The new "New Moms" thread!

[ashjohnson80]

I think I'm going to get Ellery this fisher price kitchen thing. It looks really neat. So that will be from "Santa".

For anyone that is a member on etsy, my team is having this big giveaway that you might be interested in, the grand prize is a stocking that I made and it's filled with lots of handcrafted items, great for Christmas presents. You can find the rules and stuff on the blog, http://scstreetteam.blogspot.com And anyone who isn't a member of etsy, it's free to sign up!

 

[beckmrk04]

I've been thinking about a Pottery Barn Anywhere chair. And then a play kitchen for her birthday.

I'm not sure.

I think MIL is getting her a Power Wheels Toddler School Bus (she's getting one for Dnephew, too- they're like twins and you can't get one something and not the other! Sharing is not part of a toddler's routine).

 

[beckmrk04]

I think I'm going to get Ellery this fisher price kitchen thing. It looks really neat. So that will be from "Santa".

For anyone that is a member on etsy, my team is having this big giveaway that you might be interested in, the grand prize is a stocking that I made and it's filled with lots of handcrafted items, great for Christmas presents. You can find the rules and stuff on the blog, http://scstreetteam.blogspot.com And anyone who isn't a member of etsy, it's free to sign up!

Thanks, Ash. Now I have accomplished nothing.

You have got me absolutely addicted to Etsy- I look on there all the time now. You people are so flippin creative!

 

[ImarriedGrumpy]

DH and I have been talking about Owen's birthday and Christmas presents since they come just a week apart. I really don't want to do the "combined present" thing where he gets one big present that counts for both birthday and Christmas, since we wouldn't do that if his birthday was in a different month. My birthday is 3 weeks after Christmas, and I always hated getting combined presents. Who knows - maybe Owen won't care when he's older, but for now I'm going to be firm about it, and I'm trying to politely make this clear to family & friends, too.

Anyway, we decided that for Owen's birthday, we would give him an unlimited family membership to the children's museum. Sounds like most of the family is giving him books and clothes for his birthday. We're still not sure about Christmas. I found this totally cute dragon riding toy - it's like a big stuffed dragon on rockers like a rocking horse - but our house is so small that I'm not sure it would be a good idea to get him anything big. On the other hand, the exersaucer is going away about that time, so we could make the argument for a big rocking dragon! DH and I did agree that Owen would get one big present and then a few assorted stocking stuffers from us/Santa.

 

[beckmrk04]

Whew- just finished the hunt. That stocking is cute!

Now I'm thinking about getting my nephew a reversible "Batman/Superman" cape- too cute!

 

[ashjohnson80]

Thanks for playing! I made Ellery a cape to wear with her Halloween costume

Didn't really get a good picture of it. Anyway, I like it so much I'm going to let her wear it all winter.

My point is... I really like capes.

 

[beckmrk04]

Capes ARE cute.

Vaylie stayed the night at BIL/SIL's a couple of weeks ago and they dressed her in Dnephew's Batman pjs- complete with the cape, and she looked so cute.

Bethany- I always feel bad for kids who get gipped because their birthdays are close to Christmas. The rocking Dino sounds cute! If Vaylie were still a baby, there was this little "car" toy made by K's Kids that babies can sit in and it even has a cup (bottle) holder- it is so adorable. i wish I would have bought it for her. Not that she really needs any more toys. Not that she would even care- she likes to play with non-toys: cell phones, remotes, teh computer, dog bowls. Seriously- why do I buy toys?

 

[ImarriedGrumpy]

I'm leaning towards the dragon - it's a little more than I wanted to spend, but it's so cute!
http://www.onestepahead.com/catalog...Id=90179&categoryId=90180&subCategoryId=90194

don't you think?

And Ash, I love the cape! I saw a fun kid's cape that reversed between a knight and a king's cape, and I totally want to get it for Owen someday. Or maybe I'll have one of our crafty friends make it and I can pay him/her instead....

I have a wool cape that my step-mom bought for me the year she and my dad got married. My mom was going to make me an opera cape and we'd picked out a pattern and decided on the colors, but she died before she got a chance to make it. When my step-mom heard about it, she immediately bought me this cape and said it was not just a gift from her, but to think of it as a gift from my mom as well. I wore it for my wedding (we were married in Feb in WI), and I just love wearing it in the winter.

 

[beckmrk04]

Bethany- that is adorable! And check etsy for the capes- people make the most adorable, beautiful things and most everything I have found is VERY reasonably priced.

And what a thoughtful thing for your step-mom to do!

 

[Villain-lover]

Beck....Sam & Zoe really love thier pottery barn chairs!

Bethany...I love the dragon!

Ash.....too cute, your little Snow White!


Okay ladies, for your viewing pleasure....I have updated my siggy link with new pictures! Check the little munchkins out!

 

[ashjohnson80]

Bethany- I always feel bad for kids who get gipped because their birthdays are close to Christmas. The rocking Dino sounds cute! If Vaylie were still a baby, there was this little "car" toy made by K's Kids that babies can sit in and it even has a cup (bottle) holder- it is so adorable. i wish I would have bought it for her. Not that she really needs any more toys. Not that she would even care- she likes to play with non-toys: cell phones, remotes, teh computer, dog bowls. Seriously- why do I buy toys?

Yeah! My birthday is December 15th and I always hated it when I was a kid when I thought I was having a birthday party and everyone showed up for a Christmas party. I also hated have Christmas trees on my birthday cake. So I'm not even going to put out any Christmas decorations until after Ellery's party.

 

[ImarriedGrumpy]

Yeah! My birthday is December 15th and I always hated it when I was a kid when I thought I was having a birthday party and everyone showed up for a Christmas party. I also hated have Christmas trees on my birthday cake. So I'm not even going to put out any Christmas decorations until after Ellery's party.

My birthday is a month after yours, and I often got Christmas clearance stuff for my birthday presents! I had gifts wrapped in left-over Christmas paper, and lots of my toys or books had a Christmas theme (teddy bears dressed in santa suits, etc.). Or I'd get one present at Christmas and I'd be told that it was also my birthday present. The worst was the year they told that to my brother and sister, too, but by their birthdays they had forgotten it and bought them birthday presents, but I didn't get an extra birthday present that year. One of our friends was born on Dec 24, and there were a few years where her family actually forgot her birthday because of the Christmas rush! No way I'm going to let that happen to my boy!

So I've vowed that I will do everything I can to make sure that Owen's birthday is celebrated separately from Christmas. I can't promise him not to decorate for Christmas until after his birthday (Dec 17), but he'll have birthday cake, and birthday wrapping paper, and birthday cards, and separate birthday gifts from his Christmas gifts, and a birthday party with birthday decorations.

 

[DisneyGirl4188]

Hi All!

Love all the pictures! Everyone looked great!

I have no idea what to do for Christmas.

He had a good Halloween; Spencer was a pumpkin. We went to a few neighbors and they gave him gifts instead of candy.

 

[Jen_in_NH]

I love the capes. Christopher would totally be into that. He loves to grab any piece of clothes he can find and put it around the back of his neck while he's walking. I'm not so sure his Daddy would think it was great....

Disneygirl - spencer is a cutie! I love the big eyes

As far as Christmas, I've already gotten him some of the puzzles he likes, and some of the Little People sets. That's it for us, since I know our families will go crazy (again)

I've always thought that mixing kids birthdays with Christmas was kind of mean. We do it with my Dad now - he has a separate party, but depending on what he's getting for Christmas/birthday, it might be one gift for both (he's getting a GPS for his birthday, so just his stocking and some little stuff for Chrsitmas, KWIM?) But to not do their birthday at all, or mix presents when they're little seems a bit harsh.

 

[beckmrk04]

Bethany- I would be the same way. Kids should have a separate birthday. My mom always felt completely gipped because she was a New Year's baby. So, not only did everyone do the birthday/Christmas combo present, but they were also all hung over on her birthday. And my ex-step-dad's family always had a HUGE family gathering on New Year's day and every single year made Ham and Beans (for luck) as the meal. SO she had Ham and Beans as her birthday meal for like 8 years in a row. Blech.

I love my birthday! May 28. It's close to Memorial Day, so I usually get a long weekend and was generally out of school by then. Nice!

Actually, I don't know if I have mentioned our "28" thing: My bday is May 28, DH's is Sept. 28, and Vaylie's is Feb. 28. And our house number is 628.

Jen- Vaylie loves Little People. She and her cousin have the bus and the plane at my IL's house, and she has to push the button for the song over and over and over and they fight over the bus constantly. When we get there they race to get the bus!

 

[beckmrk04]

I found a GREAT site!!!

So, I really want a Coach bag. This one, specifically. But, $500 is a huge chunk of change to spend on a bag (for us, anyway), so I would probably never buy it. However- I did find something that might satisfy my "I need a fab new purse" urges. This site is 1154 LILL Studio. On this site you can custom design your own bags and they have GREAT fabrics, and prices are much more reasonable than Coach. It's still spendy (bags range from ~$100-$200) but you can get exactly what you want- because you designed it!

YAY Christmas!! (this could become a habit). I am so excited. Now I just have to narrow down my choices.

 

[ImarriedGrumpy]

Woo hoo! We got the church booked for Owen's first birthday party! The only time the fellowship room was available was Sunday, Dec 14 after 2nd service, but that will be just fine, and it's only 3 days before Owen's birthday. And they aren't going to charge us any fees for using the space! I think we'll stick with our castle/dragon/prince/knight theme that we've been doing in his room. We won't do too much for decorations, and we'll keep the party pretty simple, but I'd like some sort of theme.

I'm a little nervous about how his morning nap will work out that day. We'll go to first service - 8:30-10:00. Then DH will teach a Sunday school class until 11:30, and then we'll be doing some set up and rest time from 11:30-1:00. The party will be 1:30-3:00 (3:30), then clean up and go home. We have to figure out how to get Owen to nap for at least 90 minutes sometime between 10:00 and 1:30 without taking him home. I know I'm getting ahead of myself, but I'd like to come up with some plan before we get there.

 

[beckmrk04]

Bethany- what kind of church do you go to (if you don't mind me asking)?

And the nap- do you have a pack'n'play you can take? I'd take one and seek out a quiet room or ( and this is going to sound terrible) does the room have a large closet? Maybe you can put the pack'n'play in there, but leave the doors open so you hear him (but it would still be relatively dark and quiet and close to you).

*just to clarify- I don't normally condone sticking babies in closets*

 

[7beasley]

Hi Guys!

DH has been on his business trip since last Sunday (today is day 7 of 14) and I think I am seriously losing it!! Work for me has been attrocious with this huge trial I have coming up on the 19th -- Thursday I was at the office till 11pm and Friday till 10pm!! This morning is my first time even seeing Izzy since Wed night!! She had to sleep at my moms Wed and Thurs because I was not around and my MIL stayed with her at my house last night.

Then - this morning - my rotten dog decided to pee in our bed -- first pee of the morning so it was like 12 gallons of pee --- I could have screamed -- so while managing Izzy I have to strip the sheets, strip the mattress pad and then try to clean the actual mattress with shamies!! He got the comforter too - which is a King - so too big for the washing machine. I washed it out in the tub and its hanging out the window now and I am hoping it dries and doesn't stink -- otherwise its off to the laundry mat for me and Izzy today!

AGHHH!

Plus - my boss expected me to work ALL weekend (10-12 hour days) on the trial. Told him I can't -- DH is away and no one is around to watch Izzy!

I am totally stressed!

*******

Bec - I hear you re the coach bags and I love the one you love! I am dying for one but just can't see spending that kind of money on it.

As for the xmas/birthday thing -- I hate that -- for me - I actually wanted to try to plan having a baby so the baby did not have an xmas birthday. My college roomate's boyfriend's birthday was Dec 27th --- only his parents, from day 1, told him it was June 27th -- and for his WHOLE life he never knew any different and ALWAYS celebrated on June 27th -- then when its time to get his drivers license - his parents have to break the news that he has to wait an additional 6 months! That did not go over well!.

Ash - love the Cape!

Disneygirl - Spencer looks great.

Meredith -- can't beleive the peanuts are 1 year!! They look awesome and so cute and happy!

Hi Jen - Hi Bethany - Hi all...

Ok - time to return to my full time mommy duties - Izzy has finished her breakfast and wants OUT of the highchair!

How do single moms do it?

**********

Oh - by the way - Iz had her 1 year checkup on Wed and she is weighing in at 25 pounds and 31 inches long!!! She is in the 75% for height and weight. AND - this weekend we are starting on whole milk! Yeah! I am going to try to get her down to just a bottle in the am and at bed with the milk in it and a sippy cup of milk during the day with the goal being to get her off the am bottle in a couple of months and off the pm bottle by around April or so -- that would have her off bottles completely by about a year and a half -- which is longer I know then "they" recommend but she loves her bottle and I think this is going to be a battle!

Have a great day ladies!

 

[ashjohnson80]

I'm going to send out Ellery's invites this weekend. They printed off really nice! We don't go to church and don't have anywhere to rent so we're just going to try to have it here in the house. Everyone will just have to be really friendly with one another!

I'm almost finished making Ellery's birthday dress too, it's the cutest dress I've ever made. It's black with pink polka dots, an appliqued poodle and then her name underneath. I'm going to take her to the park and take her birthday pictures in it.

And speaking of pictures, when did my baby start to look so grown up??

I need to figure out what to do for a birthday cake. I might go by publix later and see if they can do anything Poodley.