Feb '08 Mamas - they're turning 2 - Page 3

[Dea]

Mishaj.
With Trixie we found out that I am a carrier for something that I can't remember and so we freaked out. Okay I did, Adam was cool about it. He's much more level headed. Adam also has a heart condition that is genetic, so in my mind our baby was going to have both issues and it was going to be bad. And as it turns out she's okay. We also did all of the screening and it was fine with Trixie. I couldn't do the screenings with Hudson because of the twin loss.
Anyhow it'll be okay. This is what science is for.

About birthdays. At this age, have a little circle time with songs and finger play, they'll love that! Last year we had 2 huge parties. Trixie was a little overwhelmed but she was okay with it. This year I'm just taking the easy way out and we're having her party at a local indoor play area that is all like a giant bounce house, she loves it there as do her little friends.

Trixie's favourite word lately is no, but she says it "newwwwww" cracks me up.

[nikkiethridge]

So funny I found this thread..Just got done decorating the house and cleaning up since we are celebrating my son's birthday in the morn. I'm SOOO excited

I love this age, seriously. Everything that comes with it, I'm so ready.

Oh, and I'm semi happy about the fact I'm going to eat cake tomorrow. I haven't had birthday cake in soo long

Happy birthday to everyone else's babies! Guess we can't call them that anymore

[eilonwy]

I'm looking forward to Bella's birthday, whereupon we'll have a cake that Mike can't screw up. Bear's cake was complicated, and Mike couldn't find icing for it so he ended up using cookie icing instead (TERRIBLE idea).

[slgt]

MishaJ, just keep taking deep breaths and don't freak out. Easier said than done. That's exactly why we don't do the screening...we're kind of worriers to begin with, and don't want extra things to worry about! Like Rynna, we know that we're not going to do anything differently....good luck to you, do what your heart (not your doctor) tells you to do.

Dea - I wish we had more indoor play areas! R got to play in her first bounce house at a little school fair on Saturday, and I had to lure her out with a balloon. She loved it! But we live 45 minutes from the nearest town, and I don't know where the play areas are. If any. Hope Trixie's party is fun!

Nikkie - welcome!

Playa - can you remind me what you're going to (grad?) school for? Congrats on getting into your first choice with flying colors!

Mama2-4, Operamommy, steph, the elyse, - great to see you!

Teeny, good luck with the fish...hope they thrive!

We had DD's party last night. Well, it was just a party for us, with a pile of kids. 7 kids ranging from 19 months to 5 years. 8 adults. I was EXHAUSTED from being on my feet cooking all day - I made 3 pizzas, a chocolate cake with chocolate ganache, sugar cookies, peanut chicken, and cut up veggies & dip. Plus house cleaning and oh-yeah 19 weeks pregnant. Yup. whupped.

DD had a wonderful time, the kids just ran around like lunatics for 3 hours with breaks for food. DH made her a gorgeous little kitchen, and the kids were having a blast with that for the first hour. She was exhausted after they left and fell asleep clutching her 2 new books - Harry the Dirty Dog and I am a Rabbit. Happiness abounds!

ETA: DD has been begging to "ci-ci" (nurse) for the last 2 weeks. Two days ago I decided to just let her go ahead & try. She didn't remember how. Did I already post this? It made me very, very sad, sadder than when I weaned her a couple of months ago. She has not asked since.

[Teenytoona]

Hi to all we haven't seen in a while! And happy birthdays all around! 2 years ago at this time, I was still fielding the "you're still here?!?" questions and stunning people that I was still showing up to work past my due date... Ahh, good times...


Well, I really don't like having the dog around. Too much excriment inside the house for my taste (or anyone's I'd hope). DH swears that will stop as soon as he's used to our routine. Bleh. The kids are smitten with him, though, so I guess that means we're stuck with him. I'm so not a dog person, so please don't take offense. It's hard having a dog around when you don't really go in for that. The big kids are so dog happy and that's really cute. Truly they consider him to be like a brother, though they think his name, Kasey, sounds like a girl, so they keep calling him "she" even though the anatomy strongly disagrees with that pronoun.

Nara's been nursing alot again - this weekend she nursed at least 4 times during the day and about 3 times at night. So much for my idea about limiting nursing, I'm such a sucker. (I guess it also gives me an excuse to stop whatever household chores I'm working on and sit down - and it reduces some of the household noise levels when she's nursing). She's really getting into cooking while I do. She gets herself a small pot and lid, I put some water in it for her and she adds cookie sprinkles to it (and the stool that's her stove) and tells me she's making noodles.

[smokeylo]

Robin's party is this Sunday afternoon, with a handful of her little buddies (mostly boys! I think we've invited ONE girl!!). I hope it's fun and not a total mess!!

We have lots of family visiting coming up and DH's job is very stressful right now... yikes. I can never decide if family helps or hurts when it comes to stress...

I also booked flight/hotel for my first trip away from Robin overnight, to attend a conference in my field next month. I am so nervous to be away from her, even though I know she will be totally fine with her Dad. I wonder if she will wean?? I'm taking the newb with me... (who has gained nearly 2 lb since birth!!)

[Dea]

WOW Lauren 2 lbs! I'm lucky if Hudson's gained a full pound at this point. I'm sure that I'd get in trouble if the doctors knew how much he breastfed, since it's causing him to burn more than he gets, but it's it worth it in the long run, since he's stillg etting formula for the calories he needs?

Anyhow. My mom went home today. Adam and I are all alone. It's nice and quiet. Next week he's going back to work for a couple of days, so I'll be alone. AHHHH! We had a big ol' conversation today about family planning and when we want to have the next children. I'm leaning towards the more now idea, he wants to wait 3ish years and have another 2 close together. Hmmm. On the one hand I don't want to be overloaded and run the risk of damaging our marriage, but I like the idea of having my children closer together.
Soooo married mamas with 3+ kidlets, what's your opinion?

[eilonwy]

The idea of having two pairs of kids a few years apart had great appeal to me, until I acknowledged the fact that if I waited, I was unlikely to get around to the second pair. My kids are about 20 months apart, and I'm glad that I had them all together and that I'm all finished. It's bittersweet, of course (I'm still really bummed about Bear not nursing :cry) but yeah... I'm glad to be DONE.

[smokeylo]

Originally Posted by eilonwy

The idea of having two pairs of kids a few years apart had great appeal to me, until I acknowledged the fact that if I waited, I was unlikely to get around to the second pair..

that's whar we decided, too... although in theory i'd like more kids, it would mean waiting several yrs and i can imagine that by the time holly is 2 or 3 we will prob be thrilled to be done with the whole small baby thing... and we'll be moving, i'll start a new job, etc. we have pretty much admitted that 2 is it for us. so if i were you and for sure wanted more, i'd get on that .

i feel like i can't really take credit for holly's great weight gain. i think that's how my kids are built... robin was the same way, i just provide boobage.

i'm feeling really frumpy . i hate how enormous my breasts are when i nurse. they were already big for my frame before i started nursing and now they're sort of comically huge. and all my tummy fat migrated south again so i am nervous about clothes fitting well. i hate all my clothes, too. ahhh, post partum bodies...

[PlayaMama]

Originally Posted by slgt

Playa - can you remind me what you're going to (grad?) school for? Congrats on getting into your first choice with flying colors!

i'm getting a masters degree along with a teaching credential so i'll be teaching either middle school or high school biology/life science. i just interviewed for a second school and it went really well. today's my last interview at a school in Eugene and then we're heading home. i'm hoping to have a playdate with our ddc member that lives here.

ETA: DD has been begging to "ci-ci" (nurse) for the last 2 weeks. Two days ago I decided to just let her go ahead & try. She didn't remember how. Did I already post this? It made me very, very sad, sadder than when I weaned her a couple of months ago. She has not asked since.

omg, i would have been bawling. that is so bittersweet and sad. they're all growing up and it's wonderful and it makes me cry.

in news for us, today is Linnaea's birthday!! we're getting a cake from a bakery here and having a family night. we might eat in at our hotel and we might go out to dinner, i haven't decided yet.

okay, everyone is back from continental breakfast, last little note.

mishaj, Linnaea had a calcification spot on her heart which is a soft tissue marker for down syndrome. i took the blood test and my numbers were way off. so they asked if i wanted an amnio and i declined because i knew that i wouldn't terminate even if she did have down syndrome. however, my friend just had a baby that had no kidneys, almost no amniotic fluid, and some other issue that i can't remember and she chose to terminate because she didn't fell that she was up to carrying to term and that was her difficult choice to make.

best wishes to you and happy thoughts for your babe.

[nolonger]

Originally Posted by Dea

We had a big ol' conversation today about family planning and when we want to have the next children. I'm leaning towards the more now idea, he wants to wait 3ish years and have another 2 close together. Hmmm. On the one hand I don't want to be overloaded and run the risk of damaging our marriage, but I like the idea of having my children closer together.
Soooo married mamas with 3+ kidlets, what's your opinion?

My wide age spacing has been delightful, but I'm not exactly optimistic about being able to have more kids and I don't feel "done". Also, being out of the workforce as long as I was is kind of devastating to my marketability: I will never retire or own a house and I will always work menial, low status jobs. Another relationship/marriage just ain't gonna happen at this point.

There are pros and cons to any age spacing and we don't always get what we want. I'm so glad I went ahead and had Phoenix, Jeanita, Christopher, and Terran under less than ideal circumstances instead of not having them at all.

[Dale Ann]

Newbie Toddler Mom

Hi Ladies,

I'm relatively new to MDC and just found this forum today. I'm Dale Ann and my newly turned 2 year old daughter is Annabelle. My dh and I flew to China almost a year ago now and adopted her when she was 13 months old. She was still very much a baby in many ways and it seems so surreal to me that she is already turning two and has come so far both physically and emotionally. We're really proud of her!

Her birthday was the 14th, so we had a birthday/Valentine's Day/Chinese New Year party all smooshed into one big celebration. I've never thrown a kid's party before and due to the size of our families there is no way to have a small family party so we ended up hosting about 40 people at my mom's house. I was pleased and surprised that it went so well!

Anyway, I just wanted to pop in, introduce us and say hi. I look forward to hearing more about your kiddos.

Dale Ann

[eilonwy]

Originally Posted by PlayaMama

however, my friend just had a baby that had no kidneys, almost no amniotic fluid, and some other issue that i can't remember and she chose to terminate because she didn't fell that she was up to carrying to term and that was her difficult choice to make.

Oh gosh. I researched the crap out of kidney disorders while I was pregnant with Boobah (she's got a kidney disorder that was first detected on a prenatal ultrasound) and I remember Potter's Syndrome quite well. s to your friend; It is one of a very few cases in which I would choose to terminate a pregnancy during the second trimester, and that's a scary prospect.

[lovetobemama]

Hey there to all my favorite mamas!!

Just wanted to send out a HUGEHappy Birthday Babies!!.

Lurking as always, lots of support I want to give! Thinking of all of you!

*Dale Ann, I live in St. Louis, too!
-NOS, good to see you here

[PlayaMama]

Originally Posted by eilonwy

Oh gosh. I researched the crap out of kidney disorders while I was pregnant with Boobah (she's got a kidney disorder that was first detected on a prenatal ultrasound) and I remember Potter's Syndrome quite well. s to your friend; It is one of a very few cases in which I would choose to terminate a pregnancy during the second trimester, and that's a scary prospect.

it was really hard for her and it still is, i didn't want to talk about it on here because there were so many mamas still waiting to birth. she was close to 22 weeks i think, maybe a few more.

so, oregon is beautiful! i got to hang out with our ddc member that lives there and her little one and i can't wait to move!!

the trees and fog and rain are so nice after the desert.

emily- good to see you!

dea- i'm in the same boat as lauren, i think we're done because i can't really see us going back to the baby baby stage and we're not going to be anywhere near the neighborhood of babies for like another three years. also, i'm going to be starting teaching and i can't see myself combining a career with a new baby, it went atrociously for Linnaea and i ended up quitting, i'm really not keen to try that ever again.

must go fill out financial aid info. fingers crossed i qualify for the pell grant.

[Dea]

hello!
MDC ate my other reply. boo!
ANyhow thanks for the answers about more babies!
We're still talking about it. I have this crazy need to plan things out.
But I think waiting and seeing what happens with breastfeeding. I can't do all of the drugs if I am breastfeeding adn I can't get pregnant without them, and I won't limit Hudson.
AND we started ECing today and it's been good. I've caught a bunch of pees! YAY!

Now to get Trixie sorted out. She ECed and did so well, then learned to walk and the potty became evil. She's so close now, I just want to get her over this little lip, but I don't want to freak her out. I know it'll come.

Any birthdays this week? Besides Trixie and Robin?

[Mommy2Austin]

I just posted my (late!) birth story over in the Feb 2010 DDC.

I was worried I forgot everything, but as I started writing everything started to come back to me.

Steven turned 2 on the 17th and we had a fun day. We didn't have a party, but we took the boys and my niece (and Tristyn too ) to the park and had a picnic and played with the soccer ball. He got a few presents and all and all had a good day.

I'm back to eating healthy and exercising starting tomorrow. I want to get toned up again like I was starting to be before I got pregnant.

I have to go pick out a bottle to try with Tristyn so I can start preparing for my return to work. Michael has decided he's going to resign and stay home with the kids for now (which was a big surprise to me, but also a blessing because we won't have to deal with finding reliable child care for a preschooler, a toddler, and a newborn!) He came up with the idea on his own because he's unhappy with his relationship (or lack thereof) with the kids and has realized how much he enjoys being with them since he went on leave back in January. Its a big dynamic change to go through in such a short time...Just back in Sept. I was a SAHM and now I'm going to be the breadwinner. Hopefully it doesn't change me for the worse

[eilonwy]

I'm researching insomnia and becoming quite paranoid. I'm really hoping that it is just paranoia and that what I've found isn't what's going on with me, because it sucks.

On the up side, I took some NyQuil today thinking "It's the only cough medicine I can find without red 40 in it, and no antihistamine has put me to sleep before". Lo and behold, I tripped face for forty minutes and then fell asleep for five hours. Wow, it was insane. Hopefully it will put me to sleep tonight, too.

I found some underwear today at Target, I got *eighteen pairs* for three bucks! They were on a clearance rack, but they didn't have red clearance stickers on them so the price wasn't evident. Even so, I thought they were three pairs for $5.00, which is a pretty good deal anyway (considering that the only others I could find in the style I like were $4 for one pair) so I picked them up. When I found out they were fifty cents, I cleared them out of my size. Some of them are a hideous shade of coral that I never would have purchased, left to my own devices, but for this price I couldn't say no. Now I can throw away all the sad, giant floppy ones from before I lost all this weight. I cannot believe how excited I am to have new underwear. It's been entirely too long.

[PlayaMama]

sarah lynne- i _knew_ linnaea shared a b-day with someone! happy birthday steven! the hardest part about being a ft caregiver for the kids for curtis was the newborn stage. he's AMAZING now that linnaea can talk. i will also be the breadwinner here soon enough and i'll probably mind a little, i mean, working part-time is great but full-time school plus student teaching is going to be rough. BUT i think that dad's often don't get full credit for how wonderful they can be as caregivers so i wouldn't worry about that part.

rynna- what is it?!? tell me!! LOL i really hope it's not bad too, you have enough to do with the schooling and the four littles. and congrats on the undies! i can still remember when i bought my last set of new ones they felt SO good and i was able to through out the ratty old ones i'd kept for too long.

dea- i'm hoping that linnaea will be more capable of using the potty when she needs too this summer. i just can't let her be nekkie becasue it's too cold.

ok, must read to lazlo before bed-time.

[PlayaMama]

also, teeny, is your dog a puppy or an adult? because if it's a puppy you should really work on bite inhibition because it makes a huge difference when they are adults and it's a skill they learn as puppies. let me knwo if you need any info.