The new "New Moms" thread!

[Pollito916]

i say keep your trip if financially possible. the economy is going to be bad for a while, it will take a while for us to get out of this, it isn't an overnight solution. So might as well go when you can, because who knows when you will get to go again with a new house and all, right? I just hate to see you cancel, but i know in today's world, it is just so scary financially.

I agree with Michelle with keeping your trip unless it's absolutely necessary to cancel. You may need a vaca after all the stress of the house! Are there things you can do to your trip to make it less expensive (switch resorts, maybe not do the meal plan, etc..) I always tell DH that I would do anything as long as we could go....maybe even stay in a tent at Fort Wilderness (well, maybe not that drastic...but ya know what I mean! )

Thanks Michelle & Kelly for the advice - I think you're both right (not that it would take much convincing!). I think we will keep the trip. Final payment is due 10/26, and we have the Disney Visa so we could use the 0% financing deal. We were planning to stay at CSR and used a 40% off code, so I think we've already got a pretty good rate, especially with Alex still being free!

Michelle - glad the new job is working out so well. The AZ state fair starts today too, so we'll have to see when we can fit it in! DH is usually only off Mondays & Tuesdays, but it is closed Mondays. I'm sure we'll find some time though! And chicken fried bacon?!? Are you going to try it?

Kelly - Happy anniversary and it sounds like you have a fun weekend planned! I wonder if we have any kind of pumpkin farms out here in the desert? I will probably miss that! Especially the home-made apple cider - yum!

Jen - it's good to know the nervous feelings don't go away any time soon! Especially with all the news anchors saying this morning that today may be another "black friday." Yay on Christopher running around, he'll be talking before you know it! Have fun camping - you are braver than I am.

kpm - Happy B-day!

Bethany - Glad Owen is feeling better! Maybe the chucking was just from the teething. That stinks on the kids' parents being like that - it's just plain rude not to call! Yay on the trip to DLR! Now that we're so much closer, I feel like we need to check it out one day! I've been to Downtown Disney before and inside the Grand Californian hotel, but never either of the parks. And I think I'm a little insulted by your DH's comments - he thinks we're all crazy Disney people?!? Ok maybe we are. But does he seriously think you would skip what's best for your son over being in DL? You are the Owen's mother after all, the person that takes care of him every day!

Becky - Happy Anniversary to you too! You must be relieved to know Vaylie had a good time with the sitter. And nothing beats the homecoming of a toddler! Though I can totally relate on wanting to change my name sometimes! Good luck with the car shopping!

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No big plans here for the weekend. DH just got back late last night, so it will be nice just to be able to spend some time together.

 

[exwdwcm]

Bethany- yeah on DLR!! great news. lol at your paranoid DH. it's nice though that he cares so much. and 'disney crazy nutso'- right here! Hey, i wear it with pride!

Pollito- glad you are still going to go. 40% off is awesome- heck your CSR room is probably cheaper than a value with that discount! have you stayed at CSR? I haven't, but i've visited, it is so pretty! I am a POR nut, so i haven't strayed over to CSR yet. It is the only mod i haven't stayed at yet.

okay- here are some lovely pics of the TX State fair.......they have a huge ferris wheel (it is a permanent fixture at the fair grounds)- they also have Big Tex- he talks. lol....sort of animatronic, so maybe i will feel like i am at WDW? they have everything fried- i haven't seen the donuts, but they have funnel cakes. they have fried guacamole, deep fried twinkie (see below), deep fried banana split----they even had fried 'coca-cola' last year etc. It's crazy.

 

[ImarriedGrumpy]

Bethany - Glad Owen is feeling better! Maybe the chucking was just from the teething. That stinks on the kids' parents being like that - it's just plain rude not to call! Yay on the trip to DLR! Now that we're so much closer, I feel like we need to check it out one day! I've been to Downtown Disney before and inside the Grand Californian hotel, but never either of the parks. And I think I'm a little insulted by your DH's comments - he thinks we're all crazy Disney people?!? Ok maybe we are. But does he seriously think you would skip what's best for your son over being in DL? You are the Owen's mother after all, the person that takes care of him every day!

DH is just a grump like that! He's known for saying borderline rude things and somehow getting away with it....mostly because everyone knows he's just a curmudgeon who really worries about everything, so he comes across like a grumpy old man. Seriously, all of his friends and family warned me before I married him that he is a total grump. Everyone said "you do know he's grumpy, right?" or "you know he's almost always cranky, don't you?" or "he's kind of a grinch, but he's got a big heart." I haven't had the heart to tell his family that he's not ALWAYS a crab - it's just worse when he's around them! (not the kind of thing to tell the in-laws... )

My friends tease him that he's a total neurotic first time MOM, not the usual worry-free dad of stereotype. Dh is always after me to make sure I've put sunscreen on Owen, or put a hat on him, or make sure he has a jacket, or is he warm enough in his crib, or should he really be playing with that toy...etc. etc. etc. I just laugh and remind him that I was the one who had 3 years of grad school in early childhood, and years of daycare experience, so quit worrying...I'm a professional! He still worries though, and he always will. Heck, he's already worrying about Owen going to college and doing stupid things!

In fact, we're already plotting what new Grumpy and Eeyore stuff we can get at DLR to add to DH's collection. My personal favorite has to be his Grumpy boxer shorts. When he's especially grouchy, I'm always amused by asking him if he's wearing his grumpy shorts, and it's hysterical (to me at least!) when he is!

 

[beckmrk04]

Bethany- stories about your DH crack me up. My DH is so laid back. How cool that you get to go to DLR though!

Michelle- how in the h-e-double-hockey-sticks does one "fry" guacamole or Coca-Cola? It makes no sense! But, I'd try it! We have a big state fair here, too complete with fried goodies (deep fried Snickers, anyone?). And chicken fried bacon-


DH is out getting stuff to make for dinner. This house is completely void of food. I should do something about that...

I have the next 3 days off work and I am SOO glad! It is getting better, though. Thankfully.

 

[ImarriedGrumpy]

Okay, so I know I'm posting like a maniac here lately, but I have to share some of Owen's 9m photos! We did them today, and they turned out cute as always...even if the little stinker wouldn't give us a nice big smile!

Okay, and my last couple posts I've clearly had some picture sizing issues! Yikes! These are huge...sorry!

 

[DMickey28]

OMG Bethany - I LOVE the pumpkin picture. It is probably the most adorable Hallowee picture I have ever seen!!

Hi everyone We don't have much planned for the weekend. An old friend of mie is down from Orlando until Sunday but we don't have any set plans. DH is working on Monday so it's not a long weekend for us. Just watching the Red Sox, waiting for dinner to digest so we can have desert. Tomorrow is our 4 year anniversary so I'll make a special dinner for all of us. We went out alone last Saturday night and we are going on our cruise a week from Sunday so we didn't really care about going out tomorrow night!! I can't wait for vacation ... we are leaving DS with my mom, she is flying down to stay with him. I am getting nervous about leaving him and we are skipping playdates and Gymboree next week because I don't want to risk him getting sick or us getting sick before we go!!! Paranoid much ... but I swear we got that bug from our first Gymboree class two weeks ago!

Have a great night!

 

[ashjohnson80]

That pumpkin picture is precious!!!!

 

[beckmrk04]

Bethany- love the pumpkin! Let's start clapping for the Cutie Pie Owen Appreciation Fan Club! I told DH about that- he though it was too funny (and soo true- kids just crack themselves up!)

DMickey- Happy Anniversary! (October seems to be a popular month!)


~~~~~~~~~~~~

We went shopping for cars today. Just some preliminary research. Went to a few different dealers and we're still undecided, but leaning towards a Ford Fusion or a Mazda 5 (I really want the Mazda, but the Fusion is cheaper). Hmmm... We're in no big rush, so we'll see.

 

[ImarriedGrumpy]

Bethany- love the pumpkin! Let's start clapping for the Cutie Pie Owen Appreciation Fan Club! I told DH about that- he though it was too funny (and soo true- kids just crack themselves up!)

DMickey- Happy Anniversary! (October seems to be a popular month!)


~~~~~~~~~~~~

We went shopping for cars today. Just some preliminary research. Went to a few different dealers and we're still undecided, but leaning towards a Ford Fusion or a Mazda 5 (I really want the Mazda, but the Fusion is cheaper). Hmmm... We're in no big rush, so we'll see.

Owen has discovered that the "Owen Appreciation Fan Club" isn't such a good idea when you've just pulled yourself up to a stand and are holding onto a bookcase...letting go to clap means you fall over and bonk your head! Funny boy was so proud of himself that he'd pulled himself up on the bookcase that he stopped to clap (another new skill that he's pleased with), and promptly toppled right over! He was fine - didn't bonk on any furniture or anything - but very startled. I guess he thought that since we clap when he stands up, he should too!


We have a Mazda 5, and we LOVE it!! DH still likes Volvos best (for safety reasons), but the Mazda 5 gets much better mpg. We like that the Mazda 5 is between a station wagon and a mini-van - not so big as a van, but more space and flexibility for seating than a wagon. We just bought ours in March, and got a 2006 model used from Hertz used rentals. Since it was a rental car, it didn't have much milage on it and had been very well maintained.

 

[beckmrk04]

Bethany- I am SO glad you love the Mazda 5! Maybe I'll try looking a little harder for a used one. The thing is, car sales people need to sell so badly right now that I think I can get a really good deal on a new one. Normally I would never buy a brand new car.

I didn't test drive it, I was too afraid I'd fall in love and then I'd have to mope around until I could buy it. IF we buy it. Gotta see what kind of financing and deals we can get. I do like it though, and DH was really impressed too. It's so versatile!

The sales guy there (at the Mazda dealership) was super cool and friendly and not at all pushy, and the salesman at the Ford dealership was great too. The sales guy at the Chevy dealership- ugh. I told him we were looking in a price range of $11-13,000 on a used, excuse me, pre-owned midsize family sedan. He kept showing me cars that were "a bit more than you wanted to spend" by like, oh, $10,000! If I had wanted to spend $21,000 on a car, I would have said, "My price range is around $20,000." I was so flipping annoyed. Ok- I get that they are nice cars, but you're not going to sweet talk me into a car that's double my price range and has the leather seats I specifically told you I didn't want!

 

[ashjohnson80]

those mazda 5's look nice! I have a Toyota Matrix and I really like it. You might be able to get one of those pre-owned in your price range.

 

[beckmrk04]

I have found a couple of Mazda5s pre-owned around St. Louis area... One is a 2007, blue, 23,xxx miles, and they are asking $14,600! So, I may end up with a used one afterall. Depends on how good the deal is on the new one.

And, we have decided to donate DH's old car to charity! I'm pumped about that. It's probably not worth much, but if the whatever charity we pick can get some use or money out of it, that's good enough for me.

 

[beckmrk04]

Now we just have to pick a charity to donate to. So many good causes out there.

 

[ImarriedGrumpy]

I have found a couple of Mazda5s pre-owned around St. Louis area... One is a 2007, blue, 23,xxx miles, and they are asking $14,600! So, I may end up with a used one afterall. Depends on how good the deal is on the new one.

And, we have decided to donate DH's old car to charity! I'm pumped about that. It's probably not worth much, but if the whatever charity we pick can get some use or money out of it, that's good enough for me.

Oooo...a blue one! I wanted a blue one, but with the gangs around here, it's not a good idea to drive a blue or a red car. Totally lame, but the little jr. high gang wanna-be's like to vandalize cars in the "other" gang's colors. So our Mazda 5 is a dk charcoal - not sure what the exact name of the color is (probably something like "deep graphite" ).

We donated DH's '89 Volvo to the Red Cross when we bought the Mazda, and they came out and picked it up and did all the paperwork for us. Really great - we couldn't believe they would do all that! I think they got $250 for it - hardly a fortune, but we're hoping it was worth the effort for them.

So now that Owen has discovered he can pull up to a stand, the boy has to try it out ALL THE TIME! Only problem is he can't get down without a major bonk, so sometimes he just stands there, hanging on to whatever it is for dear life and yelling until someone comes to rescue him. I know I should be more sympathetic, but sometimes it's so darn funny that I have to fight not to laugh out loud at him! Speaking of getting stuck standing up...I have to go rescue my boy again!

 

[Pollito916]

Michelle - we stayed at CSR in 2004 and loved it! It's currently under-going renovations, so we are excited to see the changes. Of course, the last time we went, we didn't live in the SW, so it may not seem as exciting this time, but I'm sure we'll still have a great time anywhere! Seriously - how do you deep fry coca-cola?

Bethany - well at least your "grumpy" DH thinks about things like sunscreen and hats. My DH laughs at the idea when I make such a big deal about it. Love Owen's new pictures - so cute and he is so photogenic!

DMickey - Happy Anniversary, and have fun on the cruise!

Becky - I think the Mazda 5 is really nice, and the blue one sounds perfect! As for the salesman at the Chevy dealer - that is just so rude! It's like he wasn't even listening to you! Good for you guys for donating your old car to charity!

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It's been a gorgeous weekend here - in the 70s since yesterday, and we were finally able to turn off the a/c! Alex is loving being able to play outside more, and I can't wait until our house is done so we can have a yard with a fence and I won't have to chase him so much to keep him out of the street!

 

[DisneyGirl4188]

Becky, that's awesome you found a car!

Bethany, love those pictures of Owen! He is adorable.

DMickey, Happy Anniversary!!!

My brother may be moving to FL!!! He is thinking about coming down for the winter. I am so excited that I may have my family around. I really miss them (they are all about 1000 miles away).

Spencer is getting better about me leaving the room. He doesn't cry and scream nearly as much, but he is getting worse when he is tired. He REFUSES to sleep and so he ends up screaming at the top of his lungs. We have tried everything we can think of, but nothing helps. I'm not sure if it's because of teething (I think the other bottom tooth may be coming in soon), but I feel horrible that I can't help him.

Here is a video of Spencer if anyone wants to see it. I took it the other day.

 

[beckmrk04]

Vaylie won't quit dumping her snacks out on the floor. Finally, she did it the other day with her goldfish, and I called the dog in to eat them. The dog was looking back at me like, "Are you for real? I can eat these and you won't yell at me?"

Righ now she's in just a diaper eating her spilled Cheerios off the blanket on the floor. Maybe they taste better that way. I sure am glad I'm not a celebrity. Imagine the headlines:

"Becky Feeds Daughter Dirty O's- From the Floor"

"Becky Doesn't Believe in Dishes OR Clothes!"

Bethany- I have the hardest time not laughing at Vaylie. Sometimes I have to try really hard because I am trying to accomplish some sort of discipline, but she's just so darn cute and funny!

Pollito- I actually turned the AC back on today. It's like 85 today. Boo. Vaylie LOVES to be outside, though.

 

[beckmrk04]

Amber- Spencer is so adorable. The video is cute! And that's great that your brother may be moving close.

 

[ashjohnson80]

It's hot here today too. It's generally hot here though until November and then it's freezing. We don't have any in between days.

I think I've come up with an idea for Ellery's birthday party, I was thinking about this pink and black tutu that I had made her a few months ago, it's got an elastic waist so it should still fit, but anyways I think I'm going to do like a pink/black/french/poodle thing. I've been working on the invitations, I guess I could get them printed off from Shutterfly or something?

 

[ImarriedGrumpy]

Amber, Spencer is adorable! Love his wide-eyed look!

Ash, I love the idea for Ellery's birthday party! Sounds like it will be very cute and classy!



Well, now I feel like a horrible mom. I know Owen is fine, but ugh!

So he's now got a full-on head cold with a snotty nose and everything. He's been fussy and difficult all day, and not sleeping well. Several times we've put him in his crib for a nap and he hasn't gone to sleep but just screamed, so we got him back up and "rebooted" the baby until he finally went to sleep.

Finally at bedtime he was clearly exausted, so we put him to bed and when he cried, we decided we'd just let him cry it out. He cried really hard for about 20 minutes, and then faded out, so it seemed like he was falling asleep. But every few minutes, he'd suddenly burst out with another big crying jag, so we weren't sure what was up, but he had quiet spells, so I decided that we'd just let him settle down on his own, because I was afraid that if we went in we'd just start the whole crying thing over again.

Well all of a sudden I realized that he'd been doing this for almost an hour, so I thought I should at least check on him.

And that's when I discovered that my poor baby was standing up with his arms over the top of the crib rail, and he didn't know how to get down. So for an hour my boy was standing up there, couldn't get down, and desperately wanted to go to sleep but couldn't, while his big mean mommy just sat out in the living room and didn't come to rescue him. I feel horrible!! I told DH that from now on we have to check on Owen after 15/20 min just to make sure that he's not stuck standing up again.

Poor baby, as soon as I laid him back down he was out and sound asleep.

Ugh! This is when I wish we had a video monitor so I could see what's up when he's fussing.