The Official New Mom Thread

[justhat]

DisKim, I wouldn't worry too much about bringing Aidan to CG. If you want to go, then bring him. We took Madison there many times (1st time at 3.5 months and last time at 14 months) and there were always tons of other babies and kids there. Plus the place is pretty loud to begin with so you don't have to worry too much about him making noise, unless he starts screaming or something. Also, they seated us in this room in the back one time (Madison was 9 months old), which was really quiet and out of the way, so there really wasn't anyone to annoy back there. They had a large group seated back there too, and they were much louder than any baby would be so if Madison had made noise no one would have known. The view is not great, but we always go outside for the fireworks anyway so it didn't matter to us. So think about it, don't just write it off cause he's a baby. I would have felt the same way, but her 1st time there was with a convention-they had a dinner there one night in one of the private rooms. Well of course it didn't matter how loud she was since it was only our party in the room, but when we went out for the fireworks I saw how many other babies there were so I figured, why not take her, and it worked out. Of course, it's harder now cause she only wants to sit in her highchair so long before she wants to run around the room!

We got our stroller fan at Buy Buy Baby-which I know is kind of a local chain, but since I think both people who asked are from NJ then you should be fine. Of course, if I'm wrong, sorry, cause the stores are only in MD, VA, NJ, and NY as far as I know. It works pretty well, but you do have to clip it onto something which can be sort of hard of certain strollers I guess. We always found a place to clip it and it worked okay, though I don't know how much cooler Madison was with it on her cause it was so hot anyway.

My best tip for taking a baby to Disney is to use a Baby Bjorn, or other carrier. I actually kept Madison cooler this way than in her stroller when she was 3 and 4 months. I could dress her in light, short-sleeved outfits, but not worry about the sun much because I could drape a light blanket over the Bjorn and it covered her arms and legs. They I put a sunhat on her with a visor and neck flap and that kept her totally shaded. I usually had her facing me so that my body blocked any additional sun from her face. To get the blanket to stay, I tucked it inside the Bjorn and then draped it over the top and down the back. It stayed in place without any pins or anything and would cover down past her feet. At the time we did this, she was about 24 inches/12.5lbs., if you need a guideline as to how big a baby this would work with. At 9 months (I think she was about 28 inches and 18 lbs.) we did the same thing, only with a heavier blanket to keep her legs warm.

 

[lissawynn]

Hi ladies! I have a question for you. I taught summer school for a week in June. One student's mom begged me to take her daughter even though she didn't have the money for tuition ($200). She made arrangements to pay me $25 a week for eight weeks. She signed the paper that stated if tution wasn't paid, her daughter wouldn't receive a grade and would be retained in 8th grade.
She hasn't made a payment since June 20th. I called her the Thursday before the 4th of July, and she assured me that she would make a double payment on the 5th. She never sent any money to the school.
I'm going to the school later this afternoon to talk to my principal. The secretary sent letters with grades for those students who paid their tuition, and I think this mom is assuming her daughter passed and that's it.
What would you do?

 

[Alice28]

Hi ladies! I have a question for you. I taught summer school for a week in June. One student's mom begged me to take her daughter even though she didn't have the money for tuition ($200). She made arrangements to pay me $25 a week for eight weeks. She signed the paper that stated if tution wasn't paid, her daughter wouldn't receive a grade and would be retained in 8th grade.
She hasn't made a payment since June 20th. I called her the Thursday before the 4th of July, and she assured me that she would make a double payment on the 5th. She never sent any money to the school.
I'm going to the school later this afternoon to talk to my principal. The secretary sent letters with grades for those students who paid their tuition, and I think this mom is assuming her daughter passed and that's it.
What would you do?

Tell her she's not getting the report card until payment is received.

 

[tkyes]

hi everyone! it's been so long since i posted, so much catching up to do!

alice - that's so great about the help you are getting!!!

t&s - i'm so jealous with the sleeping! tyler had a 6 hour stretch the other night, but other than that it's usually still 3 - 4.


Tyler's baptism was Sunday. Everything went really well. He did a great job. He did spit his nuk in the baptismal font! lol - he know has a holy nuk!

He also had his pictures taken Sat. too - I'll share the link since the pictures aren't under my name - here's the link - http://www.flashportraits.com/ - click "my portraits" then type in "Carlson" for the last name - click "becky carlson" then - "tyler" for the password. My parents gave us a gift card to Flash for the baptism so I'm going to go pick some out today.

talk to you all later.

tamie

 

[Strawberry Lemonade]

tamie - GREAT photos! Congratulations on the baptism, too. We're having Lucas baptised in August. Can I ask what Tyler wore and where you got it? We have no family heirlooms for him to wear so we'll have to buy a special outfit.

My mom offered to babysit one evening this week so DH and I can go out to dinner for our anniversary. Our first evening alone! DH wants to see a movie also, but I think I'll be too tired.

 

[justhat]

Tamie, those photos are adorable! Tyler is such a handsome boy! I wish there was a Flash in our area cause those photos are very cute and very creative.

Lissawynn, I would tell her she's not getting the grade, and therefore won't be passing 8th grade until she pays. It's hard to do, and I know it's hard for her if she can't afford it, but she shouldn't expect you to teach her child for free either.

 

[Alice28]

SO CUTE Tamie!

LOL about the Nuk.

 

[lulu71]

Tamie - those pictures are great!!! I love sepia and black and white photos (as you can see from Mia's pic in my sig). How will you ever pick which ones to order, LOL??

SL - Have fun on your date. My mom has watched Mia a couple of times so we could take a long nap, haha! Pretty pathetic, huh?

 

[Tasha+Scott]

Tyler is adorable, Tamie!

lissawynn~ I agree w/ everyone that you shouldn't give her a grade unless her mom pays! She signed the contract so she knew the deal beforehand!

We had Kylie's pics made Sat. too! And then we spent the rest of the day at Nana's (my mom's). My brother (almost 16) is deaf and has just recently been approved to receive a cochlear implant, which is a device that will be implanted surgically and will (if all goes well) give him almost normal hearing. It will take a lot of speech-therapy, etc., before it is completely normal to him but at least it's going to happen! He goes for surgery in Memphis on the 21st. My mom, stepdad, and 22 yr. old brother are going with him. They will be gone from the 20th-22nd and need someone to take care of their animals while they are gone. They have 2 birds, 2 dogs, and a cat. They live an hour away so they want dh, dd, and me to stay at their house (which is new and really nice) while they are gone. I am excited b/c it will be like a mini vacation for us! I guess that sounds silly but it's true!

On a not-so-happy note, I received a letter from the college stating that I am not eligible for federal financial aid or student loans at the cc anymore b/c I have attempted too many hours! I had no idea they even did that! The university is too far away and doesn't offer any online classes that I need so it looks like college is going to be put off awhile longer! Oh, well. I do believe things happen for a reason and it's not the end of the world so it'll be okay. I'll go back when we have enough money or when Kylie starts school and I can drive to the university (I am eligible for financial aid there)...whichever comes first!

Hope everyone is having a great day!

 

[DisKim]

Tamie - The pictures of Tyler are adorable.

Lissawynn - I know it's hard but stick to your contract. If you let this go for one student, others will expect it as well. I wouldn't give her the grade.

 

[joats]

Tamie: What a cutie Tyler is...thanks for sharing the pics. I also would like to know where to get a christening/baptism outfit. I don't want anything too fancy, but any ideas of stores would be appreciated.

Lissawynn: I agree with the others...I would stick firm by the deal that was made.

T&S: Sorry to hear about the financial aid/loan situation. That is rough! Can't wait to see Kylie's new pictures!

SL: Enjoy your night out! DH and I went out when Jace was 2 weeks old for dinner. My parents watched him so I was ok (he was in great hands). I actually enjoyed myself more than I thought. We did talk about Jace a lot, but managed to let ourselves be babyfree and have a nice dinner. We even stopped at BRU on the way home to do some shopping together. A movie? I don't know if I'd make it (I'd probably fall asleep too), but I'd be willing to try! I've gone out a few times on my own w/out the baby...I think it's getting easier each time.
Have a good time and Happy Anniversary!!

 

[Alice28]

The radio thing went really well; while they were talking with me on air they said they were already fielding calls left and right. The DJs said they would call me at the end of the week with all the offers and start setting things up.

It's a gorgeous summer day here. I mowed the lawn this am. Molly watched me while sitting in her bouncy. She has been dining on rice cereal and bananas; she's really getting the hang swallowing instead of just pushing it out.

My neighbors offered to watch the boys tonight (they have xbox night every couple of weeks)....I think I am going to go to Barnes and Noble, get a coffee and sit and browse through Disney World books. We are going in 75 days, but I just can't justify a new book. I know all the info out there, but it's fun to thumb through esp the Birnbaum book to see the pictures. My Gymboree gift card is still burning a hole in my pocket, so I may go there too, I dunno. I've just felt kinda blue the last 48 hours. Missing DH, etc.

Okay, since Tamie shared her cute Flash portraits, I guess I won't be a dope about my last name....if you want to see Molly, Sam and Josh you can go to the same website: www.flashportraits.com, click on my portraits, enter Black, click on Robin Black and p/w is tigger. Joshie is my blondie- he got his done cause he just turned 4. Sam is my oldest.

 

[lulu71]

ALice - your pictures are gorgeous!! My favorite is the one with the boys looking down at Molly in the basket. I really wish we had a Flash Portraits here. My OB/GYN gave me some advice about kids pictures (she's got little ones herself) - she said join the Portrait Club at JC Penney and you only pay one sitting fee for an entire year. That way, you can go many times throughout the year and have pictures taken (for example, holidays) and just order one pic if you want. It's a good way to get a bunch of different professional pictures affordably.

 

[Alice28]

Thanks Lulu. I also got the package at Flash where I spent $80 and I get sitting fees free for TWO years, as well as 4 free 8x10s. With 3 kids, that amount practically pays for the sitting fees alone for one session!

I'm taking just Molly back in Sept for her 6 months. I'll take all 3 again for Christmas, and Sam will be 8 around that time. I liked the picture with the basket too- I got an 8x10 of that one. I still am lolly-gagging around to getting frames....I spent so much on pictures, it made me broke for awhile. The one that captures Joshua to a "T" is the one where he is standing with his arms kind of folded in front of him, giving a somewhat quizzical look to the camera. He's my ball of trouble. SO freaking cute, but SUCH a flipping pain in the butt at times.

 

[DisKim]

Alice28 - What gorgeous pictures. What is Flash portraits? I've never heard of them but they do a great job. I have yet to venture into the mall with all three kids for pictures. I wanted to wait until Aidan will definitely smile for a photo. He smiles but only for me, DH or DD.

SL - Enjoy your night out and happy anniversary!

Tasha - I hope everything works out with your classes.

Well, I need some advice from other moms. Aidan has a poopie issue. He hasn't gone in almost 4 days. I don't know what to do. I tried pumping his legs which is what the doctor told me. He farts all the time but that's it. He is so stinky! Sorry about all of the lovely details, but do any of you have advice? I guess I'm going to call his doctor in the morning. He'll just tell me it's normal for some kids to go only once a week again.

 

[Alice28]

Molly has had poop issues as well; where she won't go for 3 days...but the BM is soft so she's not constipated. I think it is normal, but if you're brave, try taking his temp rectally. Sometimes that gives a little "stimulation." Sorry if I grossed anyone out.

 

[joats]

Alice28: What cute kids you have!
Thanks for sharing your photos.

 

[justhat]

Well, I need some advice from other moms. Aidan has a poopie issue. He hasn't gone in almost 4 days. I don't know what to do. I tried pumping his legs which is what the doctor told me. He farts all the time but that's it. He is so stinky! Sorry about all of the lovely details, but do any of you have advice? I guess I'm going to call his doctor in the morning. He'll just tell me it's normal for some kids to go only once a week again.

Madison did this at about 10 weeks old. Up until then she went a couple of times a day, then suddenly not at all for over a week (I think 10 days). Her dr said that's normal for breastfed babies to do after about 6 weeks or so and not be worried about it (told me this at the 1 month visit). Well of course I was anyway so I called her dr and she said unless it goes over 2 weeks, don't worry. Well, the next day she pottied so that was fine, and it was soft and all, so not constipated. Her dr's explanation is that breastmilk is so easily absorbed by the body that most of it is used so there isn't always anything left over to excrete. Oh, and she was pretty stinky during those 10 days too! By the way, after those 10 days, she would often go days without a poopie diaper. Sometimes she'd go once a day, but very rarely more than that, and generally only about 2-3 times a week.

Alice28-very cute photos too! All your kids are so adorable! And I can't believe you got all 3 to look cute at once-very impressive!

 

[ahutton]

DisKim - I was going to say the same thing others mentioned about CG for dinner - If you want to go, then go. There is a ton of noise in that place unless you are seated in the wine room, which only has a few tables. We've found noisy places were great for the babies - the noise lulled them to sleep.

I never used a fan in the heat, but I do have a thing called "Misty Mate" that straps onto our stroller. It has a small hose and clip, and you can set it up to mist to help cool the baby down. I've also had great luck with using a snuggly carrier. I did that with Michael in Phoenix both in March and June. We could put him in a onsie and hat and he stayed cooler and more comfortable. I've also had great luck with the snuggly in the rain, as I put a rain jacket on to protect my back and arms (you could use a poncho that is opened up in front too) and carried and umbrella. DD stayed warm and dry that November!

As hard as it is to believe - Michael is now 6 months old. Two weeks ago his first two teeth came in, and his top two are almost here!

 

[DisKim]

Alice28 and Justhat - Thanks. You made me feel better about the poopie problems. My MIL was babysitting while I was at the dentist this morning and apparently Aidan decided to make up for lost time. He pooped about 3 times for her. What a good baby. He was just holding it in for Grandma .

I never used a fan in the heat, but I do have a thing called "Misty Mate" that straps onto our stroller. It has a small hose and clip, and you can set it up to mist to help cool the baby down.

Where did you get the misty mate? It sounds great.

To those of you that have used baby carriers in the heat - I have one but it is dark blue and I would think the baby would get hot from my body heat. I'll probably bring it and give it a try anyway.