May "06 mamas, week of 9/23/07 - Page 3

[NYCVeg]

It's a BMW.

But a small one!

[**Mia**]

Originally Posted by NYCVeg

It's a BMW.

But a small one!

Ha, ha, ha! It's not an SUV is it?

Gretchen, thanks! I'm glad you like the little dinosaur guy, I've just finished a flower girl and am now making a little skunk boy, Seth is really into Peter Pan right now and wants a lost boy costume for Halloween, of course it changes hourly, but for now he keeps going back to that. on the new sewing machine. About a year after DH and I got married I got a pretty new Janome from a dealership around here, it'd been used in a 2 hour class they teach once a month showing kids how to sew and I got it at 40% off! I've still not used it, learning to sew is still a WIP.

Thanks mamas, I'm feeling better today, DH stayed home this morning so I could sleep in since he has a board meeting tonight.

Marylizah, I hope you get through the rest of the inlaws visit without very much more drama from the MIL. Come here and vent all you want about her!

Sydnee, have fun at the concert, my MIL saw them at a county fair in Iowa and said they put on one of the best shows she's ever seen.

bbl, I hear a fussy baby!

[NYCVeg]

Originally Posted by **Mia**

Ha, ha, ha! It's not an SUV is it?

Perish the thought! No, it's a 3-series, so the smallest of their 4-door cars. Did I mention it has a climate-controlled cup holder? :

[gnutter]

NYCVeg--does that mean it would keep frapaccino cold--I am sooo jealous my dad got a small mercedes-he takes super care of it and after riding in it I have to say its pretty nice. SO enjoy your fine piece of machinery.

ecoteat--my old one was a super cheapie from forever ago-my new one is OCMputuerized with automatic buttonholer and 50 special stitches-no amount of tuning up was going to make my old one do that. It still had the 4 step buttonholer and no lock stitch just the reverse. LOL! I didn't even mention to dh about a tune up-I just told him "its broken , I need a new one"

[ecoteat]

Originally Posted by gnutter

ecoteat--my old one was a super cheapie from forever ago-my new one is OCMputuerized with automatic buttonholer and 50 special stitches-no amount of tuning up was going to make my old one do that. It still had the 4 step buttonholer and no lock stitch just the reverse. LOL! I didn't even mention to dh about a tune up-I just told him "its broken , I need a new one"

That sounds just like the kind of upgrade I made. My old one was working ok, but it couldn't handle a lot of fabrics and was loud and clunky. I got a Kenmore (which are made by Janome) and I love all those fancy features and stitches!

Amanda, I am so jealous! DH announced the other day that we should replace our 1980 Volvo wagon with a Saab wagon. Hmm... I don't think that's practical. Our next car should be 4 wheel drive. We've gotten stuck in our own (1000 foot) driveway in the snow too many times. But we will not get an SUV, so that basically leaves Subarus, which really should be the official car of Maine since it seems like everyone has one.

Well, we did our little kayak jaunt this afternoon on a pond we've never been to. We usually head for the ocean. Living on a peninsula, there are dozens of nearby access points. But it was low tide, so we stayed inland, and I'm so glad we did. It was the most perfect, beautiful place. As soon as we got in the water we saw a painted turtle and a bald eagle. Phoebe loved it. Then we went to a little seafood takeout place for dinner and ice cream and ate at a picnic table while watching the sunset over the ocean.

Time to lay Phoebe down...Good night mamas!

[alaskaberry]

Originally Posted by mamacatsbaby

I started locking about three months ago and oh do I love it . How long have you had yours?

Three years and counting! I love mine but someday I want to try and dye them, the tips are all copper because I used to dye my dark dark brown hair red on a regular basis and the dye on the tips just never washed out!

If you have a livejournal, this community is *awesome* for tips: Get Up Dread Up -- esp check out the memories. happy dreading!!

Hmm, ok, I didn't even think of my tv that i watch...Orion watches the simpsons with us every night...

[**Mia**]

Originally Posted by ecoteat

Well, we did our little kayak jaunt this afternoon on a pond we've never been to. We usually head for the ocean. Living on a peninsula, there are dozens of nearby access points. But it was low tide, so we stayed inland, and I'm so glad we did. It was the most perfect, beautiful place. As soon as we got in the water we saw a painted turtle and a bald eagle. Phoebe loved it. Then we went to a little seafood takeout place for dinner and ice cream and ate at a picnic table while watching the sunset over the ocean.

Time to lay Phoebe down...Good night mamas!

Amy- that sounds so dreamy! I so wish I could go visit!

[mamacatsbaby]

Yes max, move to Atlanta! Ya'll have to! *cough, cough* one of us, one of us *cough, cough*.

Oh yeah, Marylizah there is no farking way I'd be able to put up with your MIL. So not dealing with that kind of crap : . Take my baby away from me? Oh man, you better be prepared to defend yourself : .

[mamacatsbaby]

Oh yeah, anybody subbed to this thread and not getting emails? I subbed this week and nada, hmph...

That's great alaskaberry, keep it going!

[gnutter]

ecoteat~~~sounds like a wonderful time on the water-I love the water. where our houseboat is there are all these great turtles-dh said one that he saw was really huge I missed it though. Ours aren't the painted turtles-I think these are some sort of slider. I will have to get out our identification guide at some point.

What words are your kids saying? Wyatt reaches out and says "ah ah" for stuff he wants. He sorta says kittky-its more like "ki KI". Of course mama is easliy understood since he says it 500 times a day. He says bye bye to go outside-but doesn't say a lot of words really. He sings a lot and makes sounds but not many discernable words KWIM? My oldest was speech delayed-I always assumed it was because I didn't encourage enough talking from him. I was young and inexperienced at that time. I guess I am paranoid now though.

[NYCVeg]

Originally Posted by gnutter

What words are your kids saying? Wyatt reaches out and says "ah ah" for stuff he wants. He sorta says kittky-its more like "ki KI". Of course mama is easliy understood since he says it 500 times a day. He says bye bye to go outside-but doesn't say a lot of words really. He sings a lot and makes sounds but not many discernable words KWIM? My oldest was speech delayed-I always assumed it was because I didn't encourage enough talking from him. I was young and inexperienced at that time. I guess I am paranoid now though.

Dd suddenly has a ton of words--they don't all sound like the "real" word, but she is definitely using a specific sound consistently to refer to the specific object. She says: mama, papa, dog, avocado, banana, more, bye, hi, squirrel, baby, melon, poof (rice puff), water, book, ball, that, bubbles
Maybe more...that's all I can think of. She signs for nurse, but doesn't say it. I love when they sit and play and just kind of narrate what they're doing (nonsense to me, but I'm sure she knows what she means!).

[ecoteat]

I think Phoebe is up to about 60+ words and a dozen or so signs now. Most of them can be figgured out if you pay attention to context. Duck, bug, and truck all sound kinda the same, but she's obviously not calling the truck a duck! Some of the more recent ones are "monay", which is tomato, but gets over-generalized to every roundish veggies growing in the garden. And she says cheese now, along with the Wallace and Gromit hand wiggle that we taught her because it is so cute. She says "shoes" and clucks like a chicken (to say she wants to feed them) when she wants to go outside. When dh has his laptop out in front of Phoebe, she says "Nana!" because she wants to video-chat with his mother, who we want Phoebe to call Nana.

BTW, what do your LOs call their grandparents? The ILs are Nana ans Papa, which Phoebe can say. My parents are Grandma and Grandpa (but we say Gramma and Grampa) and Phoebe doesn't say those yet. But then again, we don't talk to my parents as often as dh's.

[Peppamint]

Hey all! Trying to catch up. I couldn't access MDC when I tried last time, looks like you guys had a whole page of duplicate posts.

Amanda- I loved seeing you post that it's easier to nurse. Woohoo, not what you were saying a year ago.

To all those with the sickies, hugs! We're all well now but I have a pinched nerve in my neck so I have to call the chiro... it made me cry from the pain last night and I didn't even cry during the gallstones or giving birth (I'm talking real tears, not moans/groans ). But I was blubbering away last night.

Amy- my parents are Grammy and Papaw and dh's mom is Mamaw (though I recently discovered she prefers Grandma, kinda late now that oldest dd is going on 7 though ). I think dh's dad was Papaw to the other grandchildren but he passed away around the time dh and I met.

Well, I should get my butt off the 'puter!

[alaskaberry]

gnutter--Orion doesn't speak much "adult" but he talks all the time. Hot, hat, no, dat, dada, kih-k(kitty), daaag(dog)/woof-woof, those are a few. There is a constant stream of babble coming out of his mouth. Once or twice he has said a phrase, like "I'm wet" or "what IS that?" but I think those were flukes.

ecoteat--My parents are Nonni and Dziadek (pron. JAH-deck), neither of which he can say lol. Trust our side of the family to pick the weird ones...Plus my mom isn't even Italian!! She's 100% Polish but she hates the word for grandma in Polish. DP's parents just like plain Grandma & Grandpa. But to be fair he hardly ever sees any of them. The last time he saw DP's parents was last Christmas when he was one, Alaska is a pretty expensive trip!

[gnutter]

I am seriously bonding with my new sewing machine today. I made the cutest halloween treat bags for the kids-I made them all the same size not really considering the difference in the kids sizes. Wyatts bag could be his costume-He carried it around on his shoulder like a giant purse. Anyway it was just so cute I had to share-I'll try to get a picture because it really is just too freakin adorable.

[Mamabeakley]

Hi, everbody -

I couldn't get on MDC at all on Monday afternoon - I tried a bunch of times and missed you!

Originally Posted by gnutter

What words are your kids saying?

My LO is VERY communicative but has very few actual specific words - maybe 3 or 4 verbal, and several signs he made up himself . . . but most of the time he can let us know exactly what he's thinking/wanting. I do think he's pretty frustrated occasionally by not having the words to clarify something we're not getting, but it's not all the time. He certainly understands 99% of what we say.

Originally Posted by ecoteat

BTW, what do your LOs call their grandparents?

The oldest cousin (3 mo older than DS1) on my DH's side of the family made up names for everyone (DS1 never made up a word until he was much older and doing it on purpose to be silly. He waited until he could say the "correct" word.) DS1 took his cousin's word as law, apparently, so to those who live nearby, my MIL is "Doobee" and FIL is "Peepapa" My mom is "Grandma D___" and my dad is "Grandpa A___" and his wife is "Grandma R___" after a bit of hedging at the beginning b/c she is younger than he is and they are actually in the process of adopting a baby (I'm gonna have a sister!) and she wasn't sure she was ready to be called Grandma.

Originally Posted by alaskaberry

Hmm, ok, I didn't even think of my tv that i watch...Orion watches the simpsons with us every night...

Ugh. TV. I hate TV. But: DS1 is a very very intense little guy. We didn't do much TV, just occasionally things we wanted to watch (mostly PBS), until I got pg w/LO. Then, I was exhausted, and the only way I could get DS1 to let me sit still was to have PBS Kids on in the background. For hours. This was really not okay with me, so in the 2nd and 3rd trimester we cut way back to like 1/2 hour a day. But it's been gradually creeping up again . . . mostly because again, TV (really, tapes and DVDs - occasionally PBS Kids if somebody is ill - it's easier for us to turn it off if it's over at the end of a tape/DVD instead of when the TV is hyping the next show) is the only way DS1 will let me nurse the LO to sleep, or go to sleep himself for a nap unless we are driving somewhere.

And I don't know. I can clearly see the addictive aspect of it (although I'm not and never have been - visual media just don't appeal to me - give me a book anytime!) And I want to help my kids have a healthy relationship with screen time. But there are times when I need it as a tool - or, okay, maybe I do have some addictive relationship to it - as a tool. Bah. This is a topic that just makes me feel bad. :

BBL.

[wfuteach]

Originally Posted by gnutter

What words are your kids saying? Wyatt reaches out and says "ah ah" for stuff he wants. He sorta says kittky-its more like "ki KI". Of course mama is easliy understood since he says it 500 times a day. He says bye bye to go outside-but doesn't say a lot of words really. He sings a lot and makes sounds but not many discernable words KWIM? My oldest was speech delayed-I always assumed it was because I didn't encourage enough talking from him. I was young and inexperienced at that time. I guess I am paranoid now though.

Erica is pretty verbal, I think, although not as verbal as Samantha was...she was my chatterbox from the day she popped out! I think she probably has..hmmm...50 words? Here's a quick list DH and I just did, for our own information...

mama dada sam fork book teeth spoon elmo dora mouth shoe sock nose ear eyes ernie baby juice milk cup up down couch please "thank you" "scuse me" "this way" seat outside inside puppies cat dog push bye and then animal sounds, too.

So, yeah, probably about 50, because I am sure there are some I am forgetting.

I think that there is SUCH a wide range of what is appropriate at this age, though. I wouldn't worry just yet!

[TxMominCT]

Hi everyone! I wasn't getting e-mails either, so I haven't been on! I am again absolutely stressed to the max! I can't get anything done because I'm so stressed, DH is stressing me out with his (lack of or inadequate) housework/shopping/childcare this year I'm supposed to go to school and he's supposed to be taking care of that, but I'm just taking care of everything. He of course sees it the other way. That then makes me feel guilty that he can't get his goals accomplished. It's a vicious circle. Clara is going through a super huge mama only phase. It breaks my heart when I have to go to work, clinicals, or school. I feel like my family needs me but they are 2000+ miles away, I still haven't gotten a chance to really grieve for my grandmother and great grandmother. I am behind in school. We have the token two horrible teachers that are extra annoying since I'm worried about everything else! (one of them made a very negative bf comment (very UN-like the rest of my nursing school who are very pro bf) and I know I can't approach her about it, and I was just super frustrated!) I feel like I'm not doing enough with my teaching at church, and on the other hand I'm spending too much time on church stuff. I also haven't had time for spiritual things/personal time or husband time! So sorry to whine, I just am not dealing well with anything right now and it's not really like me! I am wishing that I didn't want to be a nurse, I should have just been a bachelor's prepared waitress for the rest of my life!

I just had a time for a couple of personals, but I am thinking of and thankful for you all!

Syndee- (right?) I LOVE shedaisy! I want to see them so badly!

NYC VEG- I am so happy that nursing is finally an "easier" alternative too!

oh yeah, Clara is super verbal too, why is it that all our kids know Dora and Elmo? It's really funny when she starts to say words that are recognizeable (sp?) to us she is all excited like Mama you finally learned how to say (new word)! I think I've told y'all that before but it's halarious! She is the one learning how to say it not us!

[Marylizah]

Ugh. Yucky day. The ILs are staying here for the rest of the week and it just brings back so many bad memories and horrible, awful feelings.

I'm really struggling. I don't want to hate them, but when I think back to those six months they were here my anger is so intense I don't know how to get over it. I feel like they stole Geo's babyhood from me. Everything they do drives me absolutely crazy, even if they aren't really "doing" anything. Every word out of MIL's mouth makes me tense up, even if it's totally benign.

This is so unhealthy.

Does anyone have any tips for me on coping? Not so much with them, but with the anger and, ok, I admit it, hatred I feel? I am not a hating kinda gal, I wish I could find peace with myself over everything that went down last year. Any words of wisdom, mamas? :

On to the other topics--

Words: Geo is extremely, extremely verbal. I'm guessing he has between 75-100 words/signs. He babbles constantly and imitates everything we say. He also seems to understand all three languages equally, which blows my mind! Kids are amazing.

Grandparents-- Geo calls the ILs "tayta" (gma) and zhiddo (gpa), which is lebanese. My mom is Anna (don't ask me, she decided she wasn't really a grammie or gramma) and my dad is Granddad.

Cars-- NYC, congrats on the nice ride! Beats the Crapmobile, right?? I fantasize about what kind of car we'll get when we get to the states, I lurve me some Volvos.

This afternoon after some bad stuff went down I took myself out of the house and did something I almost never do-- went shopping! ALONE! I needed a new fall coat and some jeans, and I found some cute stuff. Then I went to a toy store that I just love and bought Geo what will probably end up being his Christmas gift when he's like five-- it's a beautiful handmade wooden boat with cloth sails that is seaworthy. It's gorgeous. I've been lusting after it for months. (It's a toy boat, not an actual boat, just to clarify!!). AND I got it 20% off! :

It was so nice to have the time to myself and to think about other things than my perpetual IL gripes.

Hope everyone is well.

[ecoteat]

Oh, Mary, this

Originally Posted by Marylizah

I feel like they stole Geo's babyhood from me.

just breaks my heart. I'm so sorry you feel like that. I wish there was something I could say to help fix it, but all I can offer is hugs. I'm glad you got away and found some time for yourself. How feasible is it to distance yourselves more? When you move to the states will that mean you won't see them as much? Or are they the type to just hop on a plane to visit, whether you are in France or the US?

Today when I went to pick up Phoebe at the babysitter's (the old one, not the new one. The new one starts tomorrow.), she was asleep in the car. So we adults went in the house for a few minutes to chat (we always leave babies asleep in cars and strollers outside around here--our houses and yards are very secluded and private and safe). The sitter mentioned that when they got home from running errands, Phoebe looked uncomfortable in her very upright seat, so she unbuckled it to shift it back a little. When we went out to check on her, the seat was on its side and Phoebe was hysterical. Apparently she woke up and wiggled around and knocked it over. She must have been terrified--she wasn't hurt at all since she was cradled in the seat. I can't remember the last time I've seen her so upset.

I'm getting sleepy, but I know that as soon as I get comfy and asleep, Phoebe will probably wake me up. It's always a ramble!