The Official New Mom Thread

[Alice28]

Yay for smiles! So much fun!

Well, if my parents take the boys, I'll still have Molly, so it won't be *entirely* kid free. But, she usually goes down around 8:30, so I could scrapbook for awhile or enjoy a TV show without interruption! Imagine that.

 

[DisKim]

It finally happened this morning. I heard Aidan laugh . It was the best sound in the world. He had laughed for my DH and I kept missing it. This one was all mine. He is 3 months old today. I can't believe it.

 

[lulu71]

I'm trying to catch up here....
Valerie - Congrats on baby Katrina's arrival!!! Let the fun begin!
Alice - That's awesome that you're getting work done on your house!
DisKim - How sweet that Aidan is laughing for you!
Joats - I second DisKim's opinion on the Ocean swing. It's great! Mia loves hers!

I hope everyone had a great weekend. Mia slept from 12 midnight- 6 am Saturday night! I was so thrilled! Last night we were back to crazy night owl baby, but hey, maybe we're making progress?

 

[justhat]

Congrats on baby Katrina, Valerie! My friend is formula feeding and she said it took almost 3 weeks for her milk to be totally gone. She also wore one of those things I think Tasha mentioned and she said it helped a lot too.

Alice28, great news on the home repairs! It's great that you're getting the work done, and for free is even better!

For those who said the Ocean Wonders aquarium swing is great, I totally agree. Madison used it for the time she was about a week old, maybe even a little younger. She loved it and it was pretty much the only place she'd sleep other than my arms for the first 2 months or so. But, with that said, we had one of the Graco swings at my mom's house and Madison seemed to enjoy that one too. I was more comfortable putting her in the Ocean Wonders swing at a younger age since it had the cradle (side-side) motion so her head wouldn't fall forward, but she did like either swing. Her favorite swing of all, however, was our Ocean Wonders take-along swing. She loved that thing, with the lights overhead, the music, and the dangling toys. By the time she was about 10 weeks old, she could grab the toys and pull so the music/lights would start up. She couldn't really do it on command, and I'm not sure she even realized pulling made it turn on, but she just liked to hold things, so she'd hold onto those toys very tightly and she'd keep the music/lights going as long as she was in the swing. We stopped using it around 6-7 months and I put it in a closet. Last weekend we went to my mom's house so I took the swing out to bring up there with us to store for the next baby and Madison saw it and had to sit in in the rest of the day. Luckily she's still under the weight limit, so she would climb in and swing herself until it was time to leave. She even cried on the train when we put it in an overhead bin so we ended up setting it up on the floor in front of our seats for her to sit in!

 

[castlegazer]

Hi everyone,
I get to join you here now ! Katrina Elizabeth was born on July 12, 2005.

Congratulations Valerie. Love the name - my baby is Catrina Grace!

 

[Tasha+Scott]

It has been a sad week in my area! First, my friend's dh was killed in Iraq. Then our neighbor (who had a 10 week old baby) was co-sleeping w/her baby this weekend and accidentally smothered it to death b/c it couldn't lift it's head well yet! On top of that my mom had a coworker who told her that her dd was cosleeping w/her baby and accidentally rolled on it and broke it's arm! It makes me nervous to cosleep! We haven't coslept w/Kylie at night since she was less than a week old, but I do sometimes cosleep w/her to take a nap during the day. I have never worried I would hurt her b/c I am such a light sleeper and feel like my newfound mommy instinct would keep me from rolling on her and would keep her safe. Plus she holds her head up fine, but still it now has me worried!

 

[joats]

It has been a sad week in my area! First, my friend's dh was killed in Iraq. Then our neighbor (who had a 10 week old baby) was co-sleeping w/her baby this weekend and accidentally smothered it to death b/c it couldn't lift it's head well yet! On top of that my mom had a coworker who told her that her dd was cosleeping w/her baby and accidentally rolled on it and broke it's arm! It makes me nervous to cosleep! We haven't coslept w/Kylie at night since she was less than a week old, but I do sometimes cosleep w/her to take a nap during the day. I have never worried I would hurt her b/c I am such a light sleeper and feel like my newfound mommy instinct would keep me from rolling on her and would keep her safe. Plus she holds her head up fine, but still it now has me worried!

I'm so sorry you've had such awful news! I am in shock about your neighbor how horrible. That would be my biggest fear about co-sleeping - that's why I haven't done it. I'm petrified of that. I know others do it successfully, but I'm too scared.
Please know that my thoughts and prayers are with you, your friend and neighbor. You've had enough bad news...I hope things get better.

 

[DisKim]

T&S - What horrible stories about co-sleeping! I still bring Aidan in bed with me at night to nurse. Sometimes I fall asleep with him. I'm going to have to try harder to keep myself awake! Also, I'm so sorry about the death of your friend's husband. How awful!

Justhat - The story about Madison and her take-along swing it too cute. I'm starting to think I should have gotten one of those. At this point, he's already 3 months old so I'm afraid it would be a waste of money since I'm not having any more kids.

 

[gwcollins71]

T&S --

Since Lily arrived I have heard so many horror stories about people smothering their babies. I kid you not, there was a forensic science show on the night we brought Lily home about a mother who smothered 3 of her children (all at different times).

I am so scared to let her sleep with us now. I am like joats, I too fall asleep while nursing Lily. I've also let her nap with me in the afternoon. I love her little body on my chest.

Mike is the same way. He'll pick her up if she's screaming and then fall back asleep holding her. He's paranoid now too. We are trying to keep her in the bassinet now, but she doesn't always cooperate.

Gretchen

 

[lissawynn]

Hello mommies! I have come to the sad realization that my little guy is growing up too quickly! This weekend DH took his swing apart b/c he's too big for it. I had the Baby Papasan swing from FP and loved it! Jimmy was never that fussy that I really relied on the swing, but he still got a kick out of it. In the last few weeks we've also had to replace his car seat, and I bought a new umbrella stroller, too. I have to try to make room in our basement to store all of this stuff.
I've finally put together Jimmy's Deluxe Jumperoo, and he loves it. He can only stay in there for about 10-15 minutes, though. He gets tired after that and gets fussy.
I have good news on the workfront. I'm going to be teaching all 7th grade LA classes this school year, and I have NO cafe. duty! This means I don't have to prep for 8th grade (which I've never taught), and I can just improve on the stuff I did last year. I have to say, being pg and teaching did not mesh very well, so I'm excited about this year.
I still have to head out to Target and BRU to get the remainder of the stuff we need for our WDW trip. We're leaving in 10 days! I really need to get moving!

 

[Alice28]

That's so sad about the baby smothering incidents.... I don't know what to say...

Not much new to report here. Except to report I think Molly is the easiest baby ever....genius material. Yesterday I laid her in her crib, just to lay her down so I could clean up the kitchen; there was a pacifier maybe 2-3 inches from her face. She was quiet immediately within 5 minutes.....I went in her room, she got the pacifier in her mouth and was fast asleep. Talk about a self-soother! She's only 4 months old! That's how she is the majority of the time as long as she's dry and full- just lays and squeals at her mobile, smiling at the world...and then she'll either suck her fingers and someone will give her a pacifier and she nods off. I strongly feel God blessed me with an easy one this time because of DH not being here and all.....trust me, my #2 just about killed me as he was VERY HIGH MAINTAINANCE! Who knows, Molly may be a total pill when she's 12,13, 14 though so I had better count my blessings now, right?

 

[gwcollins71]

lisawynn --

Wow, I haven't worked for the only school districts that don't tell you what you're teaching until the last minute. It is so nice to teach the same thing. I can imagine it will be much better with a new baby at home... less prep work and things are already somewhat organized.

In Chicago, you'd get a list of what everyone was teaching in June . . . per union contract. No one was actually listed where they were going to be. The admin would just make a list so no one would file a grievance.

Here in Joliet where I am now, they have told us what subjects we'd be teaching... duh, its the subject I'm certified in. However, we don't have grade levels assigned yet. I know I'm teaching 2, 3 period blocks of social studies and language arts. However, I don't know if its world history, early american or late american history. I'm not as worried about the LA though. I'm planning on trying to tie the novels in with whatever we're studying in soc studies.

What novels do you use in 7th grade? I teach at a school where 95 percent of the students are reading at a year or more below level. Any suggestions?

Have a great day!

Gretchen

 

[joats]

Alice28: Just wanted to say thanks again for the swaddling advice. Jace has been much happier on his own and has been sleeping over night in 5 hour stretches! I am getting more sleep which makes for a happier mommy! As for the swing, he could take it or leave it. Unless he is asleep in it, he can only do about 20 minutes before getting restless. It's still 20 minutes I have to do laundry/dishes/eat.
BTW, I'm very impressed with Molly getting her own pacifier in her mouth! WOW!

I am also happy to report that the BFing is going much better. Knock on wood, Jace has not vomited in about 4 days and we have a pretty good system together now. He's taking the pacifier more often too so he is eating less often - no more clustered feedings.

 

[tkyes]

alice - i'm so jealous! we are having nuk issues here. i can't get ds to nap without one and if it falls out he is up and screaming again. naps are no fun here! sigh

 

[lissawynn]

gwcollins In 7th grade, we don't teach novels. We use certain selections from our lit. book for LA. Seventh graders have 1/2 year of computers and 1/2 reading, so the reading teacher takes care of the rest of that stuff. We do have a great program in our school called Accelerated Reader. Our kids take a test at the beginning of each quarter to determine a current reading level. Students can then check out books in that range, read them, and test on the book when reading is completed. The AR grades count in LA, reading, and computers. It's been very successful in our district at the ms level.

Alice I, too, have a very easy going baby. I don't know how it happened with Jimmy being our first, but he is amazing. He wakes up every day with a smile and only really fusses if he's hungry. When he sees the bottle or jar of food, you can't get the food into him mouth fast enough. I am very worried that if we have another, he/she will be a terror. It will be sometime until a decision about another baby is made, so we're enjoying the heck out of Jimmy right now.

I have returned from Target and BRU. I got a Deluxe Hip Carrier, as Jimmy is too heavy for me to carry in the Bjorn. I also bought disposable everything for our WDW trip. I still have a few odds and ends to pick up, but I think I'm almost done. Now I have to wash and pack everything! That's the fun part.

 

[Tasha+Scott]

Alice I, too, have a very easy going baby. I don't know how it happened with Jimmy being our first, but he is amazing. He wakes up every day with a smile and only really fusses if he's hungry.

Kylie is the exact same way...now. But it took us 6 weeks to get to this point! She's a completely different baby from those 1st 6 weeks and I am much happier now that she always seems happy too.

 

[Strawberry Lemonade]

Hi everyone...just checking in! Lucas is finally napping and I don't feel like doing laundry today.

For anyone interested, I found that Sears and BRU sell baptism/christening outfits. I remember someone besides me asking about that. If anyone knows of anywhere else, please let me know. I'm in the market for one for Lucas for his baptism in August.

I also wanted to give a belated THANK YOU to everyone who recommended Pampers Swaddlers. They are the best diapers we've used - not a single leak yet.

Have a great afternoon, everyone!

 

[Alice28]

On the topic of Pampers Swaddlers; be on the lookout for coupons Pampers is mailing. I got a FIVE dollar off coupon for two Mega packs (meaning you have to buy 2); and I had a 15% off any Pampers purchase at BRU. I went to BRU yesterday and each pack ended up only costing me $8.54! (Orig. $12.99). BRU will do that- let you use a manufacturer's coupon and their 15% off coupons together. Cool!

 

[katerkat]

Hey Robin - how's the BRU in Portland? We're going to be down there in a couple weeks and want to go crib shopping. Probably BRU and Baby Depot. (Yes, we're running from WA sales tax.... )

 

[Alice28]

Hey Robin - how's the BRU in Portland? We're going to be down there in a couple weeks and want to go crib shopping. Probably BRU and Baby Depot. (Yes, we're running from WA sales tax.... )

I usually go to the one on 82nd Ave- it's usually quite well stocked & it's less than a mile from Baby Depot, also on 82nd! AND, if you like to scrapbook, there is a killer scrapbook store right there by Baby Depot (82nd & King) called A Joy Forever...across 82nd from BD.

And then of course, the mall with babyGap, Gymbo, and the Children's Place is a mile south of BRU on 82nd....and Old Navy. Just in case you're in a shopping mood.