YIKES!! It hit me yesterday that we are less then 2 months away from our WDW trip! I hope I have everything planned out right. I have our dining ressies..
May 2nd-Chef Mickey's
May 3rd-Ohana for dinner
May 4th-50s Prime time
May 5th-Luau
May 6th-Princess Dinner @ Akershus
May 7th-Biergarten
May 8th-Boma for dinner
May 9th-Nothing...
May 10th-Marakesh
May 11th-Ohana for breakfast
Sound good?? K... what else? I have 2 rooms booked at Pop. Everything else is paid for.. I think I am good to go. I hope. Now I just need to get my girls dresses made, and the matching outfits for everyone done. Get off your booty and SEW woman!
sounds great!! We're trying 50's prime time for the first time next month. I can't believe we have never been there. I know why...it's cuz I'm chicken that they will pick on me!!!
When would you recommend that we get professional pictures taken of the baby? Thinking of trying out the one in the Babies R Us cause they should be able to do a good job as they photograph alot of babies.
Also do you have any tips for his first photo session.
Any positions that you loved your baby in?
Any thing you didn't think of before you had the pictures taken you can tell me about?
Thanks!
I'm so about pictures!! I'm addicted to pictures. For babies first year I do, 2 weeks (newborn session) 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. Plus I squeeze christmas pictures and pictures w/live bunnies & chics in there. The christmas and spring ones have all of my kids in them. The older kids are once a year. My oldest I stopped doing his own sessions after he turned 5, I still get individual portraits of him when we go for christmas pictures.
My babies still dribble.. Heck, I wish my 8yo would get all his food in his mouth!

Its totally normal, no need to worry about it!
Totally normal!! I still swear CJ gets more on himself then in his belly!
Yesterday Alex became a steam roller!

He started rolling from back to belly. And then again and again and again! This morning he was on the floor as I was packing up for work and he ended up on the other side of the living room. We're in trouble!
Too cute!
Jake went in for his 6month well visit yesterday. He has had a fever for a week and a half, but his ears look good and his CBC came back good (good listen in the chest, too)-- so they think its from the teeth (fever of 100 or so).
Normally he has no issues with shots. We've never had issues. I decided to go ahead and give Jake the two flu shots yesterday too, so he had a total of 4 shots. 3 in one leg, one in another, and the rotovirus drink. His area just below his belly button (between both legs where they gave the shot) is swollen and he was up ALL NIGHT (also had a fever). I gave tylenol and it didnt help. Does anyone else have issues with shots, or ever had this happen?
His bottom to teeth are both completely through the gum now- so doc said he COULD be cutting another tooth (hes already cut 2 in a week and a half)... but i think its the shots.
ANy advice?
Poor little dude. No help, but tylenol and hugs. Motrin if he can take it...
My biggest issue was that I don't fit into those dang brand name clothes that all my classmates wore. Abercrombie, Aeropostale, Hollister, etc. my girls were too big.

I was falling out of a DD by 7th grade.

(sorry if that is TMI, but we have shared much more than that before!)
Patsy< i'm so w/you on this one! I hate that all I can wear now (and then) are tshirt type shirts. No button up shirts for me. It get bored w/the same old stuff. No vnecks either...unless I have a tank under it, don't need to draw anymore attention to the area
For baby's first professioanl pictures should I plan on having poses in mind or will the photographer have alot of good ideas?
Where should I go to get the pictures taken?
I went to our Babies R Us yesturday to schedule an appointment and the portrait studio there closed in January.
If you have any favorite pictures that were taken of your little one let me see so I can tell the photographer to try and get that shot for our little one.
Any props you recommend that we bring with us?
Are you on facebook?? If so, pm me your name...I don't think we're friends. I have a bunch from my photographer. It can give you some ideas. My photographer has tons of different props that she uses.
With the hand holding thing, you might want to get your nails done. And make sure you don't have a watch on or anything. I had my watch on, but luckily thought to take it off, the photographer didn't mention it.
Lily's next shoot will be full of tutus and fairy wings. I just bought some stuff.
Yes...make sure to have you nails done and jewerly cleaned if you're going to be in the pictures.
Totally normal for breastfed babies.
I would LOVE to get a Maclaren. I have been eyeballing the twin techno.. They are really sturdy, and high handles.. But the seats are kind of shallow for my beasts. I have had a ton of strollers.. We had a combi with my dd, It was a decent price, folded up small, tall enough.. But Kaylee broke it at
Disneyland when she was two. It wasnt sturdy enough, and it just got kind of warped and the wheels broke. For me, I need an umbrella stroller that holds a really high weight. The Maclaren fits the bill. I was looking at the City Mini.. but it doesnt fold up very small. Stroller issues really stress me out!
I kind of wish the babies were still in the carriers... The babies are heavy, and wiggly!! They are a pain in the butt getting in and out of the house, car, grocery store.. Whatever.. when I am alone. It was much easier when they were in the carriers. I have started using my sling to get them around when I have to carry both of them. Helps out TONS!!
Love, love love my maclaren. I got mine off of craigslist in september. I got a twin techno w/accessory pads for $95. There is a stain on one of the seats and that's why she got the pads, no biggie. She wanted $100, but when I got there, we noticed some dirt that I was able to just clean off, so they dropped the price a little. Keep your eyes on craigslist. It took 3 different people that I was talking to until I got one. First, decided not to sell, 2nd realized that the lap straps slid, so she could get more use out of decided not to sell, 3rd took a trip to NH and got it!
Alright, I just bought a stroller on ebay! I've not done any research on these things, just totally took the word of mouth from you all and got a Maclaren.

Kelli, which one do you have??
I got a new 2010 Maclaren Twin Triumph. It said it was used as a floor model. It was $120... which I'm thinking is pretty good. Plus, free shipping.
I was really wanting to check out the consignment sales for a stroller but it sounds like this is as good of a deal as I might have hoped to find there... and it's not a chance! So hopefully I like it when it gets here.
Great stroller!!!! Great price!
She loves it...wants to do it all the time. I am frankly sick of reading to her!
Don't stress! MANY babies are like Lucas.
1. Let him chew on board books. Just handling them is really good for little ones. You want him to be comfortable with them.
2. Fill a big basket with lots of board books. He will use them like toys--pulling them in and out, playing with the basket, etc, but he will start opening the books and looking at the pages.
3. Try reading on the floor while he's playing with the books, even if he's ignoring you. I do this a lot in storytime. The kids will be playing with the books/basket and I'll open one up next to them and read it and do number 4.
4. Be super enthusiastic. "Wow! Lucas, look at the kitty! He has soft fur!"
5. Pick books with bright colors and flaps and textures. Lily's favorites are the DK Peekaboo series. The flaps are nice and thick so she won't rip them and they have touch and feel parts too.
DK Peekaboo board books
Is he into mirrors at all? Lily is really into it right now, so her favorite book is this one:
Baby Faces Peekaboo
It has a mirror at the end. She likes to make out with herself...lots of tongue!

Just remember to keep it positive and enthusiastic. And don't force or push it. I would try it at least once a day though. I find she's more receptive to certain things at certain times. Maybe he isn't a read to me at night baby yet. Maybe try it in the morning or before a nap. Or do the basket trick when he's playing. HTH
CJ just ate up the new book I got for him. I got my older 2 godiva chocolate for valentines day and got cj a book...cj decided he wanted chocolate, so he tried eating his book.
I think the "high end" store we have would be Buy Buy Baby. It carries a TON of stuff that is not at BRU and some brands I haven't ever heard of. I went there today to look around (you can use your BB&B coupons there too don't forget!) and they had 2 floor model Aria twin 60/40 for $219. We tried out a $800 double jogger just for fun. It was nice but very bulky and heavy.
Our biggest resale in the area is tomorrow. I can't wait! I went to a small sale last weekend and this lady behind me had the cutest folding cart. She said she got it at TJMaxx last year. I thought for sure I would never be able to find one but they had just gotten them in that morning. I got a cute brown and blue one for $19!
How is buy buy baby?? do they have all ages (toddlers ) like BRU does?? We have one opening soon by us, but there are no other ones inthe area, so I have no clue what to expect.

OH MY GOD!
I just fell down a few stairs with the baby. He seems ok. Cried a bit but is awake/alert and acting fine, sucking on passy. My arm I was holding him in hit the stair before his head bumped it. Bit scared cause his head went back a bit quick but his neck and head seems ok. DH isn't worried but I'm frazzled.

DH said that some of his brothers where dropped more then others meaning he was dropped a flight of stairs when he was young by his older sister.
scary!! I hope you both are ok!
You guys have had a rough weekend!

Hope everyone is feeling better soon about everything.
We went to
Sams Club yesterday to wander around. Ended up running into my parents there.. Lucas got to try soooo many samples!

He wasn't wild about some of it. He got basil pasta, mashed potatoes, pot roast, blueberries, corned beef and swiss cheese. Very small amounts but he was loving trying all the different foods! He started to figure out that if someone gave us a little cup it meant food and got a little irritated if it was something we wouldn't let him try.
Hope everyone has a good Sunday!!!
hmmm...good idea for checking out what they like and don't like.
Awww, Stacy. Do the spots still seem to not be bugging him?
Sarah!
Someone thinks that the people I ordered from on EBay ARE the Maclaren people clearing out inventory for the new line. Apparently, the people are in the same city in CT so it could really be them I guess.
Anyway, my point... I know you were looking at a few options but I thought i'd post the store I bought from so you can keep an eye on it:
http://stores.ebay.com/Baby-Products-Store__W0QQ_sidZ657501637QQ_trksidZp4634Q2ec0Q2em14?_pgn=2
UPS tracking says I'll get mine Tuesday so I'll let you know if it seems like it's coming straight from Maclaren!
I think his spots on his back bug him. I notice them swelled up a lot! just imagine having hives all over your body that won't go away. they are about scratched misquito bite size...
Birthday Party Questions...
I realize that he's not going to have a CLUE that this is his party and it's not really a big deal at all, except it kinda is. My mom and I are going to try to use this party to reconnect with family we drifted from when my grandparents died (my uncle, his kids, etc.)..
So anyway.. this is my spring break, so I was planning on going ahead and buying the invitations so I could utilize my time (and lack of school work!) to get the things written and addressed this week. Not mailing them out for awhile, though. (The semester goes until May, then we're going on vacation, so I'd like to get stuff done before things get too crazy for me!)
Most of my cousins have kids- all different ages. Should I put on there for them to RSVP so I can get together goodie bags for their kids? Or just skip the goodie bags? I know traditionally bday parties have them but I'm sorta lost on what to do, since Lucas won't even know what is going on.
I wouldn't mind doing it.. small stuff, probably some small toys they can use in the pool that day and some candy but I didn't know if it would be weird to put it on the invitation.
I know several of you have older kids so thought you might be able to offer some direction! TIA!!
If you have little ones coming I would do some type of bag or even make choc lollipops for them of something. We're having CJ's 1st birthday at my sons first communion party. We are having it at a hotel function hall and the communion party is a little more than I wanted to spend, so we decided to combine. Everyone that is coming to one would have been coming to the other party, so I don't feel bad. I actually feel better...3 kids, 3 birthdays, religious events (baptim, communion, etc) now I'm only taking up 1 spring weekend vs 2. Plus we are driving to WDW on cj's first bday adn will be awy the 2 weekends after. The first one we are back is Ty's communion.
oh my...I said I would go thru

off to have somemore soda bread! corned beef in crockpot for dinner..YUMMY!!!