August 05 Moms and Tots - Toddling Our Way to 2, Part Two

[August'05Mommies]

Welcome to our old members and any new members. We are all mommies now! Let's continue to share this journey together!

Links to our old threads:
CC 2nd 6 months and beyond (http://www.constantchatter.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1120517&posted=1#post1120517)
CC 2nd 6 months (http://www.constantchatter.com/showthread.php?t=15712)
CC first 6 month (http://www.constantchatter.com/showthread.php?t=s)
CC 3rd Trimester (http://www.constantchatter.com/showthread.php?t=258)
WC 3rd Trimester (http://boards.weddingchannel.com/thread.jspa?threadID=489477&tstart=0)
2nd Trimester (http://boards.weddingchannel.com/thread.jspa?threadID=483625&tstart=100)
1st Trimester (http://boards.weddingchannel.com/thread.jspa?threadID=483625&tstart=100)


Your threadmistresses are LeslieR (Leslie), sdauer21 (Sonya), and KIMandGINO (Kim).


*As always, please put updates in RED to make them easier to find!*


To join, please submit a post to this thread with the following information:

CC Name
Me: Name, age
DH: Name, age
Married: Date
Baby's Name
EDD:
ADD:
Time of birth:
Weight and Length
Other children

List of mommies by username:

adore_one
Me: stacy 30
DH: B 33
Married: 7/19/2003
Baby's Name Robert Clinton
EDD: 8/15/05
ADD: 8/15/05
Time of birth: 5:44
Weight and Length 7 lbs 6 oz 20"
Other children Puppy dog Maggie

alex67
Me: Alex, 31
DH: Jason, 34
Married: 10.18.2003
Baby's Name: Trenton Steele
EDD: 08.28.2005
ADD: 08.29.2005
Time of birth: 3:49pm
Weight and Length: 7lb 8oz, 20in
Other children: DD, 12yrs old

beckie62
Me: Rebecca, 26
Dh: David, 27
Married: 9-7-02
Baby's name: Logan David
EDD: 8-27-05
ADD: 8-26-05
Time of birth: 3:19 pm
Weight and Length: 7 lb 14 oz, 20.5 in
Other children: Brooke Elizabeth, 12-10-03

bombedier
Me: Laura 32
DH: Shane, 36
Married: August 1, 2003
Baby's Name: Logan Kenneth Anderson
EDD: 8/18/05
ADD:8/19/05
Time of birth:7:51
Weight and Length: 6lbs 12oz 19.5 inches

BuffaloBlondie
Me: Jennifer, 30
DH: Tate, 31
Married: December 6, 2003
Baby's Name: Braden Michael - We have been calling him Brady
EDD: August 20, 2005
ADD: August 30, 2005
Time of birth: 6:03pm
Weight and Length: 8lbs 6oz, 21 1/2"

cc8
Me: Christine, 30
DH: Patrick 32
Married: 8/31/02
Baby's name: Alexis Elizabeth
EDD: 8/31/05
ADD: 8/20/05
Time of birth: 9:00am sharp!
Weight and length: 7lbs, 8oz, 18 3/4 inches

Cosmosgirl
Me: Val, 27
DH: Fred, 30
Married: 08/21/04
Baby's name: William Xavier
EDD: 08/01/05
ADD: 07/22/05
Time of birth: 15:20
Weight and lenght:6lbs 8oz, 21"
Other kids: 2 cats: Blues and Pluton
Little Sibling due June/July 2007

DnJ2002
Me: Jess 30
DH: Dan 38
Married: July 6, 2002
Baby's Name: Arabella Hope
EDD: August 10, 2005
ADD: August 17, 2005 (my 30th birthday!)
Time of birth: 8:39 pm
Weight and Length: 7lbs 10oz, 21"
Little Sibling due June 16, 2007

Daniel's Kitty
Me: Kat 24
DH: Daniel 23
Married: June 11, 2004
Baby's Name: Benjamin Joseph
EDD: August 15, 2005
ADD: August 18, 2005
Time of birth: 12:19 pm
Weight and Length: 8lbs 11oz, 21 1/4"
Other children: Joey (dog), Saber (cat)
Michael Thomas February 20, 2007!

daisysue62
Me: Kellie, 24
DH: David, 25
Married: 08/11/2001
Baby's Name: Grace Katherine
EDD: 08/01/2005
ADD: 07/30/2005
Time of birth: 7:10am
6lbs 9oz, 19" long
Other children: Our cocker spaniel Zoe and cat Boo
Little Sibling due October 9, 2007

EJH
Me: Erin, 28
DP: Dora, 29 (yep, first 2 mommy family on CC I think! :) )
Married: May 21, 2004
Baby's Name: Arden Grace
EDD: August 28, 2005
ADD: August 22, 2005
Time of birth: 2:27PM
Weight and Length: 7lbs 4oz, 20 inches
Other children: Lucy(dog), Tinkerbell (parrot), Turtle(rabbit) & 3 cockatiels.

Ellyn
Me: Ellyn
DH: Jake
Married: July 26, 2003
Baby's Name: Broderick David (Brody)
EDD: 8/31/05
ADD: 8/30/05
Weight and length: 7 lbs 11.6 oz, 20 1/2 inch.
Little Sibling due Aug. 10, 2007

gmooter
Me: Gretchen 31
DH: Marc 32
Married: December 28, 2001
Baby's Name: Grace Emily
EDD: August 26, 2005
ADD: August 30, 2005
Time of birth: 8:43 pm
Weight and Length: 6lbs 15oz, 19 1/2"
Gabriel Marcus January 26, 2007

hiphopgirl
Me: Janet, 34
DH: Jack, 36
Married: 05/04/02
Baby's name: Anders Ian
EDD: 08/07/05
ADD: 07/13/05
Time of birth: 7:27pm
Weight and length: 6lbs 2 oz; 18.5in long

HollyMN
Me: Holly, 29
DH: Dave, 30
Baby's Name: Caleb
EDD: August 2
ADD: August 5
Time of birth: 2:03 AM
Weight and height: 7 lbs 5 oz, 20.5"

Hope0805
Me: 31
DH: 32
Married: 11/2/2002
Baby's Name: Jonah
EDD: 8/17/2005
ADD: 8/13/2005
Time of birth: 9:39 am
Weight and Length: 6 lbs 14 oz, 19 inches

JillyB
Me: Jill
DH: Most wonderful man in the world ;)
Married: on a fall day
My little man: Landen
EDD:
ADD:
Time of birth:
Weight and Length:
Other children:one Furbaby

jillybean_247
Me: Jillian, 26
DH: Shane, 29
Married: 9/27/03
Baby's Name: Lucas Shane
EDD: 8/1/05
ADD: 8/15/05
Time of Birth: 1:06 pm
Weight & Length: 9 lbs 11 oz, 23 in
Other Children: Dylan, 3

jordansmom07
Megan, 25
DH:Kevin
Married:02/21/2004
Baby's name:Jordan
EDD:08/08/2005
Add:08/08/2005
Time of birth:11:59 a.m.
Weight and Length:9 pounds 10 ounces

kerbahr
Me: Keri, 25
DH: Jason, 29
Married: 05/25/2002
Baby's Name: Emma Grace
EDD: 08/08/2005
ADD: 08/09/2005
Time of birth: 8:06pm
9lbs 6ozs. & 22 1/2 inches
Other children: Our dog, Finley

Kiley
Me: Kiley, 25
DH: Aaron, 26
Married: 1.25.2003
Baby's Name: Preston Philip
EDD: 8.20.2005
ADD: 8.18.2005
Time of birth: 10:30 AM
8 lbs, 11 oz, 20.5"
Little Brother due September 11, 2007

KIMandGINO
Me: Kim 27
DH: Gino 33
Married: 5/16/04
Baby's Name: Angelina Lee
EDD: 8/29/05
ADD: 8/01/05
Time of birth: 7:12pm
Weight and Length 5 lbs 2oz, 18"
Other children: Furbaby Nikko

kindermom
Me: Noel
DH: Sean
Married: May 8, 2004
Baby's Name: Madelyn Grace
EDD: 8/18/05
ADD: 8/18/05
Time of birth: 6:26 am
Weight and Length: 5.11 and 19 inches
Henry March 9, 2007

leftrightrepeat
Me: Meaghan, 26
DH: Chris, 28
Married: 10/25/03
Baby's name: Caitlyn Grace
EDD: 08/01/05
ADD: 07/24/05
Time of birth: 1:55am
Weight and length: 7lbs 9 oz; 19.5in long
Other children: our furbaby Oscar the pug

LeslieR
Me: Leslie, 32
DH: Sal, 33
Married: 04/04/04
Baby's name: Luke Anthony
EDD: 08/08/05
ADD: 08/08/05
Time of birth: 10:32pm
Weight and length: 8lbs 14 oz; 21in long
Other children: our furbaby Granny the cat

LILRTL
Me: Lora, 23
DH: Rusty, 25
Married: 5/8/04
Baby's Name: Zachary Daniel (Zach)
EDD: 8/13/05
ADD: 8/4/05
Time of birth: 2:15 pm
Weight and Length: 7 lbs. 13 oz. 20 1/4"
Evan April 29, 2007

L-O-V-E
Me: Lori, 28
DH: Matt, 30
Married: 05/24/03
Baby's name: Ethan David
EDD: 08/02/05
ADD: 07/29/05
Time of birth: 8:37am
Weight and length: 9lbs 10oz; 20.5 inches

manatee
Me: Pauline, 37
DH: Andy, 38
Married: 5/31/2003
Baby's Name: Mia
EDD: 9/16/2005
ADD: 8/16/2005
Time of birth: 1:24 pm
Weight and Length: 6 lbs 11 oz, 19.5 in
Little Sister due September 25, 2007

[August'05Mommies]

Maren
Me: Maren, 29
DH: Adam, 30
Married: 9/20/03
Baby's Name: Reilly Ailish
EDD: 8/29/05
ADD: 8/7/05
Time of birth: 12:05 pm
Weight and Length: 6lb 4oz, 19.0"

michael'sbride
Me: Melissa, 29
DH: Michael, 37
Married: 08/10/02
Baby's name: Evan Francis
EDD: 8/9/05
ADD: 7/19/05
Time of birth: 4:52am
Weight and length: 8lbs 3 oz; 19.5in long
Other Children: Drew, 8/26/03
Michael Jonathan March 25 2007

Mickey&B
Me: Michelle 30
DH: Brian 31
Married: April 12th 2003
Baby's Name: Aidan Jacob
EDD: August 15, 2005
ADD: August 25, 2005
Time of birth: 11:59am
Weight and Length: 8lbs 5oz, 20 1/2"
Other children: Our furbabies Roxy & Duchess (dogs)

myhoney
Me: Julie
DH: Joe
Married: 10/11/03
Baby's Name: Bridget Clare
EDD: 8/29/05
ADD: 8/17/05
Time of birth: 3:56 pm
Weight and Length: 8lb, 2oz and 20"

mrs_barkley
Me:Terena, 28
DH: Tim, 29
Married: 9/20/03
Baby's Name: Emalee Rose
EDD: 11/3/05
ADD: 8/22/05 (born at 29.5 weeks)
Time of birth: 8:45 am
Weight and Length: 2lbs 11.6oz and 15in
Other children: Gina Marie 5/1/04 (born at 28 weeks)

namrodda
Me: Alice 25
DH: Kevin 28
Married: 4/26/2003
Baby's Name: Jerald Dorman (Jeb)
EDD: 8/22/05
ADD: 8/28/05
Time of birth: 5:45 am
Weight and Length: 7 lbs 13 oz 21.5"
Other children: furbabies Baxter (beagle) & Norbert (orange cat)

philnikki
Me: Nikki, 25
DH: Phil, 30
Married: 8/28/2004
Baby's Name: Ava Grace
EDD: 9/3/05
ADD: 8/23/05
Time of birth: 9:04 pm
Weight and Length: 7 lbs 7 oz, 20.5"
Other children: 2 Crazy Kitties - Bella & Bailey

QPDoll
Me: Tina, 33
DH: Travis, 31
Married: July 4th, 2003
Baby's Name: (twins)
Peter Randall (Pete)
EDD: August 14, 2005
ADD: July 23, 2005
Time of birth: 9:34 am
Weight and Length 7lbs 3oz, 20 inches long

Nathaniel James (Nate)
EDD: August 14, 2005
ADD: July 23, 2005
Time of birth: 10:37am
Weight and Length 6 lbs, 19 1/2 inches long

Red'sGirl
Me: Darrien
DH: Robert
Married: October 13, 2005
Baby's Name: Arrena Ruth
EDD: Aug. 2, 2005
ADD: Aug.7, 2005
Time: 4:33am
Height and Weight: 18.5inches 7lbs, 4oz

Sarah
Me: Sarah
DH: J
DD: Lucille Violet (Lucy)
EDD:8/12
ADD:8/9
Weight: 8,10
Other children: Sophia Rose (Sophie)

sarahanna115
Me: Sarah, 24
DH: Jeremy, 23
Married: 8/09/2003
Baby's Name: Noah Lee Stephen
EDD: 8/20/05
ADD: 8/16/05
Time of birth: 1:35 pm
Weight and Length: 7 lbs 1 oz, 20"
Other children: 2 JRTs - Molly & Rufus

SD601
Me: Laura, 25
DH: Tim, 26
Married: June 1, 2001
Baby's Name: Josiah Thomas
EDD: Sept 20
ADD: August 15, 2005
Time of birth: 12:41am
Weight and Length: 5lbs 13oz, 17"

sdauer21
Me: Sonya - 33
DH: Will - 31
Married: 8/31/2002
Baby's Name: Abigail Kathryn
EDD: 8/8/05
ADD: 7/26/05
Time of birth: 6:54 pm
Weight and Length: 7 lbs 13.5 oz 19.5"
Other children: Tallia Marie 1/14/03 and furbaby, Henry the Pug and Nyx
Little Sibling due December 25 2007

Shellbell516
Me: Michelle, 31
DH: Phillip, 27
Married: 5/16/04
Baby's Name: Rachel Elizabeth
EDD: 8/4/05
ADD: 8/18/05
Time of birth: 3:12 pm
Weight and Length: 8lb 10oz, 21.5"
Other children: 2 cats - Saboo and Tamara, and Leia the Great Dane

shg
Me: Sylwia, 32
DH: George, 34
Married: 8-18-01
Baby's Name: Olivia Grace
EDD:8-28-05
ADD:8-5-05
Time of birth:7:04PM
Weight and Length 6lb 9.5oz, 19.5"

Snowzilla
Me: Carla 29 (30 in less than a month, eek!)
DH: DH 30
Married: February 28, 2004
Baby's Name: Avery Jane
EDD: August 28, 2005
ADD: August 12, 2005
Time of birth: 3:39 pm
Weight and Length: 8lbs 8oz, 21"
Other children: DD (7), DS (9) and our furbaby Dexter (poodle, 2 years old)

tracer
Me: Tracy, 27
DH: Matt, 29
Married: May 18, 2002
Baby's Name: Tyler Michael
EDD: August 10, 2005
ADD: July 28, 2005
Time of birth: 1:24 pm
Weight and Length: 7lbs 5oz, 20 inches
Other children: Scotty (almost 2)

tinygoddess
Baby's Name: Sophia
Arrived: 8/24/05
Time of birth: 7:54am
Weight and Length: 7 lbs 8 oz, 19 in

[August'05Mommies]

List of babies by birthdate:


July 13
Anders Ian
Mama: Janet (hiphopgirl)
6lbs 2 oz; 18.5"

July 19
Evan Francis
Mama: Melissa (michael'sbride)
8lbs 3 oz; 19.5"

July 22
William Xavier
Mama: Val (cosmosgirl)
6 lbs 8 oz, 21"

July 23
Peter Randall (Pete)
Mama: Tina (QPDoll)
7lbs 3oz, 20"

Nathaniel James (Nate)
Mama: Tina (QPDoll)
6 lbs, 19 1/2"

July 24
Caitlyn Grace
Mama: Meghan (leftrightrepeat)
7lbs 9 oz; 19.5"

July 26
Abigail Kathryn
Mama: Sonya (sdauer21)
7 lbs 13.5 oz, 19.5"

July 28
Tyler Michael
Mama: Tracy (tracer)
7lbs 5oz, 20"

July 29
Ethan David
Mama: Lori (L-O-V-E)
9lbs 10oz; 20.5 inches

July 30
Grace Katherine
Mama: Kellie (daisysue62)
6lbs 9oz, 19"

August 1
Angelina Lee
Mama: Kim (KIMandGINO)
5 lbs 2 oz, 18"

August 4
Zachary Daniel (Zach)
Mama: Lora (LILRTL)
7lbs 13 oz, 20 1/4"

August 5
Caleb
Mama: Holly (HollyMN)
7 lbs 9oz, 20.5"

August 7
Reilly Ailish
Mama: Maren (maren)
6 lbs 4 oz, 19"

Arrena Ruth
Mama: Darrien (Red'sGirl)
7lbs, 4oz, 18.5"

August 8
Luke Anthony
Mama: Leslie (LeslieR)
8 lbs 14 oz, 21"

Jordan
Mama: jordansmom07 (Megan)
9lbs 10 oz

August 9
Emma Grace
Mama: Keri (kerbahr)
9lbs 6ozs. & 22 1/2"

Lucille Violet (Lucy)
Mama: Sarah (Sarah)
8 lbs, 10 oz

August 12
Avery Jane
Mama: Carla (snowzilla)
8 lbs 8 oz, 21"

August 13
Jonah
Mama: Hope (hope0805)
6 lbs 14 oz, 19"

August 15
Robert Clinton
Mama: Stacy (adore_one)
7 lbs 6oz, 20"

Lucas Shane
Mama: Jillian (jillybean_247)
9 lbs 11 oz, 23 in

Josiah Thomas
Mama: Laura (SD601)
5lbs 13oz, 17"

August 16
Noah Lee Stephen
Mama: Sarah (sarahanna115)
7 lbs 1 oz, 20"

Mia
Mama: Pauline (manatee)
6 lbs 11 oz, 19.5 in

August 17
Arabella Hope
Mama: Jess (DnJ2002)
7 lbs 10 oz, 21"

Bridget Clare
Mama: Julie (myhoney)
8lb 2oz, 20"

August 18
Rachel Elizabeth
Mama: Michelle (Shellbell516)
8 lbs 10 oz, 21.5"

Benjamin Joseph
Mama: Kat (Daniel's Kitty)
8 lbs 11 oz, 21 1/4"

Preston Philip
Mama: Kiley (Kiley)
8 lbs 11 oz, 20.5"

Madelyn Grace
Mama: Noel
5lbs 11oz, 19 inches

August 19
Logan Kenneth Anderson
Mama: Laura (bombedier)
6lbs 12oz, 19.5"

August 20
Alexis Elizabeth
Mama: Christine (cc8)
7lbs 8oz, 18 3/4"

August 22
Arden Grace
Mama: Erin(EJH)
7 lbs r oz, 20"

Emalee Rose
Mama: Terena (Mrs_Barkley)
2lbs 11.6 oz, 15"

August 23
Ava Grace
Mama: Nikki (philnikki)
7 lbs 7 oz, 20.5"

August 24
Sophia
Mama: tinygoddess
7 lbs 8 oz, 19 in

August 25
Aidan Jacob
Mama: Michelle (Mickey&B)
8lbs 5oz, 20 1/2"

August 26
Logan David
Mama: Rebecca (beckie62)
7 lbs 14 oz, 20.5"

August 28
Jerald Dorman (Jeb)
Mama: Alice (namrodda)
7 lbs 13 oz 21.5"

August 29
Trenton Steele
Mama: Alex (alex67)
7 lbs 8 oz, 20"

August 30
Braden Michael (Brady)
Mama: Jennifer (BuffaloBlondie)
8 lbs 6 oz, 21.5"

Broderick David (Brody)
Mama: Ellyn (Ellyn)
7 lbs. 11.6 oz, 20.5 inch.

Grace Emily
Mama: Gretchen (gmooter)
6lbs 15oz, 19 1/2 inch.



The August Mamas are blessed to have angel babies watching over them!
Ericka & Jarett
Rebekah Joy
April 18th, 2005 at 6:39 pm
1 lb 3 oz and 11 1/2 inches long
Born at 24 weeks. Lived 1 hour 11 mins. Passed to Jesus at 7:50 pm
Little Brother, Easton born September 5, 2006

Sully130 & DH
Hannah Jane
April 22nd, 2005 at 8:44 pm
1 lb 2 oz and 10 1/8 inches long
Born at 23 weeks
Little brother, Thomas, born April 20, 2006

baronskj/ Jenny or Jennifer & Scott
kisch & sway
Kari & Nate
Heather & Chris
Karen & Chris
Betsy & Travis
Rachel & Jon
krae & DH
Kerry & Chia
You will always be in our hearts and a part of this thread.

[August'05Mommies]

Pictures will be updated/deleted per Mommy's request.

Robert Clinton
Mama: Stacy (adore_one)
Birthday: August 15
Robert

Trenton Steele
Mama: Alex (alex67)
Birthday: August 29
Trenton
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b315/alex6789/pizza.jpg

Braden Michael
Mama: Jennifer (BuffaloBlondie)
Birthday: August 30
Brady
http://images1.snapfish.com/346%3C839%3B5%7Ffp345%3Enu%3D3264%3E873%3E73%3B%3E WSNRCG%3D32337%3A324%3A92%3Anu0mrj

Benjamin Joseph
Mama: Kat (Daniel's Kitty)
Birthday: August 18
Ben
Christmas
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/158/333955357_4c73968ab2.jpg?v=0

[August'05Mommies]

Arabella Hope
Mama: Jess (DnJ2002)
Birthday: August 17
Arabella
http://images.snapfish.com/344%3A46%3B523232%7Ffp45%3Dot%3E234%3A%3D768%3D73% 3A%3DXROQDF%3E2323%3A%3B658644%3Aot1lsi

Anders Ian
Mama: Janet (hiphopgirl)
Birthday: July 13
Anders
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y127/jlormberget/6month6.jpg

Lucas Shane
Mama: Jillian (jillybean_247)
Birthday: August 15
Lucas

Emma Grace
Mama: Keri (kerbahr)
Birthday: August 9
Emma
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b104/kerbahr/Picture016.jpg

Angelina Lee
Mama: Kim (KIMandGINO)
Birthday: August 1
Lina
http://images.snapfish.com/3459%3B5388%7Ffp47%3Dot%3E2329%3D36%3A%3D%3B83%3DX ROQDF%3E2324268%3C%3A%3B%3B35ot1lsi

Zachary Daniel
Mama: Lora (LILRTL)
Birthday: August 4
Zach
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/lrlynch04/1-12.jpg

[August'05Mommies]

Aidan Jacob
Mama: Michelle (Mickey&B)
Birthday: August 25
Aidan
http://images1.snapfish.com/346%3C53%3A4%3B%7Ffp345%3Enu%3D3249%3E979%3E%3A5%3 A%3EWSNRCG%3D3233793362684nu0mrj

Jerald Dorman (Jeb)
Mama: Alice (namrodda)
Birthday: August 29
Jeb
http://images.costcophotocenter.com/346%3C585%3C9%7Ffp4%3Enu%3D3235%3E792%3E538%3EWSNR CG%3D3232578852%3C83nu0mrj

Ava Grace
Mama: Nikki (philnikki)
Birthday: August 23
Ava
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c139/philnikki/b30e8471.jpg

Nathaniel James & Peter Randall
Mama: Tina (QPDoll)
Birthday: July 23
http://tinaandtravis.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=6292&g2_serialNumber=2

[August'05Mommies]

Arrena Ruth
Mama: Darrien (Red'sGirl)
Birthday: August 7
Arrena
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b215/redsdeltagirl/1stYrPortraitPink1.jpg

Noah Lee Stephen
Mama: Sarah (sarahanna115)
Birthday: August 16
Noah
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b332/sarahanna115/babyeinstein.jpg

Josiah Thomas
Mama: Laura (SD601)
Birthday: August 15
Josiah

Abigail Kathryn
Mama: Sonya (sdauer21)
Birthday: July 26
Abigail, age 9 1/2 months
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v242/sdauer21/02530018.jpg

Rachel Elizabeth
Mama: Michelle (shellbell516)
Birthday: August 18
Rachel
http://images1.snapfish.com/346%3C964%3C2%7Ffp343%3Enu%3D3238%3E588%3E872%3EWS NRCG%3D32337772%3C%3B4%3B%3Anu0mrj

Grace Emily
Mama: Gretchen (gmooter)
Birthday: August 30
Grace
http://images.costcophotocenter.com/346%3C69669%7Ffp5%3Enu%3D3236%3E2%3B4%3E45%3B%3EWS NRCG%3D32325743%3A%3A745nu0mrj

[August'05Mommies]

Caleb
Mama: Holly (HollyMN)
Birthday: August 5
http://www.calesota.com/images/Caleb/dec2206/1.jpg

Emalee Rose
Mama: Terena (Mrs_Barkley)
Birthday: August 22
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v398/tes251/Emalee/DSC133.jpg

Jordan
Mama: Megan (jordansmom07)
Birthday: August 8

Bridget Clare
Mama: Julie (myhoney)
Birthday: August 17

[August'05Mommies]

Timely Babies (Who arrived right on their due date?)
Luke (LeslieR) August 8
Jordan (jordansmom07) August 8
Robert (adore_one) August 15
Madelyn (kindermom) August 18

Impatient or Too Patient Babies (Who jumped the gun or took their own sweet time getting here?)

Jumped the gun
Emalee Rose (Mrs_Barkley) ADD 11/3/05 ADD 8/22 (10.5 weeks early!!)
Josiah (SD601) EDD 9/20 ADD 8/15 (35? days early!!)
Mia (manatee) EDD 9/16 ADD 8/16 (30 days early!)
Angelina (KIMandGINO) EDD 8/29 ADD 8/1 (28 days early!)
Anders Ian (hiphopgirl) EDD 8/8 ADD 7/13 (26 days early - our first August baby!!)

Own Sweet Time
Lucas (jillybean_247) EDD 8/1 ADD 8/15 (14 days late!!)
Rachel (shellbell516) EDD 8/4 ADD 8/18 (14 days late!!)
Braden (BuffaloBlondie) EDD 8/20 ADD 8/30 (10 days late!)

And our two Angels, who came far too early and stayed too briefly with us
Rebekah Joy (Ericka and Jarett) EDD 8/7 ADD 4/18 (Born at 24 weeks)
Hanah Jane (sully130) EDD 8/22 ADD 4/22 (Born at 23 weeks)

Popular Names What were August mamas naming their babies?

Most Popular Boy Name - David
Logan David (beckie62)
Broderick David (Ellyn)
Ethan David (L-O-V-E)

Most Popular Girl Name - Grace
Grace Katherine (daisysue62)
Grace Emily (gmooter)
Emma Grace (kerbahr)
Madelyn Grace (kindermom)
Caitlyn Grace (leftrightrepeat)
Ava Grace (philnikki)
Arden Grace (EJH)

BIG Babies
Lucas (jillybean_247) - 9lb 11oz
Ethan (L-O-V-E) - 9lb 10oz
Jordan (jordansmom07) - 9lb 10 oz
Emma (kerbahr) - 9lb 6oz
Luke (LeslieR) - 8lb 14oz
Ben (Daniel's Kitty) - 8lb 11oz
Preston (Kiley) - 8lb 11oz
Rachel (shellbell516) - 8lb 10oz
Lucy (Sarah) - 8lb 10oz

little Babies
Emalee (Mrs_Barkley) - 2lb 11.6oz
Angelina (KIMandGINO) - 5lb 2oz
Madelyn (kindermom) - 5lb 11oz
Josiah (SD601) - 5lb 13oz

Busy Day The most popular day(s) for a birthday in August

August 15
Robert (adore_one)
Lucas (jillybean_247)
Josiah (SD601)

August 18
Ben (Daniel's Kitty)
Preston (Kiley)
Madelyn (kindermom)
Rachel (Shellbell516)

August 30
Brady (BuffaloBlondie)
Broderick (Ellyn)
Grace (gmooter)

[August'05Mommies]

Ok - I think we are up and rolling. I'll email Kat the password and info, and hopefully, after she and I work out the kinks, she'll be able to help keep things a little more up to date. Please browse the first few posts and let me and Kat know about corrections, etc. that need to be made. Many of the pics are from summer, so don't know if people want to update those, as well. Updates posted in red are much easier to find!

Sonya :)

[sdauer21]

Since I'm on, I might as well post a quick update - though there isn't much new going on for us.

We survived Christmas. The girls and I spent 10 days at my parents'. My mom had surgery a few weeks ago, and is pretty immobile, so we went over to try to help out as much as we could. It was a pretty stressful trip, as I was very busy trying to occupy both kids (for having 5 kids of his own, my dad was pretty useless in the kid department! :rolleyes: ), help my mom, and do things like cooking and cleaning around the house. Will came over on Friday, and was there to help over the weekend, but we were all very happy to get back home on Tuesday. I have the rest of the week off before going back to work next week, so am trying to enjoy some down time with the girls.

Abigail is getting ready for her 2's, I think!! She's quite the ham, these days - babbles all the time, but still isn't very clear with most of her words. She's into everything, and her new favorite "trick" is tantrums! She had a full meltdown at the mall last night, and screamed at the top of her lungs most of the 20 minute car ride home. As we are just starting to move out of the "terribles" with Tallia, I'm really not looking forward to this stage. Hopefully, with a little experience under my belt, we can have a smoother go of it this time around. (One can hope, anyway!!)

That's about it here - the girls are yelling at each other, so I think its time for lunch. On the way out, a more recent picture of Abigail. We used a version of this for part of our Christmas card...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v242/sdauer21/02530018.jpg

Happy Holidays to all of you, and your families!

Sonya

[LILRTL]

Just stopping in to subscribe!!

And you can update that we are expecting a BOY on May 20! :)

[sdauer21]

And you can update that we are expecting a BOY on May 20!

How did I miss this??? Congratulations!!! :D


I think its mighty interesting that all our RO's, thus far, are repeating with boys! :cool:

[LILRTL]

Thanks! :D I just recently posted it on LJ. We surprised ALL our family at Christmas!

[alex67]

Congrats Lora! H&H 9 months to you.

And thanks Sonya for the new thread! Great job.

[cc8]

Thanks for starting up the new thread, Sonya

Congrats, Laura!

Subscribing...

[L-O-V-E]

Looking good in here!

Thanks for the new thread, Sonya. Abigail is so gosh darn cute!

And a big Congrats to Lora! :) Hope you are having an uneventful and happy pregnancy!

~Lori

[HollyMN]

I'm here - here's an updated picture for me - my Christmas lights' shot.

http://www.calesota.com/images/Caleb/dec2206/1.jpg

[Red'sGirl]

Congrats Laura!

I forgot to mention yesterday that we took Arrena in to get the second half of her flu shot. We were last at the Dr.'s office on November 15th.

On Nov. 15th, Arrena was 31.5 inches and 23 lbs, 6oz
When we weighed and measured her yesterday, just about 6 weeks later, she was
33.5 inches and 24 lbs. 12 oz!!! :eek: The girl is getting so tall!

We have started a Gymboree class finally. Arrena seems to like it. But everyone has asked how old she is. It's the 16mos - ?? class, and she's just barely 16 mos. We keep getting the "She's so big!" remark. I guess they're right in that she's grown a lot in the last month and a half. She can reach everything now, which is really annoying.

And she's starting to talk and sing. She sings the Alphabet song. She can't really say the words, but she has the cadence right and sings it the same way every time (most letters just sound like "eeee" or "esss"). Still, when she gets to "next time won't you sing with me", she points to herself. We love it!!! She's also saying "Cookie" and "thank you" as well as "hi" Good-bye", "Up" and "All gone".

Even better, while we were on vacation, we were dancing on with a video game (Super Mario Dance Challenge). It shows Super Mario on the screen and you have to follow the dance cues on a mat that's hooked up to teh video game. We were having a great time having a "dance-off" when Arrena insisted on getting on the mat and actually danced. She even tried to move her legs to the right places!! My mom has never laughed so hard! My girl is a dancing machine!!

[Kiley]

subscribing...

Hope everyone had a better holiday than we did. We all got the stomach flu for 5 days. Ugh. Not fun.

[Daniel's Kitty]

Sorry if I missed some caps, the shift keys don't seem to want to work.

I have been laughing to myself about all the boys.

We are all SO tired today. I wish I could take Ben outside to play. He is driving me batty which isn't good when he thinks 3am is the best wake-up time. I need to find another pair of mittens so I can have one in the wash and one to wear. I can't deal with him running through the house while we have all this wind and snow.

Holly did you want that pic on the front page?

[Mickey&B]

Just stopping to subscribe! I'll update later!
Hope you all had a great holiday

[gmooter]

Just subscribing! It's the middle of the night, I'm sick and can't sleep. 3 weeks til my due date! I'm so hoping for an early one though!

[alex67]

Gretchen, I cannot believe you are about to have baby #2. Time sure flies. Wishing you a smooth delivery.

Happy New Year to you all! I wish for all of us to have a year full of happiness and growth. :)

[L-O-V-E]

Happy New Year, Mommas!

[mrs_barkley]

Subscribing :)

Hope everybody had a great Christmas and New Years!

[HollyMN]

Holly did you want that pic on the front page?


Yes, thank you!

[EJH]

Happy New Year everyone.

We head back home tomorrow night (red eye, ugh. Jet Blue doesn't offer great times between NV and MA). I fear it will not be a good flight, A's had some rough nights here. She's only STTN once in over 2 weeks. For awhile we were getting from 8pm-3AM, then she'd come into bed with me and sleep until b/w 6&7. Last night she was up almost every hour. She's getting her molars, and that's not helping.

My parents have watched her a few times so we could get out by ourselves, which was great.

Looking forward to getting home and getting her back to our regularly scheduled programming, but not looking forward to going back to work and not knowing when we'll see my folks again.

DP starts her new job next week which will present some interesting challenges as she'll have a commute again and chances are won't be home before 7:30 most nights.

Hope everyone is doing well.

Erin

[August'05Mommies]

The pic should be there now.

[Daniel's Kitty]

Tina Did you notice the thread about the recall of the second seat for the Phil and Ted's stroller? The fix is something about getting covers for the back wheels so little fingers don't get caught. If I remember correctly that is your stroller.

[Mickey&B]

Erin UGG Molars no fun at all, we have been dealing with that for the last few weeks. Maybe some Motrin will help with the trip home.

speaking of Motrin, QOTD I went to purchase Infants Motrin and they had none, so I picked up the bottle of Children's Motrin and read the label and according to the weight chart AJ can now have it. Does anyone know if it's okay to give? For the record he wieghs about 27lbs (maybe more now).

[hope0805]

No time, really, but wanted to say that Mickey, my ped. said it's fine. J has had Children's Motrin *a lot* lately, I feel guilty saying, because his nose has been running like a faucet and it seems to help with that and the teething pain at the same time. It's a lot of medicine to get in them when you're used to a 0.8 dropper, but once he got the hang of it it's fine. J weighs around the same.

[EJH]

Mickey

]The ped told us to give her Children's Motrin now, that at this point we don't get the bang for the buck in the Infant motrin apparently. And Arden is 25 (probably 26 lbs) now, so should be fine for AJ.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We're currently over at FIL's so he can see Arden (he came back here from MA a couple of nights ago).

We'll give her motrin before bed tonight and hope for the best. Looks like MIL is moving out here too within the next 2 months. Crazy.

Ciao,
Erin

[cc8]

Ooh good tip on the Children's Motrin. I am sure we can get DD on that soon, too. I'll be sure to get her weighed soon!

Paci weaning question - gals, I apologize for bringing up a subject which has already been discussed ad nauseum but I've been reading informal stuff about how paci usage can actually distort/change an infant's mouth shape. Is this true?

On that note, does anyone else's kiddo still use a paci? DD is seriously addicted and any previous attempts to wean her from it have failed. I just read on another CC thread about a 3 YEAR OLD who still uses a paci and I almost fainted!

[Daniel's Kitty]

He should be fine with the children's motrin. I know Ben's dr had us giving Ben the 2 year old dose of Benadryl since he is on the weight chart.

Funny story. I had a midwife appt yesterday and when I weighed myself I had gained 30 pounds from two weeks ago, then I realized that Ben was standing on the scale with me. I had to weigh him before I could weigh me. According to the scale he is 30.4 pounds. You wouldn't think some pants would still fall off of him so easily.

Paci they say it can affect devolopment of the mouth. Ben found one when his molars were driving him nuts that he would suck for maybe 30 seconds but other than that he hasn't liked them in about a year.

[daisysue62]

We're still using Infant Motrin but Grace is tiny and probably hasn't even hit 20lbs yet. It may be awhile before she gets Childrens Motrin ;)

We had a great Christmas with my inlaws, Grace did really good at the huge Dutch family gathering Christmas Eve. We even left her there with the family at one point for an hour and a half to pick up my BIL from the airport (he flew in from Italy Christmas Eve) and when we got back it was obvious she didn't miss us one bit. I'm so glad she hasn't shown any hint of stranger anxiety and loves to be with crowds of people. It makes visiting family she sees once or twice a year so much nicer when she smiles and gives hugs all around :)

Our Christmas Card photo this year:
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/daisysue62/lights4.jpg

Christmas Eve:
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/daisysue62/smiles.jpg

Christmas Morning excited to see all the presents around the tree:
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d16/daisysue62/goofysmile.jpg

[hiphopgirl]

I have no wisdom on the pacifier, but we are planning on weaning at 2 years. He still really needs it to fall asleep at nap time, but I think he could take it or leave it at night, but I give it to him anyway. I figure for just those couple of times a day it shouldn't be too detrimental, but I'm not an expert.

daisysue - Grace is so cute. She doesn't look small in those pictures. I was actually thinking how big she looked.

[hope0805]

Add us to the still on the paci club. My ped. doesn't seem concerned. J uses it at nap time and at bedtime, and only *very* rarely in the car or when he gets really upset otherwise (e.g., falls down and hurts himself and won't calm down).

[Mickey&B]

Thanks for the info on the Motrin :) I asked the pharmacist today and she said to only give him about 1/2 teaspoon, but the chart on the box says to give him 1 teaspoon, now I am totally confused, so how much are you guys giving your kiddos?

Paci It seems like in the past few weeks, AJ has become very attached to his :rolleyes: he really only gets it at nap and bedtime, but now he screams and fusses in the car until he gets it! I figure since he usually falls asleep in the car he wants it. I plan on weaning him around 2 well see how that goes. I can't stand to see older kids with it in there mouth. In my humble opinion it does effect speech, but I have nothing but my own personal experience to back that up.

[Daniel's Kitty]

I use the half teaspoon thing since I figure the dose works and he won't build up a tolerance to stuff that way.

[alex67]

We still use a paci for naps and bedtime, along with his lovey. They go hand-in-hand. If he has one, he asks for the other. I am waiting until closer to 2 to wean also.

[EJH]

Mickey -- We use 1tsp.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We are back home. Our red eye flight was fantastic, Arden slept the entire way to MA :D . We ended up keeping her awake rather than putting her to bed and having to wake her up. I'm glad we did this, because if she'd had 2 hours of sleep she would have been recharged for the flight. She slept most of the time in her carseat, just the last hour was draped across us. Phew.

Now we're just working with Arden and the time zone adjustment. Took quite an effort to get her into good sleep last night, but she was still asleep when I left the house this morning just before 7.

Well, I need to plow through a gazillion email messages and attempt to stay awake on my first day back in the office. Arden may have slept on the red eye, but it wasn't that easy for her moms! :rolleyes:

Erin

[Daniel's Kitty]

Glad you got home safe!

[EJH]

Thanks Kat. Her time zones are sooooo messed up. Sleep has been awful. Plus, she got used to sleeping in bed with us part of the night, and we didn't really let her cry at my parents at night...so she's gotten used to coming into a nice snuggly bed midway through the night. Last night she finally STTN and got so pissed at me when I had to get her up for school. :rolleyes:

I located our camera cord so will upload a couple of new pics before I leave work (sans home computer right now, blah). She had a huge growth spurt, the kid is so dang tall.

Erin

[alex67]

Trenton had his 15 month check-up and shots this week. (We were late getting it scheduled). He was perfectly healthy. Trenton opened his mouth right up for the ped to check in there right on queue when she asked him to. Surprised me, as I have to pry his mouth open to check teeth or brush. The doc was amazed at his vocabulary. His new words are Uh-Oh Speghetti O, rock, sock, elbow, pop-pop (fireworks), touch-down, and hat. That is all this week. He just doesn't slow down. Anyway, he is 21.5lbs and 31.5in tall. I guess his weight is a testiment to how active he is. He just burns all his calories cause the boy can eat!

He is at such a fun age right now. I am really enjoying him. He pushes his limits sometimes and we have had a couple 30 second time-outs but they seem to be making a difference. He gets a little mean when he is sleepy (scratching mainly) but we know how to handle that - straight to bed.

Hope everyone is doing well. :)

[Daniel's Kitty]

Wow, he has some big words in there. Ben is to occupied by figuring out how things work to talk much though he has the words. The neighbors 4 year old figures out what Ben is saying pretty well. Those two don't need to talk much though.

[EJH]

Just flying by to post some new pics since I finally got them onto the computer.

This is the photo we used on her card....the caption was "wishing you all the wonders of the season." We gave up on trying to get a shot of her actually standing still and went with an action shot. We cropped the doors etc out and did more of a close up.

ETA: Sorry they're huge...I resized in photobucket but it doesn't appear to be working.

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e61/GdssLilith/Picture033.jpg

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e61/GdssLilith/Picture140.jpg

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e61/GdssLilith/Picture124.jpg

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e61/GdssLilith/Picture175.jpgT

Think we'll see this at all when she's 13?

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e61/GdssLilith/Picture110.jpg

Happy Weekend!
Erin

[alex67]

Ah, Arden is so cute. I love the pigtails! :)

[mrs_barkley]

I just noticed this on the front page. Could you fix it? Thanks! :)

Jumped the gun
Emalee Rose (Mrs_Barkley) ADD 11/3/05 ADD 8/22 (12 weeks early!!)

It should say:
Emalee Rose (Mrs_Barkley) EDD 11/3/05 ADD 8/22 (10.5 weeks early!!)

Her big sister was the one that was 12 weeks early.

Also here is a picture for the front page:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v398/tes251/Emalee/DSC133.jpg

[L-O-V-E]

Where have all the Momma's gone??

Just checking in to see how the new year is treating you. We're battling yet another cold/respritory infection. yuck yuck yuck. Is it springtime yet?

Hope you are all doing well and enjoying your little ones. :)

~Lori

[Mickey&B]

looks like we have all been MIA!
Nothing new going on here, just trying catch up with my life :D

[kindermom]

Ohhh. I wrote this really long post last night and it is not here now! I will post in a little bit over a work break.

[Kiley]

Still here! I'm expecting #2 in September so I've been exhausted to say the least. And we're putting our house on the market on 2/6. Busy, busy!

[EJH]

I'm around. Arden's sick and before last night hadn't STTN in ages (see my ranting post in 0-18 months); I now have conjunctivitis. Dealing with DP's new job that said no international travel and very minimal travel overall...guess what? She'll probably be going to the Netherlands next month and has two other trips in the US to do around the same time. Ugh. Netherlands will mean she's gone for at least 3 days. At least the pay is better, right? :o

Erin

[LILRTL]

I'm here! :D Here is a new picture of Zach:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/lrlynch04/1-12.jpg

And his new baby brother:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y88/lrlynch04/21weeks6days4.jpg

All is going well on our end! He has some sort of virus right now. Had a 102.5 temp - YUCK. Hoping it will pass on by soon! :D

[L-O-V-E]

Yeah! We're back in business! :)

Mickey - Is that a crawl tunnel in your avatar? I was thinking of getting one for E. How does AJ like it?

Ugh, Erin - sounds like you've got a lot going on there! Sorry to hear Arden (and, by implication, you!) haven't been sleeping. That changes everything.

Kiley & Lora - Hope you guys are enjoying your pregnancies!

Hey, did anyone see the ChitChat talk about a CC convention? Any takers?? :) Could be fun!

~Lori

[Mickey&B]

love yes that's a crawl tunnel it's part of a Thomas the Train pop up tent thingy that he got for his birthday They can be used together or seperate he loves the tunnels, he rolls anything through them and loves to play peek a boo in it. The best is that they fold up and can be stored away really easy. The train part he is not sure of he likes to look at it but not real comfortable going in it.

I'll have to check out that chit chat

[Daniel's Kitty]

Lora Great pic! Did you want it on the front page?

Ben gave me a birthday gift. He STTN!!! I only had to pee twice and I didn't have to get up before the alarm! He got 8 hours of sleep. I wish he was one of those kids who needed lots of sleep. I got to enjoy a relaxing date and then come home and sleep until 6:15.

His new favorite word is baby.

[LILRTL]

Sure! :)

[hope0805]

Here too ... things have been crazy! J has been sick on and off since the end of October, and the latest is a double ear infection and bronchitis. Oh, and teething, all at the same time. Fun, no? Congrats Lora and Kiley, if I didn't already say that. All these repeat offenders make me think ... for a second ... no, I'm NOT ready :)

[Daniel's Kitty]

Why not? :P We need more RO's.

[Mickey&B]

Bite your tongue!;)
I gagged the other morning and yesterday had the worst headache to the point of being sick! Has me wondering if maybe? I'm on the pill but I have to admit that I have missed a day here and there and had to take 2 the next day.

[hope0805]

Yes Kat, bite your tongue! :)

[Daniel's Kitty]

Why? Hee hee. Okay I am pretty scared of the two under two thing. Especially when one is Ben He has too much energy.

[kindermom]

Why? Hee hee. Okay I am pretty scared of the two under two thing. Especially when one is Ben He has too much energy.
Pshaw - There is nothing at all to be scared of with 2 under 2! Piece of cake. A breeze. A walk in the park...Ok, the realiity is I frequently wonder WTH was I thinking when we started trying for number 2.

I have not posted much because there is not alot going on here. And I sometimes worry that I may be seen as bragging when I post excitement over milestones. KWIM?

Madelyn is becoming so much fun. I think some of my favorite things so far are her excitement over seeing things in books or in person. Like she gets so excited when she sees trains and will literally call out choo-choo for a good 10 minutes because she is so excited. I also love when she comes up to me to just give me a kiss. So cute and it melts my heart.

Some of her favorite things right now are playing with her dolls and stuffed animals. She likes to put them in a stroller and push them around or to give them a bottle or share her food/drink with them. She is also obsessed with letters. I think we have a good 5 sets of letters (2 foam, 2 magnet, and 1 flash card). Without prompting she knows all of the letters - she can actively name about 23 of them and can consistently point out the other 3 when you ask her to identify them. She is also funny drawing. She has gotten to the point where her pics are "representational" - that is it is a cat when she draws it and a cat when she comes back 30 minutes later. Totally cute.

Madelyn finally was back to her normal self after the new year. Then I got into crazy work mode as I prepared to work from home full-time. Yay. This is my first full week at home! It is awesome to not be driving 3 hours a day and to not have to wake up at 5:30 to be to work by 7:00. Now I drag myself out of bed by 7:30 and work in my pajamas until I feel like getting dressed. It is really nice considering I am getting so big that very little is comfortable to wear. I am carrying super low and it makes pants and undies uncomfortable unless they are the granny style over the belly. Very attractive!

We have done very little to prepare for Henry so far. I think we are in denial. At the same time, he will be rooming with us until he STTN and then he moves in with his sister. I am in no hurry to register, etc because we will not be having showers this time.

Other than that, it is same old same old which I do not mind too much!

[L-O-V-E]

Kindermom - Brag away! I, for one, love hearing about everyones babes growing up!

Mickey - Do you have any ideas for sensory play? or websites I can check out? I know you're into this stuff and I am stumped. Recently I've tried those color wonder finger paints but he just tries to eat them. Same with crayons. Ethan does love stickers. I rip off a big piece of waxed paper and he just plops them all on there, peels them off and rearranges them over and over. But I'm sure you have better ideas for things we can do while stuck inside from the cold. Thanks!

~Lori

[kindermom]

Lori - Great idea about stickers on wax paper. I will have to try that! Have you ever tried corn starch mixed with water. It is like mud but then it gets harder and will severe at points. Well you put the two pieces back together and it becomes muddy again. And the best part...edible.

[L-O-V-E]

Now that you mention it, that sounds vaguely familiar. I'll have to search to see if I can find more on it or some sort of recipe.

thanks!

[EJH]

Well, Arden's on antibiotics.

MIL watched her for us yesterday morning (too sick to go to daycare). I picked her up and stopped to get us a smoothie and when we were standing in line I noticed that she had stuff draining (TMI, sorry) out of her ears. The smoothie place was just down the street from the ped so we popped over to see if they could fit her in. They could about an hour later, thankfully. Figured it was best to see if it was anything to worry about it on Friday, rather than be worried all weekend or calling them on off hours. Ear infection. Her first since the tubes (almost 6 months). The NP said the tubes are doing what they are supposed to because she would have had bulging ear drums without the tubes. SO. She's on abx...orally and drops for the ears.

Other than that she's just got a horrendous cold and I've got it too, it's nasty.

It's bitter cold here today, supposed to be 12 degrees by 5. DP is off at the barn and I'm hanging out with a currently sleeping bug. Trying to get stuff picked up while she's asleep. Was a crazy week so the house has just exploded.

Hope everyone is well.

ERin

[L-O-V-E]

Oh Erin that stinks! I'm sorry to hear that! I hope you guys are both feeling better soon. I read you vent in the 0-18 thread and I feel for you! Hopefully you can just snuggle up with some hot coccoa and get well! :)

[cc8]

Erin, sorry to hear Arden is under the weather. Can I ask you a Q: So I understand the ear tubes help with drainage, which is a good thing - no ear infections! But why does Arden still need to be on antibiotics if there is not any fluid building up in her ears and hence no medium for an infection to grow? Sorry if that is a dumb Q. We are now evaluating whether DD should get tubes and I am trying to understand how exactly they will help her.

[Red'sGirl]

Hey Ladies, I'm here too. I'm just crazy with the new(ish) job and travel. I'm in Sundance for the film festival right now and missing my Arrena something awful (oh, and her daddy, too).

I agree, they are so much fun, now. Even though Arrena is finally cutting her molars (ugh) and is a cranky monster sometime, she's also just funny and silly. She's still not talking as much as some of the babies here, but she's picking up words all the time. Maybe there's something more we should be doing with her, but I don't know what. If you try to get her to say something, she'll generally just look at you like you're crazy. But if you don't try to make her, she's generally try to say different words. My favorite is SOCKS, which, when she says it, sounds like SEX. I try to emphasize the AH sound, but what can I say? She certainly understands everything, whether she wants to do it or not. And Arrena is definitely asserting herself more. She knows what she wants, and isn't happy if she can't have it. But she also seems to get over it (sometimes) fairly quickly. Plus, the teething.....it just isn't helping her mood. I can't wait for them to come in. Plus, she'll be able to eat more!

QOTD:
I'm starting to think about pre-school. Arrena is in a great in-home daycare right now, and we're happy with it. But it doesn't have a curriculum (I don't htink it's that important right now). We are starting to look at places. I doubt we would really start her anywhere for another 1.5 years, but..... We've pretty much decided to send her to a Catholic school. One, DH and his family are Catholic and he always went to a C. school. Two, I like the idea of uniforms so we won't (later) hear how DD just has to have those $150 jeans. Yeah, right, prepare to spend your life as a pariah cuz you're not getting them. And three, the school we are looking at is half what regular schools cost, and is slightly less than half of what we pay in daycare.

The school we're thinking of is having an open house next week, and we plan to check it out. We'll see. I was just wondering if anyone else has begun to think of these things?

[Red'sGirl]

I'm going to try to post a picture of Arrena.

Please replace her picture on the first page with this.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b215/redsdeltagirl/1stYrPortraitPink1.jpg

These are already old. I need to take some new pictures of her.

[Mickey&B]

no time to catch up I have been busy showing houses all weekend and running my child around town because B has been working lot of over time. we are like ships passing in the night. Last night he got home after I had gone to bed (11:30) and left before I got up (5:45).

But I wanted to post a few recipes for Love and anyone else interested

Here are a few of my favorites:
First let me tell you that you should invest in some good plastic tubs so that you can set them on the floor and your kiddos can explore!

Coffee Sand it's basically homemade sand really cool!
4 cups dried, used coffee grounds ( you can get them from Starbucks, some have recycle programs for your gardens and they prepackage them others will save them for you if you ask them.
2 cups cornmeal
1 cup flower
1/2 cups salt
directions:
dry out the used coffee grounds by placing the grounds in a big pan or on a cookie sheet, and putting them in your oven on LOW heat for about an hour. Then mix all ingredients together in you sensory tub for scooping, pouring, feeling and smelling! Store coffee sand in a big covered container so that you can use it again.

ooblick the cornstarch you guys mentioned

Cornstarch
water
Sensory tub

This recipe is an equal mixture of cornstarch and water. In your sensory tub, dump about 10 cups of cornstarch. Have 10 cups of water in a pitcher. Slowly pour water in and allow kids to mix their hands. DON'T just dump the water in because sometimes you don't need to use it all! Better to need more than to make cornstarch soup!! You can leave it in your tub all week. Don't cover it ~ it will get moldy. As it dries out during the week, simply reconstitute with more water. To make it more fun add water color, careful if you use food coloring it may stain!

I have dozens more but B just got home and I must hang out with hubby :)

[Daniel's Kitty]

We should be updated to here. Please tell me if I missed anything.

I may not be able to get in here quite as much for a while due to some non-baby related stress. I will still get to updates though. And I will post when I can.

Erin So sorry she is sick.

[EJH]

Lori -- Thanks :)

Christine -- Fabulous question. The purpose of tubes is to make her ears drain, I guess they just wanted to be sure to kill anything that was in there, even though the fluid is coming out. I still think the tubes were WELL worth it, because this is her first infection in 6 months, and she had them constantly before the tubes. When we met with the ENT he said "you'll be happy with the tubes as long as you don't expect them to be a magic bullet." It gives me great relief to know that the fluid is coming out, rather than backing up, even if she has to be on abx.

When they fall out, I'm sure we'll have them replaced, because they have increased her health so, so much. Does that help? I wish I had the scientific answer!!

Darrien - Arden's in a daycare center that actually runs through Kindegarten. She's already got quite the day in toddlers in terms of structured activities (with plenty of playtime). We go back and forth about if we're going to leave her there for preschool or if we'll move her. We tossed around Montessori but good LORD it's expensive. That and Waldorf. I'm not sure I want to be spending 13K on preschool if I have some other options. We're actually looking ahead to school, we live in a town with a hideous school system. We're going to get on a waiting list for the two charter schools (two of the state's best) that happen to be in the town, and hope we can get in. Otherwise we have to do private elementary, unless we're moved by then and I don't know if we will be. DP went to Catholic school and I actually thought it might be a nice option, since it's cheaper ;) BUT, I'm nervous about sending Arden to Catholic and her hearing from her teachers that families with two moms or two dads are bad, you know? It's an added element we have to consider.

So there's a long winded answer for "yes, we've thought about it." :)

Erin

[HollyMN]

Thanks for posting Mickey and B, we're definitely looking for indoor activities for Caleb now that it's winter in Minnesota. That sand tub sounds interesting, but messy. I imagine Caleb getting sand all over the floor by accident and on purpose.

[L-O-V-E]

Those sounds great Mickey! Thanks so much. I can't wait to give them a whirl.

[Mickey&B]

Great!
I have the recipe for Flubber Gak that cool stuff that Mattel sells on the shelves! Our kiddos may be a little young for it but those of you with older kids would get a kick out of it. I search for the recipe when I get home tonight.

One other fav thing is the "Ice Mold"
you take a few smaller toys i.e cars, rubber animals just about any small toy ( not choking hazards of course :) )and place it in a large container with water in the freezer over night. Next morning take it out of the container and place in tub with plastic hammers (the ones that come with a few shape sorter toys) and let them pound away. Even if they have no interest in pounding it's still a great sensory experience, let it sit out and watch as the day progresses how it melts, your kiddo might become more interested when the ice mold starts to melt and the toys begin to stick out.
Ohh and I forgot to give you guys the website for cool sensory stuff!
www.ooeygooey.com

[L-O-V-E]

What a great site! Thanks so much for sharing. :)

[kindermom]

Madelyn managed to scale her crib for the first time tonight. No, it dod not happen when the sides have dropped down. Instead she waited until the sides were up securely before she scaled it. When I was rocking her afterwards, she told me "boom." As in I went "boom." Silly girl.

DH was freaked out and wants to move her ASAP to a regular bed (probably a toddler one). For those whose kids scaled the sides of the crib, did they continue to do so? Or did they learn that it was not a good idea based on the pain they felt.

I think this is part of a bigger problem. Up until about a week ago, she went down to bed so easily. Around 7:30 we brushed our teeth. Then we read some stories. Then we kissed good night, turned off the lights, and went in our crib. She would usually be awake for a little while talking to herself or her stuffed animals. Now she is refusing to go down until at least 8:30 and requires rocking for a good 30 minutes. We are not getting her to go down until at least 9:00. Not a big deal but still, where is my great bed time girl? So here is my question number 2. Any ideas why she might have stopped sosuddenly going to bed so easily?

[alex67]

Glad to see that we are posting again. I, too, have just been so busy. My department at work just got outsourced so I have been overwhelmed with the transition.

Trenton is growing in leaps and bounds, not in height but in cognitive skills. He has learned 1,2,3 and recognizes other numbers as numbers but calls all the rest of them 3. He also recognizes letters but just calls them all ABC. The number 3 is his favorite. At my DD's basketball game last weekend, he shouted out 3! everytime the number 3 came on the scoreboard (quarter, fouls, etc.) I lost count of his vocabulary at 40ish words. He is learning about circles now and can make a circle shape with his fingers in the air, and connects it to the fan on the ceiling. He also loves holes, finds them everywhere, in the middle of a cd, in someone's fence down the road, a pothole in the street. He also is starting to learn colors. He gets green right 90% of the time and blue about 80%. It is amazing to watch him. On the flip side, he never stops going and learning. It is difficult for him to slow down enough to sleep, usually fights it, and he gets frustrated when he can't do something and starts throwing his toys or hitting them on the wall or doors. We are doing short timeouts and toy removal methods of discipline. I've also signed him up for 3 days instead of 2 at his preschool for this coming year. He does much better on school days when he gets the extra hard play with the other kids and their playground.

Darrien - I have my DD in an Episcopal school. Of course, she is in 7th grade now but I would not change it for anything. Her school only goes through the 8th so I am starting to check out private highschools. We don't have many but there is one Christian school I think she might end up at. I'm sure it varies school by school but her experiences have been wonderful. Just a warning though - you won't be saving that $150 on the jeans, you will be sinking every penny of that into the uniforms. They are $$$!

Here is a recent pic of Trenton, having just finished a pizza slice:
http://images.kodakgallery.com/photos2654/1/43/35/33/55/9/955333543109_0_ALB.jpg

You can place this photo on the front page. Thanks!

[Mickey&B]

OMG I love Lisa Murphy!!! if she's in your area doing a workshop I HIGHLY recommend going!!!! she will give you a whole new outlook on the importance of play in a developing child!!! I have gone to a few of her workshops and have actually paid her to do an inservice for a center when I was the program coordinator! DId I mention I love her!!!!

[EJH]

Noel --

Let's see, after the time that Arden took the head dive out of her crib, she didn't try it again, until about 2 weeks ago. (The crib tents just do not fit our crib style...we tried to jury rig and it didn't work). A couple of weeks ago I'd put her down for a nap and she didn't want to be napping and so she climbed out. Luckily after the last time we piled pillows and comforters sky high around her crib. She hasn't tried it again since. Not sure what to do.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

DP had a last minute business trip so she's gone tonight. Arden is going to have a hard time I think. Last night after I let her out of her high chair she came over to me and asked to be picked up and I asked what she wanted and she said "nurse." Oy. And then proceeded to wait by the door for DP to come home (I tried everything to distract her, even turning on music for dancing and nope.). I finally asked her as she was standing by the door to the mud room, waiting,(which had to be open, at her insistence) if she would like her chair. She said yes, so I got her rocker, she sat down, I asked if she wanted a book, she said yes, and she sat there for 15 minutes just reading and waiting for DP. Call me crazy but I don't think she's going to self wean very soon. ;)

SO. Tonight we're going to Chuck E Cheese to try and distract her from DP not being around. It's the first business trip she's taken in quite awhile and definitely the first since A has really been able to vocalize what she wants. :rolleyes: Keeping my fingers crossed that she doesn't have to go to Holland next month for a week...oy. :rolleyes:

Hope everyone is well.

[Daniel's Kitty]

Can anyone see the pic that Alex posted or should I post it as a link on the front page?

Crib Ben climbed out successfully from the beginning so we moved him to a twin mattress on the floor. He was so good at it that it scared me. He loves his big bed and most nights sleeps better.

My dumb Question Does anybody have a little one that wakes up demanding a diaper change most nights. Some nights he comes in before he pees so we are already awake enough to take care of him when it happens. I wish he was more willing to use the potty since he hates diaper changes.

Sleep We got Ben to go back to sleep in his room after he woke up last night. We changed him put him in his bed and just put him back everytime he got up. He did throw one HUGE tantrum, but it was over in 10 minutes when he realized he wasn't going to be getting up so he went back to sleep. I am so happy even if I hate his tantrums.

[alex67]

Oops, sorry, I didn't know it wasn't showing up Kat. I moved the photo from KodakGallery to PhotoBucket so see if this works.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b315/alex6789/pizza.jpg

[Daniel's Kitty]

Well, both pictures are showing up now for me. Sorry I haven't taken care of it yet.
Daniel is delivering phone books so I have been bagging phone books while trying to keep up with a toddler and the house. I figured I should come post really quickly before I go crash.

[EJH]

So quiet around here!

kat -- i can't believe how soon you are due. i hope you are getting rest somewhere in there...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Just found out that DP doesn't have to go out of the country in Feb for work. I'm so excited, as we were looking at a week-long trip. Of me. Alone. with the toddler of all toddlers. :rolleyes: She just goes down to Florida overnight next week and then should be done with the traveling at least for a little while. Phew.

We had the best day on Saturday, we just stayed at home but Arden was in a great mood and so much fun. Apparently she used up her sweet quota on Saturday because by Sunday she was little miss attitude.

Her top left molar came through, now she's working on the right bottom (already has the left bottom). I got her some biscotti (stella doro?) to gnaw on, apparently that's what DP's family always gave the babies for teething.

Well, that's about all of my thrilling news.

Erin

[kindermom]

Erin - I was wondering how A did with the rest of DP being away. Did she eventually figure out that she was not going to walk through the door the night she was sitting in her chair?

Kat - Are you getting nervous yet? We are due about 1 1/2 weeks apart.

I know that we are so not ready for Henry to come. I have done nothing but shop sales for clothing for Henry. Wednesday night is our hospital tour as we have to go to a new hospital this time.

Madelyn has been a total ham of late. We counted her words and she is up to about 140 words that she can use consistently. She is constantly talking but not putting two words together yet. Thankfully she has not started to parrot us yet. We are working on cleaning up our language. :o She does however add an "h" to the word "sit" when she is describing that action. :eek: I did warn our nannies about that.

I am going to court in two weeks to finally end the lawsuit regarding my car accident I was in when I was pg with Madelyn. It is just shy of 2 years from the accident to the time of the court date.

[L-O-V-E]

Hi Mommas! Just checking in!

Kat & Kindermom - Wishing you both some rest between now and the baby's arrival! Such an exciting time!

Erin - So good to hear DP doesn't have to leave you guys! I'm sure she is happy about it too! And I love your avatar. Those pigtails melt me! :)

And kindermom, 140 words?? That is craziness! Go Madelyn!!!

Ethan's at about 25 words, 15 animal sounds, 4 signs and 10 body parts. He's getting there. The last few weeks he seems to be picking things up pretty quickly. I love this age! Of course, I've always said that. They all have their perks, right?

We had Ethan's WBV today. He is just terrified of the doctors office. Who can blame him after all the ear doctors, respritory doctors, allergists, blood draws, etc. Its been awful for him. But we survived.

He weighs 27 pounds 12 ounces, and is 33.5 inches tall. And his head is huge. Its 51 cm. We just keep saying its for all his big brains! Seriously though, I bought him a size 2-3 hat for the winter and its too small.

Here's a picture of my man the other day.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/92/373950453_6b9976c387.jpg?v=0

Hope you all are doing well! Nighty-night.
~Lori

[L-O-V-E]

P.S. Mickey - I finally made the "sand". Ethan LOVES it! Of course, it ends up all over the kitchen floor but he has a ball doing it. I also made the oobleck but I haven't tried that with him yet. I played with it on my own for a little longer than was probably normal! :) Thanks for the great tips!

[EJH]

Noel -

We had a great night when DP was away. We played at Chuck E Cheese for awhile, had pizza, came home and she got a special treat of warm apple cider and while she relaxed and she went straight to bed. She didn't look for DP until morning, but boy was she pissed that she wasn't in the expected places.

I can't believe how soon Henry is due. Wow, a second baby, I just can't imagine!!

Lori --

What a neat picture!! Yes, she's VERY happy not to have to travel to Europe. In a couple of years she'd probably love it, but right now a week away is too much.

Not sure what A's word count is up to...I need to count! But she strings together two words. And we finally got please into her vocab, now we just need to work on thank you.

Erin

[Mickey&B]

Just checking in!

Kat and Kindermom Wow I can't believe how fast time has flown!! Hope you guys can get in some rest somewhere in the next few weeks:)

LOVE Glad you had fun! I love OOblick I can play with it for a while too :p it really is theraputic!

I don't know how many words AJ has He says a few in spanish and a few in English, I don't really expect him to have too many right now since he is learning 2 languages, but l know lately he has been really gabbering!! and his signs are really growing as well!

I'm off to Idaho tomorrow wish me luck as AJ and I are flying alone :eek: be back in a week!!

[EJH]

Good Luck on the flight Mickey!!

[QPDoll]

I am JUST now finding this thead! AGgg!!!!!

Tina Did you notice the thread about the recall of the second seat for the Phil and Ted's stroller? The fix is something about getting covers for the back wheels so little fingers don't get caught. If I remember correctly that is your stroller.

Sorry so late to reply.
Nope, I didn't see the recall. I noticed they were going to start offering covers for the tires, but I don't think they are really necessary. Besides, it would take all the joy away for which ever one is in the back seat. They love to wheel the stroller around like a wheel chair when they are seated back there. Thanks for the notice though, I may see about getting them, just to have on hand.

Can you update the info on the front page for me?
QPDoll
Me: Tina, 33
DH: Travis, 31

Nathaniel James (Nate)
Weight and Length 6lbs, 19 1/2 inches long

I probably should have a new picture up, the one there is a year old now...but ugh, still need to have the camera software installed so I can download the camera. The PC was fried in December and is finally working again (but I don't get to use it much because P&N freak out in a jealous rage when Im on it), and the laptop died in early January...and the laptop had all my programs on it. Nothing like starting the new year off with fully-updated computers! LOL


Nothing much new here.
The boys are getting over being sick. They haven't been STTN in ages because they are croupy and waking each other up. They sound awful but we have them both on the neb and on a couple of RX's.
They are *dying* to go outside and play, but its much too cold for their sick lungs right now. ITs been bright and sunny here though, but still cold.

I am working on getting the office fully coverted to a playroom. Its mostly cleaned out now, just need to remove one bookshelf and three crates of pictures and photo albums. I have finally resigned myself that everything in the house is for the boys, our stuff has to go, there just isn't room in our small 2 bedroom with no closets. Im thinking of moving my craft stuff to my moms until we can afford to redo the basement (jack up the house, replace foundation and make basement deeper/taller, then 'finish' the basement so its liveable rather than cold cement.) Thats such a major project ($$$) that I wonder if we will ever really do it.

Anyway, my plans for the playroom: magnetic chalkboard along one wall, halfway up, and corkboard on the top half. A play kitchen along one wall, along with their short toy shelf and book shelf. *maybe* a window seat with storage below under one of the windows. And the other wall has a celing high shelf rack full of plastic totes for toys. Im not sure if Im going to build doors and sides on it, or curtain it off. Next to the toy shelf is a small computer armior, so its all tucked away while the boys are up. The TV componets (DVD, reciever, and dish receiver) sit on top of the computer hutch and are radio controlled from the other room. (THAT project is finally done, it is SO nice to have floor space in the living room now that all of the components and such are gone, and the TV is mounted on the wall).

Totally rambling. Sorry to be a space hog...thats all that we have been up to! Being sick and organizing!

[Red'sGirl]

I'm taking a break from work to say hello!

Arrena is finally talking! She doesn't initiate many words on her own, but she'll repeat words and she knows words. She says "Thank you" like a champ, and unprompted. Every day, I ask her to say a word and she repeats it so clearly I wanted to scream! I asked her to say "fish" and she said it clear as day. BUT, she also did the sign for it! I've been showing her the sign forever, but she's never done it or seemed interested in it. I was so surprised.

I can, however, tell that she enjoys the TV too much. The other day, she walked through the kitchen where I was and disappeared. I usually let her roam for a minute or two, then I peek to see where she is. THis time, DH checked on her and came back laughing. She had managed to climb up on our bed (she's never done it unassisted before), found the remote and turned on the TV. He found her sitting up against the headboard, watching!!! Ugh. She's doing great, though. She'll turn 18 months in about 10 days. She's obsessed with shoes and purses. How did I get such a girly girl?

Dh and I are doing well. We both had bad colds this weekend and spent the whole time in pj's. Arrena was fine, other than a runny nose. Even her daycare playmates seem sicker than she. So we've decided that she's Typhoid Mary. She's not really sick, she's just a carrier. :) DH didn't go to work yesterday, and he's not one to miss work. I worked a half day. I'm feeling better today, but I'm not too sure about him.

I did/do have a small issue, though. Because I'm ancient (40), I had a mammogram earlier this month. At the OB/GYN in November, a NP gave me a breast exam (my husband hasn't even been that lucky lately). She didn't feel anything, but I've been experiencing a dull pain on the right side. When I directed her, she thought she might have felt something - maybe a cyst. So when they called from the mammogram place and asked me to come back for the right side - I wasn't too shocked. I go in next week for the second look with a stronger camera. I'm hoping it's just a cyst - but it still freaks me out a bit. Still, I'm not going to panic. I just needed to tell someone and you guys fit the bill nicely.

[EJH]

Darrien,
Thinking of you!!
And can Arrena teach Arden "thank you" ?? She does please now, but TY is apparently not yet worthy of her.

I got the call to pick Arden up at 11 today, 3 really bad dipes = no daycare for 24 hours. SO. I'm working from home tomorrow (and did this afternoon) (hopefully my boss will be okay with that...he should be). With DP's new job there's just no other option. Plus, MIL's company will officially be sold tomorrow so she won't be able to watch her. She's seemed fine since we've been home, of course. A little short tempered.

New phrase of the day "oh no" (over and over and over)...

Erin

[L-O-V-E]

Mickey - Wishing you safe travels!

Tina - Happy to "see" you again! The toyroom sounds perfect! I'm sure the boys will love it!

Darrien - Sending positive, healthy thoughts your way. Please keep us posted!

Erin - Oh, I can so relate. But for us, its Uh-oh!

[alex67]

Tina- that playroom is going to be awesome for the boys. I love the idea of a corkboard/chalkboard magnetic wall. Do you have carpet in there? I wanted to do a chalk/magnetic table for Trenton but am scared of the chalk on the carpet.

Darrien- I'll be thinking positive thoughts for you.

Trenton is doing great. Today, at his school, they had the Chick-fil-A cow come visit since they are working on farm animals this week. His teachers said he was the only toddler that was not fearful of the cow and came up and gave him a high-five. He has been saying "Mooooooo" all day. :) I don't know about the rest of you but have you noticed your child focusing on a few specific things on their own each week, and it changes from week to week. This week Trenton is focused on ears, hats, hair, and zebras. He just pics stuff on his own, starts talking about them all the time, brings me books related to them, etc. It is easy to keep him stimulated when he pics his own topics.

ETA: I forgot to share that Trenton has come to me twice now and told me he poo-poo'ed. And, yes, he sure had both times.

[hope0805]

Darrien -- My mom just went through the same thing (although at 69) for the third time. Each time it's been a cyst. I know tons of people who have had it happen to find nothing major wrong, although I know that can't take all of the stress away.

Sorry for being MIA, work has been insane. Taking J to the doctor today for an ear-check (had a double infection 10 days ago) and his 18 MO WBV today. A big question related to the issue of TALKING: Is J the only one who is not really saying ANY words??? He says "dah" for dog and duck (but also says "dah" for just about everything else), will say da-da and ma-ma directed at us occasionally, sometimes "yum" when he sees something he wants to eat, and says "ha" when he thinks something is hot or gets near the oven or fireplace. But that is it, and I don't really count those as words anyway, and he's certainly not talking nearly as much as it sounds like the rest of our kiddos are. Of course I'm going to ask my ped, but it worries me a bit, particularly b/c our nanny is hispanic and doesn't speak great english (she also has a hang-up about speaking spanish to the kids b/c she thinks it will hurt HER english, so it's sort of a double-negative).

[QPDoll]

Darrien My thoughts are with you too! Im sure its just nothing. :)

talking My boys dont really talk either. Pete jabbers, Nate doesn't really - he is more quiet. The ped said its too early to really evaluate them, and they will be re-evaluated in three months (21m) at the earliest. FWIW They say "uh-oh" and Pete says "hi", they both sort of say momma and dada, but they say both all day long - and directed at us. My mom says they say kika (kitty cat), but I don't hear it.

[kindermom]

Hope - I wouldn't be too worried at this point. Madelyn is hypertalkative. But she usually says "ha" for hot, "que" for thank you, "eem" for icecream. It is totally about her ability to pronunciate. So if J says "ha" consistently around hot things, I would count that as a word. If you count only the words that M says clearly and consistently in the way it is spelled, our word counts goes from 140ish to about 70ish. BTW, M is also the child who was moved to her own room within 3 weeks because she was such a chatterbox at night I couldn't sleep. She still talks in her sleep!

[daisysue62]

Grace's words are also kind of abbreviated. Like she says "nana" for "banana" but manages to say "ball" sort of clearly. I think it has to do with how long/difficult the word is to say. She does a lot of babbling still, most things coming out of her mouth sound like nonsense to me!

[Daniel's Kitty]

Ben will talk really well at times, but for about the last two weeks EVERYTHING that comes out of his mouth starts with no. He won't even say yes anymore, he shakes his head for that. He is all about gross noises though.

He finally pointed to his nose this week without picking it though! Although now he walks around with his hand down his diaper if he can.

I will try to get to updates today. One of Daniel's job interviews included 3 days of training classes and they are two hours away with good traffic. He would love to sell cars for the company though. Ben is wrecking the house. I wish he wasn't smarter than the baby proofing stuff. I am starting to wish I had a job so I could go relax there.

Ben is getting jealous of babies that get to use his old bouncer and swing which scares me. I am trying to tell him how great it will be to have a baby brother, but I have no clue how to handle this.

[kindermom]

Kat - Does Ben have a doll yet? Everything I have read said that there is little you can do to prepare children our age for new babies but I am trying to get Madelyn used to baby dolls at least. And now she likes to kiss my belly. She even knows "Henry" is in there. Of course, everyone has a Henry in their belly so it is not super effective. I also have nothing but extreme admiration for you chasing after an active toddler right now. There are so many nights that it takes all of my best efforts to take care of Madelyn and she is gone throughout the day!

[HollyMN]

At 18 months only 25% of speech is usually intelligible....we count anything that is consistent and in context, even if it is just "tah" for cat.

[Daniel's Kitty]

No doll yet, I have only been able to find cheap ones that are all pink.

I can't figure out how we make it day to day some times. Ben will kiss my belly and everything and paoints and says baby. He just doesn't want anybody near his old baby contraptions.

I am feeling the need for a nap and dh still isn't due home for a few hours. He has figured out how to get into the bottom of the stove and linen closet. He now has a cake pan boat and paper cup oars. I am so close to giving up for today.

[kindermom]

Kat - Madelyn got a boy doll for Christmas from my Mom. She picked it up from Target. At our target, it is in the cheap no name toy aisle with the stuffed animals and cheap dolls. I think this one was under $5.

[QPDoll]

Kat, count me in for giving up today, too. You're not alone!

I took the boys to the park today, because they were really acting cooped up at home after being stuck inside for a week. They continually tried running in opposite directions and I eventually had to drag them both out of the park, yes, full kicking and screaming and dragging them. They really just wanted to lay on the cement and have a full-on tantrum. It was a fairly open park with water on one side and a parking lot on the other, I foolishly thought they would play with the slide and such, and its the only park in my area with two tot swings. The park was full of moms and dads...I felt insanely jealous that my kids miss out on things like that because I can't run in two directions. I know its not their fault, and it makes me sad, but I just can't figure a way to handle them both.
chalkboard Im sorry, I know someone asked about carpet in the playroom, and I just don't have time to look up who asked, please forgive. No, we have hardwood floors and a large area rug. My aunt had a wall-length chalkboard though, and it was in a carpeted room and I don't recall any big stains or mess from the chalk. I think it would be a crapload easier than markers and a dryboard or every washable markers though. Hell, even crayons are more messy than chalk.

Screaming is ensuing...gotta run. Is it bedtime yet? I need a drink! LOL

[kindermom]

Is it bedtime yet? I need a drink!
So jealous! ;)

[QPDoll]

So jealous! ;)

bwhahhaaa...
Instead, DH arrived home from work (late, at 8:pm) and fixed dinner for me! He cooked fajitas - yumm...He is a much better cook than I am, even with something as simple as fajitas!

It was a bad-mommy day today. Im glad tomorrow is a new day, but I really lost it today and I feel awful.

[Daniel's Kitty]

Me too!

Tina you are far better than me! I don't bend down to grab him and I just wait the tantrum out. I cracked up laughing when he did it in Target. Daddy wanted to walk down the munchie aisle and it was too much temptation.

I will have to check Target for a doll. I hate having no money, but I want Ben to have his own baby that he can take care of.

We had a broken Thomas toy today. It was playing the train whistle sound over and over. I took the batteries out and when I put them back it was working. Thank God since this is Ben's favorite toy right now and he was so upset that it wasn't working.

[Daniel's Kitty]

OOhh fajitas, will he come cook for me too? Ben and I had french toast and Daniel had a bowl of cereal.

I am waiting on the dryer to finish since Daniel needs the stuff in it for tomorrow.

[EJH]

ugh, it's the middle of the night and here i am awake. i'm so sick i can't sleep. and of course, i took the last 1.5 days off b/c of arden so i have to go in tomorrow.

oh how i wish it were the weekend.

erin

ETA -- Kat, Arden has a boy doll ... I think DP found it at TJ Maxx...it was a matched pair, one boy, one girl.

[Daniel's Kitty]

Feel better soon.

Time to go check the dryer.

[hope0805]

Thanks for the assuring words guys. Ped. said J should be saying 10 words by now (so your kids ARE all way ahead!) and that from what I described she'd give him 5. She said to call her at 21 months and we'd chat (or next WBV isn't until 2 on their schedule).

HIS Stats:

28.5 lbs (75%)
33.5 in (80%)
Huge head (off the charts)

She lectured us about the one remaining bottle a day (which is before nap when our nanny is with him 4 days a week or if I am gone on the weekends) and looked askance at me when I said I was still nursing 3x a day, including before his nap on Fridays and weekends. Oh well, you've gotta take doctors' advice with a grain of salt sometimes, right? I do wish he would go to sleep during the day without a bottle or nursing, but we've tried *everything* (up to and including an hour of CIO, which he did for 4 days straight and each day either vomited in his crib or only took a 20 minute nap thereafter). He goes down fine at night "drowsy but awake" but will not have it for his daytime nap. So annoying, particularly since we are likely going to be in an all day preschool starting at age 2, but I don't know what to do about it, so I procrastinate ...

[daisysue62]

Grace's 18 month WBV is on Feb 14th, I'm kind of excited for it because it's with our new ped. I'm slightly worried about how small Grace is, so it will be reassuring to have her weighed and know all is well.

As for words Grace probably has around ten and also some baby signs. Her favorite word is baby, she'll say it for everything :rolleyes:

We just found out today that we're expecting baby #2 in October so we're pretty excited about it! I don't know how to handle telling Grace about it, I don't think she'd understand much about it anyways. She's all about babies right now so I'll just have to hope that this phase lasts us at least through October!

[Red'sGirl]

Kellie CONGRATULATIONS!!!

So I might as well admit it. I have the baby bug. I want my second - or at least to be trying. :rolleyes: I already have a plan, I just haven't shared it with DH yet. Oh well, he won't mind being the last to know. haha

With this new job, I feel like we can financially handle another baby. Once June gets here, when my company grant begins for another year, I'll feel at ease to start trying. I just want to be sure that I'll be employed for at least another year. Then, while we're trying, we're also preparing for buying a house. We are in the process of paying off the majority of debt. Not all, mind you, just the majority. The perfect ratio of debt is supposed to be 2/3 available credit on all cards, etc. So I'm just trying to reach that ratio. Once there, I can concentrate on getting rid of some altogether. It's daunting, because we are carrying a lot of debt. But we're finally able to get rid of some of it.

Did I mention that we bought TiVO? :D Yeah, not helping the debt thing, but it wasn't too expensive. We love it. And DH and I checked out a Catholic school with a pre-K class this week. It was pretty good. The best thing was that none of the classes had more than 16 kids in them - and those were the older classes (up to 8th grade). The kindergarten class was about 6 kids! And they all score through the roof. Still, it wasn't a slam dunk, so we'll keep looking around. We have time. I don't think we'll send Arrena anywhere for another year to a year and a half.

[L-O-V-E]

Congratulations DaisySue!

[cc8]

Congrats DaisySue

TTC
ACK! All this TTC talk. DH is totally not ready to have DC #2 yet, but we've tentatively agreed to start TTC in August, when DD turns 2. We struggled with IF the 1st time (I have PCOS), so I think we will have to pursue similar avenues this time around (IUI, etc), but at least this time we have more of a 'plan'. I'm comfortable with this spacing (assuming we are successful come Aug). DD is such a handful that both DH and I would FREAK OUT if we were PG right now; a few months of time will make a huge difference for us, it seems.

Quick Update: Bottle Weaning
So I finally decided that DD had to go cold turkey on the bottle Mon. Mon night was horrible; she kept waking up (at least that is what DH told me; for better or worse, I slept through the racket!). So far so good - BUT DD is drinking a lot less milk as compared to her bottle days. From what I've read, this is normal. Does anyone else have problems with Nubys leaking?

[kindermom]

Congratulations DaisySue! How exciting.

Darrien - Very cool that you are looking at trying soon too! It is totally getting to be that time for so many of us.

Erin - I hope you are feeling better.

Kat - Sorry to hear about how many stressors you have right now. That is really sucky.

Nubys - Yes, they leak. I switched to the more expensive Playtex straw cups and still get leaks but no where near as bad as Nubys. There is a thread on this someplace here. I would do a search for Nuby in the title. I know I posted in it at least 6 months ago.

[QPDoll]

more congrats to DaisySue!!!!

CC8 I also have PCOS, but we were successful with clomid and met. I have baby fever, DH says he is "happy where we are"; personally, I know he is scared of having twins again or high-order multiples. Im actually about two weeks late right now, but I keep testing and they are always negative (including todays test). Gotta love PCOS.
Good luck bottle weaning! We went cold turkey a few weeks ago and I don't think the boys even noticed. (binkies are another story) Their milk consumption did dip at first, but now are back up to what they were at, or just under. Yes! Nubys leak! The only sippies I haven't had a problem with is
Playtex.

[hiphopgirl]

Congrats DaisySue!

I'm really getting the baby bug again. It has taken me longer to get to this point than I expected. We were thinking we would start trying again in April/May, but then DH got a job that pays about half what his previous job paid. I thought that would change our timeline, but then I remembered that I usually get a big bonus at the end of our fiscal year. I am now in the process of trying to talk him into putting this bonus into a savings account and using it for baby #2's daycare expenses. The thought of having two in daycare right now is what is freaking us out. One is expensive enough.

Words - I've never sat down and counted all of Anders' words. I guess it seems a little too competitive to try to do something like that. I just wanted to make sure he had at least 5 since that's what the Ages & Stages questionnaire asked. He has more than that, but I stopped counting at about 10. What I do know is that his vocabulary got A LOT better after the tubes. He had some mild hearing loss and I think that was affecting verbal development. If you child gets a lot of ear infections you might look into hearing loss as a possible problem. I am so glad that we did.

[daisysue62]

Thanks for the congrats! It's really hard to believe it happened the first month we tried when it took 8 loooong months to conceive Grace. But the digital pg test that says "pregnant" has me feeling pretty good about it :)

We're having some sleep issues right now. Grace was an excellent sleeper from 12 months until about 2 weeks ago. She was sleeping from 7:30pm to 7:30am without a peep. It was heavenly. She's started waking up at 6am and it's driving me nuts! Her nap schedule hasn't changed - still has a 90 minute nap in the afternoon. I don't think she's teething - she has all her teeth except the 2 yr molars. She's not sick, though she did just get over a cold. We've tried bumping her bedtime up and back to see if either helped and it didn't. Any ideas what's going on?

[Daniel's Kitty]

#2 HA so not ready for two. Ben knows something is up so he has been acting nuts lately.

Playgroup saved us yesterday. Daniel was gone until almost 10 and I would have been hiding in a corner crying if he hadn't spent time getting run down with friends.

Since Ben had only seen Daddy for a few minutes yesterday morning Ben crawled into bed when I got up to pee so he could cuddle with Daddy. I slept on the sofa last night, and the guys seemed to be very happy with that. Ben is Daddy's little boy.

[kindermom]

DaisySue - Too funny about the timing. It took us 7 months with Madelyn and 1 month with Henry. To say that we were in shock is an understatment when I got that "pregnant" the first try. So now the children will be 19 months apart instead of 2 years. Let the panic ensue!

Sleeping - No help there. Madelyn was up at 10:30 (right after I had finally fallen asleep), 11:30, 1:00, and 3:45 (right after I had fallen asleep). No teething going in here. I think she was gassy just because she smelled like she had poo-ed but was clean in the am. She has taken to waking at least once at night at least 3 nights a week now. I guess she is preparing me for Henry!

[EJH]

Congrats Daisy!!

On the baby bug..
Arden is 99% likely to be an only but we've made the mistake of looking at her baby pics recently and ugh, they just melt you. And then I remember that they grow into toddlers and I remain committed to having one. ;)

On my sickness...
Thanks for the many well wishes. I am still quite miserable and probably should get to a doctor. Why is it that when Arden is sick I never hesitate but with me I can justify 10 ways till Sunday why I don't need to go to the doctor and that I don't have time etc.

And one last thing...
MIL called this morning. (Background on an incredibly long story which some of you know, they sold their business this week with the plans for MIL to move out to NV where FIL moved in August.) Anyway, she called me this morning, I figured to say she had nothing to do and that she was going to get Arden from daycare to spend the day with her. Um. She called me from Vegas. She decided last night that she couldn't deal, that the new owner of the company was trying to make demands on her (he didn't want to pay her to be a consultant for the transition...and yet he still wants her to jump when he says jump). SO, she decided to book a flight (one-way) and go.
Talk about impulsive. She's not there for good since they are still trying to sell their condo and everything...but I don't know when she's coming back.

We actually get to "raid" her house for stuff which is nice, since she doesn't want to move 99% of what she owns and they are seriously downsizing (a good thing, two people don't need 3500 sq feet).

Anyway, it's all very weird and I just had to share.

Erin

[Daniel's Kitty]

They look so cute in that baby stage. With the toddler stage you can see the glimmer of trouble always lurking. Still very cute, but so hard to tame.

Wow your MIL gets better all the time! BTW I notice Arden had lots of cute clothes, If I was having a girl I would go for some.

I can't remember if I posted this or not. Christmas
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/158/333955357_4c73968ab2.jpg?v=0


http://farm1.static.flickr.com/161/332272819_976ae72cb0.jpg?v=0

[daisysue62]

I know what you mean about baby pictures melting your heart, and then looking up to see your toddler has strewn toilet paper throughout the entire house in the 30 seconds you just spent ooohing and aaahing over their baby pictures! I almost think I'm crazy for having another one, but I figured if we didn't jump in and do it now we might not ever do it. I'm hoping that I'll feel more prepared for this by the time October gets here!

Grace started waking up at 5am this morning...but went back to sleep until after 6 when she cried off and on until 6:45 when I got her up for the day. She got to spend the evening with Daddy last night since I went out scrapbooking with friends. Dh took her out for Mexican food with his friend and his DD. So it was a Daddy/Daughter date :)

[sdauer21]

Congratulations Kellie!!! - what exciting news!! Its so fun following along with everyone having their next round. I've got terrible baby fever - if I could convince DH, we'd be trying now. But alas, we need to wait a bit longer. I'm hoping we'll be ready by August - its later then I'd like, but timing would be much better.

Abigail started "preschool" on Thursday. Of course, she only went one day, and we stayed home yesterday because she was sick. Poor baby. I think the adjustment to big daycare is going to be a little rocky - she's only been in small daycare (6 kids or less, in-home care) so it will be pretty different for her. Luckily, Tallia is there with her, so can keep an eye out for her. She's turning in to a chatterbox, too - she talks all the time, but only has a handfull of words you can understand. You'd never know that, though -she'll have full conversations with anyone listening! And singing...girl LOVES to sing!! She's always busting out a song or two and dancing along with it.

Well, more later - she's crying and just wants to snuggle. Its so sucky when their sick! :(

A pic or two from recently:
Playing on the beach
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v242/sdauer21/Winter%2006/00060013.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v242/sdauer21/Winter%2006/00040001.jpg

[EJH]

Kat - Yep MIL is so interesting. She called today and I guess is going to start looking into subbing out there in hopes of having a permanent position for fall. OF course, she also said to DP that she will be renting a house somewhere in the summer in MA and will be taking Arden for the summer, we can visit her on weekends. Um. No? She won't even be 2 and she thinks she gets to take her for the summer? I think not. But, them being able to come back here for the summer is unrealistic anyway, so we'll cross that bridge when/if we come to it. :rolleyes:
Daisy - Yeah, I have a bunch of clothes I've got separated for donating, selling etc. Arden's goal today has been to strew them through the house. My beautiful, neat piles, that I thought she couldn't reach. Sigh...:p

Sonya - You know I just love those pics...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So we had quite a bit of snow last night. Well, I guess not compared to the usual amount of snow we'd have by now, but it was shovelable. It is January after all, I guess I should expect it.

Arden had a rough sleep last night, she was crying in her sleep for almost an hour...she'd cry, then settle, on and on. Anyhoo, this morning we got up and noticed around 9:15 there was more drainage from her ears. So, called the ped, went in, ears are clear, tubes are working, but her ped wants to talk to her surgeon about putting her on a low dose, just through cold season. Meantime, we've got drops for the ears. We ran best bud at the ped too, it was hilarious.

She saw him..."Chaaarlie" -- too funny. They were both pissed when we got called upstairs and they had to part ways.

Anyhoo, we've been home all day cuz it's cold out and Arden's been having a full on toddler day. We'll probably try to get out and do something with her tomorrow. DP keeps offering me to go out and do something on my own, since with her new job I truly am the one that deals with Arden morning and nights during the week. I may see if there's a movie to go to this evening, we'll see.

It's hard, yes I deal with her during the week but it's not doing "Fun" stuff...it's getting her ready, taking her to daycare, picking her up, getting her dinner ready and her fed and into pjs for when DP comes home and nurses her. It's almost all business, as our days are so long by the time the commutes are added in. So I hate to leave on days of actually being able to spend quality time. Does that make sense??

Well, I'm rambling, so I'll end this.

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend. Oh, we watched Nanny McPhee last night ... I highly recommend it...it was just such a sweet, great movie!

Erin

[August'05Mommies]

We should have updates to here.

[QPDoll]

My boys are still sick. I never know when to bring them to the ped or when to just suck it up. All last year, Nate was so sick, so frequently, that we were at the peds all the time. Now that they are growing up, my DH says we have all the meds they need and to just deal with it.

About a month ago, they had (what I assume was) croup. I started them back on their rx cough syrup and albuterol. They still have a productive cough and a really snotty nose (its been clear snot up until a few days ago, now its *slightly* greenish). I did break down about 2 weeks ago and took them to the ped, he gave us more cough syrup and an antibotic (which I didn't give them, because they prescribe antibiotics for *everything* there).

The past few days, Pete has been SOOOO tired that he is miserable, but he isn't falling asleep or staying asleep. He isn't eating much. Today, he was so tired he was smacking himself on the face! He finally fell asleep on our drive home from an errand (I was hoping the drive would help knock him out), but as soon as I pulled in the driveway, he woke up and I can't get him to go back to sleep. Today, the only thing I have been able to get him to eat was a couple bites of mini shredded wheats (his favorite) and a few french fries (I was trying anything!). Nates appetite is fine, but he has a bit of runny-butt.

They have all their teeth, sans their 2y molars; although Nates last two eye teeth are just poking through.

Its so hard when I have two the same age, to NOT compare them.

My DH and I are suppose to go out of town tomorrow - DH has a meeting this weekend and Im tagging along to go shopping and relax. The boys are staying with my inlaws (which Im nervous about).

Im not sure what I should do. Im not sure if they are sick, and if they are sick, if there is anything we could do for them anyway other than let it run its course. Im not sure if I should stay home this weekend and let DH go by himself. Im not sure if they are just going through a phase with no sleeping and no eating (I hear toddlers do that! LOL). I just don't know.

[EJH]

Hey Tina,

I'm sorry the boys are still sick. We have a hard time deciding when to go to the ped and when to just wait it out, so I'm no source of wise advice. :o Arden is sick so often because of daycare, though admittedly a lot less now that she has tubes. I get most "confused" about coughs. She always sounds so bad with her coughs and I take her and they say..she has a cold. Sigh.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

DP is in FL tonight, so Arden and I went to Chuck E Cheese with Charlie and his mom. The kids had a blast, just ran and ran and ran. Arden was more into the games tonight than ever. We came home around 8, snuggled on the couch and she fell asleep. Easy peasy. :D She was just so cute and fun.

Of course I'm cleaning tonight because we've got a housekeeping service coming tomorrow to give us a quote. So you know, it has to be spotless ;) . Luckily the house was nice and picked up from my rampage this weekend, tonight's just running the vacuum and putting away the things that fall by the wayside during our crazy weeks.

Anyway we decided to bite the bullet and get someone to come every other week (assuming it's not insanely costly). It's just too hard right now to keep up with everything.

Best get back to it. Arden is such a little girl now...no more baby. It's all happened so fast!

Ciao,
Erin

[Mickey&B]

My you guys have been chatty since I have been gone :)
Our trip was good but cold, now I understand why you guys that live in the cold areas can't wait for spring! It's hard not being able to just go outside and stay outside without your nose getting runny and trying to keep mittens our your little ones :rolleyes: so their fingers don't fall off! looking around and seeing everything all brown and dead is hard too. I am glad to be back in not so sunny So Cal :confused:
We did great on our flight both ways someone on the plane offered to help me carry his carseat on so that was great! but I don't know that I want to travel alone with him again. Man I need a break!
AJ got sick on our trip. He is all snotty and stuffed up and he is cutting his eye teeth so he has been a mess! Not sleeping, or eating and just being a pill! So tonight I doped him up with Tylenol cold plus, baby Vic's rub and am running the humidifier hopefully he stays alseep the entire night tonight!!!!

Nothing new going on around here umm let's see we started on Tiny Tumblers class today and of course my kid was the only one who wanted nothing to do with circle time!!! he was much more interested in climbing on all the equipment and throwing the balls (this kid is obsessed with balls, seriously I don't think there is a minute in the day that he isn't throwing one around) hopefully he got his daddy's arm and will make us some good money some day :p

Congratulations Kellie!!!

Sonya love the pics!

Tina no advice to give just offereing up some support, I hope the boys get better, I know how hard it is to have just one sick baby boy can't even imagine two and to top if off ones that won't sleep! makes it hard to be a good mama when you don't get a break ya know.

[EJH]

I have a kid who loves to dance. Every night we turn on the music (she prefers old school rap, or classic disco...) and she dances. Here's a video of her at the Children's Museum in LV.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1sEmpOIkk7g

[alex67]

Erin - too cute. It's amazing how long she stays at it. Trenton loves to dance too but only for a bit before he if off and running to do something else.

Tina - sorry about the sick boys. Hope they recover soon.

DH took T to the park today while I worked from home, just to give me a break and let me concentrate. When I work from home all Trenton wants is me and it is very difficult to tune him out. Anyway, I have no idea what DH and T did at the park but it wore him OUT! DH said he prefers to play in the sand with sticks and rocks, or run off into the woods instead of swinging or sliding. Oh there is a basketball court there and Trenton took his little basketball to play. I'm sure that helped run off some energy.

I hope to get some new photos of Trenton done this Sunday. It is long past due.

[EJH]

Alex --

She'll just dance and dance when she's in the mood. I found a dance studio down the street that has classes for kids under two. I'm going to go find out more about it. She follows my instructions ... if I say do your kicks, she does...do your turns...we do an up and down routine etc. However....she doesn't really like to dance to kids music...she prefers old school rap or classic disco. :o I'm guessing that's not what they'll be playing in her dance class. LOL.

Glad Trenton came home exhausted!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Had the cleaning service out tonight for a quote. I think we're going to hire them, it will be money well spent.

DP just got home about 20 minutes ago from Miami. I think she's kicking herself for not staying an extra night...it was 70 there...it's about 7 here with the windchill!!

Erin

[hiphopgirl]

I haven't posted in here in awhile. I have been super busy at work, and I'm just trying to stay afloat.

I think Anders has the rotavirus that is going around. He was throwing up for three days and had diarrhea. This morning he had another blowout. Man that is a bear to be cleaning up at 5:00 in the morning. DH and I took turns napping. I napped earlier this morning and he's napping now. We are both severly sleep deprived. I hope most of y'all have been spared by this thing. We've been dealing with this since Tuesday. One of the admins at work said her son had it for two weeks. Yikes! They are closing down schools and I keep waiting (with dread) to hear that they are closing daycare. I just don't know what we'll do if that happens.

Mickey - we have another one that doesn't play along. We take him to Little Gym (same idea as Tiny Tumblers) and he just runs around doing what he wants. His favorite things are climbing on everything, walking on the balance beam, and putting the balls in the basket. He won't do anything in the group and he never does the skill that they are working on - even if it is climbing or walking on the balance beam. Little stinker.

Erin - that is so cute that she loves to dance. You should try taking her to a dance class. You never know, she may actually like it. Congrats on hiring the cleaning people. We have had a person come every other week for a couple of years. I would be lost without her. I am willing to wear rags and eat ramen noodles - but don't take away my housekeeper :p

[Red'sGirl]

Arden is too cute!

I have a good one of Arrena dancing that I'll have to post. She'll dance to just about anything, but she definitely has her favorites. :D I wish I could find a class for under two year olds (or even under three year olds!). I think she would love it.

Arrena goes to Gymboree on Sundays. She loves to play, but she's a bit intimidated by all the kids and people. She's much prefer to just run around and do what she wants - but when they're all together, like with the parachute, she'll stay and participate.

Last night, Arrena woke herself up repeatedly with coughing. She doesn't cough that much during the day, but at night, it can get pretty constant (though it's a dry cough). She coughed, woke up and cried, fell back asleep, .........coughed again and repeated the whole thing. The third or fourth time she coughed and woke up, she just started to scream. I got up and tried to soothe her and gave her some water, which helped. Ultimately, I picked her up and climbed into the guest bed in her room and we slept together. She slept pretty soundly from then on. Me? I'm exhausted and have so much to do today at work! I can barely keep my eyes open.

[Mickey&B]

Darrien Sorry Arena is sick :( have you tried Children'sTylenol cold plus it was a life saver for us last week! That in combo with Vic's baby rub and the humidifier ARGG!!

[Daniel's Kitty]

I hope all the little ones get better soon!!! We have had a clear runny nose today, but since he will blow his nose into a tissue it isn't a big deal.

I am so happy! He will be going to his Godparents house while I am in labor. He loves them and they are used to toddler boys. I don't have to worry about him.

[hope0805]

Any other bad wives and mommies out there re Valentine's Day this year? I didn't ever get out to get J a cute shirt, never got out to buy B a present, and am now stressing about it. I can't think of anything I can do quickly for either one of them, and am just plain mad at myself!!

[QPDoll]

We aren't really doing V days anymore, nor many other holidays either. Dh just isn't into them and I’m tired of putting time and energy into them and he just doesn't appreciate them. My Moms Club is having a V-day party tomorrow so we will just go to that. I did find a cute (cheap) shirt at BRU, but that’s about as far as celebrating we are doing this year.

**

Speech.
Anyone else not talking yet? People express concern over my boys and their lack of speech. Pete babbles, but only says the same sounds over and over and doesn't have a lot of comprehension. Nate has great comprehension, but doesn't babble much at all. Neither are really saying much: kit (kitty), no (just Pete), no touch (just Pete), and that’s about it. Nate signs "eat", and Pete signs "more", and that’s it for signing.
The ped said if they aren't speaking more by 21 months, we go in for evaluation for speech therapy (2 more months).

Kat- yay!!!! Glad you have such great friends like Bens Godparents! How much time left to go?

Colds - ugh, ours is still hanging on. The boys aren't coughing as much, but they are still super snotty. I second Tylenol Cold! Also, those cough strips that disolve - they have an infants/toddlers one and it actually helped Nate quite a bit.

[EJH]

V-DAY

I ordered 2-dozen roses and a box of chocolates for DP, they'll be delivered to her office tomorrow.

We haven't done anything for Arden and I don't know that we will, quite frankly. She's too young to notice at this point!

I have a cute little red outfit that MIL bought for her awhile back, if it still fits (big if) I'll stick her in that.

Other than that we're not doing anything special.

Erin

[EJH]

double post

[Mickey&B]

v-day Add me to the bad wife club, I didn't get anything for B. In my defense he rarley really puts much effort into my gifts :mad: I really wanted to get him a big screen TV but he would probably kill me if I came home with that especially since we put off building our house because of $$$ so we have really been trying to not to spend money on stuff we don't really need.
I am going to make a trip to the mall later if I find something great if not oh well :D

Hope how about just having J make his daddy a card. I had AJ paint with white paint on pink paper, he added some sticky hearts and wha la! a Valentine's day card, you could add a picture of him our do his hand prints and that would work too.

Speech I don't know how many words AJ uses but I don't think it's over 15 or 20, plus the 5 or so signs he usues. He does have plenty of receptive language he understand everything!!! In English and in Spanish. He is learning 2 languages so I expect for his language to be a bit delayed. I didn't think they did speech testing until at least 2.

[kindermom]

Can I join the bad wife and mommy club too? I got DH a card from me and a card from Madelyn. Madelyn is wearing pants with pink and red flowers with a pink shirt tomorrow. That is about it. Oh wait, does the raging red diaper rash count as being festive. I think Madelyn may have a yeast infection given that the rash does not seem to bother her but man is is nasty. To really make me a bad mommy, Madelyn gets shots tomorrow! FWIW, DH has not gotten me a card for the past several years and forget about gifts, flowers, etc. This year we at least have the excuse of the baby coming. I am going to get off my duff and call a masseuse to come into the house very soon though. Does that count?

[alex67]

I'd like to join: I doubt we are doing anything. We are all sick, DH the worst. We were going to go out to dinner and have DH's mom watch the kids but since he is ill I am not even pushing for that. I did buy my DD some stationary, candy, and a gift card and for Trenton, I picked up some snacks he likes and some wooden puzzles. Oh and they each have a card. Trenton had a party today at school (he only attends Tues and Thurs so he will miss the party tomorrow).

[EJH]

Happy V-Day!

Snow day for us today. Well, I'm working from home, since it's just ice-ville up here. Apparently DP sent me roses at work though I won't get them until tomorrow now. Bad timing for a snow storm! :rolleyes:

We've been having some serious tantrum issues especially in the morning. I talked to her teachers to see how she's doing during the day and I guess she's fine, but they have 3 new kids in her class (they just switched the old todders, 2.5 and up out to a new room, and brought in some younger toddlers). 2 of the kids haven't ever been in daycare before and are having some serious adjustment issues. We're pretty sure it's stressing Arden a bit. It's just tough to deal with. She also wants to dress herself and put her own shoes on now. So that's an added piece of fun. ;)

She's in a pretty good mood this morning, since she knows the routine and can see we're not doing the normal rushed let's go to school day.

Hopefully I'll get a nice long nap out of her today, so I can get some serious writing done. Luckily I'm at the editing stage so most of the "thinking" is done, LOL.


Hope everyone has a nice day.

[L-O-V-E]

Happy Valentine's Day Mommas!

We're having a major storm so I'm snowed in with my little valetine today. Not a bad deal at all but I'm sure we'll be climbing the walls by thte time dinner rolls around.

Last year I went all out for Vday - decorated the table, made a cake, made chocolate covered strawberries, made a yummy meal. This year I got DH a card! Just don't have the energy! But I did get Ethan a shirt and make up this little valentine card...

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/181/373957545_5fe02bf6b6.jpg?v=0

Hope you all have a great day with your valentine's! :)

~Lori

[Daniel's Kitty]

I got Daniel his usual teddy bear with the year on it. He has them from 02 on, before that it was a plain one or something small, but he loves these. Ben gave us sleep and some alone time. Mikey is giving mommy contrax for today. Ben is loving how much freedom this is giving him. He is dismantling the house and I don't care. I am hoping that if they are going to stop they do soon. This started about 4 hours ago.

[Mickey&B]

Kat Good Luck!

Happy Valentines day! Ladies, It was a beautiful day here :o So we had our annual Mom's club party and cookie decorating!

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l114/Qbantoy/valentines%20day/DSC_0172.jpg?t=1171502685
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l114/Qbantoy/valentines%20day/DSC_0186.jpg?t=1171503212
http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l114/Qbantoy/valentines%20day/DSC_0183.jpg?t=1171503311

[Daniel's Kitty]

Great pics!

I am really tired but things seem to have calmed down.

I think Ben may be getting a cold though so I am pretty happy since I am not sure I could deal with a newborn and a sick toddler. I am just happy that he blows when you tell him to so I don't have to pin him down to suck his nose out.

[hope0805]

Ok, so I'm not the only one! We had a snow day and kept J home, both of us worked from home trading off dealing with him, but we were all together so that was fun. Then I decided to cook for dinner, and we had a great pasta dish with shrimp, tomatoes, and italian sausage (was supposed to be chorizo, but I couldn't find it) and a nice bottle of wine after J went to bed. I got presents, too! A heart keychain with a place for a picture and a pearl and silver XO bracelet, both from Red Envelope. I felt a little guilty, but not that bad!

Anyone else not talking yet?

Not really much talking here either. We have "Duh" for dog and duck (although he says "duh" for everything else too) and "Yes" or "Yeah" and sometimes "up" and "out". Also "mama" and "dada." But that is it. Tons of comprehension, though, he knows what just about everything in our house is, and can point to hundreds of things in books. My little boy even knows the difference between a "digger" and a "bulldozer." He will also follow direction, when he feels like it, so I know he understands. My ped said the same thing about not 'talking' by 21 months, Tina, if that makes you feel any better. I've also heard that sometimes twins talk later, because they sort of learn to communicate *with* each other much earlier than other kids, so that could be part of it too...

[hiphopgirl]

Tina, did your Ped address twinspeak at all? Are you noticing that they can understand one another even if you can't understand them? I think that would be a bigger indicator. Anders can say a bunch of words, but he chooses not to. He mostly just says car, truck, no, more, and milk. It's frustrating, but I know he understands what I am saying so I don't let it bother me too much. I think boys just don't talk as much as girls. At least that's what I tell myself to make me feel better ;)

V-day I am a big Scrooge about this holiday. I spent most of my 20's being single on this day and it just made me hate it more and more each year. Now I just resent the fact that there is a holiday that is manufactured to make single people bitter and married people feel guilty. I didn't get DH a card, but I did buy him a chocolate heart from someone who was selling them in our building. He bought me flowers and a card even though I told him not to. I think I'm unusual in my disdain for this holiday.

My poor kid, I never even thought to get him anything. Eh, he's young. He probably doesn't even realize my neglect :)

[EJH]

Mickey Your pics make me miss CA!!! What was I thinking moving away??? :o

DP sent me lovely red roses to the office and also gave me chocolate (dark, yum) last night. She got Arden a singing hound dog, which A loves and dances like crazy with.

It took me another few hours to try and shovel out this morning and I've got no clue if we can get up our hilly driveway tonight since everything is so icy. I'm hoping I don't have to find a spot on the street because we can only park on one side of the street and spaces are limited...and I dont want to have to hike far with a toddler in tow. Will be leaving work 30 mins early because the roads are a mess and I'm guessing I'll need lots of extra time to try and get A by 6.

Sigh.

Erin

[alex67]

New photo to post. This was our first and best shot of Trenton. After that he didn't want to sit still.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b315/alex6789/IMG_0072_2.jpg

[Red'sGirl]

First, my girl was a vision for Valentine's Day! Not only did she have portraits taken (did I post those??), but I had her dressed head to two on Wednesday - right down to her red socks and her white shoes with red and pink hearts. What can I say, I finally got her dressed in theme for daycare. had to happen sometime! So here's a picture or two:
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b215/redsdeltagirl/ValentinesDay06012.jpg
from daycare

and
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b215/redsdeltagirl/Valentines1.jpg
from her portrait

Arrena has a bad rash. Actually, it started about two weeks ago and I took her to the ped. and he gave me anti-fungal(:eek: ). It got better, but didn't leave. Then she started getting what I can only call blisters in her diaper area - front and back. They look hideous, really painful, but they don't see to hurt her. Still, they just kept coming. I called my Ped. and talked with her (the guy was on call) and she didnt' seem too concerned. But Arrena had her WBV yesterday, and when she saw it, she decided that it was a bacterial infection and prescribed some strong medicine to get rid of it. We used it last night, and it actually looks a bit better this morning!

As for her WBV, let's just say that it's official: Arrena has had a growth spurt! Considering that she was born right at the 50% in height and weight, then actually dropped below that, we thought it might take a while for her to get tall. Nope, she's been steadily climbing every since. At her 15 mos visit, she was in the 80%, give or take, in height (33.5 inches). NOW, at 18 mos., she's 34.5 inches and over 95%. Mind you, her weight is still lower. She weighs 26lbs, 10 oz, so she's finally in the 80%, but other than a pot belly, she's a lanky little thing. :)

We went out to dinner last night (DH had a headache on V-day, so we postponed it). Although she was eating late, and had her weight in bread, Arrena was an angel in the restaurant. She's getting so big and grown up that she had her arms crossed on the table and was listening in on the conversation!

All in all, we're doing great.

[EJH]

Hi Mamas,

Arden has another ear infection, even with the tubes :confused: :( . Her teacher called me on Thursday to tell me there drainage, I asked that she try motrin and if that helped her mood, great, I'd take her to sick visit Friday morning. She seemed fine that day so I took her in and yep, her right ear was so infected she couldn't see the tube (though it's still in, she wouldn't have had any drainage if it wasn't). So she's on Suprax and ear drops. We have a 6 month followup with her surgeon next month, I'll be interested to hear what they have to say.

Her appetite has been seriously down but I made one of her faves, spaghetti with ground chicken and I hid some zuchinni in it since we're experiencing veggie pickiness. She's devoured it, which is great.

DP is sick too, achy, sounds like a flu to me. Lovely. :(

I have discovered a delicious red wine...I dont remember where we got it (i tend to buy whites, but this was in our wine caibinet)...but it's fabulous and after a couple glasses I'm more relaxed than I've been in a long time. ;)

Knock wood A's sleep has been okay, though I had to wake her this afternoon from her nap at 6 b/c if I didn't, she'd think she was down for the night.

A's just been a chatty cathy the last few days. Apparently she knows the names of all of the Sesame characters. Well, she's covered in spaghetti sauce so I best go hose her off.

Hope everyone is well.

Erin

[Daniel's Kitty]

Grr I type and then realize a certain little boy has caps lock on.

Erin Sorry to hear that Arden has an ear infection. At least the tubes have helped a lot. What wine is it? Dh wants to get to like wine, but is really picky about it.

Red's Girl She looks so cute. I hope the rash is still looking better. Tall kids are great.

[EJH]

Kat --

Francis Coppola apparently has a winery...the wine is called Rosso Classico. I have no idea what the cost on it was, it must have been a gift since I never buy red. It was so good it's probably more than I usually am willing to spend ;) :o .

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'm at work today, DP has it off so she kept Arden home with her. So jealous, I'd love to be home, but just can't "waste" a day off.

Arden said her first three word sentence this weekend, "I got it." Too funny. Now she says it allll the time. She started it when she brought me a ball, I threw it for her to go get (yep, fetch!) and she ran after it yelling "I got it I got it." Hilarious. Not a baby anymore, it's crazy.

Alright I guess I should get some work done. Hope everyone has a nice day off if you're lucky enough to get the day!!

Erin :D

[kindermom]

I love the pics ladies!

Kat - My favorite lower priced wine is Bogle Merlot. It is pretty consistent and tastes great after breathing for at least an hour (and the next day yummmm). Around us it is about $10-12 a bottle dependingon where we bought it. DH really likes Murphy Goode wine but that is a little pricy for regular use at about $24 a bottle. They make the only cab sav I like though.

Erin - Way for Arden to put together sentences already. That is incredible!

We bought a bed this weekend! Woo Hoo. It is the first decent bed that either of us have ever had. Our current bed was a cheap one. So we upgraded to a King size. What is really funny is that DH is excited to make it a family bed. As in, we have to keep the mattress on the floor for a little while (or get a platform bed) in order for Madelyn to be able to safely climb in and out of the bed. :o It in totally endearing.

Today I sent Madelyn off to the nanny and I am going shopping. I had best finish getting ready to run!

I hope you all have a great day.

[Kiley]

x-post from my LJ:

Our weekend pretty much sucked. Preston was a pill all weekend long. His fever was gone on Saturday morning. We took him to the mall on Saturday to buy him some new jeans* and I had to pick him up off of the floor and carry him kicking and screaming through the mall because of a tantrum. He screamed non-stop about everything – we didn’t feed him the right things, the right way, we had to change his poopy diaper, we wouldn’t let him play with the outlets, we wouldn’t let him watch 283746322 hours of TV, we wouldn’t let him rip his hair out (he seriously did this, handfuls of it...), etc. The terrible twos have begun…..

Hopefully with being back at daycare this week, he’ll get back on his schedule and stop screaming at us for everything.

I still feel sick, I threw up again yesterday. I’m sick of it. I’m also getting depressed. Not about anything in particular, just the winter blues, I guess. I just want to sleep all day. And I want it to be summer. I wish our vacation was sooner. Of course that means a week of just Aaron and I with Preston, and I’m not sure I want that either J, just kidding.

Okay, enough complaining from me.

*speaking of jeans....does anyone know of a brand that has a large waiste band? Preston has a big belly so his jeans are tight. He's was in 18 months so I bought him some 24 months but those are still tight (and too long but can be rolled). We're tried Old Navy and Children's Place so far. Or is he doomed to wear sweatpants until he thins out? TIA!

[Daniel's Kitty]

jeans There are some adjustable waist pants at Target that work pretty well. Though recently we switched to the pants falling down thing. His legs are long enough that most of his stuff is 2t with some cuffed 3ts as well.

terrible twos
If you can stop the tantrums let me know. (says the mother of the boy who is screaming because he found a thing of caramel corn and wants me to open it) I am going crazy, he has an awful temper. We even gettantrums from him when he gets upset about getting what he says he wants.

[Mickey&B]

We have started the terrible two's as well! I almost lost it the other day with him when he smacked me in the face :mad: He loves to throw anything and everything he can get his hands on when he is mad and if there is nothing then he will go over to the nearest person and hit them! Or my personal favorite, throwing himself down and banging his head on the floor nice!

Jeans Kiley we are in the same boat AJ has a little pot belly :o I have a hard time finding jeans that fit his waist, jeans that don't have an adjustable waist band are out! I did find some at Old Navy I had to buy 2T and they are big in the waist as well as in length but for now I roll them up and I put a belt on him to help keep them up.

In home news we have pretty much scraped the idea of building our dream house, the reality was that it was going to cost us about 350,000 to do it and I just don't want to wait another year until we can come up with the rest of the money. Mean time I can't have another baby for at least 2 years while we finish building it! So we are thinking of fixing ours up a little and putting it on the market and with the equity we have plus what we had saved for our build we can upgrade to a bigger house in a better area! So in a few weeks we begin the rollercoaster ride that it the Housing market!

[kindermom]

Jeans - No advice there as we have the opposite problem with Madelyn's pants falling down because she is pretty thin! My nephew is huge for his age and I know that his little Levi's fit him pretty well in the waist. But in general, he has to wear larger pants and have them rolled up in order to fit his belly!

Tantrums - No advice here either! It seems that the worse Madelyn feels the worse the tantrums hit. She has a yeast infection/diaper rash and is an absolute brute right now. Hard as we are trying to gently reguide her, she is a big fan of hitting. Unfortunately her father and I are both stubborn and she got that from us.

[EJH]

PantsWe have the same issue with Arden and pants. I have learned that Old Navy pants don't fit her well at all. They are seriously belly squeezing, the jeans at least. I did find a pair of slacks that are okay.

I got her some 24 months in Children's Place pants that have adjustable waistbands, and I think Target has the same thing...but it might be for just 24months and up?

Our friend's DS is like a 24 month waist but 12 month length, the kid is impossible to fit.

Kat

Tantrums. Oh we so have them. We just try to walk away if we're at home. The child likes to have it her way.

Mickey,

Arden does the same thing, she bangs her head on the floor. We have also had the full on kicking the floor tantrum, I can't remember what it was over. It's pretty funny actually.

Although I seriously won't take her to the market anymore because she's just a little nightmare. She wants to get down and walk but doesn't want to hold hands and wants to pull things off shelves and if I leave her in the cart she gets so mad. Ugh. I still remember the first fit she threw in the store and all I could do was wonder where my sweet little girl went.

She's been into kicking us when she doesn't want her dipe changed, that doesn't go over well.

Sometimes she'll have a fit when she doesn't want to take a shower in the morning and I will just her have her tantrum nekkid in the middle of the bathroom while I shower. Usually by the time I'm ready for her she's calmed down and I ask if she wants a shower, she says yes, and climbs in. I swear, she's only 18 months old, I fear the next year.

Best get on the road and get home.

Erin

[alex67]

Glad to hear others are experiencing the tantrums. Trenton is an angel when he is well rested but as soon as he starts getting sleepy he throws his food off his tray, may hit or scratch you, throws himself down, says whatever it is he is wanting over and over again like a broken record, screams, throws toys, etc, etc.

Jeans - Trenton is lean so we have issues with pants that are the right length, being too big around the waist.

Erin - Trenton isn't quite making sentences yet but he started last week saying "Get Top" or whatever it is he is wanting. He has always said Get Down and Shut Door. It is just amazing to watch them grow and learn.

Trenton is having major Mommy attachment right now. He screams for me. If I am in the other room working (I work from home a couple days a week usually) he just asks for me over and over again, and then starts crying if he can't get to me. Doesn't matter that DH or DD are with him, if I am home he wants ME. I am considering not working from home at all due to it being very difficult to get anything done anymore.

[EJH]

Alex,
It really is amazing to see them change.

DP was home with her today and we have our defined couches in our tv room. We always keep sleeping bags on the couches for warmth (no insulation in this room, and man, it's cold!!). Anyway, this weekend I'd been hiding under it playing a game with Arden. This morning after she'd had breakfast etc, she went to my couch..."mommy mommy" -- picked up the sleeping bag to find me under it and went "OH NO" -- DP said it's like Arden thought the couch ate me, LOL.

Then she went to the kitchen yelling for me, I wasn't there, DP finally had to show her that I wasn't out the back door either for her to figure out I was just not home.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Found out today I owe on taxes, I'm so pissed, it's because of a screw up on my deductions. Double check your deductions, folks!! I learned the hard way. I'm having payroll pull the original paperwork to see if it's something I screwed up or if it's on their end. Luckily our accountant was able to reduce the amount I owed by dividing up everything between DP and I, but ugh, so upsetting when you're expecting a serious chunk back. DP is getting a good amount though, so that's something. That wasn't great news.

I'm up for a job that would be a serious career jump and would be a serious pay increase, but worry about what it entails in terms of time. It's close to home, only 11 miles and no highway required, which would be such a treat. It sounds like the VP i'd report to is family friendly and flexible, and that if I had a laptop and blackberry and was reachable after I left for the day to get Arden he'd be fine with that. Nervous though, it's a huge jump, but several people have suggested it to me, so we shall see. I managed to get from a phone interview to an in person interview.

Okay time to throw something together for dinner!!
Ciao,
ERin

[Daniel's Kitty]

Erin good luck with the job!!! Sorry about the taxes.

hitting What is everyone doing about this? It is driving me nuts! He knows something is about to change and is causing trouble all the time. With Daniel's new job and him never being home it is so hard. I can't wait until he can put things into words better. I have started doing a sort of time out so he can calm down and then I try to explain to him that we don't do that. He is strong too which causes a big problem, I am really hoping that he doesn't try to smack his brother.

[EJH]

Kat --

With hitting, we usually catch her hand and say a very firm no, then remove her from the situation.

Is anyone else going through the ripping of books? She does it intentionally, there are times when it's an accident sure, but others where it's not. We take away the book and put it somewhere else and talk about how we have to be gentle and love our books. It happened tonight when she ripped an Elmo book and I took it away and oy, the crying that ensued. She immediately nursed and is now asleep.

It's SUCH a hard age, ITA with Kat I can't wait until she really can communicate better.

[alex67]

Trenton likes to hit his toys against my parents' walls when they have him. They started taking that toy away and placing it on top of a bookcase where he cannot reach it but can still see it. They tell him that hiting the wall is a no-no and point to the toys he has had removed. The next day, they give them back and start all over again. It really only took about 2 times for him to get it. Now he points to the empty top of the bookcase and just says "no-no".

At home, I have used timeouts where I actually force him to sit still for 10 or 15 seconds or so while he is screaming while I just continuously say "timeout, timeout". Now, when he goes to the tv to hit it or my computer to slam down on the keyboard, I just ask him if he wants a timeout (I have to use a pleasant voice or the aggression in my voice will just fuel his aggression) and to be a big boy and make a good choice and I think me just not being mad at him makes him want to run to me instead. Then we clap and celebrate the great choice he made. This works 90% of the time.

Erin - the job opportunity sounds great! Risks are hard to take sometimes. Nine months ago I was offered a promotion that actually involved transfering to a different department at work. I knew it was the way to go for career growth, would open up a ton for doors for learning opportunities, this new department had a larger budget to work with so resources were more available, in addition to a pay increase. Even with all that I was so worried about accepting because I loved me job and my boss. I took the leap and have never looked back. My new coworkers are awesome, my new boss is even better with TOTAL family friendly flexibility and to top it off I have had 3 more pay increases totaling over a 30% increase in just 9 months. I had no idea how much growth I would actually experience. Just wanted to share a positive risk taking story. :)

[QPDoll]

sorry for being gone so long, I haven't been getting my notifications (again).
Thanks for the replys about talking. Yeah, they say twin boys are about the slowest to start speaking. They do communication between themselves, but the whole "twin language" thing is actually a myth. They communicate with me too, but it doesn't mean they are speaking. We went to my SILs Mardi Gras party last night and all of the other kids were talking, including the younger ones. It was pretty shocking since we are normally only around kids who are older. Nate does seem to comprehend *everything*, and he has such compassion and really looks after/takes care of Pete...but he doesn't talk. He doesn't make much noise (other than ahhh!!), but I think perhaps he is just quiet. Pete makes noises, and sometimes we can hash them into words but I doubt thats what he is really saying (spilled some milk tonight and I swear he said 'stupid cup' which isn't something he would hear in our house) - but Pete doesn't seem to have much comprehension. Or he just chooses to ignore us. LOL

We had a great weekend though. It was nice here so we worked in the yard and the boys had a blast running around outside all weekend.

[Kiley]

Glad I'm not the only getting hit by my child. I feel like I'm doing something wrong with him. We've never hit him, where does he get it from? Must be instinct. Thanks for the tips about the jeans. I'll have to try Target.

Turns out that most of the screaming this weekend was from an ear infection. Daycare called me yesterday to tell me he had thrown up. That and the screaming all weekend took us to the doctor and sure enough, ear infection. Hopefully, he's on the mend soon.

[EJH]

Kiley -

I saw your LJ post about Preston...poor guy. Hope he's feeling better soon.

I think hitting is just instinctual? Or for Arden it could be she's learning it at daycare. Dealing with some issues there.

Alex -- If I get far enough and they offer me the position I'll probably (no, I will) take it. It's so scary because it's a huge huge jump, but manageable, I think. One heck of a learning curve, that's for sure.

Glad to hear you've had success in your jump!

Tina -

DP always talks about her younger cousin who didn't speak until she was 2. Everyone was concerned for her, but once she started talking (in full sentences, mind you), she never shut up.

Sounds like a fun weekend. Oh how I envy having nice weather. I have no desire to go outside right now, it's too damn cold!!

Erin

[Mickey&B]

Hitting We do the same as Erin mentioned: Catching his hand and telling him in a firm voice "No Hitting" then following with a "You need to be gentle" and holding his hand I help him touch my face or his body gently. He usually does touch me gently and then follows with a kiss. If not I remove him from the situation and redirect to something else.
They learn very fast that hitting, scratching, bitting gets them a reaction with out having to speak, usually if handled right it begins to subside when they get more langugage. At least that has been my experience.

[EJH]

Well I ended up leaving at noon b/c DP was so sick and needed to go to the dr. She was so dizzy I was worried about her driving herself (her doc is not at ALL close to us). We stopped to get Arden on the way just in case we didn't make it back in time. Apparently there is "something going around" which there is no treatment for. Oh, and it lasts three weeks. FABULOUS. She looks like death warmed over. Sigh. Arden was very good at the doc's office, stuck by me almost the whole time, then got a bit comfy toward the end but she was very very good. I was pleasantly surprisede ;) .

Found out tonight a good friend of mine is joining Team Hillary as her Director of GLBT issues and her Events Director as well. Very cool, very very cool. He's been hush hush about it but I figured this was it, since he has been planning events for the Clintons for quite some time and is pretty passionate about politics. Neat-o, if you ask me. :D

Well that's all the news that's fit to print from here.
Erin

[kindermom]

Sooo. As you may see from my signature, I am due in about 17 days. Well, this weekend, our sewer line decided to back up on us. Into the basement. Rendering the playroom useless. Causing thousands in loss. Demanding a major remodel. And worst of all...contaminating Madelyn's favorite toy - Duck.

DH has a major project due at the end of the March and is supposed to be working 60+ hours a week to get the work done. I am trying to transition my tasks to a temp employee. And now we are faced with coordinating the clean up company, the remodeling company, deciding on carpeting and tile for the basement, getting a plumber in to rotoroot the seage line one final time, and, oh yes, getting the hot water heater replaced as it is shot as well.

End vent.

The only good thing about this is that my settlement from my car accident 2 years ago is due in any day now. It would have covered my maternity leave and left over just enough that will now cover our insurance deductible. At least this is not all coming out of savings. Right?

Erin - Sorry to hear that DP is under the weather. That is particularly unfortunate with the new-ish job!

[EJH]

OH Noel I'm so sorry about the basement fiasco, that is awful, awful!! And what timing....:(

I can't believe how soon Henry will be here!!

Yeah D took today off and I think is planning to take tomorrow off too, but it's not without a lot of guilt on her part. Sigh.

[Daniel's Kitty]

Noel sorry about the basement.

Tina My cousins were born pretty close together and the younger one didn't speak well for a long time since he didn't need to.

Mikey is here. He was born this afternoon and already loves nursing.

[QPDoll]

Congratulations Kat!!!!!
I can't believe you are online! Rest up, enjoy these first sweet days with Mikey, and Im looking forward to reading his birth story!

Welcome to the world Mikey! Congratulations, Kat, Daniel and Ben!

[hope0805]

KAT-- Congrats! Welcome to the world Mikey! Can't wait to see pictures.

[Kiley]

Congrats, Kat! Welcome, Mikey!

[EJH]

Congrats Kat, I'm so glad you had the homebirth you wanted!! Can't wait for pictures!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SO. This morning DP found bat in our bathtub. Um. EW. I didn't even see it and I'm still completely skeeved by the whole thing. As near as we can tell the attic door got left open a bit and it must have flown in there and I usually shut the bathroom door at night (keeps it warmer for mornings) and apparently I shut it in. Eww. She was able to catch it ("it was so cute, it was so cool, i haven't ever seen one up close! :rolleyes: ) She did not tell me until she'd put him outside etc. Blech. If I had been the one to find it? Oh man. Ugh.

So now we have to have bat people come out and see if we have more (we have part of the attic that we don't ever use, we're guessing that might be where they came in).

Yet another bill to look forward to. :cool: Does it ever end???

What a way to start the morning!

Erin

[kindermom]

Kat - CONGRATULATIONS on your new little Mikey!

Erin - Ugh. I like animals and think fond thoughts of the little squirrels running rampant in my attic. But still. I understand the new bills coming in!

[hiphopgirl]

Congratulations Kat, Daniel and Ben! Welcome to the world sweet Mikey :)

Noel, so sorry about the basement. I can't imagine. Such horrible timing, not that it is ever good timing for something like that.

Erin - OMG I would die. A bat got into my bedroom when I was about 10. I came home turned on the light in my room and a bat flew out of my bedroom closet and was flying back and forth in the room. I hit the floor and screamed my fool head off. I think the light was freaking it out. My dad and brother came running when they heard the screams. Thankfully they trapped it and let it loose outside, but I swear I still have PTSD from that. I also used to have bats living in the walls of one of the houses I lived in, in college. That squeeking sound would keep me up at nights. I HATE bats.

[alex67]

Congrats Kat!! Welcome little Mikey! :)

Erin - That bat story is giving me the chills. I would totally freak.

I'm sick (strep throat) and trying to stay away from my family as to not give it to anyone. Went to the doc and have several drugs that will hopefully get me feeling better soon. It hurts so bad to swallow. Tonight it is American Idol, then LOST while I eat icecream, maybe.

[EJH]

Janet

Ew. I think that's what I would have done had a I seen it. And I am not 10. :o I am scared to be in any room without a light. Sigh.

Alex

Ugh Strep is so painful!!! I'm sorry to hear that.

DP is seriously under the weather still, she went to work today but she probably shouldn't have. I sure hope I don't get it!

[L-O-V-E]

Congrats, Kat! Welcome, Mikey!

[Mickey&B]

Congrats Kat! Welcome Mikey!!!

Bats eww! I can't even imagine!

[Red'sGirl]

hitting Arrena does it, too. Unfortunately, when we grab her hands and tell her no, she just laughs. She only gets upset when I grab her hands and kind of pin them down.

I really hate it that she knocks teh spoon or fork out of our hands when she doesn't want to eat anymore. Gggrrr.

Erin Arrena has ripped a few books, on accident and on purpose. At first, I took them away. Then, I just decided that they're her books, and she doesn't know any better, so I just stopped worrying about it. When she's older, I'll teach her to respect her things and books, but for now, it's only a book. If it's something I want to keep, I don't let her have it (though we might read from it). Really, they're books. They can be replaced.

[EJH]

Red --

I think we're strict on paper ripping because she doesn't know what to rip and what not to rip. If she wanted to destroy only her books that's one thing, but we don't want her ripping up our books.

Sort of like a dog....if you give them a toy shoe to chew on, they don't know the difference between a toy shoe and your Prada shoe...

So that's where it stems from for us . We relate parenting back to dog training, LOL :p

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Arden did not want to go to daycare again today. Sigh. It's such a change from two weeks ago when she'd grab her own coat. Now she just shakes her head and cries. :( There has been a lot of transition in her room and I am sure it's really affecting her, but I don't like it.

She was bitten again yesterday, by a sweet little pixie of a girl. They were fighting over a purse. Now, if they were fighting over a purse and a teacher saw it, why didn't anyone intervene and go take the purse away from both of them?

It was nice and calm in there this morning, which I know is because the Team Leader of toddlers was in her room. Whenever she's there is so wonderful to drop off Arden. A walks right in and that's the end of it. She got her cereal and sat down, started eating, waves and says bye bye to me and that's the end of it. Every morning when Kristen isn't there is a struggle. Kristen was one of her primary teachers but they moved her when they started an older toddlers room.

It's hard knowing she's stressed most days, I need to have a conversation with the ED I think. Sigh.

Erin

[daisysue62]

Congrats Kat and Welcome Little Mikey!

We had Grace's 18 month appointment last Wednesday and the ped gave us a bit of a scare. Grace is pretty small in height and weight but that isn't a concern since she's following her growth curve and looks healthy. The ped said she has great muscle tone in her legs, I told her it was from running away from Mommy! Her head is really small though, not even on the growth curve at all. It's been small since birth and our previous ped didn't seem to think it was cause for concern but our new one is alarmed by it. She's hitting all her milestones and displays normal toddler intelligence which is a good sign though. I guess the concern with a small head is that the head grows as the brain grows and a small head could mean the brain isn't growing. My gut instinct is that Grace is just small but normal. But it's still a little scary!

We haven't been dealing with hitting but we are dealing with tantrums. How is everyone else dealing with tantrums? Especially in public places?

[EJH]

Daisy --

Public places are the hardest when dealing with tantrums. I try to just leave where we are if at all possible. It's hard to ignore and let her tantrum in the middle of a store, you know? Heck, we limit what we do with her these days. When we go to eat it's at Cracker Barrel where one of us walks with her in the gift store until the food comes out. It works like a charm. I try to avoid going to the market with her...because she never gets her way there and that just pisses her off. :o

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SO. MIL picked up Arden late in the afternoon from daycare (she's been in Vegas and is back to sell their condo). Anyway, Arden greeted her by puking on her. Twice. And then in her car. Heh.

SO no daycare for her tomorrow. She puked all over her back up outfit so I ran to Marshalls and found a cozy sleeper for 5.99, and went up to get her. DP had been at the doctor herself so took the route home that brings her by her mother's. Arden was in a fine mood. We finally left and came home and she just wanted to nurse and I ran out to get some pedialyte and dipes and she was zonked on DP when I got back. I took her up to bed and there hasn't been a peep since.

Anyway, I'll be home with her tomorrow. OH, and DP has mastitis. First time in 18 months. That was what we were guessing last night as her fever raged, and we were right. She may stay home tomorrow too, and I already took the day so I'm not going in. Im sure my boss will be thrilled but I haven't actually taken ET really, I've been doing work from home but mostly at his suggestion (not that he'll remember!!).

So that's been our evening.

Erin

[Kiley]

Erin - Ouch! Sorry about DP's mastitis; that's no fun. Hopefully she and Arden are better soon!

[EJH]

Thanks Kiley!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

It's so weird, Arden has been FINE since we left MIL's. She STTN (we figured she would wake up hungry). Got up, had a special treat of water down cider to get a lot of liquid into her, and oatmeal. No issues. She's been napping for about 1.5 hours now. She's a little more cuddly than normal but in great spirits. Hmm. :confused:

I'm not complaining about a day at home with her though, and I'm glad I didn't say I'd work from home, it's nice not having to be productive ;) .

This weekend we'll do an overhaul of stuff b/c our housecleaning service starts Wednesday. Just want to make sure everything is organized and out of their way. A 7-hour deep clean!! :D We'll come home to a sparkling house. I am sooo excited. The anticipation alone is worth the money, LOL.

Hope everyone has a nice weekend!!

[cc8]

Hi All! Happy Monday.

DD has her 18 month WBV tomorrow and since I can not attend (DH will bring her), I'm trying to come up with a list of Qs for DH to ask the ped. So far I have:

1. Qs about DD's diet - since DD seems to be a HUGE eater & quite frankly, I'm getting concerned about it!

2. When do we have DD start seeing a dentist?

I'm sure there are a TON more Qs you've asked your ped at your DC's 18 month visit. What am I missing?

[Red'sGirl]

I just realized that I never said:

WELCOME, MIKEY!!!!

Bad cyber auntie!

Arrena is doing fine. She has her fair share of tantrums, but none that really last. She usually is told not to do something, then walks into the middle of the room (for maximum effect), then falls out crying. We just look at her like she's crazy, and she gets up within a minute. It's comical. Still, we go through that routine about 20 times a day.

She just started to put a couple of words together (she said, with prompting, "bye bye daddy" this morning). It's so cool. And we try to get her to say "read, please" instead of just forcing a book on us and saying "UFF!" (pick me up). It sounds more like "wee, peas" but we're getting closer.

[Kiley]

ped questions - we have our appointment on March 1st. The only thing I can think of that we'll ask about is if drinking a quart (30z) of goat's milk is bad. :o

cute story (also posted in LJ): On Saturday, we went to the Children's Museum with Owen, Preston's cousin, who is two years old. We were getting ready to leave and Owen didn't want to and threw himself down on the floor, crying and rolling around. We stood around him waiting for him to finish his tantrum and after a few minutes Preston (on his own) squatted down next to Owen and started rubbing his back and patting his arm, trying to make him feel better. It melted my heart; it was so cute and sweet! I love my little boy! :) He amazes me with how much he "knows" and "gets" already.

Tomorrow we start swim lessons again. Last time we had them he was 10 months old so now he can actually jump into the water; should be fun!

[kindermom]

I'm sure there are a TON more Qs you've asked your ped at your DC's 18 month visit. What am I missing?

Ummm. Ours is tomorrow. Am I supposed to have questions ready? :o

I usually ask about developmental milestones and that is about it. This time Madelyn has been really sick and so we are going in for a general check up to compare her awful rash with last Friday's status when she was last seen.

[cc8]

Kiley - CUTE story about Preston! Amazing how kids can show empathy at such an early age, huh?

Kat - I just realized that I don't think I ever said CONGRATS on the birth of Mikey!

kindermom - Since I can't attend DD's ped appt tomorrow, I think the list of Qs is my way of making sure that DH gets the most out of our face time with the ped. I have a lot of diet/eating questions - My DD eats A LOT and I'm starting to worry about it!

[EJH]

Kiley,

What a sweet story!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Arden will be 19 months for her 18 month appt. They had to call and reschedule b/c all their schedules changed. I really need the WBV to be the very first thing (8AM) or last thing in the day. Now her ped isn't doing WBV's at 8. SO. We're going in April 7 (I think) at 6pm.

DP goes to FL again today, then OH on Sunday and WA the following week. Then she should be done, but apparently does have to make a run down to NYC. I might join her on that actually. She was thinking day trip but hey, if the company's paying why not get a hotel and stay a night? Not sure if we'd do it with or without Arden. I've still not been away from her overnight. Hmm. We shall see.

We have our "deep clean" by the cleaning service tomorrow. I'll get to go home to a sparkling house. How excited am I? Of course tonight I have to reorganize everything my child destroyed over the weekend in preparation, but at least I don't have to organize and then clean, right? :p

Hope everyone has a nice day.
Erin

ETA I think Arden has ANOTHER ear infection, goop was coming out of her ear this morning. We had drops left so I just started those up again. This stinks.

[hiphopgirl]

I don't think I asked any real in depth questions at the 18 month WBV. It was the most stressful one by far. He did NOT want to get weighed, measured, anything. I was lucky to get out of there in one piece.

Wish us luck. Tomorrow we are taking our first trip sans kiddo. I'm sure my IL's will be great. I am worried about me :( I am going to miss my little guy a ton. He is so much fun at this age. I hate having to go to work everyday - let alone missing out on FIVE WHOLE DAYS. I'm sure it will be fine, but I won't be surprised if I shed a few tears. :o

[kindermom]

Erin - Sorry to hear that Arden is sick again.

Janet - Enjoy your trip!

We had our 18 month WBV which did NOT go well. I got there at 9:25 for my 9:40 appointment, as the mother of TWO kids got there for her 9:00 and 9:20 appointments. That meant that Madelyn was not seen until after 10:00. She screamed from about 9:50 to 10:35 when we left. And of course I forgot her pacifier in the car and could not go get it.

With her rash/virus, she has lost 14 ounces in just over a week! :eek: Overall, her rash is getting better and she is doing well developmentally.

Stats:
Weight: 20.14 (7th %ile)
Height: 31.25 (45th %ile)
Head: 20th %ile

Other updates
Our basement is almost done already. The walls are reframed and the drywall is up. The painter comes this weekend to paint the room. We go tomorrow to buy a couch. We will make do without most of the furniture for now except the couch.

[Red'sGirl]

Kindermom what kind of rash? Arrena had one, too, and is just barely better. She doesn't itch anymore, but she still has the bumps on one thigh.

[kindermom]

Darrien - I can not recall the exact name of the rash but it was medical sounding and had 3 words in it. Basically Madleyn had a rash from her scalp to her ankles and covering her arms down the back of her hands (95% coverage). The weird part was that it was symmetrical. So if there were red spots on one elbow, the same constellation was on the other elbow in the same pattern. It was accompanied by a high fever (104.7 was the peak) and did not itch. Instead the whiney monster took over my poor sweet little girl's body for the past 5 days!

Oh, and that rash followed the treatment for a another diaper rash/yeast infection! She was/is not doing so well right now.

I hope Arenna starts getting better!

[EJH]

Hi all --

Ugh what a morning. I was up until 1 just decluttering and organizing etc for the cleaners. Arden had a hard time going down last night, she wanted to nurse and well, DP wasn't there and oy. So I finally got to work around 10.

Did some last minute things this morning BUT had to run Arden to the ped because the drainage was so bad out of her ear. Made it in the nick of time for sick visit.

It was so busy this morning. We saw some new guy, I have no clue if he's becoming a nurse or a doctor. Anyway, he was thorough and long winded about even looking in her ears. Then he got the head ped (we've never liked this guy much, this is the first time we've had to deal with him since he saw us in the hospital when she was born). ANYHOO.

Basically he's concerned that she's getting infections again with the tubes. I said well, she didn't have any issues until winter/ cold season hit. We had 5 months of great great luck. So he prescribed a new oral and a new ear abx. Then said there are three things that could also be happening. It could be yeast or another bacteria that isn't being killed by the current abx, because it's something that's starting with the outside of her ear. #3 is it could be some sort of immune issue and that depending on what the ear culture says and if this next rounds of drugs works or not, we'll be doing some blood work. :( Scary words, quite frankly. I truly believe it's just the cold season, because we had NO ISSUES before now with the tubes. And DP is in meetings so I can't even talk with her. Ugh.

Arden was extremely good and very patient, we were there for nearly an hour. SO much for getting into work early.

I really wish her regular caregiver had been there this morning. We use one of the NPs as her primary, there are two of them that opened the place with this head doc. The two NPs are awesome and know Arden's history, this guy doesn't. Sigh.

So that's what we're dealing with. Hopefully it's nothing.

Erin

[hope0805]

Urgh, Erin sorry to hear about the ears. I am frankly terrified of ear issues -- J has had 4 ear infections since October (having had ZERO last year) and I'm worried they are going to even suggest tubes! He seems to get an infection every single time he gets a cold, which is so frustrating. Hearing that you went through all of that and they are saying it might be still something else is scary! Hopefully this round of medicine will clear everything up and she will make it the rest of the way through cold season with no more problems.

[EJH]

Hope

IRRC, our ped's magic # was somewhere between 8 and 10 ear infections and the real ticket for us was that the moment she'd end abx, she'd get the infection again. She couldn't ever drain the fluid.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I was worried daycare would call today b/c I know her ears are bugging her, but I gave her her old drops before I dropped her off, plus motrin and little noses, and left them with instructions to do motrin and little noses this afternoon again. She and I will stop at the pharmacy on the way home and get her scripts filled. DP just called from the plane, will be glad to have her home tonight, Arden really missed her this time. I think b/c she doesn't feel well she just wants to nurse, you know?

She was hilarious at Chuck E Cheese last night, she love all the ball games and decided yesterday that the best plan of attack was for her to hand all the balls to me while I make the baskets or throw the balls into the little cups etc. We were playing against her buddy Charlie and his mommy and every time I missed Arden would say "oh no, ooh nooo" -- by far the best time we've had there. Hilarious kid she is.

Hope everyone else has healthy kids!!

Erin

[Mickey&B]

Erin ARGG! I hope Arden feels better soon, how scarry!

Just dropping off AJ 18 months stats.

We went to the ped today all is well, we have been lucky as far as illness goes. We saw a new ped and I can't say that I like her as much, our old ped retired and she was awesome!!! Anyway she said he was right on track with everything he was in between 75th and 90th percentile for weight at 28lbs 10oz and 90th percentile for height at 33 5/8 in. I can't believe my little guy has gotten so big :( She did say it was time to dump the paci :eek: Which I guess I knew I had to do I'm just being selfish right now naps, and bedtime are such a breeze I just lay him down and he goes down on his own and It took me months to get him to do that!!! I really don't want to start over right now. I figure I will try soon BUT if it ends up that he won't take a nap without it guess what he is going to get it!!!!:p

[kindermom]

Mickey - Does he only take the paci for sleeping? If that is the case, and it is working out for you, do you have to take it away?

Erin - So sorry to hear about Arden's ears being infected again. I am sure this doc does not help either!

Us - I feel so fortunate that we have our pediatric practice! While it is about 20 minutes fromour house (which is 2 towns over) I really like our ped and her CNP. And if Madelyn gets sick on the weekends (which she has) they have Saturday and Sunday hours which means no urgent care centers are needed. I think that is the result of having a large group practice (6-8 peds on staff).

Basement - We have walls almost complete. We still need little dorrs for the access holes to the water valves. We picked out a sofa that can be here next week. The painter comes on Saturday. All we have left that is major is to pick out the carpet, which will be done this weekend.

Baby - I am 8 days out from being due with Henry. My body is showing little sign of being ready. Unfrtunately Sean is going into crunch mode with work and will be leaving on the 19th for 5 days. I really do not want to do it but I think I am going to call my OB today to schedule an induction for the 8th (I am due on the 9th). I know induction hurts alot more. But I think Sean missing all of the work is really really bad and could mean his job (yay no FMLA for him! :mad: ) And I think gainful employment is a good thing.

[Kiley]

Good luck, Noel! Easy labor vibes for you!

[EJH]

Wow, Henry arriving in a week, amazing!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So Arden is on Bactrim for the ear infection this time and her stomach is so upset by it. We've had this issue before. I think I will call the ped in the morning just to mention it, and hopefully they'll change scripts. We shall see. Thus far Suprax is the only thing she hasn't had a reaction to.

She's in a lot of pain from this one, which is tough. She just woke up super upset and wouldn't settle, so I gave her motrin and now she's in bed with DP. DP's having serious mama guilt with all the travel she's having to do for work. She never ever sees her anymore, it sucks. Her weekdays are so long, she's not home until 7, so she maybe sees A awake for 30 minutes a day. Sigh.

SO that's what's happening here. And we're supposed to get a snow storm, I have no clue what to expect. One minute it's 1-3 inches, the next it's 6-10. I'd like a blizzard just so I don't have to go into work tomorrow. :p

Erin

[Red'sGirl]

Just a quick check in. Everything is going well, here, despite my work crunch. Arrena is talking more and more now. When I dropped her off at daycare this morning, I said "Bye-bye, baby" and she said back to me "Bye-bye, baby". It was so cute. :D We were reading a book with lots of animals, and she repeated every animal/animal sound. It's just amazing to hear her little voice.

We are managing pretty well. I have so much to do for work, but it has a deadline of Marcy 16th. If it's not done by then, well, I and my three employees won't have jobs. Needless to say, I'm getting it done.

BTW, I don't know if I posted this here, but.................my question from the radiologist during my mammogram is over. After looking more carefully, they've decided that there's nothing there and that I'm fine. My dilemma is, I still feel it - it feels like a bruise deep down. Not hard or anything. And I am on the board for a Breast Cancer center. Should I ask them to take another look or trust that they did a good job? After all, they looked twice.

[Daniel's Kitty]

Red'sGirl If you still feel that something isn't right could you get someone else to look at it?

Noel Wow you are getting close to the end!

[EJH]

Red-

Second (and third) opinions never hurt.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It appears Arden has rotovirus. This kid can't catch a break. She threw up three times this morning, seemed fine, took a long nap, had a bite of plain pasta and then lost that too.

Now she's drinking ginger ale and will get no solids for quite awhile.

We were alreayd in touch with her ped about her ear infection today so she's going to meet us in the office tomorrow at 8 (her suggestion).

DP leaves for OH tomorrow night, I hope A is well enough for daycare on Monday because I have my review (saw the written part Friday, it's awful. My boss and I have a horrid relationship so it's no surprise, but still, shocking to see it in writing, you know). I've already asked HR to be there because I do not feel comfortable being alone with him. Monday afternoon should be so fun. I was told, when I requested HR be present, that I have a "hostile attitude" -- um, that's like pot calling the kettle black. Anyway, Friday sucked and Monday will be worse and I'm on a fast and furious job hunt.

So that's our story.

Erin

[alex67]

Just a quick update:

Everyone in our house is finally well. Trenton is starting to say some big words such as vegetable, swimming pool, swimsuit, etc (of course they are not crystal clear). He now recognizes the letters A,B,C,O, and R,and the numbers 1,2,and 3. He is such a quick learner. He is starting to tell me when he has poo-pooed in his diaper. Just today he said "poo-poo" when I was changing him and just after he passed gas. I sure hope he potty trains fast once we get started. I am planning on waiting until he is 2 but if he starts telling me before he goes we will start sooner. Later this month I am taking my DD to Disney for 4 days while my parents watch Trenton and DH goes to Jacksonville for SWAT training. I cannot wait for the break from work and my little man, love him to death but he is SO exhausting.

[EJH]

Alex -- Yay for health in your house. Have fun at Disney!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Well she ate some cheerios and those stayed down. We'll try toast in the morning.

We were supposed to go over to our friends' new house tonight but they have a 3 year old so we called them to tell them about A being sick. DP thinks they didn't believe us :confused: . Tried to use the "but I told DD and she was so excited" -- um, their DD doesn't know Arden and well, the two times they've been around each other their DD has been petrified of Arden (she's scared of all children. and adults.)

Anyway, I personally would be happy if someone called and said hey, my kid is puking, maybe we should hold off, rather than just showing up with a sick kid. But, that's just me, I guess. :rolleyes:

[QPDoll]

We are all finally well in our house too. I am suspecting that the boys didn't have the stomach flu though - but actually food poisening of some sort. Everyone who ate the cookies I bought from the costco bakery got sick. My brother was here visiting me on Friday, and helped himself to a couple of cookies while I was in another room, and he got sick 4 hours later too - about the same amount of time later that Pete, Nate and Travis all got sick too.

[Kiley]

x-post from my LJ -

Preston has been sleeping terrible the last two nights. Saturday night at ILs, he decided that he didn’t want to sleep in his pack-n-play. He went to bed at 7pm but woke up at 8 and put himself back to sleep. He was up again at 9 and I went up there. I held him and he was limp but crying and crying (maybe a bad dream?). He finally went back to sleep with me in the bed until Aaron came up and put him back in his pnp. He was up again at 2am and slept with us but gosh that’s hard to do in a double bed! At 4am he had soaked through his diaper so we had to change his clothes and then Aaron went on the couch. Preston tossed and turned with me until 5:30am when he was up for the day. Ugh. Too early!

Last night he woke up at 3am because he soaked through his diaper again so I had to change his clothes, yet again. We can’t find Huggies Overnight diapers in size 5 anywhere anymore! We’ve just been using regular diapers and putting a super maxi pad in there too and that worked for a few nights but if he has anything to drink after 5pm, he leaks. (it's hard to limit his liquid intake when we're off our regular weekly schedule on the weekends and if he's thirsty, he's really hard to explain to a 1.5 year old that "if you drink this you'll be up at 3am with wet pjs") You would think that more than one diaper company would make overnight diapers because surely we aren’t the only ones with this problem.

[EJH]

Tina,

Yay for a healthy house, send some vibes over here!

Kiley

I hear you on the double bed and three across, my parents have a double bed in their guest room and boy that was cozy. DP ended up spending most of our time there on the aerobed anyway, she has a horribly bad back and the bed they have just makes it worse. Since we were there for 2.5 weeks last time it would have been crippling for her!

Hope Preston has better sleep tonight.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

DP is on her way back from OH. She left last night around 6. Arden had dinner and is now snacking on pirate's booty, trying to keep her awake for when DP gets home. Guess she was the crank monster at daycare all day, sounds like teeth but lord knows with her.

Supposed to get really cold here tonight, perhaps the coldest night of the year. I'm so ready for spring, and to not have to buy oil for awhile, LOL!!

Erin

[Kiley]

We found overnight diapers (at the grocery store of all places) and they were cheaper than drugstore.com and amazon.com. Preston STTN again last night and his pjs stayed dry! I love those things!!!! :)

[EJH]

That's great newss Kiley!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So. Guess who had drainage coming from her left ear this morning? Yep. She got an ear infection in her left ear, WHILE on Bactrim. Now, I told the ped we didn't think Bactrim was working. They insisted it was, and yes apparently her right ear was clear on Sunday. But, we were also treating the right ear with drops. So, I don't think the Bactrim worked. Now she's on drops in both ears.

I took her to the ped this morning, dropped her at daycare and an hour later they called and said she hadn't stopped crying since I left. I had a feeling it was going to be one of those days. I ended up leaving work to go get her and worked from home. Of course, the child reFUSED to nap. I left her in her crib for over an hour just talking to herself....there was whining here and there. She finally fell asleep on me at 5pm and I woke her at 6:30 (she was soooo pissed). She went to bed at 9. She alternated between super cranky and deliriously happy tonight. And all she wanted to eat today was yogurt. I'm guessing the deliriously happy part came from the sugar high. :o

We'll see how she is in the morning and if she's still sick and cranky I'll drop her with MIL rather than daycare.

Hope everyone is well.

Erin

[Daniel's Kitty]

Sorry you are still having the ear problems.

Grr Ben is driving me nuts today. He has another little cold so he is playing baby. Pacifier and all. Oh yeah and since Mikey got here he likes those again, hated them after he was three months, but since we have them for Mikey he has to have one.

[EJH]

OMG my poor child. Yesterday we took her to MIL's for the day since she had such rough day on Tuesday, figuring MIL would cater to her. Well, by the end of the day she had severe diarrhea. She'd give her rich greek food for lunch so we thought that might have caused it, but then she woke up with an AWFUL dipe this morning.

She didn't want to go anywhere this morning, it was so sad. She just wanted to snuggle with one of us. MIL took her again which was a big favor, I had a deadline and DP had meetings she really couldn't miss (CEO was in town). ANYWAY. I guess she was sick a lot of the day and ended up puking on SIL.

We're home now and she is in her highchair coloring and having some ginger ale. It's the happeist I've seen her...she loves coloring.

I called DP and she was still at work (waits out the traffic), but I had hopes she'd have left early. She's on her way now, so that's good, and I think she'll stay home with Arden tomorrow.

Of course the last two days, while I appreciate that MIL has watched her, remind me why I am so glad she is moving. Every second during drop off and pick up has been full of criticism. What she's wearing, what she's not wearing, what I bring for her to eat, how I put on her coat, you name it, it's been done wrong. :rolleyes: DP told me to push back and I did today but I'm sure I have now started something. Oh well, she told me to push back and I did. I try so hard to let it roll off my back but my LORD can she just not say rude critical things?? She accused me of being too sensitive and that she ALWAYS appreciated the advice that her mother gave her when her kids were small. Um, sure ya did. And that her mother was 10 times more invasive and criticial than she is. My comment was, well, I'd probably be living in a different state then. :o

Oy. Oh well.

NOEL I was lurking in the March thread...good luck tomorrow!! (it's tomorrow, right??) Can't wait to hear all about Henry!!

Kat We need pics of numero dos!

Erin

[EJH]

Alright this HAS to be rotavirus. I need advice...Arden refuses to drink Pedialyte, doesn't matter which flavor.

We can get Ginger Ale into her (which, since she never has sugars, makes her bounce, LOL), and some plain seltzer, and DP is home today so there will be much nursing going on, though the supply isn't really there to completely hydrate A at this point.

Any other suggestions .... I would love to get those electrolytes into her...:confused:

Thanks Mamas!

Erin

[QPDoll]

We gave the boys gateraid because they wouldnt drink kpedialyte. They do drink a different brand of it though, the powdered gerber type of pedialyte they do drink.

[EJH]

Thanks Tina, maybe we'll try the gatorade approach.

[hiphopgirl]

Erin I totally feel for you. Anders had rotovirus and is a picky eater. He wouldn't eat any of the things from the BRAT diet let alone pedialyte. Will she drink Gatorade? If so, make a half gatorade/half water mix. That's what our ped suggested.

Is she throwing up a bunch? If so, what we had to do is give him a teaspoon of the mix (I ended up having to put it in a syringe because it was so hard to get him to drink) every 15 minutes for about 1-2 hours. If that stays down, increase to a tablespoon, lather, rinse, repeat. If DP is nursing, she should limit how much she nurses to <1 oz. I don't know about her, but I could never have told you how many oz's A was taking in at any given time. The ped said to limit to 5 minutes - yea right. In any event that didn't work out so well.

Good luck. This is going to be a rough handful of days. My heart goes out to you, DP, and Arden.

p.s. Try pedialyte popsicles or jello. Those will both be good too.

[Daniel's Kitty]

I don't know if that is what Ben had (probably) last week. I never want to see poop that runny again. Especially with a newborn! I used Gatorade since it was the only thing he would drink. He finished that and caught a cold so he is just now getting back to normal. Thank God, a newborn and a sick toddler at the same time SUCKS!

BTW I am hoping to get pics out soon, but I am having time issues. I am always either cleaning nursing or changing diapers.

[Daniel's Kitty]

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/187/415716989_93a9f9f980.jpg?v=0
Mikey was a day old here. Ben was exhausted that day.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/146/415716995_82fdaf918b.jpg?v=0
About two hours old here.

[alex67]

Kat - great photos! You have some handsome little men there. :)

[EJH]

Ugh Mikey is so smooshable, so sweet!!!!

Thanks for posting :D . I love the one of the boys together.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

DP did try Gatorade and water, that's been somewhat acceptable. She then fought her nap, climbed out of her crib (sigh) and finally was willing to sleep in our bed, I guess. She's up now and snacking on some rice, which will hopefully stay where it belongs.

Jello and the popsicles, great suggestions!! Thanks!

[Mickey&B]

Erin UGG so sorry Arden is sick. Sending get better vibes your way.

Kat Thanks for sharing those pics. Mikey is just so sweet!

[EJH]

Thanks Mickey --

Arden's still not great at all, and she slept ON me from about 2AM on. She'd been in her crib from 7:30 till 1. DP nursed her but there was just no more milk and she was in a lot of pain from Arden nursing all day long. She ended up falling asleep on me downstairs until the dog got us up begging to go out. Of course I'm sure we'll be in for a fight to get her back in her crib, sigh.

She's still not loving the gatorade but she'll drink ginger ale. And as I learned last night, the two should not be mixed together, or so says the queen.

Anyhoo, we'll see what today holds.

Erin

[EJH]

Hey All

Quick post, we're taking Arden to the hospital as soon as we're all ready, she's just barely urinating and we can't get fluid into her so she's dehydrated big time.

if you could keep her in your thoughts we'd appreciate it

thanks,
erin (and dora and arden)

[alex67]

Oh, Erin, Arden will be in my thoughts. Please keep us posted.

[EJH]

Thanks Alex --

It's almost 1AM, we're home. They did do IV fluid and decided that b/c her glucose was good etc we could come home. She was so good, they had to place the IV twice because she pulled the first one out. :rolleyes: She was so calm about the first one, and when they finished just said "all done" over and over, but happily. Then she realized something was stuck in her arm. Sigh. So, they had to place a new line and that sucked. She slept the rest of the time and now we're home and hopefully we'll have more luck getting fluids into her tomorrow.

What a way to spend a Saturday night!

Erin

[hiphopgirl]

Erin, I'm so sorry about Arden. I'm glad to hear that the IV fluids helped, but it sucks that you had to do it in the first place. Here's hoping she gets better very soon.

Kat, Those are great pictures. You have a couple of very handsome boys :)

[Mickey&B]

Ohh poor baby, and poor Mama's. She'll be in my thoughts, hopefully she feels better soon!

[kindermom]

Flyby Posting -

Henry Porter was born on Friday afternoon about 3 1/2 hours after bing induced. It was a relatively easy birth again with only a few probs with my epidural. Madelyn got to meet him and while she did not show jealousy yet, was disinterested in him.

I will be posting pics and more information later on.


Erin - ReVital is the only brand of electrlyte replacement that Madelyn will drink. They have the Care Bears on the packaging. It comes in little single serve power packs as well as freezer pops which are pretty decent tasting. I hope A starts to feel better.

[EJH]

Noel! Welcome Henry, congrats!! I hope that you will post a picture or two :)

Thanks everyone for the thoughts. Unfortunately, she's only had one somewhat damp pamper after the IV in the last 24 hours.

Her ped had us come in, she's lost a liter of fluid, so we have to get a minimum of 3 oz/hour into her. We have a few hours or we have to take her into the hospital to be admitted. We're trying everything we can, even cider she won't drink and she loves that....

I'll keep you posted,
Erin

[Kiley]

Congrats, Noel and welcome, Henry!!!! Can't wait to see a picture!

Erin, so sorry about Arden. I hope she's better very soon. Keep us posted!

[kindermom]

Hi ladies - I am doped up on codeine right now but if you are interested, here is my birth story (http://www.constantchatter.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1245057#post1245057) and here are a few pics...

Henry:
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/kindermom/Henry.jpg

Me and Henry:
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/kindermom/Noel_Henry.jpg

Madelyn and Henry:
http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j31/kindermom/Madelyn_Henry1.jpg

[EJH]

Noel he's just gorgeous!!

Sorry about the epi issues, ouch.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Arden took in about 17 ounces (blue powerade was the only thing we could get her to drink). she's asleep and i hope she wakes up with a drenched diaper. if not we go to the ped in the morning and i imagine end up at the hospital. we're pushing fluids on her like you wouldn't believe but what a tough cookie.

[alex67]

Good luck Erin with the fluids. I hope you are able to avoid the hospital.

Noel, congrats with little Henry. What a cute family you have!

[EJH]

SUPER wet pamper by 9. Yay! :D

Now if we can just get another....

[kindermom]

Yay Erin! I am so glad that there are wet diapers for your family. That is fantastic news.

I talked to the anasthesia dept at my hospital this morning. I am livid that the entire weekend the hospital staff knew I was experiencing a severe headache. And I had my IV tap in. Yet no one bothered to tell me that the wet patch did not take. Now I have to go back today for more poking to get another patch in. Fingers crossed that his ine takes. I understand the relieve is immediate. If that is the case, I will be in great shape after this birth. It is the headache and neck that are holding me up from a fabulous recovery!

[Kiley]

Hope you are feeling better soon, Noel!
And YEAH for wet diapers, Erin!