Nov-Dec 2006 Mommies - Toddlerhood [Archive]

Nov-Dec2006Mommies

01-28-2008, 08:54 AM

Welcome November and December 2006 Mommies!
Toddlerhood: tod·dler·hood: the state or time of being a toddler; early childhood.

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e144/ellidew/wonderpets2.jpg

Baby Threads
First Edition: They're Here, Now What? The First Months (http://www.constantchatter.com/forum/showthread.php?t=28424)
Second Edition: Nov-Dec 2006 Mommies On Our Way to 1st Birthdays (http://www.constantchatter.com/forum/showthread.php?t=34402)

Moderator: ellidew PM me with questions or comments! I don't always log into the Nov-Dec2006Mommies username

November 2006 Threads
Open for posting! We're Pregnant! (http://www.constantchatter.com/forum/showthread.php?t=16429)
The 2nd Trimester (http://www.constantchatter.com/forum/showthread.php?t=19312)
The 3rd Trimester (http://www.constantchatter.com/forum/showthread.php?t=22864)
The Babies are Arriving!!! (http://www.constantchatter.com/forum/showthread.php?t=25730)

December 2006 Threads
We're in our second trimester!!! (http://www.constantchatter.com/forum/showthread.php?t=18128)
Past the halfway point! (http://www.constantchatter.com/forum/showthread.php?t=23660)
Here Come the babies! (http://www.constantchatter.com/forum/showthread.php?t=26882)

**Please post all updates in RED!! Thank you!

LIST OF CHILDREN BY BIRTHDATE:

October
10 Wesley Frederick, roberta
13 Hilary, katnbug
30 Carolina Chloe Layne, Kyrsten
30 Miranda Kimie, mimieliza

NOVEMBER:
1 Maya, mayham
2 Ian Alexander, Rubbersoul
2 Noah Benjamin, mandersald
3 Miles Charles, ellidew
5 Layla Kathryn, euphorea
8 Daria, Ilovemygeek
9 Sydney Elyce, Franni
10 Devin, catgirl1007
12 Victor Javier, civats
12 Hiro, polydctylcat
14 Katherine (Katie), Lizzie Beth
15 Kathleen Christina, Lilla
20 Mitchell, Delaney21
20 Matthew, acrane
20 Lauren, neenbean
21 Gavin, lilo
22 Molly, bijouparvin
27 Grady, rosa727
29 Benjamin Aaron, ausi2b

DECEMBER:
2 Tyler Kekoa, Rancid13
4 Elizabeth "Elise" Zoe & Corinne Victoria (twins), sophiapb
5 Finnian (Finn) Maddox, Teresita
5 Samuel Lee, mobox
6 Julia Grace and Benjamin Luke (twins), AmyE
7 Jonah, Carissa
12 Lucas Shannon ("Luke"), msnicolea
12 Brendon Sean, fms
14 Tyler, Sandy
14 Ameer, janu98
20 Trever, tinkerbelljenny
21 Joshua Adam, NJMom
21 MJ, bluebunny
22 Justin Antoine. Kimmer
22 Grace Elizabeth, Sunshine0928
30 Dominic, Pacificbliss
31 Clara, Allison78

January
4 Charlotte, katmg

Nov-Dec2006Mommies

01-28-2008, 08:54 AM

Members:

CC Name: acrane
DS Name: Matthew
Me: 34
DH: 31
Married: August 18, 2002
EDD: November 26, 2006
ADD: November 20, 2006
Time of Birth: 2:19 pm
Weight: 7 lbs 7 ozs
Length: 19.5 inches
Other Children: Andrew, who turns 3 next month!

Allison78
CC Name: Allison78
DD Name: Clara
Me: 29
DH: 31
Married: January 17, 2004
EDD: Dec. 27, 2006
ADD: Dec. 31, 2006
Time of Birth: 6:33 am
Weight: 7 lbs 5 ozs
Length: 21 inches
Other Children: Fur Children

http://www.allisonjanes.com/Clara/clarasmall.jpg

CC name: AmyE
DC names: Julia Grace and Benjamin Luke (twins)
Me: Amy, 34
DH: DH, 34
Married: 2003
EDD: 12/28/06 (40 week)
ADD: 12/06 (37 weeks - full term for twins!)
Time of birth: 3:24 and 3:25 pm
weight: 6lbs and 5 lbs 13 oz
length: 19" and 19.5"
Other DC: DS, 4/05

CC Name: ausi2b
DS Name: Benjamin Aaron
Me: 28
DH: 29
Married: August 11, 2002
EDD: November 24, 2006
ADD: November 29, 2006
Time of Birth: 3:57 pm
Weight: 7lbs 13oz
Length:21 inches
Other Children: N/A

CC Name: bijouparvin
DD Name: Molly
Me: 29
DH: 28
Married: 8/6/04
EDD: 11/17/06
ADD: 11/22/06
Time of Birth: 8:48 AM
Weight: 8lbs. 11 oz.
Length: 20"

CC Name: bluebunny
DD Name: MJ
Me: 32
DH: 33
Married: Sept. 2001
EDD: December 23
ADD: December 21
Time of Birth: 2:38 a.m.
Weight: 7 lb. 11 oz.
Length: 21 inches
Other Children: DS 2 years old

CC Name: Calla Lilly
DS Name: Jonathan
Me: 33
DH: 38
Married: August 2005
EDD: November 23, 2006
ADD: November 27, 2006
Time of Birth: 12:15 AM
Weight: 9 lbs 6.6oz
Length:19

CC Name: Carissa
DS Name: Jonah
Me: Carissa, 27
DH: Eric, 26
Married: 8/17/2002
EDD: 12/26/2006
ADD: 12/7/2006
Time of Birth: 10:04 am
Weight: 6lbs 14 oz
Length: 20"
Other Children: DD Grace ,19 months

CC Name: catgirl1007
DS Name: Devin
Me: 37
DH: 36
Married: 10/25/03
EDD: 11/9/06
ADD: 11/10/06
Weight: 8 lbs. 11 oz.
Length: 21"
Other Children: DD, 10/8/04

CC Name: Civats
DS Name: Victor Javier
Me: 34
DH: 45
Married:11/29/04
EDD: Nov 14, 2006
ADD: Nov 12, 2006
Time of Birth: 1:41 pm
Weight: 7lbs 13 oz
Length:20 inches
Other Children: none

CC Name: Delaney21
DS Name: Mitchell
Me: Jessica, 27
DH: Kyle, 28
Married: 6-14-03
EDD: 12-10-06
ADD: 11-20-06
Time of Birth: 2:41
Weight: 6lbs, 6ozs
Length: 19in

CC Name: ellidew
DS Name: Miles Charles
Me: 26
DH: 28
Married: June 1, 2002
EDD: November 7, 2006
ADD: November 3, 2006
Time of Birth: 12:03 AM
Weight: 7lbs 11oz
Length:20.75
Other Children: Furbaby, Bogart

CC Name: euphorhea
DC Name: Layla Kathryn
Me: Rhea, 29
DH: Gene, 27
Married: 06.21.03
EDD: 11.07.06
ADD: 11.05.06
Time of Birth: 4:46 pm
Weight: 6 lbs. 8 oz.
Length: 20 in.
Other Children: None

CC Name: fms
DC Name: Brendon Sean
Me: Felicia, 29
DH: Derek, 31
Married: 06/22/02
EDD: 12/16/06
ADD: 12/12/06
Time of Birth: 3:19 pm
Weight: 8 lbs. 6 oz.
Length: 21.5 in.
Other Children: Kitties: Loki and Freya

CC Name: Franni
DC Name: Sydney Elyce
Me: Franni, 37
DH: George, 31
Married: 09/21/02
EDD: 11/19/06
ADD: 11/09/06
Time of Birth: 12:24 pm
Weight: 6 lbs. 1 oz.
Length: 20 in.

CC Name: Ilovemygeek
DS Name: Daria
Me: Rachel, 24
DH: Trevor, 24
Married: June 8, 2002
EDD: November 10, 2006
ADD: November 8, 2006
Time of Birth: 6:40pm
Weight: 7lb 7oz
Length: 21in

CC Name: katmg
DD Name: Charlotte
Me: 27
DH: 31
Married: 11/08/2003
EDD: 12/31/2006
ADD: 1/04/2007
Weight: 7 lb.
Length: 19
Other Children: she's our first

CC Name: katnbug
DD Name: DD Hilary
Me: K, 37
DH: C, 32
Married: 4/26/03
EDD: 11/3/06
ADD: 10/13/06
Time of Birth: 8:49am
Weight: 7lbs
Length: 19 1/2
Other Children: DS Grayson 2yrs

CC Name: Kimmer
DS Name: Justin Antoine
Me: 31
DH: 31
Married: November 5, 2005
EDD: December 17, 2006
ADD: Devember 22, 2006
Time of Birth: 8:54 P.M.
Weight: 8lbs 5oz
Length:20

CC Name: Kyrsten
DD Name: Carolina Chloe Layne
Me: Kyrsten, 31
DH: John, 32
Married: September 22, 2001
EDD: 11/2/06
ADD: 10/30/06
Time of Birth: 1:33 p.m.
Weight: 9 pounds, 5 ounces
Length: 21 inches

CC Name: Lilla
DD Name: Kathleen Christina
Me: 31
DH: 34
Married: October 12, 2002
EDD: November 4, 2006
ADD: November 15, 2006
Time of Birth: 5:30 pm
Weight: 8 lbs 10 ozs
Length: 20.75 inches
Other Children: Two furbabies - Zeke & Nellie

CC Name: lilo
DS Name: Gavin
Me: 30
DH: 32
Married: 2002
EDD: November 24, 2006
ADD: November 21, 2006
Time of Birth: 4pm
Weight: 7lbs 4 oz
Length:20 inches
Other Children: He's our first

CC Name: Lizzie Beth
DC Name: Katherine (Katie)
Me: Beth, 32 (my birthday was yesterday)
DH: Alex, 33
Married: June 15, 02
EDD: November 21, 06
ADD: November 14, 06
Time of Birth: 10:33 pm
Weight: 7lbs, 10 ozs.
Length: I forget..
Other Children: Susannah, born December 26, 2004

CC Name: Mandersald
DS Name: Noah Benjamin
Me: Manders, 26
DH: Noah's dad, 26
Married: 8/27/04
EDD: 12/12/06
ADD: 11/2/06
Time of Birth: 1:50 am
Weight: 5lbs 14 ounces
Length: 18.5 inches
Other Children: furbabies Miles and Otto

CC Name: mayham
DC Name: Maya
Me: 29
DH: 30
Married: 2002
EDD: 11/25/06
ADD: 11/1/06
Weight: 6 lb. 6 oz.
Length: 19.5
Other Children: She's our first

CC Name: mimieliza
DD Name: Miranda Kimie
Me: Michelle, 28
DH: Reid, 30
Married: August 9, 2003
EDD: November 10, 2006
ADD: October 30, 2006
Time of Birth: 3:56 PM
Weight: 7 lbs 1 oz
Length: 19"
Other Children: Furbabies Miles (dog) and Neenah (cat)

CC Name: mobox
DS Name: Samuel Lee
Me: Mo, 36
DH: Dave, 36
Married: 6/19/04
EDD: 12/16/06
ADD: 12/5/06
Time of Birth: 5:57pm
Weight: 6-10
Length: 19.5

CC Name: Mona
DS Name: Ameer
Me: 28
DH: 31
Married:9/3/03
EDD: Dec 26, 2006
ADD: Dec 14, 2006
Time of Birth: 4:49 am
Weight: 7lbs 13 oz
Length:20.5 inches
Other Children: Our first

CC Name: msnicolea
DS Name: Lucas Shannon ("Luke")
Me: 35
DH: 34
Married: October 11, 2003
EDD: December 15, 2006
ADD: December 12, 2006
Time of Birth: 1:07pm
Weight: 8lbs 2oz
Length:20 1/2 inches
Other Children: He's our first

CC Name: neenbean
DD Name: Lauren
Me: 31
DH: 31
Married: November 15, 2003
EDD: November 30, 2006
ADD: November 20, 2006
Time of Birth: 11:53 AM
Weight: 7lbs 14oz
Length: 21.25
Other Children: DD Catherine, 3-19-05

CC Name: NJMom
DS Name: Joshua Adam
Me: Jen, 36
DH: Gary, 47
Married: 9/14/02
EDD: 12/29/06
ADD: 12/21/06
Time of Birth: 8:41 am
Weight: 8lbs 12 ounces
Length: 19 3/4 inches
Other Children: twin boys Jacob and Brayden born 2/15/05

Nov-Dec2006Mommies

01-28-2008, 08:55 AM

Members II:

CC Name: Pacificbliss
DC Name: Dominic
Me: 32
DH: 32
Married: 3/12/2004
EDD: 12/21/2006
ADD: 12/30/2006
Weight: 8 lb. 12 oz.
Length: 21
Other Children: he's our first

CC Name: polydctylcat
DS Name: Hiro
Me: Megumi, 27
DH: Joe, 29
Married: 6/8/01
EDD: 12/23/06
ADD: 12/12/06
Time of Birth: 3:55 p.m.
Weight: 6 lb. 10 oz.
Length: 19.5 oz.
Other Children: Aiko, age 4

CC Name: Rancid13
DS Name: Tyler Kekoa
Me: Jennifer, 28
DH: Sonny, 31
Married: Dec 13, 2003
EDD: Nov 30 or Dec 3, 2006
ADD: Dec 2, 2006
Time of Birth: 8:29pm
Weight: 7lbs8oz
Length: 20"
Other Children: None

CC Name: roberta
DD Name: Wesley Frederick
Me: Roberta, 28
DH: Zak, 30
Married: November 15, 2003
EDD: November 20, 2006
ADD: October 10, 2006
Time of Birth: 2:37 PM
Weight: 5 lbs 1 oz
Length: 17"
Other Children: Furbabies Barley (pug) and Sydney (Aust. shepherd)

CC Name: rosa727
DS Name: Grady
Me: Rose-Anne, 28
DH: Eric, 28
Married: July 27, 2002
EDD: December 3, 2006
ADD: November 27, 2006
Time of Birth: 12:39AM
Weight: 7 pounds, 2 ounces
Length: 21 inches

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a343/rosa727/Grady%202/IMG_3252.jpg

CC Name: RubberSoul
DS Name: Ian Alexander
Me: Ann, 30
DH: Jack, 30
Married: 10/22/05
EDD: 11/13/06
ADD: 11/2/06
Time of Birth: 9:28pm
Weight: 6lbs 50zs
Length: 19 inches
Other Children: Stepson Zach, and furbaby Hunter

CC Name: Sandy
DS Name: Tyler
Me: 28
DH: 31
Married: 6/29/02
EDD: 12/30/06
ADD: 12/14/06
Time of Birth: 1249pm
Weight: 6lb 9oz
Length: 20.5"
Other Children: None

CC Name: sophiapb
DC Name: Elizabeth "Elise" Zoe and Corinne Victoria
Me: Sophia, 39
DH: John, 33
Married: May 26, 02
EDD: December 24, 06
ADD: December 4, 06
Time of Birth: 10:49 am (Elise) & 10:51 am (Corinne)
Weight: 5 lbs 15 ounces (Elise) & 6 lbs 6 ounces (Corinne)
Length: 18 1/2 inches (Elise) & 19 inches (Corinne)
Other Children: Alexa and Alexander born May 26, 05
Alexander was stillborn but I still like to include him. Hope that's okay.

CC Name: Sunshine0928
DC Name: Grace Elizabeth
Me: Lisa, 31
DH: Keith, 34
Married: 09/28/02
EDD: 12/20/06
ADD: 12/22/06
Time of Birth: 11:38 pm
Weight: 7 lbs. 14 oz.
Length: 21 in.
Other Children: None

CC Name: Teresita
DS Name: Finnian (Finn) Maddox
Me: Terry, 34
DH: Gavin, 32
Married: 6/1/02
EDD: 12/18/06
ADD: 12/5/06
Time of Birth: 6:14 am
Weight: 7 lbs 6 oz
Length: 20.5 inches
Other Children: Mia Elise, born 7/24/04 (and two beloved dogs!)

CC Name: tinkerbelljenny
DS Name: Trever
Me: Jenny, 33
DH: Gary, 42
Married: 10/20/2002
EDD: 12/22/06
ADD: 12/20/06
Time of Birth: 6:38 AM (emergency c-section)
Weight: 9 pounds 3 oz
Length: 21 inches
Other Children: DS Tyler 7/15/03

Nov-Dec2006Mommies

01-28-2008, 08:56 AM

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Nov-Dec2006Mommies

01-28-2008, 09:02 AM

Welcome to toddlerhood!!

I can only imagine what surprises are in store for us as we travel through toddlerhood. Here's wishing for happy times full of smiles and laughter! :D Enjoy your trip!

If you'd like to update with a toddler picture please post and indicate you'd like it updated in RED! I'm going to do pictures a little differently this time and actually post them along with your member information.

Looking forward to the next year!

~Cheers!

Rancid13

01-28-2008, 04:33 PM

This calls for celery, Wonderpets! To the flyboat!!

It just so happens we're watching Wonderpets right now and I love the picture in the first post and the avatar. :D

Yay for a new thread and I CANNOT believe we have toddlers on our hands.

Calla Lilly

01-29-2008, 06:10 PM

Thanks for starting the new thread. Could you add me? Thanks!

CC Name: Calla Lilly
DS Name: Jonathan
Me: 33
DH: 38
Married: August 2005
EDD: November 23, 2006
ADD: November 27, 2006
Time of Birth: 12:15 AM
Weight: 9 lbs 6.6oz
Length:19

pacificbliss

01-30-2008, 02:43 PM

To commemorate the new toddler thread my little monkey slipped and bonked his face on the coffee table. He has a real shiner :( Poor guy he's bumped his head before but the black eye is a first.

ellidew

01-30-2008, 03:10 PM

Oh poor baby. Ds still has the cut from his collision with a coffee table and it happened on New Years Day. The black eye has finally healed. I was embarassed to take him out like people were going to think i beat him or something.

Calla Lilly- i'm getting ready to leave my office for today but i'll do updates in here tomorrow!

Rancid- I'm getting ds a wonder pets coloring book for his easter basket! He really likes the wonder pets, or maybe i like the wonder pets. He only stops playing to watch momentarily but he lights up when the songs come on. He thinks it's funny if i sing them periodically throughout the day too and the ever popular ming-ming references. I just can't help it... pupa! supa dupa! It's funny stuff. lol :D

AmyE

01-31-2008, 10:12 PM

Julia took her first steps on Sunday, and Ben is sometimes standing unsupported.

SO yesterday when I was travelling for business I saw these adorable outfits that had little bells as buttons. 3 dollars each, so I bought one for each twin. What could be more perfect than bells in a toddler? You'd always know when they managed to get the bathroom door open...now if only I had bought them a size bigger. Turns out my kidlets are not as small as I think they are, and can wear their new bells for maybe today. And perhaps again this week, but that's it. :rolleyes: Guess I have to go back and get new ones! I keep thinking they are still babies, but obviously not!

Calla Lilly

01-31-2008, 11:49 PM

Thanks, Ellidew!

No black eye yet, but with all of the bumps I am sure that is coming. Especially since ds is starting to climb more and more. For example, he prefers to walk up a slide to going down it.

I love reading about what all of our "toddlers" are doing, because it gives me ideas on what to work on with ds. Per Rosa's post I started doing body parts and it is amazing how quickly they catch on to things now. Ellidew inspired me to get out the blocks and I was surprised to find that ds could stack 3. Any suggestions on animal sounds? DS loves dogs and will bark if you ask what a dog says (or if you just mention anything about dogs or barking). He also will sssss if you ask him what a snake says or roar if you ask about a lion. Any other suggestions? He isn't catching on to Moo, Baa or Meow. He also will pick up his dinosaur and roar. I love watching the little wheels turn. I am definately seeing him as a toddler instead of a baby.

I have also noticed he is starting to get more into music. If I sing Row Row Row your boat he will sing (okay say) Row Row Row. I also noticed him making noises that sounded like his nightime cd (which the poor kid has been listening to since he was 8 mos). I am by no means a musical person, so I am going to make more of an effort to make certain he is around music each day.

I am also trying to do more art work with him. DS is in daycare 3 days a week and has been coming home with some great artwork, and they say he loves doing artwork. This week I started doing water colors with him. I am also going to get some big stampers for him. Has anyone figured out a non messy way to do finger painting? Not possible?

DS has also finally started to let me read to him. Mainly this happens when I nurse him at night or before a nap. He loves to play with books (especially to pull them off bookshelves), but the other day he actually brought a book to me to read. Of course that only lasted for a few pages before he took the book back and went on his way.

I am also starting to work on him helping to pick up his toys. I have a basket of balls that I am getting him to put in the basket. He likes to knock over the basket once he is done, so the balls spill out...but I figure it is a start. He loves putting the ball in the basket so we can cheer for him. I love that he does something, and then looks up looking for the cheers and clapping (and then will happily join in).

Yay for Julia taking her first steps! Sounds like Ben will be right behind her!

ellidew

02-01-2008, 08:58 AM

We're snowed in today! Dh took our 4 wheel drive vehicle to get to work so we're dancing around the house and being incredibly silly. This morning while i cut veggies for stew i gave miles a bunch of reddi whip on his high chair tray to play with and he kept calling them bubbles, eating them, and saying 'yummy' lol. It was cute to watch! I got a little on video but the battery was dying so i put the camera on the charger if i get it uploaded today i'll share!

mobox

02-03-2008, 09:51 PM

Samuel has been taking a couple steps at a time. Max, 2. He so isn't interested in walking yet. It's kind of funny. My doc said the fastest crawlers sometimes walk really late. He is FAST on his hands and knees.

But he's **this** close!

Did anyone notice a change in behavior, sleeping, etc when their DC started walking? I've noticed some marked changes in Sam's behavior.

rosa727

02-04-2008, 08:30 AM

ellidew

02-04-2008, 09:19 AM

I have two questions for y'all...

1. I think many of your DC are down to one nap per day. If so, how long after getting up for the day do they go down? G goes down about 4 hours later (around 11:30). He seems to need to go down that early (or earlier). But he only naps about 1.5 hours, so he is beat by bedtime (7PM). But he WILL NOT take 2 naps. What am I missing? Does he just need to nap longer? Should I hold off putting him down and risk him getting overtired? What do you all do? How long do your kids nap?

2. spoon feeding - G still lets me spoon feed him, but I know he is going to start resisting. He eats tons of things with his fingers, but I don't think he is really ready for a spoon on his own. Does anyone have suggestions for this in-between time? Just feed finger foods? Let him go crazy with the spoon? Keep spoon-feeding him?

Hey rosa.

Miles only takes 1 nap per day and goes down at the same time as Grady. The school (only goes on Thursdays) feeds him lunch at 11 and then he takes a nap at 11:30. At home we sometimes put him down before lunch and feed him when he wakes up. He sleeps 1.5-3 hours. Over the weekend he slept nearly 3 hours on Saturday and 2 on Sunday. Keeping him up past 7 is a challenge a lot of days. We try to push off bath time until 7:30. We also don't eat until close to 7 so it's the last thing we do before bath time. I used to think this was weird but i've asked around and apparently it's fairly common. I personally think it rocks that we get a mid morning break (last friday i spent my time cleaning the house but sometimes i just sit and veg!) and then he goes to bed early enough that dh and i get some alone time.

Miles feeds himself almost entirely now. Sometimes he hands the spoon to me to put something on it and then he puts it to his mouth and then to dh, back to me, and so on. It's cute. I'd say give him a combo of finger foods and spoon foods and let him go crazy and help him by spoon feeding him too. I spent a lot of time having Miles hold the spoon and then holding my hand over his and scooping up food and then bringing the food to his mouth. It didn't take long for him to catch on. That being said, he still fistfuls broccoli, peas, and green beans into his mouth! lol.

But he's **this** close!

Did anyone notice a change in behavior, sleeping, etc when their DC started walking? I've noticed some marked changes in Sam's behavior.

Almost there! I didn't notice a change in Miles behavior but my sisters daughter stopped sleeping through the night until a couple of months after she started walking. The ped told them that sometimes a childs mind get preoccupied with what it could be doing that it just runs wild. Kind of like me when i have too many projects started and nothing finished!

Julia took her first steps on Sunday, and Ben is sometimes standing unsupported.

Yay! They'll both be walking before you know it! What a shame about the outfits! I CANNOT judge clothes by just looking at them. I don't have an eye for it. I bought a shirt from gymboree one day with my mom and i thought it looked small and she said it looked big. She was right. It fits but it's a little long in the sleeves and length wise.

rosa727

02-04-2008, 09:41 AM

ellidew: Thanks for the input! G naps 2-3 hours occasionally, but it is usually about 1.5. He gets 12.5-13 hours of sleep at night, so I know his overall total is plenty, but I feel like he struggles to get through the day with a 1.5 hour nap. Though I don't think there is much I can do to extend it.

I probably need to let him experiment with the spoon more!

Rancid13

02-04-2008, 10:47 AM

Ellidew~ Tyler had a black eye on his birthday. I told people he got in a hockey fight and said "you should see the other guy". Either that or I told them I beat him (only to friends/family members who would understand that I was joking, though). We got into Wonder Pets from my niece who loved them a couple years ago and loves singing the "teamwork" song. Tyler's mesmerized by them and by the singing.

AmyE~ Yay for Julia walking! I'm sure Ben will follow in her footsteps shortly. ;)

Rosa~ Such a cute pic and video of Grady! It looks like the climber was a big hit!

Mobox~ I can't believe Sam is starting to take steps! That's awesome! He'll be walking before you know it!

Naps~ Tyler is still taking 2 naps a day 5-6 days a week. The other 1-2 days he'll take only a morning nap. The weekend before last he was taking 5-6 hours worth of naps each day even after sleeping 12 hours at night. I think we're just tiring him out with all our playing.

No walking yet, just lots of cruising using ANYthing, lots of speed-crawling and on occasion testing out his balance using no hands to hold onto anything.

I gave him dinner one night last week, and was getting his bath prepped, and kept hearing him banging on his tray and laughing hysterically. I came out to see what was so funny. When he banged on his tray, his food (rice, beans, peas) bounced around and he got a kick out of it.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v432/rancid13/th_Tyler2-4-08012.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v432/rancid13/?action=view&current=Tyler2-4-08012.flv)

Tyler spends 3 days a week with his 3yo cousin at my mom's house and she's fascinated with racing. She makes my mom say "1-2-3-GO!" and then will race from one end of the house to the other. Tyler got into it and will say "Gaaaaah!" after the 1-2-3.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v432/rancid13/th_Tyler2-4-08075.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v432/rancid13/?action=view&current=Tyler2-4-08075.flv)

Being silly with his board book...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v432/rancid13/Tyler2-4-08019.jpg

Last week we went to the Discovery Science Center and he had a BLAST pushing buttons, playing with things, and crawling & cruising around. We'll definitely be going back again.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v432/rancid13/2-4-08006.jpg

Getting into trouble...er...our candy drawer
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v432/rancid13/Tyler%202008/1-11-08013.jpg

sunshine0928

02-04-2008, 04:58 PM

Rancid - that video with him laughing was so cute! It's funny the things they find amusing.

naps- At DC, Grace will only take 1 nap that lasts 2-3 hours. She goes down after they eat lunch around 11:30. I have tried to tell them to put her down for more but they can't..they say all the parents say the same thing. There is probably too much action/excitement with the kids playing in her room. At home, I usually am successful in getting her to take 2 naps. She still goes to bed during the week by 7 and on the weekend typically by 7:30.

Feeding - She mostly wants to hand feed herself except for yogurt which she still allows us to feed her. I have tried a few time with teaching her the spoon but I just need to be consistent and kepp trying.

walking - G can do about 8-10 steps and then gives in and crawls. The lightbulb I am sure will go on soon that she should walk all the time. We'll see.

We started Kindermusik 2 weekends ago. She is not super intrested yet but everyone is very nice. I think she has been tired and has fallen asleep both times on the way home. Class is at 9:15, I guess I bore her :) At DC, she is still playing at that time as I just wrote. On Friday, she was diagnosed with another double ear infection. That totally explained why she would wake up screaming in the middle of the night. She is back to sleeping well, thank goodness! One of the other kids in her class had a seizure last week at DC...she had a high fever and a double ear infection. As soon as I heard that story, I decided to take G to the Dr. Sometimes I feel like I go too often but I need to stop thinking that as my hunch is usually right on.

pacificbliss

02-05-2008, 11:04 AM

Grrr, photobucket is down so I can't see any of the videos right now. All the pictures are cute though!

naps D takes one nap that starts at 12:00 or so and sleeps until anywhere from 1:30-3:00. He generally goes down about 8:00 PM and wakes up between 6:00 and 7:00.

rosa727

02-05-2008, 03:00 PM

OK, so what the heck am I doing wrong with naps? What can I do to help him sleep longer? There has to be SOMETHING I can try! Though I do wonder whether it is just going to be shorter since he sleeps 12.5 hours at night. Many of the babies that take long naps sleep only 10-11 hours at night. I know some of you have super-sleepers, but I don't think that's the norm (to sleep 12 at night and then take a 3 hour nap during the day).

The cutest thing happened today. I was giving Grady a massage, and when I leaned down to kiss him, he grabbed my face with both hands and kissed me right on the lips! He actually puckered up too! Then he kept doing it - liek pushing my face away and pulling it back to kiss me again. It was so cute.

Oh, I wanted to share another video. Grady is pointing out his body parts in the tub. I was really happy to get it on video.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a343/rosa727/Grady%202/th_MVI_3244mpg-edited-tubby.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/albums/a343/rosa727/Grady%202/?action=view&current=MVI_3244mpg-edited-tubby.flv)

Rancid: Those videos are hilarious! The one of him laughing is SO cute. What a cute laugh he has!

ausi2b

02-06-2008, 07:23 AM

Rosa - remind me again what Grady is doing with his naps? Ben is sleeping about 12 hours at night and has switched to 1 nap recently. He gets up around 7ish and takes a nap right after lunch. Sometimes I get 1.5 hours, sometimes I get 2.5-3. I figure that the kid needs about 13.5-14 hours of sleep each day/night right now. So if he only takes a 1 hour nap, I try to put him down earlier that night. So far it works for us. Also, I've found that he might wake up from a nap at 1 hour, and I'll let him cry for a few minutes and he'll re-settle in his nap. If he cries and doesn't stop, I'll put him on the couch with me, turn on some cartoons or something, and let him lay with me for the remainder of his "nap" time, be it 20-30 minutes. Hope that helps.

mobox

02-06-2008, 07:29 AM

At DC, Grace will only take 1 nap that lasts 2-3 hours. She goes down after they eat lunch around 11:30. I have tried to tell them to put her down for more but they can't..they say all the parents say the same thing. There is probably too much action/excitement with the kids playing in her room. At home, I usually am successful in getting her to take 2 naps. She still goes to bed during the week by 7 and on the weekend typically by 7:30.

This is us EXACTLY! Sam takes two naps on the weekends. First at 10am, lunch at 12:00, second nap at 2. But at DC, he takes one 2 hour nap at about 12:30.

RubberSoul

02-07-2008, 10:05 AM

It has been quite a while since I have had a chance to post, but I have been doing my best to read and follow along!

Ian is doing great now that he is over his illness. He had Roseola last week and that was actually quite scary because we didn't know what was going on for several days. He just developed a super high fever out of the blue, but no other symptoms. One night his fever shot up to 105.1 and we had to make a trip to the ER. After his fever broke he developed the rash and had puffy eyes. We went to our Pediatrician when the fever started, but he never mentioned Roseola as a possibility. I have asked around and most of my friends with kids have never heard of it. Anyway, the poor kid was feeling pretty rotten for a while and we weren't getting much sleep with his fever so high at night. We are all happy to have things back to normal!

Walking - Ian is a champ now and has started running too. Bumps and bruises are pretty common now. His first real injury was on his first birthday. He fell into some wire shelves and got a cut just above his eye. He has a scar now that hopefully will go away over time.

Food - He has become super picky about everything. Trying to get him to eat is a major challenge. What he eats one day, he won't eat the next. It is a constant guessing game of what he will eat that day. It was really bad when he was sick. He wouldn't even eat our fall back foods like, cheese on toast or fruit. He used to be a great eater, but not anymore. He isn't using a spoon much but we give him one during meals and he attemps to use it.

Naps - Still taking two naps a day and he is 15 months. He goes down for the first one around 9:30-10 and will sleep 1-2 hours and takes the second one around 3:30-4 and will sleep 1-2 hours. At night he goes to bed around 7:30 and sleeps till about 7 or 7:30.

Talking - Vocabulary is really starting to take off. He says: mama, dada, car, dog, cracker, papa(grandpa), juice and some others I can't think of. He is also doing more signs now too. When we say car he starts driving a really big steering wheel in the air, it is so cute.

Sounds and body parts - He knows mouth, nose, ears, toes, belly and head. He will also make sounds for his cars and animals. He knows the sound for dog, cat and cow.

~~~~~~~~~

Good to hear that everyone is doing well. All the pictures are cute!!

Rosa - I can't believe the amount of teeth Grady has. That is just incredible.

rosa727

02-07-2008, 10:20 AM

ausi2b: Grady is taking about a 1.5 hour nap, sometimes a bit less. He sleeps from 7-7:30ish most days, so that's a total of 14 hours. Maybe he just doesn't need a longer nap? It just seems everyone on here has super nappers. Though everyone I talk to IRL seems to have a terrible napper and I end up feeling like he's a good napper.

RubberSoul: Grady is going through a picky stage too. He used to love everything. Now he is doing the thing where each day is different - who knows what he will like today?

Yeah, he has all of his teeth! Well, not his 2 year molars, but let's hope those hold off for a bit!

AmyE

02-08-2008, 03:46 AM

Naaahh. the twins are great nappers either. Ben will nap for 1.5 to 2 hours in the late morning, but that's it for the day. He is "sleeping" from about 6:30 to 6ish in the morning, usually with one wakeup.

Julia takes two naps but usually for only an hour. Or, longer in the morning but only 30 mins in the afternoon. Also sleeping for about 12hours at night. Soo, not bad sleepers overall, in total hours.

DS1 though would take a 2 2-hour naps until he was close to 2, then he would sleep for 3 hours in midafternoon. I sure miss those days....

mobox

02-10-2008, 01:59 PM

We are definitely well on our way to walking over here. Sam has started taking more and more steps as he gains confidence. He still prefers to crawl though. and we have our fist major climbing/walking incident. He fell onto the edge of a table at my brother's house and now he has this huge purple bruise on his cheek. I have NEVER heard him cry quite as hard.:(

Allison78

02-11-2008, 10:31 AM

CC Name: Allison78
DD Name: Clara
Me: 29
DH: 31
Married: January 17, 2004
EDD: Dec. 27, 2006
ADD: Dec. 31, 2006
Time of Birth: 6:33 am
Weight: 7 lbs 5 ozs
Length: 21 inches
Other Children: Fur Children

Here's a pic of Ms. Clara:
http://www.allisonjanes.com/Clara/clarasmall.jpg

We haven't been around much as C has too much to do to let me be on the computer but now that I'm back at work, I hope to post more! Love to hear about all the babies who are now toddlers!!

C is not walking yet b/c crawling is just so much easier!! She says "Mama", "Daddy", "Ellie" (our dog), "dat" (light), "bop" (pot), "Umpa" (grandpa) and she shakes her head no, nods yes and points to food, drink and bed if she wants any of those things.

:) Allison

AmyE

02-13-2008, 06:56 AM

Welcome Allison (and Clara - what a cutie!)

Nov-Dec2006Mommies

02-13-2008, 07:48 AM

Welcome Allison78!

mobox

02-19-2008, 10:42 PM

Hey! I have a walker on my hands. He started taking steps about 2-3 weeks ago and has now progressed to full on walking, although he still loves to crawl too.

rosa727

02-20-2008, 03:54 AM

YAAAAAY Sam!

ellidew

02-20-2008, 06:40 AM

Mobox - YAY! Walking is WAY better than crawling. I found that hand holding while walking has taken a little practice though. :)

mobox

02-22-2008, 03:41 PM

I would say he's 50-50 right now with walking and crawling. He's still very wobbly but he takes more and more steps in a row each day. He's the king of falling down though...he's taken it to the cheek, chin, and forhead already!

rosa727

02-23-2008, 05:48 AM

Yeah, I don't understand why people dread walking. To me it is way better than crawling. You can actually take them places and not worry about their face and hands being all over the ground. Grady was a SUPER fast crawler and could pull up on anything, so he got into just as much. It was a relief when he started walking. But yeah, he's not big on hand-holding either. He does the "shoulder drop" and shakes his hand free :p

Ilovemygeek

02-23-2008, 05:42 PM

I have been awful about posting, but I am still following along. Daria seems so grown up these days. I am loving how much she can interact and she seems to be the opposite of most of the kiddos in this group, she loves holding hands! If I am having trouble getting her to cooperate, I just ask her to hold my hand while we clean up, walk to the door, etc. It's great!

Here she is with her favorite toy of the moment:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3018/2287415066_82656e6822.jpg

In her ball pit/bouncer she got for Christmas from her Aunt and Uncle:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3154/2287414596_6107cf2af5.jpg

I just think she looks so sweet and innocent (ha!) here:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3181/2286626079_c711d82a30.jpg

mobox

02-24-2008, 09:06 AM

Cute photos of DAria!

pacificbliss

02-24-2008, 11:17 AM

Walking here too. He just started this week. He's a little wobbly but can cross a room :)

pacificbliss

03-06-2008, 03:50 PM

Dominic has been busy trying to assign words to everything. Most of them make no sense but a few are very clear: Mommy, Daddy, dog, bye-bye, hi and uh-oh are all used appropriately. He takes some creative license though. For example, all dogs and bears are dogs and Daddy and all monkeys are daddy. So funny.

rosa727

03-06-2008, 06:17 PM

talking:We have had lots of talking around here too. I don't know whether I just wasn't understanding him before or whether he just started talking a lot out of the blue, but Grady went from saying about 2 words to saying more than I can count. His big ones are mama, dada, bye bye, hi, ball, bubbles, uh oh, moo, cocka doodle doo, baa, woof, meow, ear, eye, up, go, and he will also repeat just about anything I say (or try to). It's also funny because he tries to impersonate every sound he hears - cars, phone ringing, birds, etc. But he doesn't necessarily know to go "ring ring" for a phone, so instead he will just make this high-pitched sound, which is actually more realistic.

sleep:I feel like I should knock wood before saying this, but Grady's sleep has really fallen into a nice pattern of 7-7 at night (STTN consistently) and a 1.5-2 hour nap each day. I finally feel rested and like we have a nice little routine going

hugging: He is big on hugging right now, especially little girls. It's really cute because he will meet a baby girl at the park or something and smile and throw his arms around her :)

15 month WBV: 32" (75th percentile) and 23 pounds (25th percentile). He had a bunch of shots because we moved and this doctor wanted to catch him up on a few things they like to give. He did SO well with them and actually clapped when they were over. Not sure what that was about!

dancing: The boy LOOOVES music still and loves to get his groove on. At the mall he will start rocking out when we walk by Abercrombie or Hollister. He also sings (la la la) along and can sign "music".

mobox

03-07-2008, 10:45 AM

Man, I gotta get the signing DVD. We have a book but it's not very big. I think I will do that this weekend.

Samuel had his 15 mo WBV. He got prevnar and polio shots but has reacted badly and has had a fever for two days. It's pretty scary but we're just trying to get through.

He is 33" and 25.13 pounds. Big boy! 95th and 75 percentile. He is walking all the time but is still very wobbly. He talks a lot, but mostly just mimicry. He says certain things on his own, especially dada, dig (dog), up, down, duck, quack, coco (the dog at day care). Hi and bye sometimes. Loves to make sounds, much like Grady. Airplane noises and singing like la-la-la. It fun!

Hope all is well with everyone, would love to see some new pics!

rosa727

03-07-2008, 11:14 AM

mobox: I am so sorry to hear Samuel isn't feeling well. I hope he starts doing better soon. I can't remember off the top of my head, but there was one shot (at 9 months, I think) that made Grady miserable - fever, super cranky, etc.

I would like to get the signing DVDs too. We just use the book, but now that Grady actually does some signs, I am more excited and would like to try the DVD. Although G will barely watch TV, so that could be a problem.

Oh, and Sam IS big! I thought G was tall at 32 inches - WOW!

milk: I forgot to mention before that G has transitioned to regular whole milk now and is doing very well with it. He seems to like it better than the toddler formula and isn't having any tummy troubles. We waited until 15 months because of his past reflux issues that we thought were tied to dairy intolerance.

BTW, once you go to regular milk, you need to add a multi-vitamin drop, right? I forgot to discuss it with the pediatrician at his recent visit. I guess I should call, but I just wanted to see what you all were doing for that.

Oh, and why would I ever not post a picture? :p

Here is G - in his favorite place in the world - the tub!

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a343/rosa727/Grady%202/IMG_3369.jpg

his fake "hamming it up" smile:

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a343/rosa727/Grady%202/IMG_3372.jpg

He's SUCH a character!

AmyE

03-16-2008, 05:43 AM

Rosa - cute pics!

Lemme see...news from our house: Julia decided last week that she prefers walking to crawling, so now she's toddling everywhere. Yeah! (silly me - my first thought was that I can finally put her in some cute dresses, since the hems won't get in the way of crawling anymore....just in time for Easter!)

Ben COULD probably walk, but he is still Lazy Ben and hasn't taken his first steps yet. He's a champion cruiser, can stand on his own to examine a toy with both hands, and will sometimes walk if you hold his hands. But only when he's in the mood. Otherwise, he'll just crawl or hold his hands in the air to be picked up, then point in the direction he wishes to be carried by his staff...sigh.

Ben also had conjunctivitis, courtesy of his big brother. Fortunately for us, it's the bacterial kind, which will clear up in a couple of days with the drops. Last year the family went through a round of the viral conj, which is way worse 'cause there isn't much you can do, and DH is STILL putting steroid drops in his eyes, 8 months later!!:eek:

Julia is also teething -molars are coming in, so my "good sleeper" isn't STTN this week. Not surprisingly, she wakes up just as the last round of motrin has worn off- seems like to the minute from the last scheduled dose. OTOH, Ben has finally decided to STTN, so at least one baby is still down.

Ben has also pretty much weaned at this point - I won't be surprised if our last nursing session was actually a couple of days ago. Julia is still pretty needy when I'm around, but with the teething, I'm not going to push it. I'd like them both weaned in April though, so not much longer.

Now if only I could make myself get rid of those pacifiers and bottles....

mobox

03-20-2008, 07:36 PM

Yes, I too must get rid of the pacifier soon. Sam only gets it for naps and night but I do want to ween him of it soon.

My pede has never said anything about vitamin drops. If he's eating lots of fruits and veg, I think he's fine.

Allison78

03-25-2008, 09:57 AM

Clara is doing well at almost 15 months. She's a hilarious little thing that makes us howl with laughter daily. Here's where she's at:

walking - NOPE! Sounds like she's a lot like Ben. She definitely *could* walk. She cruises around with her walker like a pro or even with you just holding one hand but she'd much rather crawl or be transported. :rolleyes:

talking - TONNES! She says so much. doggie, kitty, mama, dada, ball, baby, grampa, gramma, book and her newest "OH MAN!" HA! I said it the other day when I saw something worth exclaiming over and she copied me. Now she says it all the time and we howl.

weaning - Yup. She self-weaned about 2 weeks ago. We had gotten down to just the morning feed (she had voluntarily given up the evening) and then one morning she was just like "Nope!" She was done. That was easy!!

sleeping - SHE STTN!!! FINALLY! After a horrific year, sleep wise, she finally sleeps like an angel. 12 hours, no waking. We are in heaven, paradise, bliss. She literally did not sleep for more than 2 hours at a time for the first 12 months so we are going to enjoy this as long as it lasts!!

She loves to hug (especially the pets). Whenever she hugs she always says "Awwwww" b/c that's what we'd say whenever she hugged us. It's so cute. She will give kisses (open mouth, of course) if she's in the mood (also accompanied by "Awwwww"). She dances and will say "Dance Dance Dance" pronounced "Da Da Da" while doing it. She also makes her stuffed animals dance, while saying "Da Da Da". She waves and claps and points. She smiles constantly, though not for the camera.

There is so much more that I can't remember. Here are 2 recent pics:

A Black & White I took recently
http://www.allisonjanes.com/Clara/clarabwdesktop.jpg

A beautiful picture my friend took (that's me all fuzzy in the background)
http://www.allisonjanes.com/Clara/CRW_7146desktop.jpg

Teresita

04-01-2008, 12:42 PM

I haven't been here in ages! I love seeing pictures of all your little ones--they are so cute!

Finn is doing great. He's full of energy, personality, and just lots of fun. I love this age--so much exploring and learning happening all the time, but it is exhausting, too!

Walking Finn's been walking/running for a couple of months now. He is a fast little bugger. He loves to try to run away from me at the park and then looks over his shoulder at me and laughs like it is all a big game. He can do a very small step/stair on his own, but still needs me to hold his hand for normal-size steps.

Talking A ton! Much more than my DD did at the same age. He also loves to make animal sounds, his favorites of which are "Moo!" "Neigh!" and "Meow"! His favorite word by far is "Mama." :)

Sleeping Not great, but better. He still isn't STTN, but he is down to (on average) 2 wakeups a night. Of course, he seems to sense when DH is out of town for work, and then he takes advantage and wakes up almost every hour.:rolleyes:

Weaning Not even close. He still nurses about 6 times in a 24-hour period. He does drink cow's milk from a sippy as well, but he sees the two as very different. When he wants to nurse and I offer the sippy, he looks at me like I am on crack, knocks away the sippy, and says emphatically "MAMA!" I am not interested in weaning yet, but I am thinking about how to set some limits since he is so into nursing, and I'd like him to understand that I am not a 24/7 all-hours cafe.

Hugs Finn is so into hugs I just love it. When I am in the kitchen cooking or washing dishes, I will feel his arms around my legs and his head burrowing into my calves and it melts my heart.

No Fear Anyone else's kid have no fear and no understanding of gravity?:) I swear Finn is always climbing things (chairs, stereo components, the dog, etc.) and then launching himself off them. Scares the crap out of me!

Separation Anxiety Anyone else dealing with this? Finn freaks out when I leave him, even if he is just with DH in the living room while I cook in the kitchen. It's especially bad when the babysitter shows up. Finn knows that means I am going into my office to work, so he grabs hold of me and screams "Mamaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa." It kills me. I know it is normal, but he will often cry for a while after the sitter gets here and it is so hard to have to sit at my desk and hear it and not feel incredibly guilty.

We were at the doctors twice last week. The first was for what I thought was a cold, but the doctor said he thought it was seasonal allergies (hay fever), so now Finn is on allergy meds. The second visit was because I noticed a hard lump on the back of his head (and yes, I totally freaked myself out looking things up online the night before--I was so, so scared it might be something serious). Turned out it was just a swollen lymph node and is apparently relatively common in toddlers. Finn weighed in at 26 lbs 3 oz.

It's pretty much impossible to get a decent picture of him lately since he never stops moving, but here's a recent photo of him at the park:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2344/2381071674_bb85a1d4ce.jpg?v=0

rosa727

04-01-2008, 02:45 PM

Teresita: Finn is a doll! And he sounds a lot like Grady with the never ending running around. Wow - they sure can tire you out, can't they?

pacificbliss

04-15-2008, 04:07 PM

I'm a little late with this since the appointment was on the 1st but here are D's 15 month WBV stats:

Height: 32.5 inches
Weight: 25 lbs
Head: 19.5 inches

I hope everyone is doing well.

rosa727

04-16-2008, 08:53 AM

We need to keep this thread going here!

Things are good with us - LOTS of talking now - about 50ish words on a regular basis, I would say. It is so much fun!

Here are a couple recent pictures...

At the Southern Kids Fest this weekend:

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a343/rosa727/Grady%202/IMG_3656.jpg

He loves flowers and actually made up his own sign for them!

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a343/rosa727/Grady%202/P3210069.jpg

Easter morning:

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a343/rosa727/Grady%202/IMG_3558.jpg

I want to see everyone else's recent photos!

mobox

04-18-2008, 09:48 AM

We went on an 8 hour road trip to Arizona for Spring Break. It was a lot better than I expected. Sam was such a trooper! He did great on the car ride and slept like his normal self. So, in that sense, it was a total success.

A couple shots:

http://whitmanclan.smugmug.com/photos/279945462_n2rWc-L.jpg
http://whitmanclan.smugmug.com/photos/279945427_4K8Dw-L.jpg
http://whitmanclan.smugmug.com/photos/279945530_fKH6a-L.jpg

pacificbliss

04-24-2008, 04:34 PM

We had this discussion before but it's been a while.

Anyone else thinking of having another one?

I think we're almost all through the point where we would have two under two. I'm starting to seriously think about it. I think it will take me a while to convince DH. I don't know what I'd do about work since I have been traveling a lot. Still, I've been thinking about it.

Rancid13

04-24-2008, 05:49 PM

AmyE

04-24-2008, 06:43 PM

We have a 3 year old, and our twins are now 16 months. We'd planned for two kids, got 3 with our "bonus baby," so we are definitely DONE. Especially since for awhile we had 3 under age two, and only just last week got out from the "3 under 3" stage. Whoo hooo! It's so nice to have 3 toddlers.

We taught the twins to play Ring around the Rosie last night. sooooo cute. They LOVED the falling down part. Although Ben is too enthusiastic and will bang his head on the floor if you don't slow down his drop....

sunshine0928

04-25-2008, 05:39 PM

Yes, we definitely want another one...hopefully soon :) We took a trip to SF a few weeks ago and G did very well on the trip. Here are some recent pictures.

Butterfly show here last weekend
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k207/sunshine0928/April2008026.jpg

SF - Discovery Museum
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k207/sunshine0928/SFTripandlateMarch059.jpg

She's really not sleeping..just snuggling with our doggy. She loves her!
http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k207/sunshine0928/April2008001.jpg

rosa727

04-25-2008, 06:22 PM

sunshine: CUTE pictures!

future children: We definitely want more - 1 or 2. But the timing of it is up in the air. I like the idea of about 3 years between Grady and #2, so that would mean TTC next summer. I am not sure whether DH will be ready. But I'm not even 30, so I figure I have time, and I never had any real concern over the spacing of my kids. However it happens is fine with me. Sometimes siblings close in age don't get along and those farther do, so you never know. I would just like Grady to be a bit more independent before TTC again. And if #2 is easier than Grady (no reflux - not SUPER SUPER active) maybe there will be a #3 :) I would love even more but I KNOW DH would not agree, and I am not sure that I would be good at juggling that many. I get too stressed. Large families are better for laid-back people, I think :p

mobox

04-25-2008, 10:10 PM

WE are still up in the air with having another because of our age, but we are tilting toward trying very soon if we are going to go for it.

AmyE

04-26-2008, 06:57 PM

Ben walked! (I've been complaining about his laziness for so long, I figured I should update!) He took a few unsupported steps from DH to the high chair this morning when he was asking for breakfast. yeah! Granted, it will be awhile before he's mostly walking, I know, but at least he's making progress! the little guy is super steady when walking holding one of our hands, he's just been reluctant to let go of his safety net.

Finally!

Ilovemygeek

04-26-2008, 09:02 PM

Future Children We are thinking we want our next one around December 11, 2008. ;) I always wanted to have my kids fairly close together and Daria will be 25 months when the new baby arrives. I think that is just right for us.

Any other moms having trouble trying to figure out what style to cut their girl's hair? Daria's is getting long in the back, but is shorter in the front. I don't want her to have bangs and I want to grow it long so I am just letting it grow for now, but I am not too thrilled with the overall look.

Here a close up of my avatar
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3055/2438208418_e2d3e8fb2c_o.jpg

sunshine0928

04-27-2008, 05:05 PM

Ilovemygeek - Daria's hair looks just like Grace's. I don't want bangs either so for now, I am just letting it grow. The back is getting long. I haven't decided if I will get it evened out or just let it grow. Daria is a cutie! Congrats on your December present!

Teresita

04-27-2008, 08:01 PM

Rosa I am sure you are aware of this, but Grady has the most incredible smile. It lights up his whole face! I think that is so cool that he made up his own sign for flower—isn’t it amazing how quick their little minds put things together? BTW, Finn has that same shirt Grady is wearing in the flower picture—so cute for the summer!

Mobox That’s great Sam is such a good traveler. My DD is a good traveler and it makes a world of difference. (Finn not so much, but I am hoping that will get better!) Sam’s eye color is amazing—are they blue or green? Or a mix? It’s hard for me to tell from the photos, but whatever they are, they are really stunning.

Sunshine Great pictures, especially the one with the dog!

AmyE Yay for Ben walking…let the games begin!

Ilovemygeek I think Daria’s hair looks cute. I never did bangs with DD…although for that matter, I have never even cut even a tiny bit of my DD’s hair and she is 3.5 years old! I just can’t bring myself to do it. She has the most amazing ringlet curls and I can’t bear to see them cut.

Future Children We are most likely done with 2. My DH feels completely content with this. My feelings are a little more mixed. I am completely thrilled to have two healthy children, and in some ways I am ready to be done—to have more time to pursue my own interests (i.e., read a non-child related book somewhere other than on the toilet), spend more time with DH, do some traveling and all the other things that have sort of fallen by the wayside during this intensive infant/toddler/preschooler stage. But, on the other hand, I feel real sadness when I think about never being pregnant again, never giving birth again, never holding my own newborn child…the other night I told DH that if money were no issue, then I would love to have four children. He of course looked at me like I’d lost my mind. I know that given where we live (expensive area of the country) and our hopes concerning college savings, etc., two children is what is best for us right now.

This has been a rough week in our household. Finn and I came down with an awful cold/flu. The doctor said he doesn’t have an ear infection, no fever, etc., it’s just a bad cold. It’s totally sapped all his energy. He is normally go, go, go all the time, but this week he has been so out of it and he has next to no appetite, which is strange for him. I just feel awful for him and can’t wait for him (and me) to get better. He had his 15-month well check this week and is right around average for height, bigger side of average for weight, and a huge head like his Dad and sister. Today an acquaintance of mine met Finn for the first time and the first words out of her mouth were “Look at the melon on that kid!” I decided to skip the shots this visit since he was so sick. I’ll do some of them when he is over this cold, and then MMR we’ll delay (after he is 2 or older). I swear I find the whole vaccine thing to be the most difficult of all my parenting decisions. I’ve tried researching it, reading things on both sides of the issue, and still I feel so torn about what is best for my kid.

Allison78

04-28-2008, 06:02 AM

Sunshine - Clara does that same thing with our dog all the time. Sometimes she rolls clear over Ellie and Ellie is so good. She puts up with a lot of "affection", which includes eye poking, ear pulling and face smooshing.

AmyE - Clara has just started walking unsupported as well. In terms of mobility, she's always waited until she really gets it before she's willing to take it on. She didn't crawl until 10 mo and she's just started walking now at 16 mo. It's funny though, Friday she didn't walk at all and by this morning, she was walking all over the house by herself.

Ilovemygeek - I LOVE Daria's hair (and her name). Congrats on the new baby!!

Teresita - ITA about the vaccines. It plagues me. I've been doing a lot of reading but am still unsure. Clara has had her shots up to a year but the more I read, the more I think I'm definitely going to be more selective with what she gets from here on in. With the next child, I may even go as far as just getting the DPT and that's it. I want S to read some literature as well and then give me his opinion before we decide but it's certainly not a black & white issue.

Clara is amazing us so much with her talking (which makes up for our 16 month old crawler, j/k!!) She now says: "Where go?" when you (or she) hides something and "Bye Daddy/Mummy/Grampa" when someone leaves the house. She loves to hide her eyes and say "A-Boo!" She has increased her body part knowledge to include eyes, nose, mouth, ears, belly, hair, teeth, tongue, feet and toes. She can also distinguish b/w her nose/feet, etc. and Mama or Dada's nose/feet. She loves to point out shoes and cars and doggies and kitties. She can now verbally ask for "more" and can tell you what a dog, a cat, and a fish say (she can also say doggie, kitty and fish). It's amazing how proud you feel of their accomplishments.

Here is a pic of her wearing her Auntie Terri's shades:

http://www.allisonjanes.com/Clara/500width/P1010543_500.jpg

Swimming lessons w/ Daddy:

http://www.allisonjanes.com/Clara/500width/P1010563_500.jpg

Future Children - S and I were actually talking about this last night and we think we'll start trying for the next one around next December. That way Clara will be almost 3 (or over) when we have number 2. Then I'm almost 100% positive that we are done. :)

mobox

04-28-2008, 08:10 PM

Teresita, Sam's eyes are blue. He gets a lot of compliments....they are much much bluer than either mine or DH's. But they are like my grandma's eyes.

ellidew

04-29-2008, 07:47 AM

Aww, our babies are getting so big!!

Here are some recent pics of Miles:

Here he is doing ch"eeeee"se for the camera
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e144/ellidew/Miles/2008_04d005.jpg

Going down the slide
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e144/ellidew/Miles/2008_04d038.jpg

More Children: We're planning to have more. At least 1 more if not 2. The plan right now is to have one between Miles being 3-4. I haven't gotten the baby bug yet and i'm really content focusing all my attention on Miles. I loved being pregnant and i look forward to it again but i definitely haven't been bitten by the bug yet.

I did a 17 month update in Miles blog (http://www.milesisone.blogspot.com/)... it's too long to post here.

AmyE

05-02-2008, 05:06 AM

Allison - TOO funny. Looks like Ben is following Clara's example. Ben was on his feet walking for most of the day today. I can't believe he figured it out so quickly - it took Julia a good six weeks to get from first steps to walking!

sophiapb

05-03-2008, 08:46 PM

Hi all! I know I haven't been here for ages so I thought I'd swing by and catch up on things.
Elise and Corinne are doing great. They'll be 17 months tomorrow (woah!) and into everything. Corinne had her first major holy-crap-I-think-she's-dead tumble when she fell off of her booster chair (little maniac was standing up) and fell head first onto the kitchen floor. The sound of her skull crashing onto the tile resounded through the house and made me hysterical. Ugly bruise aside, she was fine after a few minutes but I was a mess. Of course, it didn't stop her from scrambling right up onto the booster chair again! She's like a little climbing monkey and I'm sure it won't be the last time she scares me half to death.
Elise is exerting her independence and can be very strong willed. Her favorite word is "MINE!" followed by "Daddy", spoken for some reason in a very British accent (Duh-dee). She likes to attach herself to anyone's back and orders "UP!" in hopes of getting a piggyback ride. It works with DH but me and my chiropractor coddled back just won't have it. She also loves to play "Catch me if you can" and runs barreling through the house with one or both of her sisters close behind her.
Alexa is finally enjoying having two younger sisters. They play so well together. She enjoys leading them by their hands around the house and for some reason, they willingly go with her. There is certainly a lot of fighting over toys and mommy's attention but when they get it right and play harmoniously, it's like all is right in the world.
So with three kids within 18 months you'd think I would be done, right? Nope, I'm already plotting when #4 will show up. In a perfect world, I would like to get pregnant in August of 2009 for an April 2010 due date. Ahhh, the best laid plans, blah, blah,yeah I know the drill. We'll see how it goes. Given my advanced age (OLD!) there might not be any more children in which case I will count myself very lucky with my three gorgeous girls but I would like to at least give it a shot.
I hope all is well with everyone. I know I don't post here often but I do stop in to catch up on the news when I can so keep it coming!

AmyE

06-05-2008, 09:55 PM

OMG! Not only at the bottom, but now not even on the first page! Definitely time for a bump.

Glad to hear your twins are doing so well Sophia! Ben and Julia are 18months old today, and like yours, well into toddlerhood. On our home scale they are 24 and 24.5 lbs, with Julia just ahead. Pretty good for my little peanuts!

My husband said yesterday that he agreed with something he had just read in Men's Health - a parents job in the toddler years is first to keep them from killing themselves!:rolleyes: Julia has also thrown herself back and caused her highchair to topple over. I was scared, but she was just pissed off. Only funny in retrospect.

Ben will try head toward any electrical socket he can find, and has tried to pry off our socket covers once. Silly baby. He's also the one to try to escape through the baby gate up the stairs if we forget to lock it, and his new trick is climbing onto the coffee table. Sigh. Good thing th bookcases are all tethered! Now that he's been walking for a month he's trying to teach himself to run, so that he can keep up with Julia and his big brother. It's really funny to see them chasing eachother around the dining room table. They are also going through a language explosion, which is great. Sometimes what comes out is in the nanny's language, sometimes English. I bet I often miss some actual words.

Julia is still the dominant one, and will snatch whatever she wants out of poor Ben's hands. He's getting better at defending himself and his turf, which is good, and he'll push her away. What's funny is that they have learned to hug and kiss each other, which makes them giggle, and will randomly run to up the other twin or older brother to engulf them in hug and kisses, which degenerates to wrestling on the ground, which shortly thereafter degenerates to a finger in someone's eye or squished fingers and tears. But it starts off really cute!

Rancid13

06-06-2008, 01:28 PM

My husband said yesterday that he agreed with something he had just read in Men's Health - a parents job in the toddler years is first to keep them from killing themselves!:rolleyes:

I totally agree with that statement! Tyler definitely keeps me on my toes at all times and keeps me busy running around after him.

Tyler just turned 18 months this past Monday, and I can't believe how big he's getting and how fast time is flying by! He's just recently become a total chatterbox and was scolding my mom's dog yesterday, shaking his index finger at him and chattering to him.

Here's a couple pictures of my ragamuffin with his wild blonde curls:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v432/rancid13/Tyler%202008/101_0178.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v432/rancid13/Tyler%202008/tyler06052008.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v432/rancid13/Tyler%202008/tylerparkmothersday.jpg

mobox

06-09-2008, 11:26 AM

Wow, Jen, look at how cute his curls are!

Rancid13

06-09-2008, 11:37 AM

Wow, Jen, look at how cute his curls are!

I know! They're getting so tangled so I have to use Johnson's No More Tangles if his hair even gets damp or else it's a nightmare combing it (and he screams). He definitely has daddy's blonde curls (well, DH was born a blonde, though now it's dark brown and he keeps it so short that you can't tell it's curly).

Shh, don't tell him I posted this, it's DH as a toddler:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v432/rancid13/Random%20Crap/sonnypic.jpg

rosa727

06-09-2008, 03:35 PM

Jen: I think Tyler is like his dad's twin - crazy!

mobox

06-09-2008, 09:39 PM

TOTAL TWINS! That is really cute.

**************

I found this today and thought it was very interesting and you all might get some use out of it too. My goal is to have Sam toilet trained by the end of the summer although that may be wishful thinking. He fulfills a lot on this checklist already so I might just be successful.

------------------------------
It probably seems like just yesterday that you changed your toddler's first diaper, and now you're wondering if it's time to start toilet training. There's no magic age at which children are ready to start learning how to use the potty, but some develop the necessary physical and cognitive skills between 18 and 24 months of age. Many parents don't start potty training until their children are 2 1/2 to 3 years old, when daytime bladder control has become more reliable. And some children aren't interested in potty training until they're closer to 3, or even 4.

Use the checklist below to measure your toddler's progress toward readiness, and keep in mind that starting before your child is truly ready doesn't mean you'll finish sooner — it's more likely that the process will just end up taking longer.

You don't have to wait until you've checked off every item to start training. Just look for a general trend toward independence and an understanding of what it means to go to the bathroom like a grown-up.

Physical signs

Is coordinated enough to walk, and even run, steadily.

Urinates a fair amount at one time.

Has regular, well-formed bowel movements at relatively predictable times.

Has "dry" periods of at least three or four hours, which shows that his bladder muscles are developed enough to hold urine.

Behavioral signs

Can sit down quietly in one position for two to five minutes.

Can pull his pants up and down.

Dislikes the feeling of wearing a wet or dirty diaper.

Shows interest in others' bathroom habits (wants to watch you go to the bathroom or wear underwear.

Gives a physical or verbal sign when he's having a bowel movement such as grunting, squatting, or telling you.

Demonstrates a desire for independence.

Takes pride in his accomplishments.

Isn't resistant to learning to use the toilet.

Is in a generally cooperative stage, not a negative or contrary one.

Cognitive signs

Can follow simple instructions, such as "go get the toy."

Understands the value of putting things where they belong.

Has words for urine and stool.

Understands the physical signals that mean he has to go and can tell you before it happens or even hold it until he has time to get to the potty.

AmyE

06-10-2008, 09:00 PM

We gently moved DS1 toward potty training starting at 20 months. He was fully PTd by 2.5. We began when we noticed that he ALWAYS peed in the bath in the evenings. It only took us a couple of days to show him how to pee in the potty before bath. After a month or so, we started encouraging him to pee in the potty during the day. After 6 months, he PT'd at school (he was one of the youngest, so had lots of good PT'd examples to follow.)

Ben is now reliably pee'ing in the bath, so we're going to start with him at 20 monts. I have no idea how to begin with Julia, who is stubborn and will certainly only PT when she is good and ready, thankyouverymuch.

mobox

06-12-2008, 07:54 PM

Amy, that's really encouraging to hear, thanks! My mom says we were all potty trained by 2...she has some good tips for me. Before bath is such a perfect place to start, thanks for the tip.

sunshine0928

06-13-2008, 04:44 PM

I actually think I am going to buy a potty after we get back from vacation. G has told us when she has a poopy and today I tried and asked her if she had to go pee pee before her bath and as soon as I removed her diaper she went. I didn't mean for it to happen in that order but at least she is starting to put it all together.

Jen - that pic of DH is totally Tyler's twin!!

rosa727

06-20-2008, 04:00 AM

Grady's 18 month WBV was a couple days ago and everything went well. Here are his stats:

height: 33.5 inches (85th %)

weight: 24.5 pounds (30th %) - this was probably a little low because he had just been teething badly for the past few days and barely eaten a thing. Now his appetite is back big-time!

head: 50th %

So he is still tall and a bit on the thin side. The funny thing is that he looks so solid - people will always say he is big. He has very square shoulders like both his parents, so I guess that helps.

Grady still has 16 teeth (holding steady since he was about 12 months old). Those 2 year molars are coming VERY soon but none yet (I can see the white right below the gum surface). They have been the worst teeth by far - ugh!

Grady is super affectionate and will hug/kiss basically any baby and any mom (not so much with men, except those he knows).

He can count to 10, though sometimes he gets stuck on a number and needs me to fill in.

He is obsessed with Mama right now and hugs and kisses me all the time. My favorite is when he hugs me, pats my arm or back, and says "oh Mama" in this sweet voice.

As far as talking, the boy is crazy - he never stops! I would say he has a couple hundred words and will put together simple sentences too. He also repeats anything, of course.

DH and I are headed to Turks and Caicos for our first couple trip since G was born. We leave in 5 days and will be there for 5. G will be with both Grandmas, who I totally trust. He loooves my mom especially.

Here is a video of him dancing to his Elmo video - so funny, he's tap dancing:

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a343/rosa727/Hilton%20Head%20trip/th_MVI_3905mpg-edited.jpg (http://s14.photobucket.com/albums/a343/rosa727/Hilton%20Head%20trip/?action=view&current=MVI_3905mpg-edited.flv)

And a few recent pictures:

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a343/rosa727/Hilton%20Head%20trip/IMG_3888.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a343/rosa727/Grady%202/IMG_3830.jpg

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a343/rosa727/Grady%202/IMG_3871-contest.jpg

rosa727

07-06-2008, 09:05 AM

Since I apparently killed this thread, let me see if I can bring it back to life :)

So Grady has never been a good napper, and I know I have mentioned it to you all more than once. Well lately it has gone from bad to worse. He is only taking one 1-1.5 hour nap each day. That just doesn't seem like enough. He sleeps about 11.5 hours at night, so that's OK, but the naps really concern me.

I guess I was just wondering whether the rest of you were noticing a shortening of naps at all and whether anyone had any ideas on how to lengthen them. Do I let him CIO in there if he gets up too soon? But what is "too soon" really? I just don't know - bad napping has plagued me since he was born - I stress so much over it. Maybe I just need to accept that he will never nap well?

A side note is that he just got his first 2-year molar this week and is teething like crazy. Maybe it will all get magically better (at least back to how it was) when his other 3 are in?

Rancid13

07-07-2008, 03:54 PM

Naps~ Sorry no help here. Tyler's pretty steadily taking 3-hour naps once daily (with the occasional days where he has a 2 hour nap instead). He sleeps 12-12.5 hours at night also (from 7:30pm to ~7:30-8am). I've noticed that some days he'll cry out 1-2 hours into his nap, but I have a video monitor and unless he's standing up in there, I let him cry for a few minutes b/c 9 times out of 10 he'll go back to sleep for another hour or more.

AmyE

07-07-2008, 07:25 PM

Rosa, sorry that he's sleeping less, but actually he's right on the averages. And his nap is fine, although not as long as Mom would like, I know! :) I have one model like that, and two that like to sleep a bit more. The twins are sleeping about 11.5 to 12 hours per night. Julia usually sleeps .5 hours longer than Ben - she either gets put to bed first or we sometimes can rush Ben out of the room before he wakes her up. (Rarely these days, though). Julia takes a 2 hour nap usually, and Ben is 1 to 1.5 hours. Soooo - Ben is definitely on Grady's schedule, and Julia quite similar. They nap from roughly 10 am to 12 pm- ish. Give or take half an hour. Bed between 6:30 and 7pm; they generally wake at 6:30-ish.

At 18 months, the "average" amount of sleep according to Babycenter is 13.5 hours. They say 11.25 at night and 2.25 for naps. Of course some kids need an hour more or an hour less and are still perfectly fine. The link below has a chart on "average" required sleep by age, and a short list of things to look for in case you think your child may not be getting what he needs.

Frankly, unless he's showing these signs, he's probably just fine.

http://www.babycenter.com/0_how-much-sleep-does-your-child-need_7645.bc

rosa727

07-08-2008, 03:35 AM

Rancid: Well I know that 3 hours is a lot more than average. So it's great that Tyler does it, but I certainly wouldn't expect G to do that.

I think just read that about 11 at night and 1.5-2 for a nap was average at this age. Anyone see anything on that?

Teresita

07-08-2008, 11:48 AM

Sleep/Naps Finn's typical sleep and nap schedule is go to bed at 6:30 pm, wake at 6:30 am, nap from 11am until 2pm, so 12 hrs sleep plus 3 hrs nap. It's pretty similar to where my DD was at this point. Finn really needs a lot of sleep or he is a total crank, but I know other kids who do just fine on less. And, keep in mind that Finn only started STTN in the last few months, so he has lots of missed sleep to catch up on (as does his mama)! :)

In a couple of hours I am heading out on my first entirely kid-free work trip since Finn was born. He still nurses 3 times a day, so I have my pump in tow. I am worried about how he will do, but I am sure he will be fine (DH will work from home this week). On the one hand, I am looking forward to a child-free flight, but on the other hand I will really miss my kids! It's just a few days, so I am sure all will be fine.

Finn is tons of fun these days, saying lots of words, but not stringing them together much yet. He's obsessed with balls and tries to hold as many balls as possible all at once and is really getting good at throwing and catching. Tons of teeth coming in--molars, canines, etc. We've been enjoying lots of summer activities together--BBQs, concerts in the park, beach outings. Finn isn't too fond of the beach, but I am hoping that will change.

rosa727

07-08-2008, 01:24 PM

Thanks for the input on the naps everyone! I guess he is pretty much within the average then - a bit more at night and a bit less than average during the day. Actually, we darkened his room more and he slept from 6:45PM-7:30AM last night and then took a nap from 12-2 this afternoon. I am hopeful that this trend will last. Since he just cut two 2-year molars (and obviously the other 2 are right behind), that is probably factoring in too. Other than sometimes being cranky a bit during the day (which could also be the teeth) he doesn't have any of those "warning signs" of sleep deprivation.

Allison78

07-14-2008, 06:30 AM

On average, C goes down for the night around 7:30 and sleeps until 6:30. Her naps at daycare are longer, usually around 2 hours but her naps at home are at most 1.5 hours.

Here's a question for you ladies. Is anyone else dealing with a shy/dual personality child? Clara is such a happy, chatty, fun, angel when she is with her core family/friends (us and our immediate family, daycare, our closest friends) but as soon as we put her in an environment with people she doesn't know, or doesn't know well, she is a completely different child. Needy, whiny, cries easily and often, only wants to be carried, etc. We find it hard to deal with b/c when we introduce her to new people, she seems like a very difficult child, not at all like the child we know she is. I find it's really hard for me b/c I'm scared people won't like her, which breaks my heart.

We had guests over yesterday whom she'd never met and they are wonderful nice people who didn't approach too fast or do anything to intimidate her. She was clingy, whiny and threw tantrums all afternoon. Within 15 minutes of their leaving she was trotting around the house chatting away, playing, laughing. It's like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, I swear.

Does anyone else deal with this or is it just us? Shawn and I were both shy children, so I know the behaviour is probably normal, I'm just wondering if there is anyone else out there going through the same thing.

In terms of development, Clara is doing great. She's a really funny child with a great sense of humour. She loves to make you laugh and her big thing to say right now is "I funny", which in itself is hilarious. Her vocabulary is great and she's started stringing words together. She says "I go in there?" when she wants to go somewhere (in another room, into a box, etc). She also says "I fall" when she falls down. She's also started imaginary play, which is pretty neat. She found the ramp/hammock we used to use to bathe her when she was an infant the other day and turned it over on the ground so that the lip was pointing upwards. She sat on it an said "Car. Vroom Vroom." Then proceeded to "ride" it around all afternoon. It's so neat to see their brains working isn't it?

She's also a little fashionista. The best way for me to get her to wear a hat and shoes when we go outside is to have a variety of choices. She loves choosing which hat and shoes to wear. And frankly, they always seem to go with her outfit. ;)

http://www.allisonjanes.com/Clara/500width/100_3639_400.jpg

rosa727

07-14-2008, 08:35 AM

Allison: Well that sounds more like my child as far as sleep! I was beginning to think mine was the only one not taking 3 hour naps!

But I can't help with the shy issue - DS would go home with a total stranger if I let him (another type of problem altogether!). I think it is very normal though, and Clara sounds like quite a fun, smart little girl. Grady has started pretending too - the other day a watermelon rind was a truck for about 45 minutes. He just sat in his high chair driving it around :)

And for an update on G's sleep, it is better. He sleeps about 6:45-6:45 at night with 1-2 hours during the day. Naps are sporadic, but it's a bit better. I'm hoping once the last 2 molars are through it will get even better. The 2 year molars have been the WORST!

mobox

07-14-2008, 03:17 PM

Shyness: Sam is like Grady--goes to anyone, not shy at all. In a way, it worries me a little bit because he is so adventurous and likes to wander off. I have to keep my eye on him completely and totally.

Naps: Sam takes one nap at 12:30. At day care it is 1.5-2 hours and at home it's 2-3 hours. Nights are 11.5-12 hours (7.30-7 usually) with occasionally longer stretches if he's really tired.

Girls, I'm looking for "water shoes" and I need some recs. I've seen some at ONe Step Ahead.

These are from Old Navy.
http://www.oldnavy.com/Asset_Archive/ONWeb/Assets/Product/567/567042/main/on567042-00p01v01.jpg

Thoughts?

rosa727

07-14-2008, 03:20 PM

mobox: We got Grady some nice Speedo ones at Target. He has worn them practically every day since May and they are still in great condition. He is outgrowing them so we will need to get him the next size up for the second half of the summer. He just told me today at the pool "shoes tight". :) They stay on very well though, which is great.

fms

07-15-2008, 11:32 AM

It's been forever since I checked in here. Brendon is doing great and will be expecting a sibling in the spring....just found out (sort of freaking out.) Planned but still...you can never be "prepared".

Sleep...he sleeps about 12 hours at night and naps are anywhere from 1-3 hours. I guess we average about 2 hours. We live by "the schedule." Up around 7 and down around 7. Nap around 12:30.

Shoes...he has an opinion on shoes and that makes me laugh. He has favorites and will often refuse ones he does not like.

Teeth...no molars yet. I just realized that my friend the margarita will not be able to help me through the two year molars. That's a huge bummer!

Talking...we've lost count of his words. He's just starting to string words together.

Glad to see all of the kiddos are doing so well :)

mobox

07-16-2008, 12:36 AM

Rosa---I've looked at three different Targets and they just don't have them here. At least not in the little kid sizes. But I'll look online...maybe there?

So today I got a call from daycare that Samuel woke from his nap screaming and crying like he'd had a nightmare. That happened once over the weekend where he woke at about an hour into his nap and he was crying but easy to settle down. Then tonight we couldn't get him to sleep. That kid loves to sleep and goes down with no problems. Just rolls over and falls asleep. He is so much like his daddy in that sense. But tonight...crying, rocking didn't work, he finally just pooped out. It could be that he's overtired because he had two nights that were later than normal and not sufficient enough napping.

Could it also be molars? He's also not eating like he regularly does. Has anyone else experienced this?

rosa727

07-16-2008, 03:55 AM

mobox: G is getting his 2-year molars and has been waking up from naps and sometimes even in the morning like that. I think his teeth actually must be waking him. He also eats NOTHING on days where they are really acting up. It could be teeth for sure.

ellidew

07-16-2008, 07:09 AM

We're going through the crying/irritable and wont eat because "teeth hurt" stage right now too. Added is the we gave up the binky and don't know how to soothe ourself stage coupled with the rotavirus. Our house is a circus right now!

janu98

07-21-2008, 08:35 AM

Looks like I will also be joining the March 2009 mommy thread as well!!!!!:o:D

sunshine0928

07-21-2008, 05:25 PM

janu98 - Congrats!!! I joined as well the other day so hopefully we'll both have a nice easy pregnancy :)

Ilovemygeek

07-21-2008, 07:28 PM

Congratulations janu98 and sunshine0928! I was starting to wonder if anyone else was going to be adding to their families. :)

AmyE

07-21-2008, 07:33 PM

Congratulations Janu and Sunshine!

I'm bopping in to report that we have officially started potty training. Waaaay early, I know, but it worked well for DS1 so my fingers are crossed. So far PT'ing only consists of putting the twins on the 'magic potty' for a few seconds, with or without diapers. They especially like it when DS1 is in the bathroom taking care of his business, so I'm hoping the leading by example will help. My goal is to have them completely day trained by June of next year, so it's not like we're in any hurry!

mobox

07-21-2008, 09:16 PM

Congrats to the new mommies to be!!! Very exciting. :)

Ok, so now on top of random crying, Sam is also suffering from severe separation anxiety with babysitters and sometimes just when DH goes out of the room. Very strange behavior from the boy who normally goes to anyone and loves everyone and is very independent. I'm think there are several things at work here- #1 teething the molars (he is a drool master right now) and #2 emotional development in a big way. He learns a new word a day and I think it's a bit overwhelming for him.

Anyway...I'm thinking of trying the teething tablets. He won't let me brush his teeth either and I know he is in a bit of pain.

rosa727

07-22-2008, 04:00 AM

Congrats to Janu, fms, and sunshine on your BFPs!!! That's so exciting :) I actually am feeling like everyone I know (on CC and IRL) is PG! There must be a baby boom going on, I swear.

Looks like we will be holding off TTC #2 until next summer, though we wouldn't be unhappy if something happened sooner.

rosa727

07-22-2008, 05:31 AM

Grady has been sleeping better overall. He sleeps from about 6:45PM-7AM. But then he just lays in there from 7 until 8:30 (later if I let him), just talking to himself and falling back asleep off and on. As soon as he sounds upset at all or calls for me, I go in. Or I go in after it gets really late. Does anyone else's DC do this? Do you think it is bad to leave him? I figure that he would let me know if he wanted out (he certainly does when his nap is over!). I figure he is a very active child, and he may just need this quiet time. What do you think?

Allison78

07-22-2008, 06:43 AM

Congrats to all the PG ladies! That's so exciting!!! DH and I plan to TTC starting around Christmas/C's birthday.

Clara woke up last night crying hard and DH had to stay in the room with her for a really long time to calm her down. She already has her molars so I'm guessing it was a bad dream?!? Since C was such a rough sleeper her whole first year, I find I get so panicky if she has a bad night, terrified that she'll stop sleeping again. It almost feels like PTSD, as stupid as that sounds.

We took C camping for the first time last weekend and she LOVED it. She loves being outside and running around so she was in her element. We went with our friends who's DD is the same age and it was so fun watching them play and interact. They invented games together and held hands and were so cute. There were a couple minor tussles over sharing snacks but they were easily mediated and for the most part they were both extremely generous, sharing everything and being gentle. It was great.

It was really cute, every time C went near the fire pit (whether there was a fire or not), we'd steer her away and say "no touch, hot hot hot!!" and by the second day, anytime she walked past it she kept her space and said "Hot, hot, hot!" That's our smart little girl!!

:) Allison

ellidew

07-22-2008, 07:05 AM

Congratulations to all the expectant mommies! H&H 9 months!

The baby bug: I honestly didn't get hit with the baby bug until the last month or so. Maybe it's b/c my sister just had a baby? Our plan is to start actively ttc at the beginning of 2009. It took 13 months last time and we'd like to have a baby sometime between Miles being 3 and 4. Ya'll aren't helping with all these BFP's! :D

Potty Training: We've started this too and it's been going pretty good. Miles actually tells us when he has to go #2 and we've gotten him to the potty twice now. We actually had him spend 1 day in just underwear and he was really responding well to it and realizing when he was going and by the end of the day he was telling us before he went. I think if we had an entire weekend (don't they call this method 3-day potty training?) then he'd be good to go. He's used the potty once for #1 and it was when I took him to the potty first thing in the morning. I honestly think if I dedicated more time to it then he'd get it down pretty quickly. I keep forgetting to go straight to the potty when he wakes up!

rosa727

07-22-2008, 09:28 AM

Allison: Has she gotten both sets of molars? They get 8 total. Anyways, it definitely sounds like teething, that's why I ask. And it would be really early for her to have them all.

How fun that you went camping. How did the sleeping arrangements work for that? I am wondering since we used to like to go but have not gone camping since Grady was born.

potty training: I am not really even thinking about this until he is 2. I just don't want to push him too early and set him up for failure. It's just not something I am concerned about right now.

hugging/kissing: It's crazy how much Grady goes around hugging and kissing everyone. Every time we go to Gymboree or Kindermusik, he spends half the time going around kissing and hugging EVERYone. It is really cute and most people like it, but it breaks my heart when a kid is not nice and pushes him away. It's hard to explain that not everyone is so friendly. As much as I love seeing him be so affectionate (and certainly love when he does it to me), I don't want him to feel rejected. He just has no hesitation or shyness AT ALL!

janu98

07-24-2008, 06:21 AM

thank you to everyone for all the well wishes! I will keep you all posted!

janu98

08-08-2008, 08:09 AM

Well ladies it looks like i had to leave the March thread 09, my betas are dropping:(. According to the OB i had a blighted ovum.

I am doing okay so far just waiting for "it" to happen......

rosa727

08-08-2008, 08:43 AM

janu: I'm so sorry to hear that :( I am sending hugs and hope that you are doing OK.

Teresita

08-08-2008, 08:49 AM

janu98 I am so sorry.:( I had two miscarriages before I had my DD--it's such a hard thing to go through. I will be thinking of you.

pottytrainingWe have a potty and have shown it to Finn and tell him "you can put your poop and pee in there." But, he is really not at all interested in it yet, and I am in no hurry.

Finn is doing well. He's got lots of teeth coming in, which makes him pretty cranky. But, so long as we keep busy and spend lots of time outdoors, he seems to forget about it. He had his 18 month well check and was 28 lbs (70%). I forget his exact height and head measurements, but he was 70% for height, so he is quite proportional. Except, of course, for his head, which is 98%!

He has a rather big change on the horizon--he'll be starting preschool in September. Up to this point, he's been with a nanny when I work. But, I had put him on the waiting list at a wonderful school that accepts kids starting from 18 months and has good part-time options. He'll go three days a week. I got the call that he got a spot, so I am very excited (though also anxious!) since I think he will love it. When we visited the school, he threw a fit when it was time to leave because he was enjoying it so much! I am sure it will be different when I actually leave him there on his own, but I have hopes that it will all work out for the best for both of us.

Rancid13

08-08-2008, 10:35 AM

Janu, I'm so sorry to hear that. ((HUGS)).

ellidew

08-08-2008, 11:54 AM

So sorry Janu. Thinking about you.

AmyE

08-09-2008, 12:16 AM

Janu - :( Sorry to hear your news.

Teresita - yep, we got a similar call on Tuesday. The "babies" can start at my son's preschool on Sept 1. I'm so excited! I took them over on Friday to pick up registration papers and introduce them to the place, and they did great. A little shy at first, but they did go up on a play structure with the director while I hung out in a corner of the room. I think they will adjust pretty well, esp since they will be together and their big bro is in the same school, but different class. I think they will be able to eat lunch all together. The twins get so MAD when DH and I abandon them at home in the morning but take DS1 to school and us to work. It will be nice to be able to take them along too! Eventually I do want to put them in separate classrooms, but there is only one class for them at this school, and the twins will be 2 of 9 students. Plenty of time later, I know!

mobox

08-11-2008, 10:02 AM

Janu - Thinking of you.

janu98

08-11-2008, 10:25 AM

Thank you everyone for the well wishes... I am doing okay so far, I haven't m/ced yet. I just wish this could all be over with sooner than later.....

Thanks again!!!!!

mobox

08-24-2008, 05:53 PM

Hey, how's everyone doing over here?

Kimmer

08-24-2008, 06:21 PM

Hi I have not been here in a long time. Justin is doing well, he is so funny everyday he makes me laugh. We are currently trying for baby #2, I don't want a large age gap and DH and I are not getting any younger :p

Potty Training We have a potty but he thinks it is a step stool to grab stuff out of his reach.

AmyE

12-05-2008, 08:18 PM

We've been so quiet! And it's birthday season!

Ben and Julia turn 2 officially today, but Julia started the tantrums and other fits about two weeks ago, and Ben has begun to follow.:rolleyes: It's amazing just how important THAT shirt or THOSE socks have become, or even just looking at her funny! Frankly, i tend to find her tantrum kinda funny, but I don't think she appreciates it much!

We did the bday party last week, since the grandparents were visiting. Just DH's folks, the triplets they play with during the week, and us. With DS1, it was 6 kids and 6 adults - just right. Imade a chocolate cake with the Baby Einstein puppy on it and a vanilla cake with the BE lion. DH and I have them wooden food and cooking sets, and the grandparents mostly gave books. It was great fun, although I could tell they were overwhelmed by the second present. All the more reason to keep Christmas low key!

We've been swinging through colds every few weeks, which is no fun but much easier than when they were infants. Also working more and more on potty training, although we haven't been particularly diligent. Both Ben and Julia will sit on the potty, but nothing much happens. I get the feeling that once Julia has used it a few times, with the proper amount of applause and congratulations, that's about all she'llneed. Ben ....who knows.

Anyway. How is everyone else doing these days???

rosa727

12-06-2008, 03:57 PM

I was also wondering how everyone was doing! Grady turned 2 on Thanksgiving and we threw him a big construction-themed party (the weekend before), which he absolutely loved! We got him a Thomas train set and train table, as well as a few small things. He was definitely overwhelmed by all the gifts too.

As far as the potty, he actually asked for a "teeny tiny toilet" one day. I thought that was hilarious and have no idea where that came from. I never really mentioned it at all because I thought it was still very early. But of course we went and let him pick one out. Since then he has sat on it basically every day but only gone on it once. He was SO excited when he did though.

He is still having some stomach problems, so we are headed back to a pediatric GI specialist next week. I am so ready for his stomach just to act normal already! But things could be a lot worse. He is generally a very healthy little guy.

We are hoping to TTC #2 next summer. I would really like my kids about 3.5 years apart.

Just for fun, our family Christmas photo...

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a343/rosa727/ChristmasCard.jpg

fms

12-08-2008, 05:32 PM

It's been a long time. (I stopped checking cc after my m/c in august.)

Brendon is so fun *most of the time.* His last two molars are coming in and he is the grumpiest teether ever. I will be doing a dance of joy when they finally get here. He is talking like crazy and making us laugh. The imagination of a two year old is incredible. We're doing a small birthday party on Saturday for relatives. He is starting the temper tantrum thing...so not fun. I can see how people end up on Nanny 911. Parenting can be exhausting! However, it's easier to deal with a 2 year old than a 22 year old. Or so I keep telling myself.

I can't remember where to upload photos so I'll just have to assure everyone that he tall and handsome :p

Happy Birthday to all of the babies.

RubberSoul

12-09-2008, 07:02 AM

I came looking for our thread a while back and couldn't find it. I thought it had disappeared!

Ian turned 2 at the beginning of November. His vocabulary is really taking off and he is starting to string words together to form complete sentences. It is crazy how they go from one and two words together to a 5 word sentence! He has been transitioned to a toddler bed since he started climbing out of the crib. He started that two days before Thanksgiving. It was quite a shock to wake up in the morning to his little face in mine saying "HI!". I asked him how he got out of his crib and he looked at me with such accomplishment on his face and said "self." It was pretty funny. His crib converts to a toddler bed so we just took the front of it off. The transition has gone pretty smoothly. I think the transition went so smoothly because it was still his crib, but just looked a little different.

We haven't started potty training, but I would like to get a potty to get him used to having one. He still doesn't tell us when he goes and most of the time doesn't even want us to change his diaper.

We have started talking about ttc #2 early next year, but haven't made any decisions yet.

I hope everyone is well and has a wonderful holiday season!

Teresita

12-09-2008, 09:43 AM

It's fun to see how everyone is doing! Finn turned two last week. We just had a small family party, which was nice (especially after my DD's OTT B-day with 25+ kids this summer). Finn is so much fun. He has always had an "intense" personality, so we have been dealing with tantrums for a long while, but thankfully they do not faze me much. Compared to a four year old who is constantly debating, arguing, and attempting to negotiate and manipulate, a two-year old's tantrums almost seem refreshing!;)

Finn has developed quite a sense of humor. One of his favorite "jokes" is to pretend his carseat straps are too tight. Whenever I buckle him in, he grabs the straps with his hands and with his best drama-king face, he winces and whines "TIGHT! TOO TIGHT!" Then when I laugh and say, "Finn, they are not too tight." He just cackles with laughter. Such a silly guy.

His language is much more limited than DD's at this age, but he is talking more and more each day and understands everything. He's no where near being close to ready for PT'ing, which I frankly am glad about since I just don't have the energy to PT right now. In September, we switched from having a part-time nanny to having Finn go to a preschool/daycare three days a week (I work full time from home). He LOVES it, which is such a relief for me. When I drop him off he gets so excited to see his friends and when I pick him up he is always smiling and happy, so my working mom guilt is helped by that.

Next week we head off cross-country on our annual trip to visit family for the holidays--first the inlaws in NY then my family in MA. I am looking forward to being there, but am dreading the flight since Finn does not fly well. Fingers crossed that he does better this time around because our last flight was utterly hellish!

I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying all the fun of the holiday season!:)

mobox

12-09-2008, 11:15 AM

Hi everyone! Sam just turned two on the 5th and we had a family party on Saturday. He is so fun and is bright. I am pregnant with #2...a girl...due in April.

rosa727

12-09-2008, 06:39 PM

Ir's so nice to hear updates from everyone! Let's keep the thread alive!

I had to share a funny story...

Today DH was watching Grady, and DH had to pee, so he did it in front of him. Well then Grady wanted to pee standing up, so DH took off his diaper to let him try. So first he says "where's wiener?" and looks for it. That cracked us up. Then he says "aim pee" (NO IDEA where he got that from!). He didn't end up doing it that way, but did sit and pee again today (only the second time!) so I was excited for that.

Yeah, I forgot to mention Grady's ridiculous verbal skills. He probably says over 1,000 words, easily, talks in 5-7 word sentences, and NEVER stops talking. EVER. It is tiring but fun. It is a big relief since he had only about 2 words at 15 months and essentially never even babbled. It's like he just waited and then started talking like a 3-year-old one day.

ellidew

12-10-2008, 08:43 AM

lol rosa. I think it's funny when Miles tries to pee standing up. Sometimes he sits and sometimes he wants to stand. We're slowly working on potty training. Nothing too serious yet.

I hear ya on the talking. Somedays dh and I SWEAR he doesn't STOP talking from the moment he wakes up. Just talks and talks and talks and talks. The other day I told him I wanted to play The Quiet Game. lol. He didn't get it ;) At our last Parents as Teachers evaluation she said he was already talking at a 3 year olds level. Probably because he never shuts up. :D

He's still in his crib because he kept getting out of the toddler bed over an hour before his usual wake up time making for one crabby child. Plus, we were trying to wean him off the pacifier at the same time and I think we were in one of our milk tolerance trials. Too much all at once.

He currently takes gymnastics and loves that and in the spring i'm going to sign him up for mommy/daddy and toddler soccer as well as swim lessons. (I long for spring... i'm already sick of being cold and we're not even through December!)

He loves trains, cars, helicopters, anything else that moves, he likes to watch wonder pets, clifford, and super why on tv (usually in the mornings when I'm getting us ready to go). He'll eat anything and has a high tolerance for spice (like mommy :)). He loves fruits and vegetables. The other night he ate nothing but a can of green beans! The.entire.can!

Lets see, what else... he's in a great school twice a week that costs us a bloody fortune but he's learning a ton! I have no doubt he'll be more than ready for kindergarten.

We've definitely seen more of an independent streak in Miles since turning 2 at the beginning of Nov. Some days he really tests the limits but for the most part he's happy go lucky and more or less listens to us. I think we insituted more 'sit in the chair' time last week than we have his entire life but so far this week we haven't had to do it once. I'm guessing that's what being 2 is all about though so we're taking it in stride.

We're less than 1 month away from ttc! EEEE! lol. I really want #1 and #2 to be 3-4 years apart. It took us 13 months last time so I'm hoping this next journey isn't quite so long! We're still undecided whether #2 will be our last. It's probably going to depend on whether it's a boy or a girl.

Here's our Christmas card featuring the latest pics of Miles:

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e144/ellidew/Card%20Choices/ChristmasCard5.jpg

I hope everyone has a great holiday! I love reading everyone's updates!

lilo

12-15-2008, 09:26 AM

mobox: congrats on #2! and a girl no less! how exciting.

I love hearing about everyone's updates as well. I have been swamped at work lately but wanted to give a little update too.

TTC #2: Hopefully sometime next year but not sure when. I will probably start charting in January just to get a feel of my cycles again and then maybe get more serious about it when Gavin is close to 3 years old. Part of me is ready for baby #2 but another part of me is really enjoying having this one-on-one time with DS.

Potty training: We've had a little potty for DS for a while and he's gone on it twice. I'm not ready to give it my full attention right now and I don't think DS is entirely ready. I will probably make more of an effort come spring or summer.

other stuff: Gavin is doing awesome in the vocab, sentences, etc. department too. He talks a mile a minute and surprises us every day with the sentences that he comes up with and his imagination. I love it. I love watching him interact with other kids (we hang out at the train table at B&N a lot!) and listening to him use his polite words that we've taught him in a cute way like, "oh, excuse me. oh yes, that's a train" etc. It's adorable. The biggest thing right now though is that he repeats EVERYTHING so we really have to watch ourselves. We've done great 99% of the time but of course we've had a few slips. :o Gavin just turned 2 as well and the party was a ton of fun. I love that he's getting older and interacting with us and the world in general so much now. At the same time, it's challenging going through the terrible twos and temper tantrum but I WOH so it's not too bad.

hope everyone has a great holiday and we can keep the threads going!

AmyE

01-01-2009, 06:47 PM

Whoo hoo! Ben and Julia had their 2 year WBVs on Wednesday (um, only 3 weeks late this time!) Both are doing really well, and better yet, had their last two shots until they are FOUR! I'm soooo excited. Granted, I'm the one with the needle phobia, and they were usually mad but get over it quickly, but I'm so happy they don't have to go through any of that again for two whole years!

PT'ing is slow and we're not really too focussed on it, which is probably fine. Julia tells us and will run into the bathroom pretty regularly and yell out what she needs to do, but it's always just a few minutes too late and she's yelled about what she's DONE already. A good start though - she definitely gets the concept at least. :p Ben goes in when his big brother goes to the potty and tries to imitate him, but I think he just likes that we let him wash his hands afterwards and he loves to play with water. I don't think it's clicked in his little head yet. Oh well. I would LOVE to have them PT'ed before we move in June, but I'm not counting on it.

AmyE

02-14-2009, 06:48 AM

bumping.

Mommy: I love you!
Julia: I love me!
Mommy: I love you!
Julia: I love me!
(giggles all the way up the stairs.)

Guess she's watching Barney when I'm not around or just has reallllly good self esteem.

what are all the other toddlers up to?

rosa727

02-15-2009, 06:18 AM

AmyE: To me the fun things they say is the most fun thing about this age. That is so cute!

Grady Grady is doing very well. He didn't nap for about 2-3 days, which had me scared (though he just laid quietly in his crib until I went and got him an hour later). But he is back to napping again - not sure what that was about. We are still dealing with some reflux, I think. Nothing extreme, but I think it still bothers him. He is on Prevacid and we are getting ready to increase the dose to see if that helps.

As far as his personality, he is so outgoing and extremely friendly. He is a really good sharer (not all the time but most of the time) and is very empathetic to others, which is nice. I was also happy to see him stand up for himself the other day. He was playing at a play date, and I peeked in the room to see what they were doing (we were in the next room). Anyway, I saw the other boy push him. Instead of yelling or pushing back, he calmy said "no no - don't push me" and stood his ground. I was so proud of him. I don't want to think my child will be pushed around. But I Also don't want him to be a bully, you know?

He also loooves babies - real and imaginary. I told him there was going to be a small baby at the playdate the other day, and he said "babies are for patting!" He was so gentle and sweet with her - it was so cute. At home he plays with his "babies" (teddy bears) all the time - putting diapers on them and giving them bottles. We are TTC #2 this summer, so it looks like he will be quite excited to become a big brother!

Here is a recent picture:

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a343/rosa727/Grady%202/IMG_5490.jpg

lilo

02-24-2009, 11:52 AM

Good to hear some updates from our thread!

AmyE: Too cute!

Rosa: Good for Grady for standing up for himself!

Gavin update:

He is growing up so fast! He is really into excavators, backhoes, front loaders, etc. and of course his Thomas construction cars (his favorite right now is Alfie, which we just got for him). His vocabulary is just amazing and so cute. Last night he was sitting next to me on the couch, patting my hand really gently like, "Don't worry Mommy. I'll take care of you." I just about melted. And of course after I sneezed, he replied, "Do you need a tissue? Do you feel better?" So funny.

Potty training: Who's doing it full force right now? We are not really pushing it but I'm ready to get more serious about it in the next month or so. Gavin has a potty and has gone a handful of times but isn't really interested. The good thing is that his daycare room has a bathroom inside the room and some of the toddlers are actively potty training so I'm hoping the peer pressure will help Gavin, but we'll see.

Sleep and naps: Gavin does great in the nap department (1 nap for 2 to 3 hours a day) but we are still working on putting him down awake. He used to go down with no issues but whenever he gets sick or we travel, he regresses. So that pretty much sucks right now but we're working on it.

Pickiness on food: Does anyone else's child only want mac 'n cheese or pasta? I love to cook but most of the time, DS only wants the above food or better yet, cheerios. :rolleyes: Luckily he loves most fruit and veggies but it's a still a struggle sometimes.

terrible twos: DS definitely has his days. The key for us to is to get Gavin outside ASAP where he can run around to his heart galore. But there is much more whining and drama these days for sure. We attempted to eat dinner at a restaurant with DS last week for the first time in a while and surprisingly he did pretty good. Thank god we have a great babysiter so DH and I can still go out on date nights or else we'd never go out! I can't wait until it's warm again and we can get outside a lot more.

TTC #2: We will probably wait until middle of next year. Part of me is ready to start soon but our daycare is soooo expensive and we are now in the process of selling and buying a home so it's fine. We're also going to CA for Xmas this year and selfishly, I don't want to be pregnant since we'll be doing a lot while we're out there. Sounds crazy but financially, it'll just be easier to wait unti next year.

Keep the updates coming!

ellidew

02-24-2009, 12:28 PM

Hi everyone! It is nice to read updates! I can't believe we're in the 2's already!!

Potty Training: We're entirely day trained since the first weekend in January. He wears a diaper for nap time and bed time but not any other time.

Nap: Miles naps for 1.5-2+ hours per day. Usually around 1pm. He's sleeping less at night though. Actually, ever since the last time change he's been sleeping less... i'm secretly hoping it fixes itself when we change the clocks in a few weeks! HA, probably wishful thinking! He sleeps from about 8pm-6 or 7am. Somedays he decides he's done sleeping at 5:45 *GASP!*

Food: We're having similar pickiness and this is after the first year when he'd eat anything! We keep offering all the good stuff but it's hit or miss each day. Somedays he'll eat a can of green beans and the next day he wont eat a single one. I just figure it's all part of being 2 and being able to make choices on his own. We're trying not to make a big deal about it. He still gets a rather well balanced diet it just weighs heavily in one or two categories somedays.

2's: omg, lilo, Miles HAS to have outside time!! This cold winter has really sucked! But, if we can get him outside to run and be in the fresh air he's just generally in a good mood. Our biggest 2 year old issue is the struggle of him wanting to do what he wants when he wants. Somedays are fine and he's perfectly content then other days it's like the world is crumbling around him. Our only other issue is throwing things. No matter how many times we say not to throw things "We only throw balls" he still does it. I think my next approach is going to be to ignore it entirely. My thinking is that if there isn't a reaction then the behavior wont be as appealing. Kind of like when my niece taught him to say "shut up". I honestly ignored him for 3 days and didn't say a single thing about it. Sometimes when he'd say it I'd say "Shut the door" just to redirect the phrase but I never once told him not to say it or had a reaction. The novelty wore off pretty quickly!

Miles: He amazes me each day. I can't believe how well this age group remembers things! So far he knows how to count up to anywhere between 10 and 15 (sometimes he stops at 12, sometimes 14) he even adds in a few 20's. When he pretends to take our temperature he always tells us it's 24. lol, so random. He knows his abc's and countless songs. He loves any kind of car/truck/construction vehicles/airplane/trian/etc... basically anything boys like he likes. He loves balls and bats and he's gotten pretty good at throwing the ball straight up and whacking it with the bat in the air. He's been working on catching and is starting to get the hang of it. His favorite color is pink. I know lots of moms with boys now and they all say the same thing. I think it's just a color that sticks out really well. He's been working on his colors and somedays he gets them all right and some days he just decides everything is brown or blue or red or yellow, you get the point. We think he knows them (since he gets them somedays) just chooses to pretend everything is one color on the other days.

ttc: We're on cycle #2 of ttc. We conceived on the first month but it ended in m/c early on. I forgot how much I loathe ttc... not the actual action of just the emotions and anxiety, etc... The harder I try to make it go away the more I feel it. I'm ready so I hope it happens soon! We'd like #1 and #2 to be 3-4 years apart.

Organized Activities: Miles took gymnastics over the winter. Now he's signed up for soccer and swimming. What does everyone else have their child enrolled in?

Teeth: Anyone else have a child that doesn't have their 2 year molars yet? I swear Miles could fill a bucket with drool each day and somedays he's really really fussy like he's teething but when I look in his mouth there's nothing going on, nothing red or swollen like they're about to come through or anything. I just don't get it!

Allison78

02-24-2009, 12:39 PM

So nice to hear all the updates.

Clara is doing great. She turned 2 on New Year’s Eve and we had a small party for family and close friends. It was still a bit overwhelming for her though.

Broken Leg – One of the major things that happened with us is that Clara’s leg was broken in November. She and I fell down the stairs and she got a buckle fracture in both bones of her lower right leg. She had to wear a cast for a month. She did so great. Never had a problem with the cast. Walked on it right from the beginning. She got it off right before Xmas. The neat thing about it was her need to talk about and process the accident. She would often bring it up. “Clara and Mummy fall at Leissa’s. Clara hurt leg. Doctor gave Clara big blue sock.” It seemed to help her to talk about it, just like it would an adult. We called it her “Big Blue Sock” b/c it was a blue fiberglass cast. It was quite traumatic for all of us but she dealt with it beautifully. She still tells people how the Doctor took it off with the saw. She wasn’t even scared when he did it. I was so proud of her. Her walking has taken some time to adjust as she’d gotten used to swinging that leg around without bending her knee but she’s pretty much completely back to normal at this point. My beautiful little peanut.

Talking – Like many others have said, she is a TALKER. She loves to talk. She can communicate beautifully and it seems so amazing to be having conversations with a 2 year old. It’s my favourite part, I think. Talking to her and listening to her little point of view and perspective of the world.

Potty Training – She sounds like all the others. She’s interested in the potty and has used it a half dozen times but nothing consistent.

‘Tude – Clara has definitely got an opinion….ON EVERYTHING, it seems. Like others have said, she wants a certain pair of shoes, a certain hat, pants/no pants, this one, no that one, etc. Of course, when its impractical (or unsafe), it inevitably leads to tantrums. I find the more we teach her emotional words (mad, angry, frustrated), the better it gets. She’s working through her emotions better every day.

TTC#2 – We were pregnant but m/c at 8 weeks at the beginning of January. It was upsetting and frustrating, especially since I ended up having to have a d&c as the m/c didn’t properly complete. As such, our ttcing has been pushed back to probably May.

Here’s a pic of our girl from our trip to Mexico.

http://www.allisonjanes.com/Clara/ClaraMexico23.jpg

ellidew

02-24-2009, 01:04 PM

Allison - So sorry to hear about your fall and Clara's broken leg! I'm glad you're both okay. Where did you stay in Mexico? We're cotemplating a trip there before #2 comes along. So sorry to hear about your miscarriage! I was just over 5 weeks when I had mine. Just enough time to get really attached (although I think I was probably attached before I even found out I was pg.) then have it all yanked away! I'm sorry you have to put off ttc until May... to sum it up, that really sucks! Best of luck!

Allison78

02-25-2009, 07:03 AM

Where did you stay in Mexico?

We stayed at the Ocean Turquesa (http://www.h10hotels.com/eng/hotels-riviera-maya/ocean-turquesa.php)on the Riviera Maya and it was so fabulous. I highly recommend it.

Yes, we have had a rough couple of months but we are all getting healthy now and I think the worst is behind us. Clara is such a joy and so much fun that even when you have some rough times, there's still a lot of laughter and happiness in our lives. We are really very lucky.

ellidew

02-25-2009, 07:14 AM

Wow! Ocean Turquesa looks like heaven! :D

Allison78

02-25-2009, 07:20 AM

Wow! Ocean Turquesa looks like heaven!

Yup, that's what it felt like. Seven days of heaven.

ellidew

02-25-2009, 07:33 AM

All I have to do now is find that extra $2000 I set aside for vacation ;) Visa or Discover might have to fund our vacation this year :)

lilo

02-25-2009, 07:38 AM

Ellidew: You are my hero! Wow, that's great that you potty trained Miles in one weekend. Please, please share your tips/tricks/method with me! that's awesome!

ellidew

02-25-2009, 08:10 AM

Here is a post I made in my Cafemom journal about potty training Miles. 3 day potty learning: How it worked for us (http://www.cafemom.com/journals/read.php?post_id=1350667&edited=1)

With our next child, assuming he/she has a similar demeanor as Miles, I think we're going to try this starting around 18 months. I honestly think he could've picked it up that soon (maybe even sooner) but with his birthday in November, then Thanksgiving, then Christmas and New Years, we just kept putting it off. We actually tried it once before but gave up before the end of the first day, so we could go out to dinner, which was obviously a mistake on our part! We did this the first weekend of 2009 so he was 26 months old.

eta: We were on a pretty serious mission since my mother-in-law had told me countless times and embarassed me in front of a countless number of people because I had the audacity to think I could potty train a boy before he was 3! (just boys apparently, girls can learn earlier according to her.) She'd bring it up at the most inappropriate times and just rub it in my face. Proved her wrong! :D Feels great!

ellidew

02-25-2009, 08:50 AM

I $hit you not, the Ocean Turquesa is #1 on the Travelocity top 20 this week starting at $69 per night. I told dh that it's meant to be. I'm looking at dates now!

Kimmer

02-25-2009, 10:12 AM

Ellidew: You are amazing we are going to try this method with Justin. I it will work b/c he is so excited about underpants being for big boys. His great auntie sent him several sets with Elmo on them.

rosa727

02-25-2009, 10:33 AM

organized activities: We currently do Gymboree (for about the past year), Kindermusik (since he was about 8 months old), and then the library storytime. We are about to start swim lessons (probably just for March and April since our pools here open May 1st). My mom offered to pay for them, so I was all for it! It's a Mommy and Me swim class. We will be starting Grady in 1-2 mornings of preschool in the fall, so we will probably cut one thing then. I don't like to have any more than one activity per day.

sleep: Besides the 2 days of no nap, we have been very lucky. Grady sleeps at night from 7PM to 6:30-7AM. Then he takes a 1-2 hour nap. Honestly, I would rather have the shorter nap and longer sleep at night. I like that nice stretch of adult time/sleep for me! He goes down for bed with no issues, on his own. At naps, since he had trouble, I have been just sort of rocking him after reading stories. The funny thing is, he has no problem with me putting him down awake and will lay there happily for 2 hours, talking and singing. But he does not seem to fall asleep easily during the day anymore by himself, though in my arms he falls asleep in about 2 minutes. I really don't mind - he won't be so little for long, and his nighttime habits have always been good.

potty: Grady goes on the potty sometimes, but we have not actually started "training". I think he will probably pick it up pretty quickly, based on readiness signs, but we just have not sucked it up and done it yet.

attitude: We are so very lucky in this area. I had what I considered a very tough one-year-old. Other moms would comment on how active he was and how energetic and sort of just "high maintenance". But now I have what I consider to be (and am often told be others is) a very easy 2-year-old. He has seriously never thrown a temper tantrum. His speech is great. He talks in complete (8-10 word) sentences all the time, and I know his receptive language is great too. So I think that when I speak with him about things, he really gets it. We have also pretty much cut o ut whining by saying "I can't understand you when you whine - use your regular voice" We NEVER give him what he wants when he whines, and we ignore him, so he has just realized it is pointless to do. It's funny because my mom told me that I was much harder at one than at two also.

mobox

02-25-2009, 08:02 PM

Hi everyone! Nice to see consistent posting again. I miss everyone on here! :)

PT - Nope, not yet. Sam has a potty and he knows what it is and what it's for but he's not that into it yet. I can't push it because I'm 6 weeks away from #2 and we just transitioned him to his big boy bed and I didn't want to overload him. We are going to go full force in the summer. I'm going to use the book "Diaper Free Before Three."

Food - He eats everything and I don't make special meals for him unless we are going out or eating something I know he won't eat like chili. If he doesn't eat what he gets, well, that's how it goes. He's a really good eater though. He has a sweet tooth and always asks for cookies. LOL. He loves gold fish too.

Organized activies - I work so that is something we don't do. I"ve taken him to My Gym once and he goes to birthday parties and such but he's in preschool and gets a lot of organized activities there. On weekends we go to the park or have play dates or read or play. I think some of those activies are just so overpriced! Most around here are $20 a session or more.

Sleep - He still sleeps a ton. In bed at 7:30-7:45, up at 7 and takes a 2 hour nap most days...sometimes 3.

Life is crazy for us right now as we prepare for the baby girl on the way. SAm has such a great personality and he's such a loving little guy. We have only had one tantrum and it was more just a long, loud crying jag while we were shopping for a printer in Circuit City. Good times. I think he was tired and hungry and that's what caused it and overstimulated from the bright store and all the people going crazy for the "deep discounts" of a store going out of business. It was too much for a 2 year old!

Hope all are well!!!

Teresita

02-28-2009, 09:01 AM

Good to see all the updates here. Finn is doing well. We just got back from a snowboarding vacation, which was so much fun. While we were in the mountains, there was a big storm, so we had a ton of snow. Finn loved sledding. Whenever you ask him about sledding his whole face lights up, and he says "Mama go FAST!" He did great in the resort daycare (helped that DD was there too). He is talking more and more and has a great memory--he only needs to hear a word once, and he commits it to memory. He has always had an "intense" personality, so he still has plenty of tantrums and fits, but thankfully they don't last too long. I think he eventually realizes that it isn't getting him anywhere! My DD hardly had any tantrums at this stage. I find it fascinating how two children raised in such the same way can be so different. (I also feel it lets me off the hook a bit since I can blame it on nature rather than nurture!;)) He is very affectionate and loves to give and receive hugs and kisses, especially with me and DD.

PT No, and not in any hurry. He does tell us when he poops, but he has no interest yet in sitting on the potty though he loves to flush and do a play-by-play when others are on the toilet. (Mama go pee. Mama go poop. etc.)

Teeth He is getting his two-year molars in now. I can't wait until they are fully in because I think they have been messing with his naps.

Sleep Finn sleeps from 6:30 pm until 6:30 or 7 am. His naps used to be very reliable 2-3 hour naps, but over the past couple of weeks they have been more hit or miss. Somedays he will hardly nap at all and others he will nap for four hours. I am hoping it is just due to his molars coming in since I am not ready for him to give up his nap, though my DD stopped napping at around 2.5 yrs.

Food Finn eats what we eat. He eats very well although I wish he would eat more veges. He's gotten a little better with the veges lately.

Organized Activities Finn goes to daycare/preschool three days a week, so he gets a ton of socialization there. He absolutely loves it and talks about his friends, teachers, school, etc. on the days that he is home. The school also includes a gymnastics class. Outside of that we do storytime at the library once a week and playdates, though honestly those are DD's playdates, but her friends often have younger siblings. I find it challenging to work in activities for him since I have DD with me too. Maybe when DD starts Kindergarten in the fall, Finn and I can do some of the Mommy and Me type classes.

TTC We are probably done with having kids. DH feels more certain on this than I do. A couple friends are pregnant with #3 and I sometimes think I could envision having a third. But, then at other times I feel like two is the right number for us. I'm wondering if as time goes by I will eventually feel more certain in our decision...I hope so! We haven't permanently closed any doors, so who knows if we will change our minds.

Allison I am so sorry to hear about your fall and DD's leg. That must have been pretty scary. I also am so sorry about your miscarriage. I hope the time between now and when you can TTC goes quickly for you.

Mobox Congrats on your soon-to-be-born little girl!

Rosa Grady is adorable--he looks like such a little man in that outfit.

Ellidew Congrats on the PT'ing!

lilo

03-31-2009, 11:23 AM

Hi everyone! I am so happy the weather is finally turning warmer so that we can spend more time outside!

Easter Bunny: Has anyone taken their DC to see the Easter Bunny? I'm going to try to take Gavin this week, which will actually be his first 'character' photo if you will. It should be interesting. We've talked up the Easter Bunny and even got another vehicle from the Thomas line (breakdown train if anyone else's DC is obsessed with Thomas like ours. ;) ) so he liked that. We dyed some Easter Eggs this past weekend, which he had a blast with. I put together a Easter basket and we will have a Easter Egg hunt at my parents house with some other family friends. It should be fun since DS loves to find things that are hidden.

Organized Activities: We just started soccer lessons for DS and it's going pretty well. It takes him a few minutes to warm up to the class but I think it's great challenge for him since he is pretty much bored with Gymboree and Little Gym. DS does plenty of other organized activities at preschool too but it's still nice to do some on the weekends. I'm thinking about swim lessons for the summer.

Big boy bed: Has anyone transitioned to the big boy bed yet? My parents just recently bought DS this toddler bed:

http://www.modernseed.com/oeuftoddlerbed.html

I also bought the transport bed set from Dwell:

http://modernkid.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=5161

I'm excited about switching DS to the big boy bed, but also nervous. If anyone has tips, let me know!

I can't believe our little ones are almost 2 1/2! Ack! What happened to our little babies?

rosa727

03-31-2009, 01:14 PM

Easter: We haven't been to the bunny yet this year, but we brought Grady to sit with him the past 2 years, and he loved him both times. I'll definitely be bringing him, especially now that I have his Easter outfit all set. We will be dyeing some eggs, probably closer to Easter. Then our neighborhood does a big egg hunt, but we also plan on doing one in our backyard like we did last year. Grady's friend will be coming over on Easter for that. He has a nice PBK Easter basket with his name on it that I plan on filling. I don't really want to give much candy though, so I guess I need to get looking for some little gifts. Grady loves Thomas too and has a Thomas train set and table, so I may get him a few new pieces for that.

big boy bed: No - we will be waiting until closer to 3 for that. Grady LOVES his crib, so I figure why mess with that? I have no concerns he will try to climb out or anything since I often can barely get him out of there in the morning. But his crib converts to a toddler bed and then to a full headboard, so I think the transition shouldn't be bad. It will be basically the same space he was in before.

katmg

03-31-2009, 03:05 PM

big bed - we switched C. at Thanksgiving when she was almost 23 months. I didn't want to since she was doing great in her crib, but with a new baby on the way, I didn't want to put it off. The transfer went great- really easy! I was pleasantly surprised. Good luck! :)

AmyE

03-31-2009, 08:44 PM

katmg - I'm glad to hear it went well! We're putting Ben and Julia in big beds at the end of April. I KNOW Ben will be coming out of his room several times a night. oy. BUT, we move in mid-July, which means 3 weeks with family then 3 weeks in a different place for some training for us then into temporary quarters in the new city then FINALLY into a house...and I just can't stomach the thought of PNPs or renting baby cribs for what will be 12 weeks in 4 different places!

Easter - we're doing a basket decorating and then Easter games brunch with friends and colleagues the Sat before Easter, then just some egg hunts at home. I don't think the twins will "get" it, really, but their big brother sure is excited!

mobox

04-01-2009, 08:05 AM

We moved to a toddler bed in February. Sam loves his new bed and has done very well in it. He did well for a week without getting up then figured out that he could get out so there was a tough weekend but we ended up putting the baby gate across his door for a week and now he doesn't get up at all anymore, naps or night. He's done so well.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3645/3404673168_ce09228875.jpg

Teresita

04-01-2009, 10:31 AM

Easter We'll do an egg hunt in a local park the week prior to Easter. Then on Easter itself, my church has an egg hunt for the kids as well as a butterfly release (which is really cool for the kids), where each kid unfolds a paper/envelope thing and a monarch butterfly will fly out. often the butterflies perch on your hand as they get acclimated. My DD LOVES this and I think DS is now old enough to enjoy it more, too. Then at home we'll have the kids discover their Easter baskets left in the backyard as well as an egg hunt. And, of course the kids and I will color eggs and maybe do some Easter-themed crafts. We've already put the gel clings in the windows.

Big boy bed Nope and in no hurry. We don't have another baby coming, DS loves his crib and is an awesome sleeper, so I don't want to mess with it. When the time comes, his crib will convert to a toddler bed. When DD made the transition it was completely smooth, no problems at all. Hoping for the same with DS!

lilo

04-01-2009, 11:01 AM

mobox: Sam is adorable! what a great picture. My DH doesn't believe me that we need to get a baby gate but from all of my friends, they all say yes, get one! Did Sam cry initially when you put up the gate to his room?

ausi2b

04-01-2009, 12:48 PM

Hi Lilo and everyone else! We're transitioning DS to a big boy bed next month. We're moving to a new house and just figured that would be the right time to do it. He sleeps great in his crib, so I'm scared, but we're traveling for Memorial Day weekend and I don't want to have him try to sleep in a pack 'n play. Haven't thought much about gates ... But I guess I'd rather put one on his door than at the top of our new stairs ... Hmm something to think about!

RubberSoul

04-02-2009, 07:36 AM

It is great to see how everyone is doing! The little ones are growing up so fast.

Ian is doing great. He is a little dare devil though and climbs on everything. We had a second trip (the 1st was for a fever of 105.1 at 13 months) to the ER a few weeks ago when he fell into his toy box and split his forehead open. He had a cut about an inch long that went all the way to his skull. The incredible thing is that it didn't bleed for all that long and Ian stopped crying within 5 minutes after it happened. He had a gaping hole in his head though so we had to take him to have the cut glued together. The NP wanted to do stitches, but I didn't see that going too well and asked that they use the dermabond instead. It has healed well, but he has a big scar that will hopefully fade over time.

Big boy bed - He has been in his toddler bed since Thanksgiving and it went well at first. About a month ago he started getting up after we would put him in bed and coming out of his room. We have to close his door because we have an open living room to the second story of our house. He would also climb over a gate. At first we locked his door and that kept him in for a while, but then he figured out how to unlock the door. So, we ended up turning the doorknob around and locking him in that way. He still tries to open the door and when he realizes he can't he jumps back in bed and plays for a while before falling asleep.

Easter - We haven't tried taking Ian to see the Easter Bunny and we didn't try Santa at Christmas. He is very wary of strangers and probably wouldn't be down with us trying to get him to sit on a strangers lap. Maybe we will take him to the mall and see if he is interested in the Easter Bunny. I will probably dye some eggs with him and do a hunt in our backyard. I will also hide an easter basket for him to find.

mobox

04-02-2009, 07:47 AM

Did Sam cry initially when you put up the gate to his room?

No, he never cried. He would come to the gate and shake it a bit to see if it would open but then he'd just go back to the bed after a minute or two. We haven't taken it down yet. We mostly don't shut it (except naps) and before I go to bed, I make sure it's open so he can come in our room in the morning (he's our alarm clock on the weekends:p). I always know at naps if he's tried to come out because his door is open (we pull it to). I think we've got about a couple more weeks with the gate and then we'll take it down. I'm curious to see what will happen when baby two comes in about a week...will it disrupt his sleep?

lilo

04-02-2009, 12:47 PM

hi Ausi! Long time no talk! Drop me a PM when you get a chance! We need to get our toddler boys together one of these days! :)

ausi2b

04-07-2009, 06:22 AM

Lilo - tried sending you a PM, but your account won't allow for PMs. Are you on LJ? I'm the same name over there ... otherwise PM me or send me your email addy! :)

AmyE

04-12-2009, 07:35 AM

This is probably too early and I'm almost certainly jinxing it...but I'm ready to declare Ben is potty trained! It's been about a week, and he HATES wearing diapers. He's really excited to be in underpants and is doing great. He even makes us get him out of the pool (ethical dilemma for mommy at the third time in 45 mins..Ben, can't you just pee in the pool like everyone else???). He's been in underwear except for naps and bedtime, and is so distressed when he wakes up - he's literally crying and crying that he needs to pee in the potty, not in his diaper. I feel so badly for him!

Julia....well, she's a work in progress. She demands to be in underwear because Ben is, but she's not even close. Pooped on her big brother's floor today, in fact. Sigh.

mobox

04-13-2009, 08:22 AM

Amy--I'm so jealous. Sam doesn't even want to try. I'm getting ready to start the book called "Diaper Free Before Three."

lilo

04-15-2009, 01:37 PM

mobox: Don't feel bad. Gavin is not really into the idea of potty training although I am not pushing it at this point. Let us know how the book is. I should probably invest in a book but I am hoping that just going diaper free one warm weekend this summer will do the trick. ;) Probably wishful thinking on my part.

Teresita

04-15-2009, 03:55 PM

mobox and Lilo I am right there with you--Finn has zero interest in PTing. He tells me when he is pooping, and I usually ask him if he wants to use the toilet and he always says "NO toilet!" quite adamantly. I too am hoping that summertime naked play will help him be more open to the idea.

katmg

04-15-2009, 04:54 PM

We got Elmo's Potty Time DVD for Easter on a recommendation from my mom's group. C. also got big-girl panties in her Easter basket. She is somewhat interested in PTing but I'm not quite ready to go diaper-free yet. She usually tells us after she has peed that she needs to use the potty. sigh. I'm waiting until DH is at work to start this - he is at home full time right now. I think it will work better if only one of us is "in charge" for this transition. And I don't think he is patient enough for this! :p

I'm interested to hear how the book turns out Mo. I haven't bought one yet and I'm also hoping that this will somehow just happen. :o

mobox

04-16-2009, 03:57 PM

Yes, we got that Elmo video for Xmas and I need to have him watch it more. He does the same thing "No big boy toilet." He stopped telling us he pooped too. I guess it doesn't bother him enough to make him want to use the toilet!

rosa727

04-16-2009, 04:17 PM

Grady has sort of regressed too on the PTing. I think it is normal to have that initial excitement and then a set-back. He sits on the potty a lot, but never goes on it anymore. I think we need a book, but we won't start until after our 2 week vacation in about 6 weeks. I don't want to be PTing while we are trying to do all sorts of fun things.

bijouparvin

05-20-2009, 11:51 AM

Subscribing after a loooooong absence. It's amazing to see all these little nuggets getting so big! Hoping to keep up here and post more when time allows.
Congratulations to those with new babies or TTC #2!

mobox

05-21-2009, 12:49 PM

Yay!!! We had two pees in the potty in a row. that's a small miracle over here. How about posting some new pics of our little toddlers???

bijouparvin

05-21-2009, 04:28 PM

mobox - congrats on the potty pees! That's a great feeling, isn't it?

Here's a recent one of Molly. She got her face painted at a Pow Wow while visiting grandma in Oregon for Mother's Day:

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b371/bijoudiva/IMG_1605.jpg

lilo

05-26-2009, 08:31 AM

bijouparvin: that's a gorgeous pic of your DD!

mobox: that's awesome! We are going to more actively try potty training with DS this summer so we'll see how it goes. How is life with two little ones???

rosa727

05-26-2009, 10:33 AM

bijouparvin: beautiful picture!

Not much new with us. We are officially TTC baby #2 now, so I'm excited about that. Grady is doing great, really. He is still quite a talker. He amazes me with his speech. He's starting to know his letters, though at this point he can only point out about 5 or 6 with regularity. He can, of course, say the alphabet song though. He is asking "what does that say?" more and more, so I think he will be picking up more letters soon.

We will officially start PTing when we get back from our upcoming 2 week trip. But he goes on his potty almost every night now. He's doing both #1 and #2 in there, so that's good. I *think* he will be more than ready when PT in a few weeks.

He's also obsessed with being naked. The other day we were playing in a neighbor's backyard. He sat down, ripped off his shorts and swim diaper, and ran across their lawn yelling "I'm nudie!" and giggling. He's too much.

He also loves flowers and will help me plant all the time. And when he goes anywhere with DH that they sell flowers, he insists that they buy some for me. I get more flowers now than I ever did before he came along :)

Here is a cute recent picture because I love pictures!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3357/3567549276_a7ea5a6a56.jpg?v=0

mobox

05-27-2009, 11:04 PM

Hi!

Bijou - what a lovely pic!

Well, let's see...life with two is crazy, hectic, time consuming (as if one isn't!), stressful, scary. But ultimately, it's all good!!!

PT--We are in full effect and we start pull ups and training pants next week. At school, he is now asking to go pee pee but he doesn't do that here yet. He keeps saying he want to poo in the toilet but it hasn't happened yet!

Samuel is still a joy although he is becoming quite a handful. I know a lot of it is vying for attention, so I try to be sensitive to that. His teachers tell me he is a very descriptive talker...naming things by color (a green grasshopper, a red apple) and shape. We play the "letter game" in the bath and he can name all the letters that I hold up except for V, T and sometimes Y and he mixes up W and M. He LOVES to sing and right now his favorites are Frera Jacqua, Haru Ga Kita (a Japanese song from The Wiggles), and Ring Around the Rosy (LOL). He likes when I sing to him and I make up songs about his cousin Ryan, riding trains, and balloons. He also loves when I sing the Oompa Loompa song. He's obsessed with his Thomas trains and also the Little People dinosaur set. Wants to "cook with Mommy" and when I make dinner he drags in his stool and wants to stand at the counter and "help." He says please, thank you and you're welcome and also often apologizes without prompting if he's interrupted or done something he knows he shouldn't. He's a great big brother and talks about Piper all the time. Tonight we read "My World" and he pointed to the train on the last page and said, Samuel is riding the train. I said really? And he said with Ryan, Mommy, Daddy and Piper. It was too cute.

He's such a joy to be around. That is, when he isn't splashing me at bath time. Grrrrr.....

Here's the funny face he made when I told him to smile.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2441/3572694676_28b7d8d798.jpg

bijouparvin

05-28-2009, 05:36 PM

lilo - Thanks! My hubby took the shot. He's got the eye for those things more than I do.

Rosa - He looks like such a little man! That's very sweet about the flowers. Wish my family was in that habit!

mobox - I love the name Piper! We considered it briefly but since our last name begins with a P, it was just too alliterative for DH.

Potty - We're pretty good on that front, but it's confusing. DD has been in underpants since November and is pretty reliable but she's gotten into this pattern where she'll be totally dry for four weeks or so and then have three or four accidents within a few days. Then dry for weeks on end again. Not sure what makes the difference but I keep comparing it to being on a diet when you fall off the wagon and so you think, 'what the heck?' for a while and just break all the rules.

Songs - Every night, I have to sing four songs for bedtime. DD is obsessed with Madagascar, so there's an Alex song (to the tune of "Across The Universe"), a Gloria song (Bach Minuet in G), a Marty song ("My Girl"), and a Melman song (a lullaby about giraffes that I've been singing to her forever and just somehow became the Melman song). Aside from those, she likes the Little Einsteins theme song, Twinkle Twinkle, Wheels on the Bus, and Elmo's Song. My husband is pretty tone deaf so I'm hoping DD can carry a tune. So far, so good!

mobox

05-29-2009, 09:22 PM

One of my best friends took Sam to see Elmos LIve today. He loved it! He talked about it the rest of the day. That was barely eclisped with talkin about McDonalds where she took him for lunch. LOL. Anyway, his favorite character is The Count so he kept asking me to talk like the count tonight. too cute.

rosa727

05-31-2009, 11:47 AM

mobox: I wish Sesame Street Live was coming here this summer! Grady would love it. That's great that Sam got to go. We are actually headed to Sesame Place (the Sesame Street theme park) in 2 weeks, and I think Grady is going to flip out when he meets all the characters. He loves SS so very much. That's so funny that Sam wanted you to talk like the Count. Grady is always asking me to make one of his toys talk to him or to talk like some character. It's actually quite tiring!

Teresita

06-01-2009, 12:06 PM

MoboxCongrats on the birth of your DD! Glad your DS is loving being abig brother. Watching siblings bond is the sweetest thing!

I love all the photos. Here's a recent one of Finn feeding the animals at the zoo.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3372/3586605788_c33f28112e.jpg?v=0

Kimmer

07-28-2009, 09:26 AM

Hi everyone long time since we have been here but I have announce we have a fully potty trained boy! he is so proud of his big boy "udder-pants". I was afraid with the new babies he would regress but he is actually more independent. He wants to do everything for himself.

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g222/Kimmer30/DSC00302.jpg

mobox

07-30-2009, 02:48 PM

Congrats Kimmer!!!

pattern where she'll be totally dry for four weeks or so and then have three or four accidents within a few days.

We are here. I'm finding that PTing is the hardest thing I've had to do so far. I have to muster up a LOT of patience. We just have to remember to keep taking him ever couple hours. He always goes, but poop we are still working on.

Kimmer

07-30-2009, 05:45 PM

mobox- I totally understand we have been working on this for MONTHS! I wanted to just give up so many times and you know everyone in my family had to add in their two cents.

lilo

07-31-2009, 04:54 AM

Kimmer: congrats!! Do you have any tips or tricks to share?

We are about to start potty training full force this weekend. I actually bought Potty Elmo (this thing is hilarious. You give Elmo his sippy cup and he goes potty in this little toy potty) and the Potty Elmo DVD. I also found a Bob the Builder toilet seat that you put over the big one (we are also using a little potty) and DS was excited about that and peed in the big toilet last night! Yay! We haven't pushed the idea too much on DS but definitely try to encourage him to go on the potty every once in a while. This weekend though I'm finally going to buy DS some underwear (where did our babies go???!!!) and stay home for most of this weekend. The good thing is that most of his buddies at school are going potty so I'm hoping the peer pressure helps too.

But I would love to hear from everyone what has worked the best and what's not worth it. I've heard NOT to do training pants.

ausi2b

07-31-2009, 11:51 AM

We're starting PT full-time on Monday. DS goes about 80% of the time on the potty, so I know he's ready. We're going to stay home for a few days and let him run around in his underwear (we bought about 12 pairs). If he wets them, I don't make a fuss. If he stays dry and goes in the potty, he gets a sticker on his chart. Once he gets 5 stickers he gets a lollypop. I'll keep you updated as it goes. The ELMO Potty DVD was extremely helpful for us!

Kimmer

08-02-2009, 07:03 AM

rosa727

08-02-2009, 09:39 AM

Naps:Are most of you dealing with some nap struggles now? Grady has always been a good sleeper and does still sleep 11-12 hours at night, but his naps are so darn erratic! One day it will be 3 hours and the next, no nap at all! I think it is probably just the age though.

potty:Another question - Grady has gone consistently on the potty every night (usually pee and poop) for about 4-5 months now. He goes when he is already naked, just before his tub. He seems happy to do it and excited each time he goes. However, he never wants to use the potty during the day. Even if you can tell he is about to poop and you say "let's go to the toilet", he screams and cries like we are torturing him. I don't want it to be a forced thing, so what do I do? Assume he needs some more time and just back off (continuing potty at bedtime, of course) or put him in underwear so he will be uncomfortable when he wets himself?

pictures: It's been a while since I posted any, so here are a couple. Despite my two issues above, he is an absolute joy - outgoing, funny, and very lovey.

from a recent professional shoot (by my amazingly talented friend)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3481/3781748700_36971458cd.jpg

a candid one

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2438/3778917582_6f21a26229.jpg

We are also still TTC#2, so I hope I have some good news soon!

lilo

08-03-2009, 10:04 AM

Lilo- we did the Elmo Potty Time DVD ( I can recite it by heart:rolleyes:) and I used fruit snacks as a reward for #2 in the potty. He would get ONE chewy (not a bag, my husband was handing out full bags for a poop:rolleyes:)

I know some people don't like to use a reward system but poops were the hardest for us and that really helped get him over that last hump. After a week he stopped asking for the fruit snack.

what a great idea about the fruit snacks as a reward. I think I'll give that a try. How often did you have DS watch the Elmo DVD? Every night? A few times a week? How long did you take you to potty train approximately? A few months?

potty training update: I went out this weekend and bought some super cute Thomas and Cars themed underwear for DS. It was definitely a big moment for me. :D My baby is really growing up! We actually let him run around the house in his underwear and he did great. We asked him every now and then if he had to go potty and he would. I also bought pull-up diapers to use for naps and bedtime so that he could pull them off and on when he got up to go to the potty.

Question about pull-up brands: Which ones are the best? I bought pampers and they seem pretty cheap and the elastic sides seem to rip easily. Is Huggies better?

naps: Luckily we're fine in the nap department but I'm sure a lot of it has to do with the fact that DS goes to daycare. Peer pressure is glorious. :p I just wish the peer pressure to potty train would also take suit! In any case, all the toddlers in DS's classroom take a daily nap from about 1 to 3pm which really helps us. DS gets worn out by all the activity there and naps like a champ, even on the weekends although it varies on what time he goes down on the weekends.

Rosa: My DS is asleep usually by 8:30/9pm and wakes up around 6am so with his 2-3 hour nap, he gets about 11 hours in total as well. Have you thought about putting him down for naps a little later in the day? We used to try to put DS down on the weekends around noon or so, but unless he is really wiped out, I don't try to put him down these days until closer to 2pm and he fights it a lot less. I understand your frustration. Naps are so imperative--for all of us!

rosa727

08-03-2009, 10:22 AM

lilo: I almost wonder if Grady is just getting enough sleep at night and doesn't always need a nap. If he skips a nap he will usually sleep about 13 hours that night, so I guess he makes up for it. The other good thing is that he does really well with 1-1.5 hours of "quiet time" if he doesn't nap. And he's napping right now, so yay! :)

potty: It seems like this Elmo potty DVD may be a good idea for us too. We have the Elmo potty book, but Grady just loves Elmo so maybe the DVD is what we need to give him that push. And he is going to start 2-year-old preschool 2 days a wekk this fall. Maybe the peer pressure will help, though I am sure many of those kids will not be PT'd yet.

mobox

08-04-2009, 07:12 AM

Naps - Sam still takes 1-2 hour naps every day. I never let him skip. If he's in his room, in quiet darkness and he doesn't sleep, I let him get up. But he also takes naps at daycare so there is that. I find that if I don't get him down by 1, he will FIGHT it.

PT - Potty training is going awesome. I highly recommend a naked/underwear weekend and ditching the Pull Ups completely except at naps and night. We would take him every 1.5-2 hours and now he never has pee accidents. Poop is another story. He's now starting to poop in the toilet but he's had numerous accidents. It's part of the process. You just have to be prepared for it.

One thing I recommend is start going consistently. It's not an option or a question...you just say it's toilet time. There were still occasions where Sam would protest and cry and say he didn't want to go so we didn't force him but tried again 30 minutes later. He would always come around. Now he never protests (this has been a 2-3 week process or PT bootcamp). Refusing to go is a control issue...so is holding it...so is sitting in wet underwear.

Also, the sticker chart really got him over the hump. He loved putting the stickers up ever pee/poop.

Lastly, if there is an older cousin/friend/uncle that your child loves, use them as a shining example of how great it is to use the toilet. Sam loves his cousin Ryan so we would always tell him how Ryan uses the big toilet and wears special underwear. And I bought him Thomas underwear that he gets to wear when later when he poop in the toilet...it's an incentive.

Anyway, those are my tips.

rosa727

08-04-2009, 10:19 AM

mobox: The problem with Grady is that he will protest and cry EVERY time we bring up going to the bathroom. If we try again a little later, he will just say no again. He has basically never agreed to go try unless it was at his "regular" time before bath. I just don't know how to go forward with a child who is that adamant that he will NOT go try. I really don't want to push like crazy. I feel like if he is ready, he should be willing to try.

Luckily, he has always been very excited to poop in the toilet. He hates pooping in a diaper. Actually, that is the one time when he is willing to try the toilet at other times - if I ask when I can tell he is about to poop.

We do the sticker chart too, but Grady doesn't seem to excited about it.

Maybe a little more time is what he needs.

mobox

08-10-2009, 08:33 PM

Sometimes I feel like the older they get the harder the PT is...my friend decided not to do it until her son was like 3 and half. Preschool helps A LOT because all the other kids are PTing at the same time. What about M&M rewards or something. Sam loved his sticker chart. We praised and praised him and now when he sees Daddy pee he says, "Good job Daddy." It's hilarious because that is what we always say to him.

Teresita

08-11-2009, 02:52 PM

RosaGrady sounds a lot like my DD was. It is completely normal that he doesn't want you to tell him when he should go potty. he is at an age where he wants to be independent and assert control over himself. What worked for my DD was something I read in the AAP's book on potty training. They suggest not constantly reminding or asking your child about going potty since that can, at least with some children, just add fuel to the power struggle that is life with a 2 yr old. Instead, they suggest telling them something akin to this: "Your body belongs to you. You are old enough to know how it feels in your tummy when you need to pee or poop. When you feel like that, it is your job to get to the potty. I am happy to help you if you need it, but you need to tell me you need help and it is your choice when to go to the."

That approach worked great with DD. We never made her go to the bathroom or reminded her. She liked that it was her choice, took it seriously and almost never had accidents once she got the hang of it, and it really helped diffuse the power struggle over potty stuff.

mimieliza

09-03-2009, 04:52 PM

I'm just checking in after a long absence... I'm glad to see that this thread is still active! I also posted in the Sept/Oct 2006 thread. Miranda was originally a November 2006 babe - due date was 11/10, but she was born on Oct. 30.

Miranda loves preschool, and finally mastered potty training this week. She is a fiend for Thomas the Tank Engine and loves trains, cars, trucks, things that go. She is NOT a girly girl. She can really take or leave princesses and babies.

Here's a recent pic of my girl:

http://mimieliza.smugmug.com/photos/620743360_3KDKm-S.jpg

rosa727

09-03-2009, 04:58 PM

Congrats on baby #2 mimieliza! And YAY for PTing!

Potty I wanted to update because things have completely changed around here since I last posted. Suddenly Grady just decided that he is comfortable with the potty all day (not just before bed). He has worn underwear every day for the last week and a half and only had a couple (pee) accidents! I know there may be little setbacks, but I am considering him mostly PT'd! He is even telling us when he needs to go (I have so many friends whose kids just go on the potty because they bring them constantly throughout the day). We have been leaving the house and doing our regular things too because he is fine with going in public places. I have a special portable seat we use. I am so proud of him and happy that it was a quick and painless process!

TTC#2: I'm getting SUPER impatient after 4 cycles of trying! With Grady it happened the first month. Anyway, we are hoping for a BFP this month.

mobox

09-08-2009, 03:16 PM

Hope everyone is doing well! Any big plans for Halloween or 3rd birthdays coming up?

lilo

09-09-2009, 06:30 AM

mimieliza: Miranda is adorable! How funny that she loves Thomas, trucks, and cars! Too cute. Congrats on baby #2!

rosa: Good luck with TTC#2! It took us about 4 or 5 cycles I think so hang in there!

Any big plans for Halloween: There is a local event here called 'Boo at the Zoo', which we've turned into a annual Halloween tradition. It's a fun, safe way for little ones to experience Halloween in a big city. We took DS last year and he loved it so we're taking him again. I already have his costume (a cute, personalized fighter pilot) since I bought it last year, but it was too big.

3rd birthday party plans: Gavin loves playing soccer (he's been taking lessons for a while now) so we've decided to do a soccer party! There is a indoor sportsplex near us where they have indoor soccer fields and a party room. We will hire a soccer instructor for the birthday party to do some soccer activities with the kids and then pizza and cake later. I can't believe our little ones are going to be 3!!! It's going so fast....

TTC #2: It's still very early (I haven't had my first appt. yet), but I am excited to announce that I am due with baby #2 in April 2010. I'm still going through bad bouts of nausea right now but all in all, everything is good. My first appt. is coming up soon and I am anxious to see the little bean and hear the heartbeat. Crossing my fingers that all goes well. :)

Gavin is doing great. He is talking a mile a minute and picks up so many things really quickly. We really have to watch what we say. ;) Unfortunately we're still dealing with the terrible two's but hopefully it will get better the closer to 3 he gets. We recently flew with him using the CARES system versus the car seat and it went great. It was soo nice to check the car seat so I'd recommend it to anyone. He is about to transition to the preschool room at daycare, which is exciting although we are looking into switching schools next year into a more traditional preschool. His latest obsession is the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and he's slowly losing his interest in Thomas so hopefully baby #2 will like it since we have sooo many trains and a nice train table. We're working on PTing although Gavin is in pull-ups during the day. A few more months and I think he'll be entirely PTed.

Can't wait to hear from everyone else!!!

mimieliza

09-09-2009, 10:08 AM

Well, we have had a huge potty training setback (skip this if you don't want to hear poop talk). Miranda was doing great with pee, but pretty much stopped pooping altogether. After five days, she was screaming in pain and really resisting the urge to go. I called the on-call ped and gave her the yucky treatments they suggested. It worked, but it was HORRIBLE. She screamed in pain for an hour, her whole body was rigid and sweating. I have never seen her in so much pain. I cried right along with her the whole time. So, per the ped's suggestion, she is back in pull ups and on a stool softener so that she can just go like she's used to. We're going back to the doctor this week to come up with a game plan for how to get back on track with the potty training.

Argh. I swear, kids should come with warning labels or something! I had no idea such things could happen with potty training.

TTC#2: I'm getting SUPER impatient after 4 cycles of trying! With Grady it happened the first month. Anyway, we are hoping for a BFP this month.

It took us awhile for number 2, so I understand your frustration. I have some fertility issues anyway, so after six months my OB put me on Clomid. We conceived on the second Clomid cycle. :)

Hope everyone is doing well! Any big plans for Halloween or 3rd birthdays coming up?

Miranda's birthday is the day before Halloween. We're just going to do the regular trick or treating for Halloween (she's going to be a penguin), and then have a birthday party for her at this place called Bouncing Off the Wall (all inflatable bouncy castles and slides and stuff).

mimieliza

TTC #2: It's still very early (I haven't had my first appt. yet), but I am excited to announce that I am due with baby #2 in April 2010. I'm still going through bad bouts of nausea right now but all in all, everything is good. My first appt. is coming up soon and I am anxious to see the little bean and hear the heartbeat. Crossing my fingers that all goes well. :)

Congrats on #2! I'm really happy to be in a due date thread with you again. :)

rosa727

09-09-2009, 11:03 AM

potty: We are at about a month in underwear and doing well! Grady has been accident-free for about a week. The nice thing is now he actually tells us when he needs to go, so we don't need to keep him on a potty schedule. The biggest thing to me is that he started preschool yesterday (2 mornings per week) and didn't have an accident! I thought for sure he would. So I am declaring him daytime potty trained already. I can't believe how easy it was for us. He was very resistant to it several months ago (except for before tub time, which he has been doing for a year) so I never anticipated that it would happen so soon.

birthday: We are doing a train-themed party, at Grady's request. He said he did not want Thomas, just "regular train". It is funny eh said that because he does like Thomas. But I am happier with that anyway. We plan to get a trackless train since we have a very big backyard. It comes with a driver that will give the kids rides during the party. We are going to risk it and do it outside. November here is usually in the 60's, which should be nice.

Halloween: Grady asked to be a pumpkin. I have no idea how he knew that went with Halloween since this was well before Halloween stuff was even out in stores. But if you ask him, he always says he is going to be a pumpkin. So now I just need to decide whether to make it or buy the PBK one. We have a "Boo in the Zoo" too at our zoo. We are members and there is a special night just for members, so it won't be too crazy. We will also TOT in our neighborhood since we live in a development that is very safe. They even shut down the streets to traffic during TOT time. You have to park your car at the pool and walk to your house if you get home during that time! It worked great even last year. The big struggle is just getting G to stay up that late, since he is usually in bed at 7PM. It stays light here really late too, so that's a problem. We don't want to TOT in bright sunshine!

naps: Have been better. I have just accepted that he will nap some days and not other days. If he doesn't nap we put him down 1/2 hour earlier and he usually sleeps about 6:30PM to 7:30AM on those days. So he makes up for it. And he does "quiet time" if he doesn't nap, so I still get a break.

TTC: No news yet, but I am using an OPK for the first time this month. I think we are on cycle #5, so I am getting impatient for sure!

allergies: I also wanted to mention some good news. I'm not sure how many of you remember or knew that G had some food allergies, but he was off of soy AND dairy for a while. Well it seems that he has outgrown them and can now eat everything. That is SUCH a relief!

And here is a recent picture of me and Grady at our beach house that we rented in Hilton Head

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3430/3827212360_6b4f64e62f.jpg

sunshine0928

09-09-2009, 12:08 PM

Hi everyone..so nice to hear what the kids are up to! I am not sure where to start but this will be short since naptime for both kids is about over. I has DS (Jack) 3/16 and also am now a SAHM. The adjustment has been fine especially with so many fun things to do here in the summer. Grace starts preschool next week so I am looking forward to her getting back in somewhat of a routine with that. She's been exhibiting some terrible 2 behavior so I am hoping that will help b/c supposedly she was a complete angel at daycare all of the time.

I have started of thinking about Grace's b-day but just ideas floating at this point.

PT: We have been trying for awhile. She will use the regular toilet and likes to go at public places (i.e. restaurants, stores, etc) but is very inconsistent at home so I am hoping preschool will help as she does well when she is around other kids that are PT'd. I may also just bite the bullet soon and just put her in underwear except at night and just get it done. She'll do fine for days and then will relapse and will just say...maybe next time, not today.

Halloween: I think she may be Little Red Riding Hood but she was wanting to be a pink bat ??(..the flying kind, not the baseball type)

Good luck to all TTC...I took Clomid with both of mine so know how frustrating it can be.

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k207/sunshine0928/September2009067.jpg

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k207/sunshine0928/September2009035.jpg

ausi2b

09-10-2009, 07:15 AM

Congrats Lilo! Very excited for you - and all the talk of boo at the zoo makes me miss home so much!

Can you tell me which train table you got for your DS? We're looking into them for birthday this year.

lilo

09-11-2009, 11:19 AM

mimieliza: Poor Miranda! Gavin has been constipated a few times (not due to potty training, but in general) and it's the worse thing ever. Like Miranda, after a day or two, it will be really bad but he'll resist going because it hurts so bad. :( I cry along with him too.

And I am so excited to see a familiar face too in our thread! I have to say that all of ladies in that thread are super nice. :)

rosa: You are so lucky to live in a warmer climate for the winter months and can do the birthday party outside. Very cool about the trackless train. I've never heard of something like that. The kids will love that, I'm sure.

Halloween: I'm so excited about Halloween this year because I think, for the most part, DS will really get it and will love picking out his pumpkin and decorating it. We go pumpkin picking every year, but I feel like this year it should be extra fun. For me anyway. ;)

Is anyone thinking about hosting a small Halloween party for the little ones? I've thought about it but since we're having Gavin's birthday party at the beginning of November, I think it will be too much. But I'd really like to host a Halloween party one year.

sunshine0928: congrats on baby #2! I love the name Jack. Grace is gorgeous! I love that 2nd photo.

ausi2b: Thanks! You're so sweet. I'm excited too but still super nervous since I haven't had my first appt. yet. How the heck are you? I have a new email address so I'll PM you.

Train table : We have this one in the honey color and it's held up really well.

http://www.walmart.com/Kidkraft-Train-Table/ip/4200573

we also bought these drawers in the honey color to go underneath and they've been great and fit so much:

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=11163381