The new "New Moms" thread!

[exwdwcm]

Yeah for Brady on pulling to standing. Will has no interest in it. How old is brady?

Owen's pics are so adorable Bethany. absolutely a cutie and love the shirt!

Poor Vaylie and her teeth!

We started the nuby handle cup at like 6 months. he really plays with it more than anything or gnaws on the handles. I tried another cup without handles that comes with 3 different suctions- one like a bottle for easy training to the cup, but i didn't use it. he doesn't really like that one much. so i am sticking with the handles, seems easier. we do half white grape juice and half water. i just give it to him in the afternoon- after he has his baby food at 6pm. while i do dishes or start dinner, i leave him in his seat and let him have the cup.
o

on bottles- we use the playtex drop ins- so we shouldn't really have an issue, since the formula is in the drop in part- right?

 

[Tiggerlover91]

Hubby tells me last night (Thursday) that he lost control of the car with Mo in it. I got quiet and started crying. I was scared to death. They are all I have and I can't lose them. I can't make another Mo if anything happens to him. I've been so scared lately....of everything. Going back to school, not being accepted into the community when we move to Atlanta. (We live a Jewish lifestyle, but aren't Jewish). Losing my husband too soon, losing Mo period.....I'm just scared. I haven't had a period this month and I was told at six months our hormones go whacko again. I'm not pregnant, but my hormones are OUT OF CONTROL! I love Mo so much, he's my little angel and I cannot imagine my life without him now that he's here. Well...hubby and Mo are just fine and I hope that I will be too.

 

[Villain-lover]

Denise.....

I feel the same way about Hubby and the twins! I just don't know what I would do without any of them! I hope you feel better.

 

[Villain-lover]

oh, wanted to share with you guys that have babies that can't sit in the tub yet like mine... I use the twins bumbo seats as bath chairs. I also use the bumbos outside in our baby pool. They love it and they can kick in the water and reach into the watere to get toys. Just an idea I have been menaing to share.

 

[Jen_in_NH]

Hubby tells me last night (Thursday) that he lost control of the car with Mo in it. I got quiet and started crying. I was scared to death. They are all I have and I can't lose them. I can't make another Mo if anything happens to him. I've been so scared lately....of everything. Going back to school, not being accepted into the community when we move to Atlanta. (We live a Jewish lifestyle, but aren't Jewish). Losing my husband too soon, losing Mo period.....I'm just scared. I haven't had a period this month and I was told at six months our hormones go whacko again. I'm not pregnant, but my hormones are OUT OF CONTROL! I love Mo so much, he's my little angel and I cannot imagine my life without him now that he's here. Well...hubby and Mo are just fine and I hope that I will be too.

Denise I know how you feel somedays. I tend to worry about what will happen to either DH or Christopher, and how will life go on after.

As far as the sippy cups go, we started using the sippy cup top for the Avent bottles around 6-8 months, and Christopher didn't even notice the difference. We have some of the Nuby cups, which he's not impressed with (although he does have a ton of fun pushing in the top to make the milk spray out). He tends to like the ones with the hard tops, like the Playtex ones.

I'm not too worried about the BPA issue. We used the AVent bottles, which have BPA, but I'm not planning on switching them. If more research can show harm from them, then I wont use them with the next baby.

Jen

 

[beckmrk04]

Hubby tells me last night (Thursday) that he lost control of the car with Mo in it. I got quiet and started crying. I was scared to death. They are all I have and I can't lose them. I can't make another Mo if anything happens to him. I've been so scared lately....of everything. Going back to school, not being accepted into the community when we move to Atlanta. (We live a Jewish lifestyle, but aren't Jewish). Losing my husband too soon, losing Mo period.....I'm just scared. I haven't had a period this month and I was told at six months our hormones go whacko again. I'm not pregnant, but my hormones are OUT OF CONTROL! I love Mo so much, he's my little angel and I cannot imagine my life without him now that he's here. Well...hubby and Mo are just fine and I hope that I will be too.

Denise, I think we can all relate: that is every person's worst fear, to lose the people we love most.

First of all: You have a LOT on your plate girl!! Moving AND going back to school AND a baby AND worrying about all of it. That is a lot to process!!! But, here's the thing- worrying about all of the "what ifs" is a complete waste of your energy, because the "what ifs" are a fictional story you play in your head.

You imagine "What if the worst happens to Mo and DH?" ANd then you play out that horrible scenario like a movie in your head, but it is fiction- a complete fantasy that serves no purpose other than to scare the living daylights right out of you. Sometimes we allow our minds to create worry and stress and anxiety when really, if you look around, the reality is that your DH and baby are safe and still here on this planet for you to hold and love.

Usually I find that all of my worries are for nothing. And they create stress I do not need. And anxiety I do not need. I'm really trying to practice focusing on the present moment. Not what "could be" or what "should have been", but instead- "what IS." Focus on what you can do about your current worries, and then, when you move, focus on making new friends in your new neighborhood or within the Jewish community. When you go back to school, THEN focus on what that entails, but you don't have to do anything about it right this minute, so let it go.

Do I sound like a self-help book yet?

I have struggled with stress, anxiety, and depression, and I know how hard it is, but I am learning, slowly, to let go of worrying about the past and future, and to focus on the present moment and it has been a big relief for me. I started reading "A New Earth" by Eckhart Tolle a few weeks ago because a friend of mine (who had a stillborn child in December) was struggling and she said she heard about the book on Oprah, and that it had brought her some comfort. So, I picked up a copy, and it is transformational. I also bought his book "The Power of Now." And it was like a little light went on over my head. Very much an "A-HA!" moment, reading these books.

But, know that you aren't alone and every girl here understands your fears.

 

[kellyf2626]

Yeah Brady!! Kelly that is so funny -- time to lower the crib!

Funny part is, the crib is already at the lowest setting! I am kinda scared, since when I go to get him, his head is above the top of the crib...I feel like if he grew a bit more, he would be able to throw himself over.

QUESTION OF THE DAY: What are you doing about the reports about BPA (bisphisphenol A or something like that) in the bottles -- have you switched brands (from what to what) or do you think its much to do about nothing?

As soon as the whole BPA thing came out, I got a bit nervous. Then I heard that BRU would take back any of your bottles (even if used), so I headed down with 2 huge bags of Dr. Browns bottles. I returned them all, and got the Evenflo BPA-free bottles. Brady doesn't need the vent-system anymore, so they were the cheapest BPA free ones. He loves them, and I figure I will get the BPA-free Dr. Browns for the next child. We also use BPA-free sippy cups (Nuby). I figure, there are so many "unknowns" out there...if there is anything I know I can do to protect him, I will.

Yeah for Brady on pulling to standing. Will has no interest in it. How old is brady?

Brady just turned 10 months last week....he literally started doing this overnight, and now won't stop!

Hubby tells me last night (Thursday) that he lost control of the car with Mo in it. I got quiet and started crying. I was scared to death. They are all I have and I can't lose them. I can't make another Mo if anything happens to him. I've been so scared lately....of everything. Going back to school, not being accepted into the community when we move to Atlanta. (We live a Jewish lifestyle, but aren't Jewish). Losing my husband too soon, losing Mo period.....I'm just scared. I haven't had a period this month and I was told at six months our hormones go whacko again. I'm not pregnant, but my hormones are OUT OF CONTROL! I love Mo so much, he's my little angel and I cannot imagine my life without him now that he's here. Well...hubby and Mo are just fine and I hope that I will be too.

Denise. I am a very high anxiety person, and often work myself up really bad thinking about all the bad things that could happen. Some days it's worse as compared to others. We are all here if you need to vent and talk!! I often just have to tell myself that God has a plan for my life, and that as long as I try to make good choices with regard to my family and future, much of it is in his hands. That helps me a lot.


So I decided I would start writing a blog! I figure it will enable my extended family that does not get to see us as much....AND I found this great website that you can print your blog out as a book every so often. I think that's awesome, and am going to print it every 6 months or so and put it in Brady's baby book. Here is the link... http://nhbradyboy.blogspot.com/ Does anybody else have a blog out there? I would love to read it!!

 

[7beasley]

Kelly

Great blog -- what a wonderful idea. And your house looks awesome!

Today Izzy is 8 months old. We went to the Southwick Zoo in Mendon, MA today. We were there about 2 hours with her and she seemed to enjoy it -- she liked looking around at all the animals. Plus - she slept on the car ride out and back - so that was great!

Denise -- don't worry about those kind of anxietys - they are normal. I have them too.

Meredith -- great idea about the bumpo in the tub -- we have a bath chair but I get nervous with it.

Have a great day everyone....

And now - for the question of the weekend What milestone has your baby recently reached?

-Nicole

 

[7beasley]

What milestone has your baby recently reached?

Izzy has her two bottom teeth coming in -- one is about half way up and the other just poking up. SO CUTE!!

-Nicole

 

[Jen_in_NH]

What milestone has your baby recently reached?

-Nicole

He learned to crawl!! I was so excited, now I can hardly keep up with him. He's figured out how to go up the step off our porch, so even that doesn't keep him in

Sounds like a fun trip to the zoo. We keep planning on bringing Christopher to the aquarium, but we haven't had any time off together recently. He loves to watch fish in people's tanks, so he should have fun with it.

 

[Villain-lover]

Zoe has jjust learned to sit and can get from tummy into sitting position. Sam rolls everywhere and he is in the last couple of days kinda army crawling!

Edited to add that tonight Sam is getting up on all fours and throwing himself forward...guess its about time to put all of our safety latches on!

 

[beckmrk04]

Vaylie has learned that a cow says "moo" and a sheep says "baa."

 

[Pollito916]

Wow, there's been lots of activity here!

Denise - I think we all know how you feel and share the same fears. DH was in a minor car accident in March and Alex was in the back seat, and I freaked out. Everyone was fine, luckily, but I couldn't help getting worried.

As for all the questions of the day, we started Alex with sippy cups just before 5 months when we started solid foods. At first I just gave him water, which he loves. We started with the Playtex with handles, now he has those and a bunch of Gerber with and without handles. We tried the Nuby a couple times, but he rejected it.

We quit bottles in March, when he was about 13 months old, and haven't used one since, so I didn't worry too much about the BPA thing. We liked the Avent bottles, but we will have to see for the next baby.

Milestones, let's see. He is getting his 3rd molar, learned how to climb the walls (in the corner), and barks like a dog and makes monkey sounds.

 

[kellyf2626]

Kelly
And now - for the question of the weekend What milestone has your baby recently reached?

-Nicole

Nicole....for some reason I don't think I ever knew you were in MA. Or maybe I did and my post-pregnancy brain forgot...happens a lot lately!

Recent milestones - Brady can now pull-up to standing and walk about 2-3 steps around a table! Yay!! It took FOREVER to get him to crawl - he actually just started consistently crawling on all fours about a week ago....and now he has gone quickly to standing. Crazy!!

 

[mrs.explorer1977]

Hey Ladies!

Lots of activity around here, and around the boards! Sounds like everyone's LO is up to trouble!


On BPA -- We took all our Avent bottles back to Zellers here and got a refund. Now we use half Gerber Gentleflow (exactly the same as Avent, the nipples even fit!) and Green to Grow (at $13 each, plus nipples, all the money I got back at Zellers for like 20 Avent bottles went towards 6, yes only 6, Green to Grow bottles)

On Milestones -- Colin has recently gotten 2 teeth on top (the front and one side) and it looks like the other 2 on the left are coming any day now. He also is about *this* close to walking -- he's starting to get a little braver about moving around during his cruising, and uses his little walkers like crazy around the kitchen! I'm just hoping he does it before I go back to work, which means he's got 2 weeks to do it!!


I have a question -- when you introduced cow's milk, did you do anything to get your LO to like it? Colin is very "meh" about the whole thing and we're trying to transition over to cow's milk soon.

Hope everyone's having a great weekend! We're off to Canada's Wonderland tomorrow -- it's no Disney World, but it should hold us over until December!

 

[ImarriedGrumpy]

Owen's latest milestone is sitting up unsupported. He's still a little wobbly, and I think it looks so funny to see him sitting up all by himself, and then slooowly start to lean to one side until he topples over. I always catch him before he bonks himself, but it still cracks me up to watch him. He can't get himself into a sitting position by himself yet, but he sure loves it when I help him sit up.

He's also recently hit the "grab everything within reach" stage...making life much more exciting for all of us. I'll be holding him and talking to DH, then look over to discover that Owen has grabbed a handful of kleenex or something off the counter. We now have to remember to stand out of Owen reach of everything when we're holding him, or move everything out of range.

I've got a blog started, too, although it's kind of random right now. I wanted to be more disciplined about writing down my reflections on motherhood, so I started the blog in hopes it would help (and it sort of has, but I could still be more disciplined with it). It's at: http://bethanys-reflections.blogspot.com/

 

[TiggerStac]

In the last couple of weeks, Brady has been transitioned off sippy cups and now uses cups w/straws!! I love it, because I only have to pack one for milk and he can drink out of juice boxes!

On Friday night, he said "Bye Uncle" My brother was thrilled. My brother said....Brady, say Bye uncle and he did. His vocabulary is definately expanding!

Another thing, not a milestone, but I need to share.... He is a sesame street kid. Well, he's been doing cookie monster when he puts crackers in his mouth (eating them like cookie eats cookies). I just realized yesterday that he is completely copying him. Cookie Monster will say Cookies then eat the cookies. Well, Brady doesn't eat cookies, it's crackers. And he says Crackers and then eats the cookies like cookie monster. It is so funny. I love watching his little mind go.

 

[DMickey28]

In the last couple of weeks, Brady has been transitioned off sippy cups and now uses cups w/straws!! I love it, because I only have to pack one for milk and he can drink out of juice boxes!

On Friday night, he said "Bye Uncle" My brother was thrilled. My brother said....Brady, say Bye uncle and he did. His vocabulary is definately expanding!

Another thing, not a milestone, but I need to share.... He is a sesame street kid. Well, he's been doing cookie monster when he puts crackers in his mouth (eating them like cookie eats cookies). I just realized yesterday that he is completely copying him. Cookie Monster will say Cookies then eat the cookies. Well, Brady doesn't eat cookies, it's crackers. And he says Crackers and then eats the cookies like cookie monster. It is so funny. I love watching his little mind go.

Awww ... How old is Brady again? My DS is going to be 14 months this week and I can't get him to stop squeezing the juice boxes! He gets how to drink out of a straw and will as long as I hold the juice otherwise it goes everywhere.

Alexander is not talking as much as I think he should be. He says Mama consistantly and makes a lot of babbling now. For a long time he was just moaning and grunting instead of trying to say words. We can't get him to say Dada or anything else. I am starting to get a little worried. We have his 15 months appointment either in early July or late July, I can't remember! IF he's not talking more then I will mention it. He is very advanced physically rather than vocally so maybe it's just going to take him a little longer.

What do you think a 14 month old should be saying?

Mel - I would warm DS's milk up to room temp and it would help him take it. This is sooo bad but I only do it once or twice a week but I will add a small drop of either chocolate or strawberry syrup and he loves it.

 

[Villain-lover]

Many children at 14-15 months have only 1 or 2 words that they use, so I wouldn't be worried. I believe on most developmental checklists they look for about 8-10 words at 18 months. As a general rule, girls talk sooner than boys and firstborns talk sooner that second born. When I worked with children, I saw the whole spectrum....12 month olds that were pretty verbal to children that left my room at 24 months not saying a whole lot. I don't think Drs. worry much about language development until over 2 yrs. Hope that helps ease your mind. Just keep encouraging him to "Use his words" and when he points to what he wants , say things like , "Oh, you want the ball" and he will pick up on it!

 

[beckmrk04]

Another thing, not a milestone, but I need to share.... He is a sesame street kid. Well, he's been doing cookie monster when he puts crackers in his mouth (eating them like cookie eats cookies). I just realized yesterday that he is completely copying him. Cookie Monster will say Cookies then eat the cookies. Well, Brady doesn't eat cookies, it's crackers. And he says Crackers and then eats the cookies like cookie monster. It is so funny. I love watching his little mind go.

This cracked me up because I think kids are born with a gene for predisposition to Elmo and Cookie Monster!! I swear she knew who Elmo was before we ever even watched the show.

Vaylie loves her "Melmo." She's also big on "Nella" (Cinderella). She has a stuffed Cinderella that's like 3 ft tall from the Disney store, and she'll pick her up and hug her and say, "Awwwww, Nella" and pat Cinderella on the head. It is so cute. She does the same thing with Elmo- "Awwwww, Melmo."

It is our town's homecoming this weekend and we took V to the parade, which DH, Uncle Paul, Aunt Niki and cousin Landon walked in (I should have, but I wanted to watch it with V!!). Anyway, she was cranky yesterday because of her teeth, but she perked up at the parade!! She loved it- even the fire trucks (I thought for sure she'd flip when she heard the sirens). She got her first sucker, and boy was she thrilled! She couldn't believe she had such sugary goodness on her very own stick. She'd put it in her mouth and go "Mmmmmmm." We had a good time, then went to the homecoming and had a corn dog and a funnel cake!! Yum!