[AEZMama]

Thought I'd get a May thread started for us. It looks to be an exciting month as we'll have a new sibling in Wombat's family!<br><br>
I'm looking forward to seeing what dh comes up with for Mother's Day this year. He's not one for great gifts or surprises, but I've been letting him know that a cheap take out dinner and me doing household stuff just isn't relaxing for me!

 

[JustVanessa]

I have no idea if anyone will observe mother's day for me. I don't know if my bf will get it and I refuse to hint.

 

[wombatclay]

Heyla!<br><br>
Happy May Day!<br><br>
Soooo...I'm at work now and despite the desperate "two more days before finals"/"my paper is due Friday" madness, it's still more calm than the rest of my day has been. I'm not sure I'm gonna make it to 10pm!<br><br>
Laia decided that she really really really wanted an apple. Now, we'd bought a 5 lb bag the other day and it was brand new. Not opened. However, yesterday afternoon DH had to leave my dad alone in the house for about 45 minutes. Well, during that time my dad ate the entire 5 lb bag. And promptly forgot he'd eaten it (it's part of his dementia apparently, he has this "thing" for apples...just apples...and he eats the whole thing including the core and the stem).<br><br>
Anyway, we didn't realize he'd eaten all the apples and when Laia wanted one today I said sure...only to find the bag "missing". She threw a first class gods be amazed toddler tantrum. Right as my dad walked in for his afternoon "baby sitting" (my mom dropped him off outside and he just walked in). When he realized what dd was screaming about he realized he'd eaten "her" apples and paniced. He started crying and yelling too, and grabbing his head and making a huge scene about how he'd "caused" her tantrum. And the two of them just fed off each other....screaming, crying, at least my dad didn't try throwing himself on the floor the way Laia did!<br><br>
So this lasted about 45 minutes before dd was finally calmed down and my dad was finally convinced he hadn't caused the whole thing.<br><br>
Bleh.<br><br>
I'm exhausted. Completely and totally and without an ounce of energy exhausted. And now I'm on the desk from 5pm-10pm with no backup (the dept is short staffed this week since one librarian broke her arm the other day and is out for the week). With insane undergrads having their own panic attacks.<br><br>
I just ate two donuts (not healthy, but there you have it) and I'm drinking some decaf, but I swear I am about to fall over.<br><br>
So much for a nice, quiet, happy beltane holiday! This year I'm just not having any luck in terms of celebrating the holidays in style. I'm either sick, or there's an emergency, or somebody is having a meltdown. Heck, I'm the preggo in the room....I'M the one whose supposed to have the hormonal meltdown! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol"><br><br>
Hope you're all having a better day of it!

 

[AEZMama]

Giving us a bump! Hoping that Wombat's bump is progressing nicely for a wonderful VBAC!<br><br>
Happy Cinco de Mayo!

 

[lalaland42]

<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/wave.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="wave"> Hi all, we survived the birthday month!<br><br>
Just wanted to pop in and see how everyone is doing. We just moved, Sophie is thrilled with the new backyard but I am exhausted. Today was hot and muggy, I was thinking of taking Sophie on a nature walk tomorrow, it'll depend on the weather I guess.

 

[AEZMama]

Congrats Lala! Are you guys still in TX? I hope that you are fairing well with the terrible weather in your area. Stay safe!<br><br>
Dh is off until the late afternoon today, so when he gets home from his meeting and Andrew wakes, we'll be headed out into the hot muggy ourselves. I have to shower, though, but I'm on here!<br><br>
I can finally start getting doctor and EI stuff started! Our new medical insurance has kicked in and we have cards!!! YAHOOOO! What a relief. I'm getting really concerned with the fact that Andrew has such a limited vocabulary, though while we were away this week I dubbed it "Andrew's Good bye tour" as everywhere we went, he just said good bye to everyone. He even got the gruffest, meanest looking man I had ever seen to smile and wave good bye!<br><br>
Well, off to shower. Have a great week mamas!<br><br><span style="color:#FF0000;">THINKING OF YOU WOMBAT!!! SENDING YOU <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/dust.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="dust"> FOR A WONDERFUL BIRTH!</span>

 

[JustVanessa]

Thinking of you wombat! I really really hope you get your VBAC.<br>
So I have to paint Byron's new room at Kevin's on Saterday and then we are moving in. Very exciting. I am not too sure I am excited about the moving with a toddler bit though. My friend just moved with her ds who is 20 days older than Byron and her little guy had a rough time with the transition. Our new place has a 1/2 acre fenced yard though, with a picnic table and a fire pit. I am looking forward to spending alot more time outside with Byron. Bf's house is in a little community about 10 min drive from the town I live in, so it is going to be different for me. No more running to the store to get that thing I forgot for dinner. I am going to have to plan alot more meal wise I think.<br><br>
Anyways, have a good day mamas!

 

[JustVanessa]

<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/bump.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="bump"><br><br>
How are all the mamas? I am super stressed with the whole move thing. I really need to get my butt in gear.

 

[wombatclay]

Well...I'm in a good news/bad news mood.<br><br>
I have been sick sick sick since visiting Boston last weekend (funny, another mama in my DDC was visiting Boston on the same day and caught the same cold...we are sharing the misery). It's been horrible with 10 days of no sleep and non-stop coughing. I felt really rotten on Monday and called in sick so I could do a doctor office walk in.<br><br>
So I went in with Laia and both doctors were at the hospital (5 unplanned births in one day!). So the receptionist took my vitals and everything (temp, bp, etc) and I went back this morning.<br><br>
Good news, babe is healthy, the doc can give me some options for getting over this monster cold, and I'm now on disability so I don't have to go back to the library!<br><br>
bad news, the reason I'm on disability is I have borderline PIH. Though both Dr Heidi and Dr Rudy think it's probably just being caused by the cold and lack of sleep and it's not anything to get really upset about. But there it is. It's still "on my record" now and I guess we'll see how it goes.<br><br>
I'm supposed to stay off my feet and take it easy for the next few weeks...we shall see!<br><br>
I think if I could just get over this cold I'd be happy!

 

[AEZMama]

Oh Wombat! Sending you lots of healing thoughts. Glad that you and babe are well, AWESOME that you're on disability so you can relax a bit. Just take care of yourselves and know we're all thinking of you!<br><br>
Well, there are thousands of wildfires around Florida and Georgia, and today the smoke made it all the way down to us. So much so that within a minute or so we went from sunshine to yellow hazy smoke everywhere. Open the door and it smelled like you just rolled into the fireplace. Kinda scary! Needless to say, other than to get the mail we stayed indoors all day. Beautiful weather, and we're stuck inside. Ugh!

 

[wombatclay]

Thanks! It's a bit scary but my care providers really think that I'll be fine once I can shake this cold...and it's slllllooooooowly getting better. I was pretty doped up last night (codeine, tylenol, guafenesin, throat coat tea, elderberry syrup, AND a half dozen home made frozen yogurt pops) but I got 3 hours of sleep! THREE!!!!!!! It's a miracle, and more sleep than I've had at one time for about a week and a half. So here's to health!<br><br>
A question...how much TV do your kiddos watch and what are their favorite shows (that you can also stand to watch)? Laia is getting more tv as this cold and the late pregnancy knock me out more and more, and I realize that once Roro arrives I'll probably need the electronic baby sitter for a while since it'll be one way to keep dd in the same room with a nursing mama/newborn. But I don't want to just turn the tv on and let it run, you know?<br><br>
Right now DD get's around an hour a day, sometimes a bit more depending. I watch with her, and I prefer shows that have her up and moving and interacting...<br><br>
So far we enjoy:<br><br>
--Sesame Street (though this might be too busy for watching with a newborn)<br>
--It's a Big Big World (the characters are puppets and it's very GD, AP, and gentle in terms of action and character behavior)<br>
--Teletubbies (okay, okay, but I actually enjoy it and have ever since I saw it in college! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol"> and dd loves to dance along with them)<br>
--Caillou (though I'm not a big fan of the animation style and he is sometimes a bit annoying...dd really likes it though and will ask for it by name)<br>
--Pingu (claymation seals and arctic critters, there's no dialog...just that sort ow "wah wah wah" thing that the adults in the old charlie brown shows had. It's sometimes a bit slapstick, but I guess that appeals to toddler humor!)<br><br>
Any other shows or ideas?<br><br>
Thanks!

 

[AEZMama]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>wombatclay</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/8096278"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">So far we enjoy:<br><br>
--Sesame Street (though this might be too busy for watching with a newborn)<br>
--It's a Big Big World (the characters are puppets and it's very GD, AP, and gentle in terms of action and character behavior)<br>
--Teletubbies (okay, okay, but I actually enjoy it and have ever since I saw it in college! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol"> and dd loves to dance along with them)<br>
--Caillou (though I'm not a big fan of the animation style and he is sometimes a bit annoying...dd really likes it though and will ask for it by name)</div>
</td>
</tr></table></div>
That's what Andrew watches, too. We have 2 PBS channels-the one with really good kids programming is wonky and we have to have a very good day to get good reception (our "free" cable went down).<br><br>
Andrew LOVES Snook the sloth and the song "Touch the Sky" from Big, Big World-it's very cute, everything stops if he hears it. I freaked him out a bit and played the video from PBS online and as soon as Andrew heard it he ran to the TV...but was so confused because there was no picture! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol"> But now that our "free" cable is gone, we don't get Sesame or Big, Big World.<br><br>
On the other station, Teletubbies comes on at 6pm (very clear) so he also gets to stop the world for them. I think that's where his obsession with "buh-bye" comes from (I call it Andrew's Goodbye Tour). He also likes the songs & dancing on Barney that comes right after.<br><br>
These days, he gets about an hour. Lately with being confined indoors due to the GA smoke plume hitting us, he's gotten a bit more b/c I picked up some DVD's at the library.<br><br>
Vanessa-I hear you on moving. It is very stressful. Just take it easy and it will be ok. Just know that Byron may get cranky due to a new environment. If you have the opportunity for him to stay at the new place a bit more before you move, that might help him acclaimate. Maybe take some of his toys & things to make it feel more comfy for him? Andrew was just a mess for a few weeks after we moved, but we also had just left the comforts of Boston, too. That was a wonky time for us. Good luck!<br><br>
Happy Mother's Day to you all! We are celebrating on Wednesday as dh has to work until 8pm tomorrow.

 

[JustVanessa]

Yeah we are getting closer to the move. Byron is going to stay with his dad for the couple of days that we actually move so he isn't stressed and in the way. I just have to finish painting his room today, then next week I can start to move some of his stuff. Bf just took all the stuff from the shed so its one less thing to do at the last minute.<br>
With the move I think the biggest issue is going to be bed time. Here there are no toys in his room, they are all in the living room. And he is having issues with staying in bed. At the new place, all his toys are going to be in his bed room so it could be a hassle getting him to sleep. I am sure it will all work itself out.<br><br>
Byron watches Blue's Clues, Dora and Hi-5 in the morning and loves Dora the most. If he watches any TV at night it is mostly the Farm Baby Einstein video which he LOVES. Usually only when I need to be hassle free cooking dinner.<br>
Is Laia the one who was Elmo obsessed? They make some pretty cool Elmo DVD's that are really cheap.

 

[wombatclay]

Laia is VERY Elmo focused. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol"><br><br>
Not as much as she was (thank gods) but still pretty big on the whole Elmo/Zoe angle.<br><br>
The one thing that is really funky about her though is she can't stand the Baby Einstein stuff. When she was tiny she'd scream and cry when she saw any of the DVDs, and actually today she found one of the DVDs we had stufed on a shelf somewhere and asked to watch it...I put it on to see what would happen, she watched about two minutes, and then she said "No good. No watch this" and asked me turn it off. I have no clue what she doesn't like about it (she likes classical music, she likes puppets, she likes art, she likes colors, etc) but she's been pretty constant in her opinion!<br><br>
But I'm thinking we might add a few Elmo or Sesame Street DVDs to our "nursing basket"...basically a wicker laundry basket filled with "new" stuff for those first few days of Roro in the house. We're planning on tandem nursing, but I saw the idea here at mdc (to create a basket for the older sib with toys/games/books they only get while little sib is nursing or keeping mama busy) and it seemed like a good thing to have!<br><br>
And I think Roro will be bringing Laia a dollhouse (if we can find one that doesn't cost a small fortune!) so the basket will probably have some furniture or dolls to go with the house. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"><br><br>
Good luck with the move!

 

[AEZMama]

Andrew's pretty Elmo'ed too...and he hated the Baby Einstein stuff too! I didn't understand the whole concept of it, either. That's fine because he didn't start watching tv til after 1 yo anyway.<br><br>
Wombat-have you seen the dollhouses from Ikea? Maybe you can order? I always give the older sib a gift when a new babe arrives-they definitely tend to feel left out, so maybe you could suggest that if anyone asks (dollhouse stuff for Laia). Wow-I'm living vicariously through you Wombat on the whole 2nd babe thing! I've been looking at housing in Rochester and Boston, jobs too just to see what's up. I"m trying to convince dh that we need to move to Rochester where housing is very affordable. I'm also trying to convince him to take the civil service exam, that way some of my family who are in the postal service might be able to help jobwise. I'd love to have a 3 or 4 bedroom house for under $100K! That would help with letting me have a 2nd! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/winky.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Wink">

 

[lalaland42]

Wombat - feel better soon. I can't believe the baby is almost here, that is so exciting.<br><br>
Vanessa - good luck with the move. We moved last week and it was traumatic for me and DH but DD did just fine. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"><br><br>
About tv. DD doesn't get to watch tv but she also doesn't seem particularly interested in it either. She does like Animal Planet so every once in a while I turn it on for her to watch. She is also obsessed with penguins. I bought March of the Penguins for her and showed it to her once a few months ago and ever since then all I've heard is "penguin, penguin, penguin". She also got a couple of minutes of Happy Feet at an electronics store a couple of weeks ago. So there it is, anything animal related.<br><br>
Right now DD is obsessed with going outside. She is all outside all the time. I am thinking about getting her a t-ball and bat. I know she is a little young but her friend plays and she wants to do whatever he does. -He is 4.<br><br>
AEZ - I didn't know IKEA had dollhouses. I have to go check them out!<br><br>
Oh, we are pretty much potty trained here. At least at home and school. DD won't get on the pottys when we are out so we still use pullups out. Woo hoo!

 

[wombatclay]

IKEA has dollhouses? !?!?!? Ack!<br><br>
I looked when we were at IKEA a few weeks ago and didn't see anything...I guess it's not something they stock in the Boston one? Bleh! We have several little toys from IKEA and dd love's them all (the IKEA tea set is a really nice heavy ceramic so I don't worry she'll break them, and it's a lot nicer than the plastic or "theme" tea sets I see in the toy stores).<br><br>
Our house is totally torn up so I really hope we can get everything back together before the babe arrives. And on that note....<br><br><b>HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY EVERYONE!!!!!! MAY YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY OF LOVE AND MAMA-JOY!!!!!!!!</b>

 

[JustVanessa]

I think Byron loves the Baby Einstein video so much because it is about a farm. This kid is farm obsessed. My bf's parents have a farm and he loves to go see the cows. "Cow, mama? Cow mama?" <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol"> He has a whole John Deere farm set he got for his birthday and he just loves driving the tractor with the little man in it.

 

[wombatclay]

See if you can find a copy of the DVD "Leah's Farm"...it's part of the Signing Times series (so it's all about teaching ASL) and I know a lot of libraries have the VHS versions available (or at least, available through interlibrary loan...that's how we got them the first time round).<br><br>
Anyway, it's ALL about farms and the animals that live there, and the songs are a lot of fun to (and work in colors and counting as well as animal names/info). DD adores that episode of Signing Times and just boogies away to the two "main" songs (Leah's Farm and Turtle Rock).

 

[dara00]

we are going to get gabbie the red roof deluxe dollhouse. maybe we will wait to give it to her until the baby comes, not sure!<br><br>
happy mother's day!