View Full Version : Iowa anyone?
Hello? Is anyone there? I see you! No, wait, that was just corn!
I heard the funniest song about Interstate 80 in Iowa (only funny if you live here, though)
The lyrics go:
"Corn corn corn corn corn corn corn corn, I see a Tree! corn corn corn corn corn corn corn corn , Look, a COW! corn corn corn corn corn corn corn corn Iowa City corn corn corn corn corn corn corn corn , What's that smell?"
Ok, made me laugh anyway!
Mommy2ZaGirls
11-25-2001, 03:53 PM
I grew up near Dubuque, went to school in Iowa City, then on to Chicago & now Minneapolis. Soon we will move to New Jersey! I would like to just go back to Iowa City, personally.
What I miss most is getting directions:
"Make like you are going to Johhny Billings place but turn left instead of right. Then go over the hill past the Smith's Pond, you'll see Bill Walker's bull in the field and Sally Johns's house on the right. Turn left on to Roller Coaster Road (unmarked, of course) & follow that taking all right turns until it dead ends into our lane."
MindyM
04-10-2002, 02:11 PM
Hello!! I was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. I only lived there for six years though!!
e.Rishavy
04-10-2002, 02:46 PM
I'm not "from" iowa - my mom is but we lived in Dubuque for 5 years. Most of my family is there including my dearest cousin who lives in davenport. She's an AP mom and has been feeling kind of isolated.
I think it's funny how many people from Iowa and up in Minneapolis - I'm there too! Here in MN the song about rural hwys would go
soy soy soy soy beet cow soy soy soy soy soy alfalfa beet soy soy soy soy soy soy cow corn? soy soy soy . . . .
Zelda
04-13-2002, 10:06 PM
Hello, we've lived in Dubuque for the past 2 1/2 years and I much prefer it to the Waterloo area. I feel as if I'm slowly becoming a part of this community. Perhaps because the kids are growing and I'm involved in their lives and get to meet other parents that way.
There a lot of families with kids here. I can't say that we're close friends with any of the parents, but I know a lot of my children's playmates as acquaintances.
Dubuque is just big enough to be somewhat cosmopolitan and multicultural, yet not so big that it's dangerous to walk around town.
I like Iowa, and I like Dubuque.
P.S. I also lived in Iowa City for two years as a college student and to me it was the BEST TOWN on the PLANET. I thought I'd be living there all my life but my life took a different turn. True, it is pretty crowded there (esp on game weekends) and not always the best job options due to so many people desiring to live there. But the vibes in that town are heady, there's so many practicing liberals in residence!
yes, IA city is fun!
Dubuque has the nice, older houses that I love!
:D
BBMom
04-16-2002, 05:16 PM
Well darn...I forgot to add myself to this thread! Been on Mothering since the old boards...I just don't post a great deal.
Newton here...central Iowa. I love Iowa City...just don't get there very often. And it's only about an hour away!
Congrats LaLa on SleepingBean!
sarak1123
05-02-2002, 12:02 PM
hello mamas
i live with my fiance and 13 month son in des moines.. sherman hills to be exact have a beautiful day
Nankay
05-08-2002, 08:41 AM
Hi Everyone!
I was born and raised in Cedar Rapids. I live in a small town south of Des Moines now. I'm a retired breastfeeder of 2 and would love to hear from you.:thumb
Christi
06-26-2002, 11:16 AM
Hi
I'm from Fairfield in southeast Iowa. It's nice to see that there are other Iowa moms on this web site. Actually We are just about to move to Ottumwa. It's only half hour from Fairfield. I grew up in Fairfield. I have some friend in Newton, I go there occasionlly.
MommylovesRJ
07-12-2002, 02:31 PM
Welllll...I was born in Clinton, spent the majority of my life there, and somehow ended up here in central Illinois. *Sigh* :bang I still think of Iowa as home, even tho I only get back there twice a year, tops. :crying Hrm...wonder if I can belong to two tribes?? Iowa AND Illinois? LOL!!
Oh, and P.S. Heidi (BBMom) Ya SURE ya can't make the meet and greet at my house in September? :wink
eidted baaaaaaad spelling
BBMom
07-12-2002, 02:54 PM
Originally posted by MommylovesRJ
Welllll...I was born in Clinton, spent the majority of my life there, and somehow ended up here in central Illinois. *Sigh* :bang I still think of Iowa as home, even tho I only get back there twice a year, tops. :crying Hrm...wonder if I can belong to two tribes?? Iowa AND Illinois? LOL!!
Oh, and P.S. Heidi (BBMom) Ya SURE ya can't make the meet and greet at my house in September? :wink
eidted baaaaaaad spelling
LOL! I didn't know you were a member of Mothering too. I just don't think I can...BUT, PM me the details. September is far enough away...maybe I can make the plans now.
parisfrance
07-12-2002, 03:46 PM
You're never going to belive this girls, but I just flew back from Des Moines on Sunday! My parents are from Iowa (mom from a farm now under the Rathburn Lake, dad from D.M.) and I went to Grinnell College. I still have family there so we were visiting. It was really weird to check in at the airport for our first flight to Kansas City and say "I'd like to check these bags through to Paris". :D
I loved the song! My son (2.5) just learned to tell the difference between corn and beans in the field, and we drove back from a trip to Boone the last day with him exclaiming "corn!" and then "more corn!" and "beans!". Made me laugh.
Des Moines isn't Paris, but that's why I like visiting it so much!!!
Michelle
BBMom
07-12-2002, 04:39 PM
Originally posted by parisfrance
You're never going to belive this girls, but I just flew back from Des Moines on Sunday! My parents are from Iowa (mom from a farm now under the Rathburn Lake, dad from D.M.) and I went to Grinnell College. I still have family there so we were visiting. It was really weird to check in at the airport for our first flight to Kansas City and say "I'd like to check these bags through to Paris". :D
I loved the song! My son (2.5) just learned to tell the difference between corn and beans in the field, and we drove back from a trip to Boone the last day with him exclaiming "corn!" and then "more corn!" and "beans!". Made me laugh.
Des Moines isn't Paris, but that's why I like visiting it so much!!!
Michelle
Oh hey! I grew up in Grinnell! I graduated from Grinnell High School...and after many moves...have only ended up about 15mins away...lol! But I love this area...the people...the life, etc.
parisfrance
07-12-2002, 04:46 PM
Hey bbmom! I was disappointed not to have made it out to visit Grinnell on this visit, I love that town. I wanted to go to Cunninghams again. I hear that the college is on a building frenzy, which makes me sad. I absolutely loved Grinnell.
Michelle in Paris
gypsyjen76
07-31-2002, 03:06 PM
Hi all! I'm in Iowa too! :) Anyone near the Iowa City area? I work in IC and absolutely LOVE IT! If we ever afford it, we'll be moving back there (use to live there when we were childless and had more money! LOL).
I'm a relatively new mommy (since March 2001), and live near Iowa City. I've been married to dh since June 1999. Looking forward to meeting some of you! :)
mmm...my favorite places to eat in Iowa City
The co-op
The red Avocado (kind of pricey...for iowa city)
Masala (indian food)
Thai Spice YUM!!!
gypsyjen76
07-31-2002, 03:17 PM
LOL, LaLa! You're in IC, right? Where is the Red Avocado? I don't think I've ever heard of that one!
I'm actually headed to the co-op in a few minutes! :)
Christi
07-31-2002, 05:54 PM
Red Avocado Yummm!
It is just across the street from New Pioneer downtown.
Gypsyjen76-
Where are you. My dh is in grad school in Ia City and my bro and SIL live there on the east side. We used to go to Ia City a lot before Gareth was born. Now it is just an occasional trip. We live 1 and a half hours from Ia City now. We used to only be an hour away. It was a little more bareable then.
anythingelse
07-31-2002, 08:04 PM
In davenport try looking for AP mommies at Palmer college of chiro, we used to live there, lots of friendly mommies there.
gypsyjen76
08-01-2002, 08:24 AM
Christi - I just noticed where you live - we really aren't too far away! ;)
We need to have an eastern Iowa (or central Iowa, you guys are close enough) get together one of these days. LaLa, perhaps we should set something up. Then again, who has time in the summer? We have had something going on all the time. We are only home about every other weekend, and on those that we are home, my mom and stepdad seem to be here searching for a place to live -- Yikes -- since they sold their house in Marshalltown. Luckily, they live in Florida nine months out of the year.
LaLa, I can't wait to get together again. I hope when things slow down we can set something up. We are too close not to hang out. Besides, I want to see how baby bean is growing.:love One of these days I'll have to get a baby bean of my own, but I think I'll wait a bit. One of my good friends just had her third child this morning (can you say "three under three") and I'll see how things go for her first.:LOL
Beth I was just thinking about you this morning and wondering where I put your number! We are home and done with vacations and catching our breath, and I thought we could meet you guys for a play date in coralville or something like that!
Now it will have to wait again
Sigh...
I really need to locate your number!
:LOL
Tomorrow I am going to attempt the LIbrary lap time with bean!
Last time that consisted of me chasing her around the building
heehee
Wish me luck!
Just had to add:
If you all are ever looking for special gifts in the Iowa City area, go to the Iowa City Artisians Gallery! They have the coolest stuff and I can usually find something affordable there. Great for wedding gifts, anniversaries and other special occasions :D
AND you may have missed it this year, but next year check out the art festival! IT is worth going out inthe heat for the AWESOME stuff and great deals there!
:D
gypsyjen76
08-05-2002, 09:17 AM
I know I'm just new here, but I would love to get together with you ladies! Are most of you SAHM's? I mentioned on one of the other boards, I do work, but I have Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sundays off. Like the majority of you, we are pretty much booked the rest of the summer. But maybe we could get together on a week day? Just a possibility?
LaLa - I LOVE the Iowa Artisians Gallery! It's just right up the street from my office and I stop by there occasionally on my lunch break. I've found some neat gifts and love the jewelry there, too!
oh, I wish I could think of a reason to justify buying myself some of that jewelry!
:LOL
gypsyjen76
08-05-2002, 09:58 AM
LOL, LaLa, me too!
I forgot I posted here and just peeked back in. Where is this gallery?
How have you been feeling lately, LaLa? Those maternity clothes taking over your closet yet?:LOL My friend just had her baby last Thursday, and met us at the mall today for our weekly mall playdate. We were laughing about how with our first children we spent the first week on the couch nursing our sore crotch (and boobs) but with the subsequent children you just load them up and go. Shoot, with Jonah I got out of the hospital on Sunday evening, and first thing Monday morning we were running to WalMart and then out for lunch, all with my three day babe in tow. All of this activity with a third degree tear. Funny thing, I never once sat on the blowup donut with Jonah, but I lived on it for weeks with Christian (4th degree tear:eek .)
We have things going on the next two weekends but after that things should slow down a bit, although Christian starts preschool after Labor Day. He will go MWF mornings. LaLa, I'm going to PM you quick with my phone number and address before I go to bed. That way, one of these days you can come show me how to get on APUtopia. I still can't get on. I must really be a computer idiot.:rolleyes:
gypsyjen76
08-07-2002, 07:50 AM
This is a slow-moving board, isn't it? LOL Hope everyone is doing well!
Lala - I didn't know you were expecting - when are you due? My sister is due with her first child on Oct. 3, and we're thrilled to have a little cousin for Isabel!
Just thought I would share my webpage with you ladies, so you could see my family. It hasn't been updated in quite awhile, but we've just been too busy!
http://www.robandjen.com
I love the name Isabel!
So beautiful!
gypsyjen76
08-07-2002, 10:04 AM
Thanks, Lala! :)
Jen, I loved the house tour on your site. That was so cool. You have a beautiful house. We live in a split foyer (all above ground) like you see all over IC. We pretty much have white walls so I loved all the color you had in your rooms. Our kitchen, dining, livingroom all attach and desperately need painting -- one of these days I'll get to that. We have cathedral ceilings and I'm not looking forward to that.
Your daughter is a cutie. What cheeks!:)
gypsyjen76
08-08-2002, 03:05 PM
Thanks, Beth! ;) We think she's pretty cute, too! I had fun picking colors for our house (notice I didn't say paintin the house? I didn't 'get' to do it, as I was pg at the time! LOL). We had been living in rental properties for so long, surrounded by stark-white walls that we decided to spice up our life a bit! LOL I haven't gotten sick of it...yet...but I do wish I had painted the kitchen the same color as the bathroom and the hallway - I don't care much for the yellow anymore...
Have fun with your ceilings! LOL
BBMom
08-11-2002, 02:25 PM
We were just in Iowa city yesterday...stopped by the Stuff Etc....got a Tough Traveler backpack carrier!!! Woo hoo...big find! I didn't get to the co-op though...waaaah! I LOVE the New Pioneer co-op...been going there for years...and the new one is so nice.
Will have to check out the other places mentioned sometime. I hope to go to Nursing school there in the future to get my Master's....I LOVE Iowa City. DH needs to finish up his Master's there too.
We were at Stuff in Coralville yesterday.:D
BBMom
08-11-2002, 03:24 PM
Originally posted by jbcjmom
We were at Stuff in Coralville yesterday.:D
We stopped there first...got a tray for eating or doing homework/etc....then we went to the other one. I wonder if we were there at the same time...lol!
gypsyjen76
08-12-2002, 08:24 AM
Good morning, everyone! I hope everyone had a good weekend! Ours could have been better (had a visitation and funeral this weekend for a family friend). Unfortunately, our family has seen quite a lot of sadness lately. Our friend's passing this past week, and we also lost a very, very good friend on July 2nd in Cedar Rapids - he fell 30 feet from a sign while working. He was 28 years-old, and left behind his wife (my best friend) and their two sons (2 years and 4 months). I can't even imagine what she's going through as a widow at age 25. :(
OK, didn't mean to be a bummer first thing on Monday - Monday's are pretty depressing, anyway! ;)
Do any of you work outside the home, or are most all of you SAHMs?
oh that is so sad!
:(
I am a sahm but I think you knew that.
Regarding Stuff in Coralville...I really need to go there to drop off some stuff!
We are doing some major house cleaning and I'm getting rid of the clutter!
It's that pregnancy nesting phase I think...
Have you mamas found great deals at garage sales this summer? I keep finding the best bargains! I am loving it!
I got a dressor for dd/ds number 2 for $5! It's all wood, but needs some clean up. I don't mind some work, though, for that price!
Anyway, need to keep moving...lot to do today.
We're refinancing our mortgage to lower our rate and I have to wade through stacks of papers to find everything we need!
LOL
Took dd to chuck e cheese yesterday. She danced and ran around like a mad woman. She loved it!
We should get all the little ones together to play and dance there! It's free (which is a bonus in my book) and if we go early it is pretty quite and safer for the little tikes
:D
You know me, LaLa, I'm always up for CECheese! How about organizing a get together in September? I need to get through the rest of busy august and the first week of September, then I'm in relatively good shape. Jonah's second bday is the first week of October, but I think it will be a low key celebration this year.
How are Thursdays for anyone who is interested? Wait, if I rememember right Jen, you work on Tuedsays don't you? I could skip our weekly playdate some Tuesday if anyone is interested. The gals could live without me for a week. Christian starts Preschool at Regina (Jen, I'm on your list of things you dislike on your webpage, but I assure you, I'm nice and normal :love , ask LaLa;) ) on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays so I'm going to be booked those mornings.
Let me know if anyone is up for CECheese! LaLa, I'll even split a veggie pizza with you this time.:D
I'm off for a few days to go with the family to "A Day Out With Thomas." I can't wait. Christian is doing the daily countdown. After today I'll be back on the computer on Sunday. I'm going to miss you guys. Be good while I'm gone.:wink
gypsyjen76
08-14-2002, 03:29 PM
"Jen, I'm on your list of things you dislike on your webpage, but I assure you, I'm nice and normal , ask LaLa"
ROFL, Beth! What are you on my list of dislikes? LOL I'm sure I'll like you just fine!
If I'm included, I'd love to meet you all at CEC - Isabel has never been there! I am off on Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays (so I work M-W-Th), if any of those days work for anyone...
Have a good time with your family, Beth! :)
Nankay
08-14-2002, 03:47 PM
Hey wait..WE'RE going to Day Out With Thomas too! He'll be in Boone...i think our tickets are for Friday. Gads..Sam has been asking when we're going for the last month.He sleeps with the newspaper ad!:rolleyes:
Nankay -- have a blast!!! We went to Rockford, IL last year and are going back there this year. They have the largest RR museum in the country there. We know the layout of the grounds and has such fun last year that we didn't want to risk going to Boone and having it not be as fun. Last year we were able to ride on five different trains, including Thomas. Besides, Rockford is just as close for us as Boone. I hope you have as good a time as we did. We are actually leaving now on Friday (our tickets are for Saturday) but I have so much to do around the house before we go that I am going to use tomorrow to clean and pack. This month has been so busy that I am so far behind on housework that it is embarrassing.
Jen, I consider myself to be a pretty conservative person. I attended Catholic school as a child and continue to go every week. I probably fall somewhere in the middle of the road in many things, and never considered myself one or the other until recently, but if I had to define myself as liberal or conservative, I would fall on the conservative end. When it comes to politics I always vote pro-life more than R or D. I hate having to catagorize myself as one or the other, but when I saw 'conservatives' on your list of dislikes, I thought, "Uh, oh! I'd better keep my mouth shut.":LOL I'm not very political so I don't come off as one or the other. I always try to remember that everyone has opinions and no one has to agree with mine any more than I have to agree with theirs. That's what it's all about.
gypsyjen76
08-14-2002, 05:24 PM
Beth - LOL, I was born and raised Catholic, too! (I was born into a large Irish Catholic family..no one has dared leave the religion! LOL). I resepect your opinions and I appreciate you being honest! LOL I'm pretty honest, and might come across as brutal to some, but I don't beat around the bush. Like you, I don't push my opinions on others - if they don't like what I do, they don't have to do it. If I don't like what they do - I don't do it either! ;)
Have fun this weekend!!!
teehee...
Hey, the Children's Museum in corralville is half price on Thursdays now!
After spending the day there yesterday, I think we are definetly going to get a pass this year!
It is so great!!!
:D
gypsyjen76
08-15-2002, 08:00 AM
Beth,
I've never checked out the Children's Museum - I've only been there once, to hang up fliers for the Animal Shelter Adopt-a-thon. It looked pretty neat, though. I wonder if Isabel is old enough to enjoy it yet (16 months)?
Hope you're having fun!
Hello to everyone!
I took the bean at that age and she loved it!
There is a preschool area upstairs that she mainly played in :)
Christi
08-15-2002, 09:39 AM
Hello everyone.
How is everything going on this lovely cool morning? Hasn't the weather been great the last couple of days. I love it when I can shut off the air conditioner. I love listening to the bugs instead of that constant hummm. One year ago today My baby and I came home from the hospital. I just can't believe he is one all ready.
I would love to meet at chuck e cheese with you all. I'm pretty much free anytime. Maybe we could meet at the museum in coralville sometime also. It sounds fun. Thomas is something I'm sure I will know about in a year or so. When Gareth gets a little older. Did you have a good time?
Nankay
08-15-2002, 09:48 AM
We almost went to Thomas at Union, Il last year (we could bunk at my aunt and uncle's house) BUT alas, things just didn't work out. I felt SOOOOO bad Sam couldn't go..glad to have a 2nd chance! Have fun!!
gypsyjen76
08-15-2002, 10:09 AM
LaLa - Geesh, I called you Beth earlier! Sorry! LOL I'll have to check it out with Miss Isabel!
Happy Belated Birthday, Gareth! :)
We have a pass to the Children's museum. We got it for Christmas last year. It's what we asked for from my parents. It was much nicer than getting something we didn't want. We use it all the time, especially in the winter when there is little else to do. I have the expanded membership that allows two adults other than my dh and I in on our membership. If we ever want to get together there, I can get two of you in free -- all you would have to do is pay for your children. Jonah started going when he was about 14 months and loved the preschool area, especially the grocery store, the ball room and the water area.:rolleyes: What is it about kids and water. I learned to always dress him in an undershirt in the winter so I can take off his long sleeve shirt and put the "raincoat" on over the undershirt. We had way too many trips there where the boys played with soaking wet sleeves.
LaLa, do you know if they are going to continue the half price Thursday's through the fall?
So have you all noticed that I said that I WAS NOT going to get online today, yet here I am.:rolleyes: I just can't stay away. My name is Beth, and I'm a MDC-aholic. We spent the morning at home so I got a bunch of laundry done (just hung out the last two loads) and got the kitchen cleaned after Jason made a couple batches of homemade spaghetti sauce and salsa with all of our tomatos. Both are absolutely fantastic, and if you guys want the recipies, let me know. The salsa ROCKS!!!
Tonight we have to head to church (it's the Assumption) and we're going to grab a bite to eat. I don't want to have to clean the kitchen once again before we leave. I've got laundry to fold and clothes to pack. Yea!!! Go Thomas the Tank Engine!!!
BBMom
08-16-2002, 04:32 PM
I have never been to the children's museum...sounds fun!
gypsyjen76 - I'm so sorry mama! I hope you're friend is doing okay...how sad! I didn't hear about that on the news...course I have been working evenings and I miss the news!
I am supposed to have Thursdays off this fall...BUT I will hopefully know more on Monday. I am a nurse...work part-time...and I start back to school to finish up my RN September 3rd. But we'll see!
So, what's new guys? We're falling down the list so I thought I'd bump us back on top.:D
Is everyone busy wrapping up their summer. Things are finally slowing down for us. A couple weeks and Christian will be starting preschool.:crying I'm not sure if I'm ready for that.
Anyway, just curious how everyone has been.
BTW, The Thomas Festival, as my son calls it, ROCKED!!!! Gotta love that Thomas the Tank Engine.
Nankay, did you already go to Boone? I want to compare notes.:D
gypsyjen76
08-21-2002, 06:11 AM
Morning, everyone!
Thanks, Heidi!
Beth - Glad to hear the "Thomas Festival" went well. When does Christian start school?
Not too much going on here....well, maybe there is! LOL Dh is possibly looking for a new job and we're trying to get our car sold so we can purchase a new one. We've been looking at VWs and Volvos. I swear, buying a car is 100 times worse than buying a house. :(
And is it common knowledge that all car salesmen/women must score 100% on a "How to screw your customer" exam before they are hired???:confused:
Nankay
08-21-2002, 08:53 AM
Thomas doesn't arrive in Boone until September 20th. Olivia started 1st grade today :( :shake Waaaa.. My boy starts preschool after Labor Day. Sigh Time for another baby.:thumb :D
Do you want us to start doing a fertility dance for you?:thumb Christian starts preschool the wednesday after labor day. His openhouse is Friday morning so that should be fun.
BBMom
08-21-2002, 03:28 PM
Originally posted by jbcjmom
So, what's new guys? We're falling down the list so I thought I'd bump us back on top.:D
Is everyone busy wrapping up their summer. Things are finally slowing down for us. A couple weeks and Christian will be starting preschool.:crying I'm not sure if I'm ready for that.
Anyway, just curious how everyone has been.
BTW, The Thomas Festival, as my son calls it, ROCKED!!!! Gotta love that Thomas the Tank Engine.
Nankay, did you already go to Boone? I want to compare notes.:D
Where/when was yours? We had planned to get to the Boone one...but I may have to work.
ebaby
08-21-2002, 11:37 PM
HI
I am a lurker around here, born & raised in IA
I am a new Mama to one son (8 months)
He was born at home, bfing, ap etc
Nice to know not alone out here in the corn
BabyE'sMom (Kari)
Christi
08-21-2002, 11:46 PM
Welcome Ebaby! Glad you could join us. Where abouts are you from? I'm from Ottumwa. Originally from Fairfield though. We just moved here last month.
it is rainy and dreary here today.
We may make it out to the children's museum at some point today...not sure when
:)
Christi
08-22-2002, 02:12 PM
It's very humid, hot, and sunny here! It always amazes me when the weather is such a drastic change only 60 miles away. Have fun at the museum. Some day I'll get up there to see it.
ebaby
08-22-2002, 02:33 PM
:) hi Christi
I am by Des Moines, love it here. Humid day.
Heading to St. louis for weekend. Baby travels well( thank the Lord).
I reaaly like this forum, I lurk around this and one other quite a bit. Watching for my "issues" & interesting stuff.
I loved Motherings issue on tribes, hence the post =)
Be Well
Kari
Nankay
08-22-2002, 03:47 PM
Hi Ebaby! I'm in Indianola! Are we close to each other? I'm a stay at home mom of a 7 yr old and a 4 year old. Born and raised in Cedar Rapids, myself.
LaLa, We were at the Children's Museum yesterday morning!:D Did you end up going? It was pretty busy. I thought since school started yesterday it wouldn't be, but I forgot that school didn't start everywhere yesterday. I went with Chris, whom you met at ChuckECheese, and another friend who just had her third baby a few weeks ago. All the kids were absolute peaches!! It was so nice -- no fighting, no arguing, no struggles, no tantrums. God must have been giving me a break after the crappy week I've had.:rolleyes:
ebaby, WELCOME!!!! It's so nice to have you hear. I used to live in West Des Moines for several years in my mid 20's I was a retail manager for County Seat (before they started going under. Hmmmm... After I left the went belly up -- suppose there's any connection there?:LOL ) Dh and I moved to Iowa City about seven years ago and really like it. It took a long time to feel like home, but it does now. We were just back at the Iowa State Fair two weeks ago. The boys loved it.
We went to the Thomas Festival at Union, IL. It's about 25 minutes east of Rockford. We had a great time. I think we will be going back for years to come.:D
Is anyone else starting to look forward to wearing jeans and sweatshirts???
ummm...you will probably never see me in shorts. I rarely wera them, so jeans all summer :)
we didn't go.
my energy is low with this pregnancy. I wanted to take her, but decdied next week may be better :)
If you decide to go next week, let me know.:D
ebaby
08-25-2002, 03:14 PM
Hi again
Indianola to just the East end of Altoona ..we are close
I only have one boy (8mo) born at home with midwife from Des Moines Carey Ryan. She was great.
Not to sound to wacky but what kinda parenting style do you all use?
Have a great week
Kari
I mean: ap, nonvac, non circ, home birth etc
Christi
08-25-2002, 05:30 PM
ebaby
Hi! We are AP ALL THE WAY!!:D Though I didn't have a home birth. I did have a completely natural birth with a great Doc. I haven't vaccinated but we are thinking of doing a few now that he is older. I did not circumsize. We try really hard to respond to Gareth's needs. He is a totally mellow baby. I love being a mom. It is so fulfilling!
Pynki
08-25-2002, 08:55 PM
HAllu all....
Beth told me to stop in and put my 2 cents in so here you go...
(2 Cents)
Yes... I take a little getting used to... I live about 30 miles se of Iowa City and as you may have guessed i know Beth from outside the cyber world... Our kids even play together.... And sometimes they don't even fight!!!!!
:jaw :jaw :jaw :jaw :jaw
Well that's all... Just thought i would give everyone else in Iowa a hallu soooo.....
HALLU
Good bye!!
Dyan:fairy :fairy :fairy :fairy :fairy
Nankay
08-26-2002, 04:13 PM
I know Carey Ann.. she caught DD. Her former partner caught #2 3 years later.:D
gypsyjen76
08-26-2002, 09:50 PM
Evening, everyone!
Just thought I'd pop in and say hi. Students are back so our office is crazy (as well as all of Iowa City). My mom and I are repainting our kitchen and hallway tomorrow...we just moved into this house less than two years ago, and all ready I'm sick of the yellow kitchen! LOL:D We're also in the process of remodeling our bathroom (we only have a stall shower and need a tub for Isabel - she's quickly outgrowing the sink!) and ripping up our 20 year old flooring in the kitchen and bathroom and redoing those as well. Ugh. I wish we had done this when we moved in.
Oh yea, and we're also car shopping - our choices are narrowed down to a VW or a Volvo. Car shopping is 100 times worse than house shopping ever was. Yuck.
I'm also doing research to try to find something I can do from home to supplement our income, and possibly support me so I can stay home full time. I would love to start my own business, but don't know exactly what I want to do yet. I have considered a few possibilities - candle-making (to sell to local shops), cleaning commercial businesses (just a couple a week, maybe in the evening when dh is home with Isabel) and desktop publishing. I'm at a loss. I just can't decide on anything or find anything legit. :crying
Hope everyone else is having a better week than I am.
Jen, so is the traffic getting to you too? I never seem to notice the difference in traffic when the students leave, but whammo, when they come back I have to plan an extra 5 or 10 minutes in to my travel time.:rolleyes:
How is everyone doing? Where do you work, Jen? Questions, Questions, Questions. Now that school has started I'm getting exited for Christmas. How much of a dork am I? We don't spend much on the boys for Christmas, but I love going out and finding things I think they would like, making lists, crossing stuff off and adding new stuff. It's sort of like default shopping.:LOL It doesn't stress my dh out either.
Less than a week until Christian's preschool career begins.
In case anyone is looking for something fun to do this weekend, the Regina Fall Fun Festival starts tomorrow (Friday.) Lots of food, carnival rides, kiddie games, music, etc. It's behind the Regina education center. We went last year and the kids had a great time. Did I mention that there's a beer tent??? We are going Sunday after naps. I wish we could go more, but we have plans on Friday eve and Saturday eve.:rolleyes:
My mom and stepdad are coming any minute to stay with us for a couple (???) days. Deep breaths!!! Think of me.;)
gypsyjen76
08-29-2002, 02:55 PM
Beth - Hello! LOL, will be thinking of you with your family this week! The fair at Regina sounds like fun - unfortunately, we'll be in Missouri at my parent's summer home with family and friends (or maybe not so unfortunate, as we'll have our own "beer garden"! LOL).
I work at the University of Iowa as a computer consultant. Thank God it's only 3 days a week, I'm ready to strangle most of the students I work with! LOL
Have a lovely weekend, everyone, and I'll talk to you next week! OOoooh, I'm meeting a woman from Discovery Toys at 4:30 at CoralRidge mall - I'm going to be a consultant for them! Wish me luck - it will help us make payments on a new car, without me having to go back to work full-time!
So......would any of you be interstested in having a Discovery Toys party/ Or maybe I should have one and invite you all to my house! :)
AnnR33
08-31-2002, 12:55 AM
It's good to see so many moms on this site from conservative Iowa! I've had a hard time finding moms who share my parenting style-AP, let alone breastfeed (hah!) but finally found a great circle of friends in Cedar Rapids, where I live, just his spring.
We'll have to get together with the folks in IC. Do you moms from IC go the the La Leche mtgs there. I go every once in awhile.
I have an almost 4 yr old boy and 11 mos girl who keep me busy at home.
Good to hear from you all!
Ann
Nankay
08-31-2002, 08:37 PM
Hi AnnR33!!
Cedar Rapids is my hometown. (graduated from Jefferson) Sending you good vibes.:wave
Pynki
09-02-2002, 04:51 PM
HI Annr33
I live about 30 minutes away from IC, but in the opposite direction from you... I live SE.....
We have had a buxy buxy week end and now my body has pooped out again!!! :crying :crying :crying :crying :crying
I suppose it happenes... Mercury (our oldest) just turned 4 on Friday and he too is getting ready to start preschool... We got off really lucky i think... We live in a small town so all the churches got together to have a preschool for the kids here and it's only $3.oo a day... You can't beat that with a stick!!!
:jaw :jaw :jaw :jaw :jaw
So, how are YOU all doing???
Ann, I am in CR too :D
Not born and raised here, though...just 3 years now?
gypsjen-maybe you should have the discover toys party and invite all of us!
LOL
Of course, I won't be able to buy much because dh would send me packing if I brought home more toys!
LOL
I just got dd the peg board at a garage sale for $2! I was going to buy it anyway, so I was excited about my find. She is almost two and she loves trying to string the round pieces onto a long shoestring! Then she likes to stack them and throw them all over the house :LOL It's great fun
Ok mamas, want to get together this week or next at the children's museum, chuck e cheese, or the john deere play area?
Or a park if weather is nice?
Edited to add: We went to the park today and it was creepy...there was no one there except for us the whole time!
weird! :eek
That's what happens this time of year. We were at John Deere today and it was nice and mellow. My four year old and his friends were the oldest ones there. They were all so good. Part of the reason that things are so quiet today is that most preschools start this week, so now not only are the big kids gone, but the preschoolers are starting too. It may pick up again in week or two, but everyone has to get used to their new schedule. Christian starts tomorrow :crying and I feel like it's the end of one era and the beginning of another. I'm also trying to figure out what to do between 8:30 and 11:00 when Bugs is at school. Maybe I'll take little spanky boy to feed the ducks while big brother is at school.:D
Ann, I don't go to LLL here, but I am almost a charter member of the Breastfeeding Support Group at Mercy Hospital. I'm pretty excited cause now that Bugs will have preschool on Fridays, his dad is going to pick him up from school so I can still go to the group. It will be so nice to only have to watch one child.:) I might actually get to hear what is going on now.
AnnR33
09-03-2002, 07:46 PM
It's so great that there are so many breastfeeding support groups now. There's the one at IC Mercy that was the model for the one at Mercy in CR and there are La Leche groups in IC and CR now. Just a few years ago there was just IC La Leche.
I really think it has made a difference in CR.
Anyway, we would love to get together at the John Deere area but not this week. How about next week(s) on a Monday or Wednesday? Always love to meet more kids to play with and other moms that I share common values with.
Ann
I could do a monday or wed at the play area at Coral Ridge mall, but it would have to be early on those days. I have to leave by 10:30 to pick Bugs up from preschool. I guess I could meet at 11:30 after I pick him up. They could take late naps. This preschool thing really screws up my schedule.:rolleyes: Thursdays are always a great day for me, don't know if that works for anyone else. If it does, perhaps we could start something permanent like the second thursday of the month we could meet here in IC and the fourth thursday we could go to Chuck E Cheese in CR. Anyone up for that?
I also have a permanent playgroup of just a few friends who meet at the play area at around 10:00 on Tuesdays. At 11:00 we go to the food court and eat lunch together. It's not exclusive and the people rotate depending on our schedules (although I'm there every week barring an illness.) Anyone who feels the need to get out of the house and talk with adults is always welcome to join us. Just let me know if you are interested a day or so ahead and I'll tell you what I'll be wearing (or what my kids will be wearing) so you can find me.
The more, the merrier!!!:banana :banana :banana
Pynki
09-04-2002, 09:50 PM
HEY!!!
I"M PART OF THAT PLAY GROUP!!! She's right though... We'll let just about any one play with us!!!:D :D :D :D
Anyday after Wed is good for me... (No preschool then here!! ) Of course i only have met BEth so the rest of you seem amorophus to me... Not that i think you are ameba's or anything,,, Just i don't know whatya look like...
Sorry... I'm done nnow... What do you all think??
Dyan:D :D :D
I'm flexible
:)
I went to check this today because I was driving by the children's museum...but the boards were down!
I ended up taking the bean to the park with some friends and then I got locked out of my house (thanks dh! )
for 1.5 hours in the sun at lunch time!
Oh brother!
:LOL
Oh, LaLa! I think you need a :hug. I've had days like that. The one that gets me is when dh locks the car. For some reason we can't get our car keys to unlock the car doors anymore. Thet still work on the trunk, just not the car. I've told dh over and over not to lock the car. He's done it twice this summer. When he did it the first time we opened the trunk and pushed the pass through open and sent Bugs through to unlock the car. He was the only one who would fit.
The second time he did it we were at the pool having a cookout with neighbors after swimming. Unfortunatly, Bug's carseat was blocking the pass through and I couldn't get it down. I was hot, sweaty and really mad. I finally managed to get the thing pushed down (and I didn't even break it, but close).
I've told him if he ever does it again HE gets to get in the trunk and try to open it. Then I'm going to shut the trunk on him. :D
Hope your day got better, LaLa.:love
BBMom
09-08-2002, 04:20 PM
I am bummin'....I know NO ONE here really. Iowa City is about an hour or so away, so I can't just run over there very often...plus I just started my last year of school (RN)...ugh!
I had a fall out on the boards I moderatered on...big changes...so now I REALLY feel lonely (was there for two years...and nearly a year of that was as a mod).
Oh well...*sigh* I am probably too busy for human interaction. ;)
Pynki
09-08-2002, 08:45 PM
Hi BB mom.. An hour which way... From the iowa telecom thing i would bet you live near muscatine... I live 18miles from mustatine... So, if that holds true, you aren't as far way as you think you are!!
Hang in three.. It sounds like you are having a hard time now, and as i'm sure you know as a nursing student everyone needs so human contact from time to time..
So welcome aboard!!!!!
:love :love :love
AnnR33
09-10-2002, 11:59 AM
For the few of you from CR or close by, the weather is supposed to be so nice this week. Anyone want to meet us at Ellis Park on Wed (Sept 11) around 10:30am. We may bring our lunch too.
It's a nice park with a play area for big kids and one for smaller kids. We'll be there anyway, I'll have a light green stroller with kind of a wild print on it so say HI if you can come.
I'm also planning on attending the La Leche mtg in IC next Wednesday at Hills Bank. Maybe I'll see someone there from here?
Ann
AnnR33
09-10-2002, 09:17 PM
OK, I looked and my stroller is not light green (that was the old one) it's teal green/blue-whatever.
Anyway, hope to see someone there.
We try to go to the park at least once a week. So if anyone wants to meet another day or at another park, bring it up.
Ann
Pynki
09-10-2002, 11:08 PM
Ann...
I'd love to go, but between preschool and pictures tomorrow, not to mention rehearsal for the show that i'm helping out with that opens on Friday I'm booked right now... Maybe next week though..,,
:thumb :thumb
Dyan
We will most likely be there :)
We go to parks almost every day with two of our friends when the weather is nice like this :)
AnnR33
09-11-2002, 02:19 PM
Sorry we were late LaLa. We got there at 11am and I thought you were with the other play group so I didn't say anything.
It was still good to meet you briefly and I was glad to see Julie again. When are you due? It seemed to be the pregnant mom play day at the park with about 3 or 4!;)
Oh well, we'll try again another day. Most mornings around 10:30 work best best for us but we're pretty flexible.
Ann
I'm due in January :)
We got there at 10, and bean was loosing her cool when we left
:LOL
she got really sleepy, but will she take a nap?
NO!
sigh...I took one though. Pregnant mamas need naps :)
She just played with her toys while I napped. Sweetie bean :D
We've been going to parks daily with this weather! I'll post here tomorrow morning if we're going anywhere. We have been talking about the childrens museum and it's half price on Thursdays so....maybe?
Your kids are cutie pies :)
BBMom
09-11-2002, 05:52 PM
Originally posted by Pynki
Hi BB mom.. An hour which way... From the iowa telecom thing i would bet you live near muscatine... I live 18miles from mustatine... So, if that holds true, you aren't as far way as you think you are!!
Hang in three.. It sounds like you are having a hard time now, and as i'm sure you know as a nursing student everyone needs so human contact from time to time..
So welcome aboard!!!!!
:love :love :love
I live in Newton...so West of Iowa City...SW of CR.
Pynki
09-15-2002, 11:36 AM
Hi bb mom...
My husband pointed that out to me AFTER i had already made the post... (what a helpful guy he is!!:rolleyes: :rolleyes: ) I hope you are feeling a little more connected these days...
Warm Squishy Feelings
Dyan
:thumb
Christi
09-16-2002, 12:00 PM
Hi All,
How have you guys been? My computer has been down for the last week and a half. I didn't realize how much I used it. Talk about going through withdrawl.;) I was womdering if any of you have heard of Eden's Harvest Holistic Birth Services? Kathy Deol is a midwife. I have been at a homebirth that she attended. _Check it out. She is located in Riverside. Her website is, www.edensharvest.com
hmmm...while we're on the subject...anyone know of a doula in the Iowa City/Cedar Rapids/Coralville area?
She need not be certified. There are only two certified ones in my city and we didn't mesh too great...
Plus we dont have th $$$ to spend $600 on a doula :jaw
Any ideas?
hmmm...while we're on the subject...anyone know of a doula in the Iowa City/Cedar Rapids/Coralville area?
She need not be certified. There are only two certified ones in my city and we didn't mesh too great...
Plus we dont have th $$$ to spend $600 on a doula :jaw
Any ideas?:eek
AnnR33
09-16-2002, 08:30 PM
Yes, LaLa, there is a woman trying to become certified to be a doula from Fairfax. She needs to help with so many pregnancies to be certified. She may be free while she's in this process, I'm not sure.
A friend of mine is using her for her homebirth this spring here in CR.
I will get her name and info and get it to you this week!
Ann
Ann, that would be wonderful!
Thank you :D
gypsyjen76
09-26-2002, 11:26 AM
Hi all, hope I'm still welcome here? :( I must have gotten unsubbed or something. Anyway, I'm back if no one minds.
Anyway...my last post was me telling you all about my Discovery Toys consulting. It's going well, and I'm so glad I got into it! Great extra money to cover our new car payment!
LaLa - How cool that you found the Peg board for $2!!! Isabel loves that one, too.
Beth - I would love to meet with you on a Tuesday, if you don't mind? I saw your post about Coral Ridge area, and am only 20 minutes from there. In fact, my MIL, Isabel and I were shopping at Coral Ridge this past Tuesday, and walked by the play area a few times, but it was early afternoon by then. If you are headed there next Tuesday, maybe Isabel and I could meet you all?
Oooh, and if any of you are shopping in Coral Ridge - check out Isabel's picture! :) The Starbeck-Miller Photography kiosk is located right by the John Deere play area, and Isabel's picture is blown up HUGE on the end of the kiosk - she's sitting in a red, white and blue outfit, holding a American flag.
BBMom/Heidi - Where is Newton? on I-80?
Pynki/Dyan - I've probably asked you this before, but which way do you live from Muscatine?
Christi - Thanks for pointing out the Eden's Harvest site. I am less than 10 minutes from Riverside! :)
My sister is due Oct. 3 and I can't hardly stand the excitement anymore! LOL I'm her "unofficial doula", so I can't wait! I don't know that I'll actually be in there during the birth (I'd love to be, but I don't want her or her dh to be uncomfortable), but I'm her support person during labor. She's dilated to 3cm and 75% effaced right now, so that babe will be here sooner than we know it! :)
Pynki
09-27-2002, 11:15 AM
Gypsyjen...
It's all good... And i don't think I've told you before ... I live 30 or so miles NE of Muscatine and 30 or so miles SW of Iowa city... WE a smack dap in the middle....
Warm Squishy feelings
Dyan
:thumb
gypsyjen76
09-27-2002, 02:32 PM
Originally posted by Pynki
Gypsyjen...
It's all good... And i don't think I've told you before ... I live 30 or so miles NE of Muscatine and 30 or so miles SW of Iowa city... WE a smack dap in the middle....
Dyan,
I'm confused about where you are - 30 miles NE of Muscatine...and 30 miles SW of IC? LOL Sorry, can't figure that one out! Thanks for posting - good to hear from you!
BBMom
09-27-2002, 10:12 PM
Originally posted by gypsyjen76
BBMom/Heidi - Where is Newton? on I-80?
Yes...it is right off of I-80 west of Iowa City about an hour (if you're going a "little" faster than the posted speed limit...hehehe!).
S. Carnes
09-28-2002, 10:22 AM
Hope you don't mind me jumping in...not sure how safe this is but I'm living in Tripoli, about 30 miles north of Waterloo. I grew up in Plainfieldl..which is north of Waverly (Wartburg College) and also north of Cedar Falls/Waterloo. We have 3 girls 3 1/2, 2 1/2 and 5 weeks. I've just started to cloth diaper and I've gotten so much great information on the diapering forum.
Hope to get to know you all!!:)
By the way, love the corn song. I-80 is nice, but its boring..esp on your way to Chicago.
gypsyjen76
09-30-2002, 07:43 AM
Welcome, S. Carnes! I'm new here, too, but these women have been very welcoming! :) I have one daughter, 18 months, and live south of Iowa City.
Has anyone here been to the Monkey HOuse in Iowa City yet? I want to check it out - it sounds like something Isabel would love! :)
AnnR33
10-01-2002, 02:08 PM
Just wondering if anyone knows of anyplace to buy daipers or covers in the CR/IC area-or even Davenport. The shipping is killing me on my initial orders. I've spend $120 so far and $20 of that is on shipping. I don't need much more-just a few covers but would love to get them localling if possible. I did try two childrens resale shops in Coralville but they only had plastic pants (actually I found 1 Reuzm but that was it).
Just wondering...or if anyone custom makes covers-wool would be great.
And LaLa, I have the doula info but your PM box is full.
Ann
S. Carnes
10-02-2002, 10:37 AM
Ann, I've found some great deals on ebay for diapers and covers. I'm still really new at cd'ing, but I bought 2 dozen unbleached CPF's and about 8 wraps off of ebay and have only spent about $75. Of course some auctions can get out of hand, but if you know what retail prices are sometimes you can really save.
gypsyjen76-tell me more about the monkey house, where it is, etc? Sounds neat!
On another note I've decided to be an Usborne Books at Home consultant...anyone heard of them. I'm excited and really nervous at the same time. I'm a new sahm and I've really seen the impact of less income, but I want to be able to just do one show a week and bring in a little money. My 2 1/2 year old wants to do gymnastics now, like her big sister, so I needed to find a way to make a little money.
Well I've rambled, hope you are all doing well today, I'm not liking this rainy cold weather though:(
S Carnes
How do you get shows every week???
Hi all! Did you notice I was gone? I've been offline for a while due to medical reasons and a week long hospital stay at Mercy in IC. To make a long story short, I found out that all these physical symptoms I have been having lately, including incapacitating fatigue and exhaustion to the point that I couldn't take care of my kids was all due to the fact that I was diagnosed with clinical depression.
It is nice to finally know why I was always feeling like crap. I had been calling my doctor and begging for help telling her that I couldn't function anymore, I was exhausted, nauseaus etc all the time, so she told me I had a panic disorder and put me on Paxil and Xanex. Neither worked, and two weeks ago my dh decided that he needed to do something and took me to the ER. They admitted me to the hospital (mercy has an excellent psych unit if anyone ever needs one. Very restful and relaxing. I loved it.) The shrink that admitted me changed my medications and it has made all the difference. I feel great again!!! It's so nice to feel like a human being again. If anyone wants more details of my "journey" I'd be happy to give them, but I don't want to bore you all. Suffice it to say that I'm back!
I'm also glad to see that this thread is still here. The format of the boards changed a bit while I was gone and I thought it had disappeared. Whew!!!
More later. Dinner time.
LaLa, I'll check with Chris and Claudia -- the LC's at my bfing meeting -- and see if they have any doula names for you. I'l love to be your unofficial doula, but since you can't give me a specific time you plan to deliver it could be tough for me to work out with the boys.:LOL :LOL :LOL
Pynki
10-02-2002, 06:20 PM
GypsyJen...
I live between Nichols (if you know where that is :rolleyes: ) and West Liberty... We have a small farm so i don\t live in ANY particular town... Hope that helps some...
Dyan
:thumb :thumb
S. Carnes
10-03-2002, 06:45 AM
Lala, I'll be able to have shows every week from bookings. First off I need to contact friends and family members and schedule shows with them and through their shows get more bookings. I'm having an open house here in my home so my family and friends can see for themselves what I'll be promoting. Dh and I talked about this last night, we discussed why I don't just work once a week at the hospital, (I'm an RN), but I hated being away from my family for the 10+ hours. By doing this I'll probably only have to be away for 4 hours or so. We'll just have to see how it goes.
jbcjmom--I haven't gotten to know you yet but I'm glad you are feeling better. I think it takes a lot of courage to talk about depression.
Well I might try to get a little more sleep in before my big girls wake up, Ashlynn had me up at 12:00, 2:00 and 5:00 :bawl
S Carnes, I think that sounds fun! If you have a party in Cedar Rapids area you should invite us mothering mamas from the boards!
:)
I would love to do something like that (because I love their books) but I don' t know anyone here, really...only a couple of mamas. My booking list would be pretty empty!
I always wonder how people can sell something in the same area over and over again?
Baffles me!
Like MsMom...she sells tupperware and she does GREAT at it! I would suck at that, I think...
HEY IOWA CITY MAMAS
I'll be teaching a class at the Co-op next month! You should sign up, it'll be fun and you can take home free bath goodies!!!
:thumb
gypsyjen76
10-07-2002, 08:54 AM
Sheena/S.Carnes - Tell me more about Usborne books - I've never heard of them? I started selling Discovery Toys about a month ago and I love it! I recently started working part-time, and it has been a great way to bring in some extra income (plus the fact that we bought a new car! LOL). I have only been doing a couple of shows a month - this month, I have two shows at the end of the month. I would like to do more catalog shows, but am not sure how to go about getting the people! LOL I know personally, I would rather do a catalog show for someone than have to clean my house, etc. And most people would rather just look at the catalog and order than go to a party. The only thing is, you don't get to see the aactual product when you do this, and Discovery Toys sell themselves, so seeing the product helps. As far as the monkey house, I've never been there, I was curious if anyone else has? I believe it's similar to the play station, but I don't know that for sure. I think it's got lots of toys for kids to climb on, etc.
Beth - (((hugs))) I'm so glad you found out what was wrong! I have suffered from depression off and on my entire life (including some horrible times after my daughter was born, PPD related), and finally was diagnosed as "bi-polar" this summer. I've been on Wellbutrin since June, and feeling much better! Prior to that, I had tried Zoloft and Celexa with no improvement. I'll be thinking of you, and please let me know if you want to talk! :)
Dyan - LOL, thanks! i think maybe there was a typo in your last message, (directions) so that's why I was confused! LOL I live in Kalona (in case I didn't tell you that! LOL).
LaLa - Tell me more about your class at the Co-op! When? What is the class about?
Well, the big news for me is that my sis had her baby on Oct 1! :) She's absolutely beautiful - Clara Lynnae. I haven't been able to see her since the day she was born, however, because I came down with a horrible cold the day after. I will be able to see her tomorrow, though, as I'm feeling better, and just have a lingering cough. I just won't hold her! LOL Here are some pictures:
http://www.robandjen.com/babymews.htm
My sis and babe are both doing just fine. Sis is having a lot of problems bf'ing (babe has a high palette and can't latch on). Jayme's been trying to pump, but she can't keep up with the little piggy! LOL She's been supplementing with formula, hoping her milk will increase, but it's not been hopeful.
S. Carnes
10-07-2002, 09:48 AM
gypsyjen--I had never heard of Usborne books until I attended a show last year at a friends. The books are wonderful for children and so educational. I became hooked as I have always loved books and also value the importance of reading to your children. Now that I'm a sahm we've been getting by, but theres absolutely no extra money, for instance I want to enroll my 2 1/2 year old in gymnastics, but we don't have the money, I want to repaint our walls, but no extra money. I don't want to go back to the hospital to work, the hours were long and honestly it was pretty stressful. Anyway heres a link to the usborne website where you can learn more about the books. www.ubah.com
Its only going to cost me $79, plus shipping to start and I only have to have on $75 show and thats my only committment. But preferable I'd like to do about one show a week. I might even take my baby with me, depending on who I'm doing the shows for, if I think there are people there I know then I'll take her.
So the Monkey House is some kind of play area? I'd like to know more!
Does anyone know if the cyclones or hawks won on Saturday. I haven't had any time to watch tv in the last few days. Its been crazy around here. I've started to write down a schedule on a chalk board for me and the children, we'll see how it works. So I better try and stick to it, lol.
Also gypsyjen, has your sis gotten any help from a lactation consultant or LLL leader? I can't remember where you are from on the top of my head, but it sounds like she needs some extra support.
gypsyjen76
10-07-2002, 10:39 AM
Sheena - Thanks for telling me about the books - I'll have to look into them! If you do any parties in the Iowa City area, let me know! Isabel loves books and I'm all for educational ones! :) I think that's why I like the Discovery Toys so much, they are learning tools, but in a fun way. Isabel (18 months) can match colors all ready and I swear it's due in part to the Hammer Away and Busy Bugs toys/games. My sis has been working a lot with the LC (well with both of them, really! LOL). The only way the babe will latch on is with the nipple shield, and they are discouraging that, as it decreases her milk supply. I'm being very supportive of her, and told her I would, regardless of her decisions on feeding. I know, from experience, how hard bf'ing can be for many, and given our family's history of depression and PPD, I personally believe that whatever makes her and baby happy is the best thing. I know how badly she wanted to bf, but if it's not working and she's worked hard with the LC to make it work and it's not, then I think she'll be happy with her decision.
S. Carnes
10-07-2002, 10:53 AM
The LC where I work told me that shields are not the "awful" things that they uesd to think, she even suggested a shield for me if Ashlyn kept putting her tongue on the roof of her mouth. She told me shes read studies that milk transfer is good, etc. So if she has to use a shield than I think she should and then work on getting off the shield later when the babe is older. Just my thoguhts. Maybe she could pump and give expressed breast milk, if the baby able to nurse at the breast. I knw its hard when breastfeeding doesn't go well.
Not sure if I'll ever do a show near IC:), but I'd sure like to meet all of you someday! I've been kind of lonely lately, not that I dont' like being a sahm, but I need adult interaction too.
My class at the co-op is in coralville. I'll be teaching how to make decorative soaps, tub teas, and other bath goodies and the particpants get to take home goodies and recipes :)
It should be fun!
gypsyjen76
10-07-2002, 11:39 AM
LaLa - Sounds like fun! But you didn't say when it was! LOL
Sheena - Even with the shield, she's not getting enough. I know it's normal for babe to lose weight the first few days, but the problem was no wet or poopy diapers. So the LC and ped were both concerned she wasn't producing enough milk and baby wasn't getting enough. As I mentioned before, she is trying to pump and give the babe expressed milk, but can't keep up with babe and her appetite! LOL
Ann, are you still going to the park this morning? Or is it too cold?
It's forcasted to be in the mid 50's, and that seems pretty cold for the little ones (to me anyway) but I don't know...I'm fairly new to this toddler play in the cold. This will be our first winter when she wants to play outside.
How cold is too cold? Would you dress them in full blown winter gear in the 50's? It's cloudy too...and shaded at the park...burrrr
You all probably think I'm a nut!
:LOL
anyone know of post partum doula's in the CR, IC area?
Anyone want to be one?
:LOL
Nankay
10-08-2002, 09:15 AM
La La
My kids are out rain or shine cold or not everyday..it's just been a rule of mine since the day they were born. A good "rule" is until they're old enough to tell you if they're too warm or cold is dress them as you would yourself plus one more layer.
Mittens and hat added if it's windy. As we get colder and colder your "blood thickens up" to use an old saying..and you're not as sensitive....50's in Oct seem a LOT colder than 50's in January, LOL
AnnR33
10-21-2002, 11:36 PM
I can't believe it's been weeks since anybody has posted. What's up with everyone?
With the weather getting colder it's time to move the playtime indoors. Anybody want to meet at Coralridge Mall in the next week?? My DD has a cold now but hopefully that will clear up in a few days. Next Monday would be great for us (am or pm)and that gives people time to plan. Some that are a little farther might be able to make a day trip out of it.
I've been spending way too much time on the Diapering Board. Who would have thought that cloth diapering could become addictive! Scary but I am actually really enjoying trying out new diapers and can't wait for the mailman each day.
I have a 1 yr old girl and almost 4 yr old boy so we'd love to meet others out there and play.
Think about it, let us know what you're up to.:D
Ann
PS. Hope you're doing well LaLa, only 3 more months?
Gypsyjen: I saw Isabels pic at the mall-what a cutie!
gypsyjen76
10-22-2002, 07:22 AM
Ann,
Hi! Cool that you saw Isabel's pic at the mall! That one wasn't necessarily my favorite (I prefer the black & whites - more simple), but it worked well with the time (Sept. 11). That woman does a nice job - has some unique ideas and such - but charges a fortune! That, and she took forever to get the photos to us. I doubt we go back there - I think I can take just as good a photo myself sometimes. ;) PHotography is my love, and I hope to have both the time and money to take some classes in the future.
I would love to meet you ladies at Coralridge, unfortunately, my only days off are Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, so Monday's wouldn't work for us.
If you guys ever meet on Tuesdays, and wouldn't mind a few extras, please let me know! :)
I hope everyone's well. I wish this board would pick up a bit!
Jen
Pynki
10-22-2002, 08:16 AM
Gypsy Jen....
Beth (jbcjmom) has a play group at the coral ridge mall on tuesday mornings around 10 am... I know because before Mercury (our 4 yo) started preschool we had been going since before he could walk... Now we are shooting to be able to meet with her and her 2 on thursdays at the coralville rec center tot lot...
HEllo to everyone and how weird we haven\t posted in weeks!!!
:jaw :jaw :jaw
Best of Health and Warm Squishy feelings to all....
Dyan
:love :love
gypsyjen76
10-22-2002, 08:55 AM
Dyan,
Thanks! I knew they met on Tuesdays, but I wasn't sure if I was welcome or not? :confused: I know some people like to keep their groups as they are, kwim? Also, being kind of new, I wasn't sure if anyone was comfortable enough with me to have me around.
And I guess I'm just feeling sorry for myself, right? LOL It's been a long couple of weeks. Depression rears it's ugly head again. I hate this weather change and getting darker. Actually, I wouldn't mind the weather if it wasn't dark when I got up and dark at dinner time. :( SAD is another damper on my emotional state! :angry damn mind! LOL
Jen
Pynki
10-22-2002, 11:33 AM
Jen...
Nah... we aren\t too picky.... If you feel lonely you should most certainly join us... Well by us i mean Beth and the othr moms who manage to make it... If we manage to make it at all it's usually by 11.00 and we go down to have lunch together in the food court then!!!:rolleyes: :rolleyes:
Have a super day!!!
Dyan
Jen, You are always welcome on Tuesdays. My son's names are Christian (the older one) and Jonah (the toddler.) I'm about 5'2" and 105lbs. I have my hair in a short, jaw length bob without bangs. I'm usually there by 10:15 at the latest. Join us sometime. We just found out that one of our regular moms is going to be moving, so we might need a fill in soon.:LOL
Dyan, Kathy is moving to Waterloo (Cedar Falls more likely). Dave got a job at Deere -- yea!
AnnR33
10-23-2002, 06:27 PM
SInce Tuesday is a regular meeting day for you all then lets plan on meeting Tuesday. I'd love to meet more of you moms. We'll try to be there by 10:30. I have a blond 4 yr old boy(4 in 3 weeks) and a 1 yr girl. Be sure to speak up!:)
Hope to see you there.
Ann
gypsyjen76
10-23-2002, 07:07 PM
OK, we'll try to meet you on Tuesday - given Isabel is all better (she came down with a horrible cold yesterday and has been barking ever since!) :(
I am 5'4 and I'm not going to scare you all by telling my weight...let's just say it's no where near Beth's! LOL I have short, spiky/bedhead hair and I'll have Isabel with me (18 months). She's pretty easy to spot - just look for the little girl who looks like the huge picture on the Starbeck-Miller kiosk by the JOhn Deere playland! LOL
Where do you guys meet there - at the play area?
Pynki
10-24-2002, 08:07 AM
hi Jen and Everyone...
Yep ... WE all meet in the John Deere Playland... Then we go down to the food court and eat lunch whether you make it or buy everyone is welcome.... Hope to see you all next week, I'll even try to manage to makeit there before 11 when we go down for lunch!!!
Warm Squishy Feelings...
Dyan...
P>S>
I am 5'6" with SHoulder length dark brown hair and lanky with the 2 boys Mercury (4) who is dark blonde and Xavier who is light brown with curls.. (2.5)
Hope to see you all there....
Dyan
I'll try to post what I'll be wearing a day or two before Tuesday. I'll have to see where my laundry stands and pull out something to wear and set it aside.;)
Jen, don't be impressed by my weigh. It's because of the clinical depression. I lost about 10 - 15 pounds in a few weeks when I was really bad. I'm usually closer to 115 which is much more healthy for me. The anti-depressant that I'm on has affected my appetite and I'm having a hard time putting weight back on. Also, my hair is light brown and I typically don't have on makeup beyond mascara on a good day. I'm just too lazy anymore -- and dh likes me without it, so why bother.:D
Can't wait to meet everyone on Tuesday! It sounds like we will be a big group. :love
It sounds like you are going to try to make it, Dyan -- Cool! BTW, how is Z doing? Have fun at Richard's party tonight! We are heading to CR for Jason's g-ma's visitation in a couple hours.
we were there on Wednesday and it was so packed we had to leave. Dd got knocked over about 4 times in less then 10 minutes :(
It turned out wednesday was some sort of school inservice day so the kids were out for the day and the mall was packed!
We went to the Children's musuem instead, which was much better (never as crowded)
:)
:thumb
I have no idea what we'll be doing next Tues, but if we make it then I know Ann and Beth, so I'll recognize you mamas at least :)
And Ann, I could bring along that stuff you wanted too...
gypsyjen76
10-28-2002, 08:06 AM
I can't decide if we should go tomorrow or not! :( Isabel came down with a horrible cold Tuesday, and while she feels, looks and sounds 99% better, she still has a bit of a cough. I certainly don't want her spreading it to the other babes (then again, as my husband put it, if people were really worried about that, they wouldn't let their children play in the Typhoid Playarea! LOL) Anyway, her ear drum ruptured late Friday night, she was put on antibiotics Saturday a.m. and has been great since Saturday evening. What do you all think?
Pynki
10-28-2002, 09:00 AM
Jen
If she has been on antibiotics since satuerday you should be fine to go.. My boys just got over a bad case of croup/ cold.. Lucky me now i have it, although i think i'm far LESS likely to spread it any further.... As long as she doen't have a fever I say come along and join our fun!!!!
Good health prevailing, I hope to see you there...
Dyan
oh poor baby!
No one in this family has ever had an ear infection, so I can't give advice
I hope she feels better
gypsyjen76
10-28-2002, 09:22 AM
Thanks, Dyan and LaLa! No fever since last Friday, so we'll probably see you there....around 10:30 or so? I'll have to sort through laundry and see what I can find....LOL
Here's a visual for you - Isabel and I a few weeks ago! LOL
http://www.robandjen.com/images/jenisabeloct.jpg
Now we'll be easy to spot...LOL
Can't wait to meet everyone!
gypsyjen76
10-28-2002, 09:24 AM
Oh yea, and LaLa - Feel very fortunate that you've never experienced the EI route. :( Isabel had tubes last winter and I bet she has them again this year, too. Dh and I both had a lot of problems with ear infections when we were little, so poor little Isabel doesn't stand a chance as far as healthy ears are concerned! I just pray she outgrows it like we did!
Great pic, Jen! Sad thing is that the part of my brain that is supposed to remember what people look like died long ago and I probably won't remember what you look like in an hour.:LOL
My goal is to make myself pretty easy to recognize by wearing my Iowa State sweatshirt. You don't see too many of those in these parts.;) It's grey with maroon writing across the chest.
BTW, I don't worry about colds. Unless a kid is hacking nonstop, or has gross green snot I barely notice. You lose that illness obsession as soon as the second child arrives and catches it's first cold (for Jonah it was at 2 weeks) from it's sibling and you realize that if you stay home every time your children have colds, you may never leave your house between the months of October and April. :LOL :LOL :LOL
We will likely have several friends from the normal playgroup there also, but warning, most don't know what AP means. Don't be put off, thought, they are great women.:love
I'm hoping to be there by 10:00am tomorrow. We go down to the food court and eat at 11:00am before the lunch rush and after we take our kids to the bathroom to potty and wash hands. Most of us pack lunch for our kids and buy lunch for ourselves -- do whatever you would like. I personally love the smoked turkey on sourdough from Panera. Yummy! We may need a bunch of tables tomorrow, but I can't wait!
Hope to see you all tomorrow!!!
BTW, thanks LaLa for letting me know what was going on last Wednesday. Christian had preschool that morning at Regina and they had classes in all grades so it never occurred to me that the public schools would be off. We went to a friends house and they live right by an elementary school. The parking lot was full, but their were kids running around all over the neighborhood. I couldn't figure out what was going on.:confused:
Curly Locks
10-28-2002, 07:10 PM
Does anyone know how far the mall is from Des Moines? I live south of DM and just read that you all are getting together in the morning. I would love to go but am not to thrilled about long drives with my teething, 10 month old ds...ugggghhh!
Heather :)
gypsyjen76
10-28-2002, 08:35 PM
Heather - I'm guessing it's maybe almost two hours from Des Moines? The mall itself is right off I-80, the first Coralville exit. Hope you can make it!
We'll see you all tomorrow! Isabel has a dr. appointment for her ears at nine, then we're headed to the mall! :)
Well, I'll be there unless bean and I have a bad morning.
We have been having such a struggle with her diherra and food intolerance.
I have her off of most fruits and veggies, off of dairy milk and soy milk, and she STILL got diherra the past two days :(
I wish I knew what caused it. She has been doing really well since we started rice milk, so I'm wondering if our weekend traveling didn't just mess her little system up :(
Anyway, as long as I"m not changing diapers every 5 minutes, we'll be there!
LOL
I'll be the one who looks like she's 9 months pregnant, even though I still have 3 months to go
:rolleyes:
LOL
Nankay
10-29-2002, 08:20 AM
Hi Heather!
I'm in Indianola--practically neighbors. LOL
Pynki
10-29-2002, 08:35 AM
HI Everyone.....
WE are hoping (fingers crossed) to be there by 10:30.. Xavier will b easy to spot in his fleece cookie monster sweatshirt... I am wearing a flower print red thermal and jeans.. Hope to see everyone there shhortly!!!!
Dyan
:thumb
Hi, Pynki! I see you are browsing right now too. I should be getting ready to go to the mall, but I'm trying to find a pair of pants for Bugsy. We really need to buy them some new jeans, but are trying to make it to next payday. Eating in CR last Fri and Sat because of the Funeral and visitation shot our budget.:rolleyes: I think I found a pair of jeans, I hope they still fit him.
I'm off to dry my hair.
BTW, We can make it from our house to Altoona in roughly an hour and a half. I'm guessing that depending on traffic it would take about two hours from Norwalk. I have a friend who lives there, but I never drive straight to her place. The mall is literally right off of I-80. I know it's a long drive for a couple of hours, especially with an infant or toddler (or my preschooler for that matter;) .) We'd love to meet you, though, so if you are ever up to it, let us know!!!
gypsyjen76
10-29-2002, 11:29 AM
I'm sorry we didn't make it, but after the ENT visit, neither of us were up for it. :(
Isabel is having surgery tomorrow morning at 9:15 a.m. to remove her adenoids and replace her tubes. Please keep her in your thoughts if you would. Thanks.
Again, I'm sorry we didn't meet everyone, we were really looking forward to it. But after the doctor wanted to schedule surgery for tomorrow morning, I had to stop by my office and talk to my boss about not being in Wednesday or Thursday (Fridays are my day off so that works out well). I hope everyone had fun. Maybe next week. :crying
Pynki
10-29-2002, 01:57 PM
Sorry to hear about the tubes again Jen...
Hopefully things go well.. I know from experience that even though you know it's not a big deal procedure it's still nerve wracking!!!!
Maybe we will see you next week or perhaps the week after!!!...
Great seeing everyone who was there.. Now i have some new faces to add to the names I run across here!!!
Best of HEalth and Warm Squishy FEelings!!!!
Dyan
:love
Jen, I had the feeling that the doctor's appointment didn't go well.:( I'm so sorry to hear about the surgery again. At least you can get it done before the cold and flu season really hits. We're there every Tuesday so come anytime. If you want my phone number to call me to make sure we will be there, let me know and I'll PM you.
LaLa, it was great to see you and Julie again. You look great!!! I meant to ask if you have found a doula yet. Have you had any luck? I so sorry I threw your lid away. I thought I checked the tray, but those clear lids blend in so well...
AnnR33, we didn't officially meet, but I was the one standing with LaLa when you first arrived. It's nice to sort of meet you.:D
I'm off to bake oatmeal raisin cookies for preschool tomorrow. I swore I was just going to get on for a few minutes, but an hour later here I am, and these cookies aren't going to bake themselves.:LOL
Curly Locks
10-29-2002, 03:00 PM
Guess I didn't make it to Coralridge Mall! Are there any moms and babies/toddlers closer to Des Moines that would like to get together sometime? If so, any ideas on where to meet? Hope the mall outing was fun! I reallly wanted to go!! But we didn't get up early enough...:(
Heather in Norwalk
Heather, don't feel bad. If you ever want come over but feel like it is too far to drive for a couple of hours, you are always welcome to crash at my house for an afternoon. Both my boys still nap:D but that's no biggie. That way you could tailor your day to what works best for you.
I haven't come across any moms from Des Moines on the boards yet, but Nan is right by you. I must admit I'm surprised that there aren't any dsm moms, but it's not really a liberal area (not that we are all liberal here by any means.) I'm not even sure where you would buy a Mothering mag other than B and N in dsm.
gypsyjen76
10-29-2002, 08:15 PM
Thanks, Dyan and Beth! I'm so sorry I missed you guys, I was really looking forward to it! If Isabel's recovered by next Tuesday, we'll definately be there! If not, then the following week. I can't wait to meet you all!
Beth, don't worry about the lid!
:)
Well, to be honest, it was too crazy for me today!
:(
I felt bad that I didn't get to talk to anyone because I was running around with bean the whole time
One of these days we'll have to meet somewhere like a house or more closed in meeting area so the mamas can talk a little more :)
And I felt bad that I didn't hardly get to talk to Ann this time!
Plus, Bean was the only child who was throwing tantrums about goign anywhere, and I was feeling like the looser mom!
:LOL
So, she'll grow out of that stage right? Before the baby is born in Jan?
:eek
She had a blast, though, and she even napped today!
Hooray! (she doens't usually nap)
And my soup was yummmy AND i followed it up with a decaf coffee and chocolate covered graham from Starbucks!
:p
Don't tell my Doctor, though. She thinks I need to be on a diet while pregnant?!:rolleyes:
I don't think we'll get a doula this time around. It is just a lot of money!
It's more then we have to spare ... but I'm thinking if we are going to spend money that a post partum doula would be very much needed since we have no family here.
Ok, enough about me!
:LOL
Oh, but I did just get back from the Co-op where I was taking their class and learned how to make their yummy pumpkin cheesecake!
ummmmmmmmm
gypsyjen76
10-30-2002, 05:56 AM
LaLa - A diet while you're pregnant? Are you serious? That sucks! Do you mind me asking who your OB is? I gained 50 lbs while pregnant with Isabel!:eek My doctor didn't say anything about the weight gain, but then again, she was probably afraid of me! LOL Sorry I missed meeting you again. How old is Bean? Isabel is throwing tantrums too (she'll be 19 months tomorrow), so bean would have been in company, had we showed up! LOL
And yes, in case anyone is wondering, it is 5:45 a.m., and I'm up here on the pc. I've been awake for over an hour now, I can't sleep! :( Damn surgery...
AnnR33
10-30-2002, 10:30 AM
LaLa, a diet really!!! You need a new OB-I gained 50 lbs and almost 60 lbs respectively and my dr said not to worry about it! And you are very thin-gaining weight should be a good thing:D
You're right, it would be nice to meet at someone's house so the moms could talk more. I'll volunteer but my living room is kinda small. We'd just be cozy!
Hope the surgery goes well with Isabel-too much stress for any mom to take! We're thinking of you both.
Sorry we got there late on Tuesday and didn't get to meet people, story of our lives. I wasn't sure what the schedule was so next time we'll try to get there earlier.
Ann
Jen, how was the surgery? I hope all went well.
I'll gladly volunteer my house sometime. It's small, and very lived in if you get my drift;) but as long as you don't expect me to clean before you come, no problem. We've got bunches of toys and a train table so there would be plenty for the kiddo's to do. I would even make lunch (we're talking mac and cheese and sandwiches for the kiddos and maybe sandwiches etc for us. If people would be willing perhaps to each bring something, ex someone bring some meat for sandwiches, someone bring some sort of side salad, someone bring chips, etc, that would be GREAT!!!
Okay, I hadn't really intended to post that yet so I'll continue now. Mon, Wed and Thurs mornings work best for me. On mon and wed I would have to leave for a few minutes to pick up Christian from preschool, but that would be no problem as long as you wouldn't mind if I left Jonah with you all at my house. ;) The pickup goes much faster that way.
I'm ready to go back to Chuck E Cheese again one of these days. Perhaps we should plan some sort of "holiday get together" in early December. Of course I would be up to going before that, too.
If anyone wants to get together at my house let me know. Perhaps we can make it a once a month thing and alternate houses to start and see how it goes. Anyone interested -- I'll host first!!!
Pynki
10-30-2002, 03:41 PM
sounds good to me... I already know that all the cool toys are at your house!!!
THursdays would work best for me because Mercury has preschool the otherdays... We could still do it, but we wouldn't be there until after 10:30 or so... I host one, but no one ever seems to want to drive the 20 minutes past IC to our old farm... Oh an dbrave the gravel roads...
Dyan:thumb
sounds good, just tell me when and where!
ARGH!!!! Phone solicitors are driving me mad today!
:(
That, and a babe who won't nap, cramps, nausea, the UPS man waking us up JUST when we started to doze off, me needing to cook supper...
I'm sure there is more!
LOL
Sorry, just had to vent that...the phone was ringing AGAIN and everytime I answer, there is no one there
Wah!!!
I hope the surgery went well jen-
Ok, I'll stop being a pout now!
LOL
I second the telemarketer thing. Some afternoons I stay logged on simply so my phone won't ring.:rolleyes:
Anyone else going to chime in on my playgroup idea?
I'm being booted off the computer now by my four year old who is dying to play around on Nickjr.com. Last time he was on he was printing things out. He doesn't get on very often -- how did he learn that???
Curly Locks
10-31-2002, 03:44 PM
The playgroup sounds fun! But I really need to find moms a little closer than a 4 hour round trip drive! Maybe some central Iowa moms will check out the boards and we'll start a group here!
I love being a SAHM but I used to have so many more outlets than I do now! We went the grocery store today and had the best time! Those grocery stockers are so friendly...I think my husband is spending too much time at work!
Anyway, have fun at the playgroup!!! I'll be thinking of you all and hoping it is a fun gathering!
:)
ooooo....when are we meeting!
:)
Let's do it soon!
:D
I'll bring something sweet. I just got some recipes at the co-op that I'm anxious to try!
:LOL
LaLa, I've been meaning to ask, how did your class at the co-op go? I kept meaning to find out when it was, but then October got so busy and I kept forgetting to find out when it was.
Anyone have any preferences for a date for our first official playgroup?:D
Pynki
11-01-2002, 01:47 PM
Thursdays or any other day anytime 10.30 or later works for me
Gee...
I'm getting excited and i've been to beth's lots of times!!!
Dyan
AnnR33
11-01-2002, 02:53 PM
We'd love to come from CR. Just can't come Tues or Thurs afternoons-we have preschool. I'll volunteer to bring snacks if needed.
Ann
Seeking Refuge
11-01-2002, 10:43 PM
Hello to all you Iowa moms,
I was so relieved to find so many of you, I sometimes get the feeling that I am all alone here in the middle of the cornfield.
I am a SAHM with a 9 and 7-year old girls and a 15 month old son who is still breastfeeding, sleeping in our bed and hasn't left mama since he was born. We have been feeling really isolated here lately and would love to meet some other AP type families. Any ideas would be really appreciated. We live near Mt. Vernon which isn't too far from Iowa City.
E-mail me if you'd like hoffelt@earthlink.net
Hope to talk to you soon.
Steph.
Pynki
11-02-2002, 09:05 AM
Hey!!!!
Srhoffelt!!! Welcome to a little thread we like to call Iowa Anyone???!!!
I know what you mean about being stuck in the middle of a cornfield... I actually AM stuck in the middle of a cornfield... Or soybeen field depending on the year...
JBCJMOM and I and a bunch of other ladies not from this board has a playgroup that meets at the Coral Ridge Mall in Coralville on Tuesdays around 10 ish in the morning... And as you can tell from the above posts we are trying to get a get together set up so we can all hang out without all the mall activity going on...
Like I said... Welcome to our thread... Feel free to louinge around... I know i do...
Warm Squishy Feelings...
Dyan..
:love
Steph, Welcome!!! You aren't far from here at all. As a matter of fact you sort of split the difference between those of us in IC and CR.
gypsyjen76
11-04-2002, 12:58 PM
Thank you all for checking on me and the surgery! Sorry I took so long to get back to you all!
The surgery went very well. Isabel is like a new child now! :) She's so very happy!
I would offer to do a get together at my house, but it looks like the only days that work for me are days that don't work fo ranyone else! LOL I work Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, so obviously on Tuesday and Thursdays work for me.
I know I've asked this before, but am I the only one on this board who works outside the home? I can't remember.
I would LOVE to do a Chuck E. Cheese thing sometime - I have not brought Isabel there yet, and I know she'd love it! :)
Heather - I just noticed on your byline that you are in Norwalk - my old roommate is from Norwalk! ;)
Welcome, Steph! :)
Isabel and I may try to make it again tomorrow! LOL I'll go through my laundry tonight, and try to let you know what I'm wearing tomorrow, ok? ;)
:)
I'm glad she's feeling better!
gypsyjen76
11-04-2002, 02:11 PM
Thanks, LaLa! :) Me too!
I met gypsyjen76 today!!! She is cool, ladies!! You should have been there. I felt bad though cause I didn't see her until we were ready to go get lunch. It was a very small group today and we left the playpit to go to the toystore to play with the trains just as she was arriving, but I didn't know it was her until later.
Will a Friday morning for a playgroup at my house work?? I can skip my bfing meeting.:) Will those who are interested please let me know so we can set up a date???
gypsyjen76
11-05-2002, 08:37 PM
Hi all!
Beth - It was so good to meet you today! You were just as warm and welcoming as I pictured you! (Sorry I got confused by your name - I get use to people's screen names and it sometimes takes me awhile to remember "real" names! LOL). Thanks for coming up to me - I had no idea who anyone was. I must admit, there were some women there who seemed kind of snooty, and I was thinking "if that's them, I'm not even going to introduce myself"! LOL There was even one pregnant, so I thought that must be LaLa! LOL I was so glad when you came up to me and you weren't one of them! LOL T hanks for introducing yourself to me!
Did everyone get out and VOTE today???? Regime change starts at home! ;)
Sorry to get political! LOL
Anyway, I hope to meet more of you next week! Fridays work fo rme too, Beth!
What started out as a wonderful day (meeting Beth, having Isabel be really good at the grocery store, taking a long nap), has turned into a really bad day (work-related). I hope tomorrow is a better day - it almost has to be. :(
Seeking Refuge
11-05-2002, 09:23 PM
Hi All,
You seem so friendly. I am hoping to meet you in person sometime. I would love a trip to Coralville. I haven't been to the co-op in ages. Unfortunately, Riley(Girl-10) is recovering from strep throat and I didn't want to infect anyone. I do have a question though. Can any of you recommend a doctor that uses, or at least tolerates natural health care techniques?
I am beat we had dance class and parent teacher conferences tonight. Darian's(Girl-7) teacher is a nightmare! She hands out big packets of worksheets everyday. It is so boring and uninspired.
DH and Trapolin are watching election results. He was a political science major so he is fairly intense about it. He watches things like this like some guys watch wrestling.
Take Care,
Steph.
AnnR33
11-05-2002, 10:12 PM
Friday mornings work great for us for a play day. I can still bring snacks if needed!
What time does the Tuesday group usually get to the mall? We would like to come again but are not early risers. We'd try to get there though if I knew just what time was best.
Is anyone else feeling the holiday shopping rush start to creep up? All the xmas displays and sale ads for toys are making me feel rushed already and we have lots of time! I actually look forward to shopping since it's the only time I get to be by myself
:D No "mom, mom, mom... or arms pulling at me!
Hope to see you all soon!
Ann
Hey all!
Jen, it wasn't me, although it's true, I am pregnant!
LOL
Anyone want to do something today?
Bean needs to get out of the house!
There's ChuckECheese
Playstation in CR
Museum in Corralville
I'm not a big fan of the john deere play area, though. She never wants to stay in there very long and I end up chasing her around the mall!
Not so fun :(
I voted yesterday, and I'm happy that Harkin and Vilsack won, but I am very saddened that the republican's now hold house, senate, and presidency. I would not want either party to hold power in all three at once. It negates the balance system.
Very sad morning :(
Ann, I would drive you nuts...I started Christmas swapping in August and I'm just about done!
LOL
I made everything I could this year and swapped with other moms to get the right gifts for my friends and family. I have a huge family, so I have to start early and plan well in order to keep it affordable.
:LOL
So, anyone up to doing something today (wednesday the 6th)?
OH, and ps -I went to an OB yesterday and now they want to see me every 2 weeks since I'm at 30 weeks. Why so often? Anyone know?
AND medical Questions for kids: For those of you who vaccinate, have any of your found a doc who will verfiy the vac's you get are thirmosel free and who will order the MMR in seperate shots?
I can't find anyone who will give me the time of day!
:(
gypsyjen76
11-06-2002, 08:07 AM
LaLa - I'd love to meet you today - not only because I'd love to meet you, but because I'd rather be ANYWHERE in the world other than at my office today. Let's just say that things go from bad to worse around here. I wish more than anything that I could find a job to do from home that either 1) paid me enough we could afford to pay health insurance or 2) provided health insurance.
And count me in as one being very saddened that the repugs hold house, senate and presidency. So much for homeland security. :( I do believe that I"m getting an election ulcer. :(
Ugh.
Need to pull myself out of this slump, I'm afraid. But with the winter months approaching, along with good ol' seasonal affect disorder setting in, things aren't looking very hopeful. :(
LaLa, I was wondering the same thing about the vaxes as you. As far as your ob office visits, I think at seven and eight months I had to go in every two weeks and the ninth month it was every week. The reason being that it is the prime time for pre-eclamsia and they need to check your blood pressure often. I always figure I'm paying for those visits whether I go or not so by golly, I'm going.
I'd love to meet you LaLa, but the preschool thing puts a crimp in my plans on M-W-F. I have to pick up the Bug at 11:00am.
Yes, I voted -- weeks ago, absentee ballot. It's so much easier than taking two kids to the voting booth.:rolleyes: I hate to say I'm feeling a bit like a loser though. I'm a registered independent who votes mainly republican. I think I'm going to log off this thread for a couple days cause I feel bad when I get grouped in to the big, evil republican machine. We are not all bad. Don't worry, though. I'll be back!!! You can't get rid of me that easily!!!:love
Beth, I love many republicans, including my dh and parents, but I don't love any one party holding the majority over all three legislative branches and the judicial system. I would not be happy regarldess of the party holding power in that circumstance. It is the lack of checks and balances that were set up to protect and ensure that we don't have that kind of government.
That is what bothers me so much. Not the party choice.
I feel like our government is failing us by allowing all parties and the judicial branch to be controlled by the same group...but that is what the people have spoken for.
I am just shocked that it is what the people want.
Does that make sense?
I hold no ill will to republicans.
:love
Seeking Refuge
11-06-2002, 09:50 AM
I think part of the problem is that the 9/11 /War on Terror thing intimidated the Democrats and they didn't distance themselves from the President enough for fear of appearing unpatriotic. At least two Democratic senators I can think of said that they supported Shrub in their campaigns and they both lost. The democrats dropped the ball when they didn' turn the focus of the campaign towards internal issues such as the economy and unemployment:confused:
I haven't been able to find a doctor I like at all.
Sorry
I haven't immunized DS yet the girls both had their shots but I was younger and less opinionated then. DH is unsure about the decision so we may do it eventually. I waiver on the issue.
I would love to do the playstation sometime but I am waiting for a call from Grant Wood this morning:( I don't know why I don't homeschool.
Steph
Seeking Refuge
11-06-2002, 09:59 AM
Beth, Don't leave. I am fine with some Republicans too. I have even voted for a few. Don't feel hated. I do believe strongly in the checks and balances system and I worry when it is not in place. Especially when we have Shrub running the show.
Was anybody else suprised by the number of votes Jay Robinson the Green Party Candidate for Governor recieved?
Steph.