A Very Chit-Chat Thread

[alaskagirlchrissie]

Shoot, one more thing Andrea. I think i must be tired and not thinking straight. I also used the bottles that you put the disposable liner in. And they were great, because as the baby is emptying the bag you can keep the air squeezed because the bottem of the bottle is hollow. I hope i'm not confusing you, it's a very simple design, but a good one. And there nice because you just throw out the liner when feeding is done. So, you don't feel like your constantly washing bottles.

 

[kaoden39]

Andrea, I hadn't thought about the bottles. I used a bottle that was bent down near the nipple. I cannot remember why it was that it worked better but it did.


Chrissie!!! Hi lady!!! Miss seeing you!!! I think you are thinking about Playtex bottles and I used those for Kacy and Kody. They were wonderful and convenient, easy to use. And most of all I didn't have to sterilize the bottles. We also used a powdered soy formula for Kody. I preferred the powdered formula. It was so much easier in so many ways and it was easier to take places.


Laurie, those bottles seem so fancy to me.

 

[DisneyStitch626]

Hey Chrissie! Thank you so much for the tips! I think I will see what the doctor says about changing the formula to a Soy based one. Hopefully there is something that will help him! Also I have seen those playtex bottles with the liners and wondered what the benefits of those are. Not having to sterilize every time would be so nice! Also if it helps with the gas, then it would be super as well. I will see what the doctor says about everything before we go get all new bottles. I finally found those Dr Browns ones at Sears, so those are possible too.

The depressed feelings kind of suck. I am not depressed full time, but certain things seem to affect me now more than they would before. I seem to be getting jealous of everything Dillon does lately, and have no idea why. I used to before, but not to the point where it would bug me enough to say anything about it. I could just let it go. For some reason Dillon being in the wedding party last weekend bugged me. No idea why, but I was not happy at all about it. It was his brothers wedding, he should have been in the wedding party. It was the fact that he was doing all that wedding stuff while I was stuck with Seth and didn't have anyone to sit with, etc. I made a bigger deal about it than I should have.

Dillon going away I probably would have not been too happy before, but now with Seth it really makes me nervous and not happy. It kind of seems like one thing after another is making me feel jealous towards Dillon. I am hoping the trip will lighten my spirits and get me out of my slum! I think it would also help when he starts sleeping longer through the night! I love looking after Seth, but you're right Chrissie, it's nice knowing that Dillon is there to help. I look forward to evenings and weekends now more than ever!

Laurie, I've been trying the burping tip you gave, where you go up the back slowly. It's only worked once so far, but I'll keep trying. Because it's been so hot lately, he only sleeps in a diaper, and I don't like pounding too hard on his bare back, so it's probably me that's doing it wrong now, lol.

 

[kaoden39]

Andrea,

I think what you are feeling is normal. I can remember feeling a lot of those feelings towards Scotty. Have you had a chance to take anytime to yourself? Even if it is a trip to go to the mall and walk around it is important to have time to yourself to be you Andrea and not you Mommy once in a while.

 

[DisneyStitch626]

I am glad that what I am feeling is kinda normal. But still kinda sucks sometimes. I probably don't help Dillon's stress levels by telling him how much it bugs me every time. I don't take much time for myself. I went by myself to get my haircut last night, but that's about it. I am trying to see if Dillon's sister will watch Seth for a couple hours this weekend so we can go see the Smurfs movie. I am hoping that a little us time will help a bit too!

 

[kaoden39]

I am glad that what I am feeling is kinda normal. But still kinda sucks sometimes. I probably don't help Dillon's stress levels by telling him how much it bugs me every time. I don't take much time for myself. I went by myself to get my haircut last night, but that's about it. I am trying to see if Dillon's sister will watch Seth for a couple hours this weekend so we can go see the Smurfs movie. I am hoping that a little us time will help a bit too!

I think that would be a great idea. What about having Dillon take care of Seth so that you can go to the grocery store alone even. Or take time for yourself to take a soak in a bubble bath and a good book. Remember Dillon goes to work everyday so he has time to be Dillon and not just Daddy. It does suck, I still have those feelings towards Scotty because I feel he has his own identity far more than I have mine.

 

[JH87]

Aw Andrea I hope you start feeling better soon!
I do think a little time alone without Seth might help a lot.

 

[DizNee Luver]

Andrea all the feelings your having is very normal post-partum. You're tired, stressed, overwhelmed, happy, ecstatic, proud, yada yada yada........it's a real rollercoaster until the baby gets on a very set schedule & sleeps most of the night......it will get better!!!! Remember it's ok to ask for help, to take time for yourself & time as a couple. You need to recharge the system. Mike & I (when our boys were babies) would take one night & sleep at a motel....with no kids!! So worth it if you can find someone to stay with the baby!!

We did soy on all 3 boys (yuck!) It stains anything white if they drool or spit up on themselves & it stinks.....but that said.......if they can't tolerate milk, then soy is the next on the list to try. I was so excited when I had foster babies that were on milk based formulas......lol

Some babies are just colicky.....ALL THE TIME & it doesn't matter what they drink or from what bottle. Bouncing on your knee, rides in the car, baby swing (do you have one of those....if you don't.....GET ONE!!).....motion seems to help.

Good Luck, hang in there & know, we've all been there & done that....you're not alone!!

 

[Belle Ella]

Checking in from work to say hello!

 

[kaoden39]

Andrea all the feelings your having is very normal post-partum. You're tired, stressed, overwhelmed, happy, ecstatic, proud, yada yada yada........it's a real rollercoaster until the baby gets on a very set schedule & sleeps most of the night......it will get better!!!! Remember it's ok to ask for help, to take time for yourself & time as a couple. You need to recharge the system. Mike & I (when our boys were babies) would take one night & sleep at a motel....with no kids!! So worth it if you can find someone to stay with the baby!!

We did soy on all 3 boys (yuck!) It stains anything white if they drool or spit up on themselves & it stinks.....but that said.......if they can't tolerate milk, then soy is the next on the list to try. I was so excited when I had foster babies that were on milk based formulas......lol

Some babies are just colicky.....ALL THE TIME & it doesn't matter what they drink or from what bottle. Bouncing on your knee, rides in the car, baby swing (do you have one of those....if you don't.....GET ONE!!).....motion seems to help.

Good Luck, hang in there & know, we've all been there & done that....you're not alone!!

You know when you talk about the colicky babies it reminds me of when Loren was a baby. The girls both had been colicky especially Kody. I finally had to learn to walk away and let her cry in the cradle. Once I learned to do that the stress we both felt was much lighter. Loren didn't have colick and I commented to his dr about it. I almost felt like there was something wrong because he wasn't colicky and the girls had been. Dr Thomas kind of chuckled and told me that it was my gift for having had to deal with it with both girls.

 

[kaoden39]

Checking in from work to say hello!

Hola!!!

 

[DisneyStitch626]

Thanks ladies! It feels so much better to know that I am not the only one that has these feelings! I hate feeling like I resent Dillon for going to work every day. It's getting a little easier this past week. I think I am just starting to get used to it all. Or at least I was until Dillon said he had to go away for a few days, lol.

Some alone time sounds like a good idea though. I briefly thought about going to the movie alone tonight when Dillon gets off work, but we were at Costco last night and ended up picking up one of their coupons. You get 2 admissions, 2 drinks and a large popcorn for $25. So we are both gonna try and go at some point this weekend. I am so thankful it's a long weekend! I am going to see if Dillon is up for doing all the feeds one night (since I do it all night every night during the week), so I can catch up on some much needed sleep before he goes away.

Laurie, we do have a baby swing and it works wonders when he is just being fussy. He usually has at least one nap in it a day, lol. But when he is in pain and pulling his knees up, etc, that's when he is hard to calm him down. Dillon has found this awesome thing on youtube called "The Happiest Baby On The Block" and it's a whole bunch of tips to help with calming and soothing gas, etc. So far it's helped us a lot when Seth is just going bonkers! The other night he was crying so bad, I had to get in my car and take a drive just to get a break! I think Dillon and I would have ripped each others heads off if I hadn't done that, lol. We get stressed at each other too much when that happens. But luckily those tips have been working! Now just to get the gas to slow down or stop. Hopefully the doctor suggests something like changing formula or bottles.

 

[alaskagirlchrissie]

Hey Andrea, I remember the baby swing being a huge help as well. They have a very calming effect on the baby. I had a battery operated one. So it would keep going and going. The ones you crank by hand are very noisy when you crank it and wakes the baby.

And I know how you feel saying your jealous of Dillon. I remember feeling like I was the one making all the sacrifices, not him. Jon was still going about his life, working and traveling and getting more sleep then me. At times I felt like I no longer had a life. You just kind of stopping doing the things you enjoy, because there doesn't seem to be time to do simple things like read or watch a movie. I loved taking care of my babies, but just felt like i had given up some of who i was. Does that make sense???

 

[alaskagirlchrissie]

Howdy, Michele. How are you? I have been thinking about you all lately! I've missed you as well.

 

[Belle Ella]

Well hi to Michele, lol.

 

[DisneyStitch626]

Hey Andrea, I remember the baby swing being a huge help as well. They have a very calming effect on the baby. I had a battery operated one. So it would keep going and going. The ones you crank by hand are very noisy when you crank it and wakes the baby.

And I know how you feel saying your jealous of Dillon. I remember feeling like I was the one making all the sacrifices, not him. Jon was still going about his life, working and traveling and getting more sleep then me. At times I felt like I no longer had a life. You just kind of stopping doing the things you enjoy, because there doesn't seem to be time to do simple things like read or watch a movie. I loved taking care of my babies, but just felt like i had given up some of who i was. Does that make sense???

That makes total sense! I have been able to watch lots of movies so far, once I got past the idea that I'd have to do lots of pausing, lol. But reading seems too difficult right now, and I miss reading! But I know I will get into a good part of a book and just get disrupted, so I don't even bother. I am missing my reader though! It's just sitting there dead and lonely on the coffee table, lol. And it does seem like Dillon is getting the better end of the stick. Yeah I know he works long hours and is stressed sometimes, but at least he gets out of the house and away. Seth is usually an angel in the day at least. Most days anyways. It's usually around 9 or 10 in the evenings that he gets upset. Thank goodness Dillon is there to help me. And that's why I am afraid of him leaving for 3 days, lol. What if Seth gets really upset and I can't help him? I am sure I will be fine. I just need to get my mind prepared for it now.

The swing we have is battery operated. He is in it as we speak, lol. He loves it. It's not bad to have him in it too long is it? Once he is in and asleep, i usually just leave him until he wakes up. I just hope too much swinging isn't bad for him. Once he is asleep, I sometimes turn it off just in case. I was joking in Costco last night that we should stock up on C batteries. We are going to need them lots through the next few years. I remember all my toys as a kid needing C batteries, lol.

 

[alaskagirlchrissie]

I don't think swinging to much will hurt him. I do remember though that my son went through a stage of only wanting to sleep in his swing, or being held. And when you tried to lay him in his crib his eyes would pop open and he would start crying. I think alot of that had to do with the fact that my Mom babysat him when I went back to work. And she would just hold him all day. So he would go to sleep in Grandma's lap and wake up in her lap as well. So, he expected the same from me at night when we got home. And Jon was working nights at the time, so he was not home in the evening with us. That was so stressful, I had things to do, but I also had a baby who wanted to be held all the time. And it worked great for my Mom, because she didn't work and my Dad was retired. So, between them two my son got almost to much attention. I tried to talk to her about it. But, i remember it being really difficult.

 

[alaskagirlchrissie]

Well hi to Michele, lol.

Hi, Jessica!! How are things going for you????

 

[DisneyStitch626]

I don't think swinging to much will hurt him. I do remember though that my son went through a stage of only wanting to sleep in his swing, or being held. And when you tried to lay him in his crib his eyes would pop open and he would start crying. I think alot of that had to do with the fact that my Mom babysat him when I went back to work. And she would just hold him all day. So he would go to sleep in Grandma's lap and wake up in her lap as well. So, he expected the same from me at night when we got home. And Jon was working nights at the time, so he was not home in the evening with us. That was so stressful, I had things to do, but I also had a baby who wanted to be held all the time. And it worked great for my Mom, because she didn't work and my Dad was retired. So, between them two my son got almost to much attention. I tried to talk to her about it. But, i remember it being really difficult.

I try not to let him sleep too much in my arms. Once he is asleep I try to put him in his playpen if it's during the day. Plus having him asleep in my arms is the only way I can cut his nails. Lol. But I hope he doesn't get that stage where he doesn't want to sleep in his crib. We've been pretty adamant about putting him in it every night, even though there are some nights where I would like him to cuddle with us, lol.

Having your husband working nights had to have been hard. He would be sleeping in the day and gone in the nights. I'm not sure I could do that, lol. My best friends (her name is Chrissy too!) husband works in Russia for a month straight, then comes home for a month, etc. He started just over a year ago when their 2 kids were 3 and 1. I don't know how she does it every other month! He makes a lot of money, but I am not sure the money would be enough for me on that one. Even without kids.

 

[DizNee Luver]

The twins lived in their swings & I actually had to replace them & get ones that would go to a bigger weight & they got to the point we had to get rid of them. Shy was able to stand up in the seat (not on the seat, but stretch her legs out to reach the floor) & then she'd move the swing around. They went thru withdrawels but they don't make swings for toddlers.

Some kids just need that constant motion....won't hurt them to be in them. When he gets a little bigger....get him the jumpy seats that are free standing. Addy would sit in her seat & jump until she fell asleep....it was so cute!!!

The stress feelings your having are from frustration of not knowing what's wrong & how to fix it. (I have that still with Michayla since she doesn't communicate vocally or signing or pointing) Just remember you're both doing the best you can & sometimes we just can't fix it!! Don't beat yourselfs up.

I'm jealous of Mike working......he gets to leave, speak to adults & get in the car & drive. I'm stuck at home, no car & no adults at home anymore. Totally normal to feel that way!