~1st Chat Thread!! Week of Oct 25th~ - Page 2

[mamaw/two]

Well, it snowed here yesterday, along with howling winds. Luckily today is nicer, but still cold. It's supposed to be better for halloween, I sure hope so!
I so envy those of you that can sew well! I've made a few diapers, but they didn't look so great (they did work). I also made my 1st dd a pretty nightgown that both girls wore when they were about 2-4 yrs old, and I've crocheted a few woolies for the boys and sewed and crocheted some blankets. It seems like I can never get the time to actually improve the few skills I have. How do you sewing mama's find the time?

[scheelimama]

Tracy, I sew. It's my hobby and I sew whenever possible! Which is not a lot of the time with homeschooling my 2 olders and taking care of a toddler and baby. But I make the time. It makes me happy.

I just finished sewing 3 Laura Ingall's style dresses and pinafores. That was A LOT of work. I like making clothes for the kiddos most of all. But I also enjoy making diapers for the babes.

ETA: How I make time to sew? Naptime is a good time to sew, the olders can do independent school work or watch a show or go play outside. And sometimes I sew in the evening after the kids are in bed, but I'm often too tired by then. I have to be really into a project and not have to use my brain much in order to sew at night.

[~Katie~]

I own a cloth diapering business but it has majorly fallen by the way-side. I've really just run out of time to dedicate to it, so now sewing is really just a hobby. When I do sew it's at night or nap time. With DD I sewed her entire cloth stash for the most part but she has extremely sensitive skin and breaks out in a rash when exposed to moisture or with certain fabrics so diapering her has always been a challenge, I ended up donating her stash. I have to decide what I want to do about diapers this time around, if we do cloth it probably won't be for a few months since we're moving right after. I do love sewing baby clothes and we have several wrap tops and hat sets, New Conceptions Baby Essentials are must have patterns if you sew.

[tracymom1]

Originally Posted by ~Katie~

I own a cloth diapering business but it has majorly fallen by the way-side. I've really just run out of time to dedicate to it, so now sewing is really just a hobby. When I do sew it's at night or nap time. With DD I sewed her entire cloth stash for the most part but she has extremely sensitive skin and breaks out in a rash when exposed to moisture or with certain fabrics so diapering her has always been a challenge, I ended up donating her stash. I have to decide what I want to do about diapers this time around, if we do cloth it probably won't be for a few months since we're moving right after. I do love sewing baby clothes and we have several wrap tops and hat sets, New Conceptions Baby Essentials are must have patterns if you sew.

I have used the New Conceptions patterns for onsies and mama cloth - they are really easy to use. Love them. So Katie what fabric did you end up with for your DD? Or was it just better to use sposies? My friend's daughter is 3 months old and highly sensitive to being wet/certain fabrics - fleece seems to be a major issue. I want to make her some diapers but just don't know what fabric would be best. I bought some hemp flannel and thought that might be okay with a wool cover? I also have some organic undyed terrycloth that I might be able to do something with...

I mostly sew during naptime and on days when DH is home. He is a real estate agent so although he works all weekend, he is usually home for at least 2 days during the week. For the last year his business has been painfully slow, but things have really been picking up lately!!!! Yay, cuz we need the money!!!

Are any of you mamas dressing up for halloween or going to any grown-up parties? We were invited to one on Saturday night but since everyone in the house is sick I think we are going to skip it. I don't have a costume anyway!

[firecat]

Katie and Tracy: I had similar problems with Jackson breaking out/eczema using cloth. The eczema started around 4 mo but was completely manageable. I stopped using cloth around 7mo basically because I could not get him to hold still long enough to get a diaper on anymore... But I recent bought some Fuzzibunz onesize to use at night and they give him a horrible horrible rash! I think it is from staying wet for too long. But anyway, no real suggestions or solutions, just sympathy here! I am definitely going to try cloth again for this babe. DH thinks it is gross but I am trying to save him $$$!!!

We are going to an adult party on Sat (most of our friends do not have kids) and J will come with us. It'll be fun and then we just head home when everyone else wants to go out to the bars. We also have a little neighborhood party to go to on Sun for Jackson. I am sure it will just be the kids playing and then trick or treating.

[~Katie~]

It was really hard to determine was exactly was going on with her but she has major issues with synthetic fabrics, suede cloth especially (like BG's). Our NB/SM stash was cotton flannel fitteds. We went to basic prefolds and she would get a horrible rash that way as well, her skin just gets very angry with prolonged exposure to moisture. I'm really careful about what detergent is used with diapers and I make sure to use one without anything irritating in it but that didn't seem to influence it.

My son's never even had a diaper rash so it threw me for a loop. Even with disposables she couldn't wear anything other than 7th Generation or Huggies Pure and Natural. When DS potty trained I ended up going through all of our diapers (and realized we had an entire stash of nearly every system out there ) and sold or donated it all so we'll be starting from scratch. I would love to be able to use cloth again.

Aside from that, both kids have a dairy allergy which leads to eczema and diaper rashes. So we're just a big bundle of fun skin issues

As far as fabrics, I would think natural fibers and wool covers are your best bet. You could use the hemp flannel as the inner and outer and the terrycloth as the soaker if you're making fitted's or prefitted's.

Both of my kids are sick today, DD came down with what DS has in the middle of the night. I'm also feeling a bit under the weather

[tracymom1]

I am in a house full of sickys!!! Everyone has it but me (knock wood) and I am going to do my best to remain positive! I WILL NOT get sick!!! Right? Gosh, I hope so!

Fridays are a big day around here because we celebrate Shabbat and I usually spend the whole day cooking. Because of the illnesses, I'm not sure if I will have the time to make the bread and prepare a big meal. Might just go to the bakery and pick up an already-cooked chicken from the market

I am definitely starting to feel the nausea so I am trying to avoid strong smells-that always seems to be a big trigger for me. For some reason garlic makes my stomach turn right now even though I LOVE it!!!

[~Katie~]

Ooooh, can you come cook at my house

It's a sinus thing that we all have. DD did better last night and slept in until 9. she was up all night the night before. I'm going to break out the neti pot today. DS doesn't seem to be bothered by being sick at all.

I'm definitely enjoying eating before ms sets in, last time I couldn't eat anything other than miso soup for a loooong time and now I hate it because it reminds me of ms

[firecat]

Sorry you guys are sick! Hope you all feel better soon.

I woke up today on top of the world until DH blew up at Jackson and then I was a wreck all morning. See we are dealing with an "I don't LIKE Daddy" phase. Well maybe i can't even call it a phase because it has been going on for longer than I can really remember. I think DH is at the end of his rope and I just don't know what to do about it. Anyway I think I've got it together for now at least. I forgot about the emotional crazy coaster pregnancy puts me on...

Well Jackson and I are going to paint now

[tracymom1]

Firecat, I LOVE the name Jackson!! DH won't have it, but it was on my short list with DS. His name is Gabe (Gabriel) and it fits him so well so I guess everything works out like that!

With us, DS goes back and forth with who he "likes" at the moment. When DH is away all day at work, every 10 minutes he desperately asks me "WHERE is Papa??!!" All.Day.Long. He acts out, doesn't listen to me at all and throws tantrums every chance he gets. And from what I hear, when I am gone for more than an hour or so, the same thing happens in reverse with DH. My nephew just turned 6 and he was like that at this age too - and the good news is that he is now waaaaayyyyy more mellow than I would have every thought he could be. There is hope!

Well, I am more on track today than I anticipated. The bread is rising, dinner has been prepped and DS's Halloween costume is about 1/2 done. I have to wait for the paint to dry before moving on to the next phase.

Any mamas in this DDC homeschooling? I am trying to get a program together for DS - just an informal pre-k thing. I ordered a few supplies from RR but haven't really thought about what to actually do with them! I am starting to worry about my decision to homeschool... I should head over to that forum sometime...

[scheelimama]

Tracymom, I couldn't handle garlic during my last 2 pregnancies. No morning sickness yet, so I'm still good with it this time, hoping it won't bother me as much this time. Strong smells bother me greatly too. Although, strong smells aren't bothering me at all yet this time, which is really odd. They usually bother me right away, before I even have a positive test, with actual morning sickness kicking in around 6-7 weeks.

[Brittee]

Happy Great Pumpkin Day! DH and I are forgoing Halloween this year and skipping straight to our anniversary, which is 11/1, so Monday. DH suggested it would be nicer to enjoy our anniversary on a day off than to have me rushing to the restaurant after I get off work. I've been having difficulty waking in the middle of the night STARVING. What do you mamas do? I've been using a cliff bar and a glass of water which seems to be working, but I imagine some variety would be nice. Off to go make breakfast. I'm dying for some scrambled eggs with tomato, spinach, and cheese.

[~Katie~]

Last night was trick or treating in our neighborhood, the kids had a great time. Today is DH's birthday so I'm going to make him a cake and nice dinner.

I don't get up in the middle of the night for anything unless I absolutely have to, not to eat or get a drink or pee. My kids keep me up enough as it is so I'll take sleep whenever I can get it.

[heavensearth]

Ugh, long night last night! DS didnt go to bed until 12:30!!! I let him nap way too long in the afternoon, and he didnt have a good sleep, he woke up every couple of hours and so did I to pee! what's up with that?! I woke up about 8 times last night!!! I think its related to too much fish sauce in my pho, its so salty!

Ive been trying super hard to get a bunch of stuff ready for a craft sale im doing in 3 weeks, im still not sure how im going to pull it off! I ruined my entire batch of art pendants yesterday and have to start from scratch and I haven't even started the original pieces! After the sale it should be pretty calm around here. We're building a studio for me in our basement (our basement is unfinished) so that will be the first room we complete. We want it semi done by xmas because we'll be having house guests and they'll need to stay in what is my studio right now and also our little poppyseed will need this room ♥

Im too far behind to catch up on personals, but next time I will for sure!

Im off to carve a pumpkin! Happy Halloween to everyone who celebrates it!

[tracymom1]

Happy Halloween!

I have been night waking a lot lately, too. Sometimes its to pee but usually its because of nightmares. I always get them and during pregnancy it gets unusually bad.

I found out yesterday that one of the bombs from Yemen that was intercepted was addressed to our synagogue. I am having a pretty hard time digesting that. My rabbi is such a great man - he is calm, strong and very forthright. He would not cancel any of the activities at the synagogue this weekend and encouraged everyone to go about their normal routines. They have, of course, extra security right now and federal authorities in the building so I think it is pretty safe. I am just a little freaked out.

[apmama07]

Good morning! Hope everyone enjoyed the weekend. Ours was nice, spent some time with my parents visiting, carved pumpkins. We did t/ting Friday evening at a special event.

Originally Posted by Brittee

I've been having difficulty waking in the middle of the night STARVING. What do you mamas do? I've been using a cliff bar and a glass of water which seems to be working, but I imagine some variety would be nice.

I find that if I eat a little protein right before I go to bed, I can make it through till morning fine. Still starving and headed straight to the kitchen in the morning, but not bothered during the night. A hard boiled egg or bunch of nuts does the trick. Good protein is so key to many early pregnancy ills.

Hope you had a great anniversary celebration!

tracymom - That's so scary! Hard to imagine, I'd have a really difficult time wrapping my brain around it too. Hope the community can find peace.

[firecat]

Tracy, thanks!! Dh was the one who suggested Jackson I like Gabriel too, I don't think dh would ever go for it though Dh and I had a talk about the situation on Saturday night and I think it is going better now. We are going to start alternating who does the bedtime routine. I told dh he needs to start standing up for himself. He can't let let J treat him like that. It has been very hard for him because he really feels like J does not like him at all and he jut can't get past it. So we are going to try to work together a bit better on this issue and so far things are going better.
And that is too scary about your synagogue! I would be having nightmares too.

heavensearth, I am getting ready for some craft shows too. It has been hard to get time to work on my jewelry and this year a friend and I are also putting together some handmade cards and gift tags. I have 3 shows in 3 weekends starting Nov 20 so I am busy busy! But hopefully making some $$$ too!

We had a fun time trick or treating this year. It was J's first time so it was super fun! Then we went by a friends house and the kids played and ate some candy.

We ended up telling all our friends about the new baby at the Halloween Party we went to Saturday and I called my dad last night so just about everyone knows I am in that phase where I don't really *feel* pregnant yet so it still doesn't even seem real...

[Brittee]

apmama07 - Thank you! We did have a good time, and I did eat half my protein bar before bed and finished it when I woke up in the morning. Preemptive strikes really are key to a successful night's sleep for me.

[heavensearth]

Cheryl, do you have a website? please pm me your info! id love to check out your work! I don't really do craft sales, this is only my second one, the first was for a friend last year and the sale itself was a HUGE flop! this sale is a very popular one in my city, so it should be good! I have so much stuff to get ready for it still I think ill take an extra day off work next week to work on getting more product ready.

Trick-or-treating was great yesterday! it was DS first time out, I don't think he completely knew what was going on, but he looked so cute, so it was ok My mom and her bf came over and gave out candy do I could take DS out (DH and I work opposite shifts and of course, he had to work last night )

I had more bloodwork done today, they're going to keep drawing it until I reach 1500 and then schedule an early ultrasound. At 4 weeks I was 208, so this being my 5th week could bring me to 1500.

[tracymom1]

Wow, mamas, I am impressed! I have always wanted to do craft shows but can never seem to get my 'stuff' together in order to make it happen. What are some of your goodies? How many shows do you do? Is it profitable?

I am going to spend this week trying my best to get organized. I have really let things go the last month or so - the house is a mess, none of my projects are done (or even started, for that matter) and I have been kind of feeling like I am failing at this SAHM thing. I have so much that needs to be accomplished before this new baby comes and this darn fatigue is just holding me back. I need to snap out of it!