Aug '05 Mamas - Bring on the May Flowers!

[chasmyn]

I've been fairly quiet last month, but this month I am starting the new thread! Woohoo!

Kiernen had a tough day today when he was with DH. This morning while I was trying for some extra Zzzzs, he burned his finger - and got a huge blister - on our electric tea kettle.

Then this evening, also supervised by DH, he fell at the bottom of some cement steps and went headfirst into the edge of the step with his full weight. He has a HUGE bump on his forehead.

Thank the Universe for breastmilk and arnica!:

[Surfer Rosa]

Emily-your kids are adorable! Look at those smiles! I can't believe how big Sarah is--it probably doesn't feel like 5 months have whizzed by for you, but it feels like you were just telling us about her birth the other day...

Kate-congrats on NO dipes! Wow! We are in the every early stages of PLing (lots of reading on the potty, some naked time) and I can't wait for that day!

More later but I need to go work in the garden!

[Momsteader]

Hey girls I'm just subbing to see how all your August 05 toddlers are growing! I got to play with surro-daughter a few weeks ago when she and her parents here were for the 'big US' for these babies. It was so much fun! She has grown SO much. She's not a 'baby' any more...sniff sniff. She's also working on PL'ing. Her mama is hoping to have it done and not have three under two in diapers when the twins arrive!

Do any of you have any sage advice to her about 'sibling rivalry'? She's concerned about how Ms. C is going to accept two new little interlopers in her world!

[tikva18]

subbing

[hopefulfaith]

Originally Posted by fridgeart

Emily-your kids are adorable! Look at those smiles! I can't believe how big Sarah is--it probably doesn't feel like 5 months have whizzed by for you, but it feels like you were just telling us about her birth the other day...

Thanks! It doesn't feel like 5 months...it just feels like she's always been here, though - isn't that weird? Next week it will be 6 months - aagh! I put a bunch of photos on Yahoo last night - I have over 1000 on now, just since Adam was born... -- and it is so strange looking at photos from before Sarah was here --- I actually don't remember having all time or lap space or only one child around all that well. Weird! I keep meaning to write her birth story for her baby book - I haven't even done that yet, bad mama...

And - hi! Holly!! It's so nice to "see" you! Sage advice about sibling rivalry? Not sure I have any.... It feels like all I'm doing these days is reminding Adam that "Sarah gets to play with toys, too" and "You don't take Sarah's toys. Give her xyz back, please, and find your own xyz, please." ..... and so on and so forth. Although after she was born, I referred to her as "our baby" when I talked about her to Adam -- and today, when we were getting ready to leave a friend's house, he pointed to Sarah (who was on my friend's lap) and told me "Ah bee" - clearly telling me not to forget Our Baby. He was very self-righteous when I did, in fact, go and collect her after he told me so.

((Hugs)) for Kiernan and his poor fingers and head, too - ouch. :

Love to all.

[Mama Coltrane]

Hi everyone!!!!
Just wanted to sub in and say hello

[tikva18]

Well, I'm actually taking the babies to the dr tomorrow for a well baby check up. They are slightly overdue for their 15 and 18 month check ups.:
I'm curious to see how big they are.

Tehila has almost all of her teeth and I'm not getting too close to Gedalya's mouth - a little bit too dangerous.

We're still nursing strong - day and night. I guess the only big news is Gedalya has started drinking out of a cup with a lid - before both babies emphatically refused to have anything to do with a cup. Tehila is still refusing.

They also have started shaking their heads for no and maybe even saying an approximation of no. Gedalya also likes to say "my ball" which sounds like a southerner speaking 'mah bahll'. Whatever GEdalya says, Tehila is pretty quick to imitate as well. They both definitely call each other by their names.


On another note:

What do you do to ease your stress? I'm dealing with a major crisis right now and really need to de-stress. What's worse is that there is no endin sight or solution to our problem.

[chasmyn]

Originally Posted by tikva18

They also have started shaking their heads for no and maybe even saying an approximation of no. Gedalya also likes to say "my ball" which sounds like a southerner speaking 'mah bahll'. Whatever GEdalya says, Tehila is pretty quick to imitate as well. They both definitely call each other by their names.


On another note:

What do you do to ease your stress? I'm dealing with a major crisis right now and really need to de-stress. What's worse is that there is no endin sight or solution to our problem.

I love your daughters' names!

Stress: It depends on the stress. I believe strongly that good can be found in every situation - even when I cannot see it immediately. Sometimes I just sit down and make lists of what could be good about _x_ .

I also make gratitude lists every night - three things I am grateful for and three things that brought me joy that day. It always makes me feel better.

Also happy music, a long shower, and MASSAGES. Yum!

[K's Mom!]

Hello Mamas!

I don't really have anything new to add, just wanted to pop in and say Hi. I hope you all are doing okay and enjoying the spring weather. We are ready for this warm weather. Yay!

[tikva18]

Actually Gedalya is a boy's name .
I'll have to try and make a list and see if I can find the good in this situation.

[quelindo]

Originally Posted by tikva18

What do you do to ease your stress? I'm dealing with a major crisis right now and really need to de-stress. What's worse is that there is no endin sight or solution to our problem.

I go to bed when Henry does. Or sit in a coffee shop and read/people watch (I've been doing this every day while Henry sleeps in the stroller, and I can't tell you how luxurious it feels). Or ask DH to watch Henry so I can sleep in another hour or two.

Funny how my suggestions revolve around sleep and coffee...

I hope things get better and remember that we're always here for you.

[ktmama]

tikva - I'm sorry you're going through a stressful time. My dh has difficulty handling stress and it can "bleed" over into the family energy. At these times, when I begin to feel stressed, I try to detach as much as possible while still staying compassionate and keep reminding myself how much of the situation I can really control. Then, I decide what, if anything, I can change and try to change it. The rest I let go of and express my feelings (sadness, frustration, anger) in an appropriate way.

I'm also lucky to have lots of outdoor outlets such as gardening, biking, walking as well as working out at the Y (with free childcare) so I feel I can "get away" if I need to.

I will keep you in my thoughts.

Chasmyn, how's Kiernan doing? Hope he's on the mend!

[Surfer Rosa]

What do you do to ease your stress?

Recently I've taken up working out-and I find a good run or a good workout makes me feel so much better. It is a definite "high" and I've found I deal with thing smuch better. I also find gardening and cleaning therapeutic?!
I also find that I cope with things better if I'm taking good care of myself--good food and decent sleep make for a happy mama--but it is really easy to forget about this when you're busy taking care of so many!!! Writing things down definitely helps too. GL-and hope you're doing okay!

[wsgrl84]

Popping in to say hi and subbing!! Happy May everyone! Justin is now 1 month and Christopher's still his cute whining self

Lack of sleep is getting to me, mamas. The 2 kids sleeps fine by themselves but when you add them together at night, it's horrible. One wakes up the other and Christopher takes awhile to get back to sleep AND no matter how late/early C sleeps, he wakes up at EXACTLY 7!! I'm so not a morning person...

The Office is such a ridiculously funny show, I love it! Watching/Reading something funny destresses me along with music, American Idol, 24, books, showers, and of course COFFEE! Speaking of coffee..I need one now...:yawn

Hang in there tikva, I agree with chasmyn, there's another a solution to every problem.

ktmama...wanna come over and help me potty train C? He looks at me like I'm growing a third eye when I put him on the potty...

Hope Kiernan is doing ok Chasmyn. I know how an injury can scare a mom, C fell down the front porch, even though he knows how to walk down stairs! I think he was daydreaming...:

Emily, Tell me how you get energy to last through the day and night with 2?! How is your kids' sleeping at night? Do you cosleep or share a family bed? We have a King family bed here and it's starting to not work out for us...but I don't have any other ideas.

MOTHER"S DAY is coming up this month!!!! I invited my neighbor friend and family over for dinner with us along with the parents for a little dinner...looking forward to that...

I need more things to look forward to.....my days and nights are sooooooooooooo long!:

[heldt123]

I'm feeling sad right now. Both boys are sick, and JJ hasn't nursed all day, and barely at all yesterday. He has asked for milk, but won't nurse, I think because of the stuffy nose. Is this it? I'm worried that I'll lose my milk....

I'll post more later. Getting ready for a yard sale tomorrow. That makes me feel sad too. I'm selling my maternity clothes, most of the baby stuff, etc... It just feels soooo wrong when I want more kids. *sigh*

De-stressing: hot baths, exercise, massages, stroller walks, deep breathing, and for me--Garage sale'n. :

[hopefulfaith]

Originally Posted by wsgrl84

Emily, Tell me how you get energy to last through the day and night with 2?! How is your kids' sleeping at night? Do you cosleep or share a family bed? We have a King family bed here and it's starting to not work out for us...but I don't have any other ideas.

Oh, hugs to you, Nonny. I think of you daily, and remember how it was when Sarah was a month old. You're not out of the woods yet, but I PROMISE it will get better. I started getting "good" when Sarah was about 3-3.5 months old. Not that my experience is the end-all, be-all of parenting two kids, but I really began to get it together around then. Adam was beginning to get a little more used to her and realizing that she wasn't going anywhere and he started to calm down a little. I began to realize that I was doing the best I could, that I was going to be just fine....
--And energy? Simply - like everyone else here, I do the best I can. Some days are great - my house is tidy, the kids are happy, and we eat beautiful, nutritious food and do stimulating, wonderful kid activities. Other days...well, let's just say Adam likes organic mac & cheese and is allowed to open any kitchen cupboard he wants while mama has another cup of coffee. On those days, I throw in a teaspoon of regular grounds with my decaf and pre-emptively apologize to Sarah for any issues I may cause by drinking a little caffeine. She just smiles at me and I know I am forgiven.
--And sleep? Better. Adam slept with us in the family bed until he was 10-11months, and from then, I started putting him to sleep in his own bed; he would come in with us at his first nightwaking. Now, he usually comes in at his second. The first, I'll do with him in his room - the second, I say to h@ll with it and bring him in... Sarah has an Arms Reach cosleeper next to the bed, and she starts off the night in there. I bring her in with me on her first nightwaking, and she nurses all night after that (4-5 times, typically). So I am not sleeping all that great, but here's my secret lately --- I make Sarah take a nap (as best I can) when Adam does --- and we all sleep together for 2 hours during the day, in mama's bed. I had tried for a few months to have "me" time during the day during A's naptime, and I was just too tired. So I am back to sleeping when they sleep during the day, and that is helping. Survival mode.
---Nonny, I know it's cliche, but take it one day at a time. You are going to have awesome days, and you are going to have days where you ask yourself why on God's green earth you spaced your kids this close and how on earth you are ever going to survive AND raise productive, happy, attached children at the same time. But I promise it gets better. Do you wear Justin? Put him in the Maya/Ergo/Moby/whatever you use and do your thing with Christopher. My Ergo and Moby are life-saving around here. And find things to do that you can look forward to on a daily basis!! Even if it's just a coffee from the Starbucks drive-thru, make sure there's something awesome for *you* every day. I promise promise promise it gets easier. Adam is beginning to try to play with Sarah, and he dances around the room laughing now because he knows it makes her laugh. When she laughs, he laughs harder and tries even harder to make her laugh again. I am so happy I get teary during these moments - I do not think there is anything better in my life than hearing my two children laughing together, with one another. You are going to experience this, too - in not so very long - so hang in there, and take good care of yourself, and don't get hung up on the silly things, and remember that it is going to get easier!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And big to you, too, Rivka -- I hope that there is an end in sight or a solution to your situation soon, despite how it looks at the moment. I hope you can find some time to yourself during the day (I think I'm busy, and then I remember you have five....) to do whatever you can to de-stress a little.

And big to you, Jamie. I'm sorry it's hard clearing out the maternity/baby stuff.

And easing stress? Hmmmm... Napping. Reading. MDC. Phoning friends to wash dishes/do laundry together over the phone. Outside time has been great lately - we've been out daily, and I feel better than I have in months!
Can I just say again how glad I am it is spring?

Love to all.

[K's Mom!]

OMG mamas! I am losing my mind today. I just don't know why I bother to clean my house at all. Today I was cleaning the upstairs and I went down stairs to put laundry in the washer and found that C had dumped out the cat food all over, played in the litter box and strewn about clumps of cat poo and written on the front of the dryer with a permanent marker. : AHHHH!!! WHen did He do that and where the heck did he get the permanent marker?! Oh, how I wish that I could wink my eye and my house would self clean. Seriously, if I didn't enjoy having a clean home, I just would stop doing it all. I needed a break from the madness and jumped on MDC. Hooray for the internet and MDC!

Okay, deep breaths for me and off to fold laundry.

[wsgrl84]

Originally Posted by K's Mom!

OMG mamas! I am losing my mind today. I just don't know why I bother to clean my house at all. Today I was cleaning the upstairs and I went down stairs to put laundry in the washer and found that C had dumped out the cat food all over, played in the litter box and strewn about clumps of cat poo and written on the front of the dryer with a permanent marker. : AHHHH!!! WHen did He do that and where the heck did he get the permanent marker?! Oh, how I wish that I could wink my eye and my house would self clean. Seriously, if I didn't enjoy having a clean home, I just would stop doing it all. I needed a break from the madness and jumped on MDC. Hooray for the internet and MDC!

Okay, deep breaths for me and off to fold laundry.

OOOHH wow...I can so relate to you!! C is being a very adventurous and curious toddler himself. He recently wrote on the carpet with crayons and wrote on the sofa with PEN! This has made me go out and get him that magic markers that only write on special paper. He has definitely stopped listening to me during the day and starts going through everything!

[Surfer Rosa]

K's mom, Nonny, et al: I feel your pain. E started saying "Evvie do it" to everything (hair brushing, doing up her carseat, you name it) today. And you know what? Evvie can't do it, lol...I think we're into the so-called terrible 2's...gulp.

On the plus side, E has used the potty 1-2 times a day since Saturday, and I think it's starting to click!!! She's even staying dry during naked time (except when the doorbell went tonight and startled her!).

[indiemamma]

Hi! I'm subbing for the first time... I hang out with the Lactivists and the FAM boards and needed some buddies in this time of toddlers! I'm in school full time and expecting #2 in September. I sorta feel like my life is being planned for me... hmmm. Oh well, it isn't a boring ride!! Nice to meet you all!