September 2012 Rockstar Mamas

[MarineWife]

Welcome to the Rockstar Mamas thread! Our wonderful group of mamas started following each other in the Charting to Avoid thread over in fertility. Eventually we created "The Whatever Ladies!", a safe place for those of us who were not trying to prevent pregnancy, though not actively trying to conceive either. Spread out over a year, we all got pregnant and had our current babes- several whom are over a year old now!

We made the decision to switch to Rockstar Mamas, after a conversation about how each and every one of us was a Rockstar in some way, for living and thriving through the parenting challenges thrown our way every day. Feel free to join us in our thread, but be warned, the conversation moves fast!

Not really rules but something to consider if you join:

1. Need to be chatty

2. Know that we are all vastly different from one another but we've become friends so we respect those differences. We are vaxers and nonvaxers; homeschoolers, unschoolers, public schoolers; run the gamut from vegan to paleo; some of us want more kids, some don't, and some aren't sure...but we all manage to really get along and come together on things we DO agree on.

3. Aren't afraid to ask each other the hard questions or point out the obvious when/if we want advice!

Member List:

lyeterae ~ Baby boy born February 2011
annie ~ Baby girl born April 7, 2011
Barefootscientist ~ Baby boy born May 30, 2011
AnnieA (due 7/18) ~ Baby girl born July 17, 2011
MarineWife (due 7/30) ~ Baby boy born July 25, 2011
Baby_Cakes (due 8/16) ~ Baby boy born August 16, 2011
MovingMomma (due 8/9) ~ Baby girl born August 18, 2011
akind1 (due 9/28) ~ Baby girl born October 11, 2011
mom2one (due 10/23) ~ Baby boy born October 21, 2011
jeninejessica (due 12/01) ~ Baby girl born November 29, 2011
Kindermama (due 1/6) ~ Baby boy born January 1, 2012

akind1 going around again ~ due 3/6/2013 but betting on 3/11 or 3/19
(I'm guessing another girl because our group is short one girl and we were right on 50/50 alternating boy/girl. )

August Thread: http://www.mothering.com/community/t/1359569/august-2012-rockstar-mamas

[AnnieA]

Thanks for the new thread!
 

[MarineWife]

my mom said the ticket place at williamsburg has the same discounts as online so maybe not so much pressure to get something before we go. the only thing holding me back from getting the triangle tickets now is that i don't want to feel obligated to rush out somewhere every day. i need some down time. if i buy the tickets, i'll feel like i should go. what to do? what to do?

i've had a couple people ask me about knitting some woolies for them. exciting but i have no idea how much to charge. i looked on HC and saw that people are charging $0.15-0.20 per yard for YYMN. That comes to about $30-60 for a small-large longies. i don't want to undercut others but i don't know if anyone will pay me that much.

[AnnieA]

I neeeeeeeed the down time. The only activity I'm interested in doing is the stuff on Saturday and then I'm sitting on my butt (figuratively of course because Ava doesn't allow for that!) the rest of the time. Pool, playing, walking around the resort area. That's it. I need a break!

[MarineWife]

Yeah, I need down time, too. I just looked again and it's actually about $50 less if we buy single day tickets for each place rather than buying that package. So, we'll wait until we get there to get tickets to Jamestown and Yorktown if we decide to do that.

Sean has been making NC BBQ all day. It's almost ready and smells so good! I'm starving.

Anyone else going to a local Improving Birth rally tomorrow? I'm planning on going to the one here in Wilmington. Sean wrote my sign for me so all I have to do is color it in. I really need to get on that.

[lyterae]

Still getting the hang of forums+ tablet, but it's nice to see you all. :-) Not much going on here this weekend, we've all been sick.. I think we're over the worst of it, and the kids went to bed without meltdowns and they even had baths! The hubby and I have been watching Battlestar Galatica this weekend, ran out of free episodes on hulu though.

[Baby_Cakes]

Thanks for the new thread!  I can't believe it's September!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarineWife 

my mom said the ticket place at williamsburg has the same discounts as online so maybe not so much pressure to get something before we go. the only thing holding me back from getting the triangle tickets now is that i don't want to feel obligated to rush out somewhere every day. i need some down time. if i buy the tickets, i'll feel like i should go. what to do? what to do?
i've had a couple people ask me about knitting some woolies for them. exciting but i have no idea how much to charge. i looked on HC and saw that people are charging $0.15-0.20 per yard for YYMN. That comes to about $30-60 for a small-large longies. i don't want to undercut others but i don't know if anyone will pay me that much.

I think that's a fair price for wool.  

I'm about to sell some diapers and am hoping I price fairly.  It's so tricky!

Originally Posted by AnnieA 

I neeeeeeeed the down time. The only activity I'm interested in doing is the stuff on Saturday and then I'm sitting on my butt (figuratively of course because Ava doesn't allow for that!) the rest of the time. Pool, playing, walking around the resort area. That's it. I need a break!

That sounds good to me!  Ha!  I want to do CW on Sat with you, then probably Jamestown on Sunday.  Busch on Monday.  Chris says the amusement park crowd might be less on a weekday and that sounds about right to me.  I know for a fact jamestown will only be a half day thing, so we'll still have the rest of Sunday to hang out, swim, naps, etc.  I'm so excited!!

I think we'll leave the stroller home, tbh.  Every time we've brought the stroller along (disney, zoo) we've regretted it.  I'm bringing my Boba.

Sit on your butt!  At least for a bit!  You've got other mamas -- we'll help you out!!!

Lauri - I'm packing my pump for you, right?  Do you have medela accessories (bottles to pump into, your own flanges) or should I bring those as well?  What about bags?  Do you want to freeze/fridge any?  

Originally Posted by lyterae 

Still getting the hang of forums+ tablet, but it's nice to see you all. :-) Not much going on here this weekend, we've all been sick.. I think we're over the worst of it, and the kids went to bed without meltdowns and they even had baths! The hubby and I have been watching Battlestar Galatica this weekend, ran out of free episodes on hulu though.

Boooo to sick!!  Just went thru a week from hell here as well.  Stomach flu and then Nora had a fever/flu symptoms, and now Finn has a runny nose and cough.  

WHOOP  BSG!  Best show ever!!!  Do you have netflix streaming?  It's on there!!

I just started watching Dr Who.  I like it!  I don't know what all the fuss is about yet, but it's an ok show, lol!

Happy Labor Day!  Better go pack up all my white shorts.  

[MarineWife]

I've decided not to bring any of our big strollers. I'll bring some carriers and the umbrella stroller in case Kellen gets tired.

I thought you said Jamestown was a half day or you could easily do Jamestown and Yorktown in the same day. If we did that, we'd still have one full day to chill. We'll go to Jamestown with you all, too.

I had fun at the rally. I don't know if I got in any of the news reports. My sign had the word, "vaginal," which might be a bit to risque. I got to see my 3 midwives.

we were sick, too. hope it passes quickly.

[AnnieA]

Baby_Cakes, no need to bring your pump unless MW wants to use it while we are together to build up a bit of a freezer stash. You were wanting to try to donate some, right MW? I'm getting better at being able to go out for a few hours w/out having to take my pump and based on what we are doing on Saturday, I can just pump while we are at the condo. Did I tell you guys I killed ANOTHER pump? Good grief. Luckily, I found another local mama that hardly used her PISA and she sold it to me for $50. Hopefully this one will last until I wean.

Strollers, ugh, I don't know what to do. I can borrow an umbrella stroller from my mom but Ava has really started to like her stroller and I'd kind of like to encourage it. Plus, I use the stroller to carry my bag while we're out too. I'm bringing my Hotslings and my Bali Breeze.

I'm bringing toys and books for the babies and some toys for the older ones too. Oh and wine for the mamas!

[MarineWife]

Here's the first news story of the Wilmington rally. http://www.wect.com/story/19443423/dozens-use-labor-day-to-promote-natural-birth#.UETtC993cOE.facebook

I was talking about buying an inexpensive manual pump to see if I could get some milk to donate. I've never pumped before so I don't know what brands are good. I don't want to spend a lot on an electric pump that I may not use much, if at all.

[lyterae]

Originally Posted by Baby_Cakes 

Boooo to sick!!  Just went thru a week from hell here as well.  Stomach flu and then Nora had a fever/flu symptoms, and now Finn has a runny nose and cough.  

WHOOP  BSG!  Best show ever!!!  Do you have netflix streaming?  It's on there!!

I just started watching Dr Who.  I like it!  I don't know what all the fuss is about yet, but it's an ok show, lol!

Happy Labor Day!  Better go pack up all my white shorts.  

 Yea, I think we're finally all nearly recovered. I can't believe how long it took to go through the whole house. Hoping that's the end of it, it's just to bad we spent our last long weekend for awhile being sick. Seems like a waste!

I'll have to check and see if we want to go netflix or hulu+, we watched all we could for free. :) We haven't watched Dr.Who, my sister is obsessed with it though.

Originally Posted by MarineWife 

I had fun at the rally. I don't know if I got in any of the news reports. My sign had the word, "vaginal," which might be a bit to risque. I got to see my 3 midwives.
we were sick, too. hope it passes quickly.

 The rally looked awesome, a friend of mine posted this link to some photos for one of the rally's :http://www.ashleylangford.com/1417/birth-photography/improving-birth-national-rally-for-change-arlington-texas/

[akind1]

I don't know that we had any rallys. it's great there was such good news coverage of yours MW.

manual pumps: I would go Avent - from local mamas recommendations, that is the best hand pump bar none. I used a lanisoh bc it was cheapest and I was not a big fan. I like electric, bc I don't have to think about keeping up the rhythm. You can find used ones (I know technically Medela PISA is not a closed system, but I inspected my used PISA and honestly couldn't figure out how milk could even theoretically get to the motor. And it's been used by the mama before me, and me for 2 kids, and hopefully will go another round. Granted, I don't give it the hard use a EP'er would (If I EP'd, I'd be using a hospital grade pump for sure. worth the $$) So, check craigslist, etc and see about a used electric pump. new tubing and horns, etc aren't that expensive.

Sunday night the kids were so beyond tired, they didn't go to bed until after midnight. I ended up having to wrap Norah and wear her down to sleep. But, once she was asleep, she slept for 5 hours straight!!! and then nursed and went back to sleep until Gabe woke us up whining at 7:15. Last night, DH put her down between 10:30 and 11, and she slept again until 5 a.m., nursed then and again at 6. those early morning nursing are all she's had (as in the only nursings) the last couple days. I am a little sad, but also so happy to be getting more sleep!

Strollers: If I were going (and I am so bummed that I'm not, you have no idea) I'd bring my Maclaren (umbrella ish stroller), my longest wrap jic I need to tandem wear, my ring sling and my SSC. All have good uses.  ITA, even if you got better discounts before going, wait to buy, you just never know what you might want to do when you get there, who might end up sick, or what the weather will do. Drink some good wine for me!

I am assuming this vacay will be a big hit, and I totally think we should repeat it. (and I will save $$ better next year so we can go too!)

Lyterae - it's good to see you on here, though I am glad for facebook too!

i hope everyone's families get well and stay well!

[MarineWife]

Those photos are great! My butt got in the local paper online. hehe

Nothing much going on here yet. It's still early. I love that Sean cleans but I get annoyed that he tries to involve me in it before I've had all my coffee.

[Baby_Cakes]

Hey MW, is there a washer/dryer for dipes at the resort in our suite?

[MarineWife]

Originally Posted by Baby_Cakes 

Hey MW, is there a washer/dryer for dipes at the resort in our suite?

Yes, there will be a washer/dryer in each unit. I got a big pack of flushable liners because I can't do the spatula again. DH said he could bring the sprayer but, eh.

Craigslist still creeps me out. I have never even searched for anything to buy there. I can look other places for a used electric pump, I guess. I'm not fully committed to pumping so I don't want to get too fancy/complicated about it.

The next vacation will have to be west and north so that JJ and little a can come.

[MarineWife]

I am so stoked! I've been selling a bunch of my woolies like crazy. I just ordered 6 diapers with the money and still have money left over! It's pretty cool to have a PP balance.

[Baby_Cakes]

Originally Posted by MarineWife 

I am so stoked! I've been selling a bunch of my woolies like crazy. I just ordered 6 diapers with the money and still have money left over! It's pretty cool to have a PP balance.

Woo hoo!!!  That must feel awesome! 

And cool b/c you made them, you know?

Great news about the washing machine - for clothes too just in case.

Ooh wine! Does anyone else drink whiskey?  I'm going to bring some of that too, I think.  I'm so so so looking fwd to this trip! 

[MarineWife]

Originally Posted by Baby_Cakes 


Woo hoo!!!  That must feel awesome! 
And cool b/c you made them, you know?

Yeah, and I've had a couple people ask to "commission" me to make woolies for them and one person said I should run some knitting classes. DH is already drawing up my business plan. He's so funny. Even with all the yarn I buy and knitting I've been doing for years and talking about other people selling things, he said he didn't realize there was such a market for it.

Originally Posted by Baby_Cakes 

Great news about the washing machine - for clothes too just in case.

Yes, for clothes, too. I think you'll need to bring your own detergent. They may supply one little box of Tide or something like that but I'm not sure.

Originally Posted by Baby_Cakes 

Ooh wine! Does anyone else drink whiskey?  I'm going to bring some of that too, I think.  I'm so so so looking fwd to this trip! 

DH would probably drink some whiskey. I might try a sip just because but I probably won't be able to drink it. I never have been. DH said he might be able to get some home brewed beer from someone he works with. The guy brews his own and enters and wins competitions so maybe it's really good (if you like beer).

[AnnieA]

MW, that's awesome that your stuff is selling!

Baby_Cakes, I don't drink liquor but loooooove red wine so that's what I'm bringing!

akind1, You are doing so great with all of this. I can only imagine how tired you must be and yet you are still doing lots of fun activities with Gabe and Norah. You rock mama!

JJ, you doing ok?

AFM, DD signed "more" today. It was totally out of context so I think she was just practicing but it was still very cute! I hope there is a baby pool at the resort. She loves going in the water so much. We spend like 30 mins in the shower every day now. My mom is coming to take her to the children's museum tomorrow morning and give me a bit of a break. I need to do things like vacuum and clean the bathroom, stuff I can't do with Ava home but there's a big chance I'll sit on my butt and stare at the wall the whole time!
 

[akind1]

AnnieA - the only way I stay sane is to get out of the house and do stuff! When I'm home, I don't interact much with them, because it's more fun to just sit back and watch them figure things out. Plus, I feel like I'm messing up their play if I join in. I will get down on the floor and let them climb all over me, or take DS to the pond to throw rocks, but I really like kid directed play. (plus maybe I am just lazy like that ;) )

You are all going to have a blast!

Maybe we could get a cabin in the mountains or something next year, or visit Amish country? Their stores sell lots of cloth diapers! (even bumgenius, which seems kind of not-Amish to me, but whatever)

MW: congrats on the sales! I need to get on the ball and sell some stuff. Ugh.

Well, by anybody's standards, I'm finally in the 2nd trimester! 14 weeks! woot! I think I may be showing a little. Hard to say, as I have a good bit of belly anyway.

Carrie, I was reading an article yesterday on Slate about judging animal conciousness, and how that should determine whether or not we eat meat (and also views on abortion) and it was interesting. I always did wonder though, I can understand why it would feel wrong to kill an animal, to deprive it of life, just to eat it - but what if the animal died of natural causes or in an accident? (granted, these days it would be just about impossible to know that) but would that hold the same level of wrong-ness? I just always wondered, since I don't really have a moral/ethical/whatever position on the subject. I just eat what tastes good :)