April 2011 Moms

Glasses

Grace0609 — Thu, 30 May 2013 11:23:54 GMT

My sweet ds2 needs glasses. Does anyone else have a 2 year old wearing glasses? It is striking me as sad and challenging so I wondered if anyone else had gone through it.

Fun activity!

2u2wow — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 20:49:24 GMT

so i 'pinterested' (same as googled right??) an idea for toddler rainy day ideas and found a ton! but my OCD (not really) son doesn't like getting his hands dirty! silly boy....so i can only do so much with him.

i tried building a fort under the dining room table which i thought would be a HUGE hit...well, he freaked out when i went in there and he couldn't see me anymore and was too scared to go in alone or even with me so...no go

then i made oobleck (sp?) cornstarch and water in a dollar store aluminum baking tin and it was a 20 min HUGE hit!!! he used his plastic utensils and just poked it for 20 whole min!

i'll bring that one out again for sure and it's a cheap sorta mess free activitiy. i put beach towels under his booster chair and it just flakes off when you shake it out on the deck or in the yard so it's easy clean up!

hope your hump day is going well!

Pregnancy Fashion Blog?

Mrs.Salt&Pepper — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 23:44:23 GMT

Hey ladies! I remember when we were pregnant with our April 11 babies, there was someone who recommended a blog with a girl who did daily pregnancy outfit posts with info on where to buy all the cute stuff she was wearing. Anyone remember this? I want to find it again!

getting rid of naps?

2u2wow — Mon, 27 May 2013 20:19:30 GMT

DS1 is VERY busy as i'm sure all of your LO's are too but i feel like he needs his afternoon nap. the past few days he's been fighting it...normally he's the one who asks for his bubba (sippy of milk) and to go upstairs!

i'm wondering what those of you have done or what it was like to get rid of the one nap?? was it a tough transition? did LO do it on their own or did you decided to wean it for them?

Back in!

kellyc07 — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 21:48:25 GMT

Hi ladies I have been off for a while bc things have been crazy, now my hubby and I are TTC LO2! I am nervous and excited and looking forward to getting some words of wisdom from all of you mommas!

What's everyone doing for Father's Day tomorrow?

kestock120 — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 13:22:50 GMT

As of right now I haven't made any big plans. I picked up one of those HDMX jam speakers that DH has been looking at and will get a card for DS to "sign" later. We'll probably just grill out here after maybe going to the beach or pool in the afternoon. Oh, and I'll give my dad a call since I sucked at getting a card in the mail in time.

Anyone else have anything planned for their husbands and/or dads?

Hi Ladies!! Its been a while

nettie27 — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 19:54:26 GMT

So i have to apologize i haven't said hello or been by for quite some time. I look forward to reading the posts below and catching up on baby life! Miss you girls!

3 day method?

MauiBride2008 — Tue, 28 May 2013 20:31:24 GMT

i lurk around here a lot these days, but haven't posted in a while. i keep reading about this 3 day method potty training and i wanted to read up on it so once DS is ready to potty train i know what the hell to do ;) Currently, DS is nowhere close to being ready which i don't know if it's a good or bad thing.

is this a book or a website? where can i find this? TIA!

s/o big boy beds...

MauiBride2008 — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 22:00:55 GMT

ds1 has not even attempted to get out of his crib yet. how did you know lo was ready to make the transition to a toddler bed? i know he needs to transition soon, but are there rules to when it is appropriate to do this? dh and i go back and forth on when we will make the switch ;)

Big Boy Bed

vanfox — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 15:06:56 GMT

I haven't posted here in forever, but I'm so sad-happy because my little boy is graduating from the crib today. Sure, he'll have a mile-long guardrail, but it's still a real bed. Ugh, I hope the adjustment isn't too long. How did your LOs do when you moved them, if you have already?

discipline

verovladamir — Fri, 31 May 2013 02:26:52 GMT

How do you do it?

Nate is... feisty? Who am I kidding. He's a classic toddler boy. He wants things, and whatever it is should have been here 10 minutes ago.

He is getting way better at talking, but when he was little he used to scream when he wanted something. We taught him some sign language and that really helped. He would say please and more instead of yelling.

But suddenly he has gone right back to the yelling. He is incredibly possessive and disinclined to listen when told no. I understand that it's normal for them to try to push the boundaries, but how do we work to push back?

I am pretty pro-AP, but if I'm being honest I need something a little more... structured. This free-range toddler thing is getting to me.

Advice?

Mom's Tail...anyone else have one?

Kougl Wife to Be! — Thu, 23 May 2013 17:30:35 GMT

So I seriously love my DD but honestly the last 3 weeks have been ugghghhg! She is great playing by herself, with baby brother, dad and anyone else until I walk into the room...then it is over. Has be attached to mommy. Whiny, wants to be held, like I have left and abondoned her forever at some point in her life! Everyone tells me she is so good until you come into the room...nice real nice, I feel like mother of the year let me tell ya....not good. I''m not sure what brought this on, no major changes in our lives or anything. Anyone else in this boat with me? and if so, can someone get us a maragita or a beach where we are just by ourselves for 10 minutes!

activities...

2u2wow — Fri, 31 May 2013 02:50:11 GMT

i know pinterest is great but what are some of your fav activities/crafts/games/fun things to do with your LO?

i was considering making some of these:

http://www.thestuffofsuccess.com/2011/05/create-your-own-sponge-bombs.html

but most stuff on pinterest is paint or messy stuff...my OCD of not wanting to clean my kitchen floor is on my shoulder so i'm looking for stuff to either do outside or some sort of non messy activity for inside.

TIA!

Baby #2 is here :)

virginiagirl11 — Sat, 25 May 2013 21:30:58 GMT

DS2 arrived last week on the 15th. My water broke in the evening on DH's birthday and DS2 was born the next morning. He was four days early, which was quite a surprise for us considering DS1 was over a week late. DS2 was only an ounce lighter and was .5" longer, so I think if he'd stayed in longer, he would have been bigger than DS1.

I feel mostly recovered at this point and baby's doing great. He seems to be a lot more content than DS1 was and we're finding that, so far, transitioning from one child to two has been FAR easier on us than transitioning from zero kids to one was. It definitely helps to have a normal baby this time around versus a highly sensitive, highly frustrated one. DS1 has done really well with his little brother and has shown nothing but curiosity and love toward him.

So far, this maternity leave has been pretty wonderful compared to my first one and we are so happy to have two healthy little guys in our lives. Now that #2 is here, I have this sense of completeness that I didn't realize was missing before. I don't know if we'll stop here or have another, but right now I am really content with our family of four. :)

Naming #2 is so much harder!

PSlove — Mon, 27 May 2013 15:16:25 GMT

Am I the only one who feels this way?

We were team green with LO1, but always had a solid girl name and a few solid boy options. I felt pretty set early on. With this LO i have no idea! I just don't love anything like I love LO's name. I know we still have a lot of time, but i can't help but feel stressed over it. Names are a big deal!

Any tricks to finding the perfect name?

Update to Please keep me in your thoughts

Twirple — Fri, 24 May 2013 00:11:55 GMT

Thank you for all your positive thoughts and prayers. I went in for my US today and they confirmed that there had been no further fetal development. I had a D&C this afternoon and am now groggy from the anesthesia but otherwise feeling OK. I am holding on to the thought that something must have been seriously wrong. We will wait for six weeks or so, and try again.

For tonight, I am going to be hanging out on the couch, eating ice cream and watching Disney movies with my wonderful husband and cuddling my adorable son.

While I would hate for anyone to go thorough this, I am thankful that I have a healthy son first. It gives me someone who loves to snuggle and gives me hope that I will have another healthy baby in the future.

Potty training?

Mrs.Salt&Pepper — Fri, 24 May 2013 01:12:18 GMT

Anyone have success yet? How'd you go about it? DD is showing all signs, but we have yet to have success. I let her go bare-bottomed at home, and she just pees all over the place. Day care suggested we try this weekend since its a long weekend, but I'm tired of cleaning up pee :(

Alexander John is here!

klibby707 — Sat, 18 May 2013 21:51:38 GMT

He arrived May 15th at 1:46 AM, weighing 8 lbs 10 oz and measuring 21 inches. I had a great labor and delivery experience this time and was able to hold my newest little guy right away. We got back home yesterday, and minus the lack of sleep, our family of four is doing very well!

Yay! Time for #2!

Mrs.Salt&Pepper — Wed, 15 May 2013 19:51:20 GMT

Hey ladies,

We just found out on Monday, we are expecting! I am very surprised as we were just "letting things happen how they happen" and I could have sworn I wasn't ovulating when we DTD. Guess my cycle was off! I'm not mad though, I am so super excited. Anyone else on the Jan '14 board?

Does anyone else feel like they just suck at this?

shaindelr — Sun, 05 May 2013 02:41:10 GMT

Hey, Ladies,

I guess I'm having a pity party, and I'm sorry, but you've always been there for me. Bear with me while I "type-vomit" for a bit. I feel like parenting is about fifty-rage-induced heart attacks a day for me, and like I'm good at everything in my life except for this.

Last weekend, I went away to an "edit in" where we read a memoirist's book-length manuscript and made comments on it Friday and Saturday, and then discussed it on Sunday. Her book is about her raising 32 total biological, foster, and adopted children and how she saved the lives of the ones she could and about the few she couldn't save (the ones who still went on to be addicts, etc.)... She basically said that since she had these abusive parents, she thought she lived her life this way to prove to her mom that it wasn't that hard to be a good parent and that she could do it again and again, etc. (It's an amazing book, by the way, and she's an amazing person).

I guess I feel like the opposite. I had these abusive parents and never wanted to have kids because I was afraid I couldn't handle it. Then, I did years of therapy, and I thought I could handle it, and Jared is a mostly SAHD, and I feel like the one day a week I'm alone with Liam is going to make me crazy.

This morning everything went wrong, so I went to cry in the shower and was so mad I punched the shower wall out of frustration. I honestly might have broken my hand but can type thanks to Percocet. YAY!

I don't get how I can be so bad at this. I mean, my second book came out earlier this year, I feel great because Susie (the student I did the fundraising for) went on to have her life-saving surgery that was just in the news, http://www.local12.com/content/medical_edge/story/First-Female-With-Rare-Condition-Gets-LVAD-Heart/8Rp4ZUGp8k2UibXk3ILiiA.cspx and everyone at work is all, "You're such an inspiration, you helped save her life." I guess I feel like I do all of these things to be a person who makes a difference in the world -- writing books for children in war-torn countries, doing fundraisers for people who need them, etc., etc. and I'm just a sh*tty parent the one day a week that I'm with my own child.

Jared already talked to his job about changing his Saturday schedule, which I'm so grateful for... but I wish it didn't have to be like this.

I honestly feel better after typing this. I'm tempted to erase it, but I'll leave it in case someone else needs to read it in order to not feel alone.

If you're out there, please start an "It Gets Better" campaign for moms of two year-olds

Learning activities

verovladamir — Thu, 23 May 2013 19:58:53 GMT

Do any of you guys do any structured learning activities? I try to point things out as we go along, and help DS count when we do things like cooking, but I haven't done anything structured like flashcards.

Have you started stuff like this? I'm just thinking it might be time...

make it one more for coming back

teresakay78 — Thu, 23 May 2013 02:30:28 GMT

Hi ladies. I was with you all until DD came early 2 yrs ago on March 27. Well i came back to TB about 7 months ago on TTGP and now i am on the Jan. 2014 BMB. So i am here for a while and would love to reconnect w you, if you will have me? I see many of you have 2+ or are on your way so i would LOVE to chat about that....since it keeps me up at night stressing? :)

Please keep me in your thoughts.

Twirple — Wed, 22 May 2013 22:11:08 GMT

I went in for my first US last Friday to finally see the little one. I was supposed to be 10 weeks, but baby was only measuring 6 weeks with no heartbeat. I go in tomorrow for a followup US to see if their is any further development. It is unlikely as I am so far behind, but my wonderful OB wants to make sure. If there is no further development, I will have a D&C tomorrow.

I was shocked and, of course, upset by the news, but my family has been wonderful. Even Chase has crawled up into my lap and gently brushed my tears away with his fist. Right now I'm trying to count my blessings, and maintain a balance between having hope and not getting my hopes up too high.

Please Help...Working Mom to SAHM

Kougl Wife to Be! — Tue, 21 May 2013 19:07:34 GMT

Hey everyone, I need some advice help. We are looking at buying another ranch and I have the option to potentially stay at home with my children (or drive 20-40 miles to work). I truthfully have always been fairly career oriented but half of my monthly income goes to daycare for my 2 yr old and 6 mo old. So between that, and gas money is it really worth it for a couple years... So...maybe do some work from home? Or do I try and find something part time, this is a rural reservation area so i'm not sure what is all available. Ideas, Opinions, suggestions ladies! Did I mention I love this board, you girls are always here for everyone too!

can't win...anyone else?

2u2wow — Tue, 14 May 2013 18:22:55 GMT

anyone feel like we can't win with our parents/inlaws/grandparents!?

all we really aspire to is happy kids who sleep well and eat healthy...am i wrong?

DS1 naps like a champ and loves going to bed. he has never fought bedtime or naptime! we're very fortunate i know. he is great wtih routine and we stick to it pretty strictly...more for our benefit as it's nice to know we have the evenings to ourselves by 7pm!

but whenever he sleeps at my inlaws they push his bedtime to at least 8 and his naps until almost 2 when he's always in bed by noon (ish)

they always say...oh he was just having so much fun.....SO! if you tell him it's bed time he'll go. why push it?! he's our child! i know i know....grandparents have a bit of leeway with our rules but a routine is a routine! (we're not scheduled so he HAS to be asleep by 12 OR ELSE...but he likes to sleep by noon so it doesn't throw off the rest of the day)

my mom always seems to ask about his routines too...why don't you just let him play? he's fine...he's happy. i know!!!! but that's not the point. he's our kid and this is how we do things so deal with it

sorry i might be being overdramatic but i needed to vent and hear that i'm not alone in dealing with family influences!