The new "New Moms" thread!

[k_reile]

yes i forgot to mention that i did accept the new job...i start on June 8th...but I haven't been able to give my 2 wks notice to my boss bc her dad has been in the hospital this past week due to his kidneys failing and then she was in the office on friday and I was going to wait until later in the day..but she was only there for about an hour because she got a call that her dad had an heart attack...its horrible timing and i feel horrible but i don't really have a choice.

And on another note....I AM SOO ANNOYED AT MY DH!! For once...i would like to sleep by my schedule!: I NEVER sleep in...and amaizinly my DH always does??? I hardly slept last night...the stupid monitor kept on having some static noise caused by the base to completely shut off in Caleb's room and since i was up i looked at the product guide and there was nothing like that in the trouble shooting...i don;t know if its shorting out or something...for a $70 monitor it should last longer than 8 mos. Anyways DH also thought it would be better for all of our doors to be open upstairs and our air conditioner in our room would get to caleb. Well he has a ceiling fan and a fan in his room...but with both of our doors open none of them could keep up as the cold air couldn;t circlulate and so it was hot up there. I finally closed both of our doors and it was much better in both of our rooms. So I got about 4 hrs of sleep. Caleb woke up at 7:30 and was getting fussy at 8:30 so i laid him down...he didn;t sleep so about 9:30 I woke up DH and said your turn to get up! He was like no its not! YES it is...i got up at 7:30...well he was whining that he didn't sleep well and he's sick!! POOR BABY!! I slept horrible too and i am starting to get sick too...so thanks for that! GRRR....i tell you sometimes he is such a big freaking baby!
So now I am awake...and probably won't be able to sleep during Calebs naps...and apparently that is the only time i can sleep...because DH will probably sleep all day...i am secretly tempted to turn on the radio loud in the bathroom and anything else loud in the house that I can...i feel soo evil today!

And...when I am sick I am still up taking care of caleb!

 

[DMickey28]

Kara - I hope you guys feel better. Sleep is like that at my house too. Alex has been waking up at about 4am for some reason lately. Of course I am the one to get up. Then I get up when Alex does at 7-8. However, DH wanted to play golf soooo badly today that he offered to get up with Alex this morning and yesterday morning too. Ahhhh ... It was awesome!! I found that asking DH if he can get up one morning on the weekends and picking the morning himself works best. I can't "TELL" Him to but asking seems to work.

 

[clgwli]

Bethany I read that the Britax car seats are a real PITA with flying. I did a lot of reading before I decided to take ours on the plane. You might want to look for a Cosco Scenera (runs about $40 or less on sale). It's no frills, but rated really great in safety and there is a ton of room for your hand to fit through where the seat belt fits on a plane. It was nice not to have to undo ours from the car and lug it on the plane. We just left our regular seat in the car and took the cheapy with us. It's extremely light too. Just a thought for next trip. I know I'll be borrowing it from my dad again for our next one.

I'm laughing at the comments while out walking. My son doesn't have a huge vocabulary yet (it sucks in many ways, but he's still above 'average' for that) but he loves the outdoors. All the animals are either "doggies" or "kitties" and when it looks nice out he will actually get his stroller out and climb in. We're suburban so it's quiet and more animals around. He loves the rabbits jumping around here. He hardly says anything else, just soaks it in.

Michele glad you had fun at the zoo. We did that on Saturday in the morning. I think it is one of DS's favorite places to go. Sorry the schedule got off though.

I hear you on the sleep thing. I think when DS was about 6 months we switched the monitor to the other side (DH's side). My husband goes to sleep before me and so now gets up earlier. DS wakes at about 7 am though so that's our normal "get up" time anyway. Makes it much nicer now. Middle of the night we both work togehter still and fortunately that hasn't happened much yet.

 

[k_reile]

well I was planning on giving my boss my 2 week notice tommorow since i couldn;t friday...i was online and looking at the local papers website and thought i better check the obits...oh yeah her dad died Sat am! I feel horrible that I am leaving during a difficult time...this is the worst possible timing, but I know its not on purpose and when I can sit down and explain to her i know she will understand...but its going to be hard!

 

[Villain-lover]

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=15721&id=1614252816&l=120d85c0c0

I have some pics from the last couple of weeks on facebook, for those of you not on facebook!

We had a great day! We took the twins on their first outing in the canoe! Sam screamed at first because he wanted a paddle, and then when he got one, he still couldnt get his tantrum under control! He finally got okay and we paddled to Masonboro Island (we live basically on the intercoastal waterway, and have water access in our neighborhood). Its about a half hour paddle out. Sam & Zoe love playing in the sand and wading in the water! Masonboro island is bascically a long strip with the sound on one side and the ocean on the other. The ocean was rough so we stayed sound side!

I hope everyone's vacations are going well, and I look forward to hearing all about them! Bethany, hope your flight back is smoother!

 

[DisneyGirl4188]

We have the Cosco Scenera (got it on super sale for $13.50)! I haven't flown with it, but it does have a ton of room for the seatbelt.

Kara, I am sorry about your boss.

My DH has never gotten up at night with Spencer (mainly due to me breastfeeding). He will take him on occassion in the mornings, but we generally all wake up around the same time. DH has been great this past week, because i strained my back and can't do much.

Bethany, sorry your flight didn't go a planned, but I hope you are having a great time!

Meredith, I saw your photos and they are adorable!

 

[Jen_in_NH]

Kara - My DH can be like that occasionally. Not so much with sleeping, since Christopher sleeps like a brick, but with watching him in general. He has a few days a week where he watches him while I'm at work, and then I have a few days when I watch him while he's at work. On the days we're both home, he assumes he's free to get projects done while I watch Christopher, and then wonders why I haven't gotten anything done. Ugh.

Meredith - the canoe trip sounds like fun. We took Christopher in the boat the other night, and he wasn't hugely impressed. Mostly because he hated the life jacket. I can't wait until his new one comes in - it's way more comfy.

Michelle - the zoo sounds awesome!

So Early Intervention went fine. The school has to start putting together an IEP for him, and then we'll see what they recommend. The EI people told us they didn't see any reason Christopher wouldn't qualify - his speech is about 100 times better, but he still only knows about 30 words, and his pronunciation isn't too good.

 

[Villain-lover]

Jen, what kind of lifejacket are you getting? I KNOW Sam & Zoe's are not comfortable!

 

[Pollito916]

Becky - Hope your trip is off to a good start!

Bethany - sorry your flight didn't go well, but thanks for the heads up to the rest of us. We flew with our Graco Comfort Sport that we got on Clearance at Target for $40 instead of the Britax, and now I'm glad and will make sure to use the Graco again in 2 weeks! Too funny on Owen the city boy! Are the Color Wonder finger paints like the markers in that they won't make a mess anywhere but the paper? I might have to get some of those for Alex.... Oh yeah, and Alex used to sing the Pirates song like that too, now he's up to "Yo Ho Yo Ho, pirate for me."

Kara - silly little nephew peeing outside like the dogs! Congrats on the new job, I'm sure your boss will understand even though it's a tough time in her personal life. You're not alone on the hubby problem - I just don't understand why so many men think they are exempt from missing sleep when WE have a baby!

ShootingStarMom - It must feel good to have the new room almost ready, now to wait for the little arrival!

clgwli - ouch on slamming your finger in the car door!

Michelle - sounds like you had a good time at the zoo! Alex' schedule got off today too when we went to a bbq/pool party and he fell asleep in the car on the way home for 5 minutes than wouldn't go back to sleep so he had NO afternoon nap. He was an absolute beast tonight!

Meredith - cute pics, and too funny (but probably not at the time) about Sam not being able to stop his tantrum even after he got what he wanted. Alex has a Cars life jacket my mom found at Target, so it couldn't have been too expensive or anything, but Alex likes it so far. Is it hard for you to find ones small enough to fit the twins? That might be the problem, Alex hated the same one last year because it was too big, but we couldn't find any smaller ones.

Amber - That's a GREAT deal on the carseat - where did you find it at that price?

Jen - I'm glad EI is going well.

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

We haven't taken Alex to the dentist yet. Some dentists recommend as soon as they have teeth, others recommend waiting until 2 or even 3 years old. I did add him to our dental plan this year, so since I'm paying for it, I will probably take him soon. It's hard finding a good pediatric dentist nearby that accepts our DMO.

And now our big news - Alex went potty in the big boy potty for the first time! He asked to sit on it before his bath last night, but didn't do anything except a little tooting. Then we got in the shower and as he was finishing up he started peeing standing up. I said, "NO! No peeing in the shower, we pee in the potty!" And he stopped, grabbed himself down there and started jumping up and down and said, "Ok, I go potty in the potty chair" in a really desperate whiny voice. So I picked him up, sat him down and nothing. Then I said, "Ok Alex, now you can go potty." And he did! He sat on the potty again today but didn't do anything, but it's a start.

 

[k_reile]

Good job Alex!

Well, I ended up having to borrow my moms monitor for last night. It really irritates me that my nice $70 monitor set did not last 8 mos. So I guess I am going to have to look into another one. We like the ones with 2 handhelds....

any reccomendations....the one we had was fisher price dual private connection monitor. It worked great until this last week! I hope DH can find out why the base is turning off and making that awful noise on the handheld (thankfully it didn't make that noise in Calebs room...therefore did not wake him up...just kept DH and i up)

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2908456

So we are thinking we do not want to go FIsher price again. I'm reading good things about this sony one only with 2 handhelds that i found at walmart.

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2815277

 

[DMickey28]

We have had the Sony baby call with just one monitor and it's been great for the last two years. Sometimes I get some beeping when the range is interrupted but never in the middle of the night. Sometimes if DH is still up and stands in the wrong area of the house for two long it will beep but that's about it.

My best friend has the Sony Baby call too and is going on three years with hers. I am not even 100% her's was new when she first got it!

 

[Jen_in_NH]

Meredith - I'm not sure of the brand we got for his life jacket, but I got it from a kayak dealer. It's built like one of the better kayaking vests (with enough room left open for your arms to move freely), and has the really thin foam instead of the bulky stuff. He wore it around for a while when we went to try it on, and didn't mind it too much. The other part I liked was that it had a whole mesh section between his legs as opposed to the strap that his other one had. That strap looked really uncomfortable

 

[exwdwcm]

Kara- great news on the new gig, but yeah, what horrible timing- that is unfortunate, but not much you can do. and on the sleeping- so sorry. I've been lucky, DH is an early riser, so he doesn't mind getting up. We switch off on the weekends. if Will wakes in the night, we also try and take turns. I have the monitor on my side, so i usually hear him, and have to wake DH- DH is a sound sleeper and won't wake up unless i wake him. if he is at home alone with Will (if i am travelling)- he usually sleeps lighter, but if he knows i am there, he is like a rock. if i wake him, he'll get up and go up there. i've been pretty lucky there. I think trying to set a schedule where you switch off- like you get Sat and he gets sunday? would that help? at least then you know you have that one day to sleep in.

on the monitors- we have a video monitor and LOVE it- it is the Summer one at Babies R us. it is $100, but worth the peace of mind. I can see Will sleeping at night, and if I see he is just 'whimpering' a bit and not really crying, then i watch him on the monitor and know if he is truly up or sleeping. That way I don't have to always go running up there, since he usually puts himself back to sleep in under 5 minutes. We have had zero problems with it- mom and sister love it too- they both have one.
http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2437590

I have hte Cosco Scenera- got it at Wal-mart for $40- that is the one we use in DH's car, since we rarely use it. That is what I will take on the plane. glad to hear it is pretty easy to use on board.

Meredith- saw the twins pics on facebook- looks like a great time- and i am so jealous of where you live, being able to just canoe over to the beautiful beach there- i'd be over there everyday!

Jen- glad the early interv went well. getting the free help is great too- i know the programs here are awesome and parents fight to get into them.
Pollito- YEAH for Alex! what a big boy!!!! that's great news.

So we did the zoo and waterpark this weekend. Will was beat- us too! lol...... on friday we went out for dinner, then sat was swim class and visited my grandpa. Sunday am we did breakfast out and then the zoo. He had a great time- we got rained out some and then headed to a restaurant for lunch. We got home about 4pm and we were all beat. DH took a 3 hour nap and he isn't a 'napper'. I tried to get Will to sleep, but he didn't pass out until 5:30 and then was up at 7pm. so his schedule was way off! so he went to bed late on sunday. slept until 8:30 on monday, which was nicE!! then we did the waterpark at 10;30 on monday----by 12, he was fussing and tired- so he slept on me in the chair in the shade for about an hour then was ready to play some more. i'll post some pics on facebook or his blog later today. he really loved the waterpark and wanted to be splashed all the time.

i really do have an OCD child already. I am the same way, so he must get it from me, and I notice he models my behavior. like yesterday, i was using the mr. eraser thing to get some marks off the wall. He follows behind me making hte same wiping movements with his hand on the wall. then follows behind me with the vacuum cleaner too. so funny. He lines up chairs, toys, and lids. It is so funny. Yesterday, he found the kleenex box and was taking one, wiping his nose and throwing it in the trash, then repeating over and over.

 

[harleyquinn]

Hi everyone! I'm Sarah from the Mom's to be thread and we have another question for you all.

Birth announcements...where did you get yours, did you love them, best cheap place to order them???

Thanks so much!

 

[DisneyGirl4188]

Amber - That's a GREAT deal on the carseat - where did you find it at that price?

Walmart.

We actually have two. The first one was on sale for $40 at Walmart. We decided to get another for MIL's car, but when we went back, they were sold out. I checked all the Walmarts and Targets near us, but no luck. A few weeks later we were coming home from WDW and stopped at a Walmart in Clermont. I saw the carseat on top shelf, but no price. When we took it to the register, it rang up as $13.50! The girl even double checked it since the price was so low.

CONGRATS to Alex on using the potty!!!

Michelle, glad you had a nice time at the waterpark.
Spencer is OCD (as am I). He will put things in piles, dismantle, and make another pile. He can do this forever.

 

[Jen_in_NH]

Hi Sarah - I didn't end up doing birth announcements. I had planned on it, and then decided to just use a really good picture of him we had taken. I sent it out to some of our family who couldn't come to meet him. Around here, I haven't seen people sending them out for a while. But I live in the back woods of nowhere, so that may be why

 

[Pollito916]

Kara - we have had the Sony for over 2 years and really like it. The only time it makes noise is if someone changes the channel on one of the receivers, or if you get to close with a phone. We also had some problems finding a channel without much interference in our old townhouse, but I think it was because our neighbors had the same monitor. No problems since we moved into our single family home.

Michelle - too funny on Will's OCD traits already!

Amber - what a deal! I'll have to look at the high shelves at Walmart!

Sarah - sorry, we didn't do announcements either, most of the friends/family were nearby at the time.

 

[k_reile]

Sarah...I combined my announcement and thank you cards in one for the people who bought Caleb things after he was born. And I also made notecards too! I made them online at walmart.com and then had them shipped to my local store so i didnlt have to pay shipping. I also included a wallet size photo of him that I also had made at walmart because I hadn;t had professional pics taken of him at the time!


This one was for mainly family members and really close friends!

http://photos.walmart.com/buildcard...tion=landscape/layouts=cards_babybloom_1land/

This one was for friends who gave Caleb things after he was born but were not family members or real close friends. This is the one i did but I thiink there are much more options for little girls...i had a hard time finding one i thought would fit a boy!

http://photos.walmart.com/buildcard...y/theme=babystars_blue/orientation=landscape/

http://photos.walmart.com/storepage/storePageId=Prints

 

[k_reile]

Well we found out our monitor problem is not the monitor...since my moms monitor was doing the same thing last night! We have really old electricity in our upstairs from the seventies where there is a strip along the whole room and you can actually move the outlets around the room to where you need them....an actually a good concept...the bad part is that it is not installed like that anymore and you cannot find the removable outlets anymore! So we figured out that the removable outlet was just loose...so at least my monitor works now!

 

[7beasley]

Hi guys --- I am SOOO sorry I have been MIA!

I have been reading though and trying to stay on top of eveyone's news -- but I just haven't had a chance to post. Life is CRAZY -- we are either never home due to house showings or when we are home I am cleaning, cleaning, cleaning to get ready for house showings. And I have been super busy at work getting ready for a HUGE trial!!

So I am sorry I have not been around....

I won't do personals since given how long its been since I posted it would take about 6 hours!! LOL!!!

But I wanted to say hi to all and glad to hear that everyone's kiddos are doing well and happy to hear about all the adventures lately that everyone has been having (beach, zoo, canoeing, vacations, using the potty....) LOTS GOING ON!!

Have a great day ladies!

Talk to you soon.

-Nicole