It's Birthday Month! - Sept 07 mamas - Page 2

[HeatherB]

Sounds like things are going very well for you, Alicia! Happy birthday to Chaya! So glad preschool is going well. It's so awesome when they love it!

[Plaid Leopard]

Happy Birthday Yann!

Happy Birthday Chaya

[~Katie~]

Happy birthday Yann and Chaya!

[~Katie~]

I haven't had much of a chance to update how things have been going since our NY trip.

The visit itself went well but I don't think my MIL really believes that my children can't have dairy. I caught her giving Liam something with butter on it, and she knows that I read every label before they eat anything so it makes me angry that she just doesn't care. We've talked in depth about how we can only really trust one brand of non-dairy butter prior to this, so not to give them anything else.

Andrew got in touch with someone in his Syracuse unit and found out that they'll only give him a 3 month position starting in JUNE, so he basically said this isn't going to work, I need a real job. Then he was told he was transfered to an Albany unit, and then told a few hours later than they didn't want him because they wanted to give the position to somebody currently in their unit. So he ended up in this limbo, imaginary unit. It's hard to describe, he's still technically in his Syracuse unit but not taking up a slot. He got in touch with someone else who forwarded him paperwork on how to get out of the national guard and go active duty. It has to be approved by his Syracuse unit of course, but given his current situation I think things are in his favor.

So now if they approve it, he has the option of seeing what positions exist elsewhere through his branch manager and then we'll be moving. Or, he can stay with his current unit and deploy next summer and they'll potentially give him a captain's slot that he's been wanting. He'll make captain this winter as well instead of having to wait until 2013, and the extra pay will come in handy.

Although I would be happy to get out altogether, I think this is the most viable option to ensure that he actually has a job. He wants more experience before he heads into the civilian world, and I can understand that.

Hopefully you were able to follow that

In Liam news, while we were visiting in NY he decided to play tackle football with his 4 year old cousin who isn't so much into it. I didn't see what happened, but apparently Liam ended up smacking his mouth on the back of his cousin's head and now has a loose front tooth. I'm waiting to see what happens and really hoping it doesn't fall out and will reset, it's still loose almost a week later but not as bad. He's sick with a cold today, as well, and I've picked up a touch of it.

[Plaid Leopard]

Hope everrything works out for the best with Andrew's job, Katie.

Alicia- I am glad Chaya likes her preschool! That is bittersweet for mamas, though.

Yann had a good b-day. Loved his presents, learned how to pedal his tricycle, had a great time at the park.

The movers will be here Friday!

Just found out that three of my close friends and my cousin are pregnant. Feeling like I want to be pregnant, too!

[Faliciagayle]

Rachel - good luck with the moving! I have a friend in Kineton, Warwhichshire. Will you be nearby?

Katie - GL with the tooth! Sorry we missed you, I had been looking forward to a Zoo visit


Our neighbors downstairs have the official use of the backyard, though they never, ever, EVER use it. DH asked today if they minded if we put up a Sukkah for Sukkot and they were cool, so YAY for us. I'm hoping we can sleep in the Sukkah at least once this year. I think the kids will get a kick out of it. I know I will.

Today was a bit crazy. We had special breakfast, opened presents, went to the park, made cake, went to a book fair where we met all kinds of amazing authors and artists of children's books. We got The Lion and The Mouse, and Brontorina, and, Hook, and a ton of other books, all signed by the authors/illustrators


then dinner, cake, and more presents!

I hope you all are well. I dream of our weekend getaway when the kids are a bit older.

[HeatherB]

Katie, that all sounds so crazy, but I'm glad he has options! How is the tooth doing? We had one pulled loose once and the dentist I called said just to watch it. It came out a few years later.

Plaid, I hope the move goes well! So glad the birthday was a fun one!

Alicia, sounds like a great day! A weekend getaway sounds fantastic! My DH was just saying tonight that he wishes we could find people who believe the things we believe about parenting and such. Someday, I'd love for him to meet more AP families! We know some, but HE doesn't know many other than mamaverdi's family. Anyway, whether it be a mama's getaway or a family trip, I'm in!

Judah's birthday is Monday and I'm still debating what to get for him! I have some die cast cars that he REALLY wants and I know he'll love. I also managed to snag a Bamboletta doll, though not specifically for his birthday - it was just by chance that I got one now. And, it probably won't be here in time, anyway. He is doing a lot of playing "baby" and such given we're in countdown for the new one (still 7-8 weeks, but still!) and so a doll sounds great... BUT he can't "birth" a 15" bambo doll quite as easily as the floppy green gecko he's been playing with. We actually have other baby dolls that he'd love but they're ALL packed. Except for his heavy baby I gave him last year whose arm got torn off. Anyway...

So I'm trying to figure out what to do, perhaps along the lines of something ACTIVE for him. He's a very active kid and can drive us bonkers! We have no backyard for them to play in and it's been scorching hot here for months so outdoor options are limited. He loved a gymnastics place we went to but it's too far away. Gymboree sounds fun but the big boys can't go (and would want to) and then baby's coming... So I'm thinking of maybe a big slide for indoors? Maybe a tumbling mat? Would he know what to do with it? Or one of those pop-up tunnel/tent things?

Thankfully we've rearranged such that they have a big playroom with floor space (since most things are in storage!) so I can handle something that I can fold up and put away even if it takes up a lot of space when it's out. I just need for him to have something to do other than riding his bike around the house and smashing into things whilst screeching loudly.

[~Katie~]

Heather - I'm debating the same thing as you for Christmas. We need something for the kids to do inside when the weather is bad. Laine is constantly climbing as well. I'm thinking of some kind of tunnel/tent arrangement or maybe a slide like you suggested. I can't believe you have 7-8 weeks left, where did the time go?!

We're back at square one. He called his branch manager who in return sent him a one sentence email saying he could not go active duty unless he's a captain. The National Guard will not make him a captain until 2013, but he's SUPPOSED to make captain this December. They just have a different promotion schedule than active duty does. Someone else told him not to believe her, so we'll see what we find out. I found someone else who has experience working with her and is hopefully going to give us tips on sweet talking her. In other good news he passed his PT test this morning so there's one less thing to worry about

Tooth is still in but loose. He just needs to stop eating hard, crunchy stuff because I think that keeps it loose. He hates anything mushy for the most part so that's a difficult task.

Everyone except me is almost recovered from this cold or whatever it is we have. I didn't realize how sick I was until I fell asleep sitting up in a patio chair yesterday

[*jeanine*]

The swing in our hallway is a huge hit. We got this one.

I think a family trip is a really really good idea. Where's halfway?

ETA: Katie, I keep meaning to ask DH about Liam's tooth, but by the time he gets home I forget about it.

[Faliciagayle]

I think Kansas is the middle of the country.... These are the state parks

but I'd be down for yellowstone, yosemite, zion, moab, etc.


and I would soo toooooootally go.

[mommajb]

I'm missing so much lately. It seems I need to follow along and contribute more.

[*jeanine*]

Apparently you and I are on the same wave-length with doing a camping trip, FG. I think that would be awesome! But, does everyone camp?

[~Katie~]

Let's go in 2012. I'm up for anything when Andrew is deployed again.

[HeatherB]

We don't camp but we could figure out something. I've stayed in cabins in Jackson Hole and done just fine. Someday, maybe we'll learn how to camp, though. Or buy a pop-up! A friend was telling us (and some other friends with a similar vehicle and family size) that we should get a pop-up and travel that way. Sounds like fun and something I could cope with even with my safety paranoias.

And I will say, Texas is most definitely in the middle. But that does mean anything central-ish is easy to get to for us, so I won't complain! We've been to Moab and Arches Nat'l Park and loved it! We went from there to SLC and then to Redding, CA; the Bay Area; LA; Grand Canyon; Lubbock, TX; and home. It was a looong trip but lots of fun, and we're about due for another one after baby comes.

mommajb, how are you and yours doing?

[Faliciagayle]

Dude. Ladies I had to page 4 pages back to find out thread. Where is everyone?


We just had a splendiferoussuperspectacular third birthday party for Chaya

We did apple stamps (I apples in half and cut shapes out, then we dipped then into paint), bubbles, balloons, and a spoon and egg race. And the playsilks are a huuuuuuuuuge hit. It was totally fun! And she peed. in. the. potty. Twice!!!!



re: camping - I figured it would be the most cost effective plan for all of us. Frankly, I really want to go on a Disney cruise but that might be slightly (cough) out of our budget

[HeatherB]

Alicia, sounds like an awesome time! Yay!

A cruise sounds fantabulous! I'm no fan of Disney but something kid-friendly sounds great. Of course, I've never been on a cruise ship, have some tendency towards motion sickness, and am terrified of my children falling through/over/under the railings. But I'd really like to take one AND take my kids!

Camping/cabining sounds great, though. Just as long as it's not HOT! Seriously, I am ready for Fall... And being without air conditioning in temps above the mid-70s is not, um, cool, shall we say. So let's pick somewhere temperate if it must be in the summer!

[*jeanine*]

There's a campground at DisneyWorld. (And hotels, for those so inclined .)
(I was when I realized it was DisneyWorld and not DisneyLand. I wanted to take our camper on a family vacay to Disneyland.)

I have two issues with Yellowstone - bears, and waaay toooo many people I have kinda the same issues with Yosemite. And DH would be very concerned with my car if we took it to Yosemite. He thinks there's so much crap in it that the bears will tear it apart no matter how clean I think I have it.

There's always High Sierra Music Fest

[~Katie~]

I really don't care where we go. Now that I'm comfortable traveling with kids and they're older I will go anywhere, and deployments free up a lot of funds because pay is tax free. I think it would be a lot of fun to get together

If you saw my drama on Facebook you know how my afternoon went. I'm seriously going to start hoping and praying every day that this child will learn to keep himself out of danger. Laine is a big antagonizer now and they love to chase each other so it adds a whole new dimension to getting hurt. He's totally fine otherwise and you'd never know he hurt himself, of course Maybe I just need to figure out how to wrap him in a bubble wrap suit.

[*jeanine*]

Katie, do you camp? Or do you prefer hotels and/or cabins?

[~Katie~]

I haven't been camping in a long time but I used to go a lot as a kid, I don't mind camping and I think it'd be fun for the kids to go.

We are being forced on a cruise for a destination wedding next year but we're saying our presence is conditional based on how much moving is going to cost us.