The new "New Moms" thread!

[Pollito916]

Jen - I'm so sorry to hear about Christopher being sick again. I hope the little guy is feeling better soon! You are in our t&p

Kelly - Happy Birthday! I'm sure you will look great at the wedding, try not to let the other girl get to you! Alex did the same thing with pictures of him when he was younger - I was so proud the first time he looked at a picture of himself and said, "Alex" instead of "baby."

Becky - I want to keep Alex in the crib as long as possible, because I just know that he's going to be one of those kids that climbs out of bed all the time. We will probably go straight to a double bed b/c we have an extra frame already and just need a new mattress. As for the sippy cups, Alex is still using them too, he just makes too much of a mess whenever I let him use a regular cup and I don't want to change his clothes 20 times a day. I may start trying to use the straw cups more, but he always ends up playing with the straws and making a mess.

Bethany - Love the monkey sounds - that was one of Alex's first words, too!

Jenny - Happy 1st Birthday Noah! Alex also did the same thing with people food when he first started eating. He has definitely gotten over it.

DMickey - that's too bad you may not be moving back now, but you have to stay where the job is more secure. Are you thinking of renting or buying a house? Oh, and how great that Alexander used a potty! I wish Alex cared more about it. And I'm a "bad" mom too - I let Alex sit in the back of the shopping carts. Sometimes it's the only way I would be able to get any shopping done.

K reile - Yay on a Disney trip - and even bigger YAY on one that someone else pays for!

And we bought the Baby Bjorn potty too- Vaylie picked it out last weekend. (We have another one that she doesn't seem to like to much). I tried to get her to pick the pink one, but she insisted on white. SO- the next morning I got it out and put it in the bathroom, and what does she say?

"No! Pink one!"

That is so something Alex would do! He also does the screaming bloody murder thing when he doesn't get his way. You would think I was killing him when I gave him a spoon instead of a fork to eat his soup. That's right, he wanted a fork to eat soup - and it wasn't even a chunky soup!

 

[beckmrk04]

Ahhh. Vaylie is feeling better, although she is starting to try everything in her bag o' tricks to stay awake as late as possible. Tonight she was in bed crying, "Mommy hold you! Mommy hold you!" How could I say no? So I went in to her room and we rocked in the chair and played and giggled for an hour. That kid is so sweet sometimes. Makes you forget about all the times when she's being- um, not as sweet.

 

[Pollito916]

Ahhh. Vaylie is feeling better, although she is starting to try everything in her bag o' tricks to stay awake as late as possible. Tonight she was in bed crying, "Mommy hold you! Mommy hold you!" How could I say no? So I went in to her room and we rocked in the chair and played and giggled for an hour. That kid is so sweet sometimes. Makes you forget about all the times when she's being- um, not as sweet.

Aww, so sweet! I'm sure you'll just be shocked, but Alex uses this as one of his bedtime stalling techniques too. Those little ones sure know how to sucker their parents in don't they?

 

[jennyL]

It is so hard not to laugh sometimes. LOL

Last night Noah and I were upstairs doing some laundry. We started the washer and then I set him in my bedroom and grabbed up the clothes to put in there. The laundry room is literally right next to my room. So what does he do. He lifts the lid to the toilet and places my bag(a small travel bag I keep my personal items in next to the toilet) in the toilet and starts splashing in the water. I was gone less then a minute and he had never lifted he lid all the way open before. I was trying so hard not to laugh but he was having so much fun. Of course this was after our bath and our pjs so back to his bathroom for another wash off and clean pjs. I guess I need to start shutting the bathroom doors and not just the toilet lids now. I didn't even know he could move that fast.

I called my mom and all I could really say was boy. Yeap my son is full fledge boy.

 

[DMickey28]

Jenny - That's funny with the toliet but not so funny with your makeup!! We have Alexander's new potty in his bathroom off the kitchen and his bedroom. I have the door open so he can go play with the potty when he wants to and I found him pulling out strings of dental floss and putting it in the toliet. I don't even know where he got the dental floss!! The only 'real' thing to go in the toliet so far where my PJ bottoms one day!!

Politto - We are probably going to rent for one more year until we make so decisions. Even if we get to move home I think it will be smarter. DH is really thinking about leaving this company once the market stables out a little more. Sometimes I agree with him and other's I think we should ride it out. I would like to be flexible though regarding location if he does decide to leave so renting it is. At this point, I don't care. I want a house and I want to settle down but not with this rollercoaster he is on at his job. It's too emotional and draining on both of us. As long as we can rent a bigger house or something and not live in these tiny apartments anymore. I wanted to wait on baby #2 until we buy a house but then I decided I wasn't going to let that ruin our ideas and plans because essentially it's letting his company decide. In a round about way anyway! I should be seeing "O" this weekend so we have decided to give it a shot and who knows. It's month 4 of TTC.

Jen - How is Christopher doing? Any updates? I hope everything is going ok.

Alexander went in the potty again last night ... for real. We were getting ready for tubby and I took his diaper off and asked him if wanted to sit on the potty and try to go before getting in the tub. He sat down and went!! There was more than just a drop in there ... he was so proud of himself!

I made the PERFECT Starbucks Chai Tea Latte replica this morning. I never really tried before but yesterday I saw the Tazo Chai Tea concentrate and bought it. It's honestly perfect, I don't think I could tell the difference if they were side by side. Yippy ... now that I get them a lot since we don't have drive-thru's down here but that will save a little money when I decide I NEED one!

 

[k_reile]

My two year old niece has been "washing" things in the potty. One night she thought her blanky needed washed...so she put it in the toliet. Another day she wanted an apple....it needed washed...so she put it in the toliet....she once did this with an orange too. THey had to wait for the apple to disinigrate before using the toliet again because they could not get it out withotu taking the toliet apart. I think she was doing this because she could not reach the sink and the toliet has water...so why not?? Oh I laughed so hard when I heard this...but I am sure my SIL and BIL did not think this was funny!

One of my parents friends have twin grandsons. One of them put a little toy down to toliet and the only way to get it out was to remove the toliet. So my parents friend has the toliet on a bucket to drain and the toliet falls over and they had to buy a new toliet anyways.

Can't wait til Caleb is mobile...

 

[ImarriedGrumpy]

Jen, I'm sorry Christopher is sick again. That's no fun, and I hope he's home feeling better soon.


The toilet stories are cracking me up! So far Owen hasn't paid any attention to the toilet, but he's just 13m and we keep the doors to the bathroom closed. He likes playing with the doorknobs, though, so I'm sure he'll figure out how to open the door in no time. In our house we have mostly original doors and knobs, so they're all at weird heights. And of course the knobs for the bathroom are lower - just in reach for a 1yr. old standing up and reaching over his head. Everytime I go to the bathroom I hear him banging on the door and rattling the knob. He cracks up if I knock on the door back at him before I come back in the room.

 

[jennyL]

Well I lucked up last night. DH, Noah and I went to the Target closest to my house to grab some solid color plates and they actually had what I've been looking for. They had party plates with animals and they were actually for a 1st birthday. I'm so excited. Now I need to do my grocery shopping tonight and make the cupcakes and I'll be good.

Do you know if I get some balloons this afternoon will they still be inflated tomorrow? I'd hate to have to run back out again tomorrow but I guess I could if I need to.

 

[DMickey28]

I think the balloons should be ok. Can you send DH out to pick them up tomorrow morning? Or get the at home balloon tank? The you can do a ton of solid colors in the AM and just pick up a few special ones today and they will be fine until tomorrow.

I can't believe how fast this kids are growing up. My best friend from when I was a little kid and I got back in touch just after Alexander was born and her daughter is now 9 months old. I can't believe it.

 

[jennyL]

I might see what they say when I get there today but I agree that a couple mylars would be fine. I might just get a couple of those and call it done. I could send DH out or have a friend pick them up but there is a list a mile long already for DH and he's working tonight so it all needs to get done in the morning. LOL

 

[DMickey28]

Do you have a walmart or bj's around? They have the party time balloon sets with the tank of helium for $19.99. Then you can have TONS of balloons!!

 

[TiggerStac]

Do you have a walmart or bj's around? They have the party time balloon sets with the tank of helium for $19.99. Then you can have TONS of balloons!!

I was able to use one of these tanks for 2 years worth of balloons for my oldest. I even blew up a few mylar balloons that weren't included in the kit.

 

[Jen_in_NH]

Thanks for all the prayers. We got home last night, and he's starting to feel better. He's starting to eat again, so that's a good thing. His energy is pretty much back to normal - the cats are thoroughly terrorized again!

DH was home with him this afternoon, and they put together our new chair. When we were in the hospital the first time, they had a huge beanbag chair that was big enough for 2 adults and a kid. We looked it up online and found one, so now we have one. Christopher loves it, and I think my husband may live in it....

Jenny - have a great party!

DMickey - yay for the potty! Christopher has no idea what it's for, other than a giant bowl to throw things into. If I close the door to his bathroom so he's not chucking things into the tub, then he just heads for our bathroom to put them in the toilet. Thank God DH and his dad are plumbers. I'm sure we'll be needing one.

As for the sippys, Christopher is still using them. He knows who to use a straw, but doesn't always remember not to tip the cup up.

 

[ImarriedGrumpy]

So on the topic of sippy cups, what's your favorite kind?

We used Nuby's while transitioning Owen off the bottle, but now he's got the whole sippy cup pretty well down, even with the no-spill sippy cups with valves. Sometimes doesn't get the cup tipped up far enough to get the liquid when it's getting down to the last couple ounces, but no big deal. He'll figure it out eventually.

Anyway, now I'm trying to decide what kind of no-spill/leak sippy cups to get for him. I want something with a valve so it doesn't leak all over, but beyond that I don't know. Handles vs. no handles, big vs. small, etc. etc. Any favorites out there?


Our Disneyland planning is going full blast now! I've gotten my friend hooked on the DIS-boards, even! Since they're both from SoCal, they've always just popped into DLR for a day and that's it. They've never planned a trip where they spend more than one day in the parks, so they've never worked out much of a touring plan. I introduced them to the DIS, Passporter & Unofficial Guide and I think I created a monster! She's an accountant, he's a graphic designer, so she's come up with charts and plans, and he's creating matching shirts for all of us. They've already bought us matching fleece jackets with the Disneyland castle and logo on the back - it was my birthday present from them. I'm really getting excited to finally get a Disney fix!

 

[Pollito916]

Jenny - too funny on Noah playing in the toilet - I hope he didn't ruin too much of your make-up! I know mylar balloons will last way more than 1 day, but I can't remember how long the regular balloons lasted. Probably only 1-2 days.

DMickey - you're right, it's probably best to keep renting until you know where you plan to stay. Happy rental house hunting and ttc-ing! I'm so jealous that Alexander is using the potty already. I just order Alex a potty seat online, so hopefully he can get started soon.

k reile - so gross on "washing" the apple in the toilet!

Jen - that's so great that Christopher is home and feeling better! But you've got me stumped - how do you put together a beanbag chair? Don't they come put together?

Bethany - Sounds like you guys are having a blast already planning your Disney trip. Makes me want to start planning another. It will probably have to be an imaginary trip for now though.

When Alex first started using sippy cups, I liked the playtex ones with two handles b/c it was easier for his little hands to hold. Now that he is older, I like the ones w/o handles better b/c they are easier to bring around b/c they fit better in cupholders, diaper bag pockets, etc. I think the playtex ones are some of the best for not leaking.

*****************
Here's my "kids putting weird things in the toilet" story:

My mom always babysit other kids when we were younger to make some extra money. One day while my sister and I were at school, she had 2 younger girls at our house, about 4-5 years old. She left the playroom to make them lunch, and noticed that she kept hearing the toilet flushing so went to go check on them.

The girls had opened the zipper on one of our beanbag chairs and were pouring cups full of the little styrofoam beads into the toilet and flushing. The styrofoam beads float, so the toilet starting backing up and toilet water and wet styrofoam beads were all over the bathroom floor, all inside the toilet, including the tank, everywhere. My mom was not happy. But I think it's kind of funny. Especially because it was my sister's chair and not mine, so hers was all sad and deflated, while mine was still nice and poofy.

 

[beckmrk04]

Sippy cups: Vaylie did the ones with handles when she was first learning. Now, I we have all Platex leak-proof sippy cups with no handles (like Pollito! ) I agree- they don't leak and they fit better everywhere. And they aren't horribly expensive.

I was laughing so hard about the toilet stories!!! A bean bag?! I would have killed someone.

Although, I guess I did my fair share of damage... When I was little (2ish) I squeezed a whole bottle of baby shampoo into the toilet. Mom said we flushed bubbles for two weeks.

And- tonight we are going to see Sesame Street Live, Elmo's Green Thumb! I am so excited, mostly because I think Vaylie is going to LOVE it. I can't wait.

 

[kellyf2626]

All these toilet stories are hysterical!!! We don't have any...yet! We keep the downstairs bathroom closed so he doesn't go in and do anything crazy!

The wedding was great last night...everyone had lots of fun. I looked ok...but my girlfriend (the bride) looked gorgeous, and that is what is important! I'll post a pic later of me in my dress!

So Brady has a modeling call on Tuesday for Hasbro. He had one a while back from Stride Rite, but didn't get the job. So, we will see how Tuesday goes! Over 300 kids are supposed to be at this call...so there will be tough competition!

 

[beckmrk04]

wow, Kelly! I didn't know Brady was a workin' man already. That's cool though! He's certainly cute enough!

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

Well, we went to Sesame Street Live! It was fun. Vaylie had such a good time watching Elmo and dancing to the music. About 3/4 of the way through she was DONE, though. She had had enough.

(OT- I'm watching Jon & Kate Plus 8, and they got a HUGE, GIANT, CRAZY BIG new house- geez! )

So, anyway, we might go to Playhouse Disney Live next month. Now that we know she likes this sort of thing.

And we're supposed to get bunch of snow tonight and tomorrow. I'm kind of hoping I get snowed in. I'd love to sit home in my pjs tomorrow. I signed up at www.flylady.net - I am going to let this lady help me get my house in order! Free help-

 

[DMickey28]

Where were you guys all weekend? I was going nuts alone!!!

Becky - I am glad that Vaylie loved SS!! I think Alexander would LOVE it too! We just got the Elmo potty video and he is in love with it!
Kelly- Glad the wedding went well. Can't wait to see pics.
Jen - I am glad that Christopher is back to his old self. I can't imagine how hard that must have been.
JennyL - How was the party? We need pics.
Bethany - I am getting excited for Disney for you!

Nothing very exciting with us. Had an 'constructive' weekened with DH on the TTC front ... now onto the TWW. I added a BComplex vitamin and a small dose of Natural Progestrone Cream to my Prenatal, hope it helps. I think I had a chemical the first cycle of BCP a few months ago so I hope the NPC might help with implating and sustaining a pregnancy. Goodness knows the timing is down! I think Alexander has a cold AGAIN ... for a kid that doesn't go to a daycare and isn't around a ton of kids he sure does get a lot of sniffles!

For sippy cups I really like the First Years Insulated ones the best right now. I don't care that they are insulated but they are a hard top so he can't chew it and they don't leak. ALL the soft nipple Nuby ones, even the straw ones, he chews on so much that they leak EVERYWHERE when he uses them. The First Year ones have yet to leak at all. We have the Elmo and Cars ones.

 

[jennyL]

Hi sorry ladies. The party was great. Noah had a great time and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. I'll try to post some pictures tonight. They are on my camera still. I woke up Friday not feeling great and it just got worse all weekend but with the party Saturday and then DH working all day Sunday I didn't get any good rest time in until yesterday. So I took the day off and just slept and rested until time for my eye appointment in the afternoon. I ordered some new glasses so now maybe I won't mind wearing them. I'm a contacts girl so my glasses are from highschool. LOL needless to say I can barely see out of them and they are so not in fashion anymore.

Ok I got sidetracked. Noah loved his cupcake once I gave him one without the icing. I guess the icing was too sweet for him.

On the food front he did great at dinner last night. He ate enough off of my plate that I didn't think he needed any baby food. We had chicken breast marinated in italian dressing with peas and egg noodles. The noodles probably have milk in them but I didn't look he just nibbled on one of those but he loved my chicken and then ate alot of peas which took forever since he was picking them up one at a time. DH and I just sat there and chatted while he ate. I did my new trick of only putting a little on his plate at a time and then acting like I'm not really paying attention to him and that seems to be working. Daycare is trying the same thing and I can see its working on the cameras. Once he gets this part down we'll go back to regular meals I guess.

I'm not sure what kindof sippy cup we are currently using but he is at least putting it up to his mouth now. Next we need to work on tipping it up so that he can get something. When I reach over to help he lets go since I now have the cup. LOL He was biting but I made a sucking face and noises with my mouth and he mimicked and was drinking from the cup. woohoo the first time he got way to much for him and it overflowed his mouth on his clothes but he's getting better.

Ok enough babbling for now. I hope everyone else had a great weekend.