March 2013 Rockstar Mamas Thread - Page 4

[MarineWife]

I like my toothpaste. The first batch needed a little more peppermint but it worked really well.

My dh is gone for 3 weeks and I can't believe how relaxed I feel. I'm happier and have more energy and am just enjoying things more even though I should be PMSing. Bedtime is so much easier. We just go to bed whenever we are ready. I don't have to worry about the time or the noise disturbing anyone else. If K or D isn't ready to settle down, they can stay up and wander around the bedroom and play or watch TV for a bit.

[AnnieA]

akind1, I've been sending baby vibes to you all weekend! I know you are so ready to have him out!

JJ, that stuff with your ILs is just crap. I'd definitely stop reaching out to them at all. Rearrange your life, and lifestyle, so that you and your DH do not need to contact them at all. They seem pretty toxic.

MW, I'm glad you're getting a bit of peace. Why do you think you worry about disturbing DH around bedtimes? Does he verbalize that you guys are upsetting him? My DH says he doesn't like the sound machine that I have on for Ava but he knows he just has to deal. She sleeps too lightly to not have it on. And he can go sleep in another room if he doesn't like it.

AFM, Ava's sleep has been crap the last two nights. She's waking every 1-2 hrs for milk. I'm exhausted. Makes me realize that I don't know if I would be willing/able to get back in to the newborn/infant phase again. I'm loving the toddler phase though for the most part. She's just such a delight. I miss her when she's asleep at night and can't wait for the next day so we can play again. On Friday, I really tried to focus on saying "yes" to her as much as possible. If she asked me to sit down and color with her, I stopped folding laundry and sat to color. She found the My Brest Friend nursing pillow in my closet and has started snuggling with it and she asks me to lay down with her and snuggle or put it on and let her lay on it. And she asked me to get in her bath with her on Friday night so I grabbed my wine and had a nice soak with her. It was really great. My house was a disaster when she went to bed that night but it was nice to have that day with her. She didn't have as many meltdowns although she did lose it when she was getting ready for bed and DH wasn't home yet. She was BAWLING. I finally texted him and said he needed to get home ASAP because she was not calming down. Once I told her he was on the way home, she was fine. Her teeth are bothering her again so that's making her weepy but I think she's on the verge of another developmental leap because she can lose it at the drop of a hat.

[Baby_Cakes]

JJ that all sounds super irritating and tough.  You might never know why they are being jerks.  The only thing you can do is continue living life and not let it bother you.  You can't control anyone else - but you can control your response.  Leave them to their own nonsense.  If they can't be bothered to see you, see Ten, their loss.  Hugs.  It's hard, regardless.

Come on baby Theo!!  Mama wants to meet you!!!  

Originally Posted by MarineWife 

My dh is gone for 3 weeks and I can't believe how relaxed I feel. I'm happier and have more energy and am just enjoying things more even though I should be PMSing. Bedtime is so much easier. We just go to bed whenever we are ready. I don't have to worry about the time or the noise disturbing anyone else. If K or D isn't ready to settle down, they can stay up and wander around the bedroom and play or watch TV for a bit.

I feel the same way when C leaves for a long trip.  It's so much less stressful.  I don't get anywhere near as anxious about bed time (I think subconciously I always feel like he's waiting for me, waiting for the kids to be asleep, etc).  I bet too, K and D are feeling your zen and like it too.  The kids can tell when C and I are tense with each other, and of course get clingier and more whiny and needy.  It just compounds the issue.  Enjoy your space.  Sometimes absence can make the heart soften and grow fonder.

Originally Posted by AnnieA 

On Friday, I really tried to focus on saying "yes" to her as much as possible. If she asked me to sit down and color with her, I stopped folding laundry and sat to color. She found the My Brest Friend nursing pillow in my closet and has started snuggling with it and she asks me to lay down with her and snuggle or put it on and let her lay on it. And she asked me to get in her bath with her on Friday night so I grabbed my wine and had a nice soak with her. It was really great. 

This just sounds so nice!  Good for you.  It's such a conscious effort sometimes to just ENJOY these kids.  Yes everything else goes to shit.  But whatever.  These are the important things, really.  

Crap sleep here too.  HUGE language developments happening along with 2 eyeteeth that we're still waiting for.  He's happy to be awake and I'm just not.  The rare night he sleeps Nora is up with nightmares.  I'm DRAGGING.  I feel like I'm drinking coffee all morning, then switching to wine for water honestly.  Sigh.  This too shall pass.

New words this week-ish : go, lets go, Brobee, Lorax, Mickey, race, baby, boo boo, eat, lightning mcqueen, poop, boob, vroooom, choo choo, train, mom-mom, nora, shoes, uh-oh (tho he's had that awhile), stuck...I think I'm forgetting some.  It's CRAZY.  I get so excited!!!

New signs he's using are drink, eat, more, and thank you. Oh and shaking his head no!  and sometimes nodding yes.  Before we only had all done and milk. 

[AnnieA]

Originally Posted by Baby_Cakes 

Crap sleep here too.  HUGE language developments happening along with 2 eyeteeth that we're still waiting for.  He's happy to be awake and I'm just not.  The rare night he sleeps Nora is up with nightmares.  I'm DRAGGING.  I feel like I'm drinking coffee all morning, then switching to wine for water honestly.  Sigh.  This too shall pass.

New words this week-ish : go, lets go, Brobee, Lorax, Mickey, race, baby, boo boo, eat, lightning mcqueen, poop, boob, vroooom, choo choo, train, mom-mom, nora, shoes, uh-oh (tho he's had that awhile), stuck...I think I'm forgetting some.  It's CRAZY.  I get so excited!!!

New signs he's using are drink, eat, more, and thank you. Oh and shaking his head no!  and sometimes nodding yes.  Before we only had all done and milk. 

Wow! Go Finn! I'm guessing that must be what's going on around these parts too but geez, the waking every couple of hours is HARD. Especially since she slept through the night last week. She went to bed at 8:30 with DH and slept until 7:45 AM. No wake-ups, no crying out, nothing. Just slept. But she is getting easier to understand and she's trying to run and jump so I know she's got some physical leaps coming down the pipe.

Oh I meant to say that I totally understand how you feel about taking Finn to DW, especially with his CARS obsession right now. I'd love to get Ava up to Sesame Place and the Crayola factory. I may have to settle for taking her to Busch Gardens this summer. Their kid section is Sesame Street-themed so that may be good enough for now. I want to try to do a trip to Disney when Ava is almost 3 so next year, late spring. I think that would be a good time to try that with her.

[Baby_Cakes]

We are planning on doing Sesame Place this summer!  Maybe we can plan to go around the same time!?  Tho it's not that much of a drive for us, we'll stay somewhere overnight, prob a long weekend.  

I hope Finn is better at staying close.  He is testing my anti-harness stance every time he freaking runs off!!  I lost him at target, he ran out the front doors.  I lost him at school, he just bolted and ran.  He runs off on every walk.  At stores he just takes off with no regard to where I am.  It's so frustrating!  An amusement park makes my eye twitch thinking about it, srsly.

But he would die to meet Lightning McQueen.  Like srsly go berserk.  

[AnnieA]

Originally Posted by Baby_Cakes 

We are planning on doing Sesame Place this summer!  Maybe we can plan to go around the same time!?  Tho it's not that much of a drive for us, we'll stay somewhere overnight, prob a long weekend.  

I hope Finn is better at staying close.  He is testing my anti-harness stance every time he freaking runs off!!  I lost him at target, he ran out the front doors.  I lost him at school, he just bolted and ran.  He runs off on every walk.  At stores he just takes off with no regard to where I am.  It's so frustrating!  An amusement park makes my eye twitch thinking about it, srsly.

But he would die to meet Lightning McQueen.  Like srsly go berserk.  

That would be so much fun! One of our friends has a second house in Philly so we'll try to stay there if they aren't there. I was just looking on their site and you can get a free second day so it makes sense to stay and visit two days instead of just one for the same price.

Man, Finn must be fast! Ava's short little legs can't carry her very far in a short amount of time.

[onetwoten]

Originally Posted by AnnieA 

AFM, Ava's sleep has been crap the last two nights. She's waking every 1-2 hrs for milk. I'm exhausted. Makes me realize that I don't know if I would be willing/able to get back in to the newborn/infant phase again. I'm loving the toddler phase though for the most part. She's just such a delight.

I get that. We've been surrounded by a lot of babyness lately, and even DH made a comment the other day about getting pregnant, and yes I know when I think back to what it used to be like-- I'm not ready to chance that again quite yet. Now I know for us, we will someday... I think I'm just not there yet. It makes me realize how far we've come-- In general lately she's waking maybe 4-5 times a night now? But then I remember she used to wake like 12 times a night... and I shudder! lol  She's teething really bad here too, so yeah, we're doing the almost every hour wakeups, and she's been up for the day at 630, so I'm yawning all day. So much developmental leaps though, which gives points to the other side of the coin-- they grow up so fast! And how can I NOT want another amazing little one like this? lol

Originally Posted by Baby_Cakes 

JJ that all sounds super irritating and tough.  You might never know why they are being jerks.  The only thing you can do is continue living life and not let it bother you.  You can't control anyone else - but you can control your response.  Leave them to their own nonsense.  If they can't be bothered to see you, see Ten, their loss.  Hugs.  It's hard, regardless.

Yes definitely. I got a chance to talk to my mom about it tonight, which was nice. I think I just needed to really get it out. I'm done now. We'll see them at family gatherings, but I just don't have the extra time or energy to deal with their bullshit right now. They can grow up and be mature adults, or they can just stay away. 

Kat-- thinking of you so much in these last days. Sending zen thoughts and urges to Theo to come meet everyone! 

[lyterae]

Originally Posted by MarineWife 


My dh is gone for 3 weeks and I can't believe how relaxed I feel. I'm happier and have more energy and am just enjoying things more even though I should be PMSing. Bedtime is so much easier. We just go to bed whenever we are ready. I don't have to worry about the time or the noise disturbing anyone else. If K or D isn't ready to settle down, they can stay up and wander around the bedroom and play or watch TV for a bit.

 My house has a different vibe when DH isn't here as well, but I do prefer him here. He goes away a couple times a year for hunting or business (for 2-3 days)and everyone is like "we can come keep you company while he's gone!" I really would prefer to have those couple days to just me and the kids. They are days when we can run whatever schedule we want and eat french fries and chicken for lunch and dinner :P

Originally Posted by AnnieA 

AFM, Ava's sleep has been crap the last two nights. She's waking every 1-2 hrs for milk. I'm exhausted. Makes me realize that I don't know if I would be willing/able to get back in to the newborn/infant phase again. I'm loving the toddler phase though for the most part. She's just such a delight. I miss her when she's asleep at night and can't wait for the next day so we can play again. On Friday, I really tried to focus on saying "yes" to her as much as possible. If she asked me to sit down and color with her, I stopped folding laundry and sat to color. She found the My Brest Friend nursing pillow in my closet and has started snuggling with it and she asks me to lay down with her and snuggle or put it on and let her lay on it. And she asked me to get in her bath with her on Friday night so I grabbed my wine and had a nice soak with her. It was really great. My house was a disaster when she went to bed that night but it was nice to have that day with her. She didn't have as many meltdowns although she did lose it when she was getting ready for bed and DH wasn't home yet. She was BAWLING. I finally texted him and said he needed to get home ASAP because she was not calming down. Once I told her he was on the way home, she was fine. Her teeth are bothering her again so that's making her weepy but I think she's on the verge of another developmental leap because she can lose it at the drop of a hat.

 I'm sorry sleep has been so awful lately, I think that making it a point to say yes is a fantastic idea and something I'm going to try to incorporate. Becca (7) is suddenly having meltdowns on a daily basis,  it's almost like her toddler emotional state has come back to live with us. Our plan for this week is for each of us (both DH and myself) to spend designated time with her daily. We're about 99% certain that her love language is quality time and I'm hoping if we fill up her "tank" that maybe there will be some outward signs that things are improving. 

Originally Posted by Baby_Cakes 

New words this week-ish : go, lets go, Brobee, Lorax, Mickey, race, baby, boo boo, eat, lightning mcqueen, poop, boob, vroooom, choo choo, train, mom-mom, nora, shoes, uh-oh (tho he's had that awhile), stuck...I think I'm forgetting some.  It's CRAZY.  I get so excited!!!

New signs he's using are drink, eat, more, and thank you. Oh and shaking his head no!  and sometimes nodding yes.  Before we only had all done and milk. 

I love the word explosion, I took Ben in at 18 months because he had only 2 words (mama and daddy weren't included) and we were getting concerned. Now at 25 months he has more words that I can count anymore. Lorax and Mickey are on our list as well :)

I took the kids in for well child visits last week (more or less just to keep them listed as patients), despite the fact that Ben still doesn't really eat he is growing well and we might have a new course of action for identifying the foods that Becca is intolerant/allergic to. 

Both of the kids are emotional and throwing tantrums on a daily basis, I'd like to join them. I think some outdoor playtime would be really nice and helpful but everything outside is very wet and icy. Spring is coming but the inbetween is a real pain.

[MarineWife]

I know you all know, but congratulations to Kat! Her Theo and my Ryan share a birthday.

I think my 3 days of denial have definitely passed. I forgot this happens to me every time dh leaves. I spend the first 3 days in some sort of denial, I guess, and everything seems perfect. Then loneliness and depression set in. I can't seem to get myself motivated to do anything today. I've been just sitting here playing solitaire on my laptop.

I've been thinking that I would like to do more artsy/crafsty stuff with my kids. I have no idea what to do, though. I've looked at a few websites and have some books that all proclaim to have instructions for easy, fun activities that use regular household items but I never have all of the items. I'm just not a creative, artsy person.

[akind1]

Birth story: woke up 6 am Saturday with mild contractions regularly about 8-10 minutes. These continued all day through shopping, eating, etc. sent kids to MILs. Kept up, increasing in intensity but spacing out a bit overnight (read no sleep) and Sunday morning I got on the pump for 30 minutes to increase frequency. Ate breakfast, then walked to get them on a pattern good enough to head to hospital. Arrived at hospital at 1. 4 cm 80% effaced. I stayed that way despite walking, pressure points etc until 9, when we decided intervention was needed. I was exhausted, got an epidural at 9, AROM at 9:30, progressed quickly to 8 by midnight. Stayed there until around 4-5 am Monday morning when I had just a little cervix left. Started pushing at 6 with the nursing staff. Baby slid into the surprised hands of a nurse at 6:31. Doc stepped in the room just as the nurse caught.
Theo is 8 lbs 4 oz, 21 inches. Not huge on nursing yet, but we'll get there. I barely tore this time. Yay!

[onetwoten]

Wow intense! I'm tired -for- you mama! Go get some sleep and enjoy those new baby snuggles

[lyterae]

Katrina - You are a rockstar! You must have one heck of an OB/Nurse to still be able to have had your second VBAC! 

Ben has figured out how to turn the water on in the tub. Yesterday afternoon someone left the bathroom door open and after a few minutes we heard water running and couldn't find Ben. He was standing in the tub fully clothed with puppy slippers and had managed to get the water going. I'm not entirely a fan of his recent independence! 

[AnnieA]

Originally Posted by MarineWife 

I've been thinking that I would like to do more artsy/crafsty stuff with my kids. I have no idea what to do, though. I've looked at a few websites and have some books that all proclaim to have instructions for easy, fun activities that use regular household items but I never have all of the items. I'm just not a creative, artsy person.

Easiest craft project that I've found: Crayola watercolor sets (1 for each child), cut open paper grocery bags and spread out on the table, add a few bowls of water and let them go! If your boys are anything like my kids, they will turn there noses up at the suggestion to do watercolors but if I sit down and start painting, they will wander over and join in. Then I can get up and go do something else. Glue and glitter are also a hit in my house.

Originally Posted by akind1 

Birth story: woke up 6 am Saturday with mild contractions regularly about 8-10 minutes. These continued all day through shopping, eating, etc. sent kids to MILs. Kept up, increasing in intensity but spacing out a bit overnight (read no sleep) and Sunday morning I got on the pump for 30 minutes to increase frequency. Ate breakfast, then walked to get them on a pattern good enough to head to hospital. Arrived at hospital at 1. 4 cm 80% effaced. I stayed that way despite walking, pressure points etc until 9, when we decided intervention was needed. I was exhausted, got an epidural at 9, AROM at 9:30, progressed quickly to 8 by midnight. Stayed there until around 4-5 am Monday morning when I had just a little cervix left. Started pushing at 6 with the nursing staff. Baby slid into the surprised hands of a nurse at 6:31. Doc stepped in the room just as the nurse caught.
Theo is 8 lbs 4 oz, 21 inches. Not huge on nursing yet, but we'll get there. I barely tore this time. Yay!

Wow! What a labor! You are a total rockstar! I'm so proud of you! And Theo is a doll. So squishy!

Originally Posted by lyterae 

Ben has figured out how to turn the water on in the tub. Yesterday afternoon someone left the bathroom door open and after a few minutes we heard water running and couldn't find Ben. He was standing in the tub fully clothed with puppy slippers and had managed to get the water going. I'm not entirely a fan of his recent independence! 

OMG. I am going to have a big problem on my hands the day Ava figures out how to turn on the water in the tub! She already spends the better part of the day begging to get in the tub.

[MarineWife]

You go, Kat! Welcome, Theo!

My boys do usually come to see what's going on if I start doing something rather than just talking to them about it. I'm terrible about keeping stuff on hand, though. I buy paints and glue and what not but it gets left out and open or just gets old and doesn't work anymore. Then I feel like I've wasted money and don't want to buy any more.

Ok, y'all, I think I'm definitely going through premenopause. I got Taking Charge of Your Fertility for R's GF. She's been driving me crazy telling me every other month that she's late so I figure she needs to learn how her body actually works. Anyway, I skimmed through the menopause chapter before giving her the book. It describes me perfectly. Ugh! I'm having serious hot flashes every day. I wake up in the middle of the night hot and sweaty and having to kick off the covers before I burn up. Then I wake up a few hours later freezing cold. I don't know about my cycles since they haven't been regular since having D and I'm breastfeeding but they have been short. What I read said that cycles usually start out shorter than usual and is heavier before getting longer. Last was really easy but that was a short cycle. Before that it had been heavier than usual.

I'm going to be 43 in two weeks!

[lyterae]

Originally Posted by AnnieA 

OMG. I am going to have a big problem on my hands the day Ava figures out how to turn on the water in the tub! She already spends the better part of the day begging to get in the tub.

 Ben feels the same way about the tub, he goes around signing and asking for a bath. I didn't think he'd be able to turn the water on by himself. I found out today that he can open the fridge!

Originally Posted by MarineWife 


Ok, y'all, I think I'm definitely going through premenopause. I got Taking Charge of Your Fertility for R's GF. She's been driving me crazy telling me every other month that she's late so I figure she needs to learn how her body actually works. Anyway, I skimmed through the menopause chapter before giving her the book. It describes me perfectly. Ugh! I'm having serious hot flashes every day. I wake up in the middle of the night hot and sweaty and having to kick off the covers before I burn up. Then I wake up a few hours later freezing cold. I don't know about my cycles since they haven't been regular since having D and I'm breastfeeding but they have been short. What I read said that cycles usually start out shorter than usual and is heavier before getting longer. Last was really easy but that was a short cycle. Before that it had been heavier than usual.

I'm going to be 43 in two weeks!

 Is premenopause a good thing MW?

Becca is spending the night with Nana and Papa tonight and I just finished prepping Latin for homeschool group tomorrow. We are having a huge(hopefully) LAN party this Friday so I need to work on cleaning up the house so that it can be destroyed over the course of Friday-Saturday. Also, trying not to obsess to much but we are in the TWW again . 

[MarineWife]

Originally Posted by lyterae 

 Is premenopause a good thing MW?

Well, yes and no. It's good because I'm ready to be over worrying about having more babies. It's bad because the hot flashes and hormonal mood changes are not fun, if that's what it is. If I am going through premenopause, that might explain a lot of the issues I've been having with my dh. I just hope it doesn't go on for the next 7-10 years.

[lyterae]

Originally Posted by MarineWife 


Well, yes and no. It's good because I'm ready to be over worrying about having more babies. It's bad because the hot flashes and hormonal mood changes are not fun, if that's what it is. If I am going through premenopause, that might explain a lot of the issues I've been having with my dh. I just hope it doesn't go on for the next 7-10 years.

 That makes sense, are there any supplements you can take to try and level things out a little bit?

[Baby_Cakes]

still mobile only!! reading along but can't really respond. miss you guys! new laptop is on it's way!

[MarineWife]

Originally Posted by lyterae 

 That makes sense, are there any supplements you can take to try and level things out a little bit?

Probably, but I'm not interested in taking anything. This is perfectly normal and natural and doesn't need to be treated.

[lyterae]

Originally Posted by MarineWife 


Probably, but I'm not interested in taking anything. This is perfectly normal and natural and doesn't need to be treated.

 I understand what you're saying, but if you are uncomfortable why would taking something herbal (Vitex, etc) be a bad thing? There are some months I have terrible mood swings and yes I could just live with it because it's normal and natural, or I could take supplements (B-Complex, Vitamin D, Vitex) to help calm things down again.