February 09 mamas - they're not babies anymore! - Page 2

[AKislandgirl]

Originally Posted by Mal85

I don't know, I just found all this out recently and the idea of the job just came to me today. So, it's nothing serious, just something to consider. I know something needs to change soon though. I was telling DH I feel like I've been in a bad mood since Christmas. My temper is short and I just feel like I'm not doing my best anymore and can't seem to muster the motivation to do better. I thought our long weekend would help, but I'm still feeling burnt out even right after we got home.

I know exactly how you feel! Caring for other people kids is such hard work. It may be as simple as not wanting to do the dinner dishes till the next day because you are tired. You can't though because you have kids and parents coming in the morning. Or your own kid is having an off day but you have all of these other children to care for so you don't feel like you can make the adjustments to your day that she needs. Hang in there Mal! Can you take a "spring break"? Just be at home for a week with Owyn? As fun as travel is, it is also stressful at times. Maybe a week to yourselves would help you get through.

[Mal85]

Originally Posted by AKislandgirl

I know exactly how you feel! Caring for other people kids is such hard work. It may be as simple as not wanting to do the dinner dishes till the next day because you are tired. You can't though because you have kids and parents coming in the morning. Or your own kid is having an off day but you have all of these other children to care for so you don't feel like you can make the adjustments to your day that she needs. Hang in there Mal! Can you take a "spring break"? Just be at home for a week with Owyn? As fun as travel is, it is also stressful at times. Maybe a week to yourselves would help you get through.

Exactly. Everything you said. I just feel like I never get a break because I have all these kids here all day, and when they leave I still have Owyn to take care of. And I want to be the best mom possible for her which is hard when I'm so exhausted at the end of the day. I guess that wouldn't change much if I was working a full day and coming home to her at night, who knows? I've had this itch before and it passed, so I keep waiting for this to pass too, just seems like it's lasting forever.

[Nillarilla]

Wow toddler land! Delia's not toddling yet so I don't quite feel that I am there yet but it's coming very soon. I know I need a career change but right now in my profession the all days rotation is not really available in other areas. I'm just not sure I want to go back to shift work. I thought about cutting down to part time but then decided against it because if we decide to have another baby I want my full maternity benefits. I think I am just going to take a couple days off without pay here and there especially on weekends so we get more family time.

Biting.... ouchie yeah I'm experiencing it too when she is done nursing so I often pop her off as soon as the sucking stops preemptively because I'm afraid of the bite.

I might be going out to some premiere's dinner with my hubby for work tonight but my bf is still in the hospital with her babe who had hyperbilirubinemia really bad. He also had group B strep in his urine even though she tested negative. I haven't been to see them in a couple days and she sounds really down. I've been so busy today my house is a mess and I have no motivation to clean it because I don't want to wake Delia. She's having a super long nap and she slept really crappy last night so she needs it. I went to see my cousin's wife and their new baby today to give some breastfeeding support and he is jaundiced too. So now I'm headed back up there tommorow to check on them.

I'm just feeling a little overwhelmed ugh! Delia has finally stopped coughing and is now just a little snotty.

I hope my sitter doesn't get burnt out watching my kids. I don't know how I'd cope without her. I don't know how she does it as it is. I couldn't I know that.

[starling&diesel]

Originally Posted by Gillian28

Starling - I knew you were also an author so you must have mentioned it at some point! I hope you book wins Are you a children's author? Or am I just making that up?

Sort of ... novels for teenagers. Good memory!

Originally Posted by Nillarilla

I hope my sitter doesn't get burnt out watching my kids. I don't know how I'd cope without her. I don't know how she does it as it is. I couldn't I know that.

I don't know how you mamas who take in other kids do it either ... you're truly superwomen! Supermamas!

Yeah, no way no how could I leave my little one for even one night, which is why I haven't gone full time yet. Need to nightwean first!
I've just found out that I'm not getting an extension from the ambulance for getting my Intravenous starts requirement even though I was on maternity leave for the entire reporting period (all of 2009), so I'm scrambling to get them done by the end of the month. Easiest way is to go to Whistler and poke all the healthy young men who've broken bones on the ski hill. So I'm booking a hotel for the weekend and bringing E with me, as well as my sister as babysitter. Nope, can't leave her. Just too long, even a weekend. Ah well, we'll make a fun weekend of it!

[Everrgreen]

to those feeling burnt out, I've been there and it sucks! I've been doing a lot better lately though, really enjoying parenting, and being more patient with Royce. And feeling good about myself, that makes such a difference!

Mal - I have no personal experience, but I really think that a 'regular' job would be less stressful and leave you with more to give at the end of the day than daycare does. With a regular job you get coffee breaks, and lunch break, and you get to leave the work behind you at the end of the day. I can definitely see how daycare would be physically and emotionally exhausting!

[mckittre]

Mal - I think it might well be easier to have an outside job than to have a pile of kids around. And if you think you want to make a change, I think it's better to go for it than to feel burnt out and keep wondering.

Katmai's just started to take a few more steps - maybe 5 at a time? I might have a toddler after all pretty soon here.

Still waiting on those first words though (or at least waiting for words I can recognize - who knows what he thinks he's saying)... Anyone else have a baby that's still not talking?

My husband and I just gave a presentation to around 40 people for an hour, and Katmai crawled around mostly quietly and mostly without getting into trouble the whole time! I was very impressed, and can only hope he'll do the same in future.

[Mal85]

Originally Posted by mckittre

Still waiting on those first words though (or at least waiting for words I can recognize - who knows what he thinks he's saying)... Anyone else have a baby that's still not talking?

We don't really have words yet either. She says Uh-oh. And sometimes she says Hi, but only to little babies and animals. It's funny, she gets up in their face and goes "Hiiiiiii!". But other than that, no talking. I can't wait until she finds her words, maybe then I can redirect the whining a little better.

My friend is coming over tonight to do a one year screening on Owyn (she works for our local Parents as Teachers too). So I plan to find out all I can from her about her job at the library. I'm not sure it would even pay enough since I would then have to start paying for daycare, but I think it's worth looking into.

[LionTigerBear]

Eliza threw up five times last night! And at least twice were right on me. I got only a couple teeny cat naps, almost no sleep at all.

Oh, but her latest word is her own name! It sounds like "I- YI- za" So cute and she repeats it a lot!

Right now she's crying in my arms, though, because she wants to nurse and I'm trying to give her tummy a break. Every time I've nursed her she throws up.

[mamamillet]

With DS I worked at a daycare until he was 3 yo. The first year we were together and then in different rooms after that. It is hard cause you get litlle down time without kids! I would not have traded those first two years though!
Willa only has a few words and a few signs but she understands everything!

Ds's soccer season has started and it has been a real challenge. He is on a competitive team as well as a rec team this year which means 3 nights of practice and games on both sat and sun! I have always enjoyed watching him play but it is very difficult keeping Willa entertained. Ughh!

I am loving toddlerhood! It is so fun to see her personality developing and the differences between her and her brother.

[Thursday Girl]

hiding things-check. i find all sorts of strange things in strange places. I found an apple in the washing machine, luckily it idn't get washed. LOL.

the zoo down the street is nice, i need to take the girls again soon. somehow my day while the older two are in school seems to trickle away quite quickly.

i can see how having a daycare would drain you. I helped when my oldest was in preschool and after a day of that i just wanted a break afterwords, even from my own girl. I discovered that just wasn't my calling.

we don't have much in the way of words, she has said some words but she hardly uses them again, nothing is consistent.

[Mal85]

Finally a beautiful day! Missouri living sucks in the way of weather during season changes. We get a warm, gorgeous day followed by a series of crappy days. Today is mid-60s, sunny, beautiful... they're calling for snow tomorrow and Saturday. So, we've been outside a lot. They kiddos just passed out from sheer exhaustion and I could use a nap myself.

I need more days like today to perk my mood up.

[Everrgreen]

Royce isn't walking either. He will walk holding my hand only. Although today he did take 2 steps completely on his own, but it was in a moment of excitement and he really had no idea he did it on his own. He is really starting to love walking though, and will come and grab my hand so we can walk together. I'm hoping this will lead to some motivation on his part to start walking on his own. He is just so darn cautious!

No words either. I have noticed a change in his babbling though, it sounds more like he's actually talking (or like he thinks he is) rather than just random babbles. Especially when he's upset with me (like, if I have to change his diaper), he will start to yell at me, and it really sounds like he's saying something so important - just in another language

I got Royce's bikeseat installed and we have been biking the last 2 days and it is SOOOO much FUN! I really recommend it to anyone who enjoys biking. Today we biked down by the water, then went to a park and took a break and played, and then biked around a bit and went to a different park. It was awesome! I'm looking forward to using it for transportation now that the weather is nicer.

LTB - I hope Eliza gets better soon. A tummy bug must be so hard on little ones

[starling&diesel]

Originally Posted by Gillian28

I got Royce's bikeseat installed and we have been biking the last 2 days and it is SOOOO much FUN! I really recommend it to anyone who enjoys biking.

Hi Gillian ... What kind of helmet did you get for Royce? And does he keep it on? I'm taking our bikes in to get tuned up tomorrow, so we should be on the road in a few days. We bought a used trailer, and are also buying a used Wee Ride seat, so we have the option. Can't wait!

[Everrgreen]

Originally Posted by starling&diesel

Hi Gillian ... What kind of helmet did you get for Royce? And does he keep it on? I'm taking our bikes in to get tuned up tomorrow, so we should be on the road in a few days. We bought a used trailer, and are also buying a used Wee Ride seat, so we have the option. Can't wait!

We got him a Louis Garneau Baby Boomer helmet in a size S/M (the smallest size), which is still a bit big so he wears a bandana underneath. When we were trying it on he immediately wanted to take it off, and got mad when I buckled it on. But, when we go for the ride, I just put it on last so we get moving right away and he forgets about it. I think he's getting used to it

And just for fun, here's a pic of him from our ride yesterday. He's sort of giving me a 'did you seriously stop the ride just to take my picture' look

[Mal85]

Well, I talked to my friend about the job last night. The hours are a little wonky, but that's kind of okay with me. Once or twice a week I'd go in later and stay later in the evening, but I can deal if it means I get a few hours with her in the morning. And she works every third Saturday, a full day. But when she works Saturday she gets the Friday before off, so that would be nice to have a day during the week at home with Owyn.

She also told me about a position opening up at another library as a branch manager. The hours are M, W, F, Sat. But the days are shorter and the Saturday isn't a full day. I like the thought of having Tuesdays and Thursdays off and being home earlier. Not sure if they'd consider me for a manager position if I've never worked in a library before. It doesn't require a degree though, and that's something I have, so maybe that would help. Not sure.

I didn't even have to ask my friend if she'd be willing to keep Owyn, she said "If you go to work, that means I get to watch Owyn right?" So that is so awesome, she'd be so great for Owyn plus the fact that Owyn already knows and adores her, so that helps put my mind at ease a lot.

This morning, I woke up and looked at my daughter and thought no way could I go to work. But as the day has gone one (and it has been one of our worst days of baby sitting to date for a myriad of reasons), I keep having a voice in my head saying Go get a damn job already! I'm gonna mull it over this weekend a little more and I may call the library Monday after I've had a day or two away from the daycare kids to think about it a little more.

I don't know how you working mamas do it. This is such a hard decision!

[Mal85]

Originally Posted by Gillian28

We got him a Louis Garneau Baby Boomer helmet in a size S/M (the smallest size), which is still a bit big so he wears a bandana underneath. When we were trying it on he immediately wanted to take it off, and got mad when I buckled it on. But, when we go for the ride, I just put it on last so we get moving right away and he forgets about it. I think he's getting used to it

And just for fun, here's a pic of him from our ride yesterday. He's sort of giving me a 'did you seriously stop the ride just to take my picture' look

Gillian, how does it feel to have him riding in front of you? Do you think it throws off your balance at all or make it any more difficult to turn? I would love to get Owyn a seat for the bike, DH and I used to ride bikes all the time and I'd love to get back to it. I've looked at another that goes on the handlebars, but I'd think it would be weird to turn like that.

[LionTigerBear]

Originally Posted by Gillian28

LTB - I hope Eliza gets better soon. A tummy bug must be so hard on little ones

Thanks, I felt awful for her. It was the most sick she'd ever been, and the only time she's not been able to nurse on demand. Poor baby. She's better now, though, and I'm so relieved that I didn't get it! One of our sons got it, but not bad at all, and DH got it a little, but E got it the worst. Weird, in my previous experience it seemed the babies always got stomach bugs the easiest.

We are so excited to be out of the baby stages. We have been dreaming and scheming about all of the fun things we are going to be able to do now and in the next couple years as our kids get a little older! It's really exciting.

[Vegan Princess]

LTB: I'm excited for you guys getting to do things again! DH and I always talk about things we want to do in like 10 yrs from now when we are done having little bitty ones...we're still just getting started.

Gillian: Too cute! He looks so grown up in the helmet!

Cindy

[LionTigerBear]

Originally Posted by Gillian28

We got him a Louis Garneau Baby Boomer helmet in a size S/M (the smallest size), which is still a bit big so he wears a bandana underneath. When we were trying it on he immediately wanted to take it off, and got mad when I buckled it on. But, when we go for the ride, I just put it on last so we get moving right away and he forgets about it. I think he's getting used to it

And just for fun, here's a pic of him from our ride yesterday. He's sort of giving me a 'did you seriously stop the ride just to take my picture' look

Gillian, that is so cute! I really miss biking. I used to bike everywhere. Whenever I have tried to think of how to go biking with three kids, though, I promptly give up, lol. I think we'd need a double bike trailer for the boys and a toddler seat for Eliza. Too expensive. My older son can barely bike and won't be able to keep up with us for a couple years yet. But again, that's something to look forward to in a couple of years!

[Nillarilla]

I am so going biking this weekend!!!! I have a double chariot so there is no excuses. I just have to tune up my bike and add the bike attachment to the chariot and away we go. That is if I can find Em's old helmet for D otherwise we will have to go find a toddler helmet for her first.
Gillian Royce looks absolutely adorable in his little helmet.

Going to work is hard but I am a better Mama for it. I really do well with some time away and something that's not about the kids. Something mentally and socially stimulating. I love kids but I can't work with kids. Just one of my limitations I guess. I just wish I didn't have to work 4 12hr shifts in a row. But we figured out that I can just take a leave of absence per month on one of the weekend days I work to try and catch up around here. I really thought about going part time but I don't want to lose a fully topped up maternity leave should we decide to go for another one. Or my vacation time or any of my other benefits. So I can take up to 20 LOA's a year without affecting my fulltime status and I am going to take them.

Delia's been napping from 12-3 in the afternoon. It's been fabulous!!!! No walking yet though she has taken a few steps here and there and will walk around all the furniture. She says "uh oh" when she drops things, mama, papa, bobo (brother) and that's about it consistently. Though is babbling with a purpose and yells at her brother in full babbly sentences.