The Official New Mom Thread Part 2

[floridafam]

Hi Mommies,

SL,

I'm glad Lucas is getting better.


jill,

I love your pictures. How have you been feeling lately? I hope you are fully recoverd from your surgery.

DisKim,

I'm glad your car is fixed. Cars are a pain. I'm lucky we haven't had to take ours in for much but I think it needs brakes and I'm not looking forward to paying for that.


We don't have much planned for today. I have a bid on my stroller on ebay and 11 people watching it so hopefully that will go well. The person who placed a bid has no feeback. I guess everyone has to start somewhere.

DD picked out dinner and dessert for tonight. It's been 2 years since her surgery and we always like to celebrate a little.

DS was up a lot last night with heartburn. He's only 10. I guess it has something to do with his asthma. His Dr. said a lot of kids with asthma have acid reflux.

I'll check back later.

 

[Alice28]

justhat- 8 kids? Holy moly! I couldn't do it. Like Kim said, I have lost some serious brain cells just by having three. I would be a zombie surviving on Caffeine if I had 8. But kudos to her if it's what she wanted and she enjoys it!

Kim- That's funny about Aidan being Tom's mini-me. Our kids are all such a mix that I can't say any of them are spitting images of either one of us. I think Molly looks quite a bit like Bob, but tons of people tell me how much they think she looks like me, so whatever. I'm glad your car is fixed and it wasn't a big deal.

Jill- I hope your dad feels better soon- poor guy! I love the pictures of your family- your DH on the phone and the girls huddled around him is just precious!

SL- Glad Lucas is feeling better! Let us know if you score on some shopping. I feel like shopping today, but need nothing except some groceries. Boring.

FF- I hope your DD has an extra special dinner and dessert tonight! She definitely has a reason to celebrate; being healthy is nothing to take for granted.

GM- Hope everything is lined up for the christening, and that it all goes smoothly for you.

Thanks all for the kind thoughts yesterday. Sometimes DH is just exasperating. Marriage isn't for weinies, I will tell you that! We talked it out, and I think it will all be fine, as usual.

I watched a travel channel special on the Yacht and Beach Club yesterday- I'd seen it before, but it was a little boost to my day. I have to share something- the other board I post on, is a spinoff of the DIS- a bunch of the scrapbooking gals got upset with the DIS powers that be, so they started this separate board. There are a lot of really nice ladies on it. One said that she has a ton of points to both the VWL and BCV, and that she will be banking a lot of them in 2007. She said she *might* have enough for me to use some for 3 nights so we can stay at BCV for the 2008 trip! I hope so- that would be so awesome. I will stay at Shades for the rest of the time. I think I figured using her points on a weeknight will be around $200, vs. $305 it would be otherwise. Hopefully it will work out; otherwise I'm hoping for a code or SOG overflow or something to still be able to stay there a few night.s

That gripes me about WDW hotels sometimes- I mean, yes they are so beautiful, and the ambience is awesome, but $300 a night? Ouch!

 

[Strawberry Lemonade]

It's quiet here today.

floridafam - Sounds like your auction is going well.

ginamarie - Enjoy your library trip.

Alice28 - Glad things are better on your end. I hope those points work out for you. That sounds like a great deal!

I don't think I'll be going to the mall today. DH has the good stroller in his trunk and I'm not too keen out driving all the way out to his work then back to the mall. I'll probably just go to Target this afternoon and the mall tomorrow night. DH has a stag party to go to so Lucas and I will need something to do.

Lucas is looking so much better and his mood has definitely improved. The poor guy must have been so uncomfortable all weekend and we just thought he had mosquito bites.

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

Good afternoon everyone! I am majorly getting the "vacation jitters". I had the kids pack this morning--Celeste "helpfully" laid out every single stitch of clothing that she owns, nice and neatly! Robert grabbed the first few things that would pass the "mom" test, while Jocelyn is still agonizing and is waiting for some stuff in the wash. It just dawned on Celeste at nap time that her bedroom is decorated in princesses--the girls share, and have had princess bedding since Celeste moved out of the crib! But we've tried to play down the vacation up till now with her, she's only 3, waiting until Sat. is agony. Heck, it's agony for me, too, and I'm a little older than 3!

SL--I'm glad Lucas is feeling better. I can't help but wonder if it was a chemical used in fertilizing or processing the peaches that he reacted to? If so, I would be careful with all fresh fruit--just try a little at a time. It just seems weird that he had the problem with fresh but not canned. Although when Robert was a toddler, he had the worst time of vomitting you ever saw--we'd put him on the BRAT diet, he'd do better, but start adding other foods in, and we'd get vomitting. After months of this, going to the ER, the allergist, it turned out that he couldn't digest the skin of red grapes, and would throw them up. I'm 100% positive I did the three day test thing with him on green grapes, but didn't think twice about giving him red ones, once the green were okay. But it was just so odd. He can eat them fine now, but you know, I just can't touch them--they're evil to me! At any rate, sometimes these things are funny.

Bella--I just LOVE the picture of Aidan--he's so cute! What a happy guy. My three youngest all look like their father, to the point where total strangers comment on it. It's no fair--where are HIS stretch marks! At my mom's funeral, my aunt said that Jocelyn looks exactly like I did at that age--yeah, if I was a thin, blonde dancer with hair to my knees! (Maybe in my wildest fantasy...). Anyway, that's great about the time off--DH got two weeks when Luke was born, one of them unpaid. And when my mom died, he took 3 of the alloted 5 days, and when he got back, they sent a snide e-mail to the effect of "Sorry about your loss. Time to make up those days you missed." Seriously, it was so bad he printed it out to show me and we cracked up! So sorry my mom died at an inconvenient time for the company. Wish I could tell her to plan better next time. Anyway, Make sure you take good care of yourself during recovery.

justthat--8 kids probably sounds worse than it is. There must be economies of scale and if you're real organized, it's probably not too bad. Not that I have any interest in trying it, you understand. In college I knew a guy who was #8 of 14--11 of them girls. He was a real nice guy, smart, funny, etc. He was a normal guy.

Robin--I hear you on the Disney hotels. Especially since this will be our last time in a standard hotel room, we're looking at our options down the road. We didn't expect it would be cheap for a family of 6 to go to WDW, but even looking at the upgrade from regular Poly to concierge--$110 a night EXTRA?!? We could rent a house for the difference. We hope to go back in 2008, and it's never too early to start planning, right? But it's likely we won't stay on site unless MIL is picking up the tab for a DVC place. Assuming she doesn't go "missing" next week...

floridafam--that's great about celebrating your DD's surgery. Once in a while, it's nice to just celebrate having a healthy kid.

Jill--Love the pics! Looks like you had a fabulous time. You look really good and happy, and John is just a little charmer, isn't he? Who could resist those blue eyes--I'm sure he's never a moment's trouble!

Gina--I made a blanket for my best friend's first child, and then one for Jocelyn and one for Robert. Celeste's is about half done--maybe I'll finish it for a grandchild some day! These days, I feel like I'm doing good if I read something more intellectual than a can of Spaghetti-O's. Good for you for getting all these projects done and during a move to boot.

 

[gottalovethem]

The kids and I leave tomorrow a.m. to drive to Ohio to visit a friend and then to a cottage to hang out with my parents. I am dreading the drive, especially since they have been TERRIBLE lately. I hope we all come back in one piece and I my head isn't grey.

So I unfortunately don't have time to post properly right now because I still haven't packed and we have gymnastics and I have a Jaycees meeting tonight. Plus I want to bring something to my friend's house and still have no idea what to bring for her and the kids.

Just wanted to update you in case you don't see me again for a week. We get back just in time for Leif's first birthday.

 

[Alice28]

GLT- We will miss you! I hope you have a fun trip and the kids don't drive you batty in the car on the way there!

BNB- Here is some packing pixie dust! LOL about the spaghettio comment.

I realized the 3 nights at rack rate at the Beach Club, plus tax, is more than our monthly mortgage payment (which includes taxes and insurance!).

SL- Have fun at Tar-jay.

 

[Ginamarie]

Alice- I love seeing disney stuff on the travel channel even when I’ve seen the show 10 times already. I hope you get to stay at the Beach Club.

Buzznbelle- Good luck with the rest of your packing.

Gottalovethem- Have a great trip!


Olivia is set for her Baptism on Sunday. She’s actually the only baby that’s getting baptized this week, so it’s extra special. Now I have to start hoping for good weather. I can’t believe it’s just a few days away. The last few weeks have FLOWN.

Also, the surveyor called to say the survey is done. So with any luck we’re just a week from closing now. The library was nice. They’re doing a group reading of “The Little Train that Could” in libraries across America today, trying to set a world record for reading the same book on the same day. DBro was much more interested in the fact that they had the “DISNEY PIXAR CARRRRRS” soundtrack, which we had to take out for him.

I need to finish up my CD for my seasonal CD exchange group. It’s due at the end of the month, but next week is going to be way to busy to have to worry about it. Then I have another motion to write, and at some point I need to eat something since it’s already 3:30! I always forget to eat when things are busy and then I’m starving by mid-afternoon. Of course that leads to snacking ALL afternoon/evening. I have terrible eating habits

 

[fabumouse]

Joats - thanks for the lovely welcome! They are definitely adorable when first born, but I like when they can move on their own and retrieve their own pacifiers.

Hey Bellacam! That's great about DH getting the paternity leave. My DH was alotted 2 weeks, but he's been able to break it up a bit by working part-time during August. I'm amazed at how little I can get done on my own and once my IL's leave, my DD5 is going to have to entertain herself for a few months.

Hi back at ya, FF!

Robin - I was a little disappointed with some of the Gymbo lines recently - and my wandering eyes started lusting for a little Hanna Andersson. YIKES. Smack me and steal my credit cards. I also do my holiday shopping early - my only problem with it is that I tend to buy 4397 stocking stuffers for each kid (including other people's kids), so I have a few "leftovers" each year.

I also LOVE the name Gemma. We have a neighbor child with that name - it went on my short list, but two of them on the same short block seemed too dense of a Gemma population. Seriously though, it's a great name.

Justhat - Eight children!!! I know people do it - but I'd rather take 2 kids to WDW.

DisKim - you are TOTALLY RIGHT. And you are a saint for working while you have 3 children.

Madeleine did sleep last night. I am hoping for more of the same tonight. It felt so good. But now she's fussy, so I'll have to break off here.

Except for a minor FIL rant: he invited himself out to see the baby, for 10 days (since he lives across the country). He has sat on his butt since he got here, not once taking out the trash or making dinner or doing anything productive. He has spent some time with DD5, for which I am grateful since she loves him, but if he wasn't going to help out, then he shouldn't have come while I have a newborn. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR. MIL has been here for a month, which has been a complete godsend. But now, she's taking care of FIL most of the time. And no, he's not incapacitated, just incredibly spoiled.

 

[vald1977]

Hey all,
I've been staying up to date with reading the thread but I haven't had a chance to post in a couple days. Of course like Diskim said, I'll probably forget most of what I just read and what I wanted to say .

GM,
Good luck with the baptism and the house closing . And don't forget to eat !

Robin,
I will not be pointing out the lovely fact that our week at Disney is more than two mortgage payments . I'm glad you and dh worked out your issues. I agree with you that marriage isn't for weenies .

GLT,
I hope you have a safe and fun trip. I know just how you feel with the throat infection. I don't know if you remember me whining about mine a couple months ago. It turned out not to be strep but it was just as awful. It took a good 48 hours on the anti-biotics to feel better. If after that long you are still suffering, you may need something stronger.

BnB,
Enjoy your week at Disney ! How cute about Celeste laying out all her clothes for you . I hope your MIL behaves herself so she doesn't end up in the lake .

SL,
My ds is also allergic to peaches. He also reacts to the canned and baby food ones. Just an FYI, he is also allergic to shellfish. I doubt that the two allergies are connected but you never know. I'm glad Lucas is feeling better.

FF,
Sending pixie dust that your stroller brings in some big bucks . Sorry to hear your ds has heartburn. Does anything otc seem to help or do you think he made need a prescription for something? Enjoy your dd's celebration meal tonight . What did she pick to eat?

J&D,
Thanks for the heads up on the .05! I snagged that this morning.

Diskim,
I'm glad your dh's car is all fixed . Laundry is always never-ending in this house.

Justhat,
4 miles a day?! That's awesome . Now you know Henry isn't going to go to bed tonight at 8:30 since you told us all he does, right ? That always happens to me.

Jill,
What great pics of your trip . Thanks for sharing them. All your kids look just so happy.

Bellacam,
Those pictures of Aidan are wonderful ! I'm so glad your dh is getting all of his leave for when the baby comes. I'm sure the help will be much appreciated with two little ones.

Joats,
I'm sending prayers for your dh that he is feeling better very soon . It must be tough trying to do everything. I hope Jace's appt. went well.

Fabumouse,
Hopefully, Madeline's sleeping will start to even out for you soon. The pictures of both your girls are beautiful .

Hi to everyone I may have missed .

My job is going very well. I really like it a lot. I also found out we get tips everyday which is pretty cool . I think whoever I get in the exchange will be getting some goodies from work .

I so hope that James is going bye-bye on BB7 tonight! I'm also getting so sick of Boogie. He thinks he is doing so well when really it's Will who is controlling everything. Boogie is just the puppet. The way he treated Howie was awful. Howie wasn't my fav. but he had every right to be upset when he was ousted the way he was and for Boogie to be such an a*s about it was annoying. I know this is catty but I also find him very unattractive. I don't know what Erika sees in him .

I got my order in from Disney shopping and Katrina's costume looks so cute . I'll have to take a picture of her in it to share. She also has a new trick and gets up on the end tables now . I swear she is part monkey or something. She climbs everything she can.

Well, I think I will go catch up on some of my household chores. TTYL .

 

[vald1977]

Fabumouse,
Just saw your most recent post. Sorry FIL is being a PITA. I really think that some men of that generation are very used to being "waited on". I know many like that unfortunately.

 

[llij]

Good afternoon everyone!

I should have been baking and cleaning today, but I ended up going to a neat Outlet about an hour from here. There were some great deals and I ended up getting John a duck Halloween costume for only $15. I also purchased some dishes from the Pfaltzgraf outlet only to drop them when I got home. All but one of them shattered. Ugh!

The funny thing about today was that I brought my two nephews and niece shopping with me. You should have seen the looks I got from people b/c they thought I had six kids! I was cracking up the entire day. Justhat, it reminded me of you seeing the mom with eight kids at the Stride Rite store. I’m with DisKim and Robin that I would be seriously missing many brain cells if my niece and nephews were my kids too. Come to think of it, I am missing a ton of brain cells and I only have three kids! I love my niece and nephews dearly and they are great kids, but trying to keep up with everyone today tired me out.

Robin and Justhat – If you don’t mind sharing your collage photos, I would love to have a copy. If the photos are hard to get, then don’t worry about it though.

Justhat – The Hagerstown Outlets took me about an hour to get there. I would think it might take you and hour and a half. They are a part of the Prime Outlets and have a Gymbo outlet, Stride Rite, Children’s Place, Carter’s etc. They are having a 20% off sale this weekend in addition to the tax free shopping so I’m sure there are good deals to be had. Is Joey on call this weekend?

DisKim – I’m glad that your car didn’t have anything terribly wrong with it! You cracked me up about Emmy ruining your fun by not letting you buy her an outfit from Limited Too.

J&D – Thanks for the head up on the San Francisco Music Box sale!! BTW, how is Jenna feeling lately?

SL – I’m glad to hear that Lucas’ hives are clearing up! Have fun shopping this weekend!

Ginamarie – Good luck with the Christening! Is Olivia wearing a family baptismal gown? You need to post some pictures of her Baptism!

Floridafam – Good luck with the stroller on E-bay! I hope that it sells for a lot! Have a wonderful dinner with your dd tonight too. That is a great idea to celebrate the anniversary of her being better! I also hope that you son’s heartburn feels better. Poor guy!

Thanks for asking how I feel. I’m actually doing pretty well. I’m having a little hormonal issue, but that should hopefully get resolved in the next few months. Otherwise, I feel great!

Robin – Oh, I hope that you are able to stay at the BC in 2008. You are right that the prices of the WDW resorts are insane. If my parent’s didn’t help us out on each trip then we could never stay at any of them. BTW, how did your dad like Molly’s shirt? Are your parents excited to be back home?

BNBmom – Yes, John is a little charmer. He was smiling away at anyone who would look at him today. I’m in trouble when he’s older. Have a wonderful trip! I hope that your MIL behaves herself! Remember, if you need bail money...call me!

GLT – Have a safe trip and a great time!!! We will miss you!

Fabumouse – I’m sorry that your FIL isn’t helping out. I hope Madeleine continues to sleep well for you.

Val – Glad to hear that your job is going well and that you like it! Post a picture of Katrina in her new costume too!

Lissawynn – How are you doing? Are you feeling better?

I hope that everyone is doing well! Hi to all the moms!!


Here are some pictures of John in his new Halloween costume.

 

[vald1977]

Jill,
Love the photos of John in his costume . That is too cute!

I think Katrina is sick . She came down with a fever a while ago and she sounds all congested. I gave her some tylenol and cough medicine and a nice bath. Then she just laid on my lap nodding in and out of sleep until bedtime. Poor little girl. I hope she is better by tomorrow.

Dh and I are doing the info booth at the local fair this Saturday. I think we will leave the kids at home and walk around alone for a bit after our shift.

 

[Alice28]

Oh, Jill, John is TDF cute in that costume! Thanks for sharing- made me smile! I am so sorry that the dishes you brought broke; I would be so mad. I have done something like that before with a measuring set I bought at Crate and Barrel. As soon as I took it out of the bag and unwrapped it, I dropped it and it shattered everywhere.

Val- I'm so sorry that Katrina is not feeling well. Poor baby! I hope her fever breaks soon.

lissawynn- you out there? Feeling OK I hope?

Fabumouse- I keep meaning to go to the Hanna Outlet here in Portland and I forget. I am sure I could easily love it. Right now I have an itch to make a big order for Molly from Lands End- they have some really cute stuff! I liked a few pieces a lot from the last few Gymbo lines, but nothing that I went berserk over. There is still a sweater from the puppy dog line I want that I will buy at the baby sale, and I haven't looked at the new line in person yet. So far I'm not too hyped over it. But I gotta get one of their blankies for neighbor's baby- their soft knit blankies are great!

GM- so glad everything is plugging along with the house! Time certainly is flying!

Oh, Jill, yes my dad loved the I Love Grandpa shirt- he was just pleased to see all the kiddoes! Molly wouldn't say Pa Pa for him though, little imp.

I'm trying to decide which game console to buy for the kids. I think Sam is almost the only (almost) 9 year old I know who doesn't have one. He and Josh have Gameboys, but I was VERY hesitant to buy a console until Joshua was in school too. I just wanted them to be old enough to know how to play some of the games, and have Sam understand there are rules and limits to what he can play, and how long he can play for. I have it narrowed down to the regular Xbox and a Game Cube. Problem is, I don't think the regular Xbox is sold in stores anymore; only the $400 Xbox 360. Don't think so. But Sam really wanted a certain Star Wars game he played at Dear Neighbor's house that apparently wasn't made for Game Cube. Sigh. Neighbor recommended the Game Cube for their age range and the games seem to be more reasonably priced. Any opinions here? I think I have ruled out PS2 as the games seem to stay high priced.

 

[vald1977]

Robin,
We have a PS2 and an Xbox. They are both dh's but ds has games for both. I haven't played the gamecube. Is the xbox game lego star wars? That game is really cute. There is going to be a new one coming out in September. Overall though, most of the xbox games are geared towards adults, imo. Ds has a few but not many. I like the games rated E for him and most of the xbox titles seem to been T or M even. In that respect I like the PS2 better but since you have ruled that one out I would go with the gamecube. I'm sure there are prob. a ton of kid games for that one.

 

[floridafam]

Robin,

We have the PS2. We have a lot of games for it that the kids really love.

DD has a Mickey Kitchen game that is really cute. The Barbie horse game is nice,too. They have the Lego Star Wars game (which is on sale right now on the Lego website for $24.99)

We have the Jeopardy game for it and other ones like Tomb Raider (dh's) and Crash Bandicoot.

DS had a Gamecube and never used it so we ended selling it to EB Games.

So, that's our experience. DH doesn't want an Xbox.

val, I'm sorry Katrina is sick.

 

[Alice28]

See, how easily swayed I am? Since both of you gave the thumbs up to PS2, now I am leaning towards that. The Star Wars game is Star Wars Battlefront- I think it's rated T, but that's acceptable with supervision for me.

We have the Lego Star Wars for Game Boy and they liked that a lot. The new one comes out in a few weeks. I need to go look at the PS2 prices again and see if I was wrong....are the games like DVD format? Discs?

 

[Alice28]

OK, I just looked again at PS2; I think it would be OK. The new games are expensive, but I guess they are the same price as Game Cube. And they have the coveted Battlefront. I think I will go get it sometime next week. Sam is going to pee his pants since I just lectured him 3 days ago, "Not until your birthday." (November!).

I think we will just start off with Battlefront, and then he can save his allowance for Lego #2.

And so it begins....

DH is NOT a gamer, so out household is pretty virgin when it comes to this stuff. Most of the other guys his age are into it, but he's not at all....he said in Iraq ALL the guys played it and he would either go on walks around the base or read. What a nerd. LOL! JK, I like that about him.

 

[vald1977]

Robin,
The PS2 games go cheap after awhile. I've seen titles for 24.99 or less a lot at Walmart. My ds also plays Star Wars Battlefront. I don't mind those types of games where they are shooting but it is just characters like Star Wars. I just don't like the life-like simulated gun shooting games or the vulgar language in some of the T games. I think the PS2 is a good choice.

 

[floridafam]

Robin,

Yes, the games are discs. Our PS2 was having problems last week and I called Sony. They are sending a replacement refurbished unit to us for $45 and our PS2 is 6 years old-I think.

I find different games on sale all the time. Some of the cheapest ones I've bought have turned out to be their favorites.

I like the Finding Nemo game. Both kids want the PS3 that comes out in November and have been doing chores to earn money for it. They don't ask for anything else besides books and they both do very well in school so we will probably get it.

Hope this helps.

 

[floridafam]

Robin,

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0001NE48...1_29/102-0873010-5746501?ie=UTF8&s=videogames

Is this the game you are talking about?