do pupd when I'm more rested.  I got a total of 3.5 hours sleep last night.  We had guests over so I didn't want Cole waking them.  He went down (fed to sleep :oops: ) at 5:30.
woke at 7pm, down right away
woke at 9pm, fed and down after about 5 min. holding my hand
woke at 11, up until 12-I finally went to bed
woke at 1:30, up until 3:30
woke at 5:20 for the day.

I think I figured out the issue.  It started the other day when I put him down too early after catnap.  I think I left him a touch too long to settle and he's angry with me.  Now he's older and can remember :oops:  I have to stay with him now for every sleep and hold his hand.  If I leave too soon he reaches for it :oops:

RAVE about DH.  He took him thankfully after his first nap today so I got to sleep from 7:30-10:00.  Boy did I need that.  He also made waffles for us and guests.  He didn't even use the exersaucer.  he kept putting him in the LR and Cole would crawl into kitchen and he would put him back LOL.  I so know my DH...I almost reminded him to use the exersaucer but forgot.

Naomi-the kids will be okay.  It may be rough with Riley teething, but just think how many other times they will be "off" and will have to get used to other people comforting them.  sheesh-listen to me spew the motivational words.  I should listen to them myself LOL!!  You will do great in your new job. Can't wait to see the pics.

Ankie-happy to hear the standing doesn't affect Arwyn right now.  I think Cole stands up in his sleep and doesn't wake up right away and then starts screaming.  he knows how to get down but I think it freaks him out.

As for anniversaries, we haven't followed the traditions.  For this past one I blew up 24 pictures of our travels to Portugal, London, Ireland, Mexico, Paris etc to 8X10.  Now I just have to frame them.

No pets here.  Will get a dog when we have a larger home.  I LOVE the weimaraners (sp?)  the big grey dogs that the photographer dresses up as people.  Too big for us though.  We'd like to get a nice medium sized dog.  Probably get it from the shelter.

Naomi-you said you give Riley mum mums right?  I know we've been over this but I'm just so nervous.  I thought they were teething rusks...are they hard?  I bought a package but it says they should be a year old.  I guess as long as he's in the highchair I should be okay?  I would like to give him some new textures. We're still on purees and he's gobbling them up. Maybe I'll start with cheerios this weekend.  Just a few to test him.

OMG-I am soooo excited...he just made it through the 45 minute mark.  I am so happy because I held him to sleep again and DH and friends are watching a loud movie and I thought for sure he'd wake.  I heard his first little noise and DH paused the movie for a few minutes.  phew-really hoping he gets at least another 30 minutes.

oh-Hayley-I agree, go with a damage deposit and something in the contract.  Could they wait 8 days so you can talk to DH?

okay, this is long enough.  have a good day everyone.

[mickymuscles]

hi again girls!

traci: i thought we were chatting last night too but since the boards were closed i just assumed everything was.  I didn't even check the chat room.  Not too swift sometimes.  :?

[Colesmom]

hey girls, i'm free tonight for chat.  DH going out with friends and I'm home because I'm the one with the boobs :wink:   pm me or post a time and I'll be here!

[Jayri]

hi girls just a quickie from me, we are approaching bedtime here.
We went to sears today to get the kids xmas pics done, OMG, it was packed which suked for me as I hate crowds, Jay was wired with all that was going on. We got the pics tho, after a lot of persuading Jayson. The first pics are easy to get, all they do is sit, but when they start to move, holy crap look out, it turns into a job itself.
Don't mind me ranting, I am just a little frazzled.
On the topic of food, the rusks I have for Riley are made of rice, Traci, maybe you could try Cole on some rice crackers to start off with. We switched to the 8mth food as Riley had no interest in the 6mth stuff. She is chowing her food down once again.
What I would recommend is to try a little bit of food at first, break it up and just see how he goes. If the food can break up easily in the mouth then you should have no problem.
Thanks for the wonderful words of encouragement, makes me feel so much better. I know all will be fine, so I guess it is just the unknown that scares me.
If anyone is up for a chat let me know, 8 or 9est would be good for me, just let me know.
RIght, I am off for now ladies...talk to you soon.

[Jayri]

oh traci,or anyone wondering about the next stage of food.
I forgot about arrowroot cookies, and also we bought a can of peas and carrots, and then mixed about a teaspoon of them into her meal, it made it chunkier and she loved it.
I think what Ri has been doing is smoshing the food with her tongue, I think that is how she has been eating, she has to be doing something as she has only had one tooth until now.
Oh and she likes yoghut, I have no clue if it is good right now, but she was eyeing up ours, so we tried a bit on the edge of a spoon, and weyhey, another food she likes, and no effects on the poop either.
On the teething topic, doese anyone have a copy of DR Sears THe Baby Book, it teaches about attachement parenting, but it is good for a quick referance guide,say like growth and development, teething, walking and foot growth etc.
That is where I found out about the runs, red bums rash, or a red ring around the bum, and all these other things associated with teething, I guess on some lo the extra saliva is a real kicker on their little systems.
k....gotta go I only came on to talk about food....

[sophieandhannah]

I'm back...
We have major first crawling going in here, plus Brendan is here this weekend coupled with Thanksgiving etc etc and we have had virtually no napping today!! Yuck.  I am praying she will cat nap.  Other wise she'll be going to bed way too early, but maybe that's what she needs.

Oh yeah and add to all of that the singin moving xmas song singing animals that brendan loves and has now introduced Sophie to..ugh.  Not to be bah humbug but i KINDA HATE THAT STUFF, ESPECIALLY WHEN i'VE HEARD IT A MILLION TIMES.
Woops, caps lock!!  Didn't really mean to give that sentence so mauch EMOTION:)
OK, so I gave Sophie a rice cake, she loved it! Maybe try that traci.  The Hot Kid Baby Mum Mums are great.  She loves them, but I don't like her to have too many because of the sugar :roll: 
Ooooo I too assumed that because the boards were closed the chat room was closed too.
Dh has to leave to take Brendan back to his mom's at about 7:30pm...which is 10:30est I think.  So, I could check in then and see if you are still chatting.  You know me.  I always love to get in on a chat.
 :lol:
See you later.
Hannah

[Colesmom]

Hey Naomi-I'm good for 8 EST, that way not too late for you.  And I'm pretty pooped with our bad night last night and an hour long bedtime battle just now.  I'd like to be in bed by 10 EST.

So ladies, I figured I was here alone, had all night to sort Cole out so I thought I'd put an end to the holding to sleep.  I don't mind doing it, I have the time to do it...BUT I don't want it to become an ingrained habit.  The first 10 minutes in the crib he wasn't crying, just climbing up and I put him down. Then 10 minutes of crying and i did pupd.  Then he seemed to settled and pulled a Halle doing mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm for about 10 minutes. :wink:   Figured he was close to sleep. Nope, starting climbing up again.  So, tried something different.  turned his ocean wonders to "on" and let him play while I sat in the glider. This lasted 15 minutes before he started crying.  Oh yes, I've also tried the reading trick Jody posted but that didn't work either. Cole has never just fallen asleep anywhere so I didn't think either of these would work but thought I'd try.  Continued to do pupd.  on and on and on.  Anyway more mmmmmmmmmmmmmmming, and more mmmmmmmmmmmming but no sleeping.  In the end I caved :oops:  I really think it's t**th.  I do.  His gums feel swollen and he is chewing like mad and he's drooling like crazy.  So he's down.  Oh well.  It's not like he was crying for the whole hour, only about 15 minutes and I was there the whole time so I don't feel too bad about it.

A question for you girls.  Cole had poor sleep last night and woke at 5:20 am.  He had two 45 minute and one hour nap (at least DH thinks-doesn't remember what time he got up).  He woke from 45 min. catnap at 4:00.  He was fussy the whole time during dinner etc so I put him down at 5:15.  Do you guys maintain the same bedtime regardless of what time you los wake up in the morning?  Should I have stuck with 6pm?  I just don't think he could have made it that long. 

Thanks for the food info Naomi.  I think I need to move Cole onto the next stage.  I will try Cheerios tomorrow and see how it goes. 

I have the Dr. Sears book and I wish I hadn't left it in Coles room just now.  I'll have to grab it when I go in to do the night feed.  No chance I'm going in there right now and risking waking him.

Lastly, the good news.  DH PASSED HIS EXAMS
i am sooooooo happy I could cry.  He got the letter yesterday but didn't open it and didn't tell me until he just left for the night that it was in his bag.  He didn't want to ruin his weekend.  He couldn't believe it when I told him.  woo hoo!  our life can really begin now.  I can't tell you how much sleep he's lost worrying about it since he wrote.

okay, i'm going to have some dinner.  Naomi...and anyone else, see you in the chat at 8 EST.

[sophieandhannah]

Traci we posted at the same time.  Congrats to you and your dh!!!!!
It sounds like I will probably miss you gals in the chat.  But maybe I can sneak in for a minute.
Sorry about Cole. 
I do not keep Sophie's bedtime the same.  I Try to but if she wakes really early and I haven't been able to "catch her up" during the day, she goes down early  Unfortunately it's kind of a viscious cycle.  But eventually it all gets sorted out...it just may take a couple of days and if it is T$%^&ing then he's just uncomfortable and until those suckers break through he could be all over the map.
Hang in there.
Hannah

[Trip_Wire]

:wink: Hey everyone just thought I would let you all know that I had the chance to set up an account so if I have any questions I'll be online..  My name is Janean and I'm Riley and Jayson's nanny.....  so chat with you all soon..