March 2013 Chit Chat - Page 3 « Back to Group Discussions

[ZippyGirl]

Originally Posted by CDsMom1031 

Our house is 4-bed 2-bath, 2300 sq. ft. and WITH taxes and insurance escrowed into the payment, we pay $790/month.

  That is so unfair!!!!!!!  Just the taxes on our house are more than that each month.  I am soooo moving!!!!!!  Now, where do you live again!?

[ZippyGirl]

Originally Posted by LunaLady 
Our house is old. We are actually in the process of renovating it! We are doing the kitchen next!!

What have you done so far?  Pics?!????

[CDsMom1031]

Originally Posted by ZippyGirl 

Originally Posted by CDsMom1031 

Our house is 4-bed 2-bath, 2300 sq. ft. and WITH taxes and insurance escrowed into the payment, we pay $790/month.

  That is so unfair!!!!!!!  Just the taxes on our house are more than that each month.  I am soooo moving!!!!!!  Now, where do you live again!?

I live in the very southern tip of Indiana... In Evansville. Our house was $127,000. Haha. As badly as I want to move, I think about stuff like we're talking about now and I'm like... We'd be dumb to leave. We've got it made here. Haha.

[CDsMom1031]

Amanda, where my parents live in Newnan... It's about an hour south of Atlanta, and their neighborhood is very uppity... Super snobby people, they pay $2000/month to rent a 4 bed, 4 bath, 3500 sq.ft. house.

[Jaimee]

Seattle, WA: I paid $800 for a 2bd/1 ba apartment in the Ravenna area without w/d, in Bothell and Bellingham 3bd/1 ba apartments were $900, but I knew plenty of friends paying upwards of $1500 for 1 bd apartments in other parts of Seattle

Tucson, AZ: we paid $600 something to rent a 1 bd/1 ba apartment without w/d and then moved into a 3 bd/2 ba house for $700 in mortgage

Austin, TX: we paid $1200 to rent a 3 bd/2 ba house

Towson, MD: we paid $2200 in mortgage for our 3 bd/2.5 ba house and are now renting it out for $2300

Urbana, IL: we paid $1700 to rent our 5 bd/2.5 ba house and now pay $1200 in mortgage

Joanie... how are you doing?  Any luck finding new child care?

Christina, we would all love to see pics of your renovations!

Becky, adorable pics of Casey!  Were you promoting that super cute tutu and head band?

Nicole, how's the pregnancy going?  What's been different this time around, what's been the same?

Sarah, how goes the move?

Ash, how's your dh?  Is Bettie back to her normal self?  How did last night go?

Amanda, have you made any decisions about your work schedule?

[dashley111]

Originally Posted by CDsMom1031 

Amanda, where my parents live in Newnan... It's about an hour south of Atlanta, and their neighborhood is very uppity... Super snobby people, they pay $2000/month to rent a 4 bed, 4 bath, 3500 sq.ft. house.

Here, in a modest middle-income environment, this is about average.  We just bought our house, 2000sq ft, 4 bd 2 bth and "bonus room", for $190,000.  That price in this area was SO good that even though we put our offer in within 12 hours of it being on the market when the office opened in the AM ours had gone through first and there were 6 offers behind it. 

Seeing the differences is crazy!  Nicole, I'm moving to where you are, lol.  Me and DH discuss transfer all the time, since a lot of foreign jobs come with huge increases in pay.  I think a few years abroad would be amazing for all of us, but I am so nervous to leave our family support. 

Our night was a big success.  We had a lot of fun, were home about midnight, and B was fast asleep on her grandma.  It was SO NICE!  And I don't even have a hang over.  Hahaha.

[CDsMom1031]

The pregnancy is going. It's completely different. I still get nauseous if I go more than two hours without eating. So annoying. And with Conner, I craved fast food and only fast food (How disgusting, right?). Well, this time, all I want are fruits/veggies/salads, etc... Which I'm not complaining about. LOL I'm very, very emotional this time around, also. I cry at the drop of a hat and when I get mad, I get MAD... And it takes awhile for me to calm down. My exhaustion has finally calmed down. I've gained about 7lbs so far (I think??? I'm not 100% positive on my PP weight because I had just started working out. I'm pretty sure I was 151, and now I'm 158 or so, depending on the scale I use.)

DH is a lot less sympathetic with this pregnancy. O_O The last time, he waited on me hand and foot, now he thinks I'm just using the pregnancy as an excuse for everything. Makes me want to strangle him. There are times though, like yesterday, when I felt like absolute crap, that he can tell I'm not "faking" it and he's wonderful.

I also feel like I'm showing already, but I haven't taken any pictures, because I'm not totally convinced that this all isn't just carryover from Conner. LOL The only time I'm POSITIVE that it's the baby is first thing in the morning when my bladder is huge and it pushes my uterus up. I've got a nice round ball then.

Tomorrow is my 25th birthday. It's also my 12.6 week check-up, so we'll get to hear the heartbeat for the first time. =)

I'm also not totally convinced that Conner doesn't sense a change. I know he's teething, but ever since I found out, he's been super clingy to me. It's like he's trying to cherish the time he has left as an only child before he loses his mommy. =(

[Becky Wheeler]

Has anyone else ever experienced stabby needle like sensations in their arms? They feel on fire! I havent done anything strenuous and I havent slept on them.

[birdhappy85]

We are starting to feel better over here. Whew. We're all on antibiotics. I ended up with a pretty severe ear infection, likely from that sinus rinse incident. OMG ear infections are so painful, I had no idea. I feel like I have vertigo all the time and like half of my head is exploding, plus a constant ringing, fullness, and temporary hearing loss. Ughhhh. Oh well, at least we're all on the mend and much cheerier!

We're looking into back-up childcare for a possible future switch but our current DCP said she's going to be open next week after all, minus Friday for the funeral. That's okay, I worked something out with my mom and her friend so I'll drive down with Sora to visit them that day and keep occupied. We also likely can't afford other daycares around here... Our current situation is the cheapest by far and the closest to home. *sigh* We'll just keep taking things a day at a time and hope that our DCP is okay after this tragedy she's had to deal with...

So many people ill and/or dying over here lately... It's emotionally draining. My uncle is in kidney failure, and DH's grandpa is dying of pancreatic cancer shortly. Probably several funerals in the near future. 

RE: Cost of living/homes. We're in one of the best but most costly suburbs of Milwaukee. We aren't the type of people who would typically be able to afford living here, but we were adamant to make it work so we could raise our kids here with one of the best school systems and economies around. We bought our 1650 sq ft/3 BR/2.5 bath house (1/3 acre) for $214,500 but it's appraised at $239,000. We started out paying $1680/mo but refinanced our mortgage last year and got it down to $1347/mo! HUGE difference.  We are finally in the process of finishing our 700+ sq ft basement! So excited! The plumbing has all been replaced with brand new piping, and they just finished framing the whole living area down there. I can't remember if I've mentioned this already...? But we're having them build a big walk-in pantry down there! It's thrilling to see the frame of it in place now. It's coming together!!!

[dashley111]

Nicole- Connor is in no way losing his mommy! You can't think of it like that. He is gaining a sibling. It's hard to imagine the transition from 1 to 2 and being able to share your love and time, but for a lot of people it is very easy...and it just works. You are not slighting him.

Joanie, it sounds like you have a LOT going on! I'm so sorry you are surrounded by so much sadness. Times like that are stressful. Glad you are a feeling better!

[TalkToMeNow]

Nicole, if I remember correctly, Newnan is uppity and very southern.  I'm closer intown. My job is in Atlanta, and I can get there in less than 20 min some days.

It's very unlikely that I would move for a lower cost of living. I can't imagine living without a major symphony and ballet, tons of international restaurants and shops, lots of quirky neighborhoods for dining and shopping, a huge city park with festivals, etc, etc, etc. Um... and Ikea! How could I live in a city without an Ikea?! 

Jaimee, I'm waiting to see what my bosses can work out. I'm switching to full time and (hopefully!) getting a promotion. So that should help out a lot financially. Hopefully I will hear something this week!

[Jaimee]

Becky, that sounds like a pinched nerve.  If it doesn't resolve soon, I would get it checked out.

Joanie, glad you're on the mend and you still have childcare!  Jealous of your walk-in pantry!  If I get really serious about canning, we're gonna have to figure something out!

Nicole, it's totally normal to grieve the end of your one on one relationship with Conner.  There will be things that will never be the same again.  You will not have as much dedicated time for him as you do now.  But he will also be gaining one of the best gifts you can give him: a sibling.  It's a big transition for sure, but not as big as zero to one kid, IMO.  You'll see how your love grows big enough for both of them.    I bet Conner is just reacting to your more heightened emotional state.  Kids are very perceptive.

[seraf]

Hi all.

We're crazy busy lately. We are mostly moved besides the kitchen. Now we need to assemble everything and figure out where to put everything.

The cold water pipe to the bathroom is frozen, that has added a certain challenge to doing laundry.

At least the babies GI bug has passed. Almost all the adults have it now. :-(

[birdhappy85]

My sister is doing a lot of research on fetal and childhood nutrition while she's currently pregnant, and she sent an email to our family with this really interesting read about MSG and its strong link to neurological disorders. It has added a whole new dimension to my understanding of, for instance, why gluten and casein free diets can have a dramatic effect on children with autism. I didn't know that gluten and casein are both high sources of natural glutamate in the diet, and the genetic mutation in autistic children includes an inability to process glutamate. This research also discusses that children who are administered Tylenol with vaccines are SIX TIMES more likely to develop autism than children given Ibuprofen, which is a glutamate blocker. Vaccines themselves, especially the MMR vaccine, contain MSG. The elimination of mercury in vaccines may not be lowering autism rates because we could be focusing on the wrong additive in vaccines that is overwhelming genetically susceptible children's systems. I could go on and on, but I'll let it speak for itself! Very good read:

http://www.msgtruth.org/autism.htm

Seeing as how I have a neurological disorder myself, a nephew with autism, and a strong family history of a whole ton of other disorders mentioned on this website, I wonder if my genetic mutation is similarly affected by MSG and other glutamate sources as that in autism...

[Autumnshades]

That is very interesting about the MSG.... thank you for passing it along!

Sara, I hope the unpacking goes well.  I hate moving.  Just the thought of it, is driving me nuts.  I also don't like uprooting.... we didn't ever move as kids and so this concept isn't easy for me.  I like where we are, the things around me - it is comfortable.  I don't like the uncertainty of moving and starting somewhere else.  We have done is 3 times since we got married and it wasn't easy.

We are enjoying the joys of spring sunshine, blue skies, bird song and tons of spring flowers... the sunshine is such a mood lifter!   The winter feels like it was too long.  Eli is cutting a whole bunch of teeth and isn't sleeping well.  I know his gums hurt because he won't let me brush his teeth either.  He isn't eating much - I can tell he is just feeling unwell.  I am pretty tired since I have been up so many times each night.  

[Abraisme]

That's interesting info on MSG. There is always so much to learn about this stuff. It's never ending! I'm trying to figure out the mthfr mutation thing now. It's confusing at best.

Sara, I hope your move finishes up smoothly and everyone feels better soon.

It's our turn to get sick now. It started with Coralie a few days ago and now all the kids are going down with runny noses, coughing and fever. Coralie has the worst of it do far.

We also rear face until around age 3. I turned Olivine around when she asked me at 3ish.

We are hoping to settle in a place with a low cost of living. Likely another country.

We are stuck here in NE until the weather gets a bit better. I only have 2 puppies left to sell. I hope they go this week!

[CDsMom1031]

Conner now let's me know when he's ready for bed. Oh my gosh, it's so cute. He'll go, "Ni ni" then walk to his room and grab his blanket on his bed.

Kind of makes me want to get him a toddler bed, just to see if he'd put himself to bed.

When did you guys move your kiddos?

[Autumnshades]

Hey I was wondering the same thing.... Eli lets me know too when he is tired, he doesn't say night night yet, but he goes to pull his blanket out and crawls onto my lap.  Our crib can transition to toddler bed, but I am way scared to put Eli in it without the side because he is such a wild wild sleeper.  He is all over the crib at night... up down, side ways ... and mostly he sleeps against the sides.

[Jaimee]

My first 2 were on their own sleep surface (but still in our room) before age one.  Avalon transitioned out of our room when she was 2.5 and Austin when he was 20 months.  It was a bit early for him, but I was anxious for him to feel comfortable in his new room before Avery came.  With that in mind, I'm waiting to transition Avery until I really feel he's really ready and, for us, that means night weaned and only waking 1-2 times a night tops.  We're no where near that right now.  I'm thinking night weaning after the canines, whenever they come.  I'm also thinking potty training when the weather warms up, which is another big milestone that can interfere with sleep.  So I imagine he won't get transitioned until fall at the earliest and with all the illness that winter brings I might not even consider it until the following spring (a year from now).  But who knows?  I also believe in capitalizing on readiness cues.  So if at any point he seems like he's ready and would sleep better away from me at night, then I'd go for it.

[seraf]

My older kids moved into their own bed in their own room at their 6th birthday. It worked for us. We have a twin and a full together. After about a year, the baby went on the twin, which is a little lower than our mattress and against a wall. Right now Shay and I are on the twin because Sara and Soren are enough for one bed. Once they adjust to the move and Soren doesn't wake 3 (or 6) times a night he and Shay will share the little bed.

The boys are not in love with the move.