The new "New Moms" thread!

[kpm76]

DMickey - Hope you like Gymboree!! We are going to our class this morning.

beckmrk - Wow, she already knows her letters?? That's awesome! Watch out, she might be an early reader.....my MIL tells a funny story about DH. When he was about two and a half she was reading him a story before bed, but she was really tired so she skipped some words, paragraphs etc. DH said "mommy, you missed some words." She was like WTH?? She asked what he meant and he started reading what she missed!!! She was seriously freaked and called the Dr. He said some kids are natural readers.....she was happy but a little disappointed that she would not be able to abbreviate bedtime stories anymore...

 

[Jen_in_NH]

Holy cow, you all are chatty!

Stacy - I know I was always car sick as a kid, and what helped was looking out a window to see things move by. If I had any kind of book or toy to focus on, then I would start feeling sick.

Nicole - we have a really cold house (good luck trying to keep an old farmhouse warm...). Christopher always sleeps in PJs with socks on - he doesn't fit into the footie ones really well. He's had a quilt over him since about 6 months old. I read all of the stuff saying to keep the blankets out of the crib, but I'm convinced they're written by people who have never actually seen winter.

Meredith with the puking. I have no idea what to do for it, but it must be tough.

Mickey Fliers - I know we never wore all of the 0-3 month baby stuff. He was out of it within a month Now I know when I shop for a baby shower to make sure I pick out bigger clothes, since everyone has so much little stuff.

Bethany - good luck with the crib. Christopher figured out the bedtime part of it pretty quickly, but the naps took a while. He napped on one of us or in his bouncy seat for about 3-4 months before he'd take a decent nap in his crib.

Jenny - about needing a new car for the carseat. That's the same reason we had to trade in my truck when we found out I was pregnant. Most of the salesman thought we were a bit nuts when we brought the carseat with us to shop for cars. OK, so we also brought the dog to see if he fit No way am I buying a car that I have to lift a 130lb Newfie into.....

Becky - we've kept almost everything for the next baby. A lot of things we borrowed from DH's cousin, but they're not planning on any more kids. The clothes are getting out of control through. I need to sort out what I really want to keep, and what I want to get rid of. It's on the list of projects, somewhere around #100


As for timeouts, we don't do them yet, but it's coming. Christopher is starting to think it's pretty funny when we tell him no, and take something away. DH does this awesome stern face, and Christopher is catching on that when he sees that face, he's in trouble. I can't do it so well - I start laughing


Next Disney trip: 12/2009. I just got the park tickets in the mail, so it's seeming a bit more real now. I have to get going to find someone to rent points off of.

 

[jennyL]

Jenny - about needing a new car for the carseat. That's the same reason we had to trade in my truck when we found out I was pregnant. Most of the salesman thought we were a bit nuts when we brought the carseat with us to shop for cars. OK, so we also brought the dog to see if he fit No way am I buying a car that I have to lift a 130lb Newfie into.....
.

Oh you should have seen us. We drove the car and then parked it next to my old car and took DHs carseat from my trunk and put it in the new car and then DH and I would get in next to it to make sure we fit comfortable. I wanted to make sure I could get two adults in the backseat with the car seat. Then we were really looking at SUVs with the optional third seat so when we had one of those we lifted that last seat up and tried to put Noahs stroller back there. I have a Maclarean and a Graco and lets just say the Graco doesn't fit back there at all and some the Maclarean didn't fit. It was crazy. We also have a dog so I needed rear space for her crate so after all that looking and driving we got the 4Runner which was the original one that I thought I wanted. LOL sometimes it just takes DH awhile to get on the same page.

 

[kellyf2626]

Holy crap this thread is MOVIN'!!!! Soooooooooo much to read and catch-up on!!!

Jenny - Congrats on the new car! That is exciting!!

Bethany - Keep us posted on how the crib is going!

Becky - Congrats on the transfer! Hopefully all works-out with finding someone to watch V rather than your mom.

DMickey and Kpm - Hope Gymboree was fun! I took Brady last year until the place closed-down that I was taking him to. Haven't gotten around to signing up at another place. We are starting swim-lesson again in a few weeks, so maybe after that!

As for timeouts - we don't use those yet. Brady is just getting to the age where I am seeing temper-tantrums. I guess I will have to start thinking of an "area" where time-out can be.

PJ's - Brady has worn the footed Disney pj's all summer. We have a window AC unit in his room, so it was always cool. On-top of his pj's he also wears a sleep-sack. Good-god the sleepsack is like a DRUG to him. The minute I put his arms through, he is asleep. Hope they make them for toddlers, as he is in the size large and it just fits him!!

Puking - Sorry Meredith (((hugs))) I have no advice or experience with this. Wish I could help! But, I will be sending anti-puke vibes your way!

I was supposed to go-in to test some students today, but my mom is sick and can't watch Brady - so no work for me today! I am thinking of going out and getting some mums, cornstalks, and pumpkins this afternoon. We will see how the day goes!

Thought I would share a couple more pics....just a few more cute one's that my friends sister-in-law took of Brady at the wedding!

 

[exwdwcm]

wow, it is busy in here. about to head to the dentist to get my teeth cleaned....then have to go get a space heater for my new office- they are freezing me in here.....i am slowly getting my disney stuff out---don't want to scare anyone away with my crazy disney stuff on my desk. my favorite is a cartoon someone printed out for me years ago......
it shows a college graduate in gown and all- it says "bob, you just graduated from college with an advanced degree, what are you going to do now?" and he says "i'm going to disney world!".....the next cartoon shows him wearing a donald duck costume in front of the castle saying "lousy job market"..... just thought that was too funny!

Becky- look at your little advanced V! I am trying to read more to Will. What are your secrets for getting her to be so smart!?

Pollito- is it hard for you travelling? I am just about to start it up again with the new job. They want me to leave on nov 1st for Chicago for a plastic surgery convention for 3 nights. I'll be travelling 6-8 times per year. Good news is there is a show at the Contemporary in Dec/Jan! I might have to volunteer for that one. Out of all the business travelling I have done, i have yet to actually attend a tradeshow/convention on disney property. Tons in orlando, but it is always at the Gaylord, Marriott World Center or convention center.

Dmickey- glad the bite is better!

Jenny- so you are next on the list for a trip- Oct 6th? how fun! have you cruised before with disney? I can't wait for our cruise in May! are you all packed yet? lol

Jen NH- we are going 12/09 too! Is this going to be Christopher's first trip? I think you said he has been before? Where are you staying? You already got your tickets? We booked through dreams unlimited- 5 rooms at the WL for 10 nights! WE can't wait. Dec 09 is way too far away.

So on strollers- we are about to start looking soon for a new one. we are still using the Chicco cortina from our travel system. It is just so bulky. I have looked at Mcclarens and the Peg peregos......at BRUS. I need to go back and play with them some more before we decide. I know it is cheapaer to order them online though usually.

 

[exwdwcm]

Kelly- adorable pics of Brady! what a handsome boy! I have to go get Will fitted for a tux for my sister's wedding. that is going to be fun. It is on Oct 18th.

 

[DVCsince02]

Here is Evan, already a week old. Poor guy already scratched his face.

 

[DMickey28]

LOL sometimes it just takes DH awhile to get on the same page.

My DH is the same way. It takes him anywhere from a day to a few weeks to get on the same page as me but he almost always agrees with what I thought in the first place!!

I want a new car!! I am trying to convince DH that my car will be two small with a second baby but so far it's not working!!

PJ's - Brady has worn the footed Disney pj's all summer. We have a window AC unit in his room, so it was always cool. On-top of his pj's he also wears a sleep-sack. Good-god the sleepsack is like a DRUG to him. The minute I put his arms through, he is asleep. Hope they make them for toddlers, as he is in the size large and it just fits him!!

They make them for toddlers. They are so cute, they have little cut-outs for the feet. I want to get one for Alexander but haven't gotten around to it and now that it's getting cooler out, it's getting warmer in the house. That doesn't even make sense!! It tends to be colder inside when it's hotter outside!

Those pictures are beautiful ... Brady he looks so grown up. I swear he and Alexander look a little alike!

So on strollers- we are about to start looking soon for a new one. we are still using the Chicco cortina from our travel system. It is just so bulky. I have looked at Mcclarens and the Peg peregos......at BRUS. I need to go back and play with them some more before we decide. I know it is cheapaer to order them online though usually.

We had the Cortina and then got a Chicco Ct5 which is identical to the Maclaren Quest. It was great for a few months but the back started sagging and DS looked uncomfortable in it. It was also getting hard to steer with one hand as Alexander was getting heavier. I ended up getting the P3 because I wanted a the advantages of the fullsize stroller without it being fullsized. I bought it at albeebaby.com for $179. The toffee color which is much better than I thought it was.

http://www.albeebaby.com/pegpeplp320s.html

Here is Evan, already a week old. Poor guy already scratched his face.

Adorable!!

********
We just came back from our first gymboree class. I think I might join. The open gym hours don't really work for us very well but I think it will be worth it. Alexander seemed to have a great time, loved all the kids and there was so much more interaction than I can do at home. I also met a new mom today, who joined last week, that just moved down from RI 3 weeks ago with a 20 month old. I want to join to see if i can make friends with her too!! I need RL friends with kids.

So my MIL is on her way down today. Called earlier and guess what ... my BIL flipped his car last night. Luckily he is ok minus a few staples in his head and a sprained arm. The back story on them is wayyy tooo long but it's just one more thing in a line of things. He is 23 years old, not working and since my MIL just finally settled her workman's comp claim she is now paying his way as well. She just spent $2k to get his car running again since he doesn't have a job = no money and he literally got it back Friday. arGH ... AND he didn't have comp or coll on the car.

Now I am off to clean for my MIL. I have to move the couch potato dog off the couch to pull out the bed .. i swear all that dog does is sleep.

 

[jennyL]

Jenny- so you are next on the list for a trip- Oct 6th? how fun! have you cruised before with disney? I can't wait for our cruise in May! are you all packed yet? lol

I have cruised with DCL three times before so we're ready for it. We have a connecting room with my mom, sister and grandma so they can help watch Noah while DH and I get some time to go out without him. They aren't going to WDW with us though since my sister is only 13 and in school that part of the week so we'll see how DH and I do. I'm sure we will be fine but I think DH is freaking. We haven't packed anything LOL I have washed all of Noahs disney clothing and set it aside for the trip but thats about it. I told DH we need to make the baby list and start gathering stuff. Lunkily we'll have the new car so worse case is we buy something new.

As for everyone with strollers. I took DH to BrU and he pused all the nicer umbrella ones and the Maclarean was the only one he didn't immediatly step on the wheels with. The Graco travel system we have he always catches the basket bar and my moms Peg Aria he catches the wheels. Once he said that about the Mac I knew he was sold so I got online to get the Red/Black one and Noah loves it. He just sits in there and looks around and lets me shop. He's so much less squirmy then he was in the Graco one which is nice.

 

[kpm76]

DMickey - So glad you liked Gymboree!! Abby LOVES it And I really like the moms too. I have been to other classes and sometimes the moms are not welcoming to newbies. Wonder if I know the mom that moved...haha....afterall, RI is REALLY small

 

[Jen_in_NH]

Michelle - Our next trip will be Christopher's 1st. We're hoping to stay at AKV, but most likely it will be BWV or BCV. Depends who I rent points from, you know? I'm already excited, and I still have 15 months to go....

As for strollers, I have a Maclaren Triumph, and I love it. I don't know if we;ll bring it to Disney. Depends if Christopher has a little brother by then or not.....

 

[Pollito916]

On time outs- we just started them in the last 2 weeks or so. I got a little stool and set it next to the wall. So, I give V a warning, ie- "Vaylie, no buttons. If you touch the computer buttons you will sit in time out." So, of course, she does it, and I say, "Time out."

Pollito- I cracked up at the "nice, nice" thing- Vaylie yells that at her cousin Landon, who tries to push her around. She will whip her head around and say "NICE!" It's so funny! She also says it when she's trying to pet the cat. "Nice? Nice?"

Vaylie knows most of her letters! And at first I thought it was a fluke- like maybe she just knew one, but nope- she can point out well over half and name them correctly.

We do the same thing with time-outs, but we started back when Alex was close to 1 year, b/c it seemed like he was purposely doing things after we told him not to, like coming to close to the hot stove. I moved him to another room, told him no, and he still went directly back to it! Alex also says "nice" when petting dogs, and we've started teaching him to say sorry, but we still usually have to prompt him to say it.

Too funny on Vaylie saying "Nice!" to her cousin - she's putting him in his place!

And I can't believe she knows most of her letters and colors already! That is one smart little girl! Alex can say all the colors, but doesn't associate them with the right color. And we haven't even started with letters!

DH does this awesome stern face, and Christopher is catching on that when he sees that face, he's in trouble. I can't do it so well - I start laughing

My DH can do the same thing, just stand up and look at Alex and he will stop, but I am just not that effective!

Thought I would share a couple more pics....just a few more cute one's that my friends sister-in-law took of Brady at the wedding!

Adorable pictures - the other boy with Brady is pretty cute too!

my favorite is a cartoon someone printed out for me years ago......it shows a college graduate in gown and all- it says "bob, you just graduated from college with an advanced degree, what are you going to do now?" and he says "i'm going to disney world!".....the next cartoon shows him wearing a donald duck costume in front of the castle saying "lousy job market"..... just thought that was too funny!

Pollito- is it hard for you travelling? I am just about to start it up again with the new job. They want me to leave on nov 1st for Chicago for a plastic surgery convention for 3 nights. I'll be travelling 6-8 times per year. Good news is there is a show at the Contemporary in Dec/Jan! I might have to volunteer for that one.

Love the cartoon! As for the traveling, it was hard at first, but I was able to ease into it. I used to travel before the baby was born, but my boss was really good about assigning me mostly local work. I didn't go anywhere overnight until he was 6 months old, and that was only 2-3 nights. I had another 1 night trip when he was about 1 year. Since I got a promotion in April, I have traveled about 1 week every other month, and it gets easier every time. At least for me. Last night I called DH and I could hear Alex in the background screaming, "Mama! Mama! MAAMAAA!!" So I think it is getting harder for DH as Alex gets older and realizes I am gone. Of course I miss them both, but I also have to admit that I enjoy have some "me" time in the evenings, where I don't have to make anyone dinner or change any diapers, and I can just do what I want when the work day is done. Like veg out in front of the tv, go sight-seeing, read a book, whatever. Things that are difficult to do with a husband and baby around.

Here is Evan, already a week old. Poor guy already scratched his face.

Adorable! DS scratched himself really early too, so I had to start filing his nails since they were too thin for clipping!

I need RL friends with kids.

So my MIL is on her way down today. Called earlier and guess what ... my BIL flipped his car last night. Luckily he is ok minus a few staples in his head and a sprained arm.

Sorry to hear about your BIL. And I know how you feel about needing RL friends with kids. I had a few before we moved, but I haven't made any here yet, and just can't seem to find the time with my current schedule. Plus my babysitter found out that most of the mothers in our current neighborhood are LDS, and I just don't think we'll have much in common. I'm hoping it will be easier when we move into our new house.

 

[DMickey28]

DMickey - So glad you liked Gymboree!! Abby LOVES it And I really like the moms too. I have been to other classes and sometimes the moms are not welcoming to newbies. Wonder if I know the mom that moved...haha....afterall, RI is REALLY small

I know!! I didn't ask her where she was from. i told her my best friend lives in W. Warwick but that's about it. I hope to see her again next week. I think i am going to join!!

There was something listed as Open Gymboree that was $20/month more. Any idea what that was? I am going to look into that.

 

[kpm76]

I know!! I didn't ask her where she was from. i told her my best friend lives in W. Warwick but that's about it. I hope to see her again next week. I think i am going to join!!

There was something listed as Open Gymboree that was $20/month more. Any idea what that was? I am going to look into that.

I think Open Gymboree means you can go to as many structured classes a week as you want. For example, Abby is in the Level 4 (I am guessing Alex is as well) and they have a Level 4 class everyday Monday-Saturday. With the regular membership, you can only go to one class (plus the open gyms). With the more expensive membership, you could go to a class everyday (plus the open gyms). That's how ours works and I would assume they are all the same. Do you have a coupon for $20 off registration? If not, let me know and I will see if my friend still has hers.....

 

[kellyf2626]

AHHHHHHHH!!!! Does anyone have the DVC fall newsletter/magazine? There are 5 small pics of Brady in it!!! I haven't gotten mine yet, but my mom's friend just called to say that Brady is in it!! How cool!!

 

[DMickey28]

I think Open Gymboree means you can go to as many structured classes a week as you want. For example, Abby is in the Level 4 (I am guessing Alex is as well) and they have a Level 4 class everyday Monday-Saturday. With the regular membership, you can only go to one class (plus the open gyms). With the more expensive membership, you could go to a class everyday (plus the open gyms). That's how ours works and I would assume they are all the same. Do you have a coupon for $20 off registration? If not, let me know and I will see if my friend still has hers.....

Alex is in the level 4 class. Thanks for the offer on the coupon. If I decide to join within 24 hours then it will be $20 off. I was thinking of doing the expensive membership, the one class is $69 and the totally open membership is $89/month. They have the level 4 class at 9:30 on Wednesday and Friday as well plus other times. I figure all those other classes for an extra $20/month might be worthwhile.

 

[beckmrk04]

Here is Evan, already a week old. Poor guy already scratched his face.

He is so sweet!

My biological clock just started thumping looking at him.

 

[beckmrk04]

Whew- busy day! (Here, I mean. Work was slow as molasses).

Strollers- I have the BOB and LOVE it. But, it is sorta big, and I'm not sure about doing wdw with it... We'll see. I'm considering a Baby Jogger City Mini, the fold looks BEYOND easy and pretty compact!

We're looking into getting a new car too, but I'm milking only having 1 car payment for as long as we can!! It will be easier though, since we're cutting our gas consumption way down. But, I think we're just going to get another small-ish car.

I told my mom about my transfer, but I haven't broken it to her that I'm finding someone else to watch V yet. It's gonna be ugly. But, good news- I did find someone! My new manager's wife is going to do it. I still have to get ahold of her and hash out the details, but I am very glad she's going to watch her, plus a friend of mine takes her son there and he's a month or two younger than Vaylie, so she'll have another little buddy.

Boy, I am ready for this weekend- I am beat!

 

[mrs.explorer1977]

AHHHHHHHH!!!! Does anyone have the DVC fall newsletter/magazine? There are 5 small pics of Brady in it!!! I haven't gotten mine yet, but my mom's friend just called to say that Brady is in it!! How cool!!

We got ours tonight and I'm flipping through it and was like "Hey!! I know that cutie!!!"

They're adorable pictures -- they did a collage of all the "hat" pictures! I'll take it to work and scan it tomorrow for you -- PM me your email address

 

[mrs.explorer1977]

Boy, I am ready for this weekend- I am beat!

Amen, sista friend!! It cannot be Friday afternoon soon enough for me!! Colin's decided that waking up during the night is FUN and has done it every night since Sunday. Blech. I'd like to know where the kid who used to sleep through the night without a peep went!?!

And, I know I'm fostering bad habits, because I just want to get back to sleep, so I pop a bottle in to settle him down (after a bum change, of course!) If I didn't have to get up at butt o'clock to go to work, I'd be more willing to attempt CIO in the middle of the night. Anyone have suggestions for how to stop this? He's almost 15 months old -- it's not like he physically NEEDS the bottle to satisfy him...