Weekly thread, June 20-27 - Page 3

[ivymae]

About 3 this morning I started fantasizing about how to strap Becky's hand to her face so she wouldn't keep pulling her thumb out of her mouth and waking up every 10 minutes looking for it. So. Tired. I've never had a thumb sucker - when do they get enough coordination to stop losing their thumb and screaming because "someone stole it!!!!"?

[GreenTeaGinger61]

Originally Posted by ivymae

About 3 this morning I started fantasizing about how to strap Becky's hand to her face so she wouldn't keep pulling her thumb out of her mouth and waking up every 10 minutes looking for it. So. Tired. I've never had a thumb sucker - when do they get enough coordination to stop losing their thumb and screaming because "someone stole it!!!!"?

I'm guessing at the same time, they figure out they're the ones pulling their hair. Yeah we have a hair puller...she pulls, screams and glares at us like we're the ones doing it. And she does EVERY. TIME. she nurses.

SCG: I was thinking "What? change my sig?" And then "Oh yeah all my kids have had birthdays." Duh.

Going on a lunch date with R and dh. If he ever finishes getting ready. I've nursed the baby, gotten dressed, packed the diaper bag and am still waiting.

[nikirj]

Originally Posted by GreenTeaGinger61

Going on a lunch date with R and dh. If he ever finishes getting ready. I've nursed the baby, gotten dressed, packed the diaper bag and am still waiting.

I hate that!!! If I can get myself and all the kids ready before you get your lonesome one-man self ready, that's just pathetic. It's like pulling freaking teeth to get the whole family out the door lately. When I was actively going to births and having clinic days and stuff, we had it down to 5 minutes from "we need to leave asap!" to pulling out of the driveway. We're now up to about an hour. It is pathetic and stressful.

I've mostly had good comments about the wrap. I need something better to tell people than "google Moby Wrap" when they ask, though. Favorite (easy to remember) websites, anyone? Totally love the comment your DH got, sme. We got the same thing from sFIL; he had just come back from a weekend with his daughter and her kids, and was SORE from lugging around a baby bucket, he said he was just going to bring a carrier if they had something like that planned again. I've tried carrying baby buckets around and it is HARD work. Like so many other parenting things (bottlefeeding, crib sleeping), I don't really understand how it's supposed to be easier than what I'm doing. I'm all about easy parenting, good thing it's good for babies too.

I got E a bumbo seat yesterday; so far so good, although she gets tired after a couple of minutes and starts wobbling her head, so I take her back out. That's plenty of time for me to do most of the things in the kitchen that I needed two hands for, though.

[loveneverfails]

Help!!!

My baby sling is going away due to fabric weakness. I need a new one. I'm thinking either 11, 15, 27 or 33 from here: Do it, eBay!

Thoughts?

[Peace+Hope]

yay for babywearing stories! people goggle over us carrying charlie around, especially if it's lee (dad), heh. it's so easy on the back with a good carrier, at least at charlie's weight. i have a hard time getting the bucket in the house with charlie in it!

ivymae, charlie MUST have his thumb while going to sleep now too! thankfully once he's asleep he doesn't care, and he's able to put himself to sleep, but only on his tummy. i usually do that for daytime naps when i can watch him. i hope you get to the benefits part soon!

rhi, oh goodness, don't apologize for not trying to get together! it's been so (unseasonably) hot in asheville, we're hunkered down trying to stay cool anyway. we don't have AC so it might not have been fun coming to my house right now we'll do it next time maybe!

mpp, i'm so jealous that the bumbo is working for you! charlie holds his head up when we're carrying him, and when we do sittting up time, but in the bumbo he doesn't even try, heh. in fact, he hates it! maybe he'll like it once he has a little more control...

LOVE coming here to read about what you all are doing, getting ideas, etc. we are all contributing in our own ways! for everyone!

sooo... charlie has started sleeping longer stretches during the day now. i think he's settling into more of a nap schedule. and he doesn't want to eat every two hrs necessarily. that really surprises me! i guess he's slowing down in his growth now that he's about to turn 3 months?

have a baby bjorn potty on order at a local store - i think we may be ready to try for poops soon! i've wanted to wait til charlie is pooping less, and til i felt we had established some cueing. i think he knows the cue now, so i'm ready to try the potty.

a funny: charlie rubs the back of his head while he sucks his thumb. too cute

[Knitting Mama]

Once again, I'm peeved at my in-laws. Well, this time just my father-in-law. I should have never friended them on Facebook (OK, I know that's probably harsh, but it would have saved me from getting angry so many times).

First he comments on a breast feeding article I posted: "I am totally in favor of giving her breast milk. I just wish you would let her have breast milk by bottle as well, so we and others, could give you time for date nights where you could talk about whether the baby is ok. Another rite of passage."

OK, before Cecilia was even born, we told everyone that we didn't expect to be going out without one of us with her until she was over 1 and firmly eating solids for a meal. Nobody else (read: my family) has pushed us on this. Why would he think it's changed? Furthermore, we have worked SO hard to have a healthy breast feeding relationship, and it's been a huge uphill battle with my supply issues and now stupid blebs that I won't do a damn thing to jeapordize that. Not to mention I'm 99% sure that I'm not going back to work, so there's no need for her to take a bottle!

Then, he comments on a picture of my husband wearing Cecilia in the gauze wrap, "Oh, and Christopher, my wonderous son, while I like the "evening gown" look, I'm pretty sure you have a more "Manly-Man" carrier in your possession, which is just as comfy for my Grand-baby. I'm just sayin'...."

Seriously? What. The. Bleep. He's not a "manly-man" kind of guy, so I have no idea why he decided to say that. I was tempted to write back "Sure, FIL, if you want to buy us an Ergo, Chris will be happy to wear it." But my husband handled it better and said "I'm not particularly concerned with the manliness of the baby-carrying device, and more want to consider how Cecilia feels about it. Based on the vote of "nap" I think it was a good choice. :-) Some of the ones that work for bigger babes are a bit less flowing but she isn't so much pleased with them yet, and since my goal is happy baby rather than manly baby carrier, I go with what works."

I'm probably taking this too harshly, but seriously, it pisses me off. I want him to butt out and let us make our own parenting choices, just like he did when my husband was a kid. My mom, by the way, was so mad when she read both of those comments, and gave me an earful.

[rhiOrion]

Originally Posted by Cecilia's Mama

Once again, I'm peeved at my in-laws. Well, this time just my father-in-law. I should have never friended them on Facebook (OK, I know that's probably harsh, but it would have saved me from getting angry so many times).

First he comments on a breast feeding article I posted: "I am totally in favor of giving her breast milk. I just wish you would let her have breast milk by bottle as well, so we and others, could give you time for date nights where you could talk about whether the baby is ok. Another rite of passage."

OK, before Cecilia was even born, we told everyone that we didn't expect to be going out without one of us with her until she was over 1 and firmly eating solids for a meal. Nobody else (read: my family) has pushed us on this. Why would he think it's changed? Furthermore, we have worked SO hard to have a healthy breast feeding relationship, and it's been a huge uphill battle with my supply issues and now stupid blebs that I won't do a damn thing to jeapordize that. Not to mention I'm 99% sure that I'm not going back to work, so there's no need for her to take a bottle!

Then, he comments on a picture of my husband wearing Cecilia in the gauze wrap, "Oh, and Christopher, my wonderous son, while I like the "evening gown" look, I'm pretty sure you have a more "Manly-Man" carrier in your possession, which is just as comfy for my Grand-baby. I'm just sayin'...."

Seriously? What. The. Bleep. He's not a "manly-man" kind of guy, so I have no idea why he decided to say that. I was tempted to write back "Sure, FIL, if you want to buy us an Ergo, Chris will be happy to wear it." But my husband handled it better and said "I'm not particularly concerned with the manliness of the baby-carrying device, and more want to consider how Cecilia feels about it. Based on the vote of "nap" I think it was a good choice. :-) Some of the ones that work for bigger babes are a bit less flowing but she isn't so much pleased with them yet, and since my goal is happy baby rather than manly baby carrier, I go with what works."

I'm probably taking this too harshly, but seriously, it pisses me off. I want him to butt out and let us make our own parenting choices, just like he did when my husband was a kid. My mom, by the way, was so mad when she read both of those comments, and gave me an earful.

I actually just commented on your link about that very thing! But yeah, I'm getting annoyed with everyone wanting to babysit to give me a date night. It has nothing to do with ME. It has to do with wanting to get to spend alone time with my kid. Which will be fine eventually. Actually, probably sooner than later since I'm going back to work and she'll have to learn to take a bottle. But it still won't happen often because when I'm back at work I'm going to want to spend all my non-working hours with her and letting her actually breastfeed.

I feel physically ill about going back to work... the idea of leaving her for even a few minutes makes me shudder. Well, I'm going to leave her with DH this weekend so I can go buy some work clothes, but I don't mind leaving her with him for a bit.

[Dena]

Aimee and Rhi - I had much the same experience with family when dd1 was a baby. Maybe I am harsh here, but if grandparents really want what is best for their grandchildren, not to mention their children, they will not push their own agendas over the best interest of the babies, and they will be content with visits with baby while mom and/or dad is there too. It took awhile, but we finally convinced family that this was the only way they would have unfettered access to our kids until they were at least two and ready to be away from us for an extended period of time.

And Aimee I don't think you are overreacting - I saw that comment, in fact, and was irked on your behalf, but I didn't want to shoot off my mouth and cause a family squabble that YOU would then have to deal with...

[Knitting Mama]

Thanks ladies. I wish everyone around me was AP. I got spoiled in that my own family is!

[sew_crafty_girl]

Now that step-daughter knows I have a pump she keeps suggesting we give Anna a bottle and I keep reminding her that pumped milk will be for special occasions since it takes so much effort to get it and as long as I around I will feed her from the breast!

Got an aquarium for Anna's crib and going to try putting her in it over the next couple of days. my back is getting wrecked and I really think it's from the bedsharing with my arm up over her head.

The Nifedipene is making me flushed and headachey. My legs have turned red. Really hope it clears up the raynauds. My breasts are getting worse.

DH and DSD are gone on a school camp out so step-son and I are on our own until friday, eep!

Anna isn't a thumb sucker yet, but she loves her fist. She also loves sucking on my shoulder or arm. Lots of drool now. Getting more talkative as well.

Forgive me if I've repeated myself in this thread. I can't remember what I've previously mentioned.

[Knitting Mama]

Here's a funny story to lighten the mood from my earlier frustration.

Because the stupid milk blister or bleb or whatever on my right side is healing much more slowly than the one on the left did (it's basically gone), I have been pumping 3 times a day on the right side instead of nursing, since the pump is gentler on my nipples than Cecilia is.

So I stopped pumping a minute ago, and pulled the shield off. Around the rim of the pump shield (my husband calls it a "satellite dish") where it met my areola was very thick, sticky, almost gluey milk. I panicked, really concerned that something more serious than a blister was wrong with me.

Then I remembered I had put Lansinoh on about 15 minutes earlier.

[jenfl]

So although DS happiliy sleeps in his crib, and will actually put himself to sleep in there, nearly without fail he wakes up 30 minutes into a nap and starts fussing around and being unable to settle. We've discovered that if we go in there and wiggle his big, cloth-diapered butt (he's a tummy sleeper), he'll go back to sleep for another bit of time. We call it "shaking the baby".

Heh, that reminds me of rhi's "Don't shake the baby" song (it was rhi, right?). Man, it's been a while since I've had to turn to a fussy baby song. They're getting big, guys! Our babies are growing up!



(Don't mind me. I just spent the afternoon in Toy Story 3.)

[GreenTeaGinger61]

Aimee: I too read that comment and was pretty ticked off. I was going to write something but figured I'd already started enough trouble on your FB page My mom was the same way with ds but he never did take a bottle so she had to back off And then she started in again with R and egged my children on as well. Grrr...this is my fourth and the only person she's left with right now is dh, and that's for WW meetings.

Rhi: ((((hugs))) I felt the same way when I had to leave dd1 at daycare.

Niki: If I comment to dh about this, he says "Well you have four kids now." And I have to refrain from pointing out that when I am not with him, I get us out the door much quicker. The thing he does which makes me want to scream is that he waits until everyone is ready to go and then remembers he has to do something urgent leaving me with three kids chomping at the bit and a baby who could wake up any second and decide she needs more milk. Sigh.

slings: Mostly good comments here as well. I've had one person comment on safety and that was to ask me. I only use our Mai Tai so maybe it's the style.

[rhiOrion]

Originally Posted by jenfl

So although DS happiliy sleeps in his crib, and will actually put himself to sleep in there, nearly without fail he wakes up 30 minutes into a nap and starts fussing around and being unable to settle. We've discovered that if we go in there and wiggle his big, cloth-diapered butt (he's a tummy sleeper), he'll go back to sleep for another bit of time. We call it "shaking the baby".

Heh, that reminds me of rhi's "Don't shake the baby" song (it was rhi, right?). Man, it's been a while since I've had to turn to a fussy baby song. They're getting big, guys! Our babies are growing up!



(Don't mind me. I just spent the afternoon in Toy Story 3.)

Yep, the shake the baby song was mine!

Shake shake shake
shake shake shake
don't shake the baby

[smeisnotapirate]

I'm still selling my toddler. I had a horrible day, my house is a wreck, and my toddler is going to be shipped to Bogota if he doesn't GOTOSLEEPRIGHTNOW.

I raised the white flag at 9am. Why did nobody see it????

[jenfl]

Sprout and my DD have been taking baths together for a couple weeks now. Tonight, DD asked about Sprout's penis for the first time. (Except she calls it a "pemis".) And she totally did the prototypical, "mine fell off already" bit!

[Carita]

lol girls - love the stories.

potty training - ds had to poop at the park playground & dh had just left to bring us lunch. by the time i corralled ds to the public toilets, it was too late, & i wasn't prepared so was holding dani w/one hand and cleaning a very mushy poo w/the other. the cleaning lady entered the bathroom, saw us and bless her heart, offered to hold the baby so that i could finish the job.

anyway - tomorrow is my last conference day. dani gets so many ooohs and ahs. i'm so in love w/her!

[laughingfox]

Cecilia's Mama-

MIL came to visit when DD1 was a few days old, and actually said "If you were bottle feeding, I could just take her back to the hotel with me." I was so shocked, I had no idea how to respond.
I prefer not to leave my babies before they're close to a year either. I really liked how I could use breastfeeding as an "excuse" to stop people from taking it personally. I know a lot of people do want/need their own space to relax, but that doesn't work for me. I find it much more relaxing to go out with my babe.
I know I'm going to have a hard time with people taking it personally now that I am bottle feeding DD2. We're going to stay with the ILs for about 5 days at the end of the month, and I just hope it doesn't get awkward that I don't want to leave both kids with them for a "date night" or something while we're there.

[Dena]

Originally Posted by smeisnotapirate

I'm still selling my toddler. I had a horrible day, my house is a wreck, and my toddler is going to be shipped to Bogota if he doesn't GOTOSLEEPRIGHTNOW.

I raised the white flag at 9am. Why did nobody see it????

I totally understand this. My toddler has, thank God, had some good days lately, but it was touch and go for awhile. I actually called dh one day and told him to figure out how he was going to take her to work with him the next day.

Aimee and SCG

Originally Posted by laughingfox

I know I'm going to have a hard time with people taking it personally now that I am bottle feeding DD2. We're going to stay with the ILs for about 5 days at the end of the month, and I just hope it doesn't get awkward that I don't want to leave both kids with them for a "date night" or something while we're there.

When they are really little, I try to explain to people that the way baby brains work, they think Mama is gone for good if I so much as leave the room, and a prolonged absence actually causes a grief response (this has been documented) in infants, because they don't understand that Mama is coming back - ever. As they get older, I just blame myself - yeah, I am just an overprotective mommy who is not ready to cut the apron strings. I may take some flak, but at least people don't think you don't trust them.

Getting out the door: this always amuses me too. I can get myself and four kids ready while dh plays computer games, putzes around deciding what to wear (I have everyone else's clothes laid out the night before), lingers in the shower, and wanders around looking for his shoes and keys. Now that he has a beard, he doesn't even have shaving as an excuse, and it STILL takes him as long as the rest of us put together to get ready. I know better than to say anything, though, or he claims it is ME holding us up. Uh huh. I was just wasting time changing all those diapers.

AFM: today was actually a pretty good day. Sofia had swimming this morning, and being in the water is often helpful for her moods the rest of the day. And the sun was out and it was warm, which always helps. So when we got home I set up the sprinkler and the girls played in that and outside for most of the afternoon. And I actually got some work done!

I think the zantac is helping Maya - she still gets gassy but seems able to actually pass it now. Or maybe she was before, but was still screaming because of reflux? Whatever the reason, she is much happier and eating a lot more these days, so yay. I have also figured out that most dairy (cream in my coffee and yogurt are ok) is off limits, as are eggs, onions, and garlic. So avoiding all that (esp. the dairy) has also helped both of them be much happier campers. It kinda sucks, but it is worth it not to be putting them in pain - not to mention the screaming sets off my ppd.

[MaterPrimaePuellae]

Originally Posted by smeisnotapirate

Re: babywearing
\. The guy looked at his wife and said "I'm getting one of those. It's gotta be better than lugging around one of THESE f*****g things for a year."

Very funny! I saw a Dad in the grocery yesterday seriously struggling with his HUGE baby in a bucket. This child was at least 25 lbs-- he was totally fillling the bucket, with his head at the very top and his feet hanging out of the bottom. The Dad was using two hands and supporting the weight of the seat on his hip, too. It was remarkable.


Leaving babies:
C's mama, sorry for those comments. I totally understand. Thankfully, my mom and MIL both breastfed for a year, and they were supportive of our choices. However, I did get lots of comments from friends/other family members about how very eager I would be to leave my babies once I got over "first time mom" irrationality.