The Official New Mom Thread

[zalansky]

Gosh I am WAYYYYY behind too but I just wanted to check in and say hello.

We had family in from NY for 5 days and it was a whirlwind and I haven't been online much at all....this thread moves FAST like so many have said in the past. I return to work this coming Monday and am feeling very anxious about it. Now that it is here I don't want to work, I want to stay home....so we'll see how I feel come January 1st.
This coming weekend is also our trip to Disney without Cameryn and I am feeling very anxious about that too. I jknow it's only two nights but I feel she is so young and hasn't been without me for more than a few hours. I made DH promise to drive home and get her if I flip out. My poor DH.

I have been skimming the thread the past few days...it's been fun seeing what you all are getting for the exchanges!

Tasha - Happy belated anniversary!
Alice28- I went to Gymbo on Black Friday and got some nice things and $50 in Gymbucks. I think I need rehab soon or we'll go broke...but at least the kids will look cute!
Cabmom - good luck with Dean! I didn't BF so I have no advice but wanted to wish you well.
Hillbeans - I love that pic of Liam!!!! And I agree the kids on this thread are too cute!

I love all the new pics that have been posted of all the babies!!!

Have a goodnight everyone...

 

[Strawberry Lemonade]

llij - Great pics! I love the little Santa outfit.

Joats - Glad Jace is starting to grow some hair. We got Lucas the Baby Einstein exersaucer and he is loving it. BRU had a 15% off any item coupon and another for a $10 BRU gift card when you buy over $50 of Baby Einstein products so how could I resist that deal? There's a picture of him in it in my signature (the middle pic) - sorry they're small.

DisKim - How cute that Aidan's dancing!

Tasha + Scott - Happy belated anniversary!

DisneyPhD - Hope your little ones feel better soon.

Alice28 - What awesome news! That's really nice of your community to be so generous.

Zalansky - Good luck on your return to work. I hope things work out for you.

Lucas has moved on from making raspberry sounds to saying "bleh bleh bleh". There are even a few 2-syllable sounds thrown in every now and then. Maybe first words aren't too far behind??

 

[DisKim]

Tasha - Happy anniversary. My DD's birthday is on the 27th. She turned 10!

Zalansky - good luck going back to work. It's so hard. As a matter of fact, I'm on my lunch right now and I want to jump in my car and go get one of Aidan's sloppy wet kisses!

DisPhd - I'm glad Anna is feeling better. It's so sad when the kids are sick.

Alice28 - What great news! Your family deserves some special treatment after all you are going through.

I'm sorry if I missed someone. My mind goes blank once I finally start to post! I don't have the best short term memory. I sent out my package yesterday! I hope it gets to its destination soon! OK, time to go back to work.

 

[lissawynn]

Afternoon everyone! I have a break in the school action right now, so I thought I'd see what's what.
I don't know if it's the holidays or what, but my fellow faculty members are short on patience these days. The yelling has been constant all afternoon, and some of it from people who usually don't yell.

Robin - What fantastic news for you and the kids! I think it's sad when people's generosity shocks and awes us. People should be stepping it up for families with loved ones who are overseas.

zalansky - Enjoy your WDW trip! Oh, how I wish I lived close enough for a weekend getaway!

Tasha - Belated anniversary wishes!

DisneyPhD - We're not going nuts with gifts for Jimmy this year. I have a bad feeling that our families are going to go overboard as he is the youngest child and it's his first Christmas. There will be some major reorganizing at my house after the holidays. It's just too small to have tons of stuff lying around. I hate clutter!

SL- Congratulations on the beginnings of talking! Jimmy babbles all the time. It's so cute! I am patiently waiting for his first word. I'm betting on the dog's name (Duke).

Tonight I'm venturing out with my mom and older sis to get some more shopping done. I earned some Value City bucks this weekend so I'm going to redeem them for a gift for my dad's wife. I also have a few other small things to pick up. I just want to be done!

Now for some cheesy confessions...Does anyone else love sitting in the dark and looking at their decorated tree? I have to say, this is one of my favorite things to do at night when the baby is in bed and I have some peace and quiet. I just love looking at the tree all lit up and shiny.

Hope you're all having a good day! I am off to a dept. meeting!

 

[Alice28]

Loretta- Have a great time in WDW- I hope you are able to relax even though you'll be thinking about Camryn I'm sure. And I know what you mean about going back to work- it's so hard!

SL- Lucas is d-a-r-l-i-n-g! The pic of him in his exersaucer is too cute!

Lissawynn- Hope you get some more shopping done tonight! I like to sit in the dark and admire the tree too. We are getting one on Monday for free! A bunch of growers here in OR have donated 2000+ trees to all military families. Dad and I are going Monday morning to get first pick!

Can I just say my MIL is driving me insane and leave it at that!?!?! I could write a novel if I were to start in on it, so I will just say I am ready to lose it with her. And she's coming for a visit next week- can't wait. She has always driven my DH batty and now I understand why- I've never had to deal with her this much, but she calls several times a week since DH has left, always with the same things to say. I sometimes seriously wonder if she's getting the early stages of senility/alzheimers. She's almost 66, so still on the younger side, but good lord the woman can repeat herself.

Molly is still BITING me, hard. I think it may be time to start weaning cause she won't stop it! Even when I say NO or pull her off. OW.

 

[DisneyPhD]

Molly is still BITING me, hard. I think it may be time to start weaning cause she won't stop it! Even when I say NO or pull her off. OW.

Close up shop when she does that. She will figure it out. I used to let her nurse again because I wanted her to eat and I learned the hard way. Bitting means no food. They learn pretty fast. Lily is still nursing and she could really do me some damage if she wanted to, but she knows better. Often bitting is a sign of not wanting to eat, but play anyway.

Anna is feeling better, Lily is a bugger machine latley though. It never ends. Don't you just love winter?

 

[Tasha+Scott]

Hi, all!

I too love looking at my Christmas tree all lit up in the dark. I don't find it cheesy either! It puts me in the holiday spirit and helps me relax. I have even sat in the dark with Kylie in my lap and we have looked at it together. Gotta break her in young, ya know!?

Well nothing much here. I am not feeling well. Nothing major but I think I might have a UTI or something. I am going to the dr. this afternoon. Wish me luck that it is nothing major and nothing more than a UTI and will be taken care of quickly!

Also Kylie has officially started saying "dada" now. She said it all day long yesterday! And she even said it to Dh directly a few times last night. So I am not sure if she is just saying it to say it (which is what I thought until she stared directly at dh and very purposefully said it) or if she knows what she is saying. Either way, exciting stuff!

 

[Strawberry Lemonade]

Tasha - WOW! Congratulations to Kylie! That's so exciting. Hope your appointment goes well and you feel better soon.

Today we're going to pick up Lucas's Christmas pictures so I'll post them up later. Hope everyone has a great day!

 

[vald1977]

Hi all,
Robin,
That's great about the family wanting to sponsor you guys for Christmas. It's nice to read that there are some wonderful and kind people out there.

Tasha,
Hope you feel better soon. UTIs stink! Happy Anniversary .

SL,
Looking forward to seeing Lucas' pics .

DisneyPhd,
Glad Anna is feeling better .

Lisawynn,
I'm enjoying my tree also .

I think DH is FINALLY starting to get some relief from his ummm, issue . I'll be so glad when he can return to work and things can get back to normal around here. I love him to death but he's starting to drive me insane .

I'm still waiting for Miss Katie to roll over. She just has zero interest in the concept. She did start eating cereal though and she's doing really well. She is getting so big .

Hope everyone has a great day .

 

[Hillbeans]

Good Morning everyone!

Just wanted to update that I sent out my exchange package on Tuesday, so hopefully my recipient will get it today or tomorrow.

Also, Liam had his 2 month Doctors appointment yesterday. He had to get 3 shots, poor thing, but he was a trooper. Liam weighed 14 lbs, 4 oz (90th percent) and was 24.25 inches long (75th percent) and his head circumference, like his older brother's, was off the charts - LOL. We talked about the mild colic, and it is getting better each day. The gripe water I got seems to soothe his stomach in the evenings. I also think I see a tooth under the surface on his lower gums - it's not out yet, but gosh, all of a sudden my baby is getting to not be a "baby" anymore.

Tasha - Happy Anniversary!! Hope that you're feeling better soon! So wonderful that Kylie is already saying "Da-Da"!

Robin - what wonderful news for you and your family!!

Alice - Congrats to you and your family for the Christmas sponsorship this year. It's wonderful to see the generosity during the holidays.

SL - Can't wait to see Baby Lucas' pictures!

Vald - So glad to hear your DH is doing better - poor guy!

Lorretta and Jill - you lucky ducks - have wonderful trips to WDW. Lorretta - try not to worry about leaving Cameryn home this time. I've heard time and time again that the way for you to be the best mom you can be is to occasionally have some time to yourselves. A 2 day trip should be wonderful for you. I hope you're also doing well Jill - so glad you could go on this trip that was planned way before baby John came along.

Cabmom- I also didn't BF, but you've gotten some great advice here from the Mom's board. Good luck.

DisneyPhD - LOL about the bugger patrol. I feel all I do these days is dig in my kids noses with tissues. Hope Anna's feeling better.

Justthat - glad you had a nice Thanksgiving in Phoenix!

DisKim - that'll be me in a few weeks when I get back to work, i'll be sneaking in my posts on my lunch break!

Talk with you all soon.

 

[Strawberry Lemonade]

A surprise in DH's email today! Lucas's online pictures are up. Here are the good ones:

 

[DisKim]

SL - Oh my gosh, your pictures are adorable. I love the picture with you and DH kissing him. How cute!! Is that JC Penny? The backgrounds look familiar. They did a great job. I wasn't crazy about mine. That's mostly because my middle son smiles like a puppet any time he sees a camera. He just can't smile normally for a camera. It's the weirdest thing.

I love looking at the Christmas tree in the dark too. I also love pulling up in my driveway when it's dark out and seeing the house all lit up. My house has a wrap-around porch and I just love to decorate it for the holidays. I always wanted a porch like that when I was younger. I put two full trees on each side of the porch and I just love the way it looks at night.

Alice28 - I weaned Aidan because of the biting issue. He was really hurting me and biting every single time he nursed. I was sad to stop but there was no way I could continue with him. I would sternly tell him "no" and he would just smile at me. He really didn't get the concept.

Tasha - I hope you feel better soon! Congrats on Kylie saying "dada"! Aidan says "hi Dad". It's so funny. I wasn't sure if that was really what he was saying, but he's been doing it for a while. Whenever he sees DH, he gets really excited and starts pumping his arms and feet and says it. He also learned "baba" for bottle. He demands his bottles now. It's not bad enough that I have a 5-year-old and 10-year-old that nag me for things but now my 7-month-old already nags me for bottles!

I got my exchange yesterday! Thank you Lissawynn!! Aidan and I loved everything. The Gymboree outfit and socks are just adorable and he needs clothes so badly. The size is perfect! The "Santa's little helper" bib is just adorable and much needed. He always has a bib on with 5 teeth coming in right now. He loved the little Pooh toys. I had just gotten home from food shopping when your package arrived and the toys kept him busy while I put stuff away. He loves getting something new. He also loved the Santa book. He likes to turn pages with his little fingers. Also, thank you so much for the cd of Christmas songs and the light-up Pooh pen for me. That was so thoughtful. I put the cd on while I drove to work this morning and it put me in a good mood. Thanks again for everything!!

I hope everyone is having a good day. I need to go eat. I hopped on the DIS during my lunch period before even eating!

 

[Alice28]

Lucas is darling- thanks for sharing those pics SL! I like the one with the santa hat on.

Wow DisKim- you got some great stuff! This exchange was so fun. I'm glad we did it.

No words from Molly yet...I wonder if perhaps she'll talk earlier than the boys simply because she is a girl. My boys were kinda late talkers.

She nurses well when she's sleepy, but when she's awake, my breasts seem to be playthings to her....she just doesn't get into it. The boys would still very much 'get into it' for any feedings at this age. It's kinda sad, and yet I'm a bit relieved. With everything else I am doing (i.e. going a million miles an hour trying to keep our household running), it's so much easier to hand her a bottle sometimes! And, oh, does she love her ba-ba! She gets SO excited when I make it. It's amusing because #2 HATED bottles and only wanted me.

I think I might actually venture out today ladies. But it's so cold here! It's snowing in the hills, but we're too low of elevation where I am for it to snow. Darn. I just haven't been anywhere except for Benihana's in a week! You know me & getting out to Target, etc. I really want some blankets they have on sale this week for the boys.

 

[justhat]

Okay, though I really tried catching up on everything, I think it is impossible cause there are constantly new posts, so while I'm reading the old stuff I'm behind on the new stuff! Not to mention, anything I'd say now would be very dated and seem random anyway. So I'll just skip to the present!

T&S, do they make kids toys that aren't a pain in some way!?! Really though, the book has been great so far. Madison loves it and it's actually very easy to use (and I kinda like it too!). Very neat idea, and it's great for Madison who just recently got into tv (about 6 weeks ago) and also loves books.

Zalansky, good luck with going back to work. I'm sure it will be tough at first, but at least you don't have long before the holidays so at least you'll get a small break then.

Hillbeans, I love the new photo of Liam (though I have to say I loved that picture of him in the duck costume with your other son-that was so precious too!).

SL those photos are sooo adorable! I can't believe how big he's gotten, gosh, I remember the first photos you posted of him and it doesn't seem that long ago!

DisKim, I thought your photos turned out great-I never would have thought of the puppet thing with your son (I'm talking about the family photos you posted probably a couple of weeks ago, just in case you think I'm insane since it's been so long since you posted them!).

Alice, congrats on the Christmas sponsoring! That's great news! Oh, Madison was a late talker too and she's a girl (obviously). She did all the cooing/babbling stuff on time I guess, and boy was I excited when she babbled mama and dada around 6 months or so, but then that was it. She never used them with meaning (despite that I thought she was at the time) and then sorta phased out all sounds except 'ba'. She never really had a bottle so it's not like she was saying 'baba', that was just her sound for everything. At her 15 month checkup I asked her dr about it cause the only thing she said besides 'ba' was 'mama' (and she meant it at that point, I'd say she was around a year when she started using it to call me). Then around 18 months she started saying a couple of other words. That's when she started preschool though so I think that had a lot to do with it, just being around lots of other kids talking. Now, in just 3 months, she has become quite the talker. I was able to keep a list of her words till about 2 weeks ago, now there are just too many (I was only doing the list per the dr, not just cause I'm weird or something). It's amazing to me cause she went from totally nonverbal 3 months ago to talking all the time now. I mean, it's still generally 1 word sentences, but she can string about 3 or 4 words together now when she wants to so we're almost at the point where she's fun to hang out with! Of course, now her favorite things to say are "mommy stop" and "mommy shhh" when I tell her something she doesn't like.

 

[bellacam]

SL - Lucas is darling! Those Pictures are fantastic!

Tasha - We are putting up our tree tomorrow and night time with the tree lights on is one of my favorite things. And congratulations on "Dada"

Well, Aidan is 4 months today! He had his Dr's appointment and is now 17 lbs 12 oz and is 27 inches! He is doing very well but his weight gain had slowed down too much. I know, with how much he weighs that dosent sound right He has lost most interest in BF, except in the morning, so I've had to start supplementing more with formula. I get no where with pumping. With all this considered, the Dr said to get him started on solids. We gave him cereal tonight. I think he liked it! Contrary to what the pictures show, he did eat most of it.

 

[DisKim]

Bridget - how cute! I just love the pictures of Aidan's first feeding. It looks like he got more on his face than in his mouth

Justhat - yes, I was referring to the family pictures. Of course, Alex is still my little cutie. I just love his natural smile and wanted it reflected in the picture so I could always remember his little 5-year-old boy smile.

My two older kids had a terrible fight today. Actually, it was one sided (my DD, of couse). I always get the kids a Playmobile advent calendar. Well, stupid me must have only ordered one online instead of two because I only got one. I told them they could share it and take turns opening the boxes each night. I told Alex he could be first since he is younger and was really excited about it. Well, Emily, who is 10, had to play the drama queen and scream and cry because she wanted to open it. This is typical for Emily. She is so jealous of Alex it's ridiculous. Alex started to cry because she was yelling at him. Finally, I got upset and Alex told Emily to open it because he didn't want to see mommy upset. I couldn't believe how diplomatic he was. He is such a sweet little boy. Of course, I had already bagged the darn thing up and was ready to donate it but I just couldn't do it to Alex. I think Emily is really jealous of the baby and knows better than to express it so she takes all her jealousy out on Alex. It's a nightmare. I swear, I feel like the "old woman who lived in the shoe" lately. I'm having such a hard time handling all three of them. My DH is never home lately and I'm sick of it. I'm tired of working full time on top of everything else. My laundry is always overflowing. Oh, and my heat is not working. It's costing my $900 tomorrow just in time for the holidays. I don't know how this turned into one of my venting sessions but I needed it. I've had a terrible week. I seriously need to take a mental health day very soon.

 

[Alice28]

Ooooooooohhhhhhhhh!!!! Aidan is so cute! Bridget, I just love the last picture of him- so funny! Love it! Thanks for sharing those, they made me smile.

DisKim- I hear ya sister! Actually, I have been very blessed that my children rarely fight. Otherwise I think I would have killed one of them during this deployment. JK of course. But, man, when they do argue, I could just scream. And don't you hate it when it's over something stupid, like an advent calendar? (I have yet to buy those!). to you and I hope you can take a mental health day very soon.

I did get to Target today- yay me. Got some gift cards for my nephews and niece, some blankets for the boys, and some other odds and ends. Felt great to get out and feel semi normal, but I was very nervous walking along the slick parking lot, limping, with Molly in my arms. Just praying the whole way, "Please God, don't let me fall and screw up my knee again!!!"

Tomorrow I am going to Gap with my mom to pick up a few things with my friends and family card....30% off everything! After I bought Molly several tops at Gymbo, I realized she hardly has any pants! So I have my eye on two pairs of pants at Gap for her.

 

[DisneyPhD]

Oh mommies, I am afraid I get the bad mommy award today, twice.

Get ready, this is long...............

To start with it was becoming clear that Lily was sick in addtion to Anna. So I took her in the the doc today and he declaired that her right ear was infact very infected, red and inflamed. So we get the meds faxed to the pham and head out. It wasn't ready so we headed across the street to Micky D's. She keep putting food in her mouth, but didn't seem to be swallowing it, her face was really red. Poor girl I was am glad I took her to the doc and had her checked out. Well we got out the car after (this was like 45 min after leaving the doc office.) and I look in her mouth and noticed she had so much food in it she couldn't swallow. I swept her mouth and the rope from the safely loli pop they gave her was in her mouth. I had been in there the whole time. Man how did I miss that? Ugh!

So had this really werid day with my friends kids school being closed "due to flu outbreak" and had to go pick him up. (see thread on it if you can find it.)

Then after bath and all that Lily was in the bathroom, I was in the bedroom and Anna was on the toilet. Lily was on the step stoll she is always climbing on and slipped and banged her head on the title floor. By the time I got to her it had swelled up and was getting biggger very second, and red. Oh my that was scary. It was as big as a normal egg and right on her forehead. Called my BIL who lives close by and we were off the the local ER.

By time we were seen she was doing much better and they exaimed her and let us go with instructions and we are to call her Doc tmw to let them know about it. Uh what a day. I need a hug, or at least something really good to eat. Too bad all my favorites are currenlty off limits.

Doc said it was going to look wrose before better. I wish she had bangs like her big sister. I am thinking we should of done the christmas pictures earlier. Good thing I didn't set an appt for them tmw like I was going to.

Thank god tmw is Friday.

DisKim, sorry about your week, my sympathy is with you.

bellacam, loves the pictures!

 

[zalansky]

DisneyPHD - Here' a big hug for you Don't feel bad, we all have our days and some of mine ar far worse than yours!

SL - I love your pics! I agree that the one of you and your DH kissing him is my favorite.

Bellacam - thanks for sharing those pics of Aidens' first feeding, he is SOOO cute. He has gorgeous eyes!

Diskim - I can only imagine how you feel when that jealousy thing happens, we have it with our almost 3 year old son sometimes too and he doesn't know how to yell like a 10 year old yet. We are in for it!

Hillbeans - thanks for the well wishes on our trip, we leave today and I was anxious about it last night but I know once I get there and get busy I will be okay. We used the gripe water too with Connor, its funny I'd forgotten that until I saw it in your post. Connor loved the taste of it and it would quiet him down for a while. I can't believe how big Liam is!!!

Alice28 - Have fun at the gap today! Another one of my favorite stores!!

Well, I am just sitting here waiting for my family to wake up, even the baby! At 7:37am! Why doesn't she do this when I want to sleep in??
Now that returning to work is a reality for me, I am fairly sure that I am going to quit after the first of the year. This past week I did alot of thinking and realized that even the hard days at home are better than good days at work because I will never get this time back with my babies!!! And I also realized that I have enjoyed this time being home more than I thought I did.

Anyway - off I go!!! Have a great weekend everyone

 

[DisneyPhD]

Lily is doing much better today, at least the lump on her forehead looks much better. She is acting fine and sleep all night (I checked on her a few times.)

DH is going to the doc today. I am not going to even mention my sratchy thoat. If I get sick I will deal with it then and not worry about it now.