December 2012 Rockstar Mamas - Page 8

[Baby_Cakes]

We have our tree up but I don't put out gifts yet!  No, we set them up after the kids go to bed on Christmas eve.  Even growing up nothing was out before then!  I guess everyone has their own traditions.

I spent some more time wrapping today.  I have so much for Nora and not much at all for Finn.  I can't think of anything else to get him!

I gush thinking about nb nursing too!   My close friend has a 2 mo old and you forget so much how much help they need in the beginning.  And how cute they are!

Nm going on here.  DH went out shopping and to pick up Nora.  He can't get home with her fast enough.  I just want to pull her into my arms and keep her there forever!  Maybe I will sleep with her tonight.  I'm just so sad for all those who lost babies today.  

Finn is teething SO BAD.  He's a hot mess.  Crying, whining, jamming fingers in his mouth.  This is WITH his necklace and usually a dose of tylenol or motrin.  I went and got more teething gel to rub on (the hylands natural one).  He will literally only eat bananas and pouches.  And boob.

I got some fenugreek to add to my water.  Hoping I can see some difference soon!

Edited by Baby_Cakes - 12/14/12 at 12:32pm

[onetwoten]

I know it would be easier to just not have the gifts out, but I looooove seeing the tree up with gifts under it. And part of me loves watching her dog into them with excitrment. She's a fabulous gift opener!! LOL

On a serious note though, I'm trying to treat it as another one of the household rules she needs to follow, and eventually she'll get it. Same as she can't play in the toilet or on the computer, she can't play with the gifts. We redirect ad give her something else to play with. We're trying so hard not to become one of those crazy baby proofed homes, you know? She's old enough now to start teaching her what she can and can't play with, and so were trying to encourage that.

Speaking if old enough things!! Ash has been working in putting her toys away when she's done with them, so I've been trying it here too and she's doin so well! Slow, but she will actually help but things into bins. I love it!!

[MarineWife]

Dylan likes to help clean up, too. He loves to put laundry in the baskets. Only problem is that he gets clean clothes out of the drawers to put in the dirty clothes basket. He helped dh pick up some blocks and put them back in the bag yesterday and helped me wipe off the kitchen table today.

I don't consider keeping things put away that you don't want your child to mess with as baby proofing. When I think baby proofing, I think safety like a gate at the top of the stairs or keeping bathroom doors shut. Keeping certain things out of sight is about convenience for me. It makes life a lot easier when I don't have to constantly redirect my children from something I don't want them to have.

I've been baking a lot recently. I've made cookies, two cakes and brownies. Yum!

I prefer to be home for naps because that is the only down time I get. I need that time to do my own thing, which does not include being out and about. If there's something fun that I want to do, I'll do whenever we are ready regardless of naps. But as far as regular, every day errands, I don't want to waste nap time out doing that. Plus, Dylan doesn't sleep nearly as long if he naps while we're out. He'll fall asleep in the car but wake up when we take him out most of the time and then be fussy for the rest of the day. At home, he'll nap for 2-3 hours.

I'm bringing dinner to my friend tomorrow.

[EuroMama]

I also don't see that as baby proofing. I personally don't feel like redirecting constantly. Lol. I have always kept presents up though until Christmas Eve.:) 

[MarineWife]

Kat ~ What EOs do you suggest for disinfecting and deodorizing diapers other than TTO? I have decided I really don't like TTO. Would Eucalyptus oil be ok? I just got some today to help with Dylan's congestion.

[onetwoten]

Ugh. typed out a post last night on my phone and then clicked something and deleted the whole thing. 

I guess babyproofing isn't the right word. Just... obviously there are things that we take away from her hands, so as not to tempt her- we don't leave out the phones, or sharp things or important papers, etc. But there's also things that will be in her sight that are non-negotiable that she's not allowed to touch, and we're teaching her that slowly-- things like no, you can't play with the tv, and the cupboard of dvds is off limits. We try not to say no to her "just because", so there's plenty of things she -can- play with, the other people would turn their nose up at (she goes in the kitchen cupboards, and plays with the front window, and looks through our photo albums etc)

Ugh, ok so |I started this like 6 hours ago, and I obviously haven't finished, but I need to turn my computer off now! I'll try to finish tomorrow morning... 

[MarineWife]

Originally Posted by onetwoten 

Ugh. typed out a post last night on my phone and then clicked something and deleted the whole thing. 

I guess babyproofing isn't the right word. Just... obviously there are things that we take away from her hands, so as not to tempt her- we don't leave out the phones, or sharp things or important papers, etc. But there's also things that will be in her sight that are non-negotiable that she's not allowed to touch, and we're teaching her that slowly-- things like no, you can't play with the tv, and the cupboard of dvds is off limits. We try not to say no to her "just because", so there's plenty of things she -can- play with, the other people would turn their nose up at (she goes in the kitchen cupboards, and plays with the front window, and looks through our photo albums etc)



Ugh, ok so |I started this like 6 hours ago, and I obviously haven't finished, but I need to turn my computer off now! I'll try to finish tomorrow morning... 

I hate when that happens, whether it's that the post disappears or I run out of time.

So many of those things are things that I would just put up and away where they wouldn't even be an option or temptation to mess with. Maybe that comes with having multiple children. I don't remember feeling like I needed to put as much away when I just had Ryan. Now it's all about ease and convenience. What's easier for me, having to continuously tell my child not to touch, not for him, put it down, or just putting it up and away? It's so much easier for me to just put it up and away. My children still learn along the same time what is ok and what is not to touch, play with, whatever. Really, your child is not learning anything any faster because you choose to leave things out and tell her not to touch. You are just creating more work for yourself.

[onetwoten]

Oh ladies! Have any if you read "bloom" by Kelle Hampton? I've read the birth story of her daughter, who was born with Down syndrome, and cried through the whole thing- it was just so beautiful. I downloaded her full book from the library today and started readi g it tonight. I finally just had to stop because I've cried like 8 times already. It's so touching and I feel so emotional reading it, in a good way though. She talks in the first chapters about her experiences getting pregnant and miscarrying as well, and just that ache in your soul when you're wanting a baby and it consumes you.

I think it's all really hitting me for several reasons today-- first off, I mean holy crapy baby isn't a baby anymore! Lol. But also, my BFF told rob at tenleys party that her and er husband are whatevering right now (though of course she didn't use that term! Lol) and I know she's really upset that it doesn't seem to be happening. And ten she's posted a few things latelyl on FB and Pinterest etc about waiting for things you really want, and trusting gods timing etc. it just reminds me of how much I hurt during those months of waiting to be able to ttc and then once we stopped avoiding, just waiting for it to happen and losing patience and hope. I just feel for er so much right now.

And then also, he's made a few smaller comments lately, but today we were watching Tenley being silly and dh was like soooo... And then be stopped and wouldn't say anything and then a few minutes later was like "you think she needs a brother?" All shyly. And I of course told him that yeah I think she needs a brother in two or three years, but I honestl think it sounded like he was talking about it in more of an immediate sense. Like not NOW now, but as in soonish. It was so weird, just like listening to the sound of his voice when he brought it up and just really stopping to think about having that second baby, that second pregnancy. Going through the baby days again, but also thinking of her as our big girl. It's crazy!!


Anyways basically just me saying holy crap I'm emotional and sappy today!! How can you tell I'm ovulating? Lol and yes totally check out this book if you have reading time!

[Baby_Cakes]

Originally Posted by MarineWife 

 My children still learn along the same time what is ok and what is not to touch, play with, whatever. Really, your child is not learning anything any faster because you choose to leave things out and tell her not to touch. You are just creating more work for yourself.

Yes this!  I used to think it was a matter of teaching them, but it really isn't.  They learn it quick when they are ready.

Of course, I've been teaching "hot" when it comes to the stove, or "bottom first" for the stairs, but so much is up and out of the way that when he DOES get into something, it's more of a whoa, we need to get that out of here fast, sort of reaction, lol!  

Originally Posted by onetwoten 

And then also, he's made a few smaller comments lately, but today we were watching Tenley being silly and dh was like soooo... And then be stopped and wouldn't say anything and then a few minutes later was like "you think she needs a brother?" All shyly. And I of course told him that yeah I think she needs a brother in two or three years, but I honestl think it sounded like he was talking about it in more of an immediate sense. Like not NOW now, but as in soonish. It was so weird, just like listening to the sound of his voice when he brought it up and just really stopping to think about having that second baby, that second pregnancy. Going through the baby days again, but also thinking of her as our big girl. It's crazy!!

 

 

Hey this is HUGE!  I thought he was done, done, done!! 

It's crazy, isn't it, to think about your baby being the big one?  Sigh.  I remember those feelings so well IRT Nora!

FWIW, I don't ever think about Finn being a big brother.  Ha!  There are so many little subtle signs that I'm really done.  Idk what to make of any of them!

So I started putting fenugreek in my water, and man that stuff works great!  I've been waking up in the morning full and even leaky -- far cry from how I was before.  He even had a partial bm poo yesterday!! He's nursing a ton more, so I think this was a good move.

Lauri - hows your supply since the abx course?  Better?

I was wondering too - can fenugreek cause more fertile CM?  CD13 and gobs of ewcm already.  Last month remember I didn't have any?  So weird.

[MarineWife]

Carrie ~ the hot stove is a good example. i've been telling dylan from the beginning when something is hot. i tell him the stove and oven and pots and pans and food are hot. He understands. his first word was hot. But I don't put him close enough to the stove or make the stove easily accessible to him so that he could touch it and get burned.

JJ ~ Interesting remarks by the hubs. Hmm... I have not read that book or heard of that person. Is she an author or did she just write a book about her experiences with pregnancy, miscarriage and having a child?

Dylan is burning up again. I thought he was getting better. He hasn't had a fever for 3 or 4 days. Poor guy.

[AnnieA]

Originally Posted by Baby_Cakes 

Hey this is HUGE!  I thought he was done, done, done!! 

It's crazy, isn't it, to think about your baby being the big one?  Sigh.  I remember those feelings so well IRT Nora!

FWIW, I don't ever think about Finn being a big brother.  Ha!  There are so many little subtle signs that I'm really done.  Idk what to make of any of them!

Lauri - hows your supply since the abx course?  Better?

I think about Ava being a big sister all the time, especially lately. She loves taking care of babies. I pulled out her old baby bath to give to a lady that just got a 4 month old foster daughter and she has been playing with it all weekend. She puts her baby in it and she pretends to wash it and she wants me to wash it. She would be an awesome big sister.

After the 3rd dose, my supply picked back up but it's not great right now because AF is starting. Hopefully it will get much better in a few days. Although Ava signed milk this morning and she's been doing the milk sign for both breast and cow so I showed her a tube of breast milk and her cow's milk and she chose the cow's milk. I know she has to wean at some point but it still makes me sad. 

Originally Posted by MarineWife 

Carrie ~ the hot stove is a good example. i've been telling dylan from the beginning when something is hot. i tell him the stove and oven and pots and pans and food are hot. He understands. his first word was hot. But I don't put him close enough to the stove or make the stove easily accessible to him so that he could touch it and get burned.
JJ ~ Interesting remarks by the hubs. Hmm... I have not read that book or heard of that person. Is she an author or did she just write a book about her experiences with pregnancy, miscarriage and having a child?
Dylan is burning up again. I thought he was getting better. He hasn't had a fever for 3 or 4 days. Poor guy.

MW, here's a link to the blogpost that went viral. I bawl every time I read it. http://www.kellehampton.com/2010/01/nella-cordelia-birth-story.html And poor D! Is it just a fever? Anything else going on?

[Baby_Cakes]

Originally Posted by AnnieA 

I think about Ava being a big sister all the time, especially lately. She loves taking care of babies. I pulled out her old baby bath to give to a lady that just got a 4 month old foster daughter and she has been playing with it all weekend. She puts her baby in it and she pretends to wash it and she wants me to wash it. She would be an awesome big sister.

After the 3rd dose, my supply picked back up but it's not great right now because AF is starting. Hopefully it will get much better in a few days. Although Ava signed milk this morning and she's been doing the milk sign for both breast and cow so I showed her a tube of breast milk and her cow's milk and she chose the cow's milk. I know she has to wean at some point but it still makes me sad. 

Finn is great with baby dolls.  He's going to make a great daddy someday I say!  LOL!

FXed for you about supply.  AF is always a struggle here as well.  I can just *tell* he isn't getting as much.

Have you tried taking fenugreek yet?  I don't remember if you got any supplements.

Awww about the cows milk!  I can't even get my head around full weaning either.  No no.  I get so sad! 

Doing laundry and staying out of DHs path today.  We are still/again having trouble communicating.  Idk what we need but man...it's getting so hard these days!! 

Also purging all of finn's 12-18 mo clothes.  He is fully into 24 mo 2T, so idk why I'm hanging on to things.

[MarineWife]

Originally Posted by AnnieA 

And poor D! Is it just a fever? Anything else going on?

he's got a nasty cold that's been going around, fever, coughing, congestion, nasty runny nose. it started here with ethan and spread. i'm the only one who hasn't gotten it yet but i feel it coming today. dh came home friday feeling sick. he said he knew why dylan was so fussy. um, yeah, because he's sick. dh says, "it's a sinus thing." again, duh! you couldn't tell from the fact that he could barely breathe and had snot constantly running into his mouth?

sometimes i think that man is so stupid. when i cam downstairs first thing yesterday morning, the first thing out of his mouth was, "where are the boys?" he had been up longer than i had so he would know if they were up and about and no one had gone anywhere. they were still sleeping. Doh! I've been wondering if he's really that dumb or if he just says things to make small talk or something and doesn't really think about it. I hate small talk just for the sake of talking. I'd rather he say nothing.

[AnnieA]

I've taken fenugreek but it doesn't do too much for me. Alfalfa works best to increase my supply. I've been taking it sporadically this week. Need to take it more often. I'm just so bad about remembering to take stuff and I need to remember to take my abx so the alfalfa is taking a backburner.

DH and I are having trouble communicating this week as well. Holidays are always so stressful. Hope your week gets better.

[onetwoten]

Originally Posted by MarineWife 

Carrie ~ the hot stove is a good example. i've been telling dylan from the beginning when something is hot. i tell him the stove and oven and pots and pans and food are hot. He understands. his first word was hot. But I don't put him close enough to the stove or make the stove easily accessible to him so that he could touch it and get burned.
JJ ~ Interesting remarks by the hubs. Hmm... I have not read that book or heard of that person. Is she an author or did she just write a book about her experiences with pregnancy, miscarriage and having a child?
Dylan is burning up again. I thought he was getting better. He hasn't had a fever for 3 or 4 days. Poor guy.

Yes, that's a better way of describing it. Like my house isn't filled with breakables or anythign!! lol But there are some things that can't be moved (for now- we're trying to figure out a way to block off the doors of the dvd cabinet), and so when she heads towards them, we redirect and remind her that it's not for playing with because ------ whatever it is. And the presents have become one of those things. But no, I mean for most things, they're not an issue. The bathroom door stays closed, the glass tupperware is put away, the remotes and phones, stay on shelves, etc etc. But for things like the tv, or playing with the floor vent, or now the presents, I do believe she's old enough to start learning that there's things she can play with, and things she can't. So no, I mean we don't make life harder by leaving out vases and glass ornaments or anything, but I'm also not going to make my life harder, when I believe she is at an age that's reasonable for her to learn these things. ie I was told by someone to just cover over the floor vent, rather than trying to get her not to play with it. Except that it supplies most of the heat for this room, and so if it's closed, the house in general feels like it's freezing. It makes life a lot harder to cover over it, when I could just work with her to learn that even though it's there, we can't touch it, but ohhhh hey! Look at all the nice toys we -can- play with!! lol 

I don't know, maybe I'm not explaining it well enough, but it's not like i go out of my way to make it a 'learning opportunity'. But it's an issue we're dealing with, and so yes, we teach her that sometimes there's things that you want to play with that you can't, and that's non-negotiable. 

Originally Posted by Baby_Cakes 

Finn is great with baby dolls.  He's going to make a great daddy someday I say!  LOL!

FXed for you about supply.  AF is always a struggle here as well.  I can just *tell* he isn't getting as much.

Have you tried taking fenugreek yet?  I don't remember if you got any supplements.

Awww about the cows milk!  I can't even get my head around full weaning either.  No no.  I get so sad! 

Doing laundry and staying out of DHs path today.  We are still/again having trouble communicating.  Idk what we need but man...it's getting so hard these days!! 

Also purging all of finn's 12-18 mo clothes.  He is fully into 24 mo 2T, so idk why I'm hanging on to things.

I love seeing them play with dolls!  Tenley has started loving on her babies, and Rob said she tried to nurse one today... but then just kept poking it's mouth! lol

The idea of weaning does seem very weird at this point, but Lauri, you've done SOOO well with her. And I mean her having more cow's milk, doesn't necessarily mean she's weaning yet, right? It could be months before she decides she's ready to fully give it up.  Tenley will take almond milk if offered now, but I can't see her accepting that as substitution when she's sick or sad, or during the middle of the night. 

I have been thinking more about weaning lately too. It's weird. I am SO happy to have made it to a year. I literally cannot wrap my brain around having stopped purposely before then. She just would not have been ready. And she's still not ready now, heck she still nurses some nights 8 times or more. But I do see it decreasing during the day a bit more, and her food intake is increasing again, and it's crazy how fast it goes from nursing a baby to feeling like you're nursing a full on toddler. She's so big now when she nurses and takes up so much room on my lap! lol   Anyways, this is all to say, it's weird thinking about the future and what point we'll end up weaning at. On a personal level, I'd like to be mostly done by two, I think. I miss having my body all to myself. But I also know all the benefits, and that WHO recommends nursing until 2 and beyond, and so I don't think I could -actually- bring myself to purposely wean before then. I don't know, I guess it's just weird to think about. Two seems soooo far away, but then so did one! I can't see myself nursing a 3 year old... but again, if she still needs it at that point, I can't imagine/can't picture myself working towards that active weaning. 

I've heard people talk about how "I never planned on being an "extended" nurser, I just kept nursing, and then kept nursing, and then kept nursing, and all of a sudden she was four!" lol I can totally see that being me. Not until four you know, but just the idea of... I don't know, continually backing dwon from an "intended" weaning stage. 

Originally Posted by AnnieA 

I've taken fenugreek but it doesn't do too much for me. Alfalfa works best to increase my supply. I've been taking it sporadically this week. Need to take it more often. I'm just so bad about remembering to take stuff and I need to remember to take my abx so the alfalfa is taking a backburner.

DH and I are having trouble communicating this week as well. Holidays are always so stressful. Hope your week gets better.

I've got a nursing tea that a friend made for me, but I am soooo bad at remembering to actually make and drink it!

MW-- Yeah that's the same one from the link Lauri posted. From what i understand, she's a photographer/ former teacher/ blogger, and just wrote this book because of the outpouring she got from her story on the blog. But I'm not entirely sure. I'm really enjoying reading it though. I think especially with what's happened in CT, and watching mine own baby grow, and thoughts of having another... it's just another reminder to be so thankful for the life and blessings we have, and finding the good in the everyday. We're not often greatful enough for the things we have. With her second baby, they didn't know beforehand, and found out at the birth that she had DS, and I break down -every- time I read the part where she talks about feeling like her daughter was 'saying' to her "Love me. Love me. I'm not what you expected, but oh, please love me."  Because I mean isn't that true for so much? They're not what we expect, they cry more, and louder, and they have health concerns, or sensitive personalities, or whatever it may be, but in the end, all they want and need is just for us to love them, wholeheartedly.  

 

I hope D gets better soon! It's so hard when they're little and sick :( And I'm keeping my fingers crossed you don't get it! The only thing worse than sick baby, is sick mama taking care of sick baby!

DH and I have been getting along well this week actually. It's nice. We needed some more together time!!

My big news of the weekend is having access to a car now! We're a one vehicle family, and DH usually takes it so that he can be there to pick Tenley up before 4pm, so my SIL doesn't have to bundle her up to take her to meet the bus for Ava. But it sucks because it's been cold out, and I don't want to bus with Tenley over to Ash's in the morning, so we've been getting a ride from my MIL most days. Which sucks. I don't like being dependent on her, especially since she gets taken advantage of by her daughters so much.   Anyways-- my father has... one van, one car, and one work truck, plus he's living with his girlfriend and her daughter who each have their own cars... so he asked us on Friday if we wanted the car for a little while, to clear up some driveway space for them. He asked several months ago, and we said no, but I jumped on it this time. We don't know how long it'll be for, it could be 2 weeks, it could be several months, but I'm grateful for any time with it! We have a second carseat too, so now I'll be able to drive her to Ash's,. and then drive to work (which also means I can drop her off later), and then Rob will pick her up in the other car after work. And after I'm done work, I can just drive home, which cuts a ton of time off that end too. Right now I'm usually off work at 1130, which means I don't get home until at least 1240, and sometimes 110am depending which bus I catch. This way I'll get home at 12, and not have ot freeze my butt off either! lol

Anyways, I'm just pumping and catching up on some stuff, and then I need to head to bed! Ten was up constantly last night, and I am beat! 

[MarineWife]

Originally Posted by onetwoten 

Yes, that's a better way of describing it. Like my house isn't filled with breakables or anythign!! lol But there are some things that can't be moved (for now- we're trying to figure out a way to block off the doors of the dvd cabinet), and so when she heads towards them, we redirect and remind her that it's not for playing with because

---

whatever it is. And the presents have become one of those things. But no, I mean for most things, they're not an issue. The bathroom door stays closed, the glass tupperware is put away, the remotes and phones, stay on shelves, etc etc. But for things like the tv, or playing with the floor vent, or now the presents, I do believe she's old enough to start learning that there's things she can play with, and things she can't. So no, I mean we don't make life harder by leaving out vases and glass ornaments or anything, but I'm also not going to make my life harder, when I believe she is at an age that's reasonable for her to learn these things. ie I was told by someone to just cover over the floor vent, rather than trying to get her not to play with it. Except that it supplies most of the heat for this room, and so if it's closed, the house in general feels like it's freezing. It makes life a lot harder to cover over it, when I could just work with her to learn that even though it's there, we can't touch it, but ohhhh hey! Look at all the nice toys we -can- play with!! lol 

I don't know, maybe I'm not explaining it well enough, but it's not like i go out of my way to make it a 'learning opportunity'. But it's an issue we're dealing with, and so yes, we teach her that sometimes there's things that you want to play with that you can't, and that's non-negotiable. 

This makes sense for the things that you can't move or need to have out. It does seem silly to cover the air vent if that's what you need for heating and cooling in your home, unless there's some kind of cover you could get that would keep her from being able to play with the vent while still allowing air to flow out. The tree and presents are not things that need to be out now, though. Putting those things out so much before when they will actually be used, as in opened, is creating more work for you. It's asking for trouble and not fair for the littles, in a way. They see these pretty, fun looking things that they want to get into and don't understand why they can't play with them if they are out. Forbidden fruit is always sweeter.

It's the same as whether or not to keep soda in the house for yourself when you don't want your kids drinking it often. If you have it there and the kids want it, they are going constantly ask for it or try to find ways to sneak it. It's a lot easier to just not keep it in the house.

[akind1]

I put out the tree kind of with the intention that it be played with. It's a short tree- maybe 4 feet, but full, and everything on it she can't really do any damage to. I think I'll keep doing that - the kids enjoy it, and yeah, it makes a mess, but not any more than their typical mess. It may come down to it that we have a kids tree (that can be messed with) and a pretty tree, that shouldn't.

Some families put a felt tree up somewhere with felt decorations.

dvds - can she actually open the cases? Is she likely to stomp on them and cause damage? I might have some out (maybe old ones you've lost the DVD to) and let her play with them. Sometimes taking the mystery and "no" out of the situation goes a long way - like, oh, these are no big deal. Like the tree, after ours had been out a week, it's largely lost it's mystery, and Norah doesn't bother it much at all. I like to try to offer acceptable alternatives - compromises - for some things I might consider unacceptable otherwise.

For Gabe, at Nana's house, he's not allowed to jump on the couch. But he can use the big floor pillows on the floor for jumping on if he wants. Want to play in the cupboards? you can't play under the sink (nasty stuff) but you can play in the tupperware or pots and pans cabinet. It creates alot more opportunity for "yes"

Of course, there always will be absolute "no"s - like the stairs (but even then, there are times it's allowed - I mean, she isn't allowed to climb up them unsupervised, but if I'm going upstairs anyway, I'll let her crawl up ahead of me)

Your floor vent - does she like the grate, or the air blowing through it? Might see if you can find an alternative that might capture her attention. Both of mine love the humidifier  - standing infront of it and adjusting the strength of the air flow is great fun, and honestly they can't really do much harm to it.

I'm not saying you are doing anything that you shouldn't be - Just trying to find some alternatives that might make your life easier and Ten happier.

We were at a birthday party this weekend where the grandma has custody of her grandchildren ages 3, 2, and 1 (they all have birthdays within a month of each other) - and her tree has glass ornamnents, she has breakables and picture frames on lower shelves where the kids can easily reach them, and she was like "I spend so much time keeping the kids out of the tree!" and I'm like, duh. Why are you making life hard? she works full time, and If I was out of the home that much, and had to come home to three littles that I was constantly telling "no" - I'd try to find a better solution.

MW: YES on the soda! though my parents have it upstairs. Our solution: they have the sodastream thing where you make your own soda, and they found an orange flavored syrup in the natural line that Gabe is allowed a small glass at meals. It's not ideal, but I figure one small glass at the occasional meal isn't going to make much difference in the long run.

Can't believe it's only a week until Christmas! (Eve) LOL - I'm ready. We have some fun things we want to get done this week, hopefully the weather will cooperate.

[Baby_Cakes]

Originally Posted by akind1 

Can't believe it's only a week until Christmas! (Eve) LOL - I'm ready. We have some fun things we want to get done this week, hopefully the weather will cooperate.

The weather up here has been cold and rainy for DAYS.  We haven't even gotten out of the house.  It's so tough w/o outside as an option!

It's just me and the kids all day. Probably will take them out after nap to break up the day otherwise I'll go bananas.  Theres still some shopping to do!

[AnnieA]

I do what you do akind1. Give opportunities for "yes". Ava has three cabinets she can do whatever she wants to do in the kitchen and one that is not for Ava. I keep the doors to other rooms shut. The only decorations on our tree right now are ones for her to play with. Right now, she could care less about the tree.

Baby_Cakes, I hear you on the bad weather. It's cold here too. If I were you, we would be at IKEA!

JJ, that's so awesome about the car! I can't imagine getting off work at midnight like I do and then having to catch a bus. Gah!

I still have about half my shopping to do. DH is not helping. Normally I don't mind coming up with all the present ideas and doing the shopping (gifts is my secondary Love Language) but it is super hard this year because Ava is either rearranging store shelves or she finds something she wants. He has a lot going on at work and he has issues compartmentalizing so if I try to have a convo with him about present options, it "derails" him. Sigh.

MW, how's D this morning? My big kids have had that junk. I loaded them up on vit D and Emergen-C when they were home this past weekend.

[AnnieA]

Oh and Ava practically had a panic attack at the Santa breakfast at church yesterday so I'm not going to try Santa pics again this year. Calling around to see if any portrait studios can squeeze us in.