~Happy Third Birthday!~ Nov/Dec 02 Kids - Page 4

[DecemberSun]

Good to hear from you, Jaz.

Rynna, eat some chowder for me!!! I am soooo jealous! I am a foodaholic! The size of my hips will show that!

My kids have been absolutely unruly today. I think they must be picking up my own anxiety because we have had way too much yelling, screaming, kicking, hitting, fighting, crying, etc. around here today!!! I'm loading them all in the van to go eat leftovers at Grammy's. Maybe the littles will sleep on the way there!

[punkprincessmama]

Leah I'm thinking about you and your sweet family today.

Jaz, I'm so glad to see you here. Are you and the girls still moving out to the woods?

Fern, I'm thinking about you too I have been reliving Aubrey's birth the last few days. She is five months old today!! Where in the world did the last five months go? She is crawling, she sat up yesterday and her first tooth is about to make it's debut. I'm amazed.

Casina, I've been thinking about your questions, and I really appreciate your concern. It's odd, but I find it really helpful to know that you all are thinking about me, wishing me well, even though we've never met, even though we live so far from each other. Thank you I think I will post more about my feelings/struggles on the msn group when I get a chance.

I will say that I finally got a break yesterday. Dh took both the girls outside and I curled up in bed with my The Art of Happiness book, and my journal and I emerged two hours later feeling much refreshed.

much love to you all...

[hjohnson]

Leah

[eilonwy]

Amy, the chowda was amazing. Mike tasted it and said that he thought it was "good chowder," but he couldn't really tell the difference between it and the stuff that comes out of a can. So he wasn't too offended when I told him to leave it alone. BeanBean loved it, too. It also gave me an idea-- maybe I can mail some Turkey Hill ice cream to my brother in CA; he's totally addicted to the stuff, but apparently you either can't get it out there or it's ridiculously expensive outside of PA (right now, for example, it's on sale at TH, 2 half gallons for $5; they do this every other month!). Hehe, that'd be a really cool hannukah present. I wonder how much it would cost to ship something frozen like that. I'll definately be looking into it.

BeanBean and BooBah are super cute and loveable. They're tons of fun these days. I'm really getting a kick out of them. BellyBean has been baking for 19.5 weeks; it completely blows my mind that I'm just about half-way to a new person. I had an ultrasound on the 21st and it wasn't reassuring as I wanted it to be, but I'm not seriously depressed about it... just a little bummed. I'm having another in December, and I was kind of hoping to avoid that. I'm sure I'll get over it, especially if the next one goes well and I have good things to report.

Mike is still pretty miserable at work, although one of the people who was making his life extra miserable is now on maternity leave, so he's got a little bit of a break. BeanBean is pretending that the pack & play is "a cinderella kitchen." That's what he keeps asking me to buy for him-- a play kitchen, preferably a princess one. If I had the money, I'd do it just to tick Mike's father off.

Do any of your little boys like to wear nail polish? BeanBean loves it, bright, sparkly colors on his fingers.. he just thinks that it's really cool. Well, Mike's parents are all tense and mean about it, and the last time that he had some nail polish on, SIL or MIL took nail polish remover to his little fingers! Then Mike told me that BeanBean can't wear nail polish to his parent's house. When I asked why not, he said, "He just can't, I'm trying to keep the peace. I talked to my mom about the music, and I think it's only fair that you remove the nail polish from his fingers." : As if the two things are remotely related, but even if they are... MIL told me this weekend that she felt dismayed by my objection to the music, she said she feels like they're not supposed to "share their Christianity with the kids at all," and that's not fair because it's part of their heritage. I tried to explain that I'm not talking about *heritage* I'm talking about the present and the future. I don't think that she understood. At any rate, I think that they're being ridiculous and trying to push me in a direction that I don't really want to go, and it's so not fair. Blech. Mike and I still haven't worked this out, he has no idea where I'm coming from and just doesn't get it. I don't even know what else I can say to him!

To think of comparing the situations, nail polish on a little boy and proselytizing to him! Argh, they're so different! I'm so tempted to bring this up with FIL, and try to get him to say what he's really thinking (probably something about nail polish turning little boys gay ). I really want to hear the ignorance pouring out of his mouth, instead of just suspecting strongly that it's there. I also want to hear them say that they don't understand why I'm uncomfortable with them preaching to the kids, but I should understand why they're uncomfortable seeing BeanBean wear nail polish. I really want to hear it come out of their mouths. Is that wrong of me? Am I just making trouble?

[hjohnson]

No nail polish here but then I hardly wear it myself.

[MamaFern]

our little girl is here!

ngaio was born last night just before 1am..at home surrounded with love. she was 10lbs 5 oz! and it was the most quick and intense and amazing experience of my life. elwynn was there for everything and was just incredible. he is in love with her and totally into being a big brother. there is more info on the nov.DDC if you want to check it out
thanks for your thoughts these last months

[eilonwy]

Oh, Fern! Congrats! Welcome, Ngaio!

[DecemberSun]

WOW!!! Congratulations Fern!!! I am sooo happy for you, and Elwynn! You got your little girl... And 10 pounds! Sheesh! Good for you, Mama, you're amazing.

Rynna, I don't understand- I think you are saying that your in-laws want to play Christian music (Christmas carols?) while your kids are around and you disagree? And they don't think it's right for Eli to wear nail polish? Well, with the music I'd try not to make a big dramatic issue about it because it's one of those things that can dig a deep dark crevice (sp) in your relationship with them. If it's something you're comfortable with, you can start explaining the differences in religions between you and the ILs so that it's something the kids are aware of. If it's something you're totally against then by all means stick to your guns... But if it's something that you can deal with I'd let it slide, as long as you're able to share the meanings of things, and help explain things to the kids. And that's what the ILs should so about the nail polish- let it slide even if it's something that they don't personally agree with. I always put clear, green, blue, or black nail polish on Zachary because they're "boyish" colors, and I don't give a 'flying duck' what people think/say about it. He likes colorful nails- that doesn't make him gay or weird, it just makes him a kid who likes colorful nails. Anyway, those are my thoughts...

I got almost all the X-mas shopping done. We are keeping it low key for the relatives since money is tighter than usual this year. I need to put my order through at Rosie Hippo's when I get paid again, but other than that we are DONE with the kids' gifts! Zachary is getting modeling clay and a V-Smile game for his birthday on Saturday, and I will be attempting to make a cake sorta like Eli's with an airplane and a runway!

[majazama]

Oh, Fern! She's gorgeous!!! Bet you're just lovin it up right now! I can't wait to meet her......

[eilonwy]

Originally Posted by DecemberSun

Rynna, I don't understand- I think you are saying that your in-laws want to play Christian music (Christmas carols?) while your kids are around and you disagree? And they don't think it's right for Eli to wear nail polish? Well, with the music I'd try not to make a big dramatic issue about it because it's one of those things that can dig a deep dark crevice (sp) in your relationship with them. If it's something you're comfortable with, you can start explaining the differences in religions between you and the ILs so that it's something the kids are aware of. If it's something you're totally against then by all means stick to your guns... But if it's something that you can deal with I'd let it slide, as long as you're able to share the meanings of things, and help explain things to the kids. And that's what the ILs should so about the nail polish- let it slide even if it's something that they don't personally agree with. I always put clear, green, blue, or black nail polish on Zachary because they're "boyish" colors, and I don't give a 'flying duck' what people think/say about it. He likes colorful nails- that doesn't make him gay or weird, it just makes him a kid who likes colorful nails. Anyway, those are my thoughts...

If we were only talking about Christmas carols (once a year) I wouldn't make a big fuss about it. I'm talking about music that they play all year round with a deliberately Christian slant to it, despite being told by Mike quite directly and repeatedly that we disapprove. If they were saying, "This is what we believe," I wouldn't have a huge problem with that either (though it would be a bit irritating that they were talking to such young children about it...) but that's not what they're doing; they're saying "This is what IS." There's a strong implication that this is the only way to live/be, and thus that anything else (like what mamma and daddy do) is just plain wrong. :

As to the nail polish-- left to his own devices, BeanBean would probably choose purple about 85% of the time. I actually bought a new bottle of nail polish after I threw away three old ones that he'd found and opened (when I say "old" I mean "much older than BeanBean;" I actually stopped wearing nail polish very early in my pregnancy with him because I couldn't stand the smell of it) and put on all by himself. We compromised, buying blue sparkley nail polish which came in a purple bottle (he wanted purple). The last time he wore nail polish, it was true red. It's not the colors that matter to the ILs, but the fact that he was wearing nail polish at all. I just feel sad for BeanBean, because the decision was *entirely* his-- he loves the stuff, he really enjoys having pretty nails, and I can't see the big deal about it. Apparently, though, in order to get them to turn off the constant Christianity propaganda campaign, I have to try to impose *their* gender stereotypes on my son. : Like they're not making him feel guilty enough by trying to teach him that his parents will go to hell, they've got to take away one of the few and simple pleasures in his life.

[DecemberSun]

That sucks Rynna. That is a really tough issue to deal with (religion), especially when you all don't agree. But in my opinion they definitely should not be teaching your kids that you are wrong in your personaly beliefs. Don't even get me started! I haven't the emotional strength for an argument like that, and I feel really bad that you have to go through it.

Well, I have more drama I need to vent. Being that my husband is a private investigator we have security cameras all over the house. Well, DH went into the office today and used their equipment to watch the tapes of when my stupid sister was here watching Crystal... I am so pissed off at her I could literally beat the crap out of her. First of all, when she first got here, before even bringing her son or Crystal in from the car, she went into my room and ransacked it- going through my closet, drawers, cupboards, you name it. What she was looking for I haven't a clue. THEN she put Crystal to bed and left here here ALONE for 2 hours!!! She left a nine year old kid in a house in a rural area ALONE, hooked up to her ventilator (she was sleeping, but still...) If there had been a fire what would have happened? The neighbors are close, but not that close! She left from 8:30pm to 10:30pm, and came back with a friend. Then the next morning, when she sent Crystal to school dirty and sick, the tape showed that she didn't give her any meds, no SVN, didn't suction her, didn't even wipe the pee off her butt- just got her dressed and put her in her wheelchair and put her on the bus. (That was the day the school called CPS on me because they didn't think the care she was receiving from my sister was appropriate or safe.) I am just numb because I am so overwhelmed with emotions. I can't handle one more thing!!! She has screwed me over (and everyone else in the family) before, but I thought she had grown up a little after she had her baby... Obviously she has not changed at all. My parents and I are going to stage some sort of "intervention" for her because she needs to get her shit together once and for all... Calgon take me away!

[eilonwy]

OMG, Leah, that's just horrible. My sister's an evil wench, too, but she'd probably behave if she thought that there were cameras around, at least.

[punkprincessmama]

oh Leah, that is awful, Poor Crystal and poor you. What is going on now regarding the CPS case?

Jazz, I've been thinking about you a lot, how are you? How did the trip across country go? Are you and the girls still planning on moving?

Fern, I posted on your thread in the DDC, but I have to say here too that you have beautiful babies, I hope you are resting and enjoying your baby moon.

Heather, how are your plans to move coming along?

[DecemberSun]

Well, I got to meet WYNONNA tonight. If you like Country music, you'll know who she is. That cheered me up considerably...

Zachary turned three yesterday. & We went to a park with a choo-choo train that went all the way around a little lake with ducks, which of course the kids LOVED. Then we went to my mom's and had dinner/cake/presents with the cousins. Zachary blew out all his candles one at a time (which is amazing since all the other kids were standing so close to "help him" blow them out). I made a cake similar to BeanBean's with a runway and airplane. I have to call Cingular and complain because all of a sudden for some reason I am unable to e-mail pictures to myself from my cell phone, but as soon as I figure it out I will post a few pics of the birthday. We showed him pictures of the day he was born and we tried to explain why we were celebrating his birth day and all that. He was looking at the pics and he says "Mom, is that you?"
I say: "Yep."
Z: "You naked?"
Me: "Yes, because I had to push you out of my vagina. You were ready to come out of my tummy. And we were so happy to have you, see?"
Z: "Mom, we do that again?"
Me: (Laughing w/ DH) "No, once you come out of your Mommy you don't do it again."
Z: "I too big? I don't fit?"
Me: "Nope, and you're getting bigger and bigger every day..."

Anyway, I thought that was so cute! He is always asking me if he can go back in my tummy!

The CPS investigation is closed, as far as I know. They just had to come check things out to appease the school. My sister is still on my sh*t list and I want to kill her, but I think I'll just avoid her until time can heal me somewhat. I did write her a 4 page letter that made me feel a LOT better, after being stressed to the max for two weeks since this happened. But my mom said it was too harsh, so I may edit it. I may post a link to it so you all can give me your opinions because at this point I don't care how harsh my letter sounds- I trusted my sister with my CHILDREN and she betrayed me and that hurts profoundly deeper than words can say. And if you can't trust your own family, who can you trust???

[punkprincessmama]

quick questions mamas, what are y'all doing car seat wise these days? Mariah is an inch away from outgrowing her cosco alpha omega. Dh wants to get her a booster seat and pass the omega down to Aubrey who has almost outgrown her infant car seat. Advice please!!

[abranger]

Originally Posted by punkprincessmama

quick questions mamas, what are y'all doing car seat wise these days? Mariah is an inch away from outgrowing her cosco alpha omega. Dh wants to get her a booster seat and pass the omega down to Aubrey who has almost outgrown her infant car seat. Advice please!!

Punk? I am a car seat tech I can help but I have a couple of q's. Is Mariah forward or rear in your alpha omega? Is the height for that seat given as a total body height or as something like 'when top of ears reach top of seat'?

We have a britax marathon and GA is still rear facing b/c the weight limit rear facing is 33 pounds (and I saw all of the crash test fotage showing foward vs rear facing.) She is 29 pounds and no where near the rear facing height limit which for this seat which is the tops of the ears even with the top of the seat.

If you send me the model of your current seat and mariah's height and weight I can do some research for on this seat and possible new ones. The short answer is if you move on to the next type of seat she should still be in a 5 point harness NOT a belt positioning booster that holds her in with just the seat belt.

Amy

Amy

[eilonwy]

BeanBean is in an Alpha Omega Elite, rearfacing at 29 pounds, and his head is just about an inch under the top of the seat. I'm having a big crisis in my mind about when to turn him, and here is why:

Right now, BeanBean and BooBah are both rear-facing in the center row of our minivan. In the spring, we will add BellyBean to the mix. My original plan was for BellyBean's infant seat to go in the back row, because we'll be taking the whole seat out of the car to put the baby into it anyway and pulling it out of the back row wouldn't be all that difficult. BeanBean and BooBah would remain where they are until a) BeanBean was no longer under the rear-facing hieght/weight limits for his seat or b) BellyBean needed to be moved to a convertible. At that point, I would put BeanBean, forward facing, in the back row of the minivan and BellyBean next to BooBah in a convertible.

Here's the problem: BellyBean, like BooBah, may be the sort of child who prefers to see people in the car, rather than just looking out the back window at traffic. If that is the case, BellyBean will need to be moved to the center row very quickly and BeanBean, forward facing, to the back. Doesn't sound like a major issue, right? But it is... because I will be the one putting the seats in the car, and I can't do that easily in my first few days/weeks post partum. In fact, I can't do it in the third trimester of pregnancy. I'm cutting things close as it is! You'd think that Mike would be able to put the seats in, but no even after three kids, he's not confident in his ability to put the infant seat base in the van. So this is all my job, and it's one that I don't mind but I'm really not sure how to handle it.

At this point, it's looking like I'll be turning BeanBean's seat around any day now, and putting it in the back row while the infant seat base goes into his current position.

[majazama]

Originally Posted by punkprincessmama

Jazz, I've been thinking about you a lot, how are you? How did the trip across country go? Are you and the girls still planning on moving?

Yes, I moved to a one room cabin in the woods. I have to chop my own wood and make my own fire. There is minimal electricity, no hot water, but there is a bigger cabin close by where my "landlady" lives. There is hot water there, and there is a woman with a 2 year old who lives in there now. I feel like a wild woman living there. It's very refreshing, but HARD. But I feel so much closer to my babies while there. Anyways, for now (december) we are "housesitting" xpartners house : as he is housesitting someone elses place. So we'll be back in the cabin for the coldest month of the year, january (yipee! ) Oh well, winter won't last forever, thanks to global warming!

We went on the trip to Montreal, and it was ok. It would have been more of a "vacation" if we weren't staying with the inlaws ...

It's haeven's birthday, and the third anniversary of myself becoming a mother today My BABY!!!! I read this amazing poem off of a thread dedicated to Jeannine parvati Baker (who just died on thursday)
She wrote it, it's so beautiful and makes me cry....:

The Unfolding Lap

I AM MOTHER whose entitlement unlocks the doorless room
The home of a mystery that flays the soul’s skin
Carving ego and rendering the oily mind into light.

I AM MOTHER who grows dreams in my belly
From my blood drinks the Tree of Life
Rooted in heaven until the birth quake
Splits me open in revelation and relief
And I awake from the nightmare of separation.

I AM MOTHER carrier of the secret told since the beginning
Hearth of the future, unfolding lap, volcanic breast
A daughter of uncertainty, the crone’s executrix
The ultimate harvester of hope.

I AM MOTHER so hear me! Listen with labyrinthine ears
To the purpose of sound, sense the movement of your cells,
And the pulsing message from your bones that resonate with this;
Serve the Breath-Maker and be the BirthKeeper the Earth needs now.
Your mother will be so proud.
© Jeannine Parvati Baker
11 March 2005
Joseph, Utah

[DecemberSun]

Happy, happy birth day Haeven Soleil!!!

I love this time of year when we have all the birthdays... Can you imagine when they're turning like 10???

[Trini girl]

well, i don't usually post here but my Ming is turning 3 on sunday! she's doing very well. fully toilet trained/learned for a few months now. knows the abc's and 123's. and she's just smart! but! she is not a baby anymore which she readily points out btw. i'm hoping to get her into a preschool when she turns 4, hopefully waldorf. if we get a scholarship or something. cuz i want to go back out to work. i'm preparing her already and she says she wants to go to school. so we'll see.