May 2008 Mommies: Our Babies Have Bloomed!

[ironhair]

Smile - I know exactly what you are going through! My house is embarrasing to say the least, I think I have cooked a total 4 meals since returning to work 3 weeks ago, and getting out the door on time each morning has proved a much bigger ordeal than I imagined. Everyone keeps saying that it will get easier, but I'm still waiting...

TV? - DD doesn't watch TV, yet. But, we really don't have time for that during the week. On Saturday mornings DS turns the Disney Channel on, but I haven't sat DD in front of it yet - maybe I should try that, I might get a shower in before noon:rolleyes:

[MrsBeckyLP]

She is making gorgeous little cooing noises, and is very smiley. In the morning when I go in to get her out of her crib, she gives me huge smiles as I unswaddle her, and then does some very luxurious stretches. Too cute!

Sounds just like Maddie. Doesn't it melt your heart?? :D

smile- I'm sure things will get easier for you! To tell you the truth, I'm starting to worry about myself, and I only have one kid. We have three more weeks of my mom being here, and then we're on our own. I know I'll be able to handle it eventually -- though the appearance of my house might suffer a bit in the meantime -- but it sure has been nice having my mom around. She's been doing laundry, dishes, cleaning and making meals! It's unreal. One day she didn't unload the dishwasher, and DH asked if they were clean or dirty that night. She said, "Oh, shoot, I forgot to unload it today." I looked at her and said, "What the hell? We pay you good money you know!" ;) (We're not paying her anything, because there's no way she would let us.) She laughed. There's no need to be SuperMom -- just enjoy your kids, because you'd rather them remember you as the fun mom than the stressed out one!

TV- Maddie will look up at it once in a while when she's in her swing, but she doesn't really watch for long. I do have a few Baby Einstein DVDs I should try putting in again for her. Last time I put them on, she hardly looked at the TV. She loses interest rather quickly. Tash, I put Maddie in her swing while I get breakfast for myself too. She's actually good at entertaining herself, and I think that's a good thing. It allows me to get some things done around the house. There are times she prefers to be lying down in her PnP or her Rainforest Gym, sitting in the Bumbo or swinging, rather than being held.

Us- Well, I have four more hours of work, and then we're headed to my hometown for this wedding I'm in. Ah, this should be fun. At least I won't look the worst of everyone in this dress; one girl is about 17 weeks pregnant, and there are a few others who are chubbier than me! :p BFing and pumping should be interesting. I think I'm going to have to take off the dress every time I do it, because I don't want to chance getting milk on it!

I didn't get to bed until 11 p.m. last night because I was busy packing, and Maddie was nice enough to STTN for me so I didn't have to get up and feed her. What a good girl! She must have known. ;)

[Lolly]

RachRich, so happy to hear surgery #1 went well. Yes, please post some of those cute pics!

smilewithme, I think I could have written your post! Oh and does you DD go to a Kindercare by chance? Mary has water-play on Thursdays too. What I'm trying to do now for the morning rush is to get as much done as possible at night. So all bottles get prepared and labeled, all my pump stuff is clean and repacked, and I pack up my own work bag too (sometimes I even manage to make myself lunch too). I put all those bags by the front door so in the morning the only I have to do is put the bottles in the cooler bag and get my lunch out of the fridge. Then I put all of that in the car before I get the girls up and ready. I usually do have to wake DD1 up so it works out well, especially when DD2 is cooperating also. Anyway, I could have seriously written your post word for word! I want to do more but I just can't at the moment.

anemone and tashaw, do you refer to daycare centers as creche and your baby sitters as child minders? All this language talk makes me really miss my bro and his family.

QOTD: TV? Do you let your DC watch? DD1 doesn't really pay too much attention to it still. And I suppose DD2 may 'watch' a little while DH and I are but I haven't set her in down for that purpose. A few times with DD1 I have tried to get her to watch a program (too keep her occupied so I can get some things done) but she still would rather play with her toys instead which I am fine with.

Dettes, have a great time! Getting a whole house for al of you sounds great. I love that there are tons of REALLY nice huge houses there from Nags Head up to Corolla. Where will you be staying in OBX? The last few years we've been staying in Nags Head. This year we're not going to the outer banks and instead going back to Myrtle Beach. Anyway, hope you have a wonderful vacation.

Becky, have fun at the wedding. Can't wait to see Maddie pics and yours too! (I'm certain you'll look fantastic in that dress).

Someone mentioned size F cups! :eek: While I am only a D or DD (depending on the day), I must say that I love having breastfeeding BB's! They make the rest of me look so much smaller than I really am :) I do think I need to get a better fitting bra though. I think my band size is incorrect. I'm wearing a 34 D today and it seems that is not tight enough under my BB's and around my back. However I really don't think I'm a 32...Obviously I should go for a fitting. I think the ladies at Nordstroms are trained well (unlike say a VS store nearby) so I think I'll go there this weekend.

[smilewithme]

Thank you ladies. I was coming in here to delete my earlier post because I felt I was complaining for no good reason and didn't want to be a downer on the thread! It was late when I wrote that and today is a new day so I'm optimistic.

DH offered to take DD to daycare for me this morning because he was going to work earlier than me. So that alleviated a lot of pressure and I only had to handle DS while getting ready this a.m. Although I did have the pressure of WTH am I going to wear? :) My wardrobe these days is interesting. Some of the things I used to wear are just a little ill-fitting and makes me self conscious. I bought some new outfits to go back to work in so that has helped, but not for my casual Fridays.

Lolly - No, DD goes to a center called Mini-Skool. Yes, we had an issue with the way they spelled "Skool", but their explanation was that it was a Canadian company and that's the way they did it. Really? Excuses, excuses! We have a KinderCare nearby as well, do you like them?

TV - We haven't put DS down in front of the TV for the purposes of putting him down in front of the TV. I think he might watch it a little bit when we're hanging out together but I think it just catches his attention. DD sometimes watches but she is not very interested in it. She would rather color or play.

[MrsSpencer]

thought I'd show some pics...ignore me and my fat butt:)

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm318/NicholasHaroldsmommy/Picture024-1.jpg


http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm318/NicholasHaroldsmommy/Picture019-1.jpg
That's DH with his step-bother..was funny had to share ;)


http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm318/NicholasHaroldsmommy/Picture008-1.jpg

[Mickey&B]

SMile I'll be right there with ya come Monday :( I can bearly get us all out of the house by 10am much less keep up with all the laundry and house stuff now! I just told DH this morning as he was giving me some excuse why he couldn't help get AJ ready for school that next week no excuses were going to work!

Mrs S Cute pics!

[ironhair]

Although I did have the pressure of WTH am I going to wear? My wardrobe these days is interesting. Some of the things I used to wear are just a little ill-fitting and makes me self conscious. I bought some new outfits to go back to work in so that has helped, but not for my casual Fridays.

I'm wearing maternity jeans today:o :( Right now I am hating casual Fridays.

[MrsBeckyLP]

Clothing for work- I bought a bunch of fat clothes while I was on leave, because I knew this would be a problem. Luckily my office is casual, so I can wear work clothes as everyday/weekend clothes. I'm still not into my pre-PG clothes, even though I've lost the weight. Actually, last night I tried on a bunch of cute tops that were too big for me pre-PG, and even they were too tight. I was quite disappointed. I guess my boobs grew quite a bit more than I thought, because most of the things I tried on were dressy tanks, and my boobs were completely smooshed! Oh, and I also tried on an old strapless bra ... that was comical.

[Standrea]

Oh, and I also tried on an old strapless bra ... that was comical.
haha! Bring out the duct tape! I think that's what i'm going to have to do for the christening next weekend. Unless I find a better dress before then.

Work clothes-not that I work, but I do like to dress nicer during the week. I've been getting away with skirts and sundresses. Shirts, even though they fit me when I was BF abbie, are now to short. What gives? I think my boobs may be smaller now then then too! Plus, I'm a good 10 pounds lighter!

QOTD-Ellie watches TV with her sister. Mainly Sesame Street. But, If she's in her swing or on her playmat and the tv is on, she is usually looking toward it anyway.

Rach-I'm so glad that the first surgery went well! I hope the second one is just as successful!

Have a nice weekend everyone! Our 5 year anniversary is tommorrow. I can't believe we've been married 5 years already!

[PGirl26]

Rach: Glad things went well with the surgery! Hoping things go as smoothly as this next week!

MrsS: Cute pictures! He's a doll

Clothes: My weight has always fluctuated, even before pregnancy. So, I have a range of clothing sizes in my closet. At my 6 week pp-checkup I was 5 lbs under my pre-pregnancy weight. Not so much anymore. I've gained at least 7 lbs while on maternity leave! Luckily, my clothes are still fitting. But I can tell they are getting tighter. I did just find out that my cousin works at a weight loss clinic and can get me 50% off! I can get phentermine pills or get the lipo shots. I'm still debating on whether or not I want to try it... but it sounds good lol.

TV: DH is bad about just sitting DD in his lap while he watches tv and of course she ends up watching it as well. But, I don't lay her down with the intent of letting her watch it. Sometimes she just turns her head and refuses to look at anything else. I've had to turn the tv off several times during feedings or tummy time because she wants to look at it.

[smilewithme]

I'm wearing maternity jeans today:o :( Right now I am hating casual Fridays.

I wore maternity jeans today too. I felt so defeated doing it, but hey, I had to go to work. They fit. What was I going to do?!!? :D I need to buy another transition pair or two of jeans because I'm sure hoping I can get this weight off.

[makena32204]

Clothes- I hit the Gap Outlet this week and got 5 pairs of work pants for under $100! Now, I just need some tops to hide my tummy. :)

TV- Nope, havent put Tristan in front of it yet.

richRach- I'm glad the surgery went well. We'll keep you in our thoughts.

MrsS-Ah, very cute pics!

I am excited to say that Tristan STTN last night from 8-7am! It may be a fluke, but I enjoyed the sleep. :D On a bad note, he's had some really hard stool lately with blood in it. Poor guy. If it continues, I'm taking him to the doctor on Monday. He's on Enfamil AR, which is super thick, so I think that might be the culprit. Does anyone else have any experience with this?

[MrsSpencer]

I had to switch nicholas to oatmeal cereal (ar is thickened with rice). You may have to switch formula and add in oatmeal cereal so it's still thick. I did this and he hasn't had a problem since.

[sophonisba9]

I've got some kind of breast infection. I had what I thought was a milk blister that just wouldn't go away. Then Thursday I started to get shooting pains through that breast and I began to feel feverish. I got in to see the doctor thinking I had the beginnings of mastitis. The doctor said it wasn't mastitis, but there is an infection. Now I'm on antibiotics every 6 hours. I have to wait 2 hours after eating before I can take it and must wait for an hour after I've taken the pill before I can eat. Basically, I'm starving all the time. I didn't realize how much grazing I was doing, until I can't eat. It hurts like the first week again when DD latches on, but if I try to skip a feeding on that side, the engorgement pain is even worse.

[MrsSpencer]

I'm sorry about the infection sophonisba9 hope you feel better soon.

[Mrs.Chappy]

Mrs. S Just got that rainforest swing..its given us a few good naps!!


TV: hell yeah..our old swing from DS1 was in front of the TV..i put him in it..tv on and he nodded off after 'talking' to the TV..now we put him in front of it whenever i need a break or take care of DS1 (like wipe a tush).

back from a weekend away. DS1 has a high fever (we did manage a fun trip blueberry picking w. both kids). Jake was in the bjorn and i worked him so that he fell asleep. Though i was sweating bullets, it was fun. DS1 managed to miss his 'girlfriends' b-day today bc of his fever :(

[Baby Lust]

I had a bad mommy experience last night! :o We went to the State Fair 1.5 hrs from here. The girls did fine on the ride there, then got hungry once we got there. I fed them both in the car before we went inside, but they still aren't super efficient when nursing so I knew they'd be hungry again soon. So when they started to fuss, I took them to the Mommy Room where you can nurse, change diapers, etc. I fed them both, but again knew they would be hungry again soon, but we were getting close to being ready to leave. So we finished up and headed to the car a little while later. Both we crying from sleep/hunger "deprivation" so I tried feeding them but they were so upset, we decided to start driving to see if that would help. They kept screaming and screaming uncontrollably, and our 2 yr old was screaming too (though we don't know why) so finally I pulled into Wal Mart, literally ran in, grabbed a can of formula and 2 bottles, ran out, and DH says "I put blankets over both of them. They were little icicles. They stopped crying immediately." OMG do I feel horrible???? I easily could have prevented that and didn't even think about it because the rest of us were so hot! :rolleyes: Ugh. But at least I can return the formula! :D I was having a little anxiety about starting them on it, but knew it was better than them starving (which in the end, they weren't!) - they ended up sleeping the entire drive home!!! Yikes.

[Standrea]

Babylust-that is kind of a funny story, although I know how you must have felt! I get so mad at my DH when one of the girls is upset and he tells me what is wrong. Aren't I supposed to be that one that knows?


Ellie had her first bottle last night. I pumped 2 oz and gave it to her an hour later. She drank those 2 oz in like 3 minutes flat. I couldnt' believe it! I'm so glad that she actually took the bottle. I was worried that we had waited to long to start, but I'm going to need DH to watch the kids in 2 weekends when I go to a wedding shower.

Happy Monday! I hope everyone has a great week! Ellie's christening is Saturday evening, and we are having about 50 people here after for the reception. I have alot to do this week, so I'm sorry if I won't be around so much!

[MrsSpencer]

we're going out friday (dh's b-day is thurs.) so that's all my plans. Except that I have to get my oil changed, new inspection sticker, and engine checked in my car!

oh and 4 new tires!

[Mrs.Chappy]

hi all..
I think DS1 had roseola..the fever left after 2 days and he was blotchy on his face..fun times

meanwhile are we nuts for booking a 'family vaccation' to Beaches turks and caicos?? We got a 1 br suite..IT is sesame street themed resort and there is babysitting during the day if we want to drop the baby there for a nap. DS1 can enjoy the camp and activities. i'm stressing abotu the plane ride. its 3.20 non-stop. ig uess that's my incentive to keep nursing unti then..i can just stick the boob in his mouth the whole time! If we are sp endnig the $$ i may as well get my body beach ready. 2.5 months should be good enough to get on that.

how's everyone else doing?

[IrishEyes]

Hello everyone! Sorry I've been MIA for a while. I was having trouble finding time to get online for a while!

Today is my first day back at work. I'm thinking of my baby a lot, hoping he's doing OK with the change to all his milk coming from bottles. We had done 1-2 oz at a time here and there. I guess he didn't love it for the first feeding, but he did a little over 3 oz at noon. I'm sort of excited about getting him more used to bottles and perhaps formula, so I can relax about going out sometimes without worrying about nursing and providing all his milk. I did pump 15 oz today at work, which will probably be enough for him tomorrow, but we're going to do a night out soon with my parents in town.

My DH took off the week to ease Carson into daycare. Carson will go to daycare each afternoon from 1-4pm, and I'll pick him up on the way home. Next week he'll go full-time. We forgot a few items (a pnp), but DH is off to buy them now.

I have to go back a few days after I saw rachrich's posts about her DS and cataracts. My cousin was found to have cataracts while a newborn, and also had to have the surgeries. He's a normal 19 year old today, but I remember how upset we all were at the time. I hope your son is doing well.

[Standrea]

Mrs.C-
I'm flying to disney alone with a 4 month old and a 2 year old. I have friends that have done it before, so I think it should be ok. Everyhting everyone told me was to just make sure to pack enough activites for hte toddler!
Have fun! I'm sure you are going to have a blast!

[Mrs.Chappy]

thx..its not til oct so he will be almost 6 mos.
Irish..good luck w/ the daycare transition

[MrsSpencer]

Anyone heard from Becky in a while?

[Standrea]

I talked to becky today. She was really busy with work. She said the wedding was awesome!

[MrsSpencer]

Just checking glad it went well!

[rachrich]

Went for a post-op appt and the dr. said his eye is looking GREAT! everything in his eye is as it should be following his surgery. we went to an optical shop recommended by Owen's dr. because they can specially order his Rx. he needs a +19 Rx, which is pretty strong. I don't know much about lens strengths but it had to be ordered. We also had him fitted for frames and he looked so cute. We were calling him Professor owen :) He should have his glasses in about a week.

Irish that's interesting, the lady at the glasses shop who helped us-her son had glaucoma at 5 months (he's 22 now) and she said it was very scary also. she was saying how they had to travel so far for treatments and things because that was the only place who could take care of that at that time. she also said that once he got his glasses his vision development jumped right back on track! which is one of my big worries, so that made me feel a bit better.

[anemone]

Rach I'm so glad that Owen's eye is healing well. I'm crossing my fingers for you that the other surgery goes equally as well.

MrsS love your pics, Nicholas is looking so cute now!

Becky I've also been in my fat clothes - I put away all my maternity stuff about a month ago. I'm actually size wise the same as I was pre-pg, but my shape has changed a little with the bigger bbs and tummy. Basically, none of my old tops are very flattering, as I normally don't have much up top...

PGirl I have the same problem with the TV - DD will basically give herself whiplash to watch it:p I try not to watch it during the day (except for when I'm nursing, to keep DS entertained and from jumping on us)

Makena Oh boy, am I jealous that your DS STTN. My DS was STTN at 5 weeks, so I'm already nursing in the night more than double what I did with him.....and no sign that she is stretching out any more either.

Sophia That infection sounds very painful. Poor you:(. when I had mastitis, it felt much like you're describing, so no wonder you thought that was what you had. I hope you get through it soon. I found pumping on that side helped with the pain.

Babylust I think we've all been there thinking of anything but the most obvious source of crying. My poor DS was very young during some really hot weather here. As I had been told to always put them in 2 layers of clothing, I did that even then...and swaddled him as well:eek: Needless to say he was sweating buckets, and DH and I were checking his temp constantly (normal) as we were sure he had a fever. It was only when I took him to the doctor for his "night fever" that he suggested we were overdressing him in the heat:o

TV watching Not deliberately. I'm not anti - TV (especially at the moment for DS to keep him occupied while I'm nursing), but I don't really like them watching it while they are really little. DD is completely attracted to the movement though, so if it's on, she really wants to watch it. I try to position her so she can't see it.

Us: I am totally over winter here. It is icily cold at night - I swear the wind is coming directly from Antarctica this year, and getting up to nurse in the night, despite our heating, is not fun. Also it's been hard to get DS outside to play, and our house is tiny, so we all suffer for that:rolleyes: The only upside is that wearing layers, and a coat means that you can cover up a lot more of the pp weight.

Tummy time is not going so well....DD just falls asleep. I think she'll definitely be a tummy sleeper once I unswaddle her and she can roll.

Anyone else wonder where the day goes? DS was in daycare today, so I could get a lot more done - but after doing the supermarket shopping, tidying up the house a little, folding 2 loads of laundry, bathing and nursing DD...that was about it for the day, and I had to go pick him up. I'm looking forward to when nursing really speeds up and I hopefully find a bit more time to get some personal time, which leads to my

QOTD Have you managed to get any "personal" time to do any hobbies or activities that you used to pursue pre- baby? I haven't yet. I'm looking forward to being able to read a book, do some sewing, more creative cooking etc. At the moment I'm too tired to concentrate for more than 20 minutes:p

[MrsSpencer]

rach-glad Owen is doing well!

clothes- I had to go buy all new clothes..NOTHING fits. Mybbs are still big, without milk in them (my mom's bbs also stayed larger), and my whole shape changed, I don't look much different than before but my hips seem bigger? Oh well, excuse to buy more clothes!

QOTD All I did before was work and play on the internet not much hobbies, so I'm back to what I did before :)

eta-I think I can say Nicholas for the most part is sttn, wakes at 6 sometimes 5:30, only wakes occ. at3 for some mommy cuddle time (lays in my bed till 6 then). eats and then sleeps till 8. I'm so happy, but still can't sleep for some awful nightmares??

[IrishEyes]

QOTD: Have you managed to get any "personal" time to do any hobbies or activities that you used to pursue pre-baby? I didn't have many (because of DS#1), though DH and I would get out for dinner once in a while. I used to get out for a pedicure or shopping once in a while, and I did do some shopping while on maternity leave since Carson sleeps well when I do that, but no pedicure yet!

rachrich - that's interesting that he's doing glasses. Did they replace his lens with a clear lens? I think my cousin did contact lenses, never glasses, and they said at a certain point they could put in permanent lenses.

clothes - I'm fitting in all my pre-prego pants (dress pants); haven't dared to try my jeans yet. I did buy some new shirts that have more length. Most of my work shirts fit, magically. I bought all new shorts this year because I love the bermuda length that's out this year (of course, being 35, I haven't done short shorts in a while). I bought around my usual size. Just one of the pair give me a muffin top (which I cover with a shirt).

[Jessiesmama]

Sorry I posted about being depressed and then fell off the face of the earth. My lap top is in the shop (I'm posting from mom's house now). Thanks for the support. I'm feeling better. Had a long talk with DH and he said I can go out at night whenever I want and he'll figure it out. Just having him say that has made me feel less trapped.

Ranch - Im so glad everything is ok with Owen! What a relief!

[MrsBeckyLP]

Attempting a few SOs here:

rachrich- Glad to hear things are looking good. We still need pics of professor Owen!!!

IrishEyes- Good idea to have DH take off to ease Carson into daycare. I hope your week flies by. (Hell, I hope my week flies by. :p)

MrsS/Andrea- Geez, I feel so popular! ;)

anemone- It's funny to think of winter at this time of year! This week is supposed to be our hottest so far this summer. I wake up sweating in the night lately, even though our a/c is blasting. I keep thinking about how I hope Maddie is consistently STTN by the time winter comes though, because I do not want to have to get out of bed then! Brr!

Jessiesmama- I'm glad to hear that you talked to DH. Now go out and get some "me time!"

The wedding was good, and I'm glad to say that I did not look too bad in my dress. I took comfort in knowing a few of the others looked worse! :p Maddie was absolutely adorable, if I do say so myself. Hell, we're all allowed to think our own kids are the cutest thing around, right?! She was a big hit. So many people told me they couldn't believe how cute and well-behaved she was. I also had a few "strangers" ask how old she was, and then they responded with something along the lines of, "Holy cow, you had her 14 weeks ago? You look great!" That made me feel good – but I didn't tell them about the Spanx-type thing I was wearing under the dress!

Without further ado ...

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k269/lp_becky/maddiewedding.jpg

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k269/lp_becky/of50590442-2-2.jpg

I think Maddie was tuckered out from the big weekend, because Sunday she went to bed at 7 p.m. and didn't wake up until 6:15 a.m. Monday! I didn't hear a peep out of her all night long. I went to bed at 8:30 on Sunday night and woke up at 5:30 Monday; that was the longest sleep I got since she was born, and it was fabulous!

I decided to go with an in-home daycare. It's the woman who posted the ad on craigslist last week. I just got a good vibe from her, and her references had nothing but good things to say about her (as can be expected from references, I guess). But I feel much better about her than the center we were going to go to. That reminds me ... I need to call the center and tell them.

[MrsSpencer]

You look so good Becky! and of course miss Maddie is adorable...you can't get much cuter than our kids! ;)

eta-she looks just like you becky!

[ironhair]

Yes, Becky, you look great! Maddie is adorable, too! She is so "filled out" I think she looks so much older than my DD! I love the bow. Alivia has a bit of long, wispy hair and I'm not sure how a bow/headband would look, but I think it looks great on Maddie.

QOTD:Personal activities/hobbies - Hahahahaha! You must be kidding, right?

[rachrich]

3rd try on this post! grr....

becky-she's so cute! love the pics
I was thinking the same thing about anemone's post. when we're having a lovely midwest winter here, she'll be enjoying summer and we'll be jealous of her! :)

here's a pirate pic ;) DH & I MASSIVELY taped him up for fear he'd accidentally rip it all off and get to his eye. poor guy has tape covering half of his face. LOL

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g283/rachee024/IMG_0334-1.jpg

[smilewithme]

I also had a few "strangers" ask how old she was, and then they responded with something along the lines of, "Holy cow, you had her 14 weeks ago? You look great!"

Holy cow, you had her 14 weeks ago? You look great! :D Um, yea...Jameson is 13 - 14 weeks old and I WISH I looked as good as you do! Maddie is a cutie-patootie!

rachrich - I would be afraid DS would rip the tape and patch off too, he's so hands-y. Owen is a cutie, I want to hug him!!!!

Personal time - Not a whole lot, but I can't complain. I have managed to get out and get a massage once and a pedicure once and a haircut/style once. I am ready for another pedicure, maybe this next one will be on my lunch hour! ;)

[MrsSpencer]

rach he is soooo cute...I wanna hug him too!

[MrsBeckyLP]

rachrich- I would be worried about the same thing! Owen is such a little honey!

ironhair- Maddie is pretty filled out. I can't believe how old she's starting to look either. Where is my baby going??!! ;) Yeah, most of Maddie's hair has fallen out, so we don't have many of those long wisps to worry about – just a few in back, believe it or not!

smilewithme- Thank you! I'm sure you look fabulous. Like I said, I was wearing a Spanx-type thing beneath the dress!

Personal time- Does running to pick up pizza and driving to/from work count?? ;) To tell you the truth, I don't feel like I need to "get away" at all. I really cherish my evenings and weekends with Maddie, and spending time away from her last weekend while I was at the wedding just about killed me. My guess is the story would be different if I weren't back at work. For the past few weeks, I have been reading in bed before I go to sleep. Now that Maddie is on a somewhat regular sleep schedule, I feel comfortable staying up a bit later. I used to try to get to bed as soon as she did, because I just never knew when I'd be getting up!

My aunt and cousins from Colorado are coming to visit tonight! They are in the state for the week, and my cousin is coming to tour the University of Wisconsin campus. My other cousins from Indiana also are visiting, so they will be joining us too, along with an aunt who lives near Milwaukee. I'm pretty excited for everyone to meet Maddie!

[MrsSpencer]

hope you have fun Becky! (I know what you mean about not needing time away, even though I don't work I miss him terribly just going to the store sometimes alone). Now though I take him with me, I'm so proud of myself!

[IrishEyes]

rachrich - Owen is such a cutie! I hope he leaves the bandage alone. I know my aunt had to keep those newborn mittens on my cousin to keep him from the bandage and scratching his face around the eye.

Becky - ditto what you said about Maddie filling out and looking old. Carson is so huge already and doesn't look like a newborn at all. I'm already sad that my last baby is growing up too quickly. I have remember to soak it all up.

What Becky said leads me to the...

QOTD: What was your baby's hair like at birth and what's happened to it since then?
Carson was born with brown hair--slightly longer than his ears and in back, it covers his neck. It's still there and I wonder if it's going to fall out. We swear the roots look like a lighter shade is coming in... We were shocked by his brown hair, since Brody is a blond and most of his hair fell out pretty quickly, too. (I was a blond as a child and DH was a red head.)

[MrsSpencer]

QOTD It's slightly thinner and alot lighter and auburn now it was really dark.

[rachrich]

Personal time i LOVE reading and scrapbooking and don't have much time for either. When I do get a free moment i want to sleep ;) Hopefully once Owen gets into a more predictable and set routine I'll shave out some daily time for my own hobbies. I'm STILL in the midst of finishing Oliva's first year scrapbook! she'll be 3 in Dec! LOL I'm hoping to finish that by the end of the year, that way I can get started on Owen's book.

QOTD Owen has very little hair, most of it being in the back and around the nape of his neck. It's dark like mine, and hasn't changed much since birth colorwise. He wasn't born with much hair (nearly bald) and it's growing slowly.

today, tomorrow and friday we'll be at Children's Hosp. And then all the madness will be over hopefully! we go this afternoon to see a genetics specialist. Owen's opthalmologist referred us just to check if there would be some carrier gene that's been dormant (no one in the fam has anything like this) which could possibly affect his brain development-and that's our big concern. DH's B/SIL live near Akron (we're about 50 min from there) and we're staying the night with them since we have to be there tomorrow morning at 6:30 for pre-surgery stuff, and then surgery is at 8:30. Friday we go back for a post-op visit and hopefully in a few days he'll officially be in specs! Olivia has been with gramma/grampa since last Wed! It's been nice focusing on Owen w/out her, but we miss her terribly and can't wait to get her back tomorrow!

Say prayers for us for another successful surgery!

[PGirl26]

Good Luck Rach! Your family will be in my thoughts and prayers! He looks so sweet , I just want to hug and love on him!

Becky: Maddie looks so cute! I love the bow as well. You looked great! I think Maddie is really starting to look like Matt. I think maybe it's the eyes.

Personal time: I really don't feel as though I need to "get away." Addesyn is such a calm baby. Rarely does she just scream or cry. My biggest thing is she wants to be held ALL THE TIME. I'm trying to break her from that. I can't seem to get alot done if I'm always holding her. So far I've only left her to go to the grocery store. DH & I had a date night over the weekend. We were gone 5 hours and I couldn't wait to get back. I would have left the movie early if I thought DH wouldn't kill me. I ran into the house once we got here and just sat there with her! I love to read and scrapbook as well. I did manage to read a book two weeks ago. Two nights ago I started working on Addesyn's baby book. And last night I organized pictures. I haven't worked on my scrapbooks in over a year. So, I'm getting ready to make Addy's first book!

Baby hair: Addy was born with quite a bit of hair. She has a ton of hair at the nape of her neck. But her hair on top fell out weeks and weeks ago. She looked like a little old man with a comb over for a while. We spiked it a few times and gave her a mohawk. I don't know what it was about that one little strip on the middle not falling out lol. But it is starting to grow back quickly..and it's alot lighter than it was when she was born.

[Kelly51703]

I haven't posted in a while because I didn't have much to say but I have been following along.

Andrew is doing great! He's started STTN about a week ago. It's so nice to wake at 8 :) He's teething though so he's been pretty fussy. He's always chewing on his fists or my hands if I'm holding him. He was Baptized last Sunday and that went well. There were only 4 others babies so it went pretty quick. We have a celebration at our house afterwards and the weather was perfect!

I can't believe that he's going to be 4 months old in a few days. Things definitely go faster with the second than they did with the first!

Personal Time / Hobbies I don't really have hobbies but I was able to get out Saturday for a pedi with my sister. We also went to the Detroit Tiger game that night. That's about all I've done for personal time. If DD knows I'm going to the store she wants to go with me. So I don't even get to really do that by myself.

Baby Hair Andrew had a full head of dark hair. It's still thick and dark on the top but he's lost a lot on the sides and back. The new stuff that is coming in much, much lighter though.

Here's a pic of Andrew from his Baptism

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3163/2716825659_0050d70ce0.jpg?v=0

Both kids are napping so I'm off to enjoy some time to myself!

[MrsSpencer]

godd luck rach!

cutie pie Kelly!

[Mrs.Chappy]

DS1 has coxsakie virus. i'm waiting for ds2 to get the fever. it sux. jakes been sleeping all day i wonder if he's coming down w/ it

jake was born w/ light hair - very little of it. now its blonde and i love it.


personal time. not much but since my sitter is here today i framed some pics. caught up on putting 6 mos of photos for ben in an album. productive day

[tashaw6]

Rachrich: Oh mommy, he is too cute. Will be praying for the second surgery!

MrsC: Hope that DS2 doesn't get sick!!

Kelly: Oh, he looks so cute in his outfit.

Becky: I love her dress!

Aren't our kids cute!!!

Personal time: I love reading, I promise myself that I will read while he is nursing but that never happens. My IL's are coming from South Africa in a couple of weeks so hoping they can babysit and we can get a date night!

Hair: DS was born with fine blonde brown hair. He lost the top and had old mans hair (so just hair by the nape of his neck). His hair is growing back brown.

And cause everyone is posting some pics of their cuties, here is one of mine:

http://www.totsites.com/totimages/36171/2267560-DSCF0768.jpg

[MrsSpencer]

he is too cute tashaw

hope jake stays well mrsc!

[E&O]

Hi all! I'm sorry I haven't really been able to read through the last few pages. We were on vacation for 8 days, then my older DD broke out in a 102 temp for 2 days, and before I knew it I was back at work today!

First day is going well. Dropping off at daycare is SOOOOO much easier with #2. No tears, although I got a gut-wrench when he gave me a big smile before I left. Since I work close by to daycare, I go in at lunch and nurse/hang out with him, which makes it so much easier to leave him.

Pumping sucks- I pumped twice (10AM, nursed at lunch, 3PM). I got a whopping 7 oz. I don't think I'm letting myself get "full" enough. I'm sending him to daycare with 16oz of milk, so 7oz is not cutting it. I'm going to fly through my freezer stash in no time.

Coop is still, STILL fighting off the remains of that staph infection. He is on his second round or oral antibiotics, but continues to break out in the blisters that pop and ooze a clear fluid. Just when we think we got one patch healed up, it starts somewhere else, or comes back a few days later on the same spot. We saw the pediatrician yesterday and she seems to think that he might be having a reaction to the antibiotic ointment we've been smothering him with. So we are supposed to lay off that for a while and see if he can finally dry-up.

I also found out today that the teacher in the infant room has a daughter with cystic fibrosis and so she is (rightly so) very paranoid about bring home anything from the babies in the class. I had to have the pediatrician fax over a note saying Coop was not contagious and OK to attend childcare. But I feel awful, like now the teacher hates Coop and is going to avoid him. it's not his fault!:(

Otherwise, he's doing great. So many smiles and giggles. And drooling bubbles like mad. We call him our rabid dog. He's just such a happy cutie.

[Mickey&B]

Hi all....

Such cute babies!

I haven't really had the time ....scratch that the energy to post since I went back to work this week. I have no internet at work yet and even if I did I don't see myself being able to get on until the program really gets going and I can hire some help.
But all is good and I am reading along!!

Hair D was born with dark hair and most of it feel out and is just now growing back a bit lighter but still brown. His brother is really blonde but it didn't change until about 6 months so we still have some time before I call it ;)

[2 Crazy Pugs]

Delurking from the September 2007 mommies:

E&O- Are you sure its a staph infection? My daughter had similar blisters that would break & ooze, and it turns out she has a skin condition called mastocytosis. She was on zyrtec for a while, is off it now, and it is better. We were told she would grow out of it.

Back to lurking...

[smilewithme]

Hair - DS was born with short blonde fuzz all over. He has kept the top fuzz a little bit, but the back is like an old man's still.

I am terrible with DS's baby book. I haven't even cracked it open. It came with one of those 12-month calendars and I filled out the month that he was born and that's it. :rolleyes: I need to get on that. With DD I filled out every teeny-tiny thing on her calendar and did so much better with her book. Maybe that will be my project for this and next weekend.

DH is getting a vasectomy on the 8th. We are dropping DD with the inlaws for that weekend to alleviate a little of the craziness at home. She won't be able to understand why her daddy can't pick her up and play with her like normal. It'll give him a few days to take it easy! :)

I hope to post some pictures of my Jameson soon...

[Mrs.Chappy]

well jake has coxsakie virus. temp of 101.4..i asked the ped if i can just rent space there!! ;)

[Mickey&B]

MrsC Oye! you can't catch a break!! Hope he feels better soon!

[MrsSpencer]

I'm sorry MrsC...I agree you can't catch a break!

[MrsBeckyLP]

I'm sorry MrsC...I agree you can't catch a break!

Ditto!

Mickey- Glad to know "all is good" and that you're surviving this week back at work. Hopefully it doesn't take too long for you to get things up and running!

E&O- I'm glad your first day went well. I wish my daycare was close by so I could nurse Maddie at lunchtime! I'm pretty envious of that.

smilewithme- I've been horrible with Maddie's baby book too, and she's my first! I feel so bad already.

Well, I just went to the bathroom, and I'm spotting. "Irregular bleeding" in the first few months is a side-effect of Mirena, the IUC I had inserted, but I have had it in for nine weeks and haven't had any to date. I really hope this isn't the return of AF. I've enjoyed not having that for over a year now. But I also know that some BFing women get AF back shortly after they return to work and aren't seeing their child as often, and I have been back to work for four weeks now.

[MrsSpencer]

Sorry if it's AF Becky.

Today is DH's b-day..he's 26 told him he's old..lol! (I'll be 26 in sept). Everything has been going well, he's almost sttn, wakes once every once in a while. I upped him to size 2 diapers the other day..so sad to see him getting so big! :( I'm sure he's close to if not over 13 lbs. Even DH has commented on how heavy he's getting. He's taking Monday off so he can have a three-day weekend, we're going out to dinner tomorrow night with his mom. Hope you girls have a good weekend.


eta...Just wondering for sake of nothing left for me to do (while ds is sleeping) is anyone on myspace?
Here's my page in case anyone is..
myspace.com/n8smybaby

[Mrs.Chappy]

I feel like i've been hit by a bus. Ive been up since 11 pm last night w/a sick baby. i think his throat is bothering him. he only wanted to nurse..then when he stopped sucking i pulled it out of his mouth he slept for a few min and woke again..refused the paci..now i'm sooo tired and DH just left for work. I hate the fact taht i have to take care of my 3 year old too b/c i am sooo short w/ him when i'm this tired. Jake is finally aslleep in the swing for now..getting him down for naps in generall consists of me swsaddling him, turning lights in bathroom off and putting hte fan and shower on to soothe him..he fights but eventually falls asleep then i put him in the swing. Talk about high maintenance. Its a tough process to go through when i'm so sleep deprived.

the fever was gone last night but its back today...101. Its terrible b/c he's even more irritable (i thought we were making headway). I know this too shall pass. Thank goodness its friday and DH will (hopefully) give me some relief. He's worknig 3 miles from home today as opposed to going into the NYC office. I've enlisted my brother to come and take mly 3 year old for ice cream or lunch or to a park fo ra n hour or so . We will be doing lots of TV watching today.

not on myspace..obsessed w/ facebook

[MrsSpencer]

I'm sorry about not getting any sleep...now ds won't sleep atall at night unless he's in bed with me..then he sttn...go figure?

eta..pic of ds watching curious george!

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm318/NicholasHaroldsmommy/Picture027-1.jpg

[MrsSpencer]

We're at the hospital - See Below:

I called my Peds office yesterday to speak to nurse about my son. I had a question about him sneezing, watery/mucousy eyes & him having a raspy chest.-(this is what preempted this Whole thing). I initially didn't know he was running a fever. Nurse told me to check his temp(rectally). I did a few hrs. later.
His temp was 100.3 - borderline feverish.

My peds. office told us to go to Children's Urgent care, so we did(due to the fact that we might need to do blood workup). They just checked him out & checked his temp 2Xs & we spoke w/the DR..
We left our house @ 7 pm to go to Urgent Care. We were there almost 2 hrs.. His temp wasn't going down & kept on going up. Due to the fact that he is under 2 mos. of age they told us to take him to the Children's Hospital. They say that because of his age, they were/are concerned because their immunity levels aren't quite developed. We had to worry about meningitis, his fever, virus/bacteria infections in his system.
We were crushed, 'cause we kind of were told what to expect(what he'd need done) from what the on-call DR. told us at the Urgent Care.

We arrived @ Children's Hosp. @ around 9:30ish p.m. & we have been there since. When we arrived his temp was 101.4 We *finally* got admitted to our room around 2:30 A.M.. today. Dh & I are emotionally exhausted & haven't hardly slept a wink since yesterday. We brought his diaper bag & boppy pillow-(which has been a godsend).

It looks like we won't be coming home till Saturday morning(at The earliest), if everything checks out o.k.. We've been there since Wednesday late night.

They did a WHOLE spectrum of test on him. My poor baby. I hated seeing him go through what he went through & seeing/hearing him cry. I held his little hand during some of his blood draws.

They did a Spinal on him & we couldn't be in the room with him. :(

He's so far had, an IV in BOTH feet, been poked at & prodded in both hands, and was catherterized. He's in an ugly baby hospital gown & is hooked up to the heart monitor & is being pumped FULL of antibiotics(ampicillin & 2 others) pretty much ALL day long. The crib is like a metal cage too.

He's fighting a Fever. We think he has/had a Virus in his bloodstream & also has a bacteria infection. We're still waiting on the last culture test & we won't know anything till tomorrow *sometime*.

He's stabilized & we gave him some Tylenol for comfort tonight & he's getting back to his old self, BUT he's not 100% yet. He's still battling his fever though. The temps keep on fluctuating. I'm hoping it breaks soon, but now he's got this nasty chest cold :(

My ped. *finally* came in today & we spoke & he'll be checking on him again for the next several days.

We just want him to feel better so that ALL 3 of us can come home! We just want to bring our healthy baby boy back & I miss my Bed!
Fingers crossed that everything is o.k. w/my baby.
Oh, and BTW, he's a BIG Boy now. He was almost 9lbs. 11 ozs.! Eek!

I'm home taking a break to shower & to grab a few things before I head on back. Dh is there right now w/him.

I'll post later when we get home and/or if I can get away to take another break.


Don't know how many of you frequent other threads..but just wanted you all to keep her and little Adam in your thoughts..that he makes a quick recovery...

[ironhair]

MrsS - What a cute pic of Nicholas! I'll look you up on myspace tonight! :) I'm on Facebook too, but it confuses me :rolleyes:

[MrsSpencer]

confuses me too..I'm on there but can't figure out how to use it ;)

[tashaw6]

MrsS: haha...was coming in here to say that DS nearly slept through the night for us (8:30 - 3) but he was sleeping on me from 12-3 so that doesn't help does it. haha! Have said a prayer for Adam.

I am on facebook not MySpace...MySpace is confusing to me...haha!

MrsC: Sorry that Jake is fighting the sleep. I wonder why babies do that? I sometimes have to put the hairdryer on for Kade. Its like a switch, he calms down and sleeps. I have to get a video of it actually. Its amazing. Mind you it only works with my hairdryer. We went to a friends house this week-end just passed and he was fighting the sleep. We tried her hairdryer and he started crying...lol!

[MrsSpencer]

THANKS FOR THE PRAYER..HE SOUNDS LIKE HE MIGHT NEED IT. as for sleeping...if he sttn with me..then so be it...if he sleeps half in the cradle he just wants his paci when he wakes and either wants to sleep with me or back in his cradle if he was with me to begin with..lol!

SORRY FOR THE CAPS...nICHOLAS HIT A KEY..gotta go..he's getting restless lol!

[PGirl26]

I'm on MySpace and Facebook both.... I love myspace but not liking facebook so much...

Here's myspace : myspace.com/mandabean26

[rachrich]

As always, I'm lovin all the baby pics! they are all so precious!

tasha someone got us that same outfit for Owen that Kade is wearing.

surgery #2 went well yesterday! YAY! it's such a good feeling to be done. went to the eye doc first thing this morning for a post-op visit and dr. says all looks as it should be. So now we go back next Friday to see how Owen is adjusting/reacting to his glasses.

We got a call from the glasses shop today saying that his lenses are in but his frames should be in tomorrow or Monday. thank goodness gas is going down a good bit (not enough IMO though) because of all the driving we're doing! I just can't wait for my little man to see us smile at him, and for him to smile back!

[MrsSpencer]

So glad to hear that his last surgery went well! I can't imagine how you'll feel to know he can see you!

[rachrich]

I can't imagine how you'll feel to know he can see you!

words can not even describe.....:) :)

[MrsSpencer]

I'm getting Nicholas' pics done next weekend..what kind of poses and stuff do you all like? I don't want to regret not getting something that could've been cute!

[MrsSpencer]

Just wanted to update everyone here on our July mommy that needed prayers...thanks to those of you (I'm sure everyone that read it) that did pray....it worked :)

Thanks Everyone for your kind words/support.

It's been a very stressful 65 hrs. from the minute we walked out of our house to go to Urgent Care & then to Children's Hosp..

We were finally discharged after 1:30 this afternoon and just got home a little bit ago.

The other night when I came home to take a break & to pick up a few things my son cried for the entire time I was gone, except for the bottle of EBM. Dh was with him. He just wanted his mommy.

We're *finally* home - All 3 of us! I can't tell you how much I missed being home & to see the 'outside' other than being cooped up in the room.

All the tests came back Negative.

So, it was just Virul & there's nothing you can do for that. For precautionary things, he was pumped Full of antibiotics intravenously, due to the fact that he is under 2 mos. of age & hasn't had his 2 mo. vacs. yet.
He no longer has a fever & he's back to his ol' self now. I'll just be keeping a close watch on him.

One thing, Dh & I are Both feeling under the weather. Both of our throats are sore & we have some sinus congestion. Our son may have given whatever he had to us. Lovely. I'm sure stress, lack of sleep & being in a dry hospital room will do that to you too! I've had this massive headache for 3 days now.

He's sleeping in his carrier for the moment & back in his own clothes. He's stinky - can't wait to give him a bath & make him smell good again :p We were going to give him a bath the night we took him in.

[Mrs.Chappy]

that's good news!

JAke's getting over coxsakie..he rash came out today..its scary (and kind of cute)..he's all spotted. we were doing well w sleeping until this happened. he's back in our bed..we start int he crib and it lasts like an hour. LAst night he was so fussy and irritable that he wouldn't settle down until after 11 (from 8)//even nursing in our bed lying down was hard b/c he was twisting and turning. i think the coxsakie gave him a sore throat.
i'm currently reading Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Weissbluth. Great book. Basically, i'm hoping to ride it our until 4 months. I think he is soooo overtired and that's where our issues begin. After 4 months i think my plan is to put him to bed early (like 6-7) but don't see how that would work w/ my toddler gong to bed around 7:30. This baby is going to have to learn to soothe himself at some point (4-6 months??), right? I'm so tired, exhausted.

RAch..glad own is doing so well. That's great to hear.

[MrsSpencer]

sorry things took a few steps back..hopefully once he feels better he'll sleep better for you.

[rachrich]

((((HUGS)))) Mrs. chappy :( I wish I could help you! It's good to hear Jake is getting better though.

We go to the ped bright and early tomorrow for a weight check (fingers crossed!) and then to the glasses shop to get a final fitting for his glasses. Should get them in sometime this week. Friday we're going to Columbus to stay with my sister and we're taking the kids to the Ohio state fair on saturday, then the zoo on Sunday. Should be a fun weekend, but super tiring.

[E&O]

Well last wee's abbreviated return to work went fairly well. It was a nice idea to start on Wednesday. But I think that now a full week of work will seem like an enternity. Our routine is settling into place, but man the nights go so fast! Between cleaning up bottles and dishes from the day, doing dinner, walking the dogs, nusing, baths, and prepping everything for the next day.... it's 9:00 before I know it. When it was just one kiddo, I had everything under control by 8:00. Who knew how much one little guy adds to the mix!

Pumping is going well. I pump about 8 oz per day. DS is drinking two 4-oz bottles per day (and I nurse him at lunch) so we're breaking even for the most part. He has his bottle around 9:00 and 3:00.

This morning I'm calling dermatologists in our area to see if anyone sees infant patient. DS is still having lingering effects from his staph infection. The skin on his elbows is so raw. We go through a cycle where the skin scabs up, then falls off. So the skin is raw and oozes. About the time the oozing stop, more scabs appear and then it starts again. I don't think the pediatrician is very concerned about this, but I am, so I want to talk to someone else about it, so I'm kind of going around her.

[MrsSpencer]

sorry about your little guy's skin E&O, hopefully they can find out what's causing it.

Can't wait to see how much your little guy weighs..and see him in his glasses rach!

One of my really good friends lost her baby at 14 wks a month before I got preg. she just found out she's preg. again. Keep her in your thoughts..I hope this is it for her.

[Mrs.Chappy]

We had our 3 month appt. Jake is 12lbs 5 oz. While he is gaining well, i totally broke down at the doctors office (my mom was with me). I'm doing baby boot camp. Totally pumping and giving him bottles so i KNOW he's getting it, then putting him in his crib for an hour - even if he's crying for an hr. (naps). Then feed him 3.5 hrs later and an afternoon nap. At night the last bottle will be between 8:00 and 9:30 and then he's doewn for the night. i will let him cry and soothe if necessary. If he wakes i'm instructed to give a few ounces of water and put him back down. I know i can't pump as much as he is taking (6 oz) but if this brings me a happy baby then it is what it is. He is totally sleep deprived and its crazy.

[E&O]

MrsC- I'm glad your doctor was able to give you a plan to follow for Jake. It sounds like it will be tough, but stay strong and best of luck to you!

[tashaw6]

MrsC: Glad to hear that the Dr has some advice for you to follow! Hope that it works. Let us know!

Us: Kade has been napping since 1pm and last night he slept from 8pm till 3am without waking so that was great. Of course it would have helped if I had gone to bed at the same time and not 11. Oh well. Also, this morning I left him on his gym and went and made some coffee. When I got back (less than a min later) he had rolled onto his tummy (from his back). My baby is growing up too quickly.

[ironhair]

MrsC - glad to hear you have a plan, here's to hoping it works!

Tasha - Wow! Rolling over?!? While I love every new step, it's always a little sad - it means they're growing up and won't be babies for long :(

I think DD may be a bit sleep deprived as well, causing her to not sleep. A few days ago I commented to DH that DS went to bed around 7:00 or 7:30 when he was DD's age and was up once at 2:30 or so to eat. DD, on the other hand is up until after 10 some nights and wakes usually twice in the night. However, Friday night DS was out with DH and my MIL, and the house was quiet. I gave DD a bottle (took a bottle along b/c I thought I was going out with them) and she fell asleep at 7:30 and didn't wake until 4, then back to sleep until almost 9! I'm not sure how I can make the house that calm and relaxing with my rambunctious 2 year old around, but I think she really needs to get calmed down and go to bed earlier than what we have been doing.

My co-worker had her baby last Monday (Graham Ryan). She schedule feeds. Period. No fluctuation. He is scheduled to eat at 2am and 5am. If he wakes at 1:30am, they make him wait until 2 (She FF's). I am too much of a push-over to be that scheduled! But I can totally see the benefits.

[MrsBeckyLP]

My co-worker had her baby last Monday (Graham Ryan). She schedule feeds. Period. No fluctuation. He is scheduled to eat at 2am and 5am. If he wakes at 1:30am, they make him wait until 2 (She FF's).

I really don't want to start a debate, but I have to say I think that is so stupid. A baby that young on such a strict schedule? Yikes. I'd hate to be a schedule-Nazi. I feed my baby when she needs to eat, not when the clock says she does.

[MrsSpencer]

I agree with Becky..and so do most dr.s

mrsc- hope it works for you.

[ironhair]

I really don't want to start a debate, but I have to say I think that is so stupid. A baby that young on such a strict schedule? Yikes. I'd hate to be a schedule-Nazi. I feed my baby when she needs to eat, not when the clock says she does.

I know! And totally agree about not wanting to start a debate, as I realize different things work for different people. I did have a hard time knowing what to say when she told me that she makes the baby wait if he wakes up before the scheduled time. So I just didn't say anything. I guess if it works for them. I fed both on-demand, and there were/are days I felt/feel like my boob was/is out all day! On those days, I can see the benefits of schedule feeding. Besides, I'm not disciplined enough, even if I wanted to be.

While I'm saying all of this - MrsC, please don't think I think your situation is the same. I'm hoping moving to the schedule helps you and Jake get to a better place.

[Mrs.Chappy]

no offense taken.
obviously if he was hungry i'd feed him..he SHOULDbe going every 3.5 to 4 hrs at this point, not every 2-3 hrs. my ped said that he doesn't NEED the night feedings so filling their belly w/ a bit of water (not calories) will help get him through. clearly if its been 3-4 hrs i'll nurse I guess the issue is that i'm feeding him whenever he fusses (though i've serously cut down on that). so he can't decipher between if he's really hungry for it or needs to be soothed..it escalates and then he doesn't nap.
withthe bottle he will be filled up, i'll know he's 'done' and we can move on to have him sleeping well (in the crib) and bbe done with it. Today, after crying all morning we gave a bottle at 1:30 and he was in his crib by 2:10..i woke him at 4:10..he's been up since. He totally went in awake and was out. its baby boot camp. Glad my mom is here to help me. DH and DS1 are at Sesame Place

[rachrich]

I guess the issue is that i'm feeding him whenever he fusses (though i've serously cut down on that). so he can't decipher between if he's really hungry for it or needs to be soothed..it escalates and then he doesn't nap.

Mrs. C you MUST be talking about my DS too ;) he's the same way. I've tried to cut back but i can't find any other way to soothe him a lot of the time. he gets ticked when i put in the paci. He is soooo comforted by the boob, and sometimes that is so frustrating! so in that sense, i feel your pain.

well, Owen's up to a whopping 9lbs, 1 oz. argh! I had to purchase my first can of formula today, that kinda stunk. I'm still nursing, ped just wants me to supplement more often, so that is more pumping for me. Though it's frustrating, I'm sort of okay with it. I've been worrying about what to do after going back to work anyways. It's going to be a nightmare trying to pump at work because i have little to no free time (i teach) to pump. I'm going to try it for a couple weeks and if it doesn't work out, at least I'll have given it a shot, and he will have BF'd for 4 months.

Also fitted and ordered glasses for the little man, and they'll be in next week. I thought they'd be in sooner. I'm getting so anxious for him to wear them!

[E&O]

So DH had Cooper back at the pediatrician last night to look at his skin. She now finally has decided it is eczema, and has given us a referral for a dermatologist appointment. She thinks he will prescribe a steroid cream to help everything heal up once and for all. FINALLLY!!!

In other news, she feels the eczema is being caused by my diet. So effective immediately, I am diary free. Which stiiiiiinks! I love cheese so much. Has anyone else had to go dairy free? I have a couple of questions:

1. Can I continue to nurse him for the next few days as the dairy leaves my system?

2. I have about 40-50 bags of frozen milk stored up. Do I need to toss these? I would be so crushed to throw all of that away. I'd have to start supplementing formula immediately because there is no way I'll have enough if I loose my freezer stash.

3. If I do need to add formula, should I start with regular formula, or do I need to go immediately to soy formula?

I'm going to cross-post these questions in BF Support and BF/FF Babies with Allergies, so I apologize in advance for anyone who has to read through my story more than once.:)

[MrsSpencer]

You would have to go to soy if it's milk. You can bf but it takes like 2 wks they said for it to leave your system. I don't know about the milk...Marisa would have to help there. She may be able to help you better. Sorry about the weight gain, I know the feeling of formula when you didn't want to have to.

[Mrs.Chappy]

i went dairy free

i think wait and see if it helps him before tossing the BM

i'm back on dairy..ped said its not even reflux at this point..just overtired baby! we are weaning the meds

[MrsSpencer]

hope it gets better for you mrsc...he works himself up every night, gets overtired and is hard to put down...gonna put him down earlier tonight..see if it helps! good luck.

[Standrea]

We're dairy free.

A high percentage of infants that have dairy allergy also have a soy allergy. Please talk to your doctor before going right to a soy formula. You may need something different first. (the percentage is over 50% our pediatric GI told us). Since I'm on a vegan diet(I had started that 3 days before the appointment), he wasn't concerned about me pumping and dumping. But, he did say before he know i was eating vegan, that I should pump and dump for at least a week.

It has been just over 2 weeks, and things are considerably different. My little peanut that wasn't pooping but once every week and a half, is now pooping numerous times a day. The rash on her face has completely cleared, and her belly is no longer distended.


Ellie's christening went well this weekend! We had 60 people to our house after for the reception. The rain stayed at bay, so it was good that most people stayed outside. My house was still covered with mud and grass though because it had rained earlier that day.

Here's our first family photo

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o164/lilsoapboxx/P1010190.jpg

Mrs.C-I'm so glad that your ped. has hopefully found you some relief!

[Mrs.Chappy]

popping in to say we are in a good place

Minimal crying (last night at 3 am was the worst - 40 min) and he's actually napping. I woke him from a 3 hr one today b/c i wanted him to be tired for bed time. I hate that i'm express pumping (its sooo much work) but maybe after we are in a routine i can put him back on for a few feedings and do bottles the rest of the day. Regardless, my supply is not keeping up w/ what we are feeding him and i'm about ready to get Good Start Formula.

My mom has been my rock these past 24 hrs (DH and DS1 were at Sesame Place). i hope tonight goes well. DH put him to bed earlier than i wanted so i hope he sleeps decently so i can go in and nurse then put him back w/ little crying. Anyway, back to Baby Boot Camp. He is a different kid.

[Baby Lust]

Mrs C, I'm so glad boot camp is helping!! I'm sure it is very difficult but it sounds like it is already worth it!! Keep up the good work!!!

[Standrea]

Thinking of you Mrs. C. I hope last night was a good one!

[E&O]

I woke him from a 3 hr one today
MrsC- I hope you took advantage of this and caught up on some sleep yourself! Hope Boot Camp continues to go well.

[MrsSpencer]

hope it continues to work mrs.c

[Mrs.Chappy]

eek...last night not good. DH gives him the bottle andputs him in at 8..i was like, wh at did you do that for?? now he'll be up at 1? Sure enough at 1. I nursed at 1:30..he seemed asleep by 2:10 but by 2:30 up!!! until 3 when he crashed until 4..hten crying. DH was like 'he must be hungry'llso he got the bottle..as he came upstairs..silence..DS crashed again for another 45 min. i gave the bottle at 5:45 but we are pooped from being up all night. i woke him at 9 am and gave a bottle at 9:30, instructed babysitter to nap him at 10:30 or 11.. we have to keep him up tonight until after 8:30..ugh.

mess.

and my supply.not so good. Pump every 2 hrs??

[MrsSpencer]

yeah...to keep up the supply I would...sorry about last night.

[Dettes]

Rach Glad everything went well. I'm still keeping you guys in my thoughts. Can't wait to see pics of the little man in his glasses.

Great pics everyone. I love seeing how all of our little ones are changing and coming into their own.

MrsC Hang in there. You're doing the right thing. FWIW, I ferberized both of my older two and it worked great. After two or three nights of screamng, they both went down on thier own wide awake and were able to soothe themselves.

Well we are back from vacation and it was great! The weather was perfect and the kids had a blast. Caroline was so good, although bad mommy that I am, she got a little pink at the beach one day. I had her in her stroller with the hood up and a hat on under a big tent, but I guess the reflection off the sand got her. It didn't seem to bother her, but I felt terrible.

The family pictures turned out great. We all decided on white shirts last minute, because they were just easier to find. Greandma and Grandpa wore light blue. BTW- Manteochick from CC was our phtographer and she was awesome. If anyone is ever in the OBX and wants a family pic, (I think Lolly you said you go down there), I highly recommend them. Here are a pics from vaca:

My girl in her suit:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3033/2737956989_92d446e806.jpg?v=0

Our family at the top of the dunes (that sling came in handly for climbing):
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3090/2736395131_66f278279d.jpg?v=0

Gma and Gpa with the grandkids:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3169/2737228038_8c0de50a26.jpg?v=0

[tashaw6]

Dettes: Lovely pics! How cute is she in the bathing suit! Your DD looks so comfy in the sling. When I try put Kade in a sling he is all squished. How do you girls make it look so easy.

MrsC: Hope things work out for you! Thinking of you!

Us: I just read on one of the boards (not sure which one, bf-ing thread or mwp) but the one girl said that babies drink more the first week in daycare cause they are lonely and sad and I am in tears now...I wish that I didn't have to go to work and could stay with my baby. :(

[Standrea]

Dettes:
Great pics! Where is your sling from?

Mrs.C-I'm not going to wish you luck anymore, because I think I'm jinxing you. I'm sorry your night wasn't as good as it has been. Hopefully, he can get himself back on track!

[rachrich]

Dettes and Standrea such great pics of your families!

Mrs. C (((HUGS))) to you! i've been reading your posts on MWP and BFing support threads. I don't know what the answer is, but I just want to say that I hope you find something that works for you and your family, whether it be EPing or not. you've endured so much with Jake's sleeping issues. Hang in there momma!

ETA: Tasha when do you go back to work? that makes me sad too (and worried about my milk stash) if it's true! I go back after labor day

[MrsBeckyLP]

Andrea- Dettes' sling is a Peanut Shell. I have the same one! ;)

Dettes- Cute, cute, cute. That family photo with the grandparents is neat, and Caroline is adorable. I'm starting to think Maddie is becoming a little chunker. Everyone else's children look so much skinnier than her! I never thought I'd have a chubby baby!

It's 10:20. Why am I here instead of sleeping, especially since I didn't go to bed until 11:30 last night?

[PGirl26]

Dettes: Great family pictures! Caroline is a doll. I love her in the bathing suit!

MrsC: I am so sorry to hear you're having so many sleeping troubles. Hope it gets easier soon!!

Andrea: great picture!!

[rachrich]

Becky I think chubby babies are super cute! (until they get a few years older) My DD was a chub when she was this age and I just thought she was the cutest thing ever.

[Sully130]

Coming out of lurkdom...

I'm starting to think Maddie is becoming a little chunker. Everyone else's children look so much skinnier than her! I never thought I'd have a chubby baby!

Becky - don't worry about that at all! I mean, first of all, I know I don't post pictures here, but on LJ you've seen my little guy. He's not even close to skinny! :) And my older son was much the same of a chunk and now he's not at all. As soon as he got to be mobile, it all evened out. I wouldn't think I'd have the fat baby either, but I do! I think the chubs are adorable. ;)

rachrich - I've been meaning to post for you. I'm glad your son is doing well. I know a friend of a friend whose son is going through the same thing (he's now about 15 months or so) and everything is working out well for him too.

Dettes - Great pics! I'm sure the grandparents will cherish that one with all the grandkids forever.

[makena32204]

chubby baby- I love DS's fat rolls! His thighs are huge! LOL. DH and I refer to him as "fat boy". It doesnt help that DD was small, so we compare them all the time. Becky- Pat yourself on the back for those fat rolls! That's momma's milk doing a great job!

dettes & Andrea-Great family photos!

MrsC- I hope boot camp works for you!

As for us, same old, same old. T is doing really well. We switched him back to regular Enfamil and he's gone back to his happy self. He is *this* close to rolling over from back to front. He's STTN off and on and usually if he wakes up during the night it's due to our poop issues.

I'm back at work, so my internet time is rare, especially LJ since it's blocked at work, but I am reading along. :(

[Mrs.Chappy]

thx...last night went well. Headed to get Good Start formula today..he'll get half bm, half formula

[MrsSpencer]

glad to hear it went well.

[E&O]

I just read on one of the boards (not sure which one, bf-ing thread or mwp) but the one girl said that babies drink more the first week in daycare cause they are lonely and sad and I am in tears now...I wish that I didn't have to go to work and could stay with my baby.


Hey guys- don't start worrying already! I know its hard to leave our little ones and posts like this sure don't help. (Posts like the original girl, not Tasha's post:)) I can attest that my DS went to daycare all smiles and leaves the same way everyday. He is the last one in his room each night (which would ususally break my heart) but the afternoon teacher is amazing and I always walk in to find her talking to him or reading to him.

As far as drinking more because they are lonely, it's not true in our case. He eats 3x per day at daycare. He's much, much too busy snoozing the day way. :)

His eczema seem sto be clearing up nicely since we started smothering him in Vasoline. A new round of scabbing fell off and I have not seen any new oozing. Perhaps we'll have healthy, healed skin in a few days! I'm on Day 3 of my dairy free diet and although it does stink, I know its manageable. Especially if it's just for a few months. Although tonight is taco night, and how in the world will I enjoy that with no cheese or sour cream???

[Dettes]

Good news Mrs C. Good luck with the formula.

Standrea The sling is a Peanut shell. I got it at Target on your recommendation.

I'm starting to think Maddie is becoming a little chunker. Everyone else's children look so much skinnier than her! Don't forget that Maddie is at least a month older than Caroline, which makes a big difference at this age. However, I agree that chubby babies are cute. Ds and Caroline have the same build (long and lean) while DD is huskier.

Off to the Y. Have a great day everyone!

[makena32204]

As far as drinking more because they are lonely, it's not true in our case. He eats 3x per day at daycare. He's much, much too busy snoozing the day way. :)

random thought - I would venture a guess that a majority babies start daycare around 3 months, which is prime time for a growth spurt. I bet that would be the reason for the increase in drinking. Besides, how do you know that a baby is lonely?? OR, maybe the daycare provider is just learning how to take care of each baby and may be feeding them more than necessary b/c they dont know the baby's routine yet.

[ironhair]

Andrea - great family picture!

Dettes - great pictures! There are a lot of grandkids in your family :eek: I love Caroline's bathing suit - I never could find one for DD, but I guess since she's only had her feet in the water we didn't really *need* one.

To echo E&O, DD is all smiles when I drop her off at daycare and when I pick her up (if she's not sleeping, that it). DS was the same way - and as he was an only child for a while, I don't see how he could have been lonely at daycare with so many things to watch and all of the attention he got from the other kids. Now he can't wait to get there to play with his friends in the mornings.

DS was a super chubby baby, and like a PP said, he leaned out once he was mobile. DD is no where near as chubby. It's sometimes surprising to me how different they are, especially when I *think* I'm doing everything the same.

[MrsBeckyLP]

Chubby Maddie- So she's not a porker or anything, but she definitely has fat rolls on each leg, and a double chin! That double chin is hilarious! I hope it didn't sound like I was worried about her weight or anything. I agree that it's good to know my milk is doing its job! Here is a pic from last week after we were done swimming at the aquatic center. (Her face just makes me laugh every time I see this picture!)

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k269/lp_becky/pool9.jpg

Daycare/eating- Since Maddie isn't in daycare yet and is at home with Grandma, I know she's not lonely. But I wouldn't necessarily think that's the reason babies eat more at daycare. If a baby is eating more at daycare than at home, my guess is it would just have something to do with the fact that the teachers don't have the baby's cues and schedule quite figured out yet. Right now Maddie takes a bottle (anywhere from 3.5 to 5 ounces) about every three hours while I'm gone. When she transitions to her in-home daycare on Aug. 18, I'm going to let the sitter know that, and I might be a bit suspicious if she starts eating a lot more. But for now, I don't see that being a problem. I anticipate her getting plenty of one-on-one attention from the sitter. I just hope she works out for us.

[MrsSpencer]

Becky hope your sitter works for you...that's the same day I start babysitting too.
Maddie is just darling!

[IrishEyes]

Daycare - Carson has had no trouble adjusting to daycare, and as was said above, sleeps a lot and is always smiles when I pick him up. So far he's only been eating 3 4oz bottles per day (8 hours). One great thing for us is that the daycare lady has lots of great baby gear, and we found out that he loves the Fisher Price Aquarium cradle swing she has (DS#1 hated swings). So I went out and got it at the local consignment shop. The swing has been heaven sent - we can eat dinner together now!

Chunky - I love it right around now when babies finally fill out. I don't seem to have chunky babies, because they are so long, but they have the double chin and good size thighs! I always laugh and say that his thick arms make him look like he's been weight-lifting.

Dettes and Andrea - great pics!

MrsChappy - I hope things keep improving!

[tashaw6]

Sorry gals, didn't mean to start a depression feast. I have just been a little sad about leaving my little man since I was planning on staying home and now I have to go back to work. I think that post just was the cherry on the top you know. E&O you are right! I still have time! Rachrich I go back on the 1st of October. Still a while left. I am TRULY blessed, this I know! Kade will go to a great daycare where the max kids is 4 per provider and when we went to the daycare to have a look they had two teachers in one room with three kids so I know he will have tons of one on one time. The daycare is on my work premises so I will be able to go breastfeed him myself anyway and only have emergency milk for the providers. And Makena you are right, how does that chick know that a baby is lonely! :p

Us: I have been noting down Kades schedule (his one that I am following) and I have noticed that he has a trend. Its amazing how he regulates himself! Babies are amazing hey!

Chubs: Yip, my babe is chunky! I love it! I kiss his double chin (we actually call him triple chin sometimes ;) ) and he laughs and laughs. He also has the chubby thighs!

[MrsBeckyLP]

tash- I have noticed, judging from what my mom records every day regarding naps and feedings, that Maddie is kind of making her own schedule too! She's pretty consistently eating around 9, noon and 3, with naps shortly after.

[PGirl26]

I'm glad some of you already posted this... but for the others... How much is your DC eating per feeding?

It has gotten to the point where I dread feeding time! Addesyn is so hard to feed right now. Sometime she'll eat 4-5 ounces no problem. Other days its a constant battle to feed her. She wants to play or smile or turn her head towards the tv. For example, I just fed her 5 minutes ago. She ate two ounces and lost interest. I can't get her to eat anymore. She's still so small compared to everyone else's baby! (Actually I think she's the smallest? or close to it). We go to the doctor next week for our three month check up so I plan on asking him. I'm just worried that she isn't eating enough.

[MrsSpencer]

Nicholas sometimes will take the whole hour to eat his bottle, 4-6 ounces, most of the time about five. Sometimes he only eats an ounce before he falls asleep.

[smilewithme]

Quick post...

Heads up for anyone who's taking Fenugreek. It's still on special at GNC...$14.99 for 1 (big) bottle and the 2nd bottle is 50% off. If you happen to have a GNC Gold Card, it's an extra 20% off till the end of today (1st - 7th of each month). Got two more today before the 20% goes away!!!

Jameson is definitely a chunky monkey. He's got the chunky thighs (ice cream cones, as my grandpa used to call mine!), and double chin too.

Feeding - At daycare he hasn't really spaced his own feedings out, still likes to eat smaller bottles more often.

[Mrs.Chappy]

jake is 12. 5 oz..he'll take a 6 oz bottle easy!

[Baby Lust]

Amanda, My girls take forever to nurse! Madelyn can be very difficult at times! They both take 4oz bottles on average, and eat every 3-6 hours, depending on how tired they are. Madelyn weighed in at a whopping 8 lbs 14 oz and Hailey at 7 lbs 4 oz. They are still tiny, and are falling off the weight growth chart, so we are using fortifier in their bottles during the day, but they are quite healthy and very strong, so I'm not overly concerned at this point. I'd say as long as Addy is healthy and strong, then weight is just a number. But definitely ask! It won't hurt to bring it up! :)

[MrsSpencer]

Nicholas' hair is falling out on one side..and it's not the side he sleeps on? Any ideas..isn't it late for it to just start to fall out?

[E&O]

The daycare is on my work premises so I will be able to go breastfeed him myself

Tasha- This will make your transition back to work so much easier. With my DD, and now again with DS, I would go to daycare over my lunch hour and nurse. As a first time mom, it was so nice knowing you'll see your baby during the day. And even the second time around, I really look forward to seeing Cooper at lunchtime. Plus being there everyday, I really got to know the teacher well and I could hear all about what my kids are doing.

[MrsBeckyLP]

Hair falling out- No, MrsS, I don't think it's ever "too late." Maddie's started falling out when she was about 6-7 weeks, and then it stopped. Then two weeks ago, more started falling out again. It seems to have stopped this week, but I would rather it all just fall out, because she has a really funky hair pattern going on right now. This is what she had in back last weekend, and there is NONE on top and in front (yes, I took a picture of her goofy hair!):

http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k269/lp_becky/of50590442-9.jpg

I never answered the hair question the first time someone asked in a QOTD, but Maddie's was dark brown and fairly thick when she was born. Now it's lightened and mostly fallen out. The hairs that are growing back in on top seem to be blond.

[MrsSpencer]

Thanks Becky...that's exactly what Nicholas "back of the head" looks right now..just a little darker. It's just weird that only one side is falling out..good to know it's nothing to worry about. The hair that has started to grow in is blonde also..DH was a blonde when he was a baby/toddler.

[Mickey&B]

Dylan's hair is still falling out! It looks a lot like Maddy's.

As far as eating when we give him bottles he takes about 3oz every 2.5-3hrs and he's almost 14lbs.

[rachrich]

yep, Owen's hair looks about the same. It's so funny because looking at him you'd never know how much hair he has low in the back. We've never had problems with any falling out though.

When he takes a bottle it's about 4oz every 3-4 hours. If I supplement him immediately following nursing I give him 3 ounces because if I give 4 he usually won't finish. I hate waste, esp. when it's BM.

babylust what is the fortifier you're talking about? Owen's off the charts too with his weight, and I'd prefer trying a fortifier if it means he gets less formula.

[IrishEyes]

Eating - 2-4 oz every 3 hr or so.

I've got to look at Carson's head. It looks like most of it has stayed so far.

[Standrea]

Ellie's hair is teh same color as it was when she was born, and she has kept most of it. There is a tiny bald spot int he back of her head, the same as her sister had. Ellie's hair is starting to really curl now though, Abbie's didn't do that until she was over a year old!

[ironhair]

I'm going to have to post a picture of Alivia's hair (I took a picture of the back of her head too). It looks like Maddy's only worse - there is a definate bald spot in the middle of her thick, dark hair. It's almost embarrassing, like I don't pick her up or something :o, but I swear I do! We call it "travel wear" as we are in the car a lot and the car seat may be to blame.

I'm a bad mom - I'm not really sure how much she eats, or how often. I know she has 3 4oz bottles while at daycare and she is there from 7:30 to 5:00. She eats at 6, no idea how much if from the tap, but she will take a 4oz bottle if we are out. Then she nurses around 8:30p, 2:00a, and 5:00a (if I'm lucky).

[MrsSpencer]

I finally figured out how to use lj..I'm nhsmommy over there if anyone wants to help me get some friends..I've only found one person so far!

[ironhair]

I finally figured out how to use lj..I'm nhsmommy over there if anyone wants to help me get some friends..I've only found one person so far!

I still can't figure that out!

[MrsSpencer]

I'm not great but I searched for people and found one so hopefully I can find others!

Taking nicholas in a few hours to get his pics done...I'm excited!

[Baby Lust]

babylust what is the fortifier you're talking about? Owen's off the charts too with his weight, and I'd prefer trying a fortifier if it means he gets less formula.
It is Human Milk Fortifier (by Similac). It's a powder that you add to BM or formula to add 1 calorie per oz (it comes in 2 calorie packets). Hailey is hardly gaining anything at all, though she is strong and healthy, so I'm all for the fortifier! We got a box of free samples from the NICU (recommended by our ped) but I don't think the NICU realized we had twins because we blew right through the box! :rolleyes: It's definitely worth a call to your ped to see if they recommend it! Question about your supplementing: are you using formula because of your supply? BM and formula have the same # of calories, but sometimes peds will recommend using formula as a supplement to "help them gain weight", even though that has nothing to do with it, besides it is more abundant than BM sometimes. KWIM? So I was just curious!! Also, my girls are becoming more efficient at nursing, and my supply has taken quite a jump in the past few days, so hopefully Owen will do the same and you can stop giving formula if you want! :) Feel free to PM or email me anytime to chat!! Low weight gain can be very stressful when you are doing everything you can!

[BeachGirl]

Hi girls,

Hope everyone and their little ones are doing well. Sorry I haven't posted lately, but I've been reading along.

So a new stressor has arised for me, unfortunately. :( Almost about two weeks ago, we took Hailey for her 2 month WBV. She got her first round of vaccines, and weighed in at 10 pounds even which puts her at the 25%. I guess that is not too bad.

Then about three days later, she started acting really weird. She started fussing during feedings and not wanting to take her bottles. She was always such a great eater before. Now, the past two weeks she will have some good feedings, but at least one to three times a day, she will cry during and/or after a feeding, and arch her back while I'm feeding her. I try to burp her more frequently, and I am successful at getting more burps from her, which means she is also much more gassy than she used to be. Then sometimes when I try to give her the bottle again after a burp she squirms and turns her head away and cries.

Last Sunday it was such a struggle to get her to do one of her afternoon feedings, but after many breaks and burps I got her to finish her usual 4 1/2 ounces after about an hour. Then about 15 minutes later when I was changing her diaper she threw it all up! She has never done this before.

I called the doctor's office to explain what is going on, and the nurse said it sounds like she has reflux. I'm just so confused how she went from doing so well on her formula without any problems at all for two months straight, and then all of a sudden after her vaccines, she is like a completely different baby. I asked the nurse if this could be a reaction from the shots, and she said no, but she also agreed that it is strage that her reflux issues would just start at two months with no signs of them before. Most of the time she does not spit up. It is mainly just her arching her back and squirming during the feedings, and crying during and after. I used to enjoy feeding her so much, but now it's a constant battle to get her eat. This whole thing is making me so stressed out. I'm worried that she is going to start associating eating with pain, and not want to eat anymore. :(

I'm thinking of taking her in to the doctor on Monday, although I'm not sure what they can do. I don't know if it is severe enough to put her on anti acid meds. I've heard not so good things about them. I'm going to see if maybe we need to change her formula, but we just bought so many cases of the Enfail formula that she's been doing great on since birth.

I just hate to see her in pain. She also sleeps a lot more during the day than she used to. Is this is common type of phase that babies go through around two months old, or should I be worried?

[MrsSpencer]

They told me to put cereal in his bottle (I use oatmeal, since rice constipates him sooo bad). He still spits up, but not his whole bottle. Just relaying what I've done, since she sounds like him. Reflux can start anytime..it's heartburn, and some people develop it when they are young kids, and some as adults.

[PGirl26]

BeachGirl: Addesyn is hard to feed these days as well. She wants to fight it. I can usually get 2-3 ounces down easily but then she wants to play, or smile. She'll turn her head from side to side trying to fight the bottle. It will sometimes take me anywhere from 45 min - 1 hour to get her to eat the entire bottle. Addy isn't throwing up alot... so it makes me think her's isnt reflux... but I hope you get some relief soon! I'm to the point where I dread feeding Addy anymore..

[E&O]

I just wanted to post a quick milestone from this weekend...... DS rolled over for the first time! (and second, third and fourth!) He rolled from belly to back. I put him down on his play mat for some tummy time and the next thing I knew he was arching his back and twisting. It took him a while the first time, but the other times he did it much more quickly. He is trying to go from back to belly, but gets stuck on his side.

He's also doing a really great job of propping up on his elbows during tummy time. I can't believe what a little man he is becoming already.

He also had his first sleep over this weekend. DD and DS both stayed overnight with my in-laws while DH and I went out to celebrate my birthday. Everything went smoothly.

[Mrs.Chappy]

popping in to say happy monday

we have been really working w/ jake who seems to be learning to self soothe

he is falling asleep in the car (after 15 min of screaming) which is progress.
at night i give him a bottle of BM around 5 or 6 and a bottle of formula around 9..then its in the crib..anytime after 3 hrs is fair game and i feed him..if not i'll soothe if he cries but never pick him up. Last night he went from 9:20 (cried it out for 19 min) and woke at 3:15..then back at 4 am and cried at 5:30 but totally put himself back to sleep w/o me going in until 7 am. he seemed tired this morning at 8:30 so down in the crib he went and i jumped into the shower..he was screaming when i got out so i put the paci in and soothed by patting the belly..in 5 min he was asleep (i didn't pick him up)..its been 20 min and he's still out so i guess its progress.

over the weekend we were at my parents and always on the go..he got some good catnaps in the carseat. he's sleeping better fingers crossed we are onto a 'routine' nof sorts. I do let him cat nap early evening but keep him up until 9 (despite the fact he is falling asleep).we do a looong bedtime routine..like 15 min in the bath w/ the water running..he falls asleep; in ther sometimes!

[IrishEyes]

MrsChappy - good to hear there's some improvement!

E&O - yay for rolling! My kid appears to be backwards - he rolled from back to tummy last week. So far he hasn't done tummy to back.

BeachGirl - I'm sorry to hear about your baby! I'm pretty sure that the shots given at 2 months are not ones that usually cause problems other than fever, fussiness, etc. for a short period of time. Hopefully she just had a tough day or two. If not, keep on your doctor! I hadn't heard about reflux meds causing problems, though. Some nights, my boy is a little more gassy and cries at my breast, and other nights, no problems. It usually happens around 5-7pm if it does, though.

[MrsSpencer]

Pics went great! Love how they turned out! He is grabbing his feet, blowing raspberries (started that in walmart yesterday with mil, we were rolling as he laughed everytime he did it!).

mrs c-Sounds like things are getting on track (of course your own track, we all have different ones). Glad to hear it though.

[PGirl26]

MrsS: I added you on LJ :)

MrsC: Hope things continue to get better for you! I can't imagine how exhausted you are.

Addesyn rolled over from her belly to her back on 7-28. She has done it several times since... she's almost mastered rolling from her back to her belly but seems to get stuck on her arm. She's cooing and talking so much these days. She squeals alot too. She's sitting up alot as well. She can't stay up for very long but she tries her darndest. She hates to lay down unless it's nap time. I'm still worried about her sleeping. Who would have thought I'd be worrying my kid is sleeping TOO much. But she did it again. Last night she slept 9 hours. I know I should wake her up, but if I have to wake her to eat, she hardly eats. She just wants to go back to sleep. She at at 9:30 this morning and went right back to sleep. I had to wake her up at 2 to finally eat... She would have continued sleeping if I would have let her. Is this normal? We go to the doctor tomorrow for 3 mo WBV. I definitely plan on asking.

[MrsSpencer]

thanks :)

eta: he still isn't rolling over, he seems so behind all your kids..hmm..

[Baby Lust]

Mrs S, Try not to worry about keeping up with the others. Kids all develop differently and do things in their own time. Comparing will drive you insane for the rest of your life!!! ;)

[MrsSpencer]

Thanks, I'll try.

[Baby Lust]

The girls had their "2 month" WBV today.

Hailey:
Weight: 7 lbs 11 oz
Length: 21 1/2"
Head: 15"

Madelyn:
Weight: 9 lbs 13 oz
Length: 23"
Head: 15 1/2"

The girls have always been charted on the premature growth chart, considering they were 6 weeks early, but this time when the ped plotted their weights and lengths, they were way below the bottom line. He was very concerned, and said "That can't be right. There's just no way." So he started calculating and after about 15 minutes, plotted them on the regular growth chart using their corrected ages and they are right on track! They are still on the small side, but they are on the chart and doing really well in overall weight gain. That made me so happy! I was seriously so stressed about it! So the ped said he was very happy about their weight, length, head circ, strength, etc. No more supplementing with EBM, no more fortifier... nothing! Just straight nursing and bottles like a normal baby! I'm so happy!!!! What a relief!!!

The bad news is that Hailey has an EI in her right ear and Madelyn has a double EI. Ugh. Poor babies!! Lucas to this day has never had an EI, so I feel bad about the girls getting one so young, but the ped said it is new (like within the last 24 hours, which explains the horrible day they both had yesterday!) and was likely caused by the cold they had a couple of weeks ago. So they are both on antibiotics for that. He said he's a bit concerned because getting one this young may mean they will be more prone to them in the upcoming year. We definitely need to keep an eye out for that!!

Otherwise, the appointment went really well! The ped absolutely loves the girls and just gets the biggest grin on his face when he sees them and checks them out. They give him their "flirty eyes" (he's a younger (30s) good-looking dr so it's really funny to see them do that!!!) and they love to be held by him. He was impressed by how strong they are, etc, so that was nice to hear!

Of course they had their vaccines today. They both screamed for a minute, then were fine.

We go back in a month for an ear check, then in another month for their "4 month" WBV. Man, time is sure flying!!!

[rachrich]

babylust yeah my supply is low, no matter all the things i've tried (and keep trying). i believe it was marisa in the bf thread that told me my blood loss and placenta issue during my recovery could have a big impact on my hormones and really affect my supply. Owen is a good nurser, empties both breasts (when i pump after nursing there's less than 1/2 oz combined). I still get up once or twice in the night to pump so i can give him as much BM as possible, which kinda stinks, but I'm trying my hardest. yeah, it is frustrating when you're doing all you can. It sounds like your girls are doing great! :) I'm sure you're relieved about their progress.

Mrs.C things sound like they're getting better! good for you.

Beachgirl it defnitely wouldn't hurt to talk to the dr. I hope you find some answers soon and things get better.

We are having major sleep issues here. Owen woke at 7ish this morning and hasn't slept all day! it's been over 12 hours. i've tried EVERYTHING under the sun. I figured at his last feeding he would fall asleep afterward....nope. wide awake. and he's getting crankier and crankier from being overtired. I hope this isn't a continual thing, it's happened the past couple days.

Owen's glasses should be in this week! eeee! i'm pumped. talk about worrying about your kiddo meeting milestones. i'm STILL waiting for my guy to smile ;) He is rolling onto his side, but not yet rolling over. DD rolled from back to front first too.

[Baby Lust]

rach, That's right, I remember seeing her comment about that. You are totally right that any BM is better than none, and what's most important is that Owen is healthy and happy! :) Do you think he hasn't smiled because of his eyes? I can't wait to see him in his glasses! :D

[rachrich]

i do believe it's because of his eyes. It seems as though he's trying to smile spontaneously when I'm playing with him, but it's more of a smirk. I feel he hasn't really smiled because he hasn't seen what one even looks like-he hasn't seen anyone's smile to respond to,KWIM? He can see colors now, but since there is no lens in his eyes, all images are EXTREMELY blurry as the lens is the focuser of images. DH & I say that he'll look like Aaden on Jon& Kate plus 8. :)

[Standrea]

AF is back. I got it very lightly 16 months PP when Abbie was born. I was really hoping (wishful thinking) that it was going to be the same again. So, it has been exactly 3 years since I've had a heavy period (pretty much to the day), and it's back again. Joy.

I hope everyone is doing well! Rach, I can't wait to see pictures of Owen with his glasses! Was there a choice of frames for you, or is there like 1 standard set of frames for infants?

Amanda-That's so good that the girls are growing so well! you should be so proud of yourself!

Beachgirl-I'm sorry about the new issue starting. I hope it straightens out quickly!

Mrs.C-I'm thinking of you!

[E&O]

MrsS- If it makes you feel any better, my DD did not roll over until 6 months, and it was almost 8-9 months when she did it with any frequency. She did not crawl until 12 months and did not walk until 15 months. She is now 2 and keeps up with all her classmates. It will come, sometimes just veeeeery slowly.

We had a disappointing 4month WBV last night. (I know we are super early because of a scheduling mix-up. He is not 4 months for another two weeks).
Weight: 11lb 9oz
Height: 23 in
He is in the 8% for everything. I was so disappointed that he only gained
10oz in 6 weeks. Going by the 1/2 oz per day rule, he should have gained about 1.5 lbs. The doctor did think it might have been attributed to