The new "New Moms" thread!

[beckmrk04]

Thanks, Kelly! She is getting so big so fast. I can't believe she'll be 2 in February!

And I'm with you on the snow- I LOVE it. I think it's gorgeous and I hope to take Vaylie out to sled around the yard.

Give me a foot of snow, a Christmas movie, and a cup of hot chocolate, and I'm in heaven.

 

[kellyf2626]

Give me a foot of snow, a Christmas movie, and a cup of hot chocolate, and I'm in heaven.

DITTO!!!

 

[7beasley]

Hi Guys

Sorry I haven't posted in a bit...I have been reading though.

We are STILL without power!!! After the ice storm last week in Massachusetts our power went out. It went out Thursday night - December 11th. Which was awful because our basement sump pump therefore did not work and our basement flooded! Nightmare!!! We ended up having to stay at my inlaws with the baby and the dog! My BIL and his wife were there as well. We stayed Friday night and Saturday day -- we got our power back Saturday night!

But then -- it went out again on Wed and it still hasn't returned. We stayed at our house on Wed night figuring it would be back up soon -- it was freezing!! Can't do that with the baby so last night we went back to inlaws. We have our fingers crossed that it comes back up today before the huge snow storm hits.

Ugh!!

We also had Izzy's tooth pulled on Wednesday -- she was a trooper although it was awful for DH and I who had to hold her down -- she screamed and cried during the whole thing but she is doing good now -- we are getting used to her little hockey player's smile!

Sounds like for the most part everyone is doing great! So time for some quick shout outs to the mommies!!

*********
Carla: Three kids -- I am so over the moon thrilled for you! And the girls are just beautiful. Hope we hear from you again soon.

Denise: Happy belated birthday Mo! His party sounded fun. Thanks for sharing the Hanukka information with us - I love learning about other religions and traditions.

DMickey: Hi - -hope Alex is doing well.

Bec: You are AWESOME for what you did for that family. You truly are a fairy godmother -- that mom is going to be so happy and grateful and I am sure you made her xmas, not just the kids. Good job!! Also - love the new pix of Vaylie -- she is beautiful -- you must freak out that she is getting so big -- she is a kid now - must be surreal! By the way -- did you get Vaylie's new chair cover yet from Pottery Barn -- so annoying - but the chair sounds really cute!

Amber: Love the pix of Spencer - looks like you guys had a great time.

Meredith: Yeah about the gym membership. Fantastic xmas gift. I need to get my butt to a gym. We bought a treadmill a few months ago and I swore up and down that I would use it every day but life gets in the way and I have not been good about it...hopefully after xmas I can resume it again!

Pollito: Hope your disney trip was awesome!!

Kelly: Great to hear from you. Glad you faired okay in the ice storm. Hope you don't get hit too bad by tonight's storm -- and did you hear there is another storm for Sunday -- geez!! My DH is supposed to go to the Patriots game on Sunday but I am hoping he skips it due to the predicted ice storm. By the way - Brady's xmas pictures are adorable -- he is such a cute kid!

Ash: I hope you are doing okay. Hang in there -- hugs!!

Tiggersac: Congrats on the baby -- 3 boys! Bless you. Any names picked out yet? I hope you are ok after the fall -- that sounded scary. Be careful with this next round of storms - stay inside!!

Holly: Hi - nice to hear from you -- love the pix of Amanda Joy -- especially like the pix of the 3 girls - adorable!

Michelle: Hi -- so glad to hear Will is doing so great. The horse drawn carridge ride sounds so fun. Glad you new job is going well too. And I love the family xmas pix -- Will is so big...and you can really see him holding onto that cookie for dear life!!

JeninNH: Glad you got your power back -- I know how annoying that is. Hopefully you will be okay with this latest round of storms. Stay safe! Jen - the story about Christopher and the stairs gave me goosebumps -- I am so glad he is ok!

Lachesis: Hi - -cute pix of Aiden!

Bethany: Happy Birthday Owen!! One year old!! I know what you mean about people never listening about clothes sizes -- we have the same problem here too! What a great idea to get the Museum membership for Owen's birthday -- sounds like fun. I am hoping that next summer we can get a membership to Old Sturbridge Village or the Science Center for Izzy.

Jenny: Hi -- Good job on Noah walking -- that's super early - 10 months!! Izzy is almost 14 months and no walking yet -- she furniture walks and stands without holding onto anything but no actual walking yet. Yeah Noah!! Did he crawl or go right to walking?

********

Well - this is a LONG message -- that will teach me for waiting so long in between posts.

I am hoping to leave work early today - like noon - to try to get "home" before the storm gets bad. Of course -- what I am really hoping for is that I can go home and not back to inlaws -- I love the inlaws but I really want to be in my own house for the storm.

To all the New England girls -- be safe (and go Patriots)!

Hugs to all
Nicole

 

[jennyL]

Hi Guys


Jenny: Hi -- Good job on Noah walking -- that's super early - 10 months!! Izzy is almost 14 months and no walking yet -- she furniture walks and stands without holding onto anything but no actual walking yet. Yeah Noah!! Did he crawl or go right to walking?

He started crawling at about 8.5 months and then started really cruising about 9.5 so now we are walking. He's still going everyday he starts getting more and more free and its so much fun to watch. I'm heading out to a different mall today so maybe there stride rite will have some shoes in his size on sale. The ones we bought the other day were so expensive especially knowing that they won't last that long.

Daycare is so funny. There are 8 kids in his room and he is right in the middle with 3 older and 4 younger. The oldest who turned 12months yesterday and actually moves rooms right after christmas walks, the next two cruise and walk while pushing toys but nothing really solo yet and then Noah walks. He is also the smallest of the older kids so he looks so funnny toddling around but his teachers are so proud they get so excited when I go in and pick him up each afternoon. I do have to say that I love my job and what I do so I never really thought of being a stay at home mom but putting him in daycare was hard however with the right teachers it makes everythig so much easier.

 

[kellyf2626]

Kelly: Great to hear from you. Glad you faired okay in the ice storm. Hope you don't get hit too bad by tonight's storm -- and did you hear there is another storm for Sunday -- geez!! My DH is supposed to go to the Patriots game on Sunday but I am hoping he skips it due to the predicted ice storm. By the way - Brady's xmas pictures are adorable -- he is such a cute kid!

Hey Nicole!! So sorry to hear that you are still without power!!! That's awful! I will be keeping my fingers crossed that you get it back before today's storm. I hear ya about wanting to be in your own home!! Scott and I have tickets to the Pats game on Sunday as well in a luxury box. Scott still wants to go....I keep telling him he's CRAZY and that there is no way I am driving from NH to Foxboro, MA with the threat of an ice storm. I know we won't end up going....which is too bad. And then ANOTHER storm is supposed to hit Christmas Eve!!!! Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!!!!

 

[TiggerStac]

Hi Guys

Sorry I haven't posted in a bit...I have been reading though.

We are STILL without power!!! After the ice storm last week in Massachusetts our power went out. It went out Thursday night - December 11th. Which was awful because our basement sump pump therefore did not work and our basement flooded! Nightmare!!! We ended up having to stay at my inlaws with the baby and the dog! My BIL and his wife were there as well. We stayed Friday night and Saturday day -- we got our power back Saturday night!

But then -- it went out again on Wed and it still hasn't returned. We stayed at our house on Wed night figuring it would be back up soon -- it was freezing!! Can't do that with the baby so last night we went back to inlaws. We have our fingers crossed that it comes back up today before the huge snow storm hits.

Ugh!!

We also had Izzy's tooth pulled on Wednesday -- she was a trooper although it was awful for DH and I who had to hold her down -- she screamed and cried during the whole thing but she is doing good now -- we are getting used to her little hockey player's smile!

Sounds like for the most part everyone is doing great! So time for some quick shout outs to the mommies!!

*********
Carla: Three kids -- I am so over the moon thrilled for you! And the girls are just beautiful. Hope we hear from you again soon.

Denise: Happy belated birthday Mo! His party sounded fun. Thanks for sharing the Hanukka information with us - I love learning about other religions and traditions.

DMickey: Hi - -hope Alex is doing well.

Bec: You are AWESOME for what you did for that family. You truly are a fairy godmother -- that mom is going to be so happy and grateful and I am sure you made her xmas, not just the kids. Good job!! Also - love the new pix of Vaylie -- she is beautiful -- you must freak out that she is getting so big -- she is a kid now - must be surreal! By the way -- did you get Vaylie's new chair cover yet from Pottery Barn -- so annoying - but the chair sounds really cute!

Amber: Love the pix of Spencer - looks like you guys had a great time.

Meredith: Yeah about the gym membership. Fantastic xmas gift. I need to get my butt to a gym. We bought a treadmill a few months ago and I swore up and down that I would use it every day but life gets in the way and I have not been good about it...hopefully after xmas I can resume it again!

Pollito: Hope your disney trip was awesome!!

Kelly: Great to hear from you. Glad you faired okay in the ice storm. Hope you don't get hit too bad by tonight's storm -- and did you hear there is another storm for Sunday -- geez!! My DH is supposed to go to the Patriots game on Sunday but I am hoping he skips it due to the predicted ice storm. By the way - Brady's xmas pictures are adorable -- he is such a cute kid!

Ash: I hope you are doing okay. Hang in there -- hugs!!

Tiggersac: Congrats on the baby -- 3 boys! Bless you. Any names picked out yet? I hope you are ok after the fall -- that sounded scary. Be careful with this next round of storms - stay inside!!

Holly: Hi - nice to hear from you -- love the pix of Amanda Joy -- especially like the pix of the 3 girls - adorable!

Michelle: Hi -- so glad to hear Will is doing so great. The horse drawn carridge ride sounds so fun. Glad you new job is going well too. And I love the family xmas pix -- Will is so big...and you can really see him holding onto that cookie for dear life!!

JeninNH: Glad you got your power back -- I know how annoying that is. Hopefully you will be okay with this latest round of storms. Stay safe! Jen - the story about Christopher and the stairs gave me goosebumps -- I am so glad he is ok!

Lachesis: Hi - -cute pix of Aiden!

Bethany: Happy Birthday Owen!! One year old!! I know what you mean about people never listening about clothes sizes -- we have the same problem here too! What a great idea to get the Museum membership for Owen's birthday -- sounds like fun. I am hoping that next summer we can get a membership to Old Sturbridge Village or the Science Center for Izzy.

Jenny: Hi -- Good job on Noah walking -- that's super early - 10 months!! Izzy is almost 14 months and no walking yet -- she furniture walks and stands without holding onto anything but no actual walking yet. Yeah Noah!! Did he crawl or go right to walking?

********

Well - this is a LONG message -- that will teach me for waiting so long in between posts.

I am hoping to leave work early today - like noon - to try to get "home" before the storm gets bad. Of course -- what I am really hoping for is that I can go home and not back to inlaws -- I love the inlaws but I really want to be in my own house for the storm.

To all the New England girls -- be safe (and go Patriots)!

Hugs to all
Nicole

oh my, I can't believe you are still without power...well I can, there are many out this side of worcester still w/out power. My work just got it back yesterday, but when they redid the lines, they reversed the polarity, so it's back, but wrong. the dishwasher, washing machines, etc etc aren't working becuase of this (or that's my understanding being out of work).

Thanks for all the wellwishes. I am staying home this storm!!! we are waiting for the snow now. I went to have my ankle checked this am and they added another splint and want me to try doing some weight bearing and try a cane for safety sake...safer on the cane, if I can walk vs trying to use crutches w/the pregnancy.

 

[ImarriedGrumpy]

oh man, Nicole, I hope your power comes on soon! Yikes!


Owen's 12m appointment yesterday went very well. He's 20lbs 5.5oz (15%), 30" tall (55%), and HC is 18 1/4" (51%). He's jumped up from 10% for weight, 25% for height and 35% for HC, so the dr. is very pleased.

She's also fine with us splitting up the MMR vaccine, and was very helpful in coming up with a plan for his immunization schedule with me so that he only gets one live virus vaccine at a time and we can spread them out a little more. The only problem is that the injection clinic isn't sure when/if they'll get the Rubella-only vaccine, so even if we give him mumps and measles seperately, he may end up needing to get the MMR before he starts school just to get the Rubella vaccination.

So we're debating how we want to do that...should we go ahead with the MMR split up and hope they get the R before he needs it, or should we just do the combo. Dr.M is fine with letting us take a little time to decide, which is great. So we just did Hep A and the flu booster yesterday, and we need to decide what to have him get in Feb since we're spacing the vaccinations at no more than 2 at a time every 2-3 months.

Stay warm, everyone!

 

[kellyf2626]

She's also fine with us splitting up the MMR vaccine, and was very helpful in coming up with a plan for his immunization schedule with me so that he only gets one live virus vaccine at a time and we can spread them out a little more. The only problem is that the injection clinic isn't sure when/if they'll get the Rubella-only vaccine, so even if we give him mumps and measles seperately, he may end up needing to get the MMR before he starts school just to get the Rubella vaccination.

So we're debating how we want to do that...should we go ahead with the MMR split up and hope they get the R before he needs it, or should we just do the combo. Dr.M is fine with letting us take a little time to decide, which is great. So we just did Hep A and the flu booster yesterday, and we need to decide what to have him get in Feb since we're spacing the vaccinations at no more than 2 at a time every 2-3 months.

Stay warm, everyone!

Hey Bethany! Glad to hear that Owen's appointment went so well!! I wanted to share our plan for the MMR, as we were also leary of giving it to Brady. We decided for Brady to give the whole MMR, but at a later date....2 maybe 3 years old. I read some info on splitting them up, and they will get 3x the amount of preservatives and other *stuff* used to make the vaccine since each individual shot has the same amount of preservatives as the one combo shot. The Rubella part of the MMR is the controversial portion - vaccine-strain rubella has been found in some of the intestines of children with autism. For some reason their bodies were unable to process this part of the vaccine. So, when splitting the combo shot up, Dr. Sears recommends giving the rubella portion last (as you were planning on doing). So, since we decided to not split it up....we are just waiting until he is older to give the whole thing. My ped was fine with it.....the incidence rate of measles, mumps, and rubella is extremely low (even with some of those localized outbreaks seen in the past years), so I am not worried.

 

[ImarriedGrumpy]

Hey Bethany! Glad to hear that Owen's appointment went so well!! I wanted to share our plan for the MMR, as we were also leary of giving it to Brady. We decided for Brady to give the whole MMR, but at a later date....2 maybe 3 years old. I read some info on splitting them up, and they will get 3x the amount of preservatives and other *stuff* used to make the vaccine since each individual shot has the same amount of preservatives as the one combo shot. The Rubella part of the MMR is the controversial portion - vaccine-strain rubella has been found in some of the intestines of children with autism. For some reason their bodies were unable to process this part of the vaccine. So, when splitting the combo shot up, Dr. Sears recommends giving the rubella portion last (as you were planning on doing). So, since we decided to not split it up....we are just waiting until he is older to give the whole thing. My ped was fine with it.....the incidence rate of measles, mumps, and rubella is extremely low (even with some of those localized outbreaks seen in the past years), so I am not worried.

Thanks, that's good to know! That makes me even more inclined to go with the MMR but put it off for a year or two. Have you/will you do the chickenpox vaccine, and when? The schools here now require kids to have the chickenpox vaccine or proof of immunity (i.e. they've had chickenpox) before they start K. All but one of our friends out here have had their kids vaccinated, but back in WI most of my friends just exposed their kids to it at about 4 yrs. old (they had "chickenpox parties" when one kid caught it).

 

[Tiggerlover91]

Hey Ladies!

Thanks for being so interested in the holiday I celebrate. Because Hanukkah falls the same month as Christmas, I often feel it's underplayed, but that's okay...we don't want it to get lost in all the fluff. Hard to believe only 2 more nights and we light candles...Sunday evening.

It was decided to not do lights in Mo's nursery...a couple of you know why and I hope it didn't bother you when I explained. It's okay though, because the lighting of the Menorah is the MOST important part of the holiday...well that and eating TONS of fried foods! I'm going to buy Mo gifts on the 1st and 8th days...I think that is sufficient. I don't want him growing up thinking Hanukkah is JUST about 8 days of presents. I'm going to pick up a couple DVDs for hubby too although he told me not too, but I'm not listening to him. He teased me and said, "no of course you're not...why make this the first time!"

I hope you ladies have a happy holiday and thanks for sharing in mine!

Did anyone besides Kelly see the cute post I left with the link in it...you have to see it! I believe it's just one page back. Look at ladies...I think our little ones will LOVE it when they are old enough to understand.

 

[kellyf2626]

Thanks, that's good to know! That makes me even more inclined to go with the MMR but put it off for a year or two. Have you/will you do the chickenpox vaccine, and when? The schools here now require kids to have the chickenpox vaccine or proof of immunity (i.e. they've had chickenpox) before they start K. All but one of our friends out here have had their kids vaccinated, but back in WI most of my friends just exposed their kids to it at about 4 yrs. old (they had "chickenpox parties" when one kid caught it).

As for the chx pox, we did decide to have Brady get it....although he hasn't received it yet. He will get it at his 18 month appt, along with the DTaP. We are giving him most all the vaccines (except the Rotovirus), but spread out some. We gave him the shots at his 2, 4, and 6 month appointment on time, but decided to spread-out everthing starting at 12 months. They wanted to give him like 5 shots at his 12 month appointment, and I knew I wasn't going to be ok with that. If you pm me your email address, I can send you our "vaccine chart" - basically just a chart of what the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends, what our ped recommends, and what we decided for Brady.

 

[7beasley]

Hi Guys

Well - I am writing this from home -- with power!! Yeah! Got out of work early today and got home around 2pm and we had power -- I am so happy.

It is really snowing here!

It was decided to not do lights in Mo's nursery...a couple of you know why and I hope it didn't bother you when I explained.

Denise -- sorry to be so nosy but I am...I am very very nosy...so -- what happened with the lights? Please share!!

Have a good night all!

-Nicole

 

[Villain-lover]

Hi Guys

Well - I am writing this from home -- with power!! Yeah! Got out of work early today and got home around 2pm and we had power -- I am so happy.

It is really snowing here!



Denise -- sorry to be so nosy but I am...I am very very nosy...so -- what happened with the lights? Please share!!

Have a good night all!

-Nicole

Okay, so Denise, I am nosy too.....

Yay for Power and yay for snow..we umm..don't see it much (read rarely if ever) here. Since I have been in Wilmington, it has snowed a few times, but like a trace to like 6 inches a couple of times. In like 1989 Wilmington got a huge snowstorm though, like 18 inches or something crazy like that..I like to think each year that we are overdue for a good snow!

 

[ImarriedGrumpy]

I know the snow can be a hassle, but I miss it. DH calls me a "snow snob". He was talking about taking Owen to see his first snow last weekend because Mt.Hamilton had a light dusting, and I said we should wait until we could take him to REAL snow, like when they had at least a few inches on the ground. I think it's kind of funny that we have to "take him to see snow". Dh has a funny story from when he was a kid and it snowed just below 1000ft so he and his buddies rode their bikes up into the hills and filled their backpacks with snow, then rode back down into the valley and made snowballs to throw at their sisters! He said about half of the snow melted before they got back into the valley and they were soaking wet by the time they got home.

I still feel a little sad that Owen won't ever wake up in the morning to discover that it snowed overnight like I did when I was a kid. I hope that I can persuade DH to head back to MN at least once every few years for Christmas, and maybe then Owen will get to have a fun snow day.

But we do have more snow on the mountains around town, so as soon as Owen is over his cold we're going to take him up to see snow for the first time.

 

[Jen_in_NH]

Bethany - we haven't done the MMR yet for Christopher either. I'm doing something simiiar to Kelly, and not giving it to him until he's older. I'm also not giving the chicken pox vaccine and hoping he gets chicken pox. I keep looking for someone who has them, but no luck so far.

I''m loving all the snow we're getting. We have abbout 5 inches so far, and then there are storms for Sunday and Tuesday!!!!

 

[Pollito916]

I hope everyone affected by the ice storms is doing ok now! I definitely do not miss that weather at all. It's in the lower 50s here today, and it seems cold to me!

Stacy - Welcome back from Maui - I'm so jealous!! And congrats on boy #3 - what a fun house you will have! I hope your foot is recovering well! At least you & the baby are ok.

Nicole - congrats on winning your case - that's awesome!

DisneyDreamer - long time no "see" - cute pic of Chase

Michelle - What a nice family picture! Sounds like you guys are enjoying the holiday season!

Holly - your girls are beautiful!

Becky - I hope you get something better than "jelly of the month." We don't get any holiday bonuses at my work, so we're used to it. We get profit sharing at the end of March, though. Great job on getting the collections for that woman in your town! Oh, and I feel the same way about watching them grow up so fast.

Denise - thanks for explaining Hanukkah to everyone! One more question - what's a "Jewish birthday"? Is it not the day you are born?

Jen - that's scary about Christopher falling down the stairs, but I'm glad he's ok!

Lachesis - cute pics - I see you are in Mesa now, what part? We just moved to Gilbert last month! And I agree with what Becky and everyone else said - those kids need to back off and let you raise your children! My childless younger sister is constantly telling me to watch Alex and stuff like that and it drives me crazy! Those kids are way out of line!

Disney Girl - We went to DHS the same day! But we just ran in and used fastpasses on TSM and left! We stayed for Fantasmic another night and Alex didn't like it, too scary, so he buried his head in daddy's shoulder and fell asleep!

Bethany - Happy b-day Owen! Sounds like you all had a great time! Sorry to hear about the baby at your church.

Jenny - congrats on walking!

Villain-lover - congrats on the gym membership!

Nicole - that sucks to be without power for so long, especially when it is so cold out! I hope Izzy's mouth is doing better!

Denise -- sorry to be so nosy but I am...I am very very nosy...so -- what happened with the lights? Please share!!

Ok, I admit I'm nosy too Please share, I don't think anything about lights would offend anyone here.

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

So we got back from WDW late Wed night, and the trip was great. Except the first day, the first ride was Dumbo. Alex was ok waiting in line, ok getting in Dumbo, then once it started, he screamed, "All done! All done!" for the entire ride. But then he was fine on Pirates & Haunted Mansion. By the last day we finally had everything down and we had to go, but Alex asked to ride "Ellfant" one more time. I was a little worried, but this time he liked it and asked for more! Overall, we all had a great time and I can't wait to go back.

I couldn't believe how long the character lines got so fast - I guess I'm lucky Alex was still little enough to not know what was going on and didn't beg to see the characters. We saw Pooh & Friends at the CP, but that's about it. Alex liked them all except Eeyore, didn't want him to come near him. I will try to post pics later!

Unfortunately, we came home to some very bad news. The next day, DH was laid off his job. He already started looking for a new one, but it's not looking very promising yet. I don't know what we are going to do. We have a brand new house, and I spent our little savings on the blinds and appliances, so now we have almost nothing. I have thought of getting a 2nd job waitressing on nights/weekends, but I am already working so many hours for my current job that I'm not sure I could do it. And I will really miss my baby boy working that much! I hope he finds a job soon.

 

[kellyf2626]

Pollito - Sounds like you had a great time with Alex down in Disney!! Ya, aren't the character lines crazy? We said the same thing with Brady...thank god he didn't care or know any better. We just visited with the characters at the various meals...it was WAY easier! So cute about the Dumbo ride! It's like he needed to ease-in to the various rides!! Can't wait to see pics!!!!

On another note...so sorry to hear about your husbands job. (((hugs))) I hope you can make it work and that he will be able to find a new job quickly. At least you were able to go to Disney and have all those fun memories with Alex....think of those when you are having a bad day....and remember...it's only money (I know...hard sometimes) . It will come and go, but you will always have family and that handsome little Alex who loves you more than anything!!!! Keep us posted....I will be thinking of you!!!

 

[Tiggerlover91]

Okay ladies, I'll share about the lights. I love you nosy girls!

Hubby thought the lights were too Christmas-y and asked me to take them down. Someone from the outside seeing the lights would have no idea we were Hanukkah celebrators and not Christmas...even though I chose blue and white lights. I was devastated but out of respect for my hubby I took them down and threw them all away. It was a $20 loss, but no big deal. The lighting of the menorah is the MOST important part and we get to light the first candle tomorrow (sunday) evening!
We've been living this lifestyle now for about 5 years and hubby told me that having the lights just really didn't seem right because in reality, they were for Christmas. I did go to a website called AskMoses.Com and talked to a rabbi who told me that the only "decoration" was the menorah. I'm okay with that and maybe next year, I can put up some Happy Hanukkah decorations in Mo's room and even buy a menorah for him!

Thanks ladies...hope your holiday is a happy one.

 

[Tiggerlover91]

Wow....did I run everyone off after I shared??

 

[Villain-lover]

You didn't run me off Denise!!! Happy Hannukah by the way!!!