PS Mommy Thread-Newborn to 12 months!

[mela lu]

Date: 12/30/2009 3:43:27 PM
Author: cdt1101
China - hello

We stopped counting weeks at like 12...I just couldn''t keep track after awhile, and it just seemed easier to use months. And I''ve gotten so lazy that I really only use either the month or month and a half. So he won''t be 7 months until Jan 3rd, but when people ask he''s been 7 months for about a week already

. I just cannot be bothered to say he''s 6m 3 weeks or whatever. Since he''s closer to 7 months than 6 1/2, he''s just 7 month now

diiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitttttttttttttttttto

romy n lex are the same age exactly

 

[Pandora II]

Blen - Thanks, glad to know that I'm not the only one with a child who behaves like a caged gorilla when confronted by bars! I spent some time with her and the bed-rail today and it seems that with our bed the memory-foam mattress stops her being able to really do much - my mother had normal mattresses which gave her a firm surface. I don't think she's old enough to take in the concept of going down things yet - we don't have stairs so I've nothing to practice on - but it's a great idea and I'll try it as soon as I think she can reason.

Love the 'meat-balls' picture of George! Seems like a man who likes his food!

Just out of interest, what do you do about brushing George's teeth at night? I brush Daisy's before bed, but then she eats a couple of times at night. I've had such nightmares with my own teeth that I am paranoid about hers.

I've tried the 'they all get there eventually and it makes no difference' line and I hope it goes down the right way. Honestly, I would much rather she was still just lying on her back all the time - once they start moving you can't do anything without taking them too (or caging them

) which gets so exhausting. It also reminds me how soon she won't be my baby anymore...

I'm lending my co-sleeper to a friend and so I packed it up today - I actually cried. I remember setting it up and putting the sheets on the new mattress and having everything ready for when she arrived... seems like yesterday... and now she's nearly 7.5 months and almost a toddler...

I'm quite glad that DH and I are going to review the 'only child' thing in 5 years as I will hopefully have got a grip on the 'tiny baby' desire by then!

PG - I must confess that I have done the 'lean over and feed' thing rather more often than I would like! The rolling-over definitely counts BTW! I'm very impressed on the working-out, you have great will-power to do it even at xmas!

MGal - Daisy makes horrible faces if anything has texture at all. I just let her spit it out and then the next meal I give her some more things to try. I've definitely noticed that more is starting to go in and not come back out again which is progress. Have you tried giving Kyle bigger things to hold like a big strip of chicken or a whole carrot? D is way happier if she has something she can manipulate into her mouth better and hold and suck.

Ebree - LOL on the barrel rolling. Daisy only tried for a day and just went in a circle round her own head - which was a good thing as there's not much space here for rolling! If he's sitting that long as well I reckon he'll be crawling in the next few weeks.
Avocado was more popular than banana with D - she liked 'biting' the banana and then just spat the bitten bits out as she didn't like the taste

Tao - good news re. the shots. First ones are always the worst I think.

Cdt - I don't think it's wrong at all that you want to be a SAHM. I never thought I would want to be but I really like being with D all day (most of the time

). Eugh on the crawling off while trying to change them...

China - I stopped counting weeks at around 3 months and now go by calendar months. With the 6 month thing I went by date for starting food.

LOL on NYE - DH and I are going for dinner with two sets of friends - the hosts have a 10 wk old and the others a 3 wk old - and staying over (perhaps it will put me off any desire for a return to tiny babyness). I'm taking a bottle of vintage Champagne from 1999 that we found when we unpacked the boxes into the new kitchen (no idea it existed) and seemed appropriate for celebrating our 2009 babies - so I will drink to the health and happiness of all the PS babies too!

 

[cdt1101]

Date: 12/30/2009 3:44:50 PM
Author: Blenheim
China - I''m not sure about your first question, but as for your second, we stopped counting in weeks when he hit about 12 weeks/3 months. I viewed the milestones and other guidelines in terms of the calendar month at that point, but honestly I don''t think that in your example a week here or there''s going to matter to anyone but you.

George is 8.5 months now, almost 9. I swear he looks like a little boy now and not like my baby.

(It''s more dramatic when he''s, yanno, wearing clothes and ''walking'' along furniture.) It''s just amazing how fast they grow up. I already want to have another little newborn as does DH, but we''re holding off.


Haha on the NYE plans. I''m the same way.

DH told me last night he wants #2 by the end of next year

News to me, since we haven''t discussed timing yet, but I was glad to hear since I''m itching for another as well

I think we should wait to TTC until June though when Lex turns 1. So we likely won''t make DH''s cutoff

 

[cdt1101]

Pandora - I would have totally cried too if I were packing "baby" stuff up! It definitely seems like yesterday all of us were preggo and waiting for our little ones to arrive! I cannot believe how fast the time goes. I also can''t believe I want another little baby already

 

[phoenixgirl]

China, I''m on the minipill (I started my second pack this weekend), and I didn''t get a period, for whatever it''s worth. I was wondering about that too.

Pandora and Blen, I obviously haven''t tried it, but I really don''t think I could physically feed Claire in her carseat. My girls don''t really hang at all. Even side-lying is difficult because there really isn''t enough for Claire to get a real mouthful. And when I use a Boppy, I have to prop Claire up on additional pillows because she''d be several inches below the goal without help. Maybe my girls are unusually high? (Hoping this pays off later in life. My mom seems to have no sag problems.) Sorry if that is TMI!

While clothes shopping, my sister and I compared postpartum belly buttons. When she saw mine, she was like, "Egad!" confirming what I already knew . . . that my bellybutton looks weird! The linea nigra is really concentrated in the belly button, so the whole thing is dark and strangely bigger, like an uninviting dark cave now. Her bellybutton looked relatively normal. Plus she''s had 3 kids and I have way more stretch marks, and they''ve moved from one boob to both. She was also impressed by how small my C/S scar is. We hoped nobody was listening to us outside the dressing room!

Claire has continued to be fussy today and might have a cold. She had crusty stuff around her nose earlier but it''s gone now. She does not feel warm, but we''re going to figure out how to take a rectal temperature later if she still seems out of sorts. Right now she''s sleeping and DH is cooking dinner. A moment of peace!

New Jersey - yup, born and bred. Is it crazy that I prefer driving in NJ to VA? It''s like in NJ, nobody wastes your time. We''re all trying to get to our destination as fast as possible, so we''re not going to hesitate and wave at each other during a merge (you just go), and we all just know that when the light turns yellow, at least two cars will turn left. And when somebody zooms up behind you in the left lane, you get over and let them by. You don''t just obliviously saunter along at 70 mph in the fast lane.

 

[cdt1101]

Date: 12/30/2009 7:09:25 PM
Author: phoenixgirl




New Jersey - yup, born and bred. Is it crazy that I prefer driving in NJ to VA? It''s like in NJ, nobody wastes your time. We''re all trying to get to our destination as fast as possible, so we''re not going to hesitate and wave at each other during a merge (you just go), and we all just know that when the light turns yellow, at least two cars will turn left. And when somebody zooms up behind you in the left lane, you get over and let them by. You don''t just obliviously saunter along at 70 mph in the fast lane.

so true!!! Whenever I''m on the turnpike and someone is doing the speed limit in the fast lane, I can predict every time they are NOT from NJ

I lived in VA for a year and I moved back because as much as I thought I didn''t like NJ, I missed it here!

 

[neatfreak]

China It won''t force it if your body isn''t ready. That being said just know that the failure rate for the mini pill is MUCH higher than that for the regular pill. Just sayin.

I got a Mirena because there is no way in H*LL I was getting knocked up again so soon! I wasn''t taking any chances.

Just something to be aware of-I know it''s one of the only options for BFing moms-but I would strongly consider using condoms too unless an "oops" baby is ok. I think the mini-pill failure rate is like 8-10% or something like that with normal use.

 

[Sabine]

Date: 12/30/2009 7:09:25 PM
Author: phoenixgirl



New Jersey - yup, born and bred. Is it crazy that I prefer driving in NJ to VA? It''s like in NJ, nobody wastes your time. We''re all trying to get to our destination as fast as possible, so we''re not going to hesitate and wave at each other during a merge (you just go), and we all just know that when the light turns yellow, at least two cars will turn left. And when somebody zooms up behind you in the left lane, you get over and let them by. You don''t just obliviously saunter along at 70 mph in the fast lane.

Phoenix, this KILLS me about VA drivers! And if the road is 2 lanes, there will be cars going the same speed in both lanes making it IMPOSSIBLE to get in front! I miss Pittsburgh drivers...

Are you all ready for a rant of craziness?
So apparently I have pneumonia. I''ve been coughing for 2 weeks, and dh was home this afternoon so I finally went to the dr. I don''t really feel that sick, just a little run down, and of course there''s this horribly annoying cough. I''m just really getting paranoid about Jackson getting sick. I don''t know why, but I have this debilitating fear that he''s going to get sick and I''m going to not realize it and not take him to the dr., and it will turn into something life threatening or horrible. I have no idea where this fear came from as I''m usually not one to worry. But I find myself analyzing his every nuance of behavior (did he sneeze more than usual today, was that cough because he''s drooling or is he having trouble breathing etc.). And the thing that''s really making it horrible is that I keep taking his temperature, and he often has a low grade fever, but dh still keeps telling me that he''s fine and doesn''t need to go to the dr. And the temp. never stays. For example, his temp. was 99 first thing in the morning, 100.3 early afternoon, up to 100.9 late afternoon (and I freaked, but dh was like, he was just rolling around on the floor trying to crawl, and grunting/straining trying to poop, he worked himself up) and then 100.1 before bed. This is where have a dr. for a dh is really getting rough for me because I''m so worried, but he keeps saying that Jackson isn''t acting fussy, he''s smiling and laughing, and even if he is sick, we''re doing everything to make him comfortable and taking him to the dr. won''t do anything for him other than expose him to more germs. Ugh. Talk me down ladies, please!

Mela, Blen, Mustang, cdt, love the pics!

Tao, so glad that Evan is doing well and sleeping well!

Okay, I''m off to bed, sorry to those I missed!

 

[cdt1101]

Sabine - I know it''s tough! Lex had bronchitis for almost 2 weeks and I was sooooooooo nervous it was going to turn into something worse. I wouldn''t worry too much right now about the low grade fever, if he''s teething that could be why. If Jacks starts to have any other systems (such as cough or congestion/runny nose), then I might take him to the DR. But right now, I would just take care of yourself and wash your hands as much as possible

Just to let you know what happened w/ Lex so you can look for signs:

He first started w/ a dry cough and a little bit of a runny nose, this lasted for about 3 days (never any fever)

After 3 days, the cough became more frequent and his nose was running more (cough was still dry)

After 5 days, the cough was no longer dry and you could hear the rattling in his chest when he was breathing (still no fever)

At around day 9 or 10, I could hear him wheezing when he was breathing even if we were not in the same room! This is when I really started to freak and took him to the DR for the 3rd time

He was then diagnosed w/ bronchitis. They started him on an antibiotic, and oral steriod. When the wheezing was still not getting better 2 days later, they had us using albuteral in the nebulizer....still didn''t work! Finally we were prescribed something called Xopenox or something like that to use in the nebulizer and it worked great! Took the wheezing away and although he still is a little stuffy (mainly because he''s in daycare and around so many kids), he''s been fine.

I will say this....Lex has NEVER acted any differently during all of this. Still his happy go lucky self. The only thing that did change, was he was not eating as much and for him that is STRANGE

And he never had a fever.

I just wanted to give you an idea of what to look for, but right now Jacks sounds fine!! Try not to worry and hope you feel better soon!

 

[fieryred33143]

Just a quick hello from me to wish everyone a Happy New Year''s Eve!

I went through my old pregnant psers posts yesterday because I''m saving them and this is what I wrote on 1/1/09:

Happy New Year Everyone!
I just want to thank everyone for being so supportive to all of us throughout this journey. And a huge thank you for being so understanding of my situation with my FI. It has made everything feel so much easier. You all are going to be great moms . 2009 is going to be great!

I feel the exact same way going in to 2010. You all are wonderful ladies and mothers. Another huge thank you from me. I know it seems silly to say this but I don''t have any mommy friends and having you ladies to help me figure this mom stuff out has been awesome

 

[mela lu]

Date: 12/31/2009 9:19:54 AM
Author: fiery
I know it seems silly to say this but I don't have any mommy friends and having you ladies to help me figure this mom stuff out has been awesome

DITTO! I only have one friend with a baby so you girls are everything to me! So nice to commiserate and toss ideas around with you all. HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES! I can't wait to see what 2010 brings us. It's going to be a GREAT year

Also, in know I don't "know" any of you in real life, but I feel like I do, and I'm so happy to have you all as friends. Cheers my friends!

 

[MustangGal]

China - I got the Mirena, which my doctor said would also be fine while BFing. I like not having to worry about it anymore

.

I can''t believe how many of you are from the same area! I''ve never even been to NJ, guess I''ll have to make it overthere sometime and see what I''m missing.

Am I odd for NOT wanting another baby? DH and I talked about it in the car on the way home from CA. We agreed that we''d wait until Kyle is 2, and if I still don''t want another baby then, we''re done. That''s just over a year from now.

And, Kyle is officially a stripper baby. I watched him sit in the living room floor last night and pull his socks off, then his pants, and he managed to get out of his diaper. He then tried to put the sock on his weewee

. I was trying not to laugh at him, but it was pretty cute to watch!

 

[Blenheim]

Happy new year!! I also don''t have any mommy friends IRL and all of you have been a Godsend.

Sabine - so sorry about the pneumonia! I hope you feel better soon. George''s broncitis took a similar course as Lex''s did, BTW, but responded to the nebulizer treatments without needing any additional stuff.

MGal - I don''t think it''s odd to not want another baby. They''re just so much work and it''s such a huge commitment. It''s completely understandable to me, even as someone who wants another one as soon as we''re in a good position to have another.

Pandora - I''m just brushing them before bed. I''m not too concerned with night feedings - http://www.kellymom.com/bf/older-baby/tooth-decay.html.


DH and I went out together last night and left George with my in-laws, and he evidently did very well! He was fussy a couple of times, but he took a bottle and went to bed fine. PHEW.

He''s also started goose stepping all over the house, with one of us walking with him and him holding our hands. And he''s very fast at it. I think DH prefers to refer to it as "walking" with assistance, but he''s totally goose stepping and not walking.

 

[phoenixgirl]

MG, the sock story is a riot!


As someone who got pregnant in January, it's interesting to think how there was no Claire prior to 2009. A year ago DH and I were TTC but generally living life the same way we had for the last several years.

Is anyone going to/hosting a party tonight, or is everyone too exhausted like us? Last year we threw a somewhat last minute New Year's party which was a lot of fun, and our friend who is not the most tactful or socially aware person emailed us yesterday to ask if we would have another one this year. She was like, "I know you all are busy with parenthood, but your party last year was so much fun and we don't have any plans. Let me know ASAP so I can send out the invites." The invites? As in, you weren't just inviting yourself over . . . you were planning to invite all your friends too?

With some people this could actually be thoughtful; our best friends are out of the country, but I could see them offering to come hang out at our place so we wouldn't need a babysitter . . . big difference from suggesting we host a party for somebody else's friends on one day's notice, though.

2009 was a good year. 2008 sucked. My dad died, the market tanked so DH's job got really stressful, and I feel like we were sick all the time. Last year for the New Year we were like, "Good riddance 2008!" But Claire and her cousin, both conceived in January, made 2009 the best year yet. I do want to acknowledge losing my friend to cancer in January. I know 2009 was a hard year for his wife, and I know that approaching the anniversary of a death can make the deceased suddenly seem really far away because you can no longer think that just this time last year you still had him with you.

 

[mela lu]

Oh Phoenix, I''m so sorry to hear about the anniversary of your friend passing. Its a good and difficult thing to reflect on the past year, isn''t it. My condolences to you and the DH of your friend. I hope 2010 brings healing.

Sabine - I meant to write...."step away from the thermometer!!!" lol. I haven''t said that since the days of TTC. LOL. Hope Jacks stays healthy. Now seriously, put that thermometer away!

++++++++++++

ROMEO CUT HIS FIRST TOOTH TODAY!! I cant see it, but I can feel it with my finger. Aww my baby''s all grown up. Happy 7 Month anniversary Romeo! Let''s celebrate with a tooth

Romeo, May 31st 2009

 

[cdt1101]

aw Fiery!! Your post was so sweet!!! I've been so glad to get to "know" you ladies. I also went back and re-read the preggo thread a few weeks ago and it made me realize how all of you were such a great support during the end of my (difficult) pregnancy.



Mela - yay for 1st tooth!! I was kind of sad when Lex got his, but man they look so cute

Mgal - the sock story is hysterical! And I don't think you're missing much by not having been in NJ, although I do love my home

I also don't think it's weird at all you don't want another. My BFF is the exact same way and EVERYONE keeps saying she'll change her mind, her son is now 1 1/2 and nope, she still feels no desire to have another and her DH feels the same way.

Phoenix - I'm sorry to hear about the anniversary of your friend. I too hope 2010 brings healing.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES

I hope 2010 brings more PS babies

 

[MustangGal]

Thank CDT and Blen. The big problem is that DH DOES want another. I told him we already compromised, since I didn''t really want kids in the first place, and he wanted 2, so 1 IS a compromise

. That''s where the "we''ll wait until he''s 2 to say for sure" agreement came from. DH was very tied of hearing me say no more, so it''s been changed to "no more for now". Who knows, maybe I''ll change my mind.

 

[ChinaCat]

WELCOME 2010 and FOND FAREWELL TO 2009, which brought all or most of us our little bundles of joy!

Fiery- Sweet words, thank you. I agree, this thread has been my lifeline in so many ways, even when I''m not posting, just reading and learning. I have a ton of friends with new babies but none live near me, and it''s so hard not to do the comparing thing so I love having the support and wisdom of PS moms. I also have such a soft spot for all of your babies, I feel like I *know* them since I''ve watched them grow and feel a bit like an invisible godmother to them. Wouldn''t it be great to throw a 2009 PS baby party???? Of course, all PS babies could come, not just 2009ers. So THANK YOU to all of you, I consider you to be my confidantes and my friends.

Neatfreak and Phxgirl- Thanks for the info on the mini-pill. NF, an oops baby would NOT be ok right now, so THANK YOU. I did get some info on the Mirena, maybe I will try it out.

Phx- Ok, that *scene* of you and your sis comparing belly buttons is hysterical. Oh to be a fly on the wall!

Sabine- So so sorry about the pneumonia. Ugh. Really hope you feel better SOON and that Jacks is a-ok.

Mustang- I so don''t want another one right now!!!! I can''t even imagine getting O to a decent stage and then throwing another baby into the mix. Though O is only 4.5 months, so maybe I will feel differently when he gets older. I doubt it though. I have a friend who had an oops second baby (BF, did it once) when her first was 7 months old. She said it was absolute hell for the first few years, but now it''s great b/c they play together. But she said from her experience, when the first one turned 20 months, it was much more manageable to have an infant and a 20 month old. So I am not even thinking of another until then. I just know myself and I don''t think I could handle it.

Speaking of second babies, is everyone sure they are having more? I know some of you are for sure. How about any unsure ladies that are a bit older??? If I am going to have more, I can''t wait that long but I am so not ready. My thing is I really don''t want an only child. I know only children that will say it was great, and I know my kid wouldn''t be worse off as an only, but for some reason I really resist it. Perhaps it''s b/c I have siblings and I can''t imagine not having them. I love being part of a family and having someone that just knows what it''s like to be in this world together. And when something happens to my parents, they are the only ones that can truly understand. I want that for O, and I want a "family" not just a kid. If that makes sense? BUT I am not sure I really want to go through the labor and early months again. I loved being preggo, so don''t mind that part. Also there is that fear of I have one healthy one, why push it? Anyways, I know all of this is normal, so I guess just wondering if any one out there is going through the same thing, or if they went through it how they made a decision. I know I have time to figure it out.

MGal- LOL on the sock on the peepee thing. Occasionally O will find his package with his hands and oh, the delight on his face! What are in for with these boys?

Ok and my question for the day: Any tips on deswaddling?????

O is really too big for the swaddle and busts out when he wakes up. I had the nanny start leaving one arm out, with the thought that we''d just slowly progress to no swaddle. BUT O is WAY too big for his moses basket, so he has to sleep in his crib immediately. And last night he rolled over in his sleep in his swaddle. Which freaks me out. He is strong enough to lift up his head without his arms, so his face was turned to the side. But too scary in general. So I need to deswaddle ASAP. Any tips? Did anyone go cold turkey????? For background, he loves the swaddle and it really works for us. Or did up till this week.

 

[MustangGal]

I''m one of 5 kids, but honestly we''re not a close family, and even if a child has siblings, that doesn''t mean they''ll get along. My younger sisters are the closest in age of us, only 2 years apart, but can barely stand to be in the same room together (they''re 25 and 23 now). My sibling experience has made me not really care if Kyle is an only. I''ll have a second child becasue I want one, not becasue the older one needs a playmate. (I hope that comes accross OK)

China - de-swaddling - we went cold turkey at 3 months. He was too big for the swaddle-mes at that point, and breaking out of them anyway. It took about a week for things to settle back in, so be prepared for a few bad nights, but it''ll get better.

 

[taovandel]

Question to any ladies that went on STD when they had their LO's.

I was supposed to get paid today (using vacation time) but my boss forgot to put my time in (even though I sent her an email the other day confirming the plan for vacation hours...but that's a totally different subject). When my husband went to go ask accounting about it he was told I should be receiving a check from HR for two more weeks of STD (She said HR had it...um if they had it why hadn't they sent it out---It's 3 weeks past the 6 week cut off). I was given a lump sum check (or so I thought) when I first had him....so now I'm confused should I be receiving another check from them? And even if I was--it would only be at 2/3 and I need my full check because of rent being due in 5 days. So I'm of course in a bit of a panic.

I emailed the insurance company also asking this question..but of course with it being the holidays---I doubt I will hear from them until Monday or Tuesday (which would be too late to pay rent!)


Thanks ladies!

Oh and Happy New Year to everyone (So far the year is ending with a bang!

)

ETA: Insurance company emailed me back---said my policy was paid in full already...so no clue what the accounting office is thinking of.

 

[taovandel]

Okay, now that I''ve wrapped my head around my problem--the panic is gone...I know it''ll get fixed on Monday.


So now onto a normal post

Happy New Year to everyone....having gotten married and given birth to my son in 09--I can''t imagine ''10 can get any better...but I''m sure it will watching him grow up and learn something new everyday.

I''m so thankful to have found this forum and to have you ladies helping me along the way. I have no friends with young babies (well I will in about 2 weeks!) so everyone here is so helpful and kind--I really am so thankful to have you all in some way in my life--I don''t know if I''d be handling things so well. I probably say at least 4 times a week--when we have a problem, "Well the ladies on the board said their baby did....".


Ha to driving in VA....I''m also in VA (Va Beach) and driving here is so bad---everyone drives really slow---which, ya know--safety and all Yeah!---but it''s so annoying sometimes!


My husband and I are always saying how we are ready for another baby already! Evan is really spoiling us because he is earning his nickname, "Easy E". He''s just such an easy going baby and he sleeps well and hardly ever cries and what not---I''m sure the next baby will be a true terror to get us back for having such an easy time with this one. We are even throwing around baby names for the next one (Isla Rae for a girl and Benjamin Noel for a boy...lol)

So far, unless we have another oops baby like Evan, we are planning on trying again in the first half of 2011. I''m suuuper close to my siblings and we are all roughly 2 years apart and I want him to (hopefully) have that kind of relationship with his siblings also---and I think the age difference is important to help that along.

also, I took the minipill for just once cycle and no period from it. I''m now back on Ortho-Tri again...this is the same pill I was on when I got pregnant. This time I will be smart and if I have to take antibiotics and I will make sure to use another form of protection.



Again, Happy New Year--I hope you all get to spend it with the people you love (and I hope everyone can stay up long enough to see the ball drop!). I will be spending it with my husband , baby (who has a cute little suit to dress up in for tonight!), sister and best friend....I''m so thankful for everyone in my life!

 

[mela lu]

Is it so crazy that I''m 100% ready to have another baby. 100%. Like, we''re very sloppy with our method of BC, which is the "pull and pray". Since I''ve yet to have my period, it''s all up in the air now.

Romeo may just have a sib in 2010!! You never know!

 

[taovandel]

Mela: your posts always crack me up...pull and pray! We''ve used that before..haha. You make a beautiful baby--so fingers crossed that you''ll be welcoming a sibling for Romeo in 2010.

 

[cdt1101]

Date: 12/31/2009 6:25:10 PM
Author: mela lu
Is it so crazy that I''m 100% ready to have another baby. 100%. Like, we''re very sloppy with our method of BC, which is the ''pull and pray''. Since I''ve yet to have my period, it''s all up in the air now.

Romeo may just have a sib in 2010!! You never know!

We are currently doing the same thing....if not just letting it "go" sometimes

But *ideally* I''d like to wait until we move since we only have 2 bedrooms here, but I would be elated to have another one, although I''m not super excited to be preggo again (well if I knew no kidney stones I''d be OK).

So I''m right there w/ you Mela

 

[cdt1101]

Tao - I think it's funny that you, Blen, Phoenix and Sabine are ALL in VA!!! And my company is being relocated to VA Beach in June (most likely...the co owns a building there were as they rent in NJ and lease is up). My DH's job is more stable, so I'm not going if it happens, but just thought that was funny. I also lived in VA for a year because I went to college there my freshman year (George Mason)

Just thought it was funny we've been talking about NJ and VA a lot in this thread!

And I think the reason we are so ready again is we did get lucky w/ an "easy" baby, he's super active, YES, but he rarely really cries and smiles so so so much. And has been a GREAT sleeper since 9 weeks old. I'm not sure what that means for baby #2

ETA - I puffy heart the name Isla!!! SO so so pretty!

 

[phoenixgirl]

Happy New Year, PS Mommy friends!


I do want another baby, but not when Claire is a year old, so I am not looking to get pregnant any time soon! I am hoping the minipill plus breastfeeding is adequate protection. I tried to take the pills at night like I used to before I went off them, but I forget three times, so I took them earlier and earlier until I got onto a morning schedule. I don''t know what I was thinking with the night thing.

Claire has gotten really sweet recently where she''ll let me sway and snuggle her while looking in the mirror. In the past she''d either need to be majorly bounced or she''d be too wriggly to hold like that, but now she seems to just enjoy slowdancing with me. It''s so nice.

We are planning a trip for Claire to meet her newest cousin (not even 3 weeks old) in two weeks. It''s 8 hours away by car, so that should be interesting! We''ll also stop by and introduce Claire to my 97-year-old great-aunt.

 

[Pandora II]

Happy New Year!

And can I just ditto Fiery - I don''t know what I would have done without you guys over the last year!

China - I definitely don''t want another one right now - especially after spending last night with a 3 week old and a 10 week old. Sure they are cute when they are tiny, but geez I wouldn''t go back!

I''m 99% certain we won''t have more, but DH and I will review it when Daisy is 5. I''m 38 this year, so I would be 42 when we started to TTC number 2. My family is pretty good at getting KTFU and tend towards late menopause (my mother was 5 so I''m not too worried about the wait, but I''m not convinced that I won''t be TOFTS by then!

However, both DH and I come from big families - we''re both one of four - and so I struggle with the ''only child'' thing (hence some of my recent threads) even though I don''t really get on with my next down sister, barely see my brother who I was very close to as I don''t get on with his wife and my youngest sister is so much younger that I am more of an aunt! We would definitely stop at two though!

I hated being pregnant, the birth nearly killed me and I have cost our Health Service a small fortune in all the care I have had since the birth because of my bipolar disorder and their efforts to make sure I don''t get PPP/PPD. We live in London where housing costs a bomb, due to DH''s job we need to live fairly centrally and to afford a 3 bedroom place we would have to buy something in a not great area and probably on another welfare project. Right now we have a flat in a gorgeous location that I love and that is pretty okay space-wise for the 3 of us (800 sq ft) although more storage would be good! We could afford to give Daisy the best possible start in life including private school if necessary and we definitely couldn''t do that if we had two. I might even be tempted to send her to boarding school at either 13 or 16 so that she had the big family type experience that you get there.

- Still haven''t got as far as BC... I''m getting a new GP this month and I think I will have to bite the bullet and see what they can do about my traumatised bits! Poor DH is wonderful about it all so I''m very lucky. When things are back to normal and when my cycle returns - no sign yet but then I''m still bfing every 3 hours or so day and night - I''m thinking of going for a Mirena as you can have that even if you have migraine and I want the security of hormonal BC.

PG - my belly button was like yours, it does improve I promise!

Sabine - poor you! One thing I tried with Daisy when she had a bad chesty cough and a bit of a fever a few weeks ago was rubbing her feet with Vicks Vaporub and then putting socks on. The pharmacist in our local chemist told me to try it as there are no cough linctus''s for young babies. I thought is was a load of rubbish but tried it anyway... total miracle, cough that had been there for 2 weeks and prompted numerous calls to my dad pretty much vanished overnight.

Mela - Yay for first teeth and I hope he doesn''t chomp on you too much!

MGal - LOL on your little stripper!

 

[natalina]

Date: 12/31/2009 12:58:43 PM
Author: ChinaCat


Speaking of second babies, is everyone sure they are having more? I know some of you are for sure. How about any unsure ladies that are a bit older??? If I am going to have more, I can't wait that long but I am so not ready. My thing is I really don't want an only child. I know only children that will say it was great, and I know my kid wouldn't be worse off as an only, but for some reason I really resist it. Perhaps it's b/c I have siblings and I can't imagine not having them. I love being part of a family and having someone that just knows what it's like to be in this world together. And when something happens to my parents, they are the only ones that can truly understand. I want that for O, and I want a 'family' not just a kid. If that makes sense? BUT I am not sure I really want to go through the labor and early months again. I loved being preggo, so don't mind that part. Also there is that fear of I have one healthy one, why push it? Anyways, I know all of this is normal, so I guess just wondering if any one out there is going through the same thing, or if they went through it how they made a decision. I know I have time to figure it out.

China- I feel EXACTLY the same way about another baby! The sibling thing, wanting a "family", and definitely the "pushing fate" thing. And I am 33 (DH will be 39 in a couple weeks) so we need to figure it out soon!

Hi to everyone! Happy 2010! We've been away for a week and a half so I am behind, but I missed you guys! So great to have people who "get this" to go through it with. I am another one whose friends either have older kids or don't have kids, and it gets really hard to not have anyone IRL that understands life with a tiny one.

All the pics are so cute! Oliver, Kyle, Romy, Lex, Wes, Evan, Jacks and George- what a handsome bunch of little guys we have here! We need more girl pics!

Ellie is 12 weeks now- can't believe it. Question- how long did all of you EBF moms stick to feeding every 3 hours during the day? I have heard to keep it up even if they are ready to go longer so that they eat a lot during the day, thus they need to eat less at night and will have a better chance of STTN. But then I have also heard that this conditions a baby to want to eat every 3 hrs at night, thus impeding STTN! Any advice? Ellie usually eats at about 8pm and goes down for the night at 9pm. Some nights she is up to eat at 1, 4 and then up for the day at 7. Other (glorious) nights she skips the 1am feed. I would love to get that one eliminated for good! Also, is this enough sleep? 9p-7a seems like a lot less than what most of you post that your LO's sleep, isn't it? FWIW, she is a fairly big girl. At her 2 month check up she was almost 12 lbs, I bet she's 13 by now!

Yesterday we went out for a few cocktails in the afternoon, so I tried giving El a bottle of formula and I pumped because I was afraid of alcohol in my milk (no freezer stash, darn it!). It was the first formula attempt since the BF Hell Days when she was about 5 weeks old. 10 minutes after she ate, she threw up ALL OVER me and herself 3 times! Needless to say, I learned my lesson! Pump a stash or no more cocktails! Formula can went in the trash and thats that! Thankfully, she was all good by her 1am feed.

Have to go back through for individual call-outs. Ellie just woke up and needs to eat...back soon!

 

[rockpaperscissors67]

Date: 12/30/2009 3:17:05 PM
Author: ChinaCat
1. Anyone here on the mini-pill that is safe for BF? I just started a pack, but realized I don''t know how it works. I haven''t seen Aunt Flo yet, but do the pills ''force'' a period (real or not) on you? Just don''t know what to expect.

Hey China, I had to skim through posts since I''m also cooking dinner, but didn''t see that you''d gotten an answer.

Pretty much any mini-pill is safe during BF because they contain progesterone only. Regular bc pills contain progesterone and estrogen, and estrogen is what impacts milk supply.

I''m sorry I don''t remember how old your little one is, but if he''s less than 6 months old, you probably have some protection from LAM (lactation amenorrhea method), too. Under this, your baby must be less than 6 months old, must be receiving ONLY breastmilk around the clock and AF must not have come back. If you meet all of these criteria, LAM is 98%+ effective.

Anyway, the mini pill will not force a period, but it''s possible that you will have some breakthrough bleeding on them -- this is why I ended up going off them after #4 was born.

One important thing is to take the pill at the same time every day or the efficacy can be decreased.


To all the other moms and babies, I hope you have a wonderful 2010 and all stay healthy and happy!

 

[fieryred33143]

Happy New Year!

Re: having another child-no thank you lol. Perhaps in another 3 to 5 years but definitely no time soon. It''s funny because my MIL had her kids 7 years apart and she''s pushing us to have another one next year. My brothers are only 15 months apart and she keeps telling me to wait. I think MIL is pushing because we''re her only hope. BIL will not be having children despite all her efforts lol. She also wants us to make him the Godfather. It''s one of those strongly suggesting situations. But FI prefers his best friend (as do I) so that''s that.

Natalina-when I was bfing, we didn''t do every 3. We just let her tell us when she was hungry. When I went back to work, I put her on an every 3 hour schedule because otherwise mil would let her go hours without eating. She''s on a 3 hour schedule now because she''s used to it. As for STTN and eliminating feeds, I just paid attention to Sophia. She was also doing a 2/3am feeding almost every night and then one day (in her 4th month), she switched from drinking a full bottle to only having an ounce, maybe two. So I stopped giving her a bottle and instead would pick up, put down and she''d fall back to sleep. We were able to start with eliminating that feed and just last week we got rid of the 10pm bottle. We didn''t really try to do anything to get her to STTN earlier so maybe the other moms have some tips to help out. GL!

****
As for Sophia she''s finally STTN! She goes down at 7:30/8pm and wakes up by 6:30/7am. Awesome. As I mentioned, we didn''t really do anything specific. I think she was just ready. It started last week and I thought for sure it was a fluke but its been about 8 days now. Woo hoo!

I think she''s scared of her toys lol. I''ll put a toy on her lap and she pushes it off of her. It may just be laziness lol.

She''s really cute though and so much fun. Her new thing is to say dadadadadada over and over. And she finds everything hilarious.

When people say things get easier, they aren''t kidding. I feel like life is back to normal, just with another person added into the mix. She''s even mastering holding her own bottle which is great. I''m just desperately waiting for her teeth to appear.

And she''s 6 months today! Yay!