August 05 - Happy 2006!!! - Page 7

[mtnsunshinemama]

Hi there mamas!

Originally Posted by hopefulfaith

Ordered new CD online & the order was sent incorrectly - she sent me two, size zero Kissaluvs. They fit into the palm of my hand and are SO freaking cute. It almost (shudder) makes me think about having another one. DH is ready....but then, he's not the one who gets up at night with ds, so of course *he's* ready! Me, not so much... But the dipes were so cute.

Em

Speaking of, anyone thinking about having another??? (August still fits into the largest setting in his size zero Kissaluvs!) He is our first and DH and I aren't getting any younger. We're thinking of one more -sooner rather than later, but yikes..the idea is a bit overwhelming. I'd like to be back in shape first, which I'm a long way from, the weight isn't falling off with breastfeeding like I'd heard. ugh. We did get ourselves an elliptical runner for our New Year's resolution and I've started with sit-ups..no big results yet! We thought we might try again in May or June if all's well. For those of you who have more than 1, or are planning more -what do you think about spacing?

so sorry about your sick bug, mamarbh and your scary fall - kitty. Best wishes for speedy recovery to you both. in your shoes, mamarbh, i'd probably call the ped and ask what to do besides antibiotics?

Little August loves his naked time after baths and his half-naked time when we change him- we usually let him air out awhile and play, it's his fave!
He does seem to be doing more nighttime (early am) nursing...

Here are some recent pics of the little guy I'm so in love with;
http://www.soulshinefamily.smugmug.com/gallery/1094821

That Olive is just adorable HH! Great pics!
and I always enjoy your blog Caren- Clara is such a cutie!
I don't post much but lurk a lot and appreciate that you all are here!

best,
tracy

[heldt123]

Kitt- How scary, hope you are doing better! s
btw: What is the sign for nursing/breastfeeding? Do you know? I just used the genaric sign for "eat" with Nathan, but I'd like to have a separate one. I've started to just use one I made up - fist patted to mouth - because I didn't know the real sign.

Tracy - Another?

It all depends on when you ask me. Today I'd say never any more! I really like the 3 year spacing, but that is for my own selfish reasons of not wanting to tend two babies/toddlers at the same time. We'll have another, but not sure when yet as I'm going to be homeschoolong, and I'm not sure how well that would go with a baby in the house. : Yeah, I know I'm a whimp!

Your little guy is so cute! He's getting so big! What is that seat? It looks so neat-I want one!

[chasmyn]

Originally Posted by heldt123

Kitt- How scary, hope you are doing better! s
btw: What is the sign for nursing/breastfeeding? Do you know? I just used the genaric sign for "eat" with Nathan, but I'd like to have a separate one. I've started to just use one I made up - fist patted to mouth - because I didn't know the real sign.

Most people I've read ust do the sign for milk - opening and closing the fists like you're milking a cow That's what we use.

[Aeriane]

yep that's the sign..

milkin' the cow..see my stepdaughter WAS right..I am a fat cow ROTFLMFBO!!

About sick babes, I put Nathanael with a warm mist vaporizer. He has to have it all the time to breathe. He's not exactly sick per se' just has horribly narrow passages and is constantly trying hard to breathe and the steam helps.

Nathanael started really vocalizing today. He has been doing "ah goo" once in a great while but today it was ah gooo and then a raspberry and other load vocalizations. It was so precious! He also did some belly laughing while being tickled! I LOVE it! Seems like today was either nurse or tickle...he just couldn't seem to get satisfied.

Haaaave a good one! School's back tomorrow. Kitty

[mtnsunshinemama]

Originally Posted by chasmyn

Most people I've read ust do the sign for milk - opening and closing the fists like you're milking a cow That's what we use.

yes, that's what i've seen too. sometimes adding the sign for mama before milk.

jamie, thanks! Your boys are a handsome lot too!
The seat in the pics is the Bumbo he got for Christmas, and which was discussed on this thread last month. He digs it for short periods of time 10-20 minutes which is just about right to do some cooking or whatever ... we took it to a restaurant with our friends the other night and he loooved sitting on the table in the middle of the conversations!

the vaporizer is a good call- kitty, we used it when august had his nasty cough and i think it helped!

[nabigus]

Whew! I just did a reading marathon, catching up on everyone's news. Jeez, you disappear for a week and the posts start piling up.

Yikes to the two falls! It's been so icy here lately, I'm thinking about getting a pair of yak traks. And hope all those colds and sniffles get better. I just started doing some research on whether to get a cold mist or hot mist vaporizer. (Opinions, anyone? Problem with hot is mold and danger of burns; problem with cold is that you have to used distilled water or risk vaporizing minerals into the air.)

I've been off the boards for about a week, dealing with family drama and with getting back to school. In a nutshell: we interviewed and just hired a sitter for 10 hours a week, which is an enormous relief. Dh and I were just falling further and further behind in our work, and we found someone we both just liked enormously right off the bat. She starts on Wednesday, and while I'm not so happy about being away from ds for an additional 10 hours, I think it will lower my stress level significantly since I won't be in danger (I hope) of being kicked out of my academic program. The family drama: well, suffice it to say that one of my siblings has made a monumental (and controversial) decision, and I'm not sure how well the family is going to weather the dissent. Worst-case scenario, this is the beginning of the end of my family as I know it. (Not to be deliberately cryptic, but it's a sensitive topic and not my story to tell.) My heart has been so heavy this week--I just feel dazed and out of it and want to self-medicate with chocolate.

It's just amazing to hear what August babies are doing. Ds had been reluctant to roll over until Friday, and since then he won't stop flipping over, even in his sleep. His fine motor control is just amazing--he turns things over, checks them out, shakes them, passes them from hand to hand, etc. He's also continues to be crazy crazy social--he'd rather flirt than eat. Downside, like many, to all this development is some serious marathan night nursing. No teeth yet. In fact, I wonder if we mistook an ear infection for teething, since he seems to be "teething" a lot less now that he's recovering from a nasty cold.

Back to the books. Classes start back up tomorrow, which means I have to get and shower rather than lounge around until ds wakes up. Gurg.

cheers to all,
Nancy

[heldt123]

Soooo....milking the cow, eh? Moooooo! Duh! How come I never thought of that one?

Nancy - sorry about your family thing. s s I hope things will get better.

I second the vaporizer. I just had one in Nathan's room the last couple nights as we both had a mild cold (although it would probably done more good in our room as he usually ends up there anyway.). Funny, Johnathan hasn't really shown any signs of getting it, but it wasn't a really bad strain in the first place. Must be all that cod liver oil we've been guzzling this year!

[wackynaturelady]

New here

Hi! I was hoping it is not too late to join here.
I have a 13 yo son, a 3 1/2 year old daughter and a beautiful baby boy, Jason, born 08/09/05.

He is amazingly happy and peaceful! We call him 'the old wise one'.

He has been rolling around quite regularly and rigorously for a month or so now. He sat on his own on Christmas morning for the first time, but is not steady about it. He laughs and smiles nearly all the time.

He showed many signs of readiness for solids, so we tried him on them for a few weeks. Big mistake! We were horrified to have to both comfort him while he screamed his head off, (a rare occurance), trying to push out his hard, adult-like poopies, (?TMI?). We stopped him immediately and will keep him off for the time being.

He sleeps amazingly! If he is laying next to me, he will sleep on and on, just stirring long enough to nurse. I think the powers that be are making it up to me cuz my other dc never slept!! (in fact, we still miss sleep due to dd!)

Anyway, I know it is late in the game, but I would like to be here and chit-chat with all of you.

[MamaRBH]

Welcome, Sandy!! Glad you found the thread....you will benefit greatly from
the chatting here!

Nancy....the family issues...I'm so sorry your heart is heavy. I've been known to try to lighten my heart with chocolate, as well. I hope your sister's decision creates less tension amidst your family than you think. Here's to peace...

We've had the cool mist humidifier in our room (ds co-sleeps) for the past two nights. His chest seems to be less full....though still quite messy. He slept better last night. I think health may be closer than I thought.

I have a question for those of you co-sleeping...
Are you worried about all of this rolling over leading to falls and/or suffocation? I have been insanely worried about it. I need to get over it. I worry when I switch his to my right breast that he'll roll off the edge of the bed....and I worry while he's at the left breast that he'll roll over and sleep with his face in the bed. Is this when many co-sleepers end up in their cribs? My worries may be made worse by the death of DH's brother to SIDS...it was 20 years ago, but his mother told me the story while I was prego with my first and I just can't get the images out of my mind. Andrew's middle name is that of DH's brother - Paul. Anyway, I've worried about this with each of my babes...but more-so with Andrew.

[quelindo]

Originally Posted by CarenSwan

I'm close to finishing Unconditional Parenting by Alfie Kohn and it is FACINATING! I've worked with kids for years (put myself through college by nannying, and I worked at a preschool after college) and the book is really making me rethink a lot of things that I've taken for granted in terms of discipline--for example, time-outs. I've never heard of someone being against time-outs before but Kohn's point is that it plays on the child's worst fears of abandonment by her care-givers. Wow! Anyway, I'd love to chat with anyone who's read it because it's blowing my mind.

I read this a few months ago (back when Henry was at the stage of taking naps on me while I sat in the glider) and it completely blew my mind too! I had been a nanny and a stepmom for ten years, and thought I knew it all. It totally changed all my ideas of how to raise kids. I have to re-read it again, though, as I can feel myself slipping. I guess he's got a DVD of a lecture on UP and I'd like to get that for DH to watch. It has changed how we talk to Henry -- no more "good boy!" or "he was so good!" Now I thank Henry for being patient, or say, "Wow, you worked so hard and then you rolled over!" It sounds silly, but I figure if I get in the practice of doing it now, it will feel natural when Henry can really understand. I'd love to talk to you more about it, but there's also an UP tribe on MDC, too.

Aeriane, how scary! I hope you feel better soon.

We've been using a warm mist humidifier in our room (we co-sleep) for months now, after Henry woke up one morning coughing. It seems to help all of us breathe better. I like the warm mist kind better because the cool mist seems to make me chilled, and I'd heard that the hot water actually kills mold, and it's the cool mist that runs the risk of mold.

About co-sleeping...we have a bed rail on my side of the bed, so I'm not worried about Henry rolling out. (Although we're planning on putting our mattress on the floor soon, as he's starting to crawl!) I never really worried about him putting his face in the mattress. He pretty much sleeps curled up on his side facing me no matter which side of me he's on. I don't know, I feel safer having him WITH me, because I can check in an instant if he's breathing and comfortable and warm enough. We are planning on adding a twin to the side of our queen, though, because the three of us are kind of scrunched up right now. A baby takes up more space than I would have thought!

[ktmama]

Hi all! Gosh, so much to read and catch up on. I, too, would love the study guide to the Continuum Concept.

I'm so sorry to hear about the falls. I remember once my mom fell down the stairs in front of me with a babe in arms. Frightening!

Lots going on here still. Annabelle is sitting up completely on her own and can sit independently for three or four minutes. Then she launches herself onto her head forward - I believe this is the transitional posture to go from sitting to crawling. She is so happy to be sitting and we now have her at the table with us for meals in her own seat. Downside is she's really getting frustrated on her tummy, which she has always liked.

We do steam every day and night here all winter long. It is so dry in CO and this winter is so windy too. I also turn the upstairs humidifier on during AB's naps. Today both girls have runny noses so we are back to ebm drops in both their noses. I can't tell you how miraculous it is at clearing up congestion and runny nose.

[wsgrl84]

Hi everyone!

Hi everyone!! I haven't posted a lot in this forum but I have been trying to read along, but it's so hard to catch up! You guys seem like a big family and all know each other already, i hope it's not too late to join in the chat!

[Mama Coltrane]

Both boys are asleep, so here I go....
Sorry about the falls ladies--- how scary. I am convinced I will fall down the stairs in our old farmhouse, but haven't yet. Take care of yourselves.
We use a warm humidifier every night too. I heard the cool also harbor mold, but I suppose you can wash it out every day or something and that would work just fine too.
Ummm- what else were you all talking about? I have already forgotten!!

I am having a bit of the Winter blues. It is hard with two babies, not being able to get outside because it is so damn cold. If it is over 20 degrees I'll do it, but otherwise we are inside. I don't have the patience with the kids inside all day though. I'm doing OK and Dh is great with giving me breaks and all, but Jan and Feb are difficult ones for me.

Emmett is almost sitting up. He will stay up for a few seconds and then topples over. He is also verbalizing alot- so cute. I really love him to pieces.
My 2 1/2 yo is sweet. loves his baby bro. he is talking up a storm of late and saying funny things.
" Me the boss, applesauce" was the latest. Funny guy.

I guess that is it. We have visitors coming form Cali in Feb and we are going to NC in March, so I am excited about that.
Take care everyone. Boy/s are up!!!

- Kerri

[wsgrl84]

Hi wackynaturelady! New member here too...

Your baby Jason sounds like my baby Christopher...how he is happy and peaceful! My baby started flipping too a couple of weeks ago but whenever I have him in more than one layer of cloth, he can't seem to have the strength to! I think he is just too chubby to lift his upper body!

He just started saying ma ma and ba ba and it's tooooo cute! Too bad he doesn't know that mama refers to me!! =)

take care!

-Nonny

[chasmyn]

Originally Posted by MamaRBH

I have a question for those of you co-sleeping...
Are you worried about all of this rolling over leading to falls and/or suffocation? I have been insanely worried about it. I need to get over it. I worry when I switch his to my right breast that he'll roll off the edge of the bed....and I worry while he's at the left breast that he'll roll over and sleep with his face in the bed. Is this when many co-sleepers end up in their cribs?

I don't worry about it, but then we do it a little differently, I think. Because DH and I have different mattress needs, we have different mattresses. He sleeps on a regular queen mattress and I sleep on a full size futon. We have them puched together to make one giant bed (they're the same height). Kiernen sleeps on the futon with me, but when we had Quinn, he slept on the queen mattress with DH (again, pushed together). With Quinn, the mattresses were on the floor, as well. So when he did crawl and walk, if he ever fell off the mattress, it was all of a few inches. I suspect we'll do the same once Kiernen crawls, too.

Everyone has their own blankets - Kier's are sized for him - so no worries about accidentally being covered with a big comforter or something. And because I sleep close enough for Kier to reach me and he wakes so frequently (well, more stirs than wakes - he likes to nurse both when he's hungry and when his diaper is wet). I don't ever switch him to my other side, though - I have *ahem* very large breasts and can use either one to feed him on the same side of me. So he is always in the middle. I generally sleep on my back, too, and I never roll in my sleep (I sleep with a pillow under my knees), so no worries there.

I agree that it is in fact safer to have him next to me, not to mention easier.

Now, if all three of us had to be on that queen mattress, I suspect DH would make a separate bed on the floor. There just isn't enough space.

[MamaRBH]

I'm in the process of training my right boob to do all of the feeding at night....so he'll stay between us... and I put a sleep sack on him and DH and I have different blankets, so that's never an issue. I think I have a fear of SIDS thanks to my MIL sharing the deepest of details with me about losing DH's brother. For example - if I'm downstairs and hear DS crying after a nap....on my way up the stairs I have these horrible images in my head of him having buried his head in the bed because I wasn't moving fast enough... My mother suggested moving him to a crib to get away from the images and fears..... but he doesn't have a bedroom... DD2 has a sleep disorder, so I can move the girls into a room together. And besides - I really love nursing him all night and waking up to his beautiful little face.

[heldt123]

Originally Posted by MamaRBH

I have a question for those of you co-sleeping...
Are you worried about all of this rolling over leading to falls and/or suffocation? I have been insanely worried about it. I need to get over it. I worry when I switch his to my right breast that he'll roll off the edge of the bed....and I worry while he's at the left breast that he'll roll over and sleep with his face in the bed. Is this when many co-sleepers end up in their cribs? My worries may be made worse by the death of DH's brother to SIDS...it was 20 years ago, but his mother told me the story while I was prego with my first and I just can't get the images out of my mind. Andrew's middle name is that of DH's brother - Paul. Anyway, I've worried about this with each of my babes...but more-so with Andrew.

Yeah, I am really scared about that, and that is part of the reason we don't co-sleep full time. Our bed isn't that big, so I worry that he will fall off on the one side (I usually have him on his side with my arm around him). And if he is in the middle, I'm afraid of my 3-1/2 yo kicking or rolling on top of him. Nathan is a very restless sleeper and bumps him all the time. I usally don't fall asleep when he's in bed with us because I'm worried about him getting hurt.

Sometimes I will take him on the couch with me and let him sleep on my chest, or I will just lay a blanket down on the floor and sleep with him there. I'm also still afraid of laying him down on his back. The last two times I actually got him to sleep on his back--a rare occurance indeed--he spit up and started choking really badly, so I've been scared to lay him on his back.


Hi & Welcome Sandy!

[skana]

Hi there. Like Sandy and Nonny, I'm new here, too, although I've been lurking and posting occasionally to a few other threads. I'm a bit overwhelmed by the sheer volume of posts to the August babies thread, but also inspired and reassured by the topics you guys discuss. It is so wonderful to connect with other moms whose babies are the same age. Anyhow, my name is Skana and I live in Nova Scotia, Canada. With hubby Dave I have two wonderful kids -- Griffin turned 8 in November and Tova was born Aug. 24/05. Glad may not be the right word, but I don't feel so alone after hearing from the other moms whose August babies are only napping for 40-minute stretches once or twice a day. Tova is generally very easygoing and a good nighttime sleeper, but in the past six weeks she has become so alert that she just won't seem to let herself nap, even though she is crazy tired. It's very cold here this time of year, but I still try to get her outside for walks in the buggy, because at least then she gets a bit of a cat nap. The car works sometimes, too. But it's definitely challenging because I would love to use that time to get a few things done around the house. Also, in the past two weeks or so, the baby who previously only woke (sometimes I had to wake her) once to nurse in an 11 to 12-hour night has now begun waking two or three times with what appears to be teething pains. She has been drooling like mad and chewing on anything that crosses her path and I feel so badly for her in the night, because she seems so distressed. My son didn't get any teeth until he was about seven months old, and didn't have any real problems getting them, so this is a new learning experience for us. The night-waking seems to leave her overtired, so instead of her easygoing self she's been kind of cranky in the day. But still refusing to nap. I laughingly told some friends that the new behaviour seemed to start when I gave up my daily dose of chocolate on Jan. 1. LOL. It's interesting to read about the various sleeping arrangements, too. Tova is in a co-sleeper and sometimes in bed with us, but she seems to sleep best with a bit of her own space. My son was with us much more and wasn't as restless until he got bigger. My philosophy is to do whatever works so that everyone gets the best sleep possible. Even with my eight-year-old we still occasionally play musical beds. Like some of the other babes, Tova has started rolling from front to back and is quite pleased with herself, although she generally doesn't care to be on her tummy much at all. She's not really sitting, except with lots of help, but loves to stand (refuses to sit, really) when she's on your lap. She nurses frequently in the daytime, probably about every hour, and I've been a bit concerned about her greenish, oozy poops lately, although it seems like they may be the "drool stools" Dr. Sears associates with teething. My, they keep us guessing at this age, don't they? Anyhow, I'm blathering on. Just glad to have found this August tribe. I'll keep reading and hopefully find time to post now and then.

Cheers,
Skana

[chasmyn]

I just wanted to say welcome to Sandy, Nonny and Skana! Just jump in, chime in anytime, the more the merrier! :

[mtnsunshinemama]

Yes, just echoing a welcome to the new mamas- Sandy, Nonny and Skana!
Happy to have you aboard! The mamas here are awesome!