or Connect
Mothering › Mothering Forums › Toddler › Life with a Toddler › February 09 mamas - they're not babies anymore!
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

February 09 mamas - they're not babies anymore! - Page 144

post #2861 of 2966

Starling - You have seriously cute kids!  H is getting so big too!


R has had throw-up bugs a few times and he is really good at giving warning.  When he was younger I just had him puke into a towel because usually there wasn't much and it was just nicer for him that way.  But the last time he got sick I had him throw up in a bowl and he did fine with that.  I usually hold him on my lap and help him hold the bowl.  And I've never put him back in diapers for diarrhea but again, he's good at giving warning.  It seems like he gets sick a lot more than everyone else's lo here, maybe that's why he's good at giving warning?  

post #2862 of 2966

Puking: Owyn has had the puking bug twice in her life. Once she was a fairly young baby... maybe younger than 6 months, not really sure though. That one sucked. It scared her when she puked since she had no idea what was happening. The next time was about a year ago, so she was around 2 years old. She had that one bad, like got dehydrated bad and we had to give her a shot of anti-nausea medicine that knocked her out for like 12 hours and I had to sit near her giving her medicine droppers of water every so often to keep her hydrated. That was AWFUL. When she was puking, I literally planted myself on the couch with her head in my lap where she slept fitfully all day long. When she would start to stir, I knew she was going to puke and had a bowl nearby that I grabbed and caught it with. She was puking every 15-30 minutes that day, so I never could get far away from her without fear of her puking all over herself. That bug is going around big time right now and we're doing all we can to avoid it. We spent the weekend with my family and several of them have come down with it within 12 hours after we were with them, so right now I feel like I'm just waiting for it to hit us. But we're over 24 hours out from being exposed to it and so far so good.


Cindy: So excited about those numbers! I find myself randomly thinking of you during the day and getting so excited for you all over again! I'm (not-so) secretly hoping for surprise twins!!


Preschool: I keep meaning to call the local Montessori school to see when their open enrollment is. They used to always have a wait list, but I've been told it hasn't been like that the last several years. I still feel like I should call and make sure. Think I'll put that on my to-do list for tomorrow. I have a secret plan to weasel my way into that school. I find that I'm really liking teaching, but I get in a rut here. I'm stuck with their curriculum and am actually finding that the religious aspect of the school gets under my skin more and more as time goes by. Every teacher at the local Montessori school started out as a very involved parent. I already have the Montessori background, so my plan is to enroll Owyn and be the most involved parent I can be and hope I can eventually work my way in there. I've started looking into certification, but am holding out until I know there will be a job at the end of it...


Sue: I ended up ordering some Tegu blocks for Owyn. I can't wait for them to come! I was a little bummed. I decided on The Original set, but it's sold out everywhere I look. So, I went with the Explorer Set. If she loves them, we'll probably get her the Original Set for Christmas next year.

post #2863 of 2966

mal: We have the explorer set and it has plenty of blocks for her (and DH who can't get enough of them!) to play with. I hope she'll love them as much as Fiona!


post #2864 of 2966

Mal, I like your plan with the Montessori school!


Can I ask a couple of random questions?


Re. woven wraps--Ever, you said you had a didymos, right?  What size did you buy?  I really like the didymos but the price is a bit much (like $179.00).  I might try ebay....  What size did you get?  I'm 5'6'' and thinking the size 5 or 6 would be the most versatile.  Where did anyone else get their wraps? 


Art easel--anyone have one they love?  The ILs sent us money for one for Aubs for her birthday, but I'd like to find one that folds and can hang on the wall when not in use.


Nursing necklace--anyone have a favorite etsy site?


Thanks for the help.  Not sure what I'd do without you ladies!

post #2865 of 2966

Kate: RE: Easel. We love our easel that we got for like $15 at Ikea. It has a white board and chalk board and holds a big roll of paper. I can't see how the more expensive ones (like the Melissa & Doug one we bought my niece and nephew for like $60) are any different or better. But they don't ship them - so that is only an option if you have an Ikea nearby. My dad also bought a tabletop Melissa & Doug easel for Makenna. We really dind't need it and I probably should have returned it. But it came in an unmarked amazon box that my dad never told me was coming and as soon as I opened the box, M wanted to play with it. So we keep the big easel downstairs in the basement and it's always set up to paint and has an area of the floor covered around it (I bought a pink, plastic tablecloth for parties and taped that down). The tabletop one stays upstairs and is used for the chalk and whiteboard. 


Mal: Sounds like a great plan! :-)


I got a 15% off discount code for Discount School Supply from my play lecture this evening. If anyone's interested, I'll go look it up and post it. It never expires.I love that site. They sell maga tiles, but are of course sold out right now.



post #2866 of 2966

sickies suck. Junes makes a noise before she starts throwing up and we run to the toilet or the bucket. she knows to puke into them but if I don't get her there in time she'll just puke all over herself. even my big girls will sometimes just lay and puke on themselves and sometimes make it to the toilet.  Haven't had to deal with diarhhea in a freshly or in a potty training child, so not sure what I would do about diapers vs underwear.


Cindy- so excited for great numbers and still thinking burrowing down thoughts for you all.


did my first birth as a doula in training. Just got up to eat, feeling pretty exhausted and my body is quite sore.  When I left to go  Junes told me "Don't let my sister out, Otay." and she was so very serious about it. The big sister is her best friend, so I had explained where I was going.


E and H are so cute Starling, I love the photos.


preshool- the school my big girls o to didn't have enough kids in the early childhood class so for the moment there is no  class, Don't know if they will have it back next year. If they don't Junes won't go as we can't afford another school, Hubs thinks we aren't doing enough at the school to qualify 3 kids to go there. So he would want to pay if she went anyway, which is not happening.


we had the ikea easel and I loved it until the kids stood on the art tray which broke, it was very fixable but Hubs threw the pieces away. of course the exact same thing happened to the $60 easel my sister bought when Jewel was little. So our next easel will be the $15 ikea one again.



post #2867 of 2966

Courtney - That's awesome that you did your first birth!!  I went to a friend's birth May '10 and it was such an awesome experience.  I would love to doula some day when R is older (like, old enough to be left in the middle of the night lol)  Very cute what Junes said!


Kate - We also have the Ikea easel.  It is well worth the money.. Even though it's $25 here in Canada (yet another example of our prices being higher than they should be!)


I have a Didymos Indio linen blend.  It is beautiful, strong, and very high quality.  I'm 5'3" and I think the one I have is a size 5..  It's stored away atm but I will find it later today and confirm that. (ETA - Yep, it's a size 5)  The only problem I had was that it is kind of bulky for my petite frame, I always felt like there was so much material..  I think I would prefer just cotton or even one of the gauze ones that are out there.  My collection of carriers also includes a moby wrap, Sakura Bloom ring sling, and Boba :D  My wrap is definitely the most comfy, although the others serve their own purpose too!  Oh and I bought it from birdiesroom.com


Here's me and R back in summer '09:



Edited by Everrgreen - 5/2/12 at 3:30pm
post #2868 of 2966



Ever ...  Great pic!  I love, love R is his sunglasses.  I can see why you're holding onto it!


Courtney ... Awesome about the birth!  Right on!


Mal et al ... I have to check out these blocks you mamas are talking  about.  They sound neat!  Would they be good as a Christmas present?  As in, still hold their interest at 4?  I just bought 1000 pieces of basic LEGO off Craigslist.  I haven't busted it out yet.  I think I'm going to keep it special for our homelearners co-op. 


Kate ... I know a lot of American's get great deals on babywearer.com, especially with gently used ones.  I have a Vatanai size 7 (is that 5 metres?  Dunno.) in a lovely two-tone rust colour, and I just bought an Ellaroo, also size 7, in purples and teals.  It's a little lighter, so I bought it with the summer in mind, and our trip to Costa Rica in May. 


Easel ... I've heard great things about the IKEA one.  We don't have one.  Our space is SO SMALL.  I'm thinking about a table top one though, because E does a lot of her 'work' at the kitchen table whilst sitting in her Tripp Trapp. 


Cindy ... I'd love to know the discount code!  Especially if it works for Canadians!   Sounds like a great talk. 



Both my kidlets have nasty colds.  So not much sleep happening here while they're wracked with coughs and phlegmy throats.  Poor things.

post #2869 of 2966

Great picture Everr! He was so little!!


Wraps: I have a girasol earthy rainbow. It is a size 6. I really love it. I will probably get another one because I just love it and it will be fun to have different colors. I was feeling overwhelmed by choices and didn't know which would be better so I just homed in on a colorway I loved and went for it. I want to buy a wrap with a trip to Costa Rica in mind!- Not jealous at all!


Nursing necklace: Was just thinking about this because Maeve is loving pulling my hair! I want to find something else for her to pull! I think I'll search etsy.


Easel: We have a mellissa and doug. The chalkboard part sucked and wouldn't really take chalk so we ended up repainting it with chalkboard paint. We don't have room to always have it out so it hasn't been out in a while. I tend to pull out finger paints or watercolors more often. It was fun in the summer to set up on the porch though. Not sure how much they run- it was a gift from the grandparents.


Discount code: yes please!




post #2870 of 2966

Sue: Repainting w/chalk board paint is a great idea!


Everr: I too love that pic! You look beautiful. R is styling too,of course.


Courtney: So cute what Junes said! How many weeks do you have left? How long was the labor you attended? I love births!


Starling: I recall you took E to Costa Rica. I'm so jealous you're going back!! I went to Panama on my honeymoon - I hear they are pretty similar. 


The site is Discount School Supply and the code for 15% off is OSRSK15. Supposedly it never expires. I grabbed their catalog last night and I also found something called Magic Magnetic Shapes that are somewhat similar to Magna Tiles. 135 pieces for $29.99. Of course when the Magna Tiles are being manufactured again, this site also carried them and you can use the discount code on their already below retail price. If you spend $79 or more, it's free shipping. There is so much I want! 


M is still all snotty and still has a low grade fever. And she is SO whiny. She (and DH and I) slept horribly. I am so not having much patience with her! We stayed out running errands too long into lunch and she got all whiny and I just couldn't deal anymore. So glad we are home! We're going to make sun catchers...



post #2871 of 2966

I think I look so young in that pic.  The 2+ years of single parenting since then have aged me a lot lol!  


We have an entire wall in the kitchen painted with chalkboard paint.  It's pretty fun!  It was like that when we moved in and the landlord offered to paint it back to normal but I wanted it left!  R enjoys it.. He especially likes getting me to draw things which is fun - except when he gets mad at me when I can't draw something.  He thinks I'm purposely not drawing it and doesn't get that I just can't lol!  


Thanks for the discount code Cindy!  I'm not sure if I'll be able to use it here, but I'm off to find out!

post #2872 of 2966

Cindy ... Yep, back to Costa Rica!  My auntie and uncle live there, so once we get there, we don't have many expenses.  We love it!  We'd love to live there but until you have residency you have to leave the country every ninety days.  Most people go to Nicaragua, but I don't think our tatooed butch/femme queer selves would fare so well in Nicaragua.  Thanks for sharing the discount! 


E has such a bad cough that she vomited as we were walking home from the park, poor thing. We're parked on the couch watching Madagascar now. 

post #2873 of 2966
Thread Starter 

Hope all the sickies are better soon!  When K has had puking, he's usually able to do it into a bowl if you leave one near him.


Kate - You won't be pregnant forever!  But I know how you feel.  I sure felt that way with L, mostly because she was 15 days late!  I hope for better timing for you.


Cindy - Yay for good numbers.  Hope that little embryo is holding on tight.


Wraps - I got mine from thebabywearer.com - they have a forum for people to sell/trade used ones.  I got a Neobulle size 4.6m with both kids, and one shorter Storchenwiche (which I lost somewhere).  All cotton ones.  Maybe around $80 each?  I never went for one of the Didymos because they were always so expensive compared to the other brands.  I love the Neobulle though.   Gave one to a friend with a new baby, but still use my Neobulle Julie every day with Lituya (who weighs 21 pounds now - more with the snowsuit).  It's always comfortable.


Preschool - The head start teacher just pointed out to me that K could join head start now.  Like next week, when he turns three!  I'm kind of conflicted about it.  My husband really wants him to go, and thinks it would be a good opportunity for him.  And the teacher is kind of recruiting us.  She's our neighbor and friend, and is great with little kids, and has degrees in early childhood education, and has a class of maybe only 4 or 5 kids now, and would love to have a couple more.  I hadn't even thought about sending him to "school" yet.  On the one hand, it's somewhat of a logistical hassle to send him (4 mornings a week), and I don't want him to miss out on outdoor exploration time with us.  On the other hand, what she does with the kids in that focused 4 hours is probably way more interesting than what we usually do with most of that time - juggling kids and work and chores, ignoring K while he plays with legos, etc...  I don't know.  Maybe we'll send him on a trial run some day soon. 

post #2874 of 2966

erin; Would they let you do 2 mornings a week for a while?


Sick kiddos- here too. My throat hurts too and DH said he's getting it too. Ugh. I'm supposed to have a sitter for a couple of hours tomorrow for F but I'm about to call and cancel since we are sick. A little bummed because it was to be my only break (I'd still have M with me too of course). I don't have it in me to make the house presentable for anyone else either though. Ah well. We are watching Nemo!

post #2875 of 2966

wraps- I have a  moby, I haven't used it yet though, With Jo and Junes I used a wrap I made from jersey knit fabric.


sickies- hope everyone feels better soon. sickies suck.


Tomorrow Junes turns 3. we made the cake today and she told me the batter was "super yummy" with a very serious expression on her face, at first i thought she didn't like it because of the face she made.  She told me she wants to be a chef when she grows up. I was holding her and making Jo a necklace while watching a cooking show and my arm got in her vision path to the tv and she said "Mom, I can't see the cooking movie." LOL.


pregnancy- i am 32 weeks maybe 32 1/2.

post #2876 of 2966

Courtney - Happy Birthday to Junes!!!  And Happy Birthing Day to you :)  


Starling - I'm jealous that you have family to visit in Costa Rica!!  I went there in high school, it was gorgeous!  


AFM - So, no updates really for my hypothetical bus guy ;)  I did find him on fb and sent a message but no response.  Then my friend informed me that if you aren't friends or friends of friends with someone then the msg gets sent to the 'other' folder where nobody ever checks.  And that's true, because I then checked my other folder and there were many many unread msgs lol!  Soo, just now I sent him a friend request.  Which I really *hate* to do because then he can see my entire page which is kind of weird.. But it's one of those things where I have nothing to lose.  Either he's interested or he thinks I'm crazy for stalking him online (or maybe both?)  

And I just want to add that I think trying to date SUCKS!  People say dating sucks, but that's not true - it's the *trying to* part that sucks!  And it is extremely hard as a single mom who doesn't even get eow off.  I have close to zero opportunities to meet people because I have no free time.  My only time away from R is at school or on the bus.  That's it.  And friends keep saying 'oh maybe you'll meet a single dad somewhere with R'..  That doesn't happen in real life, that only happens in rom coms.  In real life children demand your full attention and don't stay in one place long enough for a conversation with anyone.  And pretty much everyone I see on weekends (which is the only time I'm out with R) are already coupled.  So there.  Trying to date sucks!  

Rant over.  (Sorry for that...)

post #2877 of 2966

Happy Birthday Juniper! Courtney, glad the birth went well.  I'm sure you're exhausted.  Pics are great.


Ever, I don't think the FB thing can hurt.  Oh well if it makes you crazy.  I met DH for the first time when I was his waitress while he was on a blind date with another girl.  Embrace the crazy.  love.gif


So the closest IKEA is 120 miles away, and not near anything. So I think that's out.  I put together a list of some cute ones available online and emailed it to DH.  I'll try to get him to pick so that he feels involved.


Speaking of DH, I need to share this 'cause its sort of burdening me.  Yesterday at dinner he yelled at Aubs because she was being her usual difficult self, and refusing to eat, screaming, etc.  She cried for a minute and then got over it and went to play.  I told him, calmly, not accusingly, that he probably didn't need to yell at her when she wasn't actively engaged in doing something "wrong" like smearing ketchup all over the table (as she had earlier).  No big deal, no argument.  He sort of said "yeah" and walked away.  Then later, after she was asleep, he says he's going for a walk.  Comes back and sits on the couch and says he has "anger issues" and starts crying because he feels bad for yelling at Aubs.  The last time he cried (that I know of) was when Aubs was being airlifted from Key West to Miami Children's Hospital in an isolette. So totally out of character.  Weird.  I tried to reassure him that its okay for us to show emotions, just like its okay for Aubs to have meltdowns and show her emotions, and that its not going to scar her....  Truly, he didn't need to yell at her, but I didn't do anything to make him feel bad about it.  Earlier in the week we had an argument in the car and I asked him not to raise his voice at me, but I have to do that maybe four or five times a year.  "I don't care how frustrated you are; you don't need to raise your voice at me."  And as far as anger issues--I've never seen him do anything that makes me think he has anger issues.  Once when DD was in the NICU he yelled at a drive-thru employee through the little box thing, but nothing that has ever bothered me. Anyway I don't know what's up with him.  Its weird. 


Then TODAY, he calls and says he thinks he knows a way for me to keep staying home a little longer.  We were expecting that I would need to get a job at the end of 2012.  He knows I really want to stay home (at least until I'm ready to go back!) but I was shocked by the conversation.  What in the world is going on with him?

post #2878 of 2966

Oh Kate, I wish your husband would convince mine. I'm having a mommy guilt day over here. Greta is refusing to nurse, she's preferring the bottle. I'm not responding well to the pump. Today I only pumped 6 oz while at work... she ate 12. I'm getting less and less with the pump the longer she goes refusing the breast. She'll take it from time to time, but it's very unpredictable. Sometimes, she'll start to and get frustrated waiting for the letdown, then just refuses to even try anymore. Other times, she starts screaming as soon as I pull the boob out. This is anytime of the day, although worse when she's tired. I'm keeping hydrated, eating lots of oatmeal, doing all I can think of to keep my supply up, but I know the real problem is I need her to nurse more. I'm feeling rejected and defeated by the whole thing. This wouldn't be an issue if I wasn't working. We already did away with our cloth diapers because we couldn't keep up with the laundry. Another thing that wouldn't have happened if I wasn't working. To have to give up breastfeeding too... I just feel like I was able to do so much more for Owyn than I'm able to do for Greta since I'm not home with her full time. I know she doesn't know the difference, but I do and it just kills me. The sacrifices I'm having to make for my baby just to work part time. Right now, it just doesn't seem worth it to me.


Okay, done with that rant for now...

post #2879 of 2966

Oh Mal - Hugs! That sounds rough. The only thought I had was maybe trying a lactaid to supplement at the breast - start off with it so she gets flow right away and then taking it out when your milk starts flowing? Also, are you using the slowest nipple? I really liked Breast Flow bottles. M got a strong bottle pref when we started supplementing with bottles and her latch got messed up. It got fixed by Breast Flow bottles bc they mimic nursing at the breast. You just go the best you with your situation and your baby will be fine either way!


Kate: That is wonderful news that you might be able to stay home longer!



post #2880 of 2966
Thread Starter 

Courtney - Happy birthday to Juniper!


Mal - Hugs!  That sounds hard.  You're a great mom to Greta, whatever your schedule is.  She knows it. 


Kate - I don't know, but maybe don't ask too many questions?  Sounds like for whatever reason, he's decided its time to improve himself and his family's life.


Everr - Hope the FB message gets through this time


AFM - Sent K on a trial run to Head Start today and he had a great time.  There are only 4 other kids there (and 2 adults), and he knows most of them, so it's a pretty nice setup.  Kids are not technically allowed to go only 2 mornings a week, but I talked to the teacher and she says it's no big deal to just do it.  So I guess I might go ahead and sign him up in a week or so when he turns 3.  Kind of bittersweet to think that he's so old I'm sending him to school!  But I think it'll be a good opportunity for him.

New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Life with a Toddler