The new "New Moms" thread!

[Jen_in_NH]

I can't belive how many of us are TTC. DH and I had decided a while ago, and we did a round of IUI. With everything going on with Christopher, we don't really have the time to do that again. So I'll be in the temping and hoping group soon

Meredith - that's awesome how much they're talking!

Becky - sounds like a handful. I always wonder how we're going to do it, but others do, so I can too.

Dmickey & Nicole - good luck with the house hunting!

Christopher has somehow managed to catch the stomach bug. He's been hanging around the house with about as much energy as a wet dishrag. But on the funnier side, he's been fascinated with talking on the phone. Any time one of us is on it, he grabs the other portable phone and runs around yelling bye-bye. After about a minute, he gets really mad if we don't say it too and hang up the phone

 

[beckmrk04]

DMickey- lol, I doubt it's menopause And I always find it best to put things in God's hands- that way I don't have to worry about it. (In theory, anyway. )

Jen- How's everything going with Christopher? I was thinking about you guys the other day, wondering how things were going with his diabetes and you guys adjusting. And yeah- two 2 year olds was a handful, but a FUN and ADORABLE handful. And you're right- you'll adjust and handle it with another little one because that's what we mommies do!

I can't believe how many of you all are TTC! Or about to ttc, anyway. So exciting! I go back and forth too. I mostly worry that if our kids are 4 years apart that they won't be close. But then I think, ok- there's no such thing as perfect age differences, and family is usually what you make of it.

My sister and I are 3 years apart, and growing up we fought like cats and dogs. I pretty much despised her (and her me) until shortly after I got married (I even considered kicking her out of my wedding, or not having her as my MOH). BUT- now, I can't imagine life without her. We talk almost daily. She's one of my best friends. We've both grown up a lot, and now I appreciate our differences. We laugh, we commiserate about our mother and her sheer insanity. She loves my daughter with all of her heart, and now she is dating the man that I am 99% sure she'll end up marrying, and I am so happy for her.

So, I want Vaylie to have a sibling. But is 4 years age difference too much? Or what if we have a boy? Will they be too different? My brother and I are 7 years apart, and we have nothing in common except for our mom's DNA.

I wish the process were easier, you know? Or that I weren't so Type A about everything.

 

[ReelRedHead]

I am also expecting a new baby (number 2). I am due May 9, we do not know what we are having!

Good luck to all the other preggo moms!!!

 

[DisneyGirl4188]

Becky, one of my brothers and I are four years apart. There were times that we fought, but for the most part we got along. We did play together when younger and then hung out a good bit as we got older. My other brother is 16 years younger and he was more like my baby than brother. I also have a sister, but since we lived apart we never really developed that bond (she and my youngest brother are my half siblings). So, I don't think four is necessarily are big age difference.

Jen, I hope Christopher feels better. I have been wondering how you were.

Meredith, that's great they have started talking! Spencer says mama/mom, dada, and Bob. We don't know a Bob, so it's pretty funny to hear him yell it.

DMickey, it's probably your body just getting back to normal. I think it can take 6 months to regulate.


All this talk of TTC! DH and I have discussed another, but right now isn't the time. I am so excited for all of you!

 

[exwdwcm]

JEN- so sorry Christopher has the stomach thing!

BECKY- lol at the lady bugs! too cute

Bethany- so sorry about your loss- any loss of a child is just horrible. poor little guy.

Meredith- the twins are getting so big!!!

yeah for Spencer walking!!!!!

Amber- glad his head is okay- we had to have Will's checked out as a baby for a helmet.

Pollito- did you enjoy your alone time/girly night?

Kelly- HI!!!!

you girls keep up the good work on the money/budgeting! it's hard. i am bad too. i am just lucky DH is a tight, well you know what. i mean, extremely! he saves and saves. He has a 529 set up for Will (it was his boss' baby present to us with some $$ in it already!). We got out of debt the year before last- well CC debt anyhow and we had close to $20K between us. i had gotten myself in major CC trouble back on college and when i worked for disney on the college program, i lived off my CC since disney paid us minimum wage. We managed to pay it off though- it can be done. I couldn't have done it myself- i just am not disciplined enough. But DH keeps me on track. not sure what i would do without him.......well yeah, i do, i would spend all my money at the mall and target and have nothing to show for it. LOL.......it is hard though, while everyone else is talking about spending their tax refund or bonus on a vacation or splurging on something----Dh is putting it in savings. and that's hard. but in the end it will pay off, right? i keep a budget in excel and pay all the bills before i do anything else, but i still manage to spend too much on crap. DH does soemthing i am going to start doing too- he takes out $200 cash each paycheck (every 2 weeks)- then that is his spending money until next check. for eating out, gas and just fun. once it is gone, he is done- he then takes his lunch or whatever. i need to do that and not use the debit card, it makes it too easy to spend more than i plan.

Nicole- good luck on the house hunt- how exciting- i can't wait until we can start looking again someday. we've been here 4 years now and i love it and we are really blessed to be in our home, but now that i've had a home, i know what i really want for the next one. we don't really need more room necessarily, just a different layout a little. you will have to post pics as you start looking!!!

Denise- congrats on being an aunt!

so lots of us TTC. I wish.......DH wants to wait until Will is in day care, so we aren't paying 2 day care bills.....unfortunately that means we could start trying when he is 4, so 2.5 more years from now......i'll be almost 38 and DH will be 40. NOT GOOD, considering it took 2 years to have Will and a petri dish (IVF). so who knows, maybe i can talk him into sooner. we will see. i won't waste time doing months of clomid and IUIs again. i'll try on my own for a while and go straight to IVF perhaps if my parents help us out. I did 6 months of clomid, countless months of charting and u/s and temps, then 4 IUIs. forget all that, the appts 2-3 a week were killer. not to mention the pocketbook and heartache each time it didn't work. i'll skip that this time if i can. lol and of course this month i have a crazy cycle- just finished a cycle on jan 1st and started again yesterday, so that's what, only like 18 days? stupid crazy body! btw- they never found a thing wrong with either of us. go figure.

Will is good- had a crazy friday night- he went to bed at 9 (later than usual) and woke up at 1am screaming. gave him a bottle, tried everything, he would not go back to sleep. at 3am, he finally barfed- then felt better. at 4:30am, i gave up and put him in bed with me (for the first time ever!) and he slept til 5:15, then i moved him back to his crib and he cried forever and finally passed out again at 6am. so he was up almost 1am-6am. i think he had some gas and tummy issues going on, on top of teething- another molar. thankfully it was on a weekend so i wasn't exhausted at work the next day!

 

[Pollito916]

Wow, there sure are lots of you TTC again! Good luck to all of you! I have been thinking about it more and more lately, especially b/c I always thought I wanted kids spaced 2-3 years apart, and DS will be 2 next month, so that's already creeping up and passing us right on by. But I just don't feel very secure with either mine or DH's jobs right now, and I can't shake that feeling that this just isn't the right time for us. So we will wait.

Becky - you're probably right about putting Alex's x-mas money away right now. There is probably nothing that boy needs, he has an entire playroom full of money. My mom suggested putting the money aside for when we have to buy him a "big boy bed" pretty soon, which is a good point, but I'm not sure if I think his money should have to go to something like that, kwim? Sounds like you guys had fun with your nephew and Vaylie the other night, kind of gives you a taste of what having another will be like. Too funny on Vaylie's reaction to the bugs. Alex doesn't like them either, but has a bit more boyish reaction - "Bug! Yuck!" stomp, stomp, stomp!

Oh, and my sister and I are only 15 months apart, and we got along great for the first 5 years or so, then hated each other until around the time I got married. We don't talk every day, but we are much closer than we used to be. And she loves Alex more than anything. Now that we are "grown ups," I can appreciate more of our differences, but she still gets on my nerves more than anyone else on the planet. She's one of those drama queens that thinks the world revolves around her, and sometimes I just need a break from all the drama.

Kelly - Alex loves "coboring" too, but prefers the real thing. He has a Magna Doodle, but he's not very into it. How exciting going off the pill - good luck TTC!

Villain-lover - That's great that the twins are talking so much already, they don't seem to be behind at all, like some twins are. Good luck with the TTC!

Jen - I hope Christopher is feeling better soon, what a trip you've had with him this week! Alex does the same thing with the phone - he's also moved on to having imaginary conversations on inanimate objects that he pretends are a phone.
"Hello? Meema? (That's how he calls Grandma). Yes. Truck. TV. Mickey. Daddy work. No. Play. Park. Bye!"

Or something similar. Usually he just starts listing all of the things he saw that day, like dogs, tractors, airplanes, etc. Anything he found exciting, I guess. I like how he throws in the yes's and no's b/c it seems like there is actually someone on the other end asking him questions!

DMickey - Girl, I sure hope you are not going through menopause at 30! I've already been through drug-induced menopause twice, and it is not fun! Anyway, good luck with the TTC!

Amber - too funny that Spencer is yelling out Bob - does he watch Bob the builder or another show with a bob in it?

Michelle - I did enjoy my time alone, but started to miss Alex about an hour before DH came home. He would normally be in bed by then, but I usually go in to check on him, and just look at his angelic sleeping face. That must be such a relief for you to be out of debt, great job on getting that down! We still have quite a ways to go. That's funny what you mention about loving your home, but wishing you could change the layout a little - I feel the same way already, and we have only been here 2 months! Poor Will, I hope he's feeling better. Somehow we've been lucky enough that Alex has not been throw-up sick ever (knock on wood). As for waiting to TTC, I can totally see why you wouldn't want to wait in your situation. I hope your DH changes his mind!

 

[ImarriedGrumpy]

Wow, how fun that so many of us are TTC or thinking about it! DH and I are pretty sure we're done with one. I said I'd give us until I turn 40 (in 3 more years) to finally decide, but if I'm not pregnant by then then we're done for sure. It's funny because I'd always pictured myself with at least 2 kids, but usually more like 4, but now that Owen is here I honestly feel sad at the thought of having another and not being able to give him as much time and attention as I can now. Maybe that will change down the road, but I keep thinking about all the things we can do if we just have Owen that we couldn't do if we have more kids (mostly because of money stuff).

Plus we live in a small house and DH really doesn't want to move, but if we have another child we'd probably need to move to have enough space. If we had another boy we might be able to fit them both in the same room, but it would be tight, and there just isn't anyway to come up with a 3rd bedroom if we had a girl. We love our neighborhood, but there aren't many 3 bedroom houses - they're either little 2 bedroom bungalows or big victorians that have been chopped up into apartments. So that's another factor.

Owen has added a couple new words this week, although honestly I don't think anyone other than DH and I understand them. He's been saying daddy, kitty (sounds like gih-dy), mama (usually only when he's mad or sad). Now he's added bird, uh-oh, and "ooh ooh" (aka the sound monkeys make). The monkey noise cracks us up! We weren't sure that he knew that was what monkeys say or if he just called his stuffed monkey that, but today our friends gave him some big animal magnets and there was a monkey in there. He started saying "ooh ooh! ooh ooh!" as soon as he saw it. So we got out picture books with other monkeys in it to double check, and sure enough, every picture of a monkey got a "ooh ooh!"

I think he's also trying to come up with a word for airplanes. We live near the airport (less than 5 miles) and when we're downtown or at the local shopping center, the planes coming in for landing are really low. Owen LOVES seeing all the planes, and points and gets so excited everytime he sees one. He now recognizes the sound of an airplane overhead, and looks up and points and starts talking, but so far I haven't heard a clear word that means "airplane".

Hmmmm...I just realized I've been babbling along! Sorry for my long-winded verbage...somehow I get going and I can't stop!

 

[jennyL]

Wow lots of you TTC. We aren't there yet. I always thought of having two but I'm pretty good with just Noah so we'll see how that goes. I had thought of having them 2-3 years apart so I have a little more time to decide. As for age I'm not sure there is a good spacing and the getting along will either be there or it won't. I have two brothers one 3 years younger and the other 8 years and I've always been closer to the younger one. My sister is 20 years younger and we're real close. Well as close as we can be since she's only 14. LOL

I have such a hard time beliving that Noah is almost 1. We are having his birhtday this weekend with just family. I've decided to make cupcakes since I can do those without dairy products. I tried them this weekend with a sprite and they are so fluffy and good. LOL He starts his new room at daycare today so hopefully all goes well. Its going to be hard to go past the infant room to drop him off. So weird.

 

[k_reile]

Nicole, I thought the froze embies in twos..At least thats what our Dr does..so they automatically thaw two. I would probably be more likely to go through IVF again if we transferred one, which I guess is likely since we have an odd number (11) left. Yeah, its great to see some of you getting rady to TTC again. Like I said, I may join the 2010 bandwagon!

Oh, and speaking of my twins..they are actually stating to say a couple of words finally! Sam says dada, mom, shoe, yay, and is trying to say good boy but it comes out "baaay" in a really cute voice, He can also buckle himself into his high chair basically by himself (he has more trouble withthe left side). Zoe STILL will not say dada or mama (has said what we think is dada one time), but is now saying thank you (taank cheew). She can say shoe also. Shoe was her first word and she can meow like the cat. Oh, and they can both say Stitch (as in Lilo and Stitch). We have a talking stich in their room that they love!

My newphew would say "Thankie" for thank you. It was too cute but now he says it correctly.

 

[jennyL]

I forgot to add this morning that I've had a breakthru in food for Noah. We've been trying to get him to eat more people food since he's almost one and he is just not interested. Well this weekend I discovered that if I give him one piece at a time on his tray he takes it and puts it in his mouth. If I give him alot he just plays with it and feeds it to the dog. LOL So it takes longer but at least he's eating. I'll have to see how it goes this week since he's back in daycare today.

 

[DMickey28]

I need a notebook next to the computer to be able to do personals. I'll be back this afternoon to do that!!

I am going to join the Y down the street this week. The meetup mothers group I belong to has a deal with them for no initation fee and 20% off the monthly dues. Pretty good deal. The director is out today though so I'll go tomorrow to do it.

Now we are thinking about stay in S. Florida for another year. ARGH ... it's all about the business and DH really feels it would be better to stay closer to the owner and DH's partner down here. Who knows. So now we are looking for a bigger house to rent down here. We went driving around yesterday and looked at a couple of new model homes. Beautiful!! It's amazing what the housing prices have down done here. Homes that were $650K three years ago and now selling in the $300's. Sad but good for us first time home buyers!!

My brother and I are 3 years apart but where 4 years apart in school. We were very close until HS and then he developed an attitude until about 2 years ago. He is now 27 and we are getting much closer. I think that my "Ideal" Spacing is 2.5-4 years. So we figure if we start TTC now then we are at the bottom of our ideal. I just don't know how much effort to put into trying so we are just going to see what happens for a while.

 

[k_reile]

well we survived our first weekend without Caleb (well came back exhausted so I do not know about litterally surviving ) but he did well with Grandma. He was supposed to go to my brothers but it was too far to drive in the cold with Caleb, so last minute changes and he went to grandmas.

We too have thought about another child when Caleb is between 2-3 but we found out that my parents want to take my family and my brothers famliy to Disney probably 2010 but there are a lot of factors to that so it might be later (SIL is graduating Dec 09 and I think they will want another baby soon after since my newphew will be almost 4 by the time a new baby will arrive and then it will probably be time for us to have another one also) so we'll see. But I am excited for Caleb to enjoy his first trip to WDW with his cousin (who it will also be his first time) I was wanting to take Caleb when he was around 2-3 (and was just going to make DH go along with it---he thinks that is too young to go but if mom and dad are paying---then he has no say!!

So now I am really on the look out for codes. (this will give me something to do until we really decide what we are going to do) DH and I were spoiled on our last trip and stayed at the boardwalk. I am thinking if we can get codes to hopefully stay at Wilderness Lodge since it will be closer to MK. If not then I want Port Orleans French Quarter. I am thinking the kids will like the theming of both resorts but I think Wilderness Lodge will be more convienent if it works out. I am thinking Poly and Contemporry and definitiely GF will be out...though it would be nice to be on the monorail line but I think the kids will enjoy WL or POFQ better.

 

[beckmrk04]

Pollito- when do you plan on getting Alex a big boy bed? We've been thinking about getting Vaylie a toddler bed very soon- I think she's about ready. We considered getting a twin bed, but I don't know... I'm kind of holding out hope that the next kid will be a girl and I can just buy bunk beds down the road. Anyway, Vaylie is so tiny that she'd probably fit just fine in a toddler bed for the next year at least. That will give me time to think about what I want to do, I suppose.

Michelle- I don't blame you for not wanting to go through all of that again! It's such a miracle the kinds of advances they have made in infertility treatments and options, though! I wish it didn't have to be so expensive though. It breaks my heart that people out there want a baby so badly and they literally can't afford to even try, but the state will pay for the teen down the street to have a baby because she got pregnant on accident. *sigh* Off my soapbox.... And if only I could develop your DH's savings mentality!!! WOW! I am working on it, but it's hard. There are a lot of things we would like to buy, and when we get a bonus or tax refund it feels like free money, and we end up spending it... This time I plan to save at LEAST 1/2, then use the other 1/2 for stuff we want. Now we just have to narrow that list down...

Kelly- we got Vaylie a small MagnaDoodle on a whim because they had them for $4 at Kohl's... I am pretty sure it was her favorite Christmas present. I could have saved a whole bunch of money...

Bethany- It's so hard to make that decision, isn't it- to have another or not. So many factors come into play- especially money. That darn money (or lack thereof) is always putting a damper on things. But, I know I want another one. I've just always pictured us with two kids. I just figure things will work out the way they are supposed to work out- they always do. We'll adjust, adapt, and figure it out. I do hope I have another girl, just because our house is 2 BR, and we don't have the money to add on right now, but even if we have a boy they could share a room for a couple of years- I doubt they'd be scarred too badly. And that's great that Owen is coming up with more words! Vaylie's vocabulary has always been pretty good, but it really exploded after 18 months. Now she says at least one new word every day, and she's like a little parrot- copies everything we say (even the not-so-good things, which we've really had to watch!)

jennyL- cupcakes with sprite, huh? That sounds cool! They get big so quickly. And sadly, I think the second year goes by just as quickly as the first. Vaylie will be 2 next month and I just can't believe it.

DMickey- I am jealous- I wish we had a Y closer to us. The closest one is brand new and SOOO nice, but it's a 25 minute drive, too. I am still thinking about looking into it, though. I have got to shed some of this weight before I get pregnant again. And looks like I have a while to do it, so.... And that is crazy about the house prices. My best friend is in CA (near LA) and they bought a couple of years ago and planned on moving home next year, but if they try to sell now they'll lose so much money, so they are kind of stuck. It sucks.

k_reile- PLanning a trip is so much fun. I think we're going to take Vaylie to Disneyland in May (because we're going to stay with my friend in CA). I'm just not as excited about Disneyland though. I feel like it's not going to be as cool as WDW. But, it's cheaper for us, so I'll take whatever Disney fix I can get.

 

[DMickey28]

Becky - Does Vaylie's Crib convert? Alexander is still fine in his crib but when we were traveling he slept in my queen bed with a rail and was fine. He could get out of his crib if he tried but he doesn't seem interested. I think the plan is to keep him in there as long as possible and then convert it to the toddler bed and then get a full for him so that the crib works as the bed frame. I want to get new furniture for the new baby anyway so I'd like to keep his set intact. Can you get a bunk now and put her on the bottom with a rail?

 

[DMickey28]

OH OH OH OH OH ... We got a potty this morning and he already had a little tinkle in it ... He was trying so hard and a little drop came out!!! I was so excited and he was so proud of himself. Obviously a long way to go but it's good to see that he understands that is what goes in there. Hopefully within the next year or so he learns that's the only place it goes ...

 

[kellyf2626]

Jen - Sorry to hear that Christopher has caught the stomach bug. Yuck!! Brady is also obsessed with phones now. He will either play with his toy phones and hold them up and "talk", or take other strange objects (like his toy banana from his kitchen or the corn) and walk around with those as a phone! Too funny!

Michelle - I got into bad credit card debt following the college program as well...and it followed me until a few years after college, just getting bigger and bigger. Once DH and I got married in 2001, he started taking control of it and it was taken care of. Thank god for him! My girlfriend is waiting until her 2 year old is out of day-care to try for another. She said she can't even fathom paying for 2 in day-care. Sorry to hear that Will was sick! When Brady was sick with his first ear infection, we let him sleep with us one night for a few hours....he was just so tired and sick. DH said he barely slept because he was so nervous having him in the bed with us. But, it was the best few hours of sleep I had had all night!

Pollito - I hear ya about time creeping up! Hard to believe I may be pg again in the next 6 months!! I was not a big fan of actually being pg...some women love it...that was NOT me! But, I guess it's a necessary process to have another little one!

Bethany - I think what ever is meant to happen, will happen. I worry about having another and being able to give attention and love the same way as I did to Brady during that first year. I look back and see how much time I spent with Brady just playing, talking, etc... and wonder how that will be possible with a new baby and a crazy toddler running around. It makes me sad #2 probably won't get the same attention. Sounds like Owen is doing great with all his new words!!

Jenny - That's great that Noah is eating more table food with your new strategy! Smart mommy!! Make sure to take lots of pics of his birthday party this weekend so we can see!!! Happy Birthday Noah!

DMickey - Bummer that you may be staying in FL! I was looking forward to being neighbors! Sounds like it is for good reason, so better to move when the time is right! That sounds like a good deal for the Y!! Go for it!

k_reile - That is exciting to start planning for your Disney trip! I think that is one of my favorite parts - all the planning and researching before we go! That's great that Caleb did well at grandma's!

**********************************************************

Regarding spacing kids, I don't think any time is the *perfect* time! My brothers and I are all 3 years apart, which is nice. I have great relationships with both of them, but feel a bit closer to my youngest brother. I don't think that has anything to do with the fact we are 6 years apart, rather we just have more in common! We are actually born on the same day (tomorrow - the 20th!), which is pretty cool! Some people swear by only a couple of years in between, whereas others swear by more. I think it's more important for you to be in a good place to have another child, rather than worry about spacing. There will be advantages/disadvantages to all scenarios I think!

So, I am in my good friends wedding this weekend. The dress is ok...black, strapless. The thing that is bothering me is that my other girlfriend who is in the wedding just had a baby in November. Everytime I talk to my friend, the bride, she keeps talking about how "isn't is amazing she has lost all her baby weight and actually weighs LESS than she did before she got pg". Ugggggg....yes, that is fantastic....and happened because she gained, like, 25 lbs (unlike my 60 lbs). Meanwhile, here I am desparately trying to lose my last 10 lbs a year and a half later. So, that is what I will hear *all day* on Saturday...how great she looks, and assume that everyone will be talking about why I still haven't dropped the weight. My goal was to be down to 155lbs by this time, but weighed-in this morning at 165. Oh well....I can't keep thinking about, right!!!

 

[jennyL]

Ok I know I procrastinated getting the party together but who would have thought it would be so hard to find animal birthday supplies. I'm having a terrible time finding anything that I like. Yes I know I'm picky but I just assumed animals were a common choice. We may end up with just plain colored plates, napkins and stuff. I've looked everywhere I can think of around here and its too late to order so who knows.

I was searching online for dairy-free cakes and found out that I can just use sprite so thats what I tried. I did have to read a couple boxes at the store to make sure I found a mix without any dried milk in it but once I found that I was good to go. They are really fluffy and very yummy which is good since I'll have so many of them. LOL

 

[DMickey28]

Kelly - I am sorry about the bummer with the weight. However I honestly believe that just because they are talking about how she lost her baby weight does NOT mean they are thinking ... and you didn't. It probably only comes together like that in our own minds, not others. Make sense? I have lost the all the baby weight but that is one of the advantages of getting pregnant when you are heavy in the first place. Now I have to lose my 30lbs of TTC weight. I swear that was worse! I am currently at 185lbs and want to get down to 155 or lower. I am sure that you will look beautiful and trust me, they don't think that way about if you lost the weight or not. Happy Birthday!!!!

 

[k_reile]

Jen - Sorry to hear that Christopher has caught the stomach bug. Yuck!! Brady is also obsessed with phones now. He will either play with his toy phones and hold them up and "talk", or take other strange objects (like his toy banana from his kitchen or the corn) and walk around with those as a phone! Too funny!

Michelle - I got into bad credit card debt following the college program as well...and it followed me until a few years after college, just getting bigger and bigger. Once DH and I got married in 2001, he started taking control of it and it was taken care of. Thank god for him! My girlfriend is waiting until her 2 year old is out of day-care to try for another. She said she can't even fathom paying for 2 in day-care. Sorry to hear that Will was sick! When Brady was sick with his first ear infection, we let him sleep with us one night for a few hours....he was just so tired and sick. DH said he barely slept because he was so nervous having him in the bed with us. But, it was the best few hours of sleep I had had all night!

Pollito - I hear ya about time creeping up! Hard to believe I may be pg again in the next 6 months!! I was not a big fan of actually being pg...some women love it...that was NOT me! But, I guess it's a necessary process to have another little one!

Bethany - I think what ever is meant to happen, will happen. I worry about having another and being able to give attention and love the same way as I did to Brady during that first year. I look back and see how much time I spent with Brady just playing, talking, etc... and wonder how that will be possible with a new baby and a crazy toddler running around. It makes me sad #2 probably won't get the same attention. Sounds like Owen is doing great with all his new words!!

Jenny - That's great that Noah is eating more table food with your new strategy! Smart mommy!! Make sure to take lots of pics of his birthday party this weekend so we can see!!! Happy Birthday Noah!

DMickey - Bummer that you may be staying in FL! I was looking forward to being neighbors! Sounds like it is for good reason, so better to move when the time is right! That sounds like a good deal for the Y!! Go for it!

k_reile - That is exciting to start planning for your Disney trip! I think that is one of my favorite parts - all the planning and researching before we go! That's great that Caleb did well at grandma's!

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Regarding spacing kids, I don't think any time is the *perfect* time! My brothers and I are all 3 years apart, which is nice. I have great relationships with both of them, but feel a bit closer to my youngest brother. I don't think that has anything to do with the fact we are 6 years apart, rather we just have more in common! We are actually born on the same day (tomorrow - the 20th!), which is pretty cool! Some people swear by only a couple of years in between, whereas others swear by more. I think it's more important for you to be in a good place to have another child, rather than worry about spacing. There will be advantages/disadvantages to all scenarios I think!

So, I am in my good friends wedding this weekend. The dress is ok...black, strapless. The thing that is bothering me is that my other girlfriend who is in the wedding just had a baby in November. Everytime I talk to my friend, the bride, she keeps talking about how "isn't is amazing she has lost all her baby weight and actually weighs LESS than she did before she got pg". Ugggggg....yes, that is fantastic....and happened because she gained, like, 25 lbs (unlike my 60 lbs). Meanwhile, here I am desparately trying to lose my last 10 lbs a year and a half later. So, that is what I will hear *all day* on Saturday...how great she looks, and assume that everyone will be talking about why I still haven't dropped the weight. My goal was to be down to 155lbs by this time, but weighed-in this morning at 165. Oh well....I can't keep thinking about, right!!!

I'm in denial about losing the baby weight. Its been soo cold out that I do not want to leave for the gym. But I have to get my butt in gear because I am Matron of honor in my best friends wedding this aug but dresses have to be ordered by end of feb. I think I am just going to guess on a size and it will definitiely make me lose the weight because if not then I have no choice or else I will be naked

 

[Villain-lover]

Ok I know I procrastinated getting the party together but who would have thought it would be so hard to find animal birthday supplies. I'm having a terrible time finding anything that I like. Yes I know I'm picky but I just assumed animals were a common choice. We may end up with just plain colored plates, napkins and stuff. I've looked everywhere I can think of around here and its too late to order so who knows.

I was searching online for dairy-free cakes and found out that I can just use sprite so thats what I tried. I did have to read a couple boxes at the store to make sure I found a mix without any dried milk in it but once I found that I was good to go. They are really fluffy and very yummy which is good since I'll have so many of them. LOL

Go to the regular paper plate section at Wal-Mart..they have those plates that are shaped like animal faces..then you can just get colored cups/napkins to match! HTH!!!