May 2006 Mommies - Our Mayflowers are Blooming - Part 2

[May2006Mommies]

Welcome May Mommies
This thread is for all those whose babies were born in or close to May 2006

Please come and share your stories, post your questions and offer your insight.

If you are new to the thread please check in by posting your stats in RED:

Baby's name
Baby's birthdate
Your user name
(optional) your name and age
(optional) DH/SO's name and age
(optional) name and age of other children

If any of your stats have changed please post in RED and I will update them!

* Moderator MMHinCA

Link to old thread: Old Thread (http://www.constantchatter.com/forum/showthread.php?t=20858)

[May2006Mommies]

MEMBER LIST:

Nolan Grant
05/15/06
April1234
Me: 25
DH:33
DD: Lily 18 months

Teresa Laurel ("Tess")
May 24
AttyGrl74
Me: 32
DH: 34
DD: Nora - almost 2 (9/15/04)

Macey Elise
05/09/06
Bloomwood
Me: 33
DH: 34
Sadie, the lab, 2.5

Kate
5/17/06
catJennifer
Me: Jennifer, 31
DH: 32

Ethan Bryce
5-9-06
me: chandy, 26
dh: joel, 33
dd: Elliot, 2 in July

Chloe Denise
29 March 2006
crazycaro
Me: 33
DH:34
Other children: Ruby Elisabeth, 18 May 2004

Jack Thomas
May 25, 2006
Me: Emily, 26
DH: Mike, 26
Other Children: Chloe (4) and Roman (2) [Kitties]

Stephen Hunter (we call him Hunter)
5/17/06
fats
Stacey-37
Craig-35
Furbabies: Nola (Boxer 7 years old) Emmitt (Boxer 1 year) Sydney (cat 3 years old)

Kyle
05/04/06
Flyerwife
Me: 32
DH: 32
DS: 5

Tyler John
5/9/06
gagirl
me:31
dh:36

Elliot J.
04/18/06
Guinness
Me: 31
DH: 32
Guinness - 2.5, Kata - 3 (pups)

Rachael Elyse
May 17
jarm
Jodi, 28
Ray, 26
DD Arlyn, 3

Kyle Robert
5/8/06
Jen1098
Jen-31
Paul-35
DS Josh 2 years

Margaret Elizabeth (Maggie)
4/28/06
Me: Lisa
DH: Jim
DD: Katie 4/16/04

Baby M
5-10-06
me: Karla, 26
dh: Scott, 27
dd: D, 9 years old

Lila Grace
May 2, 2006
Me: Kim, 27
DH: Max, 29
Other children: Ava (4) and Morganna (2 1/2)

Kaymen Lynn
5-16-06
kmfroggi
Keirstin- 26
Joel- 28

Ethan
04/17/2006
kristin9903
Kristin, 29
David, 28

Joshua Benjamin
May 14
lowcountrywed
Me: Melissa, 28
DH: Mark, 31

marchfamily
Me: 32
Him: 36
DD1: 1-9-05/EJM
DD2: 5-9-06/CLM

Ainsleigh
5/5/06
MMHinCA
Me: 29
DH: 31
Furbaby: Yellow lab, Bella, 2 yrs old

DD: B
May 7, 2006
mrst2001
Me: J, 32
DH: T, 37

David Henri
5/6/06
Mrs. U
Me: 31
SO: 38
Furbaby: Spike the Chihauhau, 11 years old

Samuel
5/8/06
me: Nettie
DH: K

Gabriel
15th of May
Nettreefrog
Me: Jules
DH: Fabian
Other children: "The Cheese" age 12

Meghan
5/4/06
Me: Parrothead

Annabelle Liese
05/05/06
Petdoc08
Me: Rebecca 25
DH: Brandon 25

Hayden
May 16, 2006
pink_converse
I'm 28

Baby Girl
5.8.06
Scooter
Me:30
DH: 34

Joshua
May 14
shortcake
Me: 32
DH: 32
DD: Gabrielle, age 2.5

Jocelyn
5/12/06
Smiles33
Me: 29
DH: 30
Our "firstborn" furbaby is Scrappy

Marlowe Reese
05.05.06
Sneezy
me: Deb, 32
DH: Larry, 34

Sophia M.
06/02/06
Southlooper
Me: 35
DH: 35
Furrybaby: Boy: 11

Abigail Jane
May 12, 2006
Standrea
Andrea, 25
Stan, 25

[May2006Mommies]

OPEN FOR POSTING! :)

[MMHinCA]

Subscribing to the thread! :)

[Parrothead]

Subscribing!

[shortcake]

Subscribing also!

[Parrothead]

Just got back from the ped, following up on DD's cold and potential ear infection. She is still congested, but the ear infection seems to be holding off for now. He said to keep an eye on things, as there is fluid in there which could lead to an infection. We were supposed to be heading to the Bahamas tomorrow, but cancelled due to DD being sick and having the fluid as of Wed last week.

DD now weighs 20lbs, 2oz!! Crazy. Didn't get her height today, as it wasn't a WBV. We'll do that next month. Tooth #5 is just about to break through and #6 is right behind it. She is growing up too fast!!!!!!!!!!!

[Pink_Converse]

Hayden
May 16, 2006
pink_converse
I'm 28

[flyerwife]

Thanks for setting up the new thread!!

DS # 1 is now 5

To respond to the question on the other one, we've given stage 2 food that is pear pineapple and also the apple, strawberry banana one, so I guess we've haven't worried about the allergies on that. However, I haven't given him any fresh pineapple since I was worried it might be too much for him at this point.

[Pink_Converse]

Question-Are you all still using a baby bathtub or do you bathe DC in the big tub or something else? I still bath my DS in a baby tub, he sits up in his tub for a while and then I lay him back to wash his bits/bottom. He looks huge in it tho and I feel like a child abuser;) . I just don't trust him to sit up well in the big tub. In the little one he leans forward to lick the front of the tub (weirdo:rolleyes: ) leans on his elbows on the sides and is just generally all over the place.

[Em7.31.04]

Subscribing!

Tub: We still bathe Jack in his infant tub in our kitchen sink. He's almost done though, because he has started reaching for everything around him. I'm guessing we'll continue using the infant tub, but put it in the regular tub.

We're flying from WA to GA in late February with DS for 6 days. We'll be staying in a hotel, but have a lot of family (with babies & young kids) in town. What sorts of things do you think we'll need/want in the hotel with us? We've flown with DS before, so I think we've got that covered...but it's the hotel room that I'm wondering about now. I know for sure that we will be borrowing a pnp and booster seat once we get there. Am I missing something else?

Pineapple: We plan to avoid citrus for a long time due to potential for allergies. I find it interesting that Gerber sells stage 2 foods with strawberries & pineapple? Also, is corn ok? I have a nagging feeling that I've read something that says to wait on it...but several Earth's Best jars have corn in them. Is it ok?

[karlatta]

Thanks for the new thread!

DD is now 9.

Tub: DS takes baths with me. I have a ring that suctions to the floor of the tub, and he sits in there while I bathe. He splashes around and chews on his rubber ducky. When the bath is over, I drain the water before I get out and let him sit in the tub while I dry off and throw some clothes on. Then I grab him and get him dressed. He's never complained about being naked and wet while he's waiting for me to get dressed, but he's been bathing with me since he was about 2 months old, so he probably doesn't know any better. If I shower, we do the same thing, but he doesn't get to splash around - he just chews on his ducky. It works well because it kills me to bend over and bathe him in the tub if I'm not in it, and it allows me to take a shower even if he's awake.

[Pink_Converse]

Karlatta, where did you get that ring?

So I just found out why DS has been so whiny (other than his cough of course) he's getting a tooth! He's been fussing so much today that it dawned on me to check for that and sure enough I feel that little sucker poking thru! He's also been waking up every night at 2-3 am and thrashing around and crying like a madman so I guess that's why. My little man is gowing up, sniff, sniff...

[karlatta]

Pink_Converse - A friend picked it up at a garage sale, so I have no idea. It looks to be pretty old, and I know that there are warnings out there against using them if they're older models, but I feel safe. My eyes are on DS the entire time there's water in the tub (except for when I wash my face, and during that time I wrap my feet around him so that I can feel if he slips or something).

There is an updated version available at Amazon...
http://www.amazon.com/Safety-1st-Tubside-Bath-Seat/dp/B0000D9SR8

[MMHinCA]

Bath tub: We are still using the infant seat. When we are at my MIL's house we use a seat that like Karlatta's suctions to the bottom of the tub. I tried to buy one when we got home after the holidays but BRU was out of them. DD has so much fun in the bath, I know we need to get her a seat so she has more room to splash around. We had this seat (http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2373646&cp=2255976.2256088.2256094&parentPage=family) but the arm rest didn't fit on the bath. I need to find something similar that doesn't have the arm rest.

Foods: We have given DD Gerbers organic apples & strawberries and Earth's Best something with corn. We have had no problems with either.

Issues: My DD has been sleeping from 7:45pm to about 7:45am with a waking between 5-6am. I have been trying to let her CIO but it has been over a week and she is still waking at this time. A couple nights she has waken at 6am and I have gone in and nursed her and she will then sleep til 8am. What should I do about this waking? Is it something I can break? I know she is not ready to be up for the day, but I don't know how I can get her to just sleep through to 7:30/7:45am. Ugh!

Other exciting news: DH got a new job... we are moving to Los Angeles! :)

[May2006Mommies]

Updated to here!

[nettreefrog]

I am here ... although I rarely get a chance to post. I hope to post more about Gabriel, his 3 teeth, his interest in standing in his tub, his interest in playing basketball and doing everything in his power to watch football on tv (we literally have to turn his body around to prevent him from watching), and his love for his sister. Hugs to all the almost 8 and around 8 month olds.

[Scooter]

Baby Girl
5.8.06
Scooter
Me:30
DH: 34

Bathtub, this is one of DD's favorite places to go. In fact, she just said her 3rd word this week (after mama & dada)--BA! for bath. We've kept her in her infant tub (http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?dest=9999999997&product_id=4241542&sourceid=1500000000000001353000) until now so we can keep a grip on her, but really need to transition to a seat. Any tub seat recommendations? She sits really well, but likes to try to pull to a stand or just to throw herself forward onto her belly & kick her legs. :rolleyes: She has a great time but we really need something to help us restrain her a bit.


Has anyone taken a mommy-baby swim class yet? Our local class is for a year & up, so I can't wait till May!

[Mrs U]

me: 31 I forgot to report my birthday back in Sept (in denial that I'm over 30;) )

bath David baths nightly with his daddy together.

baby swimming We start this on Sat. I cant wait since the last time David slept for 4 hours after the lesson. :D

MMH Congrats on your hubby's new job!

Citrus fruits So for we've only tried Mango in small portions. It's recommended here to wait til 1 year for pinapple, oranges, berries, ect.

[kristin9903]

Pineapple I didn't know that you were supposed to wait a year for pineapple. Sorry! I googled for more info and found out that pineapple has an enzyme that some people are allergic to (I'm assuming it's palpain) but that heat destroys this enzyme. So, that must be how Gerber gets away with putting it into their baby food.

Tub We have this bath seat that we use in the big tub:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/90/263479604_ec41313df9.jpg?v=0
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/121/263479610_2951250f8a.jpg?v=1162048722

It works great. DS splashes around the tub completely contained. It can swivel and move up and down the tub, so it will move with him when he wants to chase one of his toys. The only downside is that this thing is pretty big. We just leave ours in the tub since we both shower, but it would be a pain to take it out and store somewhere in between baths.

Thanks for the new thread MMHinCA and congrats on your DH's new job!

[May2006Mommies]

Updated to here!

[Em7.31.04]

Swimming: DS started his swim class last week. Our local YMCA starts classes at 6 months old. He's in the "Beginning Shrimp" class. Too cute. He loves it and it really tires him out.

[karlatta]

Swimming - I plan to start DS with swimming lessons in a few months - once I get past this first trimester crappiness. He went swimming all last summer and really seemed to enjoy it, even when I dunked his head under water. I'm guessing that since I'm due in August, we'll be spending a lot of time at the pool relaxing and cooling off this summer.

[Parrothead]

Tub - We bathe DD in her little infant tub in our big tub. I am definitely looking into getting something else though, as she is outgrowing her little tub and likes so lean forward, grab the edge, and then do squats! Do any of you use this:

http://www.onestepahead.com/product/117/513755/117.html
http://www.onestepahead.com/images//product/Detail_Main/13009.jpg

I am thinking about it...

Swimming - We did lessons for DD at 6 months. She LOVED it! It was really pretty much me just being with her in the water and playing. It was also about getting her used to water on her head/eyes/mouth. She and I both had a BLAST!

Pineapple and Corn - We are waiting on all citrus until after 1 year, per our ped. We have given her the EB Corn & Butternut Squash mix.

Sleeping Issues- I have become a tyrant. Down at 7 or 7:30, CIO if necessary, CIO at all wakings until after 6am (unless her cry is clearly pain/sickness, etc.) I just can't let her take my sleep at night anymore. Daytime, I just put her on a nap at 9 and 1 schedule and it seems to be working (and helping her nights!). We'll see!

MMH - CONGRATS! Let me know where you end up living -- hopefully close by!

[Bloomwood]

MMH - thanks for the new thread! Congrats to your DH on the new job and the big move I know you've been anxious for! Yippee!

tub - Our bathroom sitch stinks. It is too narrow, it has glass sliders on the tub that keep me from really reaching in and I refuse to take a bath in a rental tub - so I won't let DD's bottom touch it either. And, DH uses that shower so I don't want to put in one of those big inflatables. So...we use the tub chair thingie that Kristin uses. DD loves her baths, loves to be able to reach over a grab her toys and reach for the faucet that she can't get.

pineapple - we were having pina coladas in Maui and DH started to give her a taste of his pineapple. I couldn't say no fast enough! She also had that EB corn thing and was fine, but we'll hold off on citrus for a little bit longer.

swimming - the school here has a 1 year wait list! We are moving to Marin County this summer so I'll most likely wait until then before I sign up for a school, but she loved the water in maui.

Issues - just that my little love has her first illness. :( I don't know what is wrong but she has had three loose stools and threw up twice. So glad I decided blueberries was a good breakfast food :rolleyes: She was sitting up on her playmat, barely up an hour and forty minutes after her morning nap before she just leaned her whole body forward, grabbed her security blanket and started sucking her fingers. I put her in her crib and she just laid there holding her blanket, sucking her fingers and staring off for about 5 minutes before she drifted off. Poor little girl. This was the first time I've actually seen her "need" her security blanket. It was really sweet.

I guess another issue would be that DD is not crawling or able to put herself into sitting position. All in due time!

[Bloomwood]

We're flying from WA to GA in late February with DS for 6 days. We'll be staying in a hotel, but have a lot of family (with babies & young kids) in town. What sorts of things do you think we'll need/want in the hotel with us? We've flown with DS before, so I think we've got that covered...but it's the hotel room that I'm wondering about now. I know for sure that we will be borrowing a pnp and booster seat once we get there. Am I missing something else?


Em - forgot to add...A few things I have found to work well
A bottle brush and detergent. Probably obvious but I forgot the first time. Now I keep them with all her other travel stuff.
Also, a blanket for him to play on the floor on but also ask for an extra sheet to give him a bigger area without having to touch the nasty hotel floor.
Lots of little toys because they pack more easily and add variety.
For bathing, we put a hand towel in the sink to keep her from slipping.
I've found it is better to take just enough diapers to get you through the plane and maybe the first day and then go buy a pack. You'll not have many to bring home. Same with babyfood - don't carry too many, just buy there. (I make her food but buy it when we travel)
I put formula in a gallon size ziploc instead of taking the big can.
Shopping cart cover as a highchair cover since you eat out more often.
Disposable changing pads and bibs by Munchkin. We put the changing pads on her travel changing pad to keep it a little cleaner. And, who wants to wash bibs on vacay??

We also take her white noise/sound machine and her security blanket and bunny.

I'll try to figure out if I forgot anything. Hope that helps.

oh yeah - baby tylenol! Especially now with the teeth coming through!

[Pink_Converse]

Congrats MMH.

For teething should you use Motrin or Tylenol or does it matter really?

[flyerwife]

congrats MMH, hope the move is a good one.

our ped. told us motrin (or generic) for teeth, although we used only tylenol with my older one and it seemed to help.

[Pink_Converse]

H has been vomitting since yesterday evening and did last night and this morning too. He's still accepting liquids tho so I haven't called the Dr. He's whiny and clingy-he's thrown up out of the blue like he's nauseous but he's also vomitted from gagging on his toys, teething ring, etc. so I can't tell what is up with him. We've been up and down all night so we're so tired! He's not running a fever or anything either. I'll be doing alot of laundry today. I really need my baby carrier today but it's air drying right now. I just got a Yamo and I already had to wash it because I dropped a diet coke yesterday while wearing H and it exploded all over my kitchen-literally. Every surface including the ceiling, crown moldings, appliances, etc. and the both of us. It even went into the breakfast room. It was a freaking NIGHTMARE. Just had to come in and RANT! Hope everyone has a nice day!

[smiles33]

Just popping in for some reassurance--I'm a bit frazzled after seeing this warning plastered at Daycare today "Warning: Your child was likely exposed to RSV last Thursday...." Respiratory Syncytial Virus is supposedly most serious in preemies, so it's not like DD is at risk of hospitalization. Do you remember seeing those public service ads in all the baby magazines? I also saw warnings on the walls of the Special Care Nursery when DD was there at 3 weeks old.

Anyhow, it's still serious as it is the most common cause of brochiolitics and pneumonia of babies under 1 year old. DD has been having green/yellow mucus, but I thought it was related to teething. So now I'm a bit paranoid it could signal the start of an infection. Off to do a quick search but thought I'd stop here first to see if anyone else has had experience with this...

[flyerwife]

Pink -- just watch diapers, if he's still having plenty of wet ones he's not dehydrated and probably fine. might be a virus, but in that case they can't do much anyway. If he starts acting funny, give your office a call. Hope he's better soon! Bummer about the coke!!!

smiles33 -- You might give your doctor a call, the nurses will tell you if you should bring him in. I know neither of my boys has had the green/yellow mucus with teething, although they have had clear runny noses. RSV can be serious, however I know that they have to post warnings if there was a child that was in the building with lots of items. We had the warning posted at preschool last year about chicken pox, so the warnings are common. Hope she stays healthy.

I know I sound like I call our doctors office often, but really I don't, but I know they are willing to answer calls the 2 times I have called (with both boys).

Hope that all the kids get healthy or stay healthy!!!

[kristin9903]

Smiles33 In nursing school, they taught us that bright green/yellow mucus = infection most of the time. I'd call the dr. to be safe.

Hope all the sick babies get to feeling better!

[smiles33]

Talked to the advice nurse and we're going in to the doctor's at 2!

[catJennifer]

subscribing...

Kate
5/17/06
catJennifer
Me: Jennifer, 31
DH: 32

[May2006Mommies]

Updated to here!

[Parrothead]

Smiles - Glad you are going to the dr. I always err on the side of calling and talking to the nurses, as they are so helpful! FYI, DD had a runny nose (yellowish green). It was related to a nasty little cold and lots of new teeth (4 at once). I went to the dr. and they gave me some recommendations. They also said that there was some fluid in her ears that could lead to an infection so they told me what to watch for I always feel better for having called or gone to the dr....

[Em7.31.04]

Just popping in to say that DS got tooth #3 today - his top right lateral incisor. We also had 7 inches of snow and a day off. It's been a big day around here! :p

[smiles33]

Hi again! Thankfully, DD is fine. It is as I suspected, but it's nice to just confirm given the risks of something more serious getting worse.

What was also helpful is that we confirmed some peculiar "scratches" and rough spots on her legs are actually from eczema. Who knew? I thought it was a daycare-related incident, as we have 1 boy who is very physically aggressive (e.g., grabbing hair, stepping on other kids, hitting, etc.). I'm quite frustrated with the situation and don't know what to do. My mom, who drops by daycare frequently to visit DD, has seen this kid "attack" other kids 3 times now. The teachers intervene, but the victim often cries for 20-30 minutes (probably out of shock as I doubt the pain lingers that long).

Any other WOHM with kids in daycare dealing with aggressive kids?

[Em7.31.04]

Smiles: We haven't personally dealt with this issue, but I used to work for Head Start and we had MAJOR issues with aggressive kids. They were preschoolers so it's a bit different, but my general advice still applies. I would keep some sort of records for yourself on incidents you witness, particularly if they directly involve your DD. If you are feeling at all uncomfortable about the other child, you have every right to bring it up to the teachers and/or center director. The more parents that complain, the more likely something will be done. I'm not all for kicking kids out of daycare, but at the same time if a kid is a risk to others, something needs to be done. Good luck...

[Mrs U]

I hope all your little ones are feeling better.

Just found out that my brother set a wedding date- March 24 as in 2 months from now. P cant come due to work so I have to fly alone with David. I'm so not looking forward to this.......

[Bloomwood]

Our little girl is still sick. I think...She was feeling so much better yesterday, though didn't have an appetite at all. This morning we noticed that her top right tooth was trying to poke through, so that explains part of it. I went out for a mani/pedi with a girlfriend and left DH to deal with DD. His one chore was to install the Marathon during her nap. I called to check in and he hadn't done it, so of course he ran right out to get it done before I came home.

I come home; DD is in a great mood and has just had an 8 oz bottle. We get all loaded in the car - her new carseat - go less than a mile and...projectile vomit all over her, her marathon and our backseat (thank goodness they aren't cloth seats!). Way to break in the new carseat. I wish I hadn't of pushed DH to install it now! She is asleep now and we'll just keep an eye on her. I wish she would feel better, but it's so hard to tell what is bothering her - if she is still sick or if it is teething or if it was because she drank so much after not having much at all for the last 2 days.

[Kim]

I'm totally exhausted. We're back from Florida. To make a really long story short our flight got diverted to Baltimore thanks to fog, and we ended up driving five hours home. It was a pretty hellacious day. Thank God we got home safe and the kids were extremely cooperative, but yuck. :rolleyes: A 2 hour, 10 minute plane ride turned into a 4 hour plane ride plus five hours of driving. :rolleyes:

Bloomwood-Oh, no! I hope your little girl is feeling better. :( One thing that's great about Britax carseats is that the covers wash really well. I can't recall if it says not to machine wash but I've done it a billion times in my front loader thanks to DD#2 who had reflux issues and used to get carsick.

MrsU-How far is the flight? I'm sure you and David will do just fine. :)

smiles33-Sorry you're dealing with an aggressive kid in your daycare. We haven't dealt with that issue, but I have seen kids get aggressive on the playground and it's really upsetting, especially when a parent just stands by and doesn't correct their child. That's a whole nother issue though. :rolleyes:

Em-Congrats on the tooth! Totally jealous of the snow. we havne't had ANY yet! It's so bizzare!

I'm going to lounge around now. I'm exhausted. I hope you all had a great weekend.

[Mrs U]

Bloomwood Hope your lil one is feeling better.:)

Kim It's a 7 hour flight- Zurich to Newark- plus an hour car drive. 6 time zones- shall be fun getting him over his jetlag when we return :eek: .

[Parrothead]

QOTD: Drinking water - Are your DCs drinking water? If so, how much and from what? I started trying to give DD water at 6 months. I went straight to a sippy cup (Avent then Gerber, both w/ and w/o the valves) b/c she never liked a bottle in the 1st place. She still doesn't really drink it, just chews on the spout and maybe gets a little water by accident. I have tried having her drink from a regular cup, which she kinda does (mostly gnaws on the rim) but I still can't get her to drink much. Any thoughts/tips/advice?

THANKS!!

[karlatta]

Drinking Water - DS can only drink water in his stroller. It's the only place where he can get the recline just right so that he can tip the cup and actually get some water. A lot ends up on his clothes, and he also chews on the spout, but he does get water. I also find that he works a lot harder if I mix a little bit of apple juice in. (And I mean a little bit - about two tablespoons per 8 ounces of water.)

[MMHinCA]

QOTD: We have not tried water. I have given DD sippy cups but she will either chew on it for a bit or throw it on the ground. She will take sips out of a regular cup but usually more ends up on her then in her mouth.

[Bloomwood]

anyone think their DC is going to skip crawling? DD has NO interest in crawling, but loves to stand. It is all she wants to do - have me hold out my fingers so she can pull herself up. Yesterday she used her leap frog table to pull herself up into standing for the first time. She can creep around a bit but doesn't really like to - she starts screaming on her belly like a turtle stuck on its back.

[MMHinCA]

Crawling - DD loves to crawl. She will crawl all over the house! She is just getting to the point where she will pull herself up to her knees, but not quite to the standing position yet.

[karlatta]

Crawling - A couple of months ago, DS's physical therapist said that he would probably never crawl. (He actually stated that DS will probably not have that ability until he was 5 or 6 years old.) So far, he can only get up on his hands and knees and rock back and forth, and the therapist says that may be all we see.

DS does "walk" all over the house if I'm holding at least one of his hands. He can really book it going down the hall - but he can't hold himself up yet.

[Bloomwood]

water - DD loves water. She hasn't fully mastered the sippy but I give it to her in a bottle and out of a little glass. She definitely wears most of it from a glass, but you gotta start somewhere! I just gave her the nubby cup yesterday; it is so cute. She puts it in her mouth and bites down super hard to open the spout and just stays that way letting it go into her mouth.

[Pink_Converse]

QOTD'S-Crawling-not yet, just army crawling/scooting. At point should we worry about that?
Water-He's played with a Nuby at mealtimes since he was 4 mo. old and drinks okay out of it, he wears alot of it too. He gets about as much juice as Karlatta's son. He loves his cup. He doesn't really like Avents or any others.

[jarm]

DD is scooching herself around...no interest in crawling. She'd rather sit up and drag herself around. Crawling is actually something that some children don't do...it's not an indicator of anything. Many children skip crawling and go straight to walking.

[Em7.31.04]

Crawling: We've got a professional army crawler at our house. He gets up on all fours and rocks, and then launches himself forward. But no official crawling. He doesn't really stand or try and walk/cruise, which is totally fine with us. We still need to child proof, big time!!

Water: We started giving DS water in a sippy cup when he started solids. He just chews on the spout and ends up wearing the water. He seems to respond better to the Nuby than to the Avent, but he doesn't really drink much out of any of the cups yet.

[Mrs U]

Water we give it to David now and then- mainly if I'm out shopping. He's mastered his Avent sippy cup :D

crawling David started at Christmas. Now I need to keep all doors shut since he goes exploring. Yesterday he was found underneath our bed. I think I need to put a swiffer under his belly so he can clean the hard to reach places he gets himself into ;)

[Parrothead]

Figured I'd post this over here, too!

DD is 8.5 months old. She has STTN twice since she was born, both times 7pm - 6:30am and they were last week. She cried for a little bit both nights around 12 or 1, but I didn't go to her.

The last few days, she's woken around 4 or 5. Do I let her CIO then? Or, do I go do a quick feed/change and then out her back down and let her CIO? I really want her going past 6am consistently!!

I worry that something may be wrong at 4 or 5 (i.e., hungry, wet, dirty) b/c by then she'd been asleep for 9-10 hours. But, I also know that she is capable of going until 6:30.

Thoughts?

[shortcake]

Hi! I replied on the other thread too. But is she crying when she wakes up or just happy/talking? If she's crying, I bet she still needs to sleep and you could ignore her. Josh has been waking then and crying but for less than 5 minutes now! Maybe she'd do that too.

[Parrothead]

She wakes up crying. I think that she definitely needs the sleep. I fed her, changed her, rocked her until drowsy and put her down. She cried for 15 min and then slept until 6:45. So, she was up for about an hour before she went back down.

I agree--I think that she should CIO at the 4/5 waking. It's hard though b/c my husband really needs to sleep and she's close by :(

[MMHinCA]

Parrothead - We are going through the EXACT same thing! We (I) let her CIO at those 4-5am wakings. She will now sleep through til 6-7am. If she wakes before 6am I let her CIO and if it is after 6am I have been going in and nursing her. She will then go back down til anywhere between 7-9am! I may start trying to let her CIO if she wakes anytime before 7am since I know she is still tired when she wakes anytime before that. Please keep us posted on how she does!

[Standrea]

Hey everyone! I didn't realize that we had a new thread!!

Crawling-Backwards! Has been since about 6 months old. She really wants to stand and walk with our help. It's her prefered way to get around.

Water-Abbie uses her Gerber sippy cup with water at every meal.


P.S. IF there are any Rachael Ray fans, I won tickets and went last week. It will be aired tommorrow and friday (they taped 2 episodes). I'm in the fifth row on the right hand side if looking at the stage. I'm third in from the right! It was so much fun!!

Naps-How many naps are your DC taking a day? Do they have a set nap schedual? Abbie normally takes 1 nap around 11am, and 1 at 2-5pm. Is that too long?

[Parrothead]

Naps - I put DD on a nap schedule 2 weeks ago. She goes down around 9am and 1pm and naps from 1 to 2 hours at a time. Makes for a LONG afternoon if she wakes up at 2pm and I need to entertain her until 7pm bedtime!

[MMHinCA]

Naps - DD takes 2 naps. First nap is usually about 2 hours after waking in the morning so between 10-11am. Her second nap is usually about 3 hours after she wakes from her morning nap so anywhere between 1-3pm. Her naps last anywhere from an hour to 2 hours. She then goes down for the night around 7pm.

[Guinness]

Just subscribing. I haven't been here in forever, but want to keep following along. We have had big transitions as we hit 9 months. Gone to formula as I am not producing any more milk - very sad. We are army crawling all over the place and eating solids (refusing a spoon, so really finger foods). As for sleeping, well everytime I sleep train we end up with the stomach flu that breaks up the cycle. Some nights are better than others and I am just trying to be patient. Sounds like most of you are much further along on that front. I have tried really hard, but it doesn't seem to be working for us. Frustrating, but we will get through it.

Alright, back to catching up :o

[Kim]

Crawling-Yes. A combo of creeping (belly crawling) and hands and knees.

Naps-Lately, usually 2-a short morning nap from around 10:00-11:00 and a longer afternoon nap from around 2-4:30.

Here comes trouble. Totally out of left field Lila started cruising today. She crawled over to the couch, pulled herself up to standing, and started walking the length of the couch. It's her new idea of fun. I am so not ready for this mobile phase. It's just too much work. :p

Guinness-Oh no! The stomach flu is the worst! :(

Standrea-I'm goign to try to watch Rachael Ray tomorrow!

[Mrs U]

Naps David has his morning nap around 10am- 11/11:30am, then in the afternoon around 1 til 3pm. Sometimes when I see that he's tired and may put up a fight, I'll put him in his bed sitting with a bucket of blocks. He tends to play until he's tired and curls up on his own.;)

Parrothead Does DC take a paci? I know that when I was trying to get David to STTN- when he would wake at 4/5am I'd give him the paci instead of feeding. Now since he refuses the paci, I let him cry for the 5 minutes- sometimes he goes back to sleep, other times since it's normally at 6:30/7am I'll go ahead and make him a bottle.

[Parrothead]

DD STTN again last night. 7:15pm - 6:40am. She squawked at 3:30am and DH said "are you going to let her cry it out" and I said "Yes, she's regressing! Tonight it's 3:30, last night was 4, and the night before was 5. I am over it!" It was funny. She cried for 2-3 min and was out until 6:40am. We are almost there, which makes the little steps backwards even more frustrating!

Mrs U - Yes, she takes a paci, but if I go to her when she wakes crying and I try to give it to her, she freaks out. So, I am thinking that just letting her CIO is the answer...

[MMHinCA]

Parrothead - We had similar nights... DD went down at 7:15pm and woke up at 6:30am. I went in and nursed her and she went back down til 8:20am! Our girls are learning! :)

QOTD: Food - What are your DC eating? Solids, finger foods, etc...?

DD is still on purees (jarred organic). Two weeks ago we started giving her yogurt (Yo-Baby), avocado, and mashed bananas. I am still feeding her, she is not self feeding yet. I will try to give her a puff and she will either just hold it or throw it on the ground. I would like to introduce more "people" food... what is every once doing?

[catJennifer]

QOTD: Kate is only eating stage 1 baby foods.

To continue the question, should I be concerned that Kate still doesn't finish stage 1 foods. SHe is not very interested in food and only eats baby food at dinner. She has always been 75% for height and weight. We started foods at 6 months and she likes them, but doesn't eat much. How have you gotten your babies to like food?

Jennifer

[Parrothead]

MMH - Funny that our girls are on the same track. I guess it makes some sense, as they were born a day apart!

QOTD: Food - DD eats 3T of oatmeal in the AM and 4T of multigrain cereal in the PM (both EB). She eats 5-10 bites of a fruit or veggie from a jar (also EB) at each meal. We've gone through about 14 foods now. Just yesterday, I cut up some honeydew melon in little bits and she fed herself a few pieces. Too cute. However, I did the same today w/ honeydew and banana and she just mushed it around and played with it. For the most part, I feed her w/ a spoon. But more often now I am filling the spoon for her and letting her stick it in her mouth. She does ok w/ that. Mealtime is VERY messy here!

[shortcake]

QOTD - Josh is eating jarred food - stage 2 and 3. He does great with the stage 3, so I do try to give him finger food (cheerios or puffs) but he rarely gets it in his mouth. He is getting it occasionally now, though. Also last night I cut up some cooked carrots. He didn't try to put them in his mouth at all, but when I fed him a couple of them he did eat them.

catJennifer - If I remember correctly, they still are getting most of their nutrients from breastmilk or formula at this point. The food is just for practice. So I think the fact that she doesn't eat a ton of it really doesn't matter at all...just keep doing what seems right for your DD!

STTN - I think Josh has got it...he squawked again at 2 or something, but slept till 6:30. The only thing is he woke crying at 6:30! I wonder if I should have let him CIO or what. It had been 12 hours of sleep, and he was hungry, so I doubt it...yet if I feed him he won't go back down again. Well I will see what tonight brings. This is the first time he's woken up not totally happy, so maybe it was a fluke. He also seems to have a cold so that could be why.

[MMHinCA]

I think I must have a little piggy on my hands... here is what she eats most days:

Breakfast: 1/2 cup oatmeal with a 4 oz jar of fruit
Lunch: 4 oz jar of vegetable & a 4 oz jar of fruit or yogurt
Dinner: 4 oz jar of vegetable & a 4 oz jar of fruit or yogurt

All this food and she is only in the 10-15%tile for weight!

[kristin9903]

naps When he's home with me, he takes a 1-1.5 hour one at 11 and a 1-1.5 hour one around 3 or 4. He's pretty consistent on that front. If he's at MIL's, we're lucky to get 45 minutes. Guess he's just used to his crib.

Food DS likes finger foods, but doesn't like feeding it to himself. So, we do a combination of pureed and finger foods. He eats (usually) homemade organic foods. I usually try and do a fruit, vegetable, and cereal daily. Seems like we're eating more fruit than anything else. He hasn't started meats yet, save for a couple of bites of my chicken at Chili's when we were mid-meltdown. :o That will probably change once I talk to the doctor at his 9 month WBV tomorrow.

Guinness Nice to see you around! Sorry about having to give up breastfeeding. I had to do the same thing at 7 months, so I know your pain. :(

[Em7.31.04]

Naps J's naps really vary from day to day. On the days he is at his sitter's house we have to wake him up early in the morning. So, he typically takes a 2-2.5 hour nap around 10am and then a shorter one around 2pm. Sometimes on those days he will also nap for about 20-30 minutes around 5pm. On the days I am home with him, he sleeps in later in the morning and ends up taking 2 shorter naps (approx. 45 minutes). His bedtime is 6:30-7:30pm, depending on if he napped around 5pm or not.

Foods DS eats solids 2x/day, at lunch and dinner time. He loves his food - all of it!! He typically eats cereal at 1 meal, plus a jar or two of stage 2 EB food (or the quantity equivalent of my homemade food). He also eats puffs, a few at each meal. Last night he ate an entire banana for dinner, and tonight had a half of an avocado. He's a total pig. :p He can feed himself really well now - puffs and small pieces of pear, banana, or avocado. We plan to give him some Joe's O's (Trader Joe's version of Cheerios) this weekend and see how he does.

[Guinness]

STTN - well after complaining we have done well the last 2 nights. 8-4 and then back to sleep until 7. I can do that as DH gets up for work at 4, so it wakes E up.

Naps - usually 2, 10 and 1 but length is variable

Foods - so funny how they are all so different. E is all about putting foods in his mouth. I am amazed at the coordination to do so and felt bad for only offering purreed for so long. He still eats by spoon at day care and for daddy - I am just not patient enough. It is easier in some ways, although the food has to be pretty dry (bananas are too hard to pick up). I have found chicken he loves and the pasta with chicken inside are good sources of protein. I am trying to be creative, but feeding is hard mostly because I am mourning my lack of being able to provide with breast milk :(


Congrats to those getting good nights of sleep. I wish they would know the difference between weekdays and weekends - sleeping in may be over for us . . .so sad.

Congrats MMH on the move ahead

[Parrothead]

Happy weekend, everyone!

QOTD: Anyone enrolling their kids in music or gym classes? - I am currently looking into MyGym, Gymboree, Kindermusik, and Music Together. Anyone done this yet w/ their babies or planning on it soon?

[catJennifer]

Parrothead-
DD started Gymboree Level 2 and Gymboree Baby Signs earlier this month. THe classes are great and it is amazing to see her watch the other kids and interact. During the first class, she would look at me frequently. Now, she doesn't look at me at all, just the teacher and the other children. The classes are very sing song and very developmentally appropriate. We will definitely be continuing them.

Jennifer

[Em7.31.04]

QOTD: Anyone enrolling their kids in music or gym classes? I've been doing Kindermusik with DS since he was 4 months old. Our semester is ending this month. We won't be re-enrolling for financial reasons, but we have really enjoyed the class. DS interacts well with the other babies and smiles pretty much the entire time. We just started swim classes this month, and DS is really loving that too. We're all members of our local YMCA (where we take swim classes), and they have a great toddler gym program beginning at 10 months. So, we plan to start that when he is 10 months old. I just love the mommy-baby time.

[Pink_Converse]

ClassesI- plan on taking a swim class at the Y with DS that starts in April. I can't wait! I wish they had some that started sooner.

STTN-DS used to just stir a little, I'd pat him and he'd go back to sleep. When he got sick with his first cold/cough recently he started waking at night to eat and or for a diaper change around 2 am and 4 am (and he's continued it despite being well)! It was horrible. But after I fed or changed him he would go back to sleep pretty fast. He's gotten to be a very wild sleeper lately, kicking and hitting us burying his head under pillows etc. so that coupled with the waking I decided to try to get him to sleep in his PNP in our room and he fusses and cries some and then goes down at about 9:30 til 5-6:30 am! It's great! We are all sleeping much better. I don't hear him stir much or act wild like he did in the bed. I hope we can all stick to the PNP and eventually get him in his room after that. Baby Steps!

Mobility-He rolls and kinda scoots everywhere he needs to go. He can really get around good like that. He can lift up his torso, etc. but can't coordinate how to move everything in unison!

Eating-Before being sick he used to eat solids 3 x a day. He didn't eat solids while he was sick because he would refuse them. I'm trying to get him back on them, he's maybe eating a 1/3 or a cup of oatmeal mixed with a couple of tablespoons of fruit and a little water/juice to drink. I'm skipping lunch lately because he's not having it and doing solids for dinner where he is eating very little. Yesterday he did avacado for lunch for the first time and he LOVED it! He's eating veggie puffs, bread, things like that and he can pick them up on his own although he's not great at it yet. He's eating 6-8 oz. of formula every 4 hours as well.

[MMHinCA]

Classes - We are hoping once we move we will be able to sign DD up for some Gymboree or MyGym. Are all of you SAHM? Those of you who do work, are you able to get your DC involved in classes or mommy groups?

We were down in LA this weekend looking for a place to live and we found a place to rent for a year (so we can get to know the areas before buying). We found a nice, newer, clean town house! I am getting pretty excited about the move. I just wish we were packed, moved, and unpacked already!

[Pink_Converse]

I'm a SAHM.

Congrats on the new place and move!

[Guinness]

Good question MMHinCA!! I am reading all the things some of you are doing and just laugh. I am feeling overwhelmed working and being a mom. Any one else feel insufficient at both? I long for the weekends when we can all just hang out. Weeknights it is all I can do to figure out dinner, bath, book and bed. The nights just fly by too fast!

[karlatta]

Naps - DS is the king of sleeping. He gets up at 6:00 and takes his first nap starting at 7:30 or so and sleeps for about 1.5 hours. (I think he'd actually just stay asleep and not need this "nap" if we didn't have to get up and get DD off to school.) Then he takes a second nap at around 11:00, for a couple of hours. His final nap is around 3:00 for another 1.5 hours. I have a feeling that his schedule would be a lot different if we didn't have to work around DD's school schedule.

Eating - DS is still eating Stage 1 and 2 jarred foods. I only feed him vegetables. He also gets little fruit puffs when we're at the dinner table and he's sitting in his high chair. He's really good at picking them up and getting them in his mouth!

Classes - Honestly, I'm too exhausted to think about taking DS to any classes. But we're going to sign up for a swimming class together this spring/summer, and I'm going to enroll him in Mother's Day Out a couple of days a week before the new baby is here, just so that I can have some time to (hopefully!) nap while the littlest one is sleeping.

[nettie]

Classes and WOHM I have to agree with Guinness on weeknights. Feeding ourselves and DS, playing for a bit, then bed for DS. It goes by really quickly. Weekends I enjoy lots of time just hanging out and haven't really sought out classes. I do plan on enrolling DS in swim classes at the community pool at the end of Feb. It's 6 weeks on a Saturday morning, so I think I can handle it.

Naps DS is a bit erratic on the naps. On weekends, he wakes between 6:30 and 7, takes his first nap at 9 for an average of one and a half hours, second nap around 1 for another hour or so, and third nap at 5 for 30 minutes. Of course, his first two naps can be as short as 30 minutes and as long as two hours. Luckily, he's now capable of being awake and happy for more than 2 hours at a time, so bad nap days aren't always cranky days. At daycare, he naps shorter in the morning and longer in the afternoon and of course, less time overall.

Eating DS is a champion eater. So far, he's liked everything but green beans. He eats oatmeal and a stage 2 jar of fruit for breakfast, homemade veggie puree and a jar of fruit for lunch, and a smaller portion of the same for dinner. He likes puffs, but his hit ratio is not all that great. I'm on the lookout for other good finger foods. And, he still nurses/gets a bottle of EBM five times a day. I really wonder why he's such a little guy with all of his food intake.

Crawling and babyproofing DS is so close, but still not motoring around. He gets up on all fours, lunges forward, gets on all fours, and so on. Kind of like an inchworm. We're going to have to get serious about babyproofing soon though. Has everyone else already taken care of this?

[karlatta]

Babyproofing - We had to babyproof before DS even got here (thanks to foster care requirements), so we've been set for quite a while. I've got gates on the stairs, a net over the banister, covers on the outlets, and we have lots of open, empty surfaces for DS to pull up on. The hardest part is making sure that DD (9 years old) doesn't leave stuff around for DS to choke on. I'm forever finding Barbie shoes or scrapbooking supplies all over the house.

[Bloomwood]

Just checking in. DH, DD and I all survived my 4 days away. DH was a trooper; we had the nanny for Th/F but he opted to stay home and take care of her solo all weekend instead of driving up to his parents. My flight was delayed so I didn't get to see her until this morning.

This afternoon she figured out how to sit up in her crib. I think she really wanted to lay back down, but couldn't figure it out because when I went into lay her back down she was sitting up sucking on her fingers like she does when she's asleep. Goof ball of the highest order!

naps- I don't stretch beyond more than 2 hours, 2.5 max in the morning before her first nap (usually anywhere from 8:30 to 9:30 and lasts 1.5-2 hours) then when she wakes up from that nap I keep her up 3-4 hours, so she usually goes back down at 2 or 3 for another 1.5-2 hours. I don't let her sleep past 5 (though it's been ages since I've had to wake her up) and she's back down at 7. She's been waking up at 5:30 or 6 am lately and we really need to make that stop!

food - I'm starting to aggressively introduce finger foods. Today she had bananas in cheerio dust at lunch and a rice cake at dinner. I've also given her wagon wheels and she's getting better with them. I picked up green beans and asparagus to boil/steam and carrots to roast in the oven; I'll give her these as finger foods instead of pureeing them. I still need to introduce meat (chicken) though. So far her protein is tofu, cottage cheese and yogurt simply because pureeing chicken grosses me out! I also gave her kiwi fruit tonight. It was hilarious. She got a bitter piece and made the silliest face, but she kept eating it!

babyproofing - we moved the furniture around to block some scary shelves we have and got rid of the coffee table, but that's it. She still isn't mobile so I'm biding my time. We rent so I can't do too much permanent babyproofing. But, our house is also small so it is easier to contain her.

Anyone's DC still using the exersaucer? I'm thinking it's time to put it in the garage as she won't stand to be in it for very long anymore.

MMH - congrats on finding a place. I hope you're getting packers/movers.

[Pink_Converse]

My DS loves his exersaucer still. He runs in it :)

Napping-He wakes around 8 am for the day and is back down at 10 for about and hour and down again at 2 for about an hour and then again around 5. He goes to be around 9-9:30 for the night. This schedule just got established in the last few weeks and I am so glad because now I can plan for it. Same with feeding, when I was BF'ing he ate on demand but now he's on an every 4 hr schedule and I find it to be much easier.

[Em7.31.04]

MMHinCA: Good question about the classes. I'm out of the house 3 days/week now, and home 2 days/week. Starting in March it will switch so I'm home 3 days/week. Our Kindermusik class was a weekday am, and our swim class is two weekday evenings. The evenings that we have swim class, we plan ahead for dinner and do something in the crockpot. Those evenings are pretty crazy, though, so we may opt for a weekend or weekday am swim class next session. I just like the evening class because DH and I both can go. It's hard to find a balance! I find myself wanting to enroll in every available class, but I also have to realize what I/we can handle, lol. :rolleyes:

[MMHinCA]

Thanks everyone for the responses about classes and SAHM vs. WOHM... I was actually trying to see how WOHM are able to get there kids (and themselves) involved in classes / groups when they are working. Looking at the schedules it looks like most of the classes are during the day. I have found a couple of Saturday classes which I plan to sign up for but I was more curious how I can get DD and myself invovled in classes / groups if I am working.

DD - She is getting her 2 top teeth. They have popped through and are causing a LOT of crankiness and whining! :(

Bloomwood - No we are not getting packers... we are doing all on our own!

[Parrothead]

MMH-Sorry about the teeth. Have you tried Hyland's Teething Tablets? Those seem to help DD. Either those or Motrin!

FYI, the local MyGym, Gymboree, and Kindermusiks here all have Sat classes. They also have ones near the lunch hour (I am checking out 2 this week).

[Pink_Converse]

edited out photos

[Mrs U]

Hayden is sooo cute!

Speaking about pics, here is David and his 1st snowfall today:
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b229/s1975/IMAG0433.jpg

and it seems to me my boy is a bit vain:
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b229/s1975/IMAG0438.jpg

Hope ya'll have a good hump day!:D

[flyerwife]

Classes -- I started a storytime with Kyle last week, it's for 6 - 18 mos, so he's definately one of the youngest, if not the youngest. He liked watching the other kids though and I'm sure will enjoy it over time. I'm bummed since it's today and I can't take him since my older one is sick and so we have to stay home. I'm also praying that Kyle doesn't catch whatever it is that Zach has (he's been coughing for days :(

We are also planning to try Kindermusik if the class gets enough people to run. I did Gymboree with my older one and he loved it, but it closed :( I also went to the local rec center for a bunch of mommy and me classes, which is also where I met a great group of kids and mom's that DS has now been friends with for 3 1/2 years, the kids think they have been together forever. The cost is much less too, over the other programs, but I really think it's the teacher that makes the difference in the classes.

For the record I'm a SAHM, but I'm starting to work part time again next week, but it will be evenings -- boy is my DH in for a rude awakening!

The boys are adorable!!

[Pink_Converse]

Mrs U-David is a doll too! Look at those eyes!:)

[Bloomwood]

Anyone care to post the toys that their DC is enjoying now? I'd like to get her a few new ones.

[Mrs U]

Toys David loves this
http://www.ikea.com/PIAimages/21601_PE106540_S3.jpg
ours has a handle so when he starts walking he can push it.

He also loves his walker and Fisher Price rings (the old skool ones)

[Parrothead]

Toys

DD is beyond infatuated with the Fisher Price Learning Puppy:
http://www.fisher-price.com/img/product_shots/C6325_b_1.jpg

She also loves her Leap Frog Learning Table:
http://ec2.images-amazon.com/images/P/B000062XQ8.01.PT01._SS400_SCLZZZZZZZ_V1056707910_. jpg

[kristin9903]

Classes Boy, have we tried!!! We went to a preview class for Wee Hands, which teaches ASL. DS loved it! I would've signed up but it turned out I got scheduled to be at the hospital for clinicals on the day the class is held. We want to try Kindermusik but haven't found one on a good day. And, the stupid people at the Little Gym by our house refuse to return my calls. I'm not going to do business with people that don't show excellent customer service to people that are *trying* to give them money!

Toys Ethan loves both of the toys posted by Parrothead. Except our Fisher Price animal is bunny, not a puppy. I'll also throw in Peekablocks and Rollarounds. He could spend hours playing with those.

http://www.veaseademas.com/mt-static/images/peekablock.jpg

[Em7.31.04]

DS loves the Laugh & Learn Puppy, Roll Arounds, & stacking rings that others mentioned. Those seem to be his favorites for the time being. Oh, and our cats. He really loves those. :p

What size clothing are your DCs wearing right now?

I took DS shopping today to our local outlet mall and stocked up warmer weather clothing at Carter's, Children's Place, and Baby Gap. He wears 12-months right now in most everything...So I bought him 18-month and 24-month sized things. I'm hoping I guessed right...

[MMHinCA]

Clothing Size - We are still in 6-9 months. DD also fits in some 3-6 months.

Ok, I was reading through the March Mom thread and they were doing something that I thought would be fun. Let's post belly shots of where we were LAST year at this time.

http://s102.photobucket.com/albums/m92/mmhinca/th_461530396405_0_ALB.jpg
(This was from exactly one year ago (January 26, 2006 = 27 weeks!))

[Bloomwood]

Thanks for the toys. I got DD this cute pig that you pull it back and it rolls forward
http://www.babyage.com/icons/localhost/products/medium/10390.jpg
She loves it. I am hoping it will encourage her crawling. She is getting better...I have taken to putting cheerios on the floor to motivate her. It seems to be working.

I also got her the Parents push walker, 2 "lift and look" books, and a shape sorter. She also loves the photo album that I put pics of us and the dog in.

Clothes - She is in 6-12 months. I bought her 3 shirts a couple of months back. They were 6-12, 12 and 12-18. They all fit her the same. I laid them on top of each other and they were all cut the same. Crazy.

[Bloomwood]

Me again. With a question.

Anyone else going through nap regression? DD is SO excited about her newfound skill of standing and sitting in her crib, she has decided naps are passe. Add in that she has also decided nap time is a great time to poop (after which she seems to always want a bottle, go figure), it literally took me over an hour to get her down just now. First, I just laid her down. Next time I went to peek in and noticed it was rank so I changed her. Then she cried bloody murder when I left so I gave her a bottle (and, no I'm not starving her she ate just before I put her down in the first place!). Finally she is asleep. Anyone know how long this lasts before she moves on?

[MMHinCA]

DD is going down for naps ok but the lengths of her naps have decreased. For the last month she had been taking 2 long naps (long by her standards = 1 1/2 - 2 hours). The last week she has gone back to taking 3 shorter naps (40 minutes to an hour).

[Em7.31.04]

Good idea MMH!

These were taken on 1/31/06 @ 24 weeks:

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l229/emilyvonrueden/24Weeks2.jpg

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l229/emilyvonrueden/24Weeks1.jpg

DS took a 4 hour nap, plus two 45-minute naps today. :eek:

[Mrs U]

Naps David has been the last 2 weeks napping an hour in the morning and 1-2 hours in the afternoon. Then again he passes out by 7:30pm and is up at 9am. *knocks on wood*

Clothes We have 6-9 month clothes that I'm slowly weeding out of his wardrobe. 9 month Carters is also becoming small slowly. Mostly he wears 12 months and hope it fits until we go stateside and grandma takes him clothes shopping. ;)

this time last year @ 26 weeks (man I looked horrible, but with a beautiful round belly :P)

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b229/s1975/Image035_36.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b229/s1975/Image034_35.jpg

[Em7.31.04]

For those of you still doing 2 solids meals/day...When do you plan to start giving 3 meals/day? DS has been getting 2 meals/day for about 3 months now, so I'm wondering if it's time to add another meal?

DS got his 4th tooth yesterday. :D

[MMHinCA]

We started DD on x3 meals a day about 2 months ago and she has never had a problem. I would think you could go from x2 to x3 whenever it seemed like DS was ready.

We have 4 teeth now too! She has had her 2 bottom teeth since before Christmas and then her 2 top teeth have been came in together! I think some of her bottom teeth are working there way up. Fun times! :)

[mrst2001]

I'd like to join!

DD: B
May 7, 2006
mrst2001
Me: J, 32
DH: T, 37
And to answer:

Naps: We are taking two naps a day (one mid-morning, one mid-afternoon), each about 1 1/2 hrs to 2 1/2 hours. Usually total napping time is about 3 1/2 to 4 hrs a day.

Toys: B is loving her stacking rings, but her favorite toys are things like my keys, the remotes, cell phones, and various other "parent" toys. She also loves anything that makes noise, and toy car my mom gave her for Christmas.

Meals: B has been eating two meals a day since almost 6 months, and I have only the past two weeks or so given her three meals a day. I am also trying to encourage finger foods at one meal a day (usually dinner, so we can go straight to the bath afterwards).

So fun to see where our little angels are in their growth. I mostly lurked and sometimes posted on the expecting club and only now feel like I have the time to come back to the group! Love the updates!

[smiles33]

Welcome mrst2001! Your DD arrived on my DD's EDD. :)

Naps: Depends entirely on who is there. Anywhere from as little as 30 minutes TOTAL all day (at daycare or on the days she is at home with MIL) up to 4 hours total if I sleep with her in our bed like on the weekends.

Toys She still loves her bath books and the cloth ones (There are two by the same company: Fluffy Chick and Sea Turtle?), but will also play with almost anything that fits in her mouth. :)

Meals Anywhere from 1-2 meals a day, again depending on who's around. On the weekends, she would just prefer to nurse so I often only give her 1 meal then.

[Bloomwood]

It's been quiet in here.

Welcome mrst2001!

Smiles - love the new avatar. She is a cutie!

My DD is a PIGGY. For breakfast, she ate 5 cubes of butternut squash with tofu and rice cereal, finished it up with a handful of Cheerios and then pounded 9 oz of her bottle. She lost a little bit of weight from the stomach flu a few weeks ago, but has wasted NO time porking back up.

How's everyone doing with finger foods?
I give DD a wagon wheel or cheerios when I am putting her meal together but she generally will not tolerate them. I gave her a tray full of tofu, whole wheat pasta spirals and cut up sweet potato last night. She may have been too hungry, but she bitched because the sweet potato had a little bit of fiber in it that she spit out. Then, she wouldn't even try to eat the other stuff, she just wanted purees. I guess I'll keep trying once a day or so as just something to explore in the highchair rather than try to have her eat it as a meal.

Also...anyone know about sugar guidelines?
I gave her some apple and blueberry applesauce last night but noticed it had 12 grams of sugar in it. It was only organic apples and blueberries (with a little citric acid thrown in, I guess), so it wasn't like it was processed or white sugar. I'm going to ask the ped when I go on 2/9, but wondered if anyone had insight.

[Em7.31.04]

Bloomwood: I don't know about specific sugar guidelines, but that seems like a lot for applesauce? Was it the no-sugar-added kind? Share the info from your ped if you don't mind, because now I'm curious. Thanks!

[Pink_Converse]

I feel panicky all of the sudden about how DS is eating. He's eating something like this typically:

4:30 am
8 oz of formula

8-9 am
3-4 tablespoons of oatmeal with a couple of spoonfuls of some kind of jarred fruit
or 1/2 a piece of white toast and 3 or 4 tablespoons of applesauce
and then 8 oz of formula no matter what he eats

12-1 pm
8 oz of formula

4-5 pm
1 jar of stage 2 "meals"
or vegtable and a little fruit
8 oz of formula

8-9 pm
8 oz formula

I think maybe he's drinking too much formula and not enough solids. What is your bottle schedule/amounts like? I think for the solids I should increase them and offer less formula per meal but how much? He's not loving baby food, maybe I should offer more finger food options. What do you all think. I feel like a bad mom, like I should know better how to feed my child but he's my first one and I just don't.

Yogurt/Wheat products-What kind of yogurt can babies this age have? Can they have wheat toast, crackers, etc?

[Pink_Converse]

I feel panicky all of the sudden about how DS is eating. He's eating something like this typically:

4:30 am
8 oz of formula

8-9 am
3-4 tablespoons of oatmeal with a couple of spoonfuls of some kind of jarred fruit
or 1/2 a piece of white toast and 3 or 4 tablespoons of applesauce
and then 8 oz of formula no matter what he eats

12-1 pm
8 oz of formula

4-5 pm
1 jar of stage 2 "meals"
or vegtable and a little fruit
8 oz of formula

8-9 pm
8 oz formula

I think maybe he's drinking too much formula and not enough solids. What is your bottle schedule/amounts like? I think for the solids I should increase them and offer less formula per meal but how much? He's not loving baby food, maybe I should offer more finger food options. What do you all think. I feel like a bad mom, like I should know better how to feed my child but he's my first one and I just don't.

Yogurt/Wheat products-What kind of yogurt can babies this age have? Can they have wheat toast, crackers, etc?

[Bloomwood]

Pink - First of all, you are NOT a bad mom! Silly. As long as he is eating til he's full, he's doing fine.

DD is my first too and I can't say that how I go about meal times is necessarily "right" so take this as you want! I offer solids before the bottle. I feed her the puree but if she turns her nose to it before I feel like she's actually eaten enough to be full, or giving other signs that she just doesn't like the food, I offer her something else. Sometimes she will eat that and be happy, other times, she just doesn't have an appetite. Also, I will offer her more of the first thing after a couple of bites of the second and sometimes she will take that again. Other times, not so much. DD also eats three meals a day. We started the third meal, lunch time, at the beginning of January.

If you want to decrease the formula, you may try offering more protein with each meal because it is more slowly digested. I can't bring myself to puree chicken or meat so DD has tofu (silken mushes up easily), fresh in-water mozzarella as a finger food, lentils with rice cereal, parmesean shredded and melted in her meal or yogurt. Actually she eats and loves a ton of yogurt. The books recommend whole fat yogurt - plain with your own fruit mixed in rather than the fruit-already mixed in kind as there tends to be a bunch of sugar.

ETA: I also bought the pre-shelled edamame beans at TJ's, steamed them and ground them up. I mix it with avocado for a kind of guacamole that she likes too.

As the months go by, I am planning to offer bigger meals and less formula in anticipation of the one year mark when we wean to milk. I read on the March Mom's thread that someone said the peds recommend just 16 oz of milk a day after one year. DD probably has 24 oz of formula a day now.

I hope this helps. There is also a thread about "What is your 4-8 month old eating" that our very own Sneezy started. I'll bump it up for you, but it should also give you some good ideas.

[Scooter]

Pink, Don't panic! :) BM/Formula should be babies' primary nutrition for the first year. That means it's possible to give too many solids and not enough formula--so you're doing fine. I hadn't been speaking up because we're doing things very differently than a lot of the other May mommies. DD doesn't really like solids, so she only gets them at one meal a day (and half the time isn't interested in eating mroe than a few spoonfuls :(). The rest of the time it's 100% breastmilk. Compare that to your situation & I bet you'll feel better about how your DS is doing!


Question:
Anyone find that their DC eats better at lunch than dinnertime? Since DD hasn't been into solids I'm wondering if I present them at a different time of day if it will help her be more interested. Has anyone noticed a pattern with their DC of when they're most interested in new food?

[kristin9903]

Pink That doesn't sound too far off from what we do at home. Either way, though, every baby is different! If he's happy, then I think you're doing a fine job. :)

New food time DS does best either an hour after he wakes up in the morning or at lunch. He seems to be too tired at dinner time to mess with new flavors. Unless he gets a banana at dinner, he's a pretty poor eater at that time.

[missy329]

I am another one who doesn't post much in here. I do read along however.
Pink- As far as feeding- Maggie really isn't eating much baby food yet. I don't really feel the need to do much food until she is a year old. She eats about 1/2 jar of baby food every two or three days (pretty much when I think about it). She does eat puffs, saltines, and cheerios also. With my first daughter I was much more scheduled and tried to feed her 2 or 3 meals a day by now. For what its worth, my oldest DD was (and still is) very small- about the 5th percentile and my second DD has been around the 75th percentile. I agree with Scooter that formula/bm should be the primary nutrition for the first year.

[Scooter]

Lisa, glad you spoke up, it's nice to know we're not the only ones in this situation right now. Because she's not very interested, I just haven't really been pushing the issue much. I introduce new food every week or so, but she only wants a couple bites and is done. I'm hoping that in the next few months she'll start wanting to eat more.

[Pink_Converse]

Thanks everyone. I hesistated to even say anything about this because I told my BF how much formula he was drinking and she was like "WHAT?! He's gonna be a little porker!" She did say tho if he's hungry, he's hungry keep it up if it's working for us.

I would like to cut down to around 32 oz of formula a day. So far we did the usual breakfast, I fed him lunch after 4 1/2 hrs and he had some FF refried beans and a 1/4 of a flour tortilla a only 6 oz of milk. He liked the beans and was fine with less formula. I went and bought him a pear and blanched it and some baby carrots and did the same on that for the next few days. I think I will add them to his purees for a better consistency. We are having spaghetti tonight so I think I will make him some plain ground round and some chopped up angel hair for dinner with a veggie and give him formula to top it off and then a big bottle for bed and get him to be at 9 pm. He's been staying up too late lately. I'm also going to see if I can get him to eat dinner a bit later, maybe even with us. We rarely get to all eat at the table together and maybe seeing us eat would get him more interested in solids.

[Em7.31.04]

We have our first tummy bug on our hands, combined with a cold. Fun times. Poor little guy... :(

[Pink_Converse]

Sorry Em. I hope he gets better soon!

[Em7.31.04]

My friend typed up this list of finger foods for me. She copied the info directly from an older (within the past year) issue of Parents Magazine. I thought it might help...

Small bites of cherry tomato
Whole-grain couscous
Small, low-sugar O shaped cereal
Ripe mango or papaya
Whole-grain French toast
Well-cooked diced carrot
Teething biscuit or zwieback crackers
Whole-grain toast with all-fruit spread
Fruit cocktail – slice the cherries and grapes
Sliced blueberries or raspberries
Cooked green beans
Cooked (and peeled) white or sweet potato cubes
Chopped hard-boiled egg (after 12 months)
Cooked zucchini or squash
Whole-grain waffle
Grated or shaved apple
Small oranges, fresh (remove membranes) or canned (after 12 months)
Canned or very ripe fresh pears
Whole-wheat rotini pasta
Mozzarella cheese
Well-cooked asparagus tips
Sliced grapes
Mini rice cakes
Bananas
Tiny chunks of turkey meatballs
Matzoh crackers
Shredded cheese or cheese crumbles
Corn niblets
Grilled cheese sandwich, cut into strips or cubes
Brown rice
Ripe apricot
Whole-grain pancakes
Fork-mashed canned beans or chickpeas
Graham crackers (avoid honey varieties until 12 months)
Ripe honeydew, cantaloupe or watermelon (remove seeds)
Tofu
Avocado
Tiny well-cooked broccoli florets
Whole-wheat macaroni and cheese
Kiwi
Cucumber (peel, remove seeds and slice)
Bites of whole-grain muffin
Pineapple
Ripe peaches
Cooked pearl barley

[mrst2001]

Great list of finger foods! Thanks!

Pink Converse: About formula and food--I am worrying that B is not drinking enough formula and eating too much solid! I think you are right on track since milk is the primary food for babies under 1. DD is a champion solid eater and always a bit of a lazy milk baby (nursing or now bottle), so she is definitely eating plenty of solids and, I think, maybe too little milk. I am planning on asking my ped. at her appt Tues. for 9 months. I tend to lean on the side of believing that your baby will guide you, so if your DS needs more formula (or less), then that is the best guide. You are just listening to your cute boy!

Can't believe I am asking this, but is anyone thinking if TTC another soon? We haven't been preventing for a month or so, but I think we are actually going to really start trying this month. We have always wanted our children close together, and it took us about 9 months (and one m/c) to get pregnant with DD, so we decided to go for it. We also have a couple of things (a job change for DH/possible move in the next 20 months, a big family wedding in 16 months, etc.) that are leading us to want to conceive sooner rather than later. In some ways, I feel a little crazy for wanting them so close together, but it seems right for us. One complication is that I still have not had a post-partum period. I completely weaned B about a month ago, but still nothing. Obviously, I am worried that I not ovulating now. Any thoughts/experiences? TIA!!!

[Mrs U]

Hi All!

Pink Converse I just know over here they suggest once one starts with solids, that the milk amount should be reduced to 3 servings (typically 2x's bottles/breastfeedings and one meal with milk like a cereal mixed with milk instead of water or jogurt) This is our feeding scheldule:

9am- 9 oz bottle and a baby jogurt

noon- veggies with pasta, rice, or polenta (2x's a week with meat added) We are onto Stage 2 (8 months+) when I use jarred.

snack if out- rice cakes cut into cubes and water

5pm- cereal with homemade fruit or avacado mixed with banana forked mashed and rice cakes if he's still hungry

7pm- 9 oz bottle

Every kid is different when it comes to eating. I know that David loves to eat and has no problem eating a whole bowl at each meal time. Also with teething I noticed he eats less than normal at lunch time, but dinner he has a huge appetite. Now if I can get him to eat without his fingers in his mouth....:rolleyes:

MrsT Good luck with TTC!

Em Hope your lil guy is feeling better!

[missy329]

Em- hope your son is feeling better soon!

MrsT- yep- we are currently on cycle #6! (my chart link is in my signature) It took us 10 months to get pg with baby #2, Maggie (but only 2 months with baby #1- weird, huh). So, we have been trying for a while.

[Bloomwood]

Em - I hope Jack feels better soon. Thanks for that list. I am going to print it out. I just gave DD the shredded apples and a mini waffle I happened to pick up yesterday before I read your list. She loved the waffle, but wasn't as thrilled with the apple. Quelle surprise.

TTC - We have a wedding in Sweden in August. We will start trying on that trip. Funny, DD was planned to come between two weddings too - we started right after one so she'd be here before the 2nd. It worked!

[kristin9903]

Em7.31.04 Hope Jack gets to feeling better! And, another thanks for the finger foods list! :)

TTC We're probably members of the "One and Done" club. If we were to TTC, though, it would have to wait until after I graduate nursing school (May 2008).

[shortcake]

TTC - We thought after DD (in 2003) that we might be done, but then decided to go for two and got DS. Two is definitely it - we are complete. Hurrah!

[Pink_Converse]

ttc-I think we will have one more. I don't think we'll start for 6 mo to a year.

Thanks for the feeding advice and finger food list! I am feeling a little better about H's eating. Here's what he's eating now:

B-Between 6 and 8 am he eats a 6 oz bottle, it just depends on whether Daddy accidentally wakes him up in the morning or not. When we get out of bed between 8 and 9 am we go downstairs and he eats cereal with fruit and a few chooped up Cheerios or fruit pureed baby food on toast. He doesn't always eat all of his food. Sometimes he drinks juice and water.

L-Between 12 and 1-A stage 2 "meal" usually with meat/veggie, a piece of bread or a smaller "meat" and some vegetable baby food. He usually doesn't finish a stage 2 veggie, maybe 1/2 of it. 6 oz bottle.

D-Between 5 and 6-Pretty much the same as lunch. He may have a graham cracker or someting too. 6 oz bottle.

He gets one more 6 oz bottle before bed.

[Parrothead]

TTC - We'll starf on #2 in May/June. We are planning on 3 :o

Feeding - I think that DD nurses too much! Here's our day:

6:30 or so - wake and nurse (#1)

8:00 - breakfast of 4T oatmeal and 1/3 - 1/2 jar of fruit, sometimes a few bites of another fruit that I cut up

8:30 - Pre-nap nursing session (#2)

9:00 - 10:30 or 11:00 - nap

11:00 or so - wake up and nurse (#3)

Afternoon nap about 2.5 - 3 hours after waking (down between 1pm and 2pm); there is usually a pre-nap nursing session before this nap (#4)

Wake up from afternoon nap around 3pm and nurse (#5)

6:00 - dinner; 5-6T of multigrain cereal and 1/2 jar of veggie

6:30 - pre-bed nursing session (#6)

7:00 or 7:30 - down for the night

I think that 6x/day is a lot at this age, right? I do the "pre-nap" feedings b/c I don't want her to not sleep long enough b/c she is waking up hungry. I am talking to the ped on Thurs (9 month WBV) to see what she says. I'd love DD to self-wean in the next month or 2 and I know that I am not encouraging it by having her nurse 6x/day!!! FYI, DD doesn't get bottles at all (hates them!) and just started figuring out how to get water from her sippy...

QOTD: How many times do you nurse in 24 hours?

[Pink_Converse]

Here are a few V-day pics we took for H's daddy:

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i183/aburch78/T23101039_005_072_020607.jpg

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i183/aburch78/T23101039_005_064_020607-1.jpg

[MMHinCA]

I have been MIA... We have been busy moving and just got internet yesterday. Plus the rest of this week I am in the office for work. Busy times!

Feeding schedule:

Nurse when wake in AM (8-9am)
Breakfast: 1/2 cup oatmeal w/ a 4 oz jar of fruit
Nurse before nap (10-11am)
Lunch: 4 oz jar of meat/vegi & and 4 oz jar of fruit or yogurt
Nurse before nap (3ish)
Dinner: 4oz jar of meat/vegi & a 4 oz jar of fruit or yogurt
Nursed before going down in PM (7-8pm)

We have started to add junks of banana, avocado or pieces of turkey to her meals as well.

TTC: We have talked about starting next January, but we'll see where we are when the time comes.

DD had her 9 month WBV yesterday --> 16 lbs 9 oz (3rd %tile) and 28 inchs (70th %tile). She is doing great and developing right on track! We went to our new doctor and loved her!

QOTD: Has anyone started to plan DC 1st birthday party?

[mrst2001]

Nursing: I weaned DD a few weeks ago, but she has a bottle after meals (so 3x), then usually another before her two naps and bed. Milk total of about 6x or so a day. Sometimes a little more, sometimes a little less.

DD's Birthday Party: Haven't even thought about it--other than the fact that we will have it very small (family, godparents, maybe one or two friends), and we will have two cakes (one for B, one for the grown-ups!)

Our 9 month appt was today. She continues to be a little peanut! She weighed in at 16 lbs, 12 oz (10th percentile), height is almost 26 inches (5th percentile), and head circum. at 10th percentile. Thank goodness no shots--just a little toe prick for iron levels. She didn't even make a peep when they pricked her toe!

Hope everyone is well!!!

[Bloomwood]

We aren't going to do a bday party. The most we were going to do was both sets of grandparents and maybe 3 other couples, but both grandparents can't come the same weekend, so we probably won't do much of anything. My playgroup is going to have a little gtg for all the babies and immediate families, so that should be fun. I just want to save all the fun stuff until she gets it. But, I've already decided her birthdays will be within reason. I can't comprehend these go-all-out parties for kids. DD will grow up with enough privilege around her, I don't want every year to be a sweet sixteen type (And, I can guarantee she won't have anything remotely resembling a sweet 16 a la MTV!).

MMH - congrats on your move! I hope you are all settling in nicely.

[Mrs U]

1st birthday My mom is hosting a 1st birthday party for David even though he wont be quite 1 when we are stateside in March. She figures that since most of the family will be in the area for my brother's wedding and we wont be coming stateside in May that she'll throw him a party. It's her $$ and effort to organize it.;) I'll probably have a family get together here at home and combine David's with his Opa's since his birthday is on the next day.

[flyerwife]

Kyle went for his 9 month WBV yesterday. He's 28 1/2 inches (50%) and 19 lbs 14 oz (45%). He is doing fine on everything, no shots, just a toe prick and it was the really good nurse so he was fine with that too. However, he is going through a stranger phase and wants to cry if I don't have him or someone (like the doctor) wants to mess with him. Anyone else??

1st birthday -- haven't really thought about it yet, but we'll have to do something since we did for older DS. I don't want them to grow up and compare pics and wonder why one got something and the other didn't. It will probably just be something small here at the house.

TTC -- we have two great boys, so we are done!

[Standrea]

We are planning on throwing a pretty big Birthday Bash for Abbie's first birthday. We have rented a pavillion at a playground. We are trying to get a local group that plays music with kitchen utensils (They normally play at librarys, birthday parties, etc.), and will probably have around 50-75 people there. It will be tough since it's mothers day weekend, and many of our friends are from out of town.

I'm sorry I haven't been around...I haven't gotten any notifications!!

[nettie]

However, he is going through a stranger phase and wants to cry if I don't have him or someone (like the doctor) wants to mess with him. Anyone else??

Yes. We were at a superbowl party briefly on Sunday, and whenever someone would get in his face to say hi, he would start crying and bury his head into me. It's nice to feel so loved, but I feel bad for both DS and the people that he's crying at.

Morning drop-off at daycare has caused a few tears earlier this week. This morning I just got some sad faces. It's really heartbreaking at times, but I wait a few minutes out of his sight and I know that he recovers quickly. His daycare providers are fabulous and he loves them, one woman in particular.

His stranger/separation anxiety is definitely on my mind these days. On the plus side, I feel loved! Of course, on the down side, I am a fairly shy person myself and I would prefer is DS was more outgoing like his dad is. I guess time will tell.

1st birthday We'll invite the grandparents, my brother and his family, and a few close friends. Our house is small so that's about all that will fit, and DS can sometimes get overwhelmed in big groups of people. Of course, I'll still spend too much time/money on invitations, 1st birthday clothes, and cake, but I figure it's my perogative. :)

TTC Ha, ha, ha. Not for a while. I'm loving my sleep too much these days. I was originally thinking two years between babies, now I'm thinking three.

[Em7.31.04]

TTC: I am graduating with my Master's in June and want to be working in a school for one full year before becoming pg again. That puts us TTC around DS's 2nd birthday. Or maybe his 3rd? We want just two kids, although some days I think just one. Who knows what we'll decide when the time comes. :p

1st Birthday Party: We will be having a moderately-sized party for DS. We'll have it either at our house or my parents' house the weekend after his birthday, since that falls on Memorial Day weekend when most people will be out of town. I'm guessing we're going to invite about 30 or so people. We're thinking about a farm or western theme. I've been reading the 1st birthday party thread to get some ideas. But I won't be going as overboard as some on that board, lol.

DS is feeling better now. He has his 9-month WBV on Tuesday. He weighs 21lbs, 4oz and is 29 inches tall. I think he would have weighed more if he hadn't been sick the few days prior to the appointment.

[Scooter]

How many times do you nurse in 24 hours? Hmm, I've never counted! I nurse on demand, so it changes. I'd guess about 10 times?

1st birthday - we'll just be having our family members over, I think. That's 8 people, which will be enough chaos for one day! Getting my family & the ILs together is always a challenge for me (IL issues :rolleyes: ) so I don't really want to add anything else onto that.

TTC - we already started last month. :) It took us 2.5 yrs to conceive DD so we're just not waiting around. We'd like to try for 3, if we can be that lucky.

[May2006Mommies]

Updated to here!

[Mrs U]

Ok I have a question for ya'll that have stopped breastfeeding. I stopped when David was 6 months and 3 months later I still have milk! I've notice drops on my shirt lately. I thought it goes away when one weens- should I call the dr for the meds to make it dry up? I've tried to put David on the breast, but he bit me!:eek: This is soo annoying...

[Standrea]

Nursing-I nurse on demand as well, but it ends up being about 4 times a day.

TTC-we started in September, and went back on Metformin in November (PCOS). I don't know though, I have a really good feeling that it will happen within the next few months!! Good luck to everyone else that is TTC!!

Seperation Anxiety-I'm not too sure. We haven't left DD since our anniversary on July 26. She's pretty much always with one of us...

[kristin9903]

MrsU I stopped bf at 7 months, but my supply was so low, I was pretty much dried up then. I'd talk to your doctor.

1st birthday We'll be having a very small get together, family only. Ethan's usually either with us or MIL, so he doesn't know any kids his own age at this point.

Separation anxiety DS hasn't had this problem yet. He'll smile, coo, and flirt with anyone!

[karlatta]

I've been MIA, but things have been crazy around here. :)

TTC: Well, I'm 15 weeks pregnant, does that count? :D

1st Birthday: We are definitely going to do something, but it will be pretty low key. I'll be 7 months along when he turns one, so it will probably be at home with just friends/family. We also need to wait for our court hearing re: his adoption before we really plan too much.

Separation Anxiety: DS wants me and only me. (Occasionally he'll go to my mom, but that's it. He doesn't even want DH 90% of the time.) It's endearing, but also problematic. The worst times are when we go to visit his biological mom. He will not go to her at all, which makes things really uncomfortable for both of us. Hopefully our visits will end soon so we won't have to deal with that.

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

News! DS started crawling this week!!! We had been told by his multiple therapists that he would likely never crawl (or that he wouldn't crawl until around age 5), so this is a miracle to us! I credit an ingenious therapist who taught him how to crawl by having him start on the stairs, so that he could better understand how his body could move one leg at a time. He's still not very well-coordinated and falls on his face a lot, but it's so amazing to watch him move his little body across a room all by himself. I can't wait until his therapist comes on Tuesday and DS gets to show off!

[Pink_Converse]

karlatta-That is wonderful! I am so happy for you and your little boy. I wish my little turkey would crawl. He's LAZY!

[MMHinCA]

Karlatta - Yeah for crawling! I may have missed this but are you guys able to adopt DS? Also congrats on your pregnancy! :)

[shortcake]

Karlatta -how great about DS crawling! And congrats!

[Bloomwood]

Also...anyone know about sugar guidelines?
I gave her some apple and blueberry applesauce last night but noticed it had 12 grams of sugar in it. It was only organic apples and blueberries (with a little citric acid thrown in, I guess), so it wasn't like it was processed or white sugar. I'm going to ask the ped when I go on 2/9, but wondered if anyone had insight.

Okay, back from the ped. He basically just said to make sure it is the natural kind and there isn't anything added and then to limit how much I give her.

He also said no fish until 1 year and then only white mild fish. And, to stick with full fat everything until 2 years. I'd been giving her lowfat yogurt because that is what I buy for me.

She was 50% in head circ. and length (27in) and 50-75% in weight (19.2 lbs).

Karlatta - congrats on the crawling. I hope the adoption process goes smoothly for you...as well as the rest of your pregnancy!

[karlatta]

The Adoption - We are still waiting around to find out. We go to court every 60 days or so, but nothing changes. We likely won't know anything for sure until May, when his bio mom will probably have her hearing for termination of parental rights scheduled. It's really hard for me to think about not having him forever, but I have to keep reminding myself that it's a possibility. Man, I wish I could post pictures of him so you guys could see how adorably cute he is!

[Standrea]

http://images.google.com/images?q=tbn:S7Xwp331zUwIiM:http://image.abcaz.co.uk/productimages/168/7942056.jpg

This thing has been amazing and helped Abbie crawl forward. She was crawling backwards for over 2 months, and we gave her this thing and she went forward! I would suggest it to anyone!!

Karla-I hope the adoption goes through smoothly!

[MMHinCA]

How often are your DC drinking out of cups? What are they drinking?

DD is BF so "drinks" about 5 minutes when she wakes, 5 minutes before both naps and then 5 minutes before going to bed. I am afraid she is not getting enough fluids.

Other fun news... DD pulled herself by herself last week. Of course it was the week I was at work. My MIL saw her! I have yet to see her do it. I have seen her standing (holding on to something) but I always miss her pulling up.

[Mrs U]

I caught David sitting up by himself in his crib last night. :D

[Standrea]

Mrs U-That's funny! Abbie's been sitting up on her own for WEEKS, and I always ahve missed it. My DH always see's it, and would say it was their special thing, but I saw it yesterday-finally!!

Drinks-besides nursing for about 4 times, she drinks water out of her sippy cup with all meals. Sometimes I'll give her juice cut with water at breakfast.

[smiles33]

We're both home with bad colds (cough & congestion). Which means I can't stay long as DD LOVES my keyboard.

Quick post about her 9 month WBV: her weight has finally dropped below 90+% (but we did have the stomach flu last week so who knows if she would've been heavier).

She's 21 lbs, 29", and head is 18.11"

[Parrothead]

How often are your DC drinking out of cups? What are they drinking?-DD nurses 6x/day (going to cut to 5 tomorrow!). She also drinks water from a sippy cup at her 2 solid meals (going to 3 tomorrow) and a bit throughout the day (I have started keeping a cup around all the time, per our ped's advice). She drinks MAYBE 2oz water/day.

DD's new thing is to be standing up waiting for me in her crib when she wakes up. It's soooo funny!

[Bloomwood]

How often are your DC drinking out of cups? What are they drinking?

I give DD her sippy full of water at every meal. I moved to the nuby straw sippy and she got it right away. I am guessing she only drinks 2 oz max per day. At our ped appt, the dr said to start giving her something white (ie, BM or formula) out of the sippy everyday in anticipation of weaning from the bottle and preparing for whole milk around a year old.

development: DD is just starting to crawl on all fours, gets into sitting position, pulls up, cruises, gets into EVERYTHING (esp the dog's toy), she is waving hi and I taught her to "give me five" yesterday :p . No discernible words yet. She has four teeth - 2 top/2 bottom. She is a cuddly bundle of cuteness!

sleeping: she STTN from 7-6-ish and takes 2 naps about 1 1/2 hours each. I don't think she's ready to go to one nap.

[Standrea]

HappyFirst Valentines Day to all the little ones!

Abbie got a beautiful single Hot pink Rose from her daddy yesterday, because we are being pummilled with snow today (finally!!).

I hope everyone is having a great day!

[Pink_Converse]

H had his WBV today.

Weight: 17.5 lbs 15 percentile
Height: 28 " 50 percentile

I can't remember his head circumference. She said even though he's small he's doing well and he will crawl and all that when he's ready. He has all of the muscles he needs to do it, he's just lazy!

[Scooter]

We had the WBV yesterday, and our DC are similar sizes! DD is 17.5lbs and 26.5 in.

Also not crawling, but she's cruising instead. All she wants to do all day is have me hold her hands so she can walk around the house. And the whole time she's walking she's either screeching & giggling about it or is making "thhhbt" motor noises, so it's really funny! :D The not crawling worried me a little, but the ped said she's sure DD will eventually do it, maybe after walking.

[karlatta]

Okay, I'm at my wit's end. Is anyone else's child pulling up in the crib continuously?

I cannot get DS to go to sleep in his crib. The minutes I put him in there, he rolls over, crawls to the edge, and pulls up. Whereon he starts screaming until I come in and help him back down.

This has been going on for a week now, and I have no idea what to do about it. DS is sick, so I've been putting him in his swing for naps just to keep his head elevated, but I can't do that forever. And it doesn't work just to wait until he's asleep, because he wakes up during his nap and stands up.

[Pink_Converse]

SAHM's-What is your child's schedule? Do you have designated times to go to the park, play music, read, play with the baby on the floor, etc. each day? I feel like I don't do enough with him sometimes. I'd love to take a class with him but I don't think there are any. I need to check with the Y.

[Bloomwood]

Karlatta - hang in there! DD did this too when she first figured out how to pull up. It took her up to an hour sometimes to fall asleep. I don't think she cried though, maybe once or twice at the beginning. He'll figure out how to lay back down very soon. It's like what we went through when they learned to roll onto their bellies. I think it will take about two weeks and he'll be back to normal. I found that because we have a pretty consistent bedtime routine, she wouldn't do it at night as much as during naps when it's just diaper change/sleepsack/bottle in the glider.

Pink - here's our routine:
7 am - 9:15ish: out of bed and feed her breakfast. I sometimes eat in the LR after while we watch the Today show. After I finish breakfast, usually by 8 or so, we go for a walk to get mommy coffee and exercise the dog.
9:15 - 11 or so: she takes a nap
11/12 - 2: on Tuesdays we have playgroup; on Fridays we go to Gymboree. Somewhere in there we have lunch. If it's an off day we just play on the floor.
2-4: afternoon nap. This timing is very loose as it depends on how long her am nap was. I try to keep her up 3-3 1/2 hours before her afternoon nap. She won't sleep in the carseat or crib so I have to be home.
4: wake up and either go for another walk or play until dinner time
5:30: dinner time
6-6:35: playtime and then I start her bath
6:40-7: bedtime routine.

I don't read to her as often as I should. Maybe two books a day. One mom I know takes 5 books to the highchair and reads after breakfast for 15 minutes. We sometimes stop by the swings while on our walks and one nice day we played in the grass a bit, but really, she just can't really do much there right now. W and TH I have afternoon help but if I didn't I'd definitely be going to another class.

[Parrothead]

Schedule-We have a general framework, but no set schedule, certainly not for reading, music, floorplay, etc.

6:30am (or so) - wake up and nurse
8am - breakfast
8:30am - nurse
9am - nap (1-2 hours)
After waking, we play, run errands, go to playgroup or music class
12pm - lunch
1pm or about 3 hours from waking up - nap (1-2 hours)
Nurse upon waking or soon after
More playtime, walk, or run errands
6pm - dinner
6:30pm - bath/nurse/stories
7pm - bedtime

Right now, we have playgroup on Thurs mornings and Kindermusik on Fri mornings. We also have a sitter come for