October 2012 Rockstar Mamas - Page 17

[AnnieA]

Originally Posted by MarineWife 

So, there's an old man in our neighborhood who is handing out candy and money to the boys. He didn't pass out Halloween candy, though. I don't know him. A few of my nieghbors sort of know him but none well. I've told my boys to stay away from him. Just strange.

Ugh. That's just weird. Definitely keep the boys away from him.

[MarineWife]

Originally Posted by AnnieA 

there are some parents that just don't know how to deal with little kids. The kids are better off in daycare, preschool, public school, etc.

Yeah, I get that. I was sort of that kind of parent when Ryan was young. I wouldn't necessarily say that he was better off in daycare and then school but I was not prepared to be a parent and I didn't want to be one in a lot of ways. However, looking back, I think if I had had the confidence I do now I could have prevented a lot of the school damage that was done to him. I don't think that applies to any of us here now. I started thinking about homeschooling when I really started gaining that confidence as a person and a parent but it took me a few more years to make it happen.

Dylan seemed unimpressed with ToTing. He didn't seem scared of anything but he didn't smile or laugh about it. I think he was trying to figure it all out. He didn't walk. Rode in the stroller the whole time. He liked eating the candy afterward, though.

[AnnieA]

Oh something else I was going to tell you guys. I went to get my hair cut (first time since December...yikes!) and the topic of me teaching NFP came up and I realized that I only have about 8-10 years of fertility left. Isn't that crazy to think about? Like it just hit me that I won't have to worry about getting pregnant for the rest of my life. Not sure why it never occurred to me before!

[onetwoten]

Kat-- you're summing up really well most of my thoughts on the issue.  I don't like the idea that kids -have- to go to some sort of learning based group prior to starting their school, whether it be home or public, but I do think that some kids thrive in that environment, and there's a lot of benefit to the life based learning they get in that environment. But yes, I think you can also get that learning through playing at a park with other kids, or going to a gym class, or a playdate with friends or even just some good playing with siblings and relatives. But I do think it's harder to learn some of those social skills when your interaction comes only with siblings and relatives that you know really well already. 

Now... I feel like I should add that IF you know that your child does not do well in these public organized settings (I've seen kids that really honestly don't), then obviously, it's the wrong thing to push them to be in those settings. A parent knows their own child the best. 

MW-- Yeah, that man is creepy. 

Tenley didn't nap yesterday afternoon, so she was pretty much exhausted by the time we went out TOTing, but we went out with her cousins, and she did seem to have fun. She'd smile every time someone put something into her bag, and then look down in wonder at it, like "Whoaaaa, you gave me something??" 

[Baby_Cakes]

I so wish I could contribute to this preschool conversation!! But I just can't on this phone. I have so much to say and offer but not with one finger. Lol.
Our governor declared Halloween in NJ will be on Monday. I can't wait! I was really looking fwd. Hopefully we have power back by then. We are staying at my in laws until we do.
Thankful for generous family, seriously.
My "friend" who you guys know I've had issues with this past year, picked a ridiculous fight with me the day the hurricane hit us. After I told her we lost power, she retorted with some lame comment, trying to be funny. I didn't like it, and then she accused me of taking my stress out on her and said she was also stressed bc her daughter didn't nap that day. I lost cell service and couldn't continue the conversation, but I think it's for the best. I have nothing to say to her any more.
I hid her from my feed and let me tell you, that unfriend button was tempting.
We have been without power or heat now for 4 days and she has yet to contact me or even ask how we are. Yet she posts pics on fb and her life continues on. I'm hurt and mad, and mostly, done.


No Details, but my girlfriend had her baby. An update on fb is all I have. I'm desperate to know if she got her vbac.

Ok bedtime. Bbl!!







Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2

[akind1]

Carrie - I saw your friend had her baby (bc you commented on it, LOL) And I'd love to know as well! Glad you are with family - that's the best place to be. Having been through hurricanes and power outages, After about 2 days, it's no longer an adventure, and just no fun.

Can't wait to see the kids in their getups on NJ Halloween!

MW: that is creepy.

Norah LOVED ToTing. Didn't carry her bag, but loved going up to the doors and having candy in hand. I think I only gave her goldfish though. I think. Not that she didn't try to eat all of it. She loved looking through her treasure at the end of the night. She walked as much as I let her.

Annie - some women are fertile until they are 50, are you sure you only have 10 years left?

DH has his vasectomy consult appt on Tuesday. I am sure it will be fine. I am definitely ready to be done.

Now, I am not opposed to adoption if we want to expand our family at some point in the future, or surrogacy if someone I knew wanted to go that route. I am looking forward to nursing this last baby as long as they want, and not being interrupted by pregnancy.

[MarineWife]

Cahrrie (had to type that because Ethan started to say Carrie the other day but corrected himself with the proper NJ dialect) ~ I'm glad you are safe and warm. Glad your GF and baby are safe and sound, too.

Annie ~ I'm wondering about the only 8-10 years of fertility left, too. I'm 10 years older than you and I still have about 8 years or so left, I believe.

[AnnieA]

I was guesstimating the number of years based on when my mother went in to menopause. I guess theoretically I could have another 18 yrs or so. I've always wondered though if having a tubaligation can skew that. Anybody ever seen research on that? If permanent sterilization affects the timing of the end of menses?

[Baby_Cakes]

Ohhh mamas.  Bear with me...

‎5 days without power. 2nd night staying with my inlaws, 4th day hanging out with them. I adore them, I do, but I'm really starting to feel done with this whole situation. :-( 

My MIL wrapped her coffee table in beach towels and a table cloth so the kids don't scratch it. It's an improvement, b/c otherwise all she did was shout every time they touched it or heaven forbid drive a car on it.
My BIL joked that now he knows why I drink wine. And can't fathom how we had a 2nd kid. They are so much work all the time.

I've been on constant kid duty making sure they don't spill, drip, take food out of the kitchen, get into anything they shouldn't, or break/touch/destroy. It's exhausting.

And then.. today finally as we drove away from our cold dark house, (we went to gather a few more things, check the cats) still with no power (day 5) I just broke down into tears. All this sadness, all this destruction. All the horrific loss. People with no homes, lost family, lost CHILDREN. Babies strapped in carseats, swept away by storm surges. People drowning in their own homes.  Our shores are gone.  
And now they are rationing gas. We have 1/4 tank and can go on odd # days? How is this happening?
I'm overwhelmed. Completely overwhelmed. 
Then I look around and see how lucky we are and I feel so conflicted. How can I fucking complain???? I'm warm, I have my family, family who is generous and loves us...
And the tears start again. :-(

 

 

 

 

Not to be such a downer....but I think this is just starting to really get to me.  It's been constant go go go get thru this -- but in the quiet moments it just washes over me and I'm just so upset. 

 

 

 

 

 

[AnnieA]

Oh my goodness Baby_Cakes! I want to just give you a hug! Prolonged stress like that will really beat you down. I know it's tough surrounded by so much destruction and sadness. But for your mental health, try to find something to laugh about. When Ava was in the hospital the first time and I was just shellshocked from the whole experience, the thing that saved my sanity was watching stand-up comedy specials on Netflix. I laughed and for an hour, forgot about the sadness I was surrounded by. It really helped.

[Baby_Cakes]

Thanks Lauri. 

[akind1]

Carrie: that sounds awful - the destruction - I mean, in eastern NC growing up, we always had hurricanes, there was always damage, but we were nearly always pretty much back to normal within a couple days. I Cannot fathom dealing with that, in this cold, for as long as you have, and might need to.

Visit some of your mama friends that have offered. YOu need a break from the MIL.

So, moved DH's office to the main area, Gabe now has his own bedroom, Norah has a big girl bed. She seems to like it, we will see how the night goes. Gabe will find out tomorrow :) He is at Nana's (and Grandaddy's)  - It's been a long, busy day, and I am beat. But I think I have enough energy for ice cream.

IDK whether a tubal would affect menopause; you still ovulate. My mom is nearing 50 (she's 47) and still cycles, though it's becoming irregular. She hasn't had a tubal, though my dad has had a vasectomy. I figure I have probably 15-20 more years of fertility.

[MarineWife]

Carrie. I haven't been reading or watching the news because I don't need to know those kinds of details about people dead or missing. There's nothing that can be done about it now. KWIM? Glad you are back in your home now. Hopefully, things will be back to normal soon.

Not much going on here. Dylan was sick all day yesterday but seems fine today. Kellen has vomited once this morning. Ethan is still in bed so I don't know if he's sick also.

I tried on my dresses last night for the MC Ball. They are all just the teeniest bit too tight. DH suggested I take the one to have it let out a little but that just seems weird to me. If I'm going to do that, I might as well just get a new dress. It seems like a waste to have something altered if I don't plan to stay this size. Does that make sense? I've put on about 10 lbs. over the summer and into this fall. IDK what is up with that. I guess I need to start exercising.

[akind1]

So you are going? (i'm glad, but thought maybe you weren't?)

I'd get a new dress. But that's just me :)

I hope the boys get, and stay better.

The kids are now each in their own rooms and really seem to like it. Norah woke once, Gabe twice. But since they each have a big bed, it's easy for us to go lay down with who ever needs it and get them to go back to sleep. And I must say, it's nice having the bed just DH and I for a little bit. Norah didn't like me cuddling with DH; she wants to be in the middle, LOL.

Carrie, I am following what friends I have on FB that are affected. Idon't watch the news anyway, so yall are my only source of info. Glad power is back and you can hopefully be back and relaxing in your own home.

[MarineWife]

Originally Posted by akind1 

So you are going? (i'm glad, but thought maybe you weren't?)

i still don't know. i just wanted to make sure i had something to wear in case dh tells me at the last minute that everything is set up. I went to a friend's Saturday night to celebrate her birthday. As I was leaving dh told me not to get too hammered because I needed to go gown shopping on Sunday. Until then he hadn't talked to me about since I don't know when. I think he had arranged for Ryan's GF to babysit but then she switched jobs. I don't know if he's talked to her about whether or not she can still get the night off.

[akind1]

LOL!

My nearly favorite part of the day: Norah wakes up from nap, Gabe runs back, all excited, baby wake! baby wake! jumps on the bed and they talk and giggle together. love it! (this is not so fun when it's a false alarm and she WASNT awake)

[AnnieA]

I'd probably buy a new dress since doing a crash diet and nursing isn't a good idea. I hope you get to go! That would be so much fun! At least I think so.

akind1, that's great that they are enjoying their own rooms. I can't imagine the day that Ava sleeps in her own room. Craziness!

Baby_Cakes, still thinking about you chick. Hope things are getting better now that you have power back.

AFM, watching Ava walk is my new favorite activity! It's the cutest thing in the world to me and she's so pleased with herself! DH took a video this morning. Trying to get it on youtube so I can put it on FB.
 

[akind1]

Norah loves sleeping with us so much, I almost thought she never would sleep in her own bed. I think it's so much easier - especially if you co sleep - to transition to a big bed vs. a crib or toddler bed. I just feel kind of bad that my dad built us a beautiful crib we never use :( Well, Gabe used it sporadically. Mostly it just looks pretty. I've never changed the sheets since Norah was born. Not even washed them, that's kind of sad.

Potty training Gabe is actually finally going ok. I think it helps we really havent been going much of anywhere, and when we are home, he is diaper free except for most naps (sometimes he falls asleep before I can put him in a diaper) and bed time. He really likes being naked. It's a good thing it's still pretty warm outside, or it has been. He, I think, is finally getting the idea about the "need" to go - at least pee. He only had one accident yesterday, and I think that's bc he was holding it so long, and really didn't want to pee up stairs at my mom's, and we didn't get how badly he needed to pee. But when we were like NO, don't pee on the floor! he stopped the stream, continued downstairs and finished peeing in the potty downstairs. So, progress!

MW: I know you've been to a ton of balls, but I hope you still go. Wilmington sounds fun.

Love watching babies walk! too cute!

[MarineWife]

AHonestly, all the balls are the same and they really aren't fun. There's dinner, then a ceremony and boring speeches. Afterward, you can stay to drink and dance but most people leave pretty quickly. Wilmington really isn't fun at night unless you are a college kid or you like to go out to bars.

He asked me last night if Trish was going to babysit. I told him that I didn't know. I didn't talk to her about it. He said he was going to take care of it. Perfect example of him expecting me to set everything up, still! :irk He mumbled something the other night about having to ask Trish if she could still get the night off and then, apparently, expected me to do something about that. Sorry. Not my problem.

He's also still being goofy about Ethan going. He doesn't want Ethan around all the drinking but I don't see why we have to stay for that. He can have dinner, watch the ceremony and then leave. I guess maybe dh has to stay for a while since he's the host. IDK

[akind1]

I didn't go to any balls until I was in high school . . .I mean, unless you stay stupid late, I don't think Ethan is going to be exposed to *that* much drinking and foolishness . . . I mean, most Marines I grew up with could be pretty stupid just sober.  My parents said the balls they had off base were always more fun than the on-base ones - but yes, generally it's the same old same old. An excuse to dress up, go out, and party.

I hope everyone is feeling better - it's this weekend, no? I know the birthday itself is Saturday the 10th, but didn't know when your particular ball was scheduled.