Chat Thread: Jan 9 - Someone Starts a New One - Page 7

[livacreature]

Chelsea: We offer formula after nursing, she takes any where from 12-20 oz per day right now.  How much does Landon take?  I've been wondering what others were at as well.

Boston meeting: You ladies have fun!  That sounds fabulous.

Cold air: She has a distinct "cry" for this.  More, she spits.  And foams.  It is the funniest/weirdest sound I've ever heard and she only does it when her face is exposed to the very cold air.  Glad to know she isn't the only baby who turns into a rabid dog when cold.

Starling: That sounds terrible.  I do hope you are feeling better soon (and it is contained to you so you don't have little ones with it!)  Let us know how you are doing.

Diapers: This is quite helpful.  Right now, what I'm doing is a pre-rinse, wash on normal with heavy soil setting  with warm/cold  water in my front loader.  I use homemade detergent and oxyclean.  Is there anything that really helps with staining besides the sun?  Won't have any of that here for a bit....Also, are diaper sprayers worth it when they get bigger?  Right now, she just poops about once a day and I run down to the basement to rinse in the utility sink.  But I imagine when they get bigger, things get messier.

Katico: Brave weathering the weather!  Hope your DD1 had fun!

AFM: I taught my first class since being back to work last night.  It was okay, I'm out of practice.  Plus, the room we were in had a window, and I was just watching the snow coat the driveway, anxious about driving my shit-in-snow car in it.  I did some serious cooking today.  Made barley soup, stuffed portabello mushrooms, bread, an asian slaw, and I'm debating cookies.  Baby gets chill when I'm cooking (I think it is a combo of the smells and heat), so on days like today, I seem to do a lot of it!

[Leiahs]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ~pi 
That reminds me, how do the other DDC babies feel about cold wind in the face? Mine puts it up there somewhere at the level of being poked with sharp things. He gets quite upset and literally foams at the mouth.

Somehow Malcolm always manages to bury his face under his hood and against my chest on cold windy days.  I'm glad.  I worry about the cold with babies, especially combined with wind.  He never seems to complain, though.  Just hides away from it all.

Originally Posted by Amy May 

Yes, that is our big surprise...a Boston MDC playdate/ mommies lunch.  I was at my old job today and didn't have computer/phone access, so sorry for the terrible suspense!  I feel like I know you all already, but we are looking forward to it.  BTW, Leiahs and Poodge, perhaps we can eventually have a Colorado meetup as well?

Starling- oh gosh, I hope you feel better soon.  That sounds absolutely awful!

Laundry- we have a top loader and for dipes use Country Save powder detergent.  I will wash the diapers on a pre-wash cycle (on autosoak), hot, with a little soap, and then a second heavy cycle with more baby clothes and soap, and put the setting on extra rinse.  I appreciate hearing what you all are doing.  I swear by baking soda and vinegar as a cleaning product, but never have used it in laundry before.  

I think a Colorado meet-up would be so fun!  :)  I'm glad there will be a Boson get-together - how happy for you all involved!!  (and yes, I agree- you MUST take and share pictures!)

Starling, yes, your situation sounds horrific.  I truly do hope you're well very very soon!

Laundry - Oy, the bane of my existence.  The *bare minimum* I need to do on a weekly basis is about 6-7 loads.  That's not at all counting towels or bed linens, neither of which get washed even half as often as they should, or extra laundry that has to happen when one of my boys has a pee accident.  Which is surprisingly often, sometimes.  Our laundry options are coin-op community laundry ($2.25 total for wash/dry) or going to MIL's and spending the day there to do laundry with her high-efficiency-but-utterly-crappy-at-cleaning top-loader.  (Seriously, unless I put it on an hour-long setting meant for the dirtiest clothes on earth, you can still smell armpit stink on DH's shirts, and dirt won't come out of the kids' clothes.)  We tend to opt for using MIL's washer/dryer.  But neither one is a great option.  $70+/month to do it all at my convenience just down the hall, or interrupting life to stop and do laundry at MIL's for a whole day at least once per week?  (I suppose it's no wonder that towels and sheets/etc. get done so infrequently.)  I'm glad I decided not to cloth diaper in this situation.  But I do miss CD'ing.  I used to do diaper washes every 2-3 days with a cold rinse, a small amount of soap in a hot wash, and then an extra rinse.  I also used vinegar in the rinse, like others are saying, but not regularly.  Just when I felt like it, lol.  Every month or so I did an extra hot wash or two.  I had a regular ol' top loader.

ETA regarding stains, since I was typing when livacreature posted.  You could try this method with dawn + hydrogen peroxide.  I've never tried it, but it sure looks like it works on other difficult stains.

AFM, I am suddenly not sleeping well at night.  Malcolm's still waking only once during the night, though it varies between 4am-7am.  But all week this week, I've been dreaming more intensely than usual, and waking frequently.  I'd say at least every 3 hours, often more like every 2 hours.  I feel so tired and zombiefied during the day.  I guess Malcolm really has been spoiling me with his good sleep, for me to have forgotten what I *normally* feel like with an infant in the house!  I can't figure out why I'm waking up, though.  :(  I'm also failing at meal planning.  Here it is 4:30, and I have yet to figure out what we're going to be eating for dinner.  Yesterday I was so determined to finally have a decently cooked dinner, after having grocery shopped and cleaned up the kitchen and everything in preparation for it.... and then I didn't even manage to get it on the table until 7:15pm.  Usually dinner is late if it's at 6, and I usually have my kids already on their way to bed at 7pm.  Tonight may be eggs and waffles, because there's no way I'm dragging everyone to the store at this point.  And (and, and...) I haven't been good about keeping easy snacks in the house, either.  It's a good thing my kids like yogurt, and that we just went to Costco and got a whole bunch of it this week, because that's about all they're eating for snack the last few days.  I think my 3yo alone has had something like 8 yogurts in the last 24 hours.
 

[starling&diesel]

Well, a stool sample and some immodium later, the risk for crapping my pants has lowered exponentially.  Phew.

Meet-up ... Fun!  My Feb '09 ddc here is still super close, and we've never met in person.  How cool! 

Diaper sprayers ... I didn't see the need with my older child.  Once she started solids, her poops were more formed and I could just knock the solids into the loo.  I don't even rinse them now.  Just put them into the dry pail and then wash as is. 

Staining ... I don't worry too much about discolouring and staining.  I put the diapers in the sun a few times each summer and they whiten up nicely.

Formula ... I offer a supplement every three-four hours or so, at the breast, with none overnight.  So he gets about 12-16oz a day?  Roughly. 

Cold wind ... We don't get a lot of super cold wind here, but he's carried facing me, so tend to bury his face in and get cozy regardless. 

Meal planning ... We're in a slump here too.  When my dp is at work (and I'm sick) I'm doing a lot of Muffin Tin Meals in 6-muffin-pans.  Put a bit of something in each spot and, voila, your child is impressed!  Blueberries, cukes, cheese, ham, crackers, raisins, tofu, little PB&J sammies, pretzels, carrots, chickpeas, pasta, etc.  My favourite go-to in a pinch!

[not_telling]

diaper sprayers - we never purchased one, but we found rice paper liners to be awesome for dealing with poops once they start solids.  just throw the liner and attached poopiness into toilet and flush.  http://www.amazon.com/Imse-Vimse-Flushable-Liner-pieces/dp/B0009A3I5K

as for stains...yeah, we just put ours in the sun every so often in summer.  i know some mamas who did a few at a time by the back window of their cars in colder weather. never tried it myself.

[Katico]

Meet-up:  Not gonna lie - super jealous!!!!  Pictures please!!

Saoirse mentioned her cross country move on her last post - she's actually moving about an hour from me!  Hoping to meet her sometime and introduce our babies who were competing for birth order, haha

Formula:  Not that I think you should use my EFF/ 10+lb at birth baby as any sort of guideline, but since you asked....I would guess she probably has....hmm, 40+ oz a day right now? I'll pay more attention tomorrow and keep a count!  I'm curious now and that doesn't sound like as much as she actually drinks ;)

Snow:  Yep, we got a fair bit of it here today.  Which means I am destined to be going out and "playing" in it again tomorrow (read: standing around, bouncing the baby who screams at the first hint of a breath of cold wind hitting her face, while explaining to DD1 that No, Mama cannot get down and make snow angels with her.  

It also means DH is stuck away from us tonight, he's been gone for a day and night already for work and decided not to risk it and drive back tonight.  I'm relieved but hate being the only one here.

Attention internet creepsters: my husband may be away but I am heavily armed and dangerous.  I WILL cut you.  

Leiahs: sucky laundry options!  Maybe you should offer to chip in part of the cost of a new washer for your MIL?  Cheaper long-term than coin-op and at least your time there would be productive!

Meals: a slump here, too.  Not main meals - i.e. breakfast (cereal and fruit or oatmeal most days) or supper (always good suppers here, I prioritize cooking interesting meals - it is something I enjoy that I can actually accomplish with kids in tow most days)  But, my issue is feeding the ravenous toddler snack and lunch.  I also tend to do muffin tin esque meals, a little bit of a lot of things, but I have been uninspired lately and she's been eating too many sweet things  fruit, muffins, PB sandwiches....I need to step up my game.  Her very favourite little snacks are nori sheets, broccolli and dip and any kind of fruit.  

Starling: So glad to hear you have found some relief......picturing you in the pepto bismol lineup

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XghJuH6GSCo

PS, how much do you have to pay someone to play "diarrhea"??

PPS: check out this unofficial set of commercials!  BAHAHAHA!!!  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YywdqRMcv84&feature=related

Diaper sprayer: never had one...never wished for one!  Just sounds so...messy and....spray -...y......

[lifeguard]

starling - glad you're feeling a bit better!

wind - ds always loooooved the wind but in costa rica it was much warmer than up here in canada. Dd does not like it. She stiffens & shakes her head & has a hard time catching her breath - poor babe.

katico - that is exactly what playing in the snow is like. I actually enjoy playing in the snow but not with a baby in tow.

Dh just came out of ds' room after being summoned. While in there he was informed by ds that he wants a dollhouse, his finger fits in his penis & that we should install a sink in his bedroom. Heeheehee.

[dollyanna]

Meet up - Sounds fun! 

Starling - glad you're feeling better. Hope you can get by without the medicine sometime soon.

Wind - this child HATES cold/wind.  She sort of chokes like she can't breathe.

Playing in snow - Katico, yup. That about sums up how my snow experience was this morning.

Formula - she takes about 20 oz.  I believe an exclusively FF baby is supposed to take 2.5 times her weight at this age.

Diaper washing - I think I need to strip at least some of mine - I've never done it. It's probably mostly the ones DD used for nighttime for years that are funky.  I used to just use our regular free/clear detergent on them, which I now know is supposed to be awful for diapers.  I have just been doing a hot wash, cold rinse with an extra rinse.  If I have time I soak them 1st.  I've never had trouble with staining, just stink.

Thanks for the pep talk re: baby's weight.  I hope the zantac does something.  Otherwise I'm kind of at a loss.  Lots of goo is still coming out of baby's ear.  Thanks for the reminder on garlic Rosemary -- I used to use garlic mullein oil on DD1 and it seemed to help.  Unfortunately the bottle exploded on our last trip out of state ALL over the rest of our bathroom stuff.  Garlic-scented toothbrush, anyone?

[Amy May]

Starling, so glad you are feeling better!  I love the idea of muffin tin meals.

I'm inspired to try sun-bleaching our dipes soon.  They don't smell, but today I put a clean one on her that was so stained I thought it hadn't been washed.  It was still in perfect poop imprint form too.  We did get a sprayer for when she's eating solids, and someone gave us those diaper liners too, but we haven't used them.

When we go outside, I usually put Palesa into the moby and zip her up in my jacket.  Twice recently out in the cold, she's actually leaned backwards and stuck her neck out into the wind.  I was doing everything I could to pull her closer into me and block the wind with my coat, but it was as if she was leaning into it! 

This morning we had a little reunion for my midwifery class, but half of us couldn't make it due to the snow here.  Still, it was really nice to get together.  

Good news- landlord came back to us and has agreed to our proposal- to let us leave at the end of the month with no further rent, heating, or other payments, and to return our security deposit.  This is very good news!

Okay, nak, and my nose is running, so have to sign off. 

[Katico]

Children need to sleep.  

Serenity Now.

[lifeguard]

I bf dd today in the wrap while outside in the snow. Very proud of my big boobs!

[starling&diesel]

Way to go, lifeguard! 

Awesome news, Amy!  I'm so glad that battle is done and over with. 

Speaking of babywearing ... I went out into the world with H on my back in the Ergo.  I felt like a FREE WOMAN!!!  I could even pick up dd when she needing some comforting!  Oh, how I've been longing for this moment!  Blessed freedom!  I'm finally feeling better, so I took dd to her favourite cupcake store (yay for gluten free cupcakes) and we had a lovely time, only get a few odd looks as I slung the baby back onto my back when it was time to leave.  Then there was a bluegrass band playing on the street, so we boogied to that.  Accordian, stand up bass and two banjos ... FUN! 

[lifeguard]

Oh - I've been thinking of trying dd in the ergo on my back - now I'm going to! I looooooved it with ds but he was 7 months when I got the ergo.

[starling&diesel]

With my first child I didn't put her on my back until she was a year or so, but I realized she could've gone on my back way earlier. She was much smaller, mind you, but even still ... H loved it! And if he falls asleep I can just hook up the hood and he can snooze away. Yay for easy back carries! I can save my yummy wraps for better weather and use the Ergo for easy on and off. Honestly, I felt like a million bucks! And I can be a much more hands on mama to my older child when I have her brother on my back. Joy!

[Amy May]

Oh dear.  DH has a man-cold.  Yes, a full-fledged man cold.  I asked him if we should take him to the hospital, but he said he didn't think so.  He said it was like labor, except minus the contractions and the uterus.  He said he hoped he didn't throw up as much as I did during labor.

I just tried a back-carry in the moby, but wasn't 100% confident in it, and Palesa was sleeping anyway, so I just left my 2 sleeping babies on the bed while I pack.  Luckily, we have 2 friends coming by to help today, but we don't have time for DH to be out of commission like this!  

[lifeguard]

oh Amy May - the dreaded man-cold. Seriously - like labour?!

[StephandOwen]

Originally Posted by Amy May 

Oh dear.  DH has a man-cold.  Yes, a full-fledged man cold.  I asked him if we should take him to the hospital, but he said he didn't think so.  He said it was like labor, except minus the contractions and the uterus.  He said he hoped he didn't throw up as much as I did during labor.

[livacreature]

Backcarry: I haven't tried yet, probably will when we are harness free.  Seems like it would be helpful to have an extra set of hands to get lo situated?   In the moby, do you just wrap it backwards?

Weather: We only got about five inches yesterday, but it was enough to get my superlight, not snow friendly car stuck in the middle of our back alley for about two hours while we weaseled it back in the garage.  Baby was not happy being left alone in the house while we dug it out.  It was the second time I've used a baby monitor, I stuck her in her crib (longest she's ever been in it) and she wailed.  I ran in to check on her every ten minutes or so, but I did feel bad.  It was too cold to have her out, and it doesn't seem safe to push a car and babywear. lol  Poor dear. 

Amy: Cold=labor?  HAHAHA.

Hip update: Should be in harness just at night starting in two weeks.  I can't wait to snuggle her for hours on end without the damned thing being in the way.

I'm so proud of myself.  I've made our meals from scratch every day this week.  And not just something like stirfry or chilis.  Real food.  I think I'm getting in a groove.  I need to go to the fabric store, there are some projects I want to work on.  We're going to start renovating our downstairs soon.  I'm so excited about it.  It is a slow process, but hopefully by fall we will have painted, ripped out all the carpet and finished the hardwoods, redo our fireplace and mantle, build bookshelves....BWAHAHAHA.  We have a tv in the basement, but the living room is going to be more of a technology-free library.  We have a giant mirror that is ugly as sin over our fireplace, we're going to remove it and put it in the baby's room and make a "performance" area for her to gawk at herself in.  The mirror is about four feet tall, and five feet wide, so it should be fun for quite a few years.  I'm also painting a magnetic chalkboard under her window.  A friend of mine who lives in the neighborhood has volunteered her apartment to babysit while we're doing the nasty stuff that might have lead in it.  I've never had NEW things or decorated things the way I wanted, it has always been whatever was used and cheap.  Not this time.  I'm not buying it unless it is exactly what I want, even if it takes longer to purchase.  I am so glad to really be feeling like myself again.  I was in a long period of depression before getting pregnant, and the pregnancy was so draining, I was beginning to wonder if that was going to be my normal.  Guess not.  :)  I am feeling so content, so motivated.  I love my girl, I love our house, and I love the stability I'm feeling. 

[~pi]

livacreature, you sound so happy!

Amy May, hang in there! (Cold = labour, huh? )

lifeguard, hooray for outdoor nursing! We did that over the holidays on a hike up north and it was COLD! I had to stop, sit on a rock, and pull out the equipment, though.

backcarry: I've back carried a bunch around the house, but have only done outings when DH has been with me. I can totally get the kid on and off my back with a couch or bed right there, but am not confident about my ability to do it without a soft surface. Also, I need mirrors or another person there to indulge my paranoia about making sure baby is still breathing every twelve milliseconds.

I am polishing my presentation and packing for Boston. WTF was I thinking in agreeing to give a talk and attend a meeting solo with baby?! I know that I will be glad to have done it once it's over, but I am doubting my decision now. At least I have a meetup to look forward to as part of the deal!

[lifeguard]

livacreature - so great to hear you are doing so well!

afm - mil rant of the day. She was over this morning & changed the picture in one of my frames I had displayed! Who the heck does that?!

[theboysmama]

Originally Posted by lifeguard 

afm - mil rant of the day. She was over this morning & changed the picture in one of my frames I had displayed! Who the heck does that?!

livacreature: so glad you are coming out of the funk. I have been there and it is just so freeing. Like you can breath fresh air again instead of muggy air.

backcarry- I have done it a few times w/ dd2 but she is so far down in it I can't tell if she is breathing and don't like it. I will wait till she is older. I put her on fine by myself though. I start like I am putting her on the front and then just slide her around my left hip and onto my back (this is in the ergo) works great.

Amy may-

AFM- feeling swallowed by my laundry and a cluttered house. Dh took off while I was napping to watch football and who knows when he will be back. We went skiing yesterday which was a blast BUT the unpacking, etc. is so exhausting. Hoping I can p-up a bit so I don't feel so overwhelmed. It doesn't have to be perfect but if I could see my couches and walk w/out tripping I would be happy. It is amazing what me napping for 1 1/2 hours does to my house.

Saphira's 2nd tooth is about to cut through and she is very very unhappy!!! It seems the other one cut through and then did nothing. It is just barely peeking out and has been like that for about 4 weeks