LA Moms December 2002!

[mary ann]

Soon 2003 will be upon us! crazy!!!!

[Pom]

Just logging in.... :-)

Congrats, Emma! What a relief!!! Good bidding vibes, Rube!!!

[lunarmomma]

hello hello.
grumbling that it will be dark in 25 minutes. bah.

[mary ann]

LM i second your grumble! i hate these short days. if i had it my way, it would get dark around 10 pm!!

[piranhabb]

Joining in...

[MerikaR]

Hi,
Have been super busy chasing ds lately! Will be lurking to find out December's outing....
Cheers!
Merika

[moongloe]

hey girls~

2boo...congrats on finding a place! yeah your dh will have quite the commute!

milk....welcome to the thread! we'll give you all the moving help we can. and i have to be the first to say that i'm now craving a milkshake ( i know the rest of you are too). i assume the babe hasn't been born yet? when is the due date?

ma...i'm sorry you are so miserable with your job, and dh's job.

lunar...we cross posted it seems. bummer about cp not being available on weekends.

pom...thanks again for switching days this week!

rube...have the sickies left your place yet?

piran...got hectic here and i forgot about stitch and bitch!!! the next one is the 17th i believe.

so i started on one of ds' gifts last night. i decided to crochet him a harry potter scarf....i found out something. i am not good at crocheting(sp).

gathering... the 14th is out for me, we have a holiday party. and i think i'm out the 21st as well, cuz we might be going to knotts. are sundays any good for us? did this saturday get the boot? i'm all kinda confused. did i hear that westside pavillion is getting a kid's play space?

~peace sisters....mg :love

[mary ann]

sundays are OK with me... just not this one. this saturday would be OK--speak up ladies!!!

MG maybe someday i will show you the scarf i tried to knit! don't know why i saved it..it is quite the monstrosity!! :eek well, i guess you just can't be super-talented at ALL things.... ;)

[lunarmomma]

I don't know if anyone cares but in case you do there is a cool exhibit at the Bodhi Tree community room through tomorrow only. It is called Heart Shrine Relic tour and has a shrine set up of Buddhist Relics... It is quite amazing... has relics ( bones hair, pebbles... from lamas, buddhas and bodhisattvahs..
I can't explain it very well but it is a blessing to be in the presence of. I went today after yoga and will go by tomorrow again so DH can see it and Ds too (for a minute and a half)... It isn't that child friendly unless you are carrying them 'cause there are a zillion candles burning and people meditating and others coming in and out. It goes until 5 pm. Then it moves on...
All the relics will get placed into a giant Buddha which they are going to put up somewhere in India. Meantime this is touring around to give normal folks a chance to see things that are normally kept way out of reach unless you are a high lama or something.
Here's the website about it...
www.maitreyaproject.org click on relic tour

ps can't do a thing saturday... way too much going on..
oh yeah, for any who are interested, the waldorf winter faire is Saturday,
Westside Waldorf Winter Faire
Saturday, December 7
1-5 pm
Festival of Lights
5:30-7 pm

We invite you to celebrate the winter season with friends and family. We will have music, storytelling, a puppet show, candle dipping, candle rolling, wooden candle holder decorating, necklace beading, coin wallet and felt ornament sewing, holiday shopping, and a magical store just for children to choose a special holiday gift. Admission to the faire is free. Tickets are sold for food, crafts and puppet shows.___
At 5 pm, the faire ends and at 5:30 pm the Festival of Lights begins. Sponsored by the school‚s Diversity Committee, this is a multi-cultural event where school parents, teachers and students share winter candle-lighting ceremonies and stories from their own traditions. This event is for children kindergarten age and above, as it begins in complete darkness and younger children could be frightened. (Admission to the Festival of Lights is $1 per person)
Westside Waldorf School, 1229 4th Street (at Wilshire), Santa Monica___
310/576ˆ0788___ <http://www.wswaldorf.org/>www.wswaldorf.org

[piranhabb]

MG- I can't crochet for the life of me... IMO, knitting is SO much easier.

LM- Not to be controversial, but when I was investigating Waldorf possibilities for Cameron's future, I found a lot of negative stuff out there. What's your take on it? (I want to be a well informed mommie.)

[Pom]

Can't this Saturday. Sundays are fine for us.

LM - THanks for the tip...I'm gonna see if I can escape to see the relics today. But it's doubtful.

My manager was laid off yesterday, and I am glum. I'm going to have my 4th manager in less than a year. :(

(wow, I sound fun today, yes??? ;)

[lunarmomma]

I want to learn to knit! I learned once before but I think I was bored... crocheting might be more fun... I don't remember now..

pom. go and see the relics it'll put everything into perspective and you will be blessed by just seeing them.

piran.. yeah there is some stuff about waldorf, at least the one out here that is a bit bothersome...not so much in philosophy but in terms of organization, finances, and things like that. Not to mention the tuition.
I really like the community of parents whose kids go there and feel that they are my "tribe" as it were. I don't know if we will send ds there, but I love the way the celebrations of the earth are honored and the art and craft and the way imagination is nurtured etc... i have heard other negative things about Steiner himself and some philosophical issues with anthroposophy at it's root, but I'm not sure how it carries out at the level of the school.. I would like to hear what you know about it... or what you have heard...

[piranhabb]

LM- The things I've heard about Waldorf are mostly negative experiences regarding anthrosophy and its cult-like quality- other things like some schools having an issue with left-handedness and parents who choose to vaccinate (I'm left-handed and selectively vax.) Then there's the question of Steiner being racist and anti-semitic. One website feels that the schools can be deceptive- not what they appear to be- that occultism plays a large part in the schools' mission rather than the gentle, earth-loving, artistic place it makes itself to be and that there's a Waldorf "lifestyle." And lots of conformity in the classrooms- do what I do rather than expressing individuality.

I really like what Waldorf presents itself to be, though not being allowed to teach my willing child to read until his teeth come in seems strange. Or the lack of black crayons.

I do admit that I know very little about Waldorf on the positive side, and my views on reading their websites were clouded by having reviewed the anti-Steiner slant on waldorfcritics.com first.

Enlighten me! I want something else for my son than the testocratic society that public school is today.

[rubelin]

Well, I finally found you! I request that whoever starts a new thread, please leave a link to it on the old one so that we can find it easily and whoever is subscribed to the old one will get a notification and we won't lose anybody :)

Sickies are still here, but much better. We both have coughs and some runnies that I hope will pass soon!

Sunday works for us, either this one or the 15th, but we're gone after the 20th.

I don't know much about Waldorf but my mom's cousin's kids go to the Northridge school and they LOVE it (well, one graduated a couple of years ago). I can say that they were involved with a rather cultish religion for a long time so they might have leanings towards a similar thing, but from what they've mentioned, I never got that impression about it. From what I do know, I tend to lean more toward a Montessori teaching philosophy but we will probably be homeschooling for the first several years at the least, and so have lots of time to find a school that's a good fit if the time ever comes that we desire one.

Gotta run, toybox is being dumped :eek TTYL!!

[Pom]

No black crayons???

Piran - I think you can teach them to read if they want, but it won't be encouraged at the school? I've heard different things about different schools. The kids I know who are involved are still at pre-school level but I've only heard good things from their parents == and none are cult/like, and the 2 main ones vax...one is in Chicago and the other in Rhode Island.

I don't think I'll make the relics. It's 2 pm and I'm not even dressed. And dd is not feeling well so I think I will stay here for snuggles. Damn.

I want to knit too!!!!! Maybe we could all do that together? I can't make that knit circle though, MG....I saw a crochet granny square kit the other day and was sooo tempted to buy it.

Should we start our own class? knit or crochet? Dont' care which...

MA/ Baes - sorry the work transition is icky.

[2boobs]

and have really loved it there. The big problem I see with is lack of funding as fees are means tested and a lot of families don't tend to be suer-wealthy. I guess this is good though for them to have to make do a bit with the world becoming more and more materialistic and all. I think having to wait to read until you are seven may not be right for some kids though. I know of a few of the kids who aren't taking to it well then and not reading well til 9 or ten. Maybe its a question of actually having my own 6,7 or 8 year old to be able to know what I'm talking about though. My dd knows quite a lot of letters already and loves books, but I suppose making the leap to realising how letters work is quite a big one.

My dh is putting dd to bed for the first time ever while I'm in the house and it seems to be working! It's quiet at least. It wasn't planned but I put her to bed already then went out for an hour to shop then came back and she was up. After trying twice to put her to bed and having to give up cos she was talking and messing about too much (we all sleep together and I was getting afraid that she would wake ds) I just felt like I'd had enough for this evening. So I asked dh to try. And I feel awful (how pathetic is that?)

[moongloe]

hey girlies~

rube...poor sister! i hope the sickies go away! seriously, if you need me to drop off food or a movie, let me know.

pom...i hope dd is feeling better. we should start our own knitting/crochet group, good idea girlfriend! btw...i've decided on a mural.

piran...i've read tons of negative stuff about waldorf, and steiner. i am not sure where i stand yet, but still adore the idea of waldorf ed. i homeschool ds, mostly unschooling, but with alot of waldorf thrown in. i do however, let him read and write (which he's getting really good at, she said braggingly). i'm leaving him left handed, and he can have any color crayon he likes. i'm trying to get rid of alot of his plastic crummy toys, and limiting his electronics to strictly educational ones. and we are tv addicts...so i'm a mess of contradictions it seems. i'd love to sit and chat with you about waldorf. i think you can send ds to a waldorf school, and not hold to all their ideas.

lunar...really!?!?!?! this saturday? omg i want to go! we went to two in minnesota and LOVED them. ds made tons of cool crafts at them, and one had the most delicious vegetarian bbq sandwich. i have a thing later in the day, but i'm gonna try to go to the festival with ds. oh, and at one of the mn festivals, we got to watch a young girl play the most beautiful songs on the violin...still makes me get the chills. thanks for the heads-up!!!

2boo...not pathetic at all, he's a parent too. you all sleep in the same room or bed? my ds is 4.5yo now and there just isn't room for three of us in a queen bed. he sleeps in a small bed that we pull up to ours each night, and once a week he sleeps with us. that was last night and i'm still tired from his squirming alllllll night.

ma...not talented at all things?!!? how ever can i be your friend now?

lisan... thought you might want to know www.thedaisychain.com

so today i sewed a blanket for dh (he is a blanket freak). it is olive green polar fleece, with a 2inch satin trim all the way around! it is so far from perfect (rube i cannot let you see it for fear you'll "tsk" me), but i think he'll love it. i am still struggling to get through the first stripe on ds' scarf, and it is a wreck. i might go buy knitting needles and a how-to book, and try that...my hook keeps snagging, and i can't get it easily through. i suck.

~PEACE, mg :love

edited to add....hey lunar, the link you gave doesn't show any recent events. it has info through this past summer only. is there another place to look? thanks. peace.

[rubelin]

MG, Thanx so much for the offer. I'm managing food, actually made it to the grocery store monday eve and Costco on Tesday when my sister was over. We'd rented movies on Sunday night so have been watching Toy Story and 101 Dalmatians ad nauseum all week =) The blanket sounds great!! Talk about sad, I just ordered a stuffed doll from Pottery Barn Kids because I don't have the time to make one!

I don't think I noticed the mention of left-handers and Waldorf, now I don't like them at all!! Do not get this leftie started about the evils of changing natural handedness or all the evil attributed to the left hand. I am having enough trouble coming to terms with the possibility that my sweet child might not be sinister :eek I am such a leftist! :rotflmao

OK, I'm off to do something lazy and alone!!! I'm very touched out after this week and need some introverted recharging. Hope everyone has a lovely night!!

Robin~

[piranhabb]

Rube- lol.... I was convinced Cameron was going to be a leftie when he started grabbing things- all sinister. However, he is now most decidedly a rightie. Oh well- he's the first first child born in my family in five generations to be right handed.

[mary ann]

waldorf.... i have a friend who is going to a waldorf teaching school, seems like a good thing. however dh is against it, as he thinks steiner was a nut case, and also thinks waldorf is "religious" and dh is a die-hard atheist. i do not want to send dd to a regular public school... we will be fighting this battle in a few years, i know!! i don't have much to contribute to this conversation (in the way of knowledge, i mean) but i am very interested in it...

MG, you and your imperfect crafting... not sure if i could deign to hang out with you..... :p tee hee

rube i hope you guys are over the crappies soon! i gotta pop by this weekend at some point and return your bag! i feel guilty for keeping it this long! it has been sitting right by the front door, waiting to come home to you....

PH--so many lefties!!! :eek my fav older sis was a natural leftie but my mom made her be a rightie... she is still bitter!!

:OT i know, but i am desperately seeking advice... i posted on the EBF board and am asking everyone i know... HOW HOW HOW can i stop lactating??? i want so badly to quit pumping--i am over it! i am finally ready. the problem is, whenver i try to scale back, i get a plugged duct. my body just will NOT stop making milk, and will not make less! lately (per the pump station's advice) i am only barely pumping enough to relieve the pressure, and remaining semi-engorged all the time, also wearing a sports bra day and night... this has made me lumpy and super crabby and i am afraid on the verge of mastitis again (taking colloidal silver in hopes of avoiding that). also i am drinking sage tincture in water every few hours (just started that yesterday).. also putting cabbage leaves in my bra (started that yesterday too). has anyone heard of things that make you stop lactating? LM, any homeopathic advice? i will try ANYTHING!! i have a pretty big lump in my right breast now, but am afraid to overpump and stimulate even more milk (this is the vicious cycle i get trapped in over and over). i took some herbs my chinese dr. gave me awhile back, but didn't help at all!!! :help

[rubelin]

MA, It sounds like you need to pump more than just enough to relieve the pressure or you will get plugged. You probably just have to go slower, space out your pumping sessions a little farther apart each day, pump a little bit less each day, then start dropping one session every couple of days and spread the rest out even farther. The cabbage will help, to, but right now you have to do something about the lumps so that you don't get an infection, dangle boobs in hot water and massage the lump towards nip. Oh, and make sure you are staying away from any galactagogues (however you spell that, foods that make milk) like oatmeal, fenugreek, etc. I take it she's not nursing at all anymore??

Dan's home sick, and Ben & I are going shopping with my mom in a bit, so I must get going. Happy Friday everyone!

[Pom]

And Orange Juice, too, MA.

I wouldn't expect much help from the EBF board, as I think their goals are the opposite of what you're looking for, no?

Guys, MG is full of hooey. Her blanket is lovely!

I wanna go to the faire tomorrow too -- but have plans until 1ish and then later. Waaah! Why do these things happen on the one day I am busy????

Steiner was anti-semetic? I am very confused. I thought Waldorf was all goodness and light. Really.

[piranhabb]

Pom- Of course I have to take everything I read with a grain of salt, and I have no idea if these quotes are out of context, but from what he's saying, how can you put it into a postitive context? "You see, when we really study science and history, we must conclude that if people become increasingly strong, they will also become increasingly stupid. If the blonds and blue-eyed people die out, the human race will become increasingly dense if men do not arrive at a form of intelligence that is independent of blondness. Blond hair actually bestows intelligence. ... It is indeed true that the more the fair individuals die out the more will the instinctive wisdom of humans vanish."
[Rudolf Steiner, founder of Waldorf Schools. Health and Illness: Volume I, p86. (1922) Spring Valley: Anthroposophic Press, 1981] and
My Education Towards Racism (http://www.waldorfcritics.com/active/articles/EducationRacism.html) and First Hand Racism at Waldorf School (http://www.waldorfcritics.com/active/articles/WomanSeesRacism.html)

I've read Waldorf Critics (http://www.waldorfcritics.com) extensively, and one of their big problems is that the schools are based on anthrosophy, and occultist religion (from their POV) and that schools that receive public money are illegally funded (separation of church and state.) There are quite a few public schools that are "Waldorf" inspired. Another issue is that the anthrosophic underpinnings of the Waldorf philosophy isn't well represented in their literature, presentations, and recruiting efforts. (Caveat emptor!)

Anyhow- I want to believe that Waldorf is goodness and light, and that I can find a school (Waldorf/Montessori/whatever) that can inspire my child and not have him be a test score. I am a public school teacher, and I know what's happening to our children (especially minority and English Language learners) and how education and learning is suffering due to assessment and accountability.

[Pom]

Wow. Thanks, Piran --- it's not very flattering is it? I forgot you were a teacher -- what grade? -- While I did not attend Montessori or any of those, I think my grade school was pretty alternative at the time -- mixed classes of different ages...and I really have great memories of it all. I loved school. I really hope dd will too, and want to explore all the options -- charters, coops, public, etc.

I've heard so much depends on Montessori and Waldorf schools from place to place. Not sure how the original biases of Steiner might play out now...it brings up an interesting dilemma of how to accept/judge/work with the current states of countries, people, products that have cloudy pasts...I have no answers. There are many artists making their careers out of these sorts of dilemmas. But it is quite a thing, isn't it? e.g., I know many who won't buy Mercedes...and many who do....

Have y'all heard anything about UES? http://www.ues.gseis.ucla.edu/ I've heard some good stuff about it being progressive, although in a more mainstream sort of way.

[piranhabb]

I teach computers/technology to grades k-5 (though more 3-5.) Before that I taught 5th grade. We're pretty inner city- 95% Hispanic/4% Black/1% other. 85% English language learners. Not your ideal testing population, though we generally do well on standardized testing. Not because the kids have a well rounded education founded on strong education principles, but because they are taught the test.

I went to a Montessori school in jr. high, and loved it, though I didn't do much more than ride horses, read novels, and shovel poop. I wasn't motivated at that time of my life to do much more.

Today I went back and read the Waldorf Assn's website, and anthroposophy isn't mentioned at all, nor much in the way of how they teach their curriculum (World history and science are mentioned, but not that they use their own textbooks that say that geologic time is divided into four parts- the latter two are Atlantis and Post-Atlantis and that reason came to being with Ancient Greece.) I dunno...

The first quote originated in 1922, but was published in the 1980s by the Waldorf group.

I want to be proven wrong- because having an arts based elementary education where my son can play, act, bake, model with clay, paint, dance, make handicrafts and generally be a kid seems so wonderful. I don't want my kindergardener to sit in his seat coloring in dittos and cutting out shapes to glue back on another ditto.

[lunarmomma]

Oh man, i've not been notified aLL day of posts. Dh must have trashed the cookies or something. i was unregistered. bugger.
ma yes, homeopathic lac caninum... yes, milk of dog will help to dry up milk...I'd go with a lower potency 5c or something and do it 2-3 times a day.
piran.. what I know of Steiner and of Waldorf aren't always the same... I have heard of all those nasty things about Steiner, but I haven't experienced that with the school itself. Mind you it's only been parent toddler=pre nursery age. But I have a friend in England who was homeschooled in the Steiner method (what they call waldorf over there,=same thing). Her parents and others in nearby areas each taught what their gifts were... and they went from place to place. It was done in community. They lived out in the countryside. Anyway, her books that she made, drew, wrote notes in etc... were osme of the most incredible creative things I'd ever set eyes on...
And these folks are no more a cult, racist anti-semetic anything than you or I...
She went on to go to Art college and is one of the most amazing artists I know. I saw how they were nurtured, their sensitivity and creativity and individual gifts were nourished...
I think that with regard to the Steiner "dogma" and the waldorf institution... there may be some leaway, not sure. There will always be rigid adherants to what was taught.. but then there are the revolutionaries that take it with a grain or two or three hundred , take what they like from it and integrate it with their own philosophy. I really have not experienced anything strange or weird over there, nor have i heard any teachings that made me think WTF?? (except, maybe, the tuition:D )
We don't have ds watch tv, we have very few plastic toys.. mostly all groovy, waldorf inspired wooden ones and I personally don't like black crayons. I think with that they probably feel it lowers the vibration or the energetic body of a young child before they are ready for it. In the beginning they like to have only very light esoteric colors around a baby... rosy pink, pale blue... light aquamarine.... No earth tones yet, oranges browns dark colors... they pull the body in too quickly and they are still so connected to the spirit world... Or so many plastic toys with the bright red blue yellow primary colors... They just feel there is a time and a stage for everything...
Listen to me, now I sound like a cult member!!! No seriously, some of the esoteric stuff regarding stages of being make sense to me... and I did go with only light colors when ds was born... white clothes with pale blue or light green.... Now his favorite color is orange and I can't keep it away from him. but he is not a newborn anymore and is more embodied...
I have heard the yucky things about Steiner.. and I don't like that... but it doesn't jive with my experience of it so what do I do with it??? ya know???
Like Freud had some good concepts, and founded psychoanalysis but he didn't honor women was obsessed with the Oedipal concept (among other things), and was also a coke addict... So do we throw everything away, or keep the good and dump the bad??
I dunno... Waldorf comes closest to how I would like my son to be honored as a creative spiritual indivdual. I have heard about Montessori, but am put off by their "tasks" and their "one right way" to accomplish them. That doesn't jive for me.
Ooh, I have talked too much. making up for the missed day...

[Pom]

Hey piran - there's another thread on the boards that someone started wanting to know the GOOD things about Waldorf. Not a lot of posts yet, but it's interesting...

LM - I keep thinking about what you've said about color -- and about how I dress dd. It's funny, part of me agrees with you a lot and I notice there are certain things in her closet that I am just hesitant to put on her -- most of them dark. And I have been surprisingly resistant to her having black shoes (surprising to me, who is Miss Black) - although she has a pair cuz dh brought them home. But vibrant colors - bright pink, red...I feel suit her well...although some days they don't seem "right"...it is very esoteric, isn't it? I actually don't like little kids in black , but we've recently gotten some...

as far as using the color and similar for art work, I am torn...I agree you CAN get sucked in, weighed down, etc. by color, but some of the most light-filled pieces I have ever seen are with black and white (think Rembrant etchings)...as an artist I am resistant to limiting colors, but I DID learn to paint with a limited palette, without black, and with only 5 or 6 colors...it's a great way to learn...but I have trouble getting over my art school snobbery that so much of the art I've seen at Waldorf schools is kinda "hippie" art, all that flowy cosmic blue/pink/yellow swirly stuff...that just - honestly - bugs the hoo hah out of me. The thought of having to put that stuff all over my house, or on my walls...!!!! :o

I'm just rambling, here I know. Anyway.

Today I drove to the Valley for the first time (Burbank) and ended up in Calabasas. DOH!! My friend has the most lovely HUGE apartment for not too much rent. But I could barely read the roadsigns because of smog! DH really loves it over there, though...sigh....I love my ocean breezes and cool ams and pms...

DD has a junky cough. WHo knew kids can produce so much phlegm??? It's AMAZING the quantities!!!

[moongloe]

hey girls~

dad sent me a webcam for yule and we cannot get it to work. he and i have been trying over phone and internet all night. i'm bummed.

pom...hope dd is better. poor ds is miserable.

rube...i have tupperware to return...need my vacuum soon please. missing ya!

ma...ouch the poor boobies! wish i had something more helpful to add.

piran...i believe steiner created the school in germany during hitler's reign. don't know where i'm going with that one, but i recall reading it last year.

colors...i love black! it was ds' first favorite color, now he is onto red. he has a bunch of black clothes. lots of dark ones too. i'm not going to discriminate! it's all good...yin/yang etc.

i'm for waldorf education in general. take what you like, leave what you don't. kwim? a friend back in mn is a w.teacher, and i was involved in a waldorf-homeschool group. i'm sure there are some nut-job teachers and bad schools. nothing is perfect. as for religiousness...i think it is more a spirituality. but i'm not sure myself. see? i'm of no help.

sickies....ds has been running with a bad crowd and is sick again. so we missed the faire. i hope it was splendid!

what else? there was more, but i'm beat. hope everyone has a good night!
~peace, mg :love

[Lisanaaron]

Sorry I haven't been around, been busy with the new place. Haven't studied for my exam in such a long time. I feel so unmotivated:(

Wow, all of this talk about school is very interesting. I would like ds to have a bilingual primary education or some sort of spanish immersion program. there are not too many public schools that offer this. what do you all think about public school in general? I didn't have my primary and secondary school in the States so I know nothing and zero experience.

Piranh, Pom and I discussed the different options of early childhood education earlier and I mentioned to her about Manhattan Beach Nursery School. It's an awesome place for attachment parents and it's non structured, non academic, all about developing the child's emotions and creativity. Most coops have similar philosophies but this one is extra ordinary. There is another good one in Silver Lake called Rose Scharlin but it's too far for us west siders. I'm not into a nursery schools where I'd be just dropping my kid and no nothing else, I'd like to be involved. You might want to check it out. They have a long waiting list.

I don't know much about waldorf but I'm put off by just the tuition alone. I heard Playmountain in Culver City is good, but it's $9000 for a school year, WTF?

MG, I tried crocheting when I was pg. It's a lot of fun but my skill is limited to the very very basic strokes. I managed to make a big square but that's about it. Never tried knitting but I heard it's more difficult as you have to use both hands.

MG, thanks for the daisy chain link.

Sunday the 14th is good for us.

[Pom]

I've heard Waldorf can be very generous with tuition assistance for those who need it. While I'd love everything to be free, 9K is really not so much -- regular ol' day care costs that at minimum - Congrats on thenew place -- when did you move in again?

MG - If Danger Boy keeps hanging out with Miss Stickyfingers, Lord knows what he'll pick up, LOL! SHe's seeming much better today, btw. Still a bit out of it, but far far less snotty and cough-y.

Babe up from too short nap!

[Lisanaaron]

oh, cool, didn't know they have such thing as tuition assistance so early in education. $9K for 10 months equal $900 a month, my goodness that's more than our rent right now. Regular ol' daycare costs that much, that's just highway robbery and isn't fair for those who really need daycare? how can people afford that kind of money these days along with our fixed bills??????

Pom, thanks for the congrats. our last day here is the 20th. we haven't done much in terms of packing, still doing work at the new place. it's such a stressful time yet it's exciting!

my ds is sooooo oral. I've seen other babies just happily play with their toys and don't bother too much with dried bird poop or little pebbles at the park. mine basically loves to clean the floor. he's also very sneaky when he has things in his mouth. he crawls away from me very fast and keeps his mouth shut tight. anyone experienced this? when does it stop? my ds loves dog food too.

[moongloe]

hey girls~

really childish moment coming.....dh is off at an audition for a golf commercial right now. i am angry because that was my profession, not his...i don't go out and play stupid golf, he should keep away from all forms of acting. yes i'm being petty and have no grounds for being so pissed, but i don't care. feel free to comment only if you agree with me.

pom...glad dd is feeling better. ds is in the middle of it, (his glands are the size of grapes) and i've now caught it too.

lisan...not all kids go through that. ds wasn't one for sticking things in his mouth. there really isn't a timeline for this type of thing, because all children are different. just keep an eye on him.

hope everyone has a nice peaceful day.
~peace, mg :love

[mary ann]

MG--a pestilence upon him!!! how dare he--the wretch!!! :p tee hee! of COURSE we agree with you--we're women and bound to the code of sisterhood! :)

lisa--sneaky little ds!!! he's a smart one!!

$900 a month does not seem so very crazy to me, i mean, childcare does cost that much or more... of course ideally it would be nice to pay less... i wouldn't get your hopes up too much of tuition assistance.. in my experience that is reserved for people with very low incomes.

LM and rube--thanks for the boob advice! ;) LM i will go get some of that hair of the dog today! hee hee
actually it is going better... rube i took your advice and that is helping. milk production is definitely slowing...
oh, LM, let's see if we can really test your alternative medicine knowledge.... what form of fatty acids (omega 3, flax whatever) can i mix into dd's formula? an oil will not mix in well. i was thinking of buying dried flax and grinding it up into a powder to add in? but would that be hard to digest? this is more of a question for the future, as she will be on b-milk for another month or so... but i am beginning to mix in a tiny bit of formula into each bottle, to transition her slowly...

waldorf colors... hmmmm..... i am such a fan of primary colors, and dd seems most attracted to them too, especially red... she doesn't even seem to see pastels.

[piranhabb]

Do any of you differ with your DH/SO on discipline? My husband thinks we should spank, and I don't. It's causing a great deal of problems. He won't even read Sears' Discipline Book or check out the website. This started a big argument which ended up with him storming off and not talking to me for four hours- so far. I don't think he's done ignoring me yet.

How do you handle such differences?

[2boobs]

This sounds like a tough one. I know that some people find the whole idea of reading books about how to parent off putting, and if you are already arguing about it then its probably going to be hard to get your oint of view across well. You could suggest he talk to other people about what their view is. Maybe some sort of tv program may bring him round. My sister saw a discussion about extended breastfeeding yesterday on tv and ended up telling me what I had been trying to explain to her for months!
The main thing you need to get across is that hitting your child is just like hitting anyone else. e.g. your wife, drinking partner, an attacker. It's one way of dealing with a situation but certainly not the best.
I would question the whole authority of the parent thing anyway, which Dr Sears seems to believe so strongly in. I think it is quite simple really. If you give your child the love and attention they deserve (this means lots of redirection and repetition of simple explanations) then there should be no need to punish at all. My eldest is 2 and 3/4 and this works for her. She behaves as well as she can for her age because she is happy with herself and knows she is valued and loved.
Spanking is a quick fix - a way of venting the parents frustration/anger and of stopping and frightening/hurting the child. It may work on some bright children who are able to generalise, but most won't be able put the "crime" and punishment together in their heads until they are quite old. This means they will feel unloved and violated and will continue to misbehave because they don't actually know how to behavve yet (In the same way that a baby doesn't know how to talk/walk etc.)
I'm hoping by the time mine are older we will all be able to communicate our needs to each other in a non-violent way.
Using spanking on an older child is to my mind giving them a very strong message about the way to get your own way in the world.

Handling my own anger can be hard at times. I feel quite pushed to my limits sometimes. I do know however I am getting angry with them for not being able to act like a sensible adult which of course they are not. Children develop into sensible adults naturally. Yes of course they need guidance, but they are sentient intelligent little beings who deserve to be treated with the same respect you would treat your own spouse.
I hope this is not just telling you what you already know, maybe I have put a few things in a slightly different way which may be helpfull.

I'm pretty sure there are classes happening in LA on how to parent more progressively/gently. Maybe your dh would consider going to them with you.
I still feel resentment towards my father for hitting me. He did it because he thought it was the right way to bring up kids. I remember goading him into hitting me just to see if he would when I was 12 or 13. How is that in the positive interests of the child? I feel it has only harmed our relationship.
Perhaps you could print this or something similar out and leave on the toilet wall for him to read.

this is something I feel strongly about not least because it has caused me to have issues with my own kids due to the cycle of abuse continuing, please continue to plug your own point of view,

love Emma

[Pom]

((Piran)) -

Oh dear, is right. How stressful that must be for you! Dh and I are in agreement on the no spanking...in fact, he is adamantly opposed to it, so we don't speak of it much.

I would imagine, though, that you need to get some sort of commitment from him that despite his disaggreement, he'll follow your lead here? Maybe if you change the issue to one of needing to trust him, not wanting to worry if he's alone with ds, of how that would hurt YOU?

Have you had differences of opinion on other things? How did you find resolution there?

I have run into some walls though, trying to get him to read things. I end up just pestering him, or making him look something up "for" me if my hands are full...or read him just a sentence at a time, or talk about another family's dealings.

I wish I had some good advice for you, but I'm afraid all I can offer is support.

[Pom]

I forgot to ask, MG -- how did DH's audition go? Was it for print or tv? I am not sure what to wish for him on this, for fear of running into trouble, LOL!!

You know, at one point I had the opportunity to get into film production, and dh pretty much asked me not to -- for exactly these types of reasons. I think if it had been a heart's desire of mine, he would've gone along with it, but there was a bit too much danger of direct competition, ya know? I have written a bit, though, and he was nothing but supportive.

The one thing my acting couple friends find solace in, is at least they are rarely after the same part, LOL. I mean, would YOU want to go to an audition as a male golfer, LOL??

[mary ann]

PH, who is your pediatrician? have you ever seen Dr. FLeiss? because all over the walls of his office are "no spanking zone" signs. maybe your opinion is not good enough--maybe he would trust a medical professional?

[lunarmomma]

Hi girls,
piran, as you know we usually learn from what was done to us, and either intentional DON"T repeat it, or else we do. Maybe for your dh the issues go a bit deeper in that in order to aknowledge his own experience, he must make his own parents, or whomever WRONG and that may be difficult.
There has to be a reason why he is clinging to needing it to be OK. Even more than the violent part of spanking, is the shaming and humiliation that accompany the anger. And domination by fear. That does a number. And it must have on your dh, somewhere. Why he doesn't want to go there to maybe heal it within himself could be anyone's guess. Would he listen to a tape with you???
Have you heard of the center for non-violent parenting? they may offer some resources for supporting your intention.
When we were in England this fall, I had it out with my FIL who threatened my ds with hitting him (ds was pressing the buttons on the dishwasher). I just about swallowed the phone I was on when I heard it). I had to put my foot down and tell him he was not allowed to hit, or threaten ds with physical violence EVER, or I would not bring ds to see him anymore. he and I got into it, him saying he has the right as the grandfather, etc... to teach discipline, etc... (old school Italian). I said, physical violence does nothing but teach fear and intimidation and you need to respect our wishes for how we are choosing to raise our son...blah blah blah. The lioness came out in me and I was fighting with fire... man oh man. He woudn't concede until her really got it that I meant business and that he would be having a photographic relationship with his grandson if he didn't listen up... he finally said ok, ok. I don't agree., but.... i said you don't have to agree, but you need to respect our wishes... This all happening with DH out of the house and just coming back in for the tail end of it...I am not equating my situation with yours quite, as obviously yours is much more challenging, it's your dh we are talking about. I am just commiserating with the frustration of having your ideals and philosophy not heard. There is a wound in him that needs attention. Maybe if you can get to that (or get him to get some help with it elsewhere), the rest would fall into place. You have my support too. Hang in there.

ma- my knowledge is not so comprehensive of alt meds in all things, homeopathy and aromatherapy are where I know more. I don't know the answer to your question though I can ask someone for you.

2 boobs- glad you found a place (if I haven't already said that!). too bad it's so far from the hub, but you'll manage. you'll just have to be in the car like everyone is in this city, so you'll fit in quick!!

[mary ann]

LM i like what you say regarding PH's situation... PH i was thinking as well, why is your DH so adamant about this? why does he want so badly to spank? in any case your ds seems amazingly well-behaved for his age to me... not sure why it would even come up! your ds seems like the kind of child who is inclined to listen... seems very sweet-natured and not the defiant type... also seems very sensitive to me, definitely NOT the kind of kid who would respond well to spanking.... we were all spanked as kids in my family, all it accomplished was to make us hate our dad. :(

LM thanks for asking if you would! last night i stirred maybe a 1/2 tsp of flax oil into dd's sweet potatoes.... not sure how it went over because she only had a few spoonfulls so i don't think she ended up with much flax.

those of you with toddlers: do you supplement with flax? or some other form of EFAs? do you worry about it?

[Pom]

I used to put a tsp of flax oil in dd's porridge every morning...now she won't eat it :(, so I try to sneak it into things when I remember. I don't know why she won't take it anymore -- it was good, too...dh and I liked it!

[piranhabb]

Jeff and I have talked a bit about this today, and he equates no spanking with no discipline. We have had the spanking does not equal discipline discussion too. He also has absolutely no concept of what age appropriate behavior is (a 16 month old throwing a fork in a restaurant because he's bored and hungry isn't age inappropriate- he shouldn't be put in that position, I say, for example.) So he's afraid Cameron won't behave properly- though as you said, Cameron is very well behaved in many different types of situations, but does act out when he's tired, bored, hungry, etc. He acts out in his way as we act out in ours, he just can't express it or "fix" it as we can by leaving the situation, getting a meal, or entertaining himself entirely.

I was spanked as a child, and rather ineffectively too. I knew why I was being spanked and generally continued my misbehavior despite the punishment (I was/am mouthy...) Jeff was threatened with the wooden spoon, though never remembers being hit with it- worked short term, but he and his siblings have had some (moral/legal?) problems as young adults/in adulthood, so obviously it didn't work in the long term.

I sent him a couple of Sears links to get him started. I think he'll do some reading.

The not talking to me all afternoon and night wasn't even related to the spanking argument- apparently I mouthed off (how like me) about how he wasn't doing "anything" around the house and he felt like crap about that. (He does much less now that he's finally employed.) I was just pushing his buttons to piss him off.

Anyhow, things will get better... and I still choose not to spank my baby.

[moongloe]

hey sisters~

piran...such a heart-wrenching dillema to be sure. on the one hand you want to respect the other parent's rights...but on the other hand is your child. perhaps there is a way to get him to see that NOT spanking won't be harmful. do you understand what i mean? it isn't necessary to turn him to your way of thinking...just get him to the point where he agrees not to hit ds. how i see it is that it won't hurt your dh or ds if you win this...it will however hurt your heart if dh wins...and forever change ds. you should start bringing him to our gatherings. he could see older kids who've not been hit. good luck sister.

pom...it was for cable. don't know if he got a call back yet. you should hope he doesn't! where are your loyalties woman?!?

ma...thank you! i owe support of one irrational hissy fit.

rube...does dh know alot about puters in general, or just gaming stuff? my dad sent me a webcam, and we cannot get it to work.

today was so weird. my bil surprised us with a visit (from minnesota)!!! it was cool (even though i was in jammies and the house was filthy), but after he left i got so homesick. so, good and sad..but not bad at least.

~peace, mg :love

[Pom]

MG - Did I not make my loyalties clear??? Damn, DH! DAMN HIM!!! -- I swear, MG, I was only thinking of the extra income. But now that I know it's cable....well, harrumph!! Ain't much in that, now is there? Hardly worth it at all....

DH is pretty good with the tech stuff, MG. Let him try and fix your webcam!

Piran - Ugh. Ugh. Ugh. Aren't we all so fun to be around?? Tonight I caused DH to storm out into the bedroom for some solo time (the only other room we have here) after making our dinner b/c I was a total brat about everything else. He fell asleep while we were putting dd to sleep, poor thing. I hope it all works out for you. I'm sending you good thoughts.

DD announced she was ready to go to sleep tonight. Turned of the TV (we've run into a bit of a Winnie-the-Pooh problem since my mother's visit, don't ask) and pulled me into the bedroom. Love that!

I'm exhausted and have a cold and so will clean up some and go to sleep myself....goodnight all....

[baesyl]

We've gone from holiday talk to schools to discipline. We are kinda cool these days!

On the spank issue- I think you nailed it when you said he is worried that no spanking = no peace. You will have to be the role model for him on how a different system than what he is used to can still be a good system. I think the acting out issue can be very diffficult for people to deal with. Did you watch the Oprah show on spanking by any chance? I enjoyed it as it really shed light on the control issues that can go along with a "swat", "spank", "slap" etc. that really mean I hit my kid. But it is so easy when you feel out of control to want to feel in control and just DO something about the behavior. I have to say that all my greatest intentions have not prepared me for my very opinionated and loud almost three year old who already knows just how to push my buttons ( the last few days she has ceased to call me Mommy and calls me Niiikkkkiii instead- real cute) and make me crazed. I need to take time outs, not her LOL but that's kind of the point. Spanking is the adult's way of releasing all this energy pent up and feeling like we can have an impact on the situation. By finding new and non-violent ways to help your DH feel he does have an impact and can DO something, I think you will help him to feel better.

Anyways-

Since many of ya all have DHs who are in the computer biz- I have a friend who is a game designer/developer looking for work on the ASAP basis. If you know anything, please let me know. He is willing to do other stuff beyond game design/development. Just needs to get out of where he is.

PS Does anyone out there love Lilo and Stich as much as I do?

PS My DD is now saying "Fling Poo". She also asked ( in the shower) when she would get nipples like mine and has announced that she has a penis. Where's my fudge?

[mary ann]

nikki, you cannot blame me for teaching dd to say fling poo!!! i swear it wasn't me!!!! :bolt
hee hee!! you're killing me!!! so, she has a penis, does she? how very fascinating!!! ;)

MG i agree with pom that the extra income from dh's supposed acting gig could be good, although i still maintain my position that he's a dirty rotten bastard. :p

PH glad you and dh have had a talk...could be the spanking thing becomes an issue of control between the two of you, rather than the parenting mutual decision it should be.... you have a good point about your dh having no idea what age-appropriate behavior is... neither does mine. he still thinks that a 15 month old will figure out she shouldn't pull the furry (bitey!) doggy's tail. yeah, right!

as for techie hook-ups, count us out! dh's company looks like they're going in the tank next friday. they announced yesterday that they have to lay off 50% of the people then. AND, they only have enough $ to sustain the survivors for 3 more months. unless a miracle happens, that is..... poo. poverty, here we come. you know i feel like i ought to be stressed (dh certainly is!) but i really just can't be bothered! what will be will be. :shake

[Pom]

Nikki - I have not seen Lilo and Stitch, but as my mother just announced she bought it and is on its way, I'm sure I'll have an answer for you soon. We're building up quite the hidden library.

MA - soooo sorry about DH's gig. Good attitude on your part , though. I really believe you have to trust in the universe. Besides, all worrying does is give you wrinkles!! Maybe I'll be joining DH on the unemployment line soon...

[mary ann]

uh oh, pom! bad news at your company, too? i guess that means they won't be giving ME a job anytime soon... :rolleyes:

actually the thing that makes me sad is the idea of having to fire dd's caretaker right before xmas. it's not fair to her. :(

[rubelin]

MA, would Dh be willing to do lame temp work?? I can ask Dan if his QA dept. needs anyone. At the very least, it's a little $$ to play games all day :D

I'll try to post more tonight, been reading along but am on a roller coaster ride that is my life, lol!!

Are we getting together this weekend? We miss you all!!

Robin~

[moongloe]

hey girls~

ma...oh no! i'm sorry about dh's job. i hope the new year brings new wonderful things...that goes for all of us.

pom...i'm sorry for your might be joblessness too. i noticed she will go to the room if she is ready for bed...you haven't a clue how lucky you are lol. yes, please ask dh if he'll take a look for me (webcam).

baes...hahaha on dd's recent penis aquisition!

i need fries.
~peace, mg :love

[mary ann]

i need fries, too. :crying

rube, don't know about that --maybe. he applied to 4 places yesterday and talked to a few headhunters. we'll see.... one week from today his company will fold or not. in any case we leave for xmas a week from tomorrow, so all of this #$$^@$%$@$ must wait until the new year.

[piranhabb]

Man, this economy is a nightmare. My husband finally has a job after 2 years of being unemployed, and though it's nowhere the job he had before he moved- we're still happy he has one now. Then we find out he's working 68 hours next week. Don't know whether to be happy for the overtime money, or sad because Cameron won't get to see his dad for a whole week.

I think I'll opt for the being happy I have a job I can't lose and for Jeff being employed at all.

Hugs and positive thoughts for all of us who are going through rough times...

[Pom]

Overtime rocks! Not the hours of course, but the pay. We salaried people don't get overtime and I too often have felt like a sweat shop worker. Luckily, I'm mostly out of that, but many of my co-workers are not.

DD up most of the night coughing. Damn homeopathic syrup didn't seem to work. :( Anyone got a brand for one that works longer than 2 hours?

I have to stop answering my phone -- my mother is too bored and so is concentrating on DH's career -- she is the master of Doom and Gloom ceremonies and I'm about to get mean. You'd think moving cross country would get me some peace, but no! .:angry

MG _ I forgot to give dh the tree lights. Will do later. Don't let dd pass out in her food today, LOL.

Fries. PLEASE. PLEASE.

I can play Sat with DD but not Sunday this weekend. And fries with dd is too stressful. Can anyone escape next week for fry lunch or early dinner?

[lunarmomma]

Try the Herbs for Kids brand Cherry bark blend.. It isn't homeopathic but it might help. Or there is Eclectic Institute herbal Cough Elixir for Kids...What brand are you using that is homeopathic?? some of those work and some not. Sometimes, you have got to hit it with herbs... you know what I mean???

sorry for all those who are on the limbo line... I send you my hopes for the best, not the worst...
dh hasn't had work for ages... we've been living off savings , not fun but what can you do??
Dwindle dwindle...uh, let me change that....
Abundance to all..... think not scarcity but fullness....

[Pom]

Hi Lunar!- Jinx, you owe me a coke, doublepost!

Yes, ABUNDANCE to all...the Universe is to be trusted, is taking good care of us all.....:heartbeat I can't tell you the number of "lucky" breaks we've had here, despite the hardship! Keep it comin' Universe!!!

We've been using B&T which a friend RAVED about. Have tried the Hylands, which DD loves (hello, all honey, LOL) but think it's for a more dry cough. She's just getting some drip down at night that's bothering her....

[moongloe]

mornin' girls~

pom...thanks again for the lights, yooooouuuuuuuu liiiiiiight up myyyy liiiiiiiife.

rube...i hope your day went better!!

lunar...you are queen homeopath!

piran...be thankful for the extra cash, then feel free to be sad that dh will be absent all week.

i hope everyone gets/keeps jobs!

hey rube and i were discussing new years. (i'll let her post her part of the idea) on new year's eve, i'm hosting a family gathering at my place. stay late, or leave early, whatever is good for you. i hope you and your families can come. let me know.

i have to bake a few dozen cookies today, so i need to get a move on. have a great saturday!
~peace, mg :love

[MerikaR]

Whoever was asking about Thuja for vaccine reaction reduction help, here's a site I just came across.

http://www.tinussmits.com/english/

Hope everyone is doing well! :) I have been working more and the preparation for gigs, etc, is taking up all my free time after being on baby break for so long. Will stop in later when I get a chance. Is there a meeting of moms and dads this month?

Merika

[mary ann]

hi merika! long time no see. as for this month, looks like if we procrastinate long enough, it won't happen... :p oh well....it is a busy time of year. and driving ANYWHERE really bites, as i discovered today. poo! at least i have finally finished all xmas shopping...

MG i am interested in your new years gathering!! :)

question about dry ice--i don't really know what it is or how it works... i remeber way way back pom mentioning something... i need to transport some frozen b-milk for a 6-7 hr car drive (up to northern cal for xmas) this saturday. what do you think would be the best way to do that? put it in a cooler of ice? or use dry ice? anyone have experience with this?

LM, the lac caninum has really really worked. only had to pump twice today! thanks!! :thumb

saw "frida" today--LOVED it!! i know it's gotten mixed reviews, but i am such a huge frida fan i would see anything about her. i thought this was actually very imaginative and pretty well done. i would definitely recommend it. you indie buffs--heads up! there is a really cool looking movie coming out called "love liza". promises to be great!

hope everyone had a good weekend!!

[Pom]

Love Liza does look great...as does Adaptation...MA, I meant to ask if you'd seen something...and now I've forgotten...drat.

Hi Merika -- I imagine you must be pretty busy this time of year!

MG - New Year's is so sweet of you! Dh and I usually spend it home quietly...but maybe I can convince him to swing by early...

Went to a party tonight at a friend's beautiful home overlooking the resevoir in Silverlake...so nice over there. Course we were 2 hours later than planned...the ONE time dd decides to oversleep. Doh! But she was very well behaved and loved all the cement steps to the pool, LOL.

Hey, did y'all know Dr Fleiss is the father of Heidi???

[rubelin]

HEY! Guess I'll finally take a break from my hectic weekend and check in :D

Addendum to New Year's plans... After "ringing out the old" at MG's on the Eve, you are all invited to "ring in the new" at our house on New Year's Day. It's going to be a very informal open house-type thang: hanging out & chatting, eating yummies (pot-luck finger desserts), kids can play in the back if it's not too cold, etc. We aren't a sports household so no Bowls will be on the TV, but we might tape the Rose Parade and run it in a loop ;)

Pom, that creeps me out a bit me about Fleiss; like if his kid turned out like that, would I want him as an authority about mine??

Well, now that I finally get time to post, I can't remember what we've been talking about!

OOOOOO, I got the COOLEST new sewing machine!!! Well, it won't get here until Friday, but still! I've been saving for a new machine that a fellow Singer lover was holding for me but he ended up selling it to someone else cause I took too long. That ended up being a good thing because I started scoping out Ebay and came across the fancier version of my Grandma's machine complete with a case and all of the original accessories. I spent a couple of days dreaming about it and there weren't any bids so I finally wrote the seller and asked him how much he wanted for it and it was just at my budget. I am so excited about it :D The best part is that all the accessories will fit both my other machines, so I'm totally set to sew whatever I want! How if I could just figure out how to have time to sew whatever I want, lol!!

OK, gotta go get a bit more work done before bed. I hope everyone had a great weekend!! 'Nite!!

[MerikaR]

Oh well, too bad about no gathering, but you are right MA - traffic sucks right now! And did you say your xmas shopping is done? :eek

I'm no dry ice expert, but food shippers use dried ice inside a styrofoam cooloer taped shut for fed-ex deliveries. I'm not sure about the rest of the details.

Sorry MG, can't make New Year's (working), but Rubelin if I am alive on Jan 1 we will try to stop by. :) No sports is fine by us! Congrats on your new sewing machine, how very exciting!!

And Pom, yes I knew that about Fleiss, and yes, he's our pediatrician (not that we've been lately....but that's another story).

Ciao!
Merika

[Pom]

G-d, I hope we don't blame the parents for the "sins" of the kids...who knows where that ends up? And really, in other countries, Heidi would just be seen as a successful business woman....it's really all about our ultra-protestant ethics thing, isn't it?

Anyway, I just never put 2 plus 2 together...

[mary ann]

dr fleiss was our ped. until our insurance changed...yes i did know about heidi... actually thought it was kinda funny. i don't know, i really don't see anything wrong with what she was doing... weird, maybe, but not wrong... :eek

merika, yes done with shopping because all i did was go to ross and buy $5 frames for everyone... just giving everyone pics of dd. FYI, ross has REALLY cute frames!! really nice and do NOT look cheap!

i've been researching dry ice... looks kinda dangerous... terrified my b-milk will defrost and i will lose it. we will be with dh's family for 6 days (including 2 days of travel). GOTTA have that b-milk!! i'm scared! :crying

big favor--will one of you palms ladies go KILL MY DH for me???? i don't quite have the heart to do it.... he lost my car keys AGAIN and i had to scramble around this morning to find an extra key to my car... had to go to work without my pass key so have to buzz security anytime i want to go to another floor... :bang :bang
i am SO SO SO tired of dh's spacey ways!!!! oh i could really kill him. :angry anyway i was late to work, and things have alreayd been tense here... it didn't help.

[Pom]

Meant to add - Rube, open house sounds nice! You want just sweets brought???

MA - Dh lost our 2nd key for the first 6 months we lived here. We had to make a duplicate, finally. Coulda KILLED him.

You know, call a LLL leader about travelling with the milk -- sounds like you are not going all that far -- if you just keep it cool, it may defrost a bit, but should stay cold while travelling -- then put it straight in the fridge -- won't it last for up to 6 days in the fridge? You'll finish it by then. COurse, this is assuming you pump and freeze immediately and not let it sit in the fridge for a few days before you put it in the freezer for storage...

I was always told that we forget how breastmilk is the most resistant, anti-bacterial liquid in the world and is much heartier than we seem to think it is...

Speaking of LLL...I just ordered the nursing your toddler book from them. Hope it helps...I'm beginning to feel like a freak in public, at more mainstream parties...hoping dd will be happy with water or snacks. Is that bad? I just hate the looks and explaining...never was much of an activist.

[mary ann]

pom, i was told that once you defrost b-milk, you have to use it within 24 hours. i am going to ask at the pump station to confirm (have to drop off the rented pump this week anyway).

oh, so i am not the only one with a complete (*&$% idiot for a dh??!!! jeez!! and i thought MG was the only one with a rat bastard dh!!! :p

pom, i can understand your reluctance about NIP, i would feel the same way (given the opportunity to be in that position). maybe dd is old enough to understand? that you have to wait for a private place? no advice, only sympathy.....

[rubelin]

Hallo, lovely weather we're having, eh? I actually really like stormy days like this if I can just stay home and watch through the window ;)

The thing for New Years Day is because my chef hubby wanted to do a dessert party, with mini cheesecakes, brownie bites and the like and he wanted to make it all himself. In our house I do not tell him he doesn't "need" to cook everything himself, I tell him he's not allowed to cook everything! I told him it must be a pot-luck (especially with all the baking/sharing talk a couple of weeks ago ;) ) It doesn't have to be sweets neccessarily, but snacky-type stuff, nothing that you need utensils for :) I think we'll start around 11:00 or so.

MA, I'm pretty sure the milk will be fine if it defrosts. If you take it out of your freezer right before you hit the road and pack it in a cooler with lots of ice packs (I think the gel ones stay cold the longest) with towels all around to keep the cold in and keep it in the coolest part of the car it will probably stay frozen until you get there, and you'll be able to toss it back into their freezer. Whatever thaws out you can keep in their fridge. Like Pom said, if it was frozen immediately after pumping, it should be good for the week you're gone. I was never able to use frozen milk myself, my milk tastes soapy when it's frozen, it's got too much of some kind of fatty acid, but I understand most people can taste if their milk is bad. Hey, anything that stays good sitting for 24 hours at room temp will be ok if thawed for a few days in the fridge :D

Pom, IKWYM about NIP as they get older. Dan's family is way mainstream and I'm a little nervous myself about what they'll say about me nursing Ben, though he's usually too busy playing to ask at family gatherings. I think you should just ask the host for a quiet room so that she can rest for a bit, they don't need to know how she rests ;) BTW, I have a copy of that book, if you want to cancel your order, you can borrow it :)

OK, gotta run, Hope you're all staying dry and not having to drive too much in this =) TTYL!

Robin~

[baesyl]

New Year's Day sounds fun and I better be allowed to bring baked good or I get cranky. We all saw what happened last time :}

I have good news! Bill just got a writing gig that
pays well, is fun and may be a long term gig
(writing text on a series of games potentially up to one a year for six years )! We are so happy! Still at home but we'll probably hire someone ot watch the small people and clean our house every couple of weeks! This is the part I really like! So we got our Yule present early! Wooopeee! That St. Nik guy knew just what we needed in our stocking htis year!

[mary ann]

:banana :banana :banana :banana

whooooooooooooooooopeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! so happy for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :thumb

[Pom]

Yay! yay, Baes! That's GREAT NEWS!!!!! Woooooooo!


so, um...now you've got to make some celebratory pies and fudge, yes??? ;-)

[baesyl]

I am very happy, yes. I know many of you here know
how it is to have this weight of worry every day.
And now there is light! I am so happy. And yes, I will be baking up a little storm.

Although I hope we can also bring real food too?

[lunarmomma]

That is such great news baesyl... congrats to you all!!!
Phew, eh?

[moongloe]

howdy chicklettes~

baes...waaaaaaaaaaahhhhhoooooooooooo! i'm so happy for your family!

pom...just whip the boobs out and keep on chatting!

ma....yeah you can put the milk in a box, surround it with dry ice, plop the whole shebang into a styrofoam cooler.

rube...congrats on the sewing machine! is this the ebay one? we'll be there on n.y.day! we meaning all three of us! tell me what to bring please. you have a dining canopy yes?

dang that child of mine! i just noticed ink scribbles on the front of my desk!

have to get going...stuff to do...blech.
~peace, mg :heart

[Pom]

dining canopy????

[moongloe]

pom....like a tent, but only has a roof

[Pom]

for dining? I'm missing something. what would it be needed for NYs?

[mary ann]

baesyl, thanks for the good employment vibes!!! dh's company accounced today that they have pushed back the deadline to jan. 6, so everyone is employed at least until then. there is still a chance things will work out, especially now they have extended the deadline and there is more time to fix the problems.... we will just be keeping our fingers crossed!

also, WONDER OF ALL WONDERS--my boss APOLOGIZED to me!!!!!! can you believe it??? and he was sincere!! amazing.

we're running around crazy trying to leave town saturday for xmas... so if you don't see me (or suspect me lurking) before then, happy holidays everyone!!!!!!!!! :)

[rubelin]

GEEZ! I somehow got unsubbed right after my last post and missed the whole week! fling poooo!! ;)

Nikki, YEA!!!! WOO-HOO!! That is so awesome! SO does that mean he's not accepting any other jobs??? Cause Dan might need him for something... in the next year... might be a ST thing... just asking ;) Oh, and not only are you allowed to bring goodies, you are required!! :D Anything is fine, I just don't want to deal with utensils and lot of clean-up, so finger foods are requested.

ACK!! I just realized I have to clean my house!!!!! :eek

MG, we do have a canopy. We only have a few outside chairs, so I'm thinking dining will be inside, but I'll put it up so the kidlings don't get too much sun.

Dan & I get to see Lord of the Rings tonight for FREEEE :D His department is going and I was gonna buy a ticket and meet him there, but his VP said I could just show up and they'd have an extra seat for me :D

I've gotta get some things done before the little man wakes up. Hope everyone is having a good week!

Robin~

[Pom]

Hey Laura - Can you let us know what's going on with MDC? I noticed the spirituality and activism boards have been closed, and can guess at some reasons why (I don't typically post on them, but have seen they get pretty heated), but can't find a straight-forward explanation on all the threads. And the getting rid of links, sig lines, etc...same reason??

And the report this post to the moderator link is kind of creepy. I'd tell CM but her inbox must be overflowing right now..:(

[rubelin]

Pom, there are messages from Cynthia on both those threads about the moratoriums and a message about the sigs, too. Wasn't sure if you wanted more info than that or just hadn't seen them :)

[mary ann]

i saw them, but it's not enough info for me either--i want the dirt!!
also what's up with the boards?? this is the first time i've been able to get on all day!! when i click on this thread, it comes up as an error "too many users" or something like that. weird!
well people i am going to be crazy getting out of town, so i will talk to you gals later!!
have a great week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
:)

[Pom]

Have fun maryann!!!

I did see them Rube --- but think the explanation is kinda vague...

[moongloe]

hey girlies~

rube...so cool! how was the movie???? i haven't any chairs to offer. what do you want me to bring otherwise?

ma...safe journey!

pom...outside eating. got your message earlier and you're welcome!

biglots sucks! they raised all the prices since the changeover from picnsave and i'm peeeeeved!

stay dry everyone!
~peace, mg :love

[rubelin]

The movie was AWESOME! Really beautiful, and not as dark as the trailers make it look. I've decided that I like the fact that I haven't read the books, it makes it much more enjoyable having all the suspense of not knowing what's going to happen. This year I plan to read the first 2, maybe even reread the hobbit, but I'll wait to read the last book after I see the last movie.

I get those weird error messages sometimes, too, but I usually go back and reclick the link and it works the second time. I'm not super interested in the story, but I've never posted on those boards or even read them, so I just figured that the explanation would make sense to somebody who had, KWIM? The sig thing makes sense, I guess some have gotten carried away with it, but the link on all the posts is a little creepy (though there was a time I would have found it to be a handy thing)

MA, if I don't get a chance later, have a wonderful holiday!

TT Y'all later!

[Pom]

Glad you liked the movie, Rube. This time of year -- so many films to see! I LOVE that we can escape to movies again -- I missed them so much! We're seeing Adaptation this weekend...

Our apartment is FREEZING. ugh. hope everyone is bundled up warm tonight!!

[lunarmomma]

Hey girls...
we have been out of commission... ds got a cough and then croup on Tuesday night. The last two nights have been somewhat better but still major interrupted sleep, he has a nasty cough and nose running like a faucet.
I am wiped and feeling on the edge of something myself...
Pom, last chance, last minute, the relics are back today/tonight at the Bodhi Tree. until 9 pm. they will be doing a blessing with them on the crown chakra of whomever desires it at 8pm. WOW. We went to the one at noon. It was very amazing.
It will be in Santa Ana tomorrow and the Garden Grove on Sunday.
They really are worth seeing, somehow somewhere. They will be back in LA in July. You can check out their website www.maitreyaproject.org and click on the relic tour to see where they are going.

In terms of the boards, those two forums have been having a slew of infinghting between pagan and christian mommas that have resorted to personal attacks and stuff that istn't really supposed to be on the boards. So they are temporarily in review for a time. they will be back, just giving it a break for a spell.
ma, safe good trip to you and yours...
and anyone else travelling too. And those staying put too.
And anyone travelling to you.

[moongloe]

hello girls~

i'm miserable and thought i'd annoy my sisters with it. my grand thoughts of building ds a kitchen set for yule is costing a pretty penny. who knew plywood was so expensive sheesh. between procrastination and lack of money, he'll get a half built set. then i got out all our old debt (from before the move...yes i know hello mr collection agency) so i could start paying them with our holiday bonus and his tips. well it is hundreds more than i thought. so i'm screwed cuz i stupidly told dh that, and now he wants to go over the debt with me, gee won't that be a hoot. he'll discover my decoy file and my actual file! we cannot have that. oh, and i promised dh sex tonight, and i so am not in the mood....can't turn him down two nights in a row kwim?

rube...very cool that you enjoyed the movie!

pom....THANK YOU for taking the toys! i hope your neighbor wants the train if you don't.

i hope nobody floated away in last night's storm.
~peace, mg :love

[Tracy]

lunarmom told me that my initial post to LA moms was on, I guess a dead thread... so I'm reposting, here..
HI.

as previously seen on the other thread:::::::::

Finally, poking my head up on this thread.

I'm a mom in Hancock Park area of town. I used to live on Rossmore in one of those big ol' glorious 20's apartment building. I lived there for nine years.Then we had our son in July of '01 and we got scared living on the 5th floor with low windows.
And a very active son. Yeesh.

We quickly moved to Park La Brea to a townhouse. Having lived in LA for twenty years I was at first kind of like , "I give up, we're in Park La Brea." But very quickly I realized how great it is. We walk everywhere and have so much to choose from, The Grove, The LA county ARt museum, walk to the post office next door to Erewon, the market, Ralphs and Whole Foods. It really is perfect for us.

My ds is a beautiful, loving boy. Cancer, Moon in Aries, Sag Rising, for those who care. He is unvaxed but circ. It was a hospital birth and induced due to my gestational diabetes
but he came out relatively unscathed and he was a vaginal birth which if you know anything about Cedars is almost rare. Well, I might speak in hyperbole.
Anyway, my friends turned me on to the Mothering Magazine the year before ds was born and I'm forever grateful.

I'm a very native californian, mother's father's family been here since Father Serra. Not kidding. But I have lived in NY and would love to live there again, if I had tons, let me repeat, tons of dough.

Of which I don't now.

I'm a writer most of the time but I just started doing some other work just to get my feet wet again. I took a break from outside work for the last two years. I think we know why......

hi.

[rubelin]

Hi Trabot, welcome to our little insanity faire :) (just watched Muppets in SPace last night, I love that line)

Well, so much for Christmas plans... We have gotten waylaid with a nasty intenstinal virus. Dan had it on mon night, we thought it was food poisoning, and he was better by Wednesday. Then Ben got it Thursday night but seemed fine yesterday until after midnight started puking again. We are running out of clean bed-covers :eek Then this morning, after nuring Ben ALL night, it hit me. We have a firend who had it last week and it seems to be a 24 hr thing, but it is the longest 24 hrs of my life. So no trip up to FIL's house, hopefully we'll be OK by Christmas eve or I shall have stressed for nothing.

I hope you all are doing well, I wish you protection from sickness!!!!

Robin~
wife to Dan, momma to Ben, kitty-momma to Max & Musette

[Pom]

So many things....

Arghhhhh! The relics!! Laura I just saw your post and I coulda gone today!!! MG was nice enough to watch SS so DH and I could have a date before the MIL comes for a week tomorrow. AGHHHHHH!!! My Buddhist self is currently breathing through it, and am just happy that they have passed through here unexpectedly (maybe others enlightenment helps me too). Now that I know about them I will be ready for them when they return. Thanks so much for thinking of me, though -- and I hope your sweet DS is feeling better already...

Yours too, Rube. THe lack of sleep is so horrible, and watching them cough, rattle, get upset and puke is horrifying and it makes you (me?) feel so helpless. Makes ya wanna fling poo. So healthy mojo to both your families~*~*~*~**~*~*~

MG - So sorry the debt monkeys are more than imagined. Hope DH doesn't catch on to your double accounting...given your quandry you could, I imagine, use sex as a decoy tonight (:eek )...which brings me to another question...how do you find the time to create double books, LOL?

I am sorry, too, you are so distraught about the k-i-t-c-h-e-n for DS, but you know he'll love what you guys can put together. And maybe the rest can be a fun team project? He could use his new tool set, even?

TRABOT - Nice to see you 'round here! Before we moved here in May, DH so badly wanted to live in Park La Brea for all the reasons you mentioned -- plus, coming from a somewhat urban pioneering section in Chicago, he liked how safe and self contained it would be (papa bear coming out in him, I guess -- never seemed so concerned about my safety when he was living next door to the "Insane Dragons", LOL.) Anyway, now we live in Palms, and I like it fine, but doubt it is permanent. We seem to be in your hood a lot, actually - the PanPacific park, or the Grove or Farmer's Mkt...I just got a copy of Ann Lamott's Bird by Bird for a friend of mine who writes...hopefully she'll like it and has not read it already. Do you write fiction/poetry/screenplays/all of the above/ other?

Just finished Atonement, btw, if anyone is looking for a GREAT book, this one had me so excited..I'm going to have to re-read -- I was so caught up in the story I know I missed a bunch of beautiful language, that I want to re-visit. Wow, Bird by Bird shows up today, I finish Atonement, and we saw Adaptation at the Bridge -- a whole movie about writing (and a zillion other things). WOW. Maybe all this lit talk makes up for the 20 times I've watched Winnie the Pooh this week?

OK. Must clean for MIL. Wish me luck. She's lovely, and low maintenance, but ANYONE in my home for 8 days will take some strength on my part!

G'nite all (and LM , thanks for the board explanation, too)....

PS... Trabot, our dd was born Aug 7 2001 (Leo, with Moon in Pisces, Aries rising - help! Maybe some of your ds cancer sweetness will calm her soul...our neighbor's boy is Cancer 2001 and they get along great (when he's not pulling her hair!)

um...I just realized I probably sound like a big overeager dork. I should be playing it cool..but um...the neighbors made us fudge and too much chocolate!!!!!

[lunarmomma]

sorry rube, that really sucks!!! We have it over here too, though not a stomach thing.
Ds is still coughing up his lungs practically and NOTHING has really helped. Another trip to our healer person for more nutritional/herbal/homeopathic stuff. ... She said it is a really strong virus and he has a head cold and it's all dripping down into his tummy. The good news is his lungs are ok. And probably I am screwing him up with changing his homeopathic remedies. Honestly this is the sickest and the longest I have ever seen him. This SUCKS!!
His lips are cracked and bleeding, under his nose is all irritated and red from wiping his nose every second for the past 4 days
ARGH!!!
He wakes up frequently wanting water or rice dream (in his sleep even...), or some toy that he thinks I am hiding under the pillow. Or he wants Dh's frying pan which he would bring to bed if we'd let him. I draw the line there. No cookery in my linens, thanks very much.
And I am trying not to get ill myself... on the edge, on the edge. The throat is thick, the voice is hoarse.
Echinacea, Lysine and sniff, NO SUGAR. If I eat it, I will succumb to the virus, i'm told. i had to misss a cookie swapping party today, and I baked brownies for it last night. Couldn't eat any....
Oh well.....
time limited. Just have to get over the hump and get some sleep!!!

Hi again trabot...
my ds is also a Cancer sun and moon, and I think a libra rising, but now i'm forgetting. haven't slept a whole bunch in the last few days. Did I say that already???

Healthy vibes to everyone and fast recovery to ya, rube!!!

[Pom]

Laura - jinx again, sister!

what's lysine?

Sorry to hear you are all still under the weather....I will fall onthe sword and eat all sugar for you...

[lunarmomma]

Hey Pom, I didn't see your post...
The relics will be in Garden Grove tomorrow. Let me know if you want the address. I think that is on the way to Orange County.
DS is going to drive me mad. he went to sleep 45 minutes ago.. woke asking for rice dream, I gave it to him, he ditn't want it, asked for water... and then alternately said no, yes no put it back in the kitchen and then started to cry when I complied. He is so not himself. Now he is having cereal with DH. He hasn't eaten all that much since he got sick.
And if he woudl sleep more/better, he would heal. And so would I.
Poor guy. It really is awful to see them so helpless, and us too, as you said Pom. yuck. I hate this part of parenthood. Truly.

[lunarmomma]

Double jinx again!! Lysine is an amino acid... that goes after viruses.
It is commonly used with herpes, cold sores etc, but was recommended for ds and so I am taking it too.

[rubelin]

Lunar & Pom, I totally KWYM. Last night while I sat in a puddle 'o puke with baby struggling away from the bowl we were trying to use instead and insiting that he needed momma muk while he was still throwing up, I looked up at my dear hubby who was trying to mop up and said, "this is the crappiest part of this parenting thing!" I think I hate the incoherent misery the most.

I think my fever is just about breaking and my guts have remained intact for more than 8 hours so hopefully it's almost over. I want to mess with my new machine so badly (which is much less than fabulous at the moment. poor thing was very neglected and is so filthy!), but it will have to wait until tomorrow.

OK, sorry for the pity-me post, I promise to be more chipper tomorrow :D 'Nite all!

Robin~

[moongloe]

blessed solstice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

lunar...i'm sorry ds is so sick! i hope he gets better asap! have you tried udder balm to soothe his chapped nose? pottery barn sells pots and pans that are stuffed fabric. would he take one of those to sleep with?

rube...eek! yes nothing says 'come here and nurse' like them puking all over you. i everyone there is better asap too!

crud! ds is watching pbs and on comes the veggie tales. well he adores them (he's only seen the greatest silly songs video, so no mention of god at all). well in our excitement, i rushed to pop in a vhs, forgetting the movies are religious. i just heard them saying something about god, and unto them, and so on. sigh.

trabot...welcome to the group! i read your posts on the other threads too, so don't feel like all your posting was in vain. my ds is an aquarius, that's all i know. dh is cancer and i'm pisces...yes we are a moody, sensitive lot.

pom...the poor k-i-t-c-h-e-n is still just pieces of wood behind the couch. yeah we plan on letting him help us after the initial building. he already had his tools out and was sawing away as dh was dragging the wood in the door. i hope the mil cleaning is going well. today we are cleaning too. by we i mean me of course.

i guess everyone else is either on holiday, or very busy...i hope we hear from you soon!
~peace and love and a gloriously blessed yule!, mg :love

[Pom]

AH Robin -- hang in there, friend! Poor DS -- poor YOU!!! (((hug)))

Thanks, MG - MIL got here all in one piece and the apt looks pretty decent. For 5 minutes until DD wakes up from nap, LOL. Oh well.

I forgot you were a pisces -- no wonder dd loves you so...probably believes you are the only one who "understands" her!

Lunar -- I don't get it. Pots to bed? Why?

[lunarmomma]

Hey all... think we've turned a corner for the better, thank goodness.
Not sure about the pots pom... he gets obsessed with different things. He wants to be like DH i think, and sees him cooking breakfast in that particular frying pan... then ds wants to use it in HIS own play kitchen, which he does, guess his little pots and pans are too small.
I think he just wants to be BIG!! like da-da.
Why to bed, not sure, he just gets attached to things. Last night it was the wooden tomato (pomodori) that he held on to most of the night and if it fell out of his hands when he woke he would cry out for it.... I had to keep tabs on it, lest he want it.
Sometimes at night I will put some of his more coveted items from the days play on the nightstand in case he wakes up and asks for it. I do not want to get up out of bed and hunt for it, that's for sure!!
anyway that is my attempt at an explanation for the strange and inexplicable...

[Tracy]

Pom, it does sound like you haunt this area. MOve east, my friend, move east.
I have a joke that I don't go west of the former Rancho La Brea. (Ranchos were the homesteads here in the 1860s and the boundaries of the ranchos are modern day streets. Pretty much La Cienaga is the west boundary of Rancho La Brea. Went as far East as I think, Gower. Although I can't remember right now.)

Palms is a basically where about three rachos meet....

anyway, I go to West Hollywood Park a lot. It is a little more contained than Pan Pacific.
You guys should all know that they opened up the new children's exhibit at LACMA. It opened up Thanksgiving Week. It is very interactive. My dh took son there last week for the second time and Jack evidently loves the corner of clay. He peels it off, makes a ball and throws it. Like I said, very interactive. And it has no fee just donation of your choice.

Listen, I posted this on another thread what seems a hundred years ago...but I asked my friend whi is very plugged into nutrition, etc, because her husband is a chiro...anyway, I asked her to recommend a really good Immune support. She gave me the number of this very small company in NYC. I called and talked to the guy and told him I have an unvaxed 17 month old. He recommended this one immune support. One box is about $25.00 and it will last pretty much all winter as you only give a toddler one small amount a week. (broken into two doses). I will let you know how we get through cold/flu season.... but for those who are interested I'll pm you the company. The guy was very, very cool and very informed. I felt like I got a biology report.....

oh, god, got to go......

[Tracy]

Anne Lamott is great. I love the book about her pregnancy and the birth of her son. I have bird by Bird book and never cracked it enough. I need to commit to it.
I think she is very talented.
Alas, my writing has been television. Although I dream of other types of writing, features....maybe even novels. I keep looking at that novel class at UCLA extension but then again, that is a whole other Rancho.

Oh, yeah,

pom: " PS... Trabot, our dd was born Aug 7 2001 (Leo, with Moon in Pisces, Aries rising - help! Maybe some of your ds cancer sweetness will calm her soul...our neighbor's boy is Cancer 2001 and they get along great (when he's not pulling her hair!)"

Robert Redford is a Leo with Pisces rising...and I can't remember his moon right now. But Leo and Pisces combined are all about theater and acting..... oh, yeah, and big ass drama stories. When she's old enough..... be prepared for the nonesense between her and her friends...."this one said that, and that one did this to me and then blah, blah, blah. I don't think you know how that can be.... although, I think with the aries rising and the leo she'll be the big shot in the groups.

moongloe: Cancers and Pisces get to gether all the time. As do the two of you get to gether with Scorpios. In fact, I think really you guys prefer Scorpio first than each other. But there is much sensitivity in that house and then you have mr. Aquarius. I don't k now, he might have some planets in Pisces which will tie into the family a little bit on the water level. The thing is you guys are very senstive and Aquarians are a bit more 'freer" with their feelings. NOt as moody. But you never know he could have a moon in something noisy.

lUnarmom: Your son with moon and sun in cancer means he was born right near the new moon. If he was born before the new it means he was born in balsamic and that means he is here (this lifetime) to tie up lose ends...karmic stuff... although everything is karma...anyway, if he is born on the new side then that means he is here to forge new territories, new connections, new experiences. I will say this anyone born with a sun conjunct moon in cancer and it is on the "new" they will feel much more Aries than Cancer.

onward...

[Pom]

LUNAR - THAT is so sweet...of course he'd want the tomatoes to bed! Very sweet of you to put his faves by the bedside just in case. Even if you do say it's for selfish reasons...

Trabot - We all keep saying we'll meet up at WEHO park, but it never seems to happen. Maybe now you'll be the swing vote and we'll actually do it. I love tv when it's good. No shame there! ....If I move east, do I lose my sweet sea air? I grew up on the coast of Maine and love it so...as far as dd goes -- yeah. She comes from a whole line of Drama Queens, and is already showing her theatrical side. Has been since day one. Luckily those signs tend to love adoration so that they learn how to be lovely - at least in public. What's the phrase? Benevolent dictators. We can only hope! ;-)

OK. Gotta run...

[rubelin]

Aw, geez, got unsubscribed AGAIN!!! I hate when I miss good conversation and I have so missed you all today. I'm feeling much better but still spacey and my house is a disaster! I am so not allowed to be sick :p

Ben will not go to bed. I mean NOT go to bed. He has never done this in his entire life and it is driving me insane. He came up with every reson why he had to get up nad when we finally exhausted all the options and all 3 of us were lying in bed, he just kept making funny noises and wiggling like mad for a half hour. So I gave up and he's downstairs playing while Dan makes something that smells yummy.

FWIW, Ben is Gemini, Cap/Aquarius rising (right on the edge, time will tell which it is), moon in Leo. I'm Gemini, Cancer rising, Taurus moon; DH is Libra but we can't do the rest of his chart because his parents can't remember what time he was born (and have lost his birth cert.) We're all drama queens ;)

Trabot, I love LA history, but don't know a ton of it. I grew up in Inglewood and know a lot more about it's history. I do dig your neck of the woods, but am too drawn to the beach to live that far east. We're in Palms, west of Overland and that's about as far from the ocean as I want to be.

MG!! OMG, we saw the same Veggie Tales thing on PBS and I was kinda into it before I realized what it was!! Oh, well, it was over quick and Ben was too interested in his Legos to notice much.

OK, I'm going to see if hyper-boy is getting sleepy. I have covert Santa-type stuff that needs to be done!! Night all!!

Robin~

[lunarmomma]

hi again,
Phew... Ds is so much better today, tonight...
He/we actually may get to sleep through without a million interruptions and bizarre requests!!! I hope and pray. There is one last little niggling thing in my throat I would like to be rid of before the holiday is upon us

trabot, I looked up where the moon was and it became new the day after his birthday. Guess he is balsamic, whatever that means!! He is half Italian, and so olive oil may fit in with that combo too no?? Nottomention the tomato he carries to bed with him!!
He is definitely way more Cancerian than Aries though he is quite headstrong. Takes after his mama I guess :innocent
We dh and I both share a Sag moon, thank goodness. I'm a virgo scorpio ascendant and dh is Aries with a libra rising. might be virgo, we haven't decided yet. Or, more likely we knew and then forgot!! Hve to go look it up in our charts file. Or ask my friend who knows and remembers all that stuff about my life!!
cool that you are in to it and know so much! Do you know anything about Vedic astrology?? I have some friends in Belgium that are really into it. I guess all the rules change with the Vedic interpretations.
Ok, I must get off and go to sleep. Each night is a lottery. I must prepare not to win1
Ciao all. Arrivaderci.

Hey where did lisa and Christin go??? Very long no post. I know lisa is moving and studying but what about Christin. Where are you????

[swngrrl]

I've been rather quiet of late, huh. I think several of you asked me a questiion I didn't answer over on the last thread too.

I've been working from home the past 2 weeks, and learning to juggle ds and work demands. Some days good, some days not so good. But the extra income is nice! I need the project to go well, so my boss will hopefully be open and supportive of me working from home, and switching to pt in feb when I'm supposed to go back perm.

I haven't been able to do the holiday things I wanted to, either. Just a struggle to keep the house clean. The pets are driving me nuts, poor things. They don't get the attention they need. DH has been giving them extra, but that doesn't seem to be enough - they want my attention too. Fergus (cat 2) peed on top of the parrot's covered cage again, with a clean litterbox too.:angry He pushes me to my wits end. And not even talking about Pooka (cat 1) and the yule tree....:crying

trabot: you have the astrology thing. Any advice for this cap, piscies moon, gem rising with my leo-leo-leo ds? :eek

When do I get to be a member, instead of "new member"? Feel like I have "newbie" plastered on my forehead.

Is anyone else annoyed with the sig disable policy? I feel so lost now 'cause I have no idea what our kids' ages are now. :crying So I'm adding a manual sig!

Saille
Mommy to Connor (08-2003)

[rubelin]

Hi Saille! Good to "see" you again!! I hear you on the kitty woes! Ours drive me insane, mostly when they are chasing each other through the house making such a racket at naptime! I shan't even go into the litter box fiascos, but, suffice it to say, it's been rough. They are my first babies, though and are getting better as Ben is less of a monster and more of a person. Our boy kitty, Max, is a big ole' scaredy-cat and won't let Ben near him, but Musette has become downright cosy and actually snuggles on the bed with Ben. I just have to keep in mind that we are all a family and have to find a way to cohabitate nicely :)

Well, I have sewing to do, as always, so I'd better get to it. Hope you are all having a lovely week and that everyone is feeling themselves again :D

Robin~
wife to Dan, Momma to Benjamin (6/00) and kitty-momma to our twin tabbies Max & Musette (4/98)

[lunarmomma]

wow... almost 24 hours without a single post!! Must be busy huh??? everyone... last minute shopping, baking eating.....????

Happy holidays everyone!!!
have fun.

[MerikaR]

Hoppin on to wish all you x-masers a Merry Christmas!

Merika

[mary ann]

my but you ladies have been chatty since i left! :) and newbies too!! hello trabot! don't know much about dd's astrology, just that she is taurus, which is what i wanted.... (if she were late she would have been gemini which i was afraid would not be too compatible) a lot of my close friends are tauruses... (or cancers)

sorry to hear about all this sickness!! and debt!! :eek dh and i had minor colds before we left, which we thought we had kicked, now we have incredbily sore throats and lung gunk and are losing our voices. :crying so far dd is unscathed, however, which is all i care about... don't want a sick baby!!

yet again dd distinguished herself--what a little traveler! she couldn't have been better on the drive up here... took 2 long naps and the rest of the time played and laughed and clapped and looked out the window. since we have been up here, she has been talking up a storm... on sunday she said " dadadadadadada" for about 3 hours non-stop!! so silly.

went to santa cruz yesterday and shopped a bit but mainly walked on the pier to look at the sea lions--so cute!!! LM, eco goods was open and i did some serious damage to the credit card!!! aaaargh.... more debt!!! but so hard to resist as i only get to go to that store once a year... all i got was some soft organic onsies for dd and 2 long sleeve tshirts for me... IL's driving me crazy a bit but i think i'll live through another day and a half.... we leave the morning after xmas. RATS dd is waking up from her nap!! bye all!!!!

[lunarmomma]

hey ma, i wish I knew that's were you were going... I might have asked you to pick up the something i have been obsessing over from Miss Jessie Mae's on the Pacific mall... It is way too much money as it is, but shipping it would make it really obscene... so if I could find it a ride home it might be doable... not sure if Dh will stay married to me if i do but man it was nice!!! it's a mirror.
Let me know if you are passing through that way again before you leave. I think she opens at 11... it might be too late!
Aren't the sea lions the best??
Have fun!!!
laura

[Pom]

Hey, Merry Cringle!

Yeah, we've been busy with the MIL and the teething DD...was going to go to the zoo today but the 405 was a parking lot and so we turned around and went to Aidan's place which was so nice and empty!

Hope you are all having a lovely evening...I wish I had some sea lions!!

peace ~

[moongloe]

to those who celebrate...happy xmas!

trab....ds must break the mold, cuz never was there a more moody child.

ma...glad you're having fun on holiday! i wanna go max out your credit card too!

lunar...yay! i'm glad he's feeling better.

rube...if you keep missing posts, just check the boards daily. how are you and ds feeling?

pom...glad mil got there safely!

c....yeah! where are you oh musical one?

everyone....hope your day is filled with joy.
~peace, mg :love

[piranhabb]

Strange... unsubscribed from the thread. Does this happen often?

Holidays were fine, not as festive as usual- families farflung and husband working overtime.

Hope all went well with others.

[Lisanaaron]

hi there and welcome newbies. i hope everyone had a nice chirstmas.

we moved! and we love our new place. we still need to do some work but so far so good. couldn't believe we have accumulated so much junk over the years.

we moved on christmas. the first movers couldn't get my piano down the stairs and bounced it pretty hard. they (he and his wife) stopped after i cried. we have used them before and i asked why didn't he bring 2 more men and he said no one wants to work on christmas. well, i didn't force him to work on christmas, why didn't he tell me the truth? we were lucky to find another company who could do it right away and they did an excellent job and i was so relieved:)

trabot, what can you tell me about my son who was born on jan 19 2002 at 3:59 am. he's very active and curious.

anyone, i'm planning a birrthday party with a very good mommy friend whose baby girl was born on the same day as my ds. do you all think it's weird to do it this day? we have the same mommy friends from LLL and i thought we'd make things easy for our friends. we do have several non-mutual friends, how would these people feel about giving presents?? will they just bring one for the baby they know? please give me your honest input on this.

are we still having a get together new year's eve/day?

later,

[Pom]

hellooo-

Piran , it happens every so often, the unsubscribing. It can be a drag, espec when some moms on MDC get really upset if you don't follow up on a post.

Congrats on the move, Lisa, though I got to say you must be super-lucky to find last minute movers on Christmas. Wow. I wouldn't have even tried! As far as the bday party, I think it's a good idea...but I'd just tell your non mutal friends to not feel obliged. Then again, buying an extra book or something is not such a huge deal normally. At your baby's age, it's not like they know what's going on really. Won't notice if they get an inexpensive something or other. But some mom's may feel self conscious and not want to get one baby a lesser gift/ or can't afford a second...Assuming they are real friends -- just talk to them! :)

DD had teething growing spurt this week and grew out of a slew of clothes. Wow.

Time to start rental movie...ciao!

Oh hey - vax question -- I know kids in group care are mpore susceptible to ear infections, etc...but if my dd who is not in group care plays every day with a little boy who IS in daycare...does that put her into "group" care susceptibilty? No big thing either way -- I love this baby and they are best friends...but just curious.

gnite!

[moongloe]

FINALLY!!!!

i almost created a fake user so i could have someone post between my last one and me now! sheesh women!

piran...my family is farflung as well...somedays i wish i could fling farther though.

lisa...congrats on your move. yes my pad is still open for nyeve.

pom...i wouldn't say she is in group daycare category, but she is suseptible to whatever he has when she's with him. why? what's the little germ got now? tell abuela ds really liked her please.

as of january 2003, all lurkers will be hung over boiling oil by their toes....don't say i didn't warn you.

~peace and love, mg :love

[mary ann]

hmmm.......boiling oil........ makes me think of FRENCH FRIES!!!!!!!! :eek

MG--details about NY's eve, please! what to bring, what we are eating/doing/drinking, etc?

LM sorry, we barely got the chance to get there that one afternoon... we were only up in NOcal a few days. :( sorry!!

lisa, glad the move went well!! sorry about your piano--scary!!! hope it didn't cost too much to move it. once i dated this guy who moved pianos for a living... oh but he was CUTE!! and muscular!!! but i digress..... :wink
anyway gotta see your new place!! as for the party, i think you can only expect people to bring a gift for the baby they know. i would not buy a gift for a baby i didn't know, personally... i can barely keep up with the ones i DO know!!! :rolleyes:

PH my parents are not at all farflung enough!!! they are still close enough for me to FLING POO!!!!!!!!!! damn them, not ONE DAMN THING for xmas!! not even $ for dd's college fund!! such wretches they are. and so much disposable wealth!! oh well, just let them try to take it with them..... :shake sad people. i understand them even less now that i have a baby... i know i would do ANYTHING for her... i cannot imagine ever willingly abandoning her.. oh well. whenever i think of how shitty my parents are, i remember how lucky i am to have awesome siblings, and awesome friends! :banana

well xmas with the IL's was not so bad, and dd was really great... the drive home SUCKED ROYALLY however. ugh!! remind me not to drive anywhere the day after christmas.....

gotta work all weekend--holiday events tomorrow and sunday. :( fun to see the people who really make my work worthwhile, but crappy to work this weekend after an exhausting week.... sigh. happy weekend to the rest of you!!

[lunarmomma]

Hey everyone...
man, it was too quiet around here... that was like a world record... two days with nothing. weird.
mg... we should have been chatting during this ghost town board time~~

lisa, I think peo