bi weekly chat June 18-July 2 « Back to Group Discussions

[flavorfull1]

Where is everyone and what are you up to for the summer?  It seems like our board has gotten rather quiet lately, I am so guilty of just checking and reading but not really having the time to respond.  So, I will make a better effort even though some days it is all we can do to just get fed lol.

Night before last was the first night ever that DS slept in his own room for the majority of the night. He woke up at 5:30 and came into bed then, last night, he did not wake up at all so he slept the whole night in his own room.  When he woke up this morning he was calling to us and saying "it is sunny time" which is what he came up with as far as when he can get up and play.  He is 2.5 and I definitely cried when he wasn't in our room.  He is getting so big and he was ready to take this step before I was.  I am going to be a mess at all of the firsts i think.  I do still have a baby in my room though since DD needs to be on me or touching me in some way for the majority of the day.

I am feeling sad about DD's neediness bc DH doesn't get the bonding time that he got with DS.  It just makes me sad and I just dont see a way to fix it since she very clearly communicates that she is not ok with being away from mommy when she is tired or hungry.  She will go from fine to falling apart crying in seconds.  DH will jump at the chance to hold her when she is awake and happy.  DS would stay awake for hours at this point and her longest awake happy time is 1.5 hrs at the most with half of that nursing and it is in the morning when DH is at work.

well dd is not happy w me using two hands to type while i stand and carry her so i will be back later!

[chiromama01]

flav i'm guilty of the same thing (reading but not responding!) as it is im puming at the keyboard...fun, right??

today has been super busy in general over here but i finally broke down andhired someone to clean my house so hopefully i'll be a little less stressed out by my massive, never ending to-do list!i'm really struggling with finding a calorie intake level that supports healthy weight loss and milk production.  suggestions, anyone??

ok, breaks over...be back soon :)

[daylicious]

Flavorful: That must be hard. It's hard to imagine our "babies" growing up!

Chiro: No advice on the calorie suggestion, I'm not too informed about that stuff, but wanted to say WhooHoo! on the house cleaner! You go! That's awesome. I'm glad it's taking some off your plate, sounds like your family has had a lot going on all at once.

So far Holden seems pretty "independent" he's ok with laying on the bed or floor kicking around, or being in his bouncy chair. He likes being worn when we're out and about and walking, not so much in the house. He loves being carried upright over the shoulder so he can look around. This is ok, but I think I bruised or somehow hurt a rib when installing our diaper sprayer to the toilet tank (yeah....I was leaning all my weight against them on the seat as reached down...heard a crunch...I'm pretty much the most accident prone person alive) so it hurts to carry him the last couple days.
My friends and family with children say he's the most mellow baby they've ever met. I of course agree and think he's a perfect angel baby
He's sleeping stretches of 6-8 hours at night, wakes up to eat, and then back down for about 3 more hours until morning. We have him sleeping in his own room, I slept in there for the first little while (it has a double bed because its also our guest room) but I moved back to our room a few weeks ago. I always thought I would cosleep, but found it didn't work well for Holden or me. I was barely sleeping and getting really blue, so we transitioned him into his crib when he was a few days old, and he's done wonderfully. We have a small house, so Im not far from him at night. He rarely cries, except for an odd 20 or so mins in the early evening...when he really exercises his lungs and fusses at the breast. I think he's used to my fast flow and oa letdown, so when the milk slows down at night he protests! Oh! And he's 14lbs 3ozs as of last Wednesday (he's 7 weeks) and soooo rolly polly! Love!

[chiromama01]

day-- so glad you have found a sleeping arrangement that works for you both.  It's so nice to get a little rest!! Holden sounds awesome, and i'm picturing the perfect little ball of rolls he must be :)

[arbybee]

Holden and Heron are seriously so alike in looks and temperament. It must be the big boy syndrome. Maybe it takes too much extra energy to fuss when you're that big? Who knows.

Heron sleeps really well at night, but I'm not ready to put him in a crib yet. He'd share a room with my step-son and right now, I'd rather that I be the only member of the household who wakes up with the baby at night. I don't need a sleep-deprived toddler on my hands. Ideally, I'd like to see Heron in his crib by 6-8months, but I also am keenly aware that bedsharing is a hell of a habit to break, so who knows.

[prettyisa]

Hi everyone!

Just checking in quickly to say hello. We're heading to my in-laws' house for a month on Monday, so I doubt I'll be writing until we get back, but once I'm at work I expect I'll be writing much more often. In any case, I wanted to say that I think of all of you pretty often, and I'm looking forward to having more computer time (and two hands) soon!

[saudade]

Originally Posted by arbybee 

Holden and Heron are seriously so alike in looks and temperament. It must be the big boy syndrome. Maybe it takes too much extra energy to fuss when you're that big? Who knows.

There might be truth to that. One of my kids was a hubba-hubba too. He weighed 18 lbs at 2 months...or was it 16?? Either way he was a fatty and he was the BEST baby. He never cried, slept really well. My easiest baby. Lennon is a pretty easy going baby too, but not quite like my oldest son who was my fattest baby.

In other news...last night I cooked dinner, sat down and ate it whilst having a conversation with someone...and didn't realize until afterwards that I had poop all over the front of my shirt. Motherhood is so glamorous. I'm so scatterbrained lately that I didn't even notice it. I'm glad I was done eating before I saw it or it would have spoiled my appetite. LOL! Just thought I'd share.

[adoremybabe]

I too have been reading and not replying much. Our summer has been busy from the get-go and I'm not enjoying being so busy! My oldest 2 are in swimming lessons so we have to leave the house by 9:40 am and we get home close to 1 pm. The session is everyday Mon thru Thurs for 2 weeks. It's hot and humid at the indoor pool. I am glad that my kiddos have the oppertunity to learn to swim and it is important. I'm just getting sick of having to get up and leave the house everyday. I am pretty useless after we get home. We will probably take a break from lessons and jump back in towards the end of summer.

We leave for vacation this Sunday. We will be going on a road trip to the UP of Michigan and getting back home on Thursday or Friday. Is it bad that I don't know our plans???? 

DH has just started seeing a functional medicine doctor. He has been sick way too much over the past year and a half. It started when  he was in China and the doc thinks that it is either a foreign virus or a parasite. Not fun. Sooooo he just start all of his testing today. Hoepfully we get some answers and hopefully we won't go broke as we have to pay out of pocket.

Juliet is so wonderful. She looks just like her big sister. I envy the moms of 1 or 2 because you have more down time to cuddle your babies. Jule started smiling a lot last week and now she is starting to coo with her smiles. I'm relishing everymoment that I can.

Adjustment from 3 to 4 kids has been hard to say the least.

[saudade]

Originally Posted by chiromama01 

!i'm really struggling with finding a calorie intake level that supports healthy weight loss and milk production.  suggestions, anyone??

Yeah, I'm now starting to think about that...I've been having a hell of a time with low milk supply so I'm scared to do anything. I've been thinking of doing the Body by Vi or Visalus shakes thing, whatever it is. Does anyone know if that would hurt my milk supply by replacing two meals with shakes?

[piratemere]

Originally Posted by saudade 

There might be truth to that. One of my kids was a hubba-hubba too. He weighed 18 lbs at 2 months...or was it 16?? Either way he was a fatty and he was the BEST baby. He never cried, slept really well. My easiest baby. Lennon is a pretty easy going baby too, but not quite like my oldest son who was my fattest baby.

In other news...last night I cooked dinner, sat down and ate it whilst having a conversation with someone...and didn't realize until afterwards that I had poop all over the front of my shirt. Motherhood is so glamorous. I'm so scatterbrained lately that I didn't even notice it. I'm glad I was done eating before I saw it or it would have spoiled my appetite. LOL! Just thought I'd share.

I totally had the same thing happen to me on Sunday, at church.  I teach in the primary, and DH brought Atti in to be because he was fussy.  As soon as I had him on my lap he had a big poo and was perfectly happy.  I passed him back to DH to change him and it wasn't until after church that I noticed the big old poo smear right across my white skirt.  Nice. 

Originally Posted by adoremybabe 
We leave for vacation this Sunday. We will be going on a road trip to the UP of Michigan and getting back home on Thursday or Friday. Is it bad that I don't know our plans????

I wish I were going to anywhere in Mi.  We lived there for 2 1/2 years while DH was in Law School, and I miss it dearly.  If it weren't on the otherside of the continent from us it would totally be our vacation spot of choice. 

AFM: I'm just plugging along.  I did a LLL presentation for a group of nursing students this morning.  The instructor wanted me to come so that her students could see someone nursing, since most of them haven't - not a demonstration, just casually. Well, Atti was sound asleep in the car, fell back asleep in the wrap on my way in and stayed asleep through most of the presentation. I didn't want to be obvious about waking him up just to nurse him, so I had to subtly wake him up just to show off our mad nursing skills.  It was good though, and hopefully will help those nurses support new moms better.

Atti is 14 1/2 lbs at 10 weeks, so joins the other chunkers.  I love it!  He's super mellow and sleeps like a dream.  I love him.

[piratemere]

PS Has anyone figured out why randoms are now able to post in our DDC?  When we switched to the group instead of the old forum I wasn't sure at first, but I've really enjoyed our exclusivity.

[Thursday Girl]

In my sisters ddc alI I had to join was request to join and it was set up for automatic approval.

Sweet disposition babies being chunkers, I don't know my Coraline is pretty laid back and sweet and she is only 11.5 lbs at 11 weeks.

Flavor my second kid was like that she just didn't really ever want to have much to do with Hubs. if he tried to hold her or even talk to her in the morning she would cry. It wasn't until she was about 5 that she had love for him whenever. He was sad about it but she just wouldn't warm up to him. This is not to say that she will be like Josie.  sorry, maybe not helpful. He always relished his hugs and kisses from her and worked hard to get them. Oddly, now that she gives the hugs freely they have some trouble getting along. She is so  off in dreamland all the time and it drives him to distraction.

Chiro- super jealous of your cleaner, but you do SO MUCH you totally should have one.

adore- hope he can quickly figure it out and get it treated without costing a fortune. As for going from 3-4 I am finding it surprisingly easy, almost too easy and I wonder what's up with that b/c goign to 3 kids almost sent me over the edge.

Dayle- some babies just do better on their own. Cora falls asleep by herself often during the day, but at night she likes to nurse down.

AFM- Hubs is working out of town during the week and I am finding ti hard to keep up on everything, it seems like so many things aren't getting done and I'm not sure how to find the time (well I guess I could get off the computer) to get it all done. The house is a wreck, I haven't started the sewing project with the girls yet and still have to finish getting everything ready for my friends baby shower this weekend PLUS a toy for a friend. I like helping my friends out it's just I haven't figured out the balance of 4 kids and no Hubs yet. I have time, this job will be 6 weeks. Luckily he's home on weekends. Father's day weekend we went to the beach, it was a lot of fun. The big girls loved it; Cora liked it okay but HATED being in the ocean. We got to stay for free but had to get it ready for someone renting it this weekend and of course scatter brained over busy me forgot to clean the fridge so now I have to drive 50 minutes back to the condo, luckily one of DD#2's friends lives nearby so we will combine it with a playdate.

[NicMom]

Our flight and trip to my sisters wedding went so well. Just nursed on the way up and down. Absolutely no crying but that isn't unusual as DS doesn't cry much if any. Only if he is super hungry. At our 1 month checkup he was 10lb15 amd 24 inches. It is so crazy that he is as long at 1 month as the average 3 month baby. Still skinny, though. I guess it is hard to out on chunk when you keep getting longer!

My bridesmaid dress only needed the straps taken in, though it was a little big. Rather too big than too little so I did a good job on guessing the right size.

DH is interviewing for a job right now that would start July 1. Things are looking positive. Only thing is that we would have to move to San Diego. His family is there so not a bad thing. I just don't want to live too close. His family is drama. Then there would be the "fun" of selling our house and moving. I'm just glad he has a job prospect. I will still go back to work for at least a few weeks to transition ad get my 2011 bonus which I missed because I was out when it was paid.

Savian is so mellow but he does have thw worst gas at night. When he wakes he is too uncomfortable to nurse side lying so I havevto cradle him. He will work out a lot of gas while nursing and shortly thereafter while laying there. It makesbfor really long feedings at night but It is a phenomenal amount of gas so I don't think he will be sleeping any longer than the current 3-4hours until the gas is better. I've read that this is normal and that as his digestive system matures it will improve. I don't think there is any issue with my diet as there are no other symptoms. He never spits up, stools are fine, etc. I did do a tral just to see. I ate nothing but meat, the least gas producing thing I could think of, for 1.5 days. No change in gas.

A nursing question: sometimes it takes me a really long time to get a let down. Like an hour. Most of the time I assume it is because there isn't much there as that time. I will massage my breasts to let him get whatever he can and switch back and forth to keep him interested. It is just annoying. Is this normal? I ask because I have had breast surgery and feel like I have reduced nipple sensation.

[adoremybabe]

Thursday - I think that 3 to 4 is hard for me because I am having quite a few discipline issuse with my older kiddos. DS (almost 7) is FINALLY being a good kid. He was such a snot and very disrespectful. I honestly wonder if it was influence from some of the kids at school. There were so  many crazy stories that he came home with this past year. DD (just turned 5) is the worst now with disrespect and DS (almost 3) is following her example. I'm just trying my best to remain stern so they know what is acceptable and what is not. Hopefully soon things will settle down. My mom always said that 2 to 3 was her hardest and after that things didn't make a difference. I have been suprised at how crazy things get here and how defeated I feel at times. It's not every day though so I think that is a plus!

[Thursday Girl]

well yeah, there's that. i totally feel you. My oldest (9) is full of attitude one day and companionship the next, and my 3 year old is a mouthy little thing. But it falls in the realm of normal parenting problems and I am mostly dealing well, although I totally have those days where I am not handling it so well....like today.

[arbybee]

We are also having a hell of a time with my husband's son, who seems to have gone from being respectful and sweet to being ornery and just straight up refusing. to. listen. ever. Remembering not to give in to negative attention demands while simultaneously being more tired and less patient than usual is sooo hard sometimes.

[chiromama01]

pumping at keyboard...is it normal to get 1.5oz from one side and 4.5 from the other??

[daylicious]

I think it's probably normal to get different amounts. My right breast makes significantly more milk than my left. It becomes engorged much quicker, and the letdown is verrry powerful!

[RosieL]

Chrio - I was just at an LLL meetin where volume while pumping came up. Seems like everyone in the meeting had pretty different volumes from either breast. So, seems pretty normal.

I'm reading along but rarely have the fingers to reply adequately. It's frustrating because I really want to keep up with this group. Odin and I are getting into more of a groove. he's actually napping in the bassinet so I have some time, but as soon as I'm free I run to the garden and kitchen to do all the stuff I can't do while he is in the sling. I thought if he napped I'd npbe n the computer more but I'm still only ever on the iPad and even then it's rare. SUCH a weird thing, asi used to live on the computer.

[chiromama01]

thanks ladies. that makes me feel better. i really am struggling with supply issues and i think its time to start being more aggressive about gearing up my supply.  i have very little milk stored at this point because collin eats twice as much as i pump every time i'm gone.  even if it's only 3 hours, he'll eat 8oz, and i can only pump 4-5, so i'm flying through what little extra i do have stored.  any suggestions on how i can get my supply up? supplements? hospital grade pump??  help!