PS Mommy Thread-Newborn to 12 months!

[natalina]

Wow- that''s huge. Don''t know how to make it smaller. Here''s the 2 of them on Christmas morning in the matching jammies my mom got them:

 

[natalina]

Last one- Ellie making a silly face playing with daddy. Her hair almost looks red here, but it''s light brown.

 

[cdt1101]

Pandora - it''s pretty annoying..I know that sounds horrible, but I can''t do anything! Even if DH is holding him, he still wants me. It''d be one thing if he was just fussing, but he screams and cries on the top of his lungs. My DH says I wished for this because when I went back to work I was worried he wouldn''t want mommy anymore

Jokes on me...hahahaha.

Natalina - Ellison is beautiful!!!

RE: parking spots - towards the end I wanted to use them because walking was so painful w/ the stint, but every time we went somewhere (which wasn''t often for me) someone else was parked there and usually I would see someone not preggo or handicap come out...used to piss me off

So another cranky cranky day for my little man. Didn''t want to go to bed again, so we kept him up an extra 30 min, but w/in 20 minutes of falling asleep he woke up screaming. I went in, and he kept putting his arms up (to pick him up). Took about 20 min but he finally went back to sleep (pick up, pick down). I really don''t know what''s going on, but he''s had a terrible weekend.

 

[gailrmv]

About parking spaces, that was totally my pet peeve too! I was lucky that I was not that uncomfy preggo so I didn''t usually need it myself, but I got really mad (still do) to see older people, groups of teenagers, and men (that is, people who are not pregnant) parking there like it''s a regular spot. I have almost said something to people - especially when I saw my male neighbor parking in one at the grocery - but I''m just not the type to call out other people. I was REALLY close though. It is clearly labelled for PREGGOS! There are tons of handicap spots for people who are handicapped, and everyone else like my male neighbor can just walk an extra couple of feet. Makes me so mad.

 

[Sabine]

Where are you all going where they have parking spaces for preggos/new moms? I''ve only ever seen them at BRU. I never really used them when I was pregnant because i liked walking, and I doubt I would use them now if I saw them because at most stores, I park next to/as close to the cart return thing because if I''m grocery shopping or at Target, etc., I''ll put ds''s carseat in the cart (often to avoid having to take the stroller due to the annoyance of it as stated in my previous post).

Natalina, Ellie is so cute!

cdt, sorry Lex is being a clingy crankypants! Hopefully it will be a short stage!

So when did everyone start using separate shirts and pants as opposed to onsies or rompers? Ds got a bunch of cute stuff for Christmas, but a lot of it is separates, and I find it''s such a pain because the shirts ride up (it annoys me even if there''s a onsie underneath). I''m totally going to be dressing this boy in onsies and pants when he''s 2!

 

[taovandel]

Sabine: My Farm Fresh near my parents house has them...and like you said the BRU at Lynnhaven has them also (not sure if the one near Greenbrier has them).

Also, I dress E in two piece outfits...it is annoying how it rides up though...but some outfits are just too cute to pass up.

 

[Blenheim]

Parking - the spots are at grocery stores in some areas. Although the Kroger that was near us replaced their preggo parking with Starbucks parking when I was about 6 weeks pregnant. DH was PISSED because he wanted to take full advantage of the preggo parking, and kept parking in them anyways.

Mama phase - It''s gotten a lot better in the past couple of weeks. It was at its worst for about two months, which I think is a pretty normal time frame from a developmental phases standpoint. It''s really hard to feel like you must be the one taking care of them at all times or they''ll scream like a banshee... make sure to take some time for yourself. George was always better in someone else''s arms if I was out of sight and he couldn''t hear me and they were actively distracting him with toys or Christmas lights or other fun things.

Onesies - I have a really hard time finding long-sleeved onesies that fit George properly, and so all of his long-sleeved stuff is regular shirts for the most part. I am probably the laziest person ever but I prefer having three less snaps when I''m changing a diaper anyway.

Nails - Get the baby clippers and get the baby used to getting their nails clipped! George has gotten pretty good at sitting still for me while I clip his nails, which is key because baby nails can get razor sharp and when they get to be around George''s age they''re contantly grabbing you and it can HURT. I also try to catch him at a happy but calm time of the day.

Natalina - aww, what a cutie!

George figured out how to climb the stairs today. Like, the full flight going up to the second floor. Ruh roh. The laundry room is just at the bottom of the stairs and I keep plopping him there when I switch loads of laundry or grab stuff out of the dryer, so I really need to watch that now.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Advice from my mom friends

I am going back to work tomorrow and I am at a loss about what to do for milk for Hunter. I have little luck with pumping (1/2oz per side) and at that rate it would take a million years to get enough to feed Hunter while he is there. I plan to work 6 hour days this first semester, so Hunter will only need one feeding per day. The daycare is about 10 minutes from my work. Does it sound crazy to drive there at lunch to nurse him?

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 1/3/2010 10:54:24 PM
Author: dreamer_dachsie
Advice from my mom friends


I am going back to work tomorrow and I am at a loss about what to do for milk for Hunter. I have little luck with pumping (1/2oz per side) and at that rate it would take a million years to get enough to feed Hunter while he is there. I plan to work 6 hour days this first semester, so Hunter will only need one feeding per day. The daycare is about 10 minutes from my work. Does it sound crazy to drive there at lunch to nurse him?

Yes it does. My friend did that for many months and it was rough. And nuts.

DD are you now pumping in PLACE of a feeding? Or in addition to? Because usually pumping in place of a feeding nets you a lot more milk.

And did you ever get that better pump? That helps too.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 1/3/2010 11:17:26 PM
Author: neatfreak

Date: 1/3/2010 10:54:24 PM
Author: dreamer_dachsie
Advice from my mom friends


I am going back to work tomorrow and I am at a loss about what to do for milk for Hunter. I have little luck with pumping (1/2oz per side) and at that rate it would take a million years to get enough to feed Hunter while he is there. I plan to work 6 hour days this first semester, so Hunter will only need one feeding per day. The daycare is about 10 minutes from my work. Does it sound crazy to drive there at lunch to nurse him?

Yes it does. My friend did that for many months and it was rough. And nuts.

DD are you now pumping in PLACE of a feeding? Or in addition to? Because usually pumping in place of a feeding nets you a lot more milk.

And did you ever get that better pump? That helps too.

Really? I thought the whole thing wouldn''t take more than 45 minutres... pumping seems way more annoying to me!

I have been doing it in addition or adding an extra pumping session. I will play it by ear and see how it goes. We will introduce milk in a couple of months and then he can have that at daycare, so this is a short term thing, 3 months tops.

 

[neatfreak]

Date: 1/3/2010 11:41:18 PM
Author: dreamer_dachsie

Date: 1/3/2010 11:17:26 PM

Author: neatfreak

Date: 1/3/2010 10:54:24 PM

Author: dreamer_dachsie

Advice from my mom friends



I am going back to work tomorrow and I am at a loss about what to do for milk for Hunter. I have little luck with pumping (1/2oz per side) and at that rate it would take a million years to get enough to feed Hunter while he is there. I plan to work 6 hour days this first semester, so Hunter will only need one feeding per day. The daycare is about 10 minutes from my work. Does it sound crazy to drive there at lunch to nurse him?

Yes it does. My friend did that for many months and it was rough. And nuts.


DD are you now pumping in PLACE of a feeding? Or in addition to? Because usually pumping in place of a feeding nets you a lot more milk.


And did you ever get that better pump? That helps too.

Really? I thought the whole thing wouldn''t take more than 45 minutres... pumping seems way more annoying to me!


I have been doing it in addition or adding an extra pumping session. I will play it by ear and see how it goes. We will introduce milk in a couple of months and then he can have that at daycare, so this is a short term thing, 3 months tops.

If it''s really short term it wouldn''t be that bad. My friend was doing it for a better part of a year and she was never able to do errands, get lunch with colleages, catch up on work, etc. at lunch because she was tied to taking up her entire lunch hour with going to daycare.

Anyway-I think it''ll be a lot better pumping when you are replacing a feeding. You should get a lot more so if it were *me* I would try that first but of course everyone needs to d what works for them!

 

[Dreamer_D]

Date: 1/4/2010 12:01:41 AM
Author: neatfreak


If it''s really short term it wouldn''t be that bad. My friend was doing it for a better part of a year and she was never able to do errands, get lunch with colleages, catch up on work, etc. at lunch because she was tied to taking up her entire lunch hour with going to daycare.

Anyway-I think it''ll be a lot better pumping when you are replacing a feeding. You should get a lot more so if it were *me* I would try that first but of course everyone needs to d what works for them!

I have a very small stash so I can try a couple of days pumping at work anyways. I think it is was long term I would''t thnk about it, but since it is only 1 feed and for a couple months it seems more doable. People who pumped full time said it was a real PITA so I think there is no easy way

 

[gailrmv]

DD
Good luck tomorrow! Congrats on your new job too!
I went back to work part time for several months to finish a project before becoming a SAHM. I was able to do a lot of work from home, but I did have some days when I was in the office and needed to pump. I also did a lot of pumping at home in the early weeks to build up a stash (it seemed important at the time). I was able to get a lot more when I did it in place of a feeding. I have a good pump (Medela) which helps a lot too. I had some "performance anxiety" in the beginning as my office did not have a lock and had thin walls and I was constantly worried about people busting in or hearing the pump through the walls. I didn''t feel relaxed so I couldn''t pump that much compared to at home. It did get easier each time I did it but give yourself some time to get adjusted. I never minded the pumping itself, but I HATE washing out all the pump parts. And IMHO it doesn''t sound crazy to go visit H and feed him at lunch especially while you are getting adjusted to going back to work, and just play it by ear as to how that is going.

Sabine Around me some of the grocery stores have preggo parking. They also have parent with child parking by the cart return (very helpful!)

 

[Dreamer_D]

Thanks TDM. I have the same concerns about pumping at work, and since my letdown is lame with the pump anyways I can''t imagine it will help. I will play it by ear.

 

[Mrs Mitchell]

DD, Good luck!

Doesn''t sound crazy to me, even if I had a freezer stash I would probably do this anyway. I missed A a lot when I first went back to work and if I could possibly have done it I would have spent some time with her at lunch. DH has lunch with her instead, since her daycare is in his office. I was very sad about that for the first few weeks.

I would much rather drive to daycare at lunchtime than try to pump, because I never got much more than 1oz on a good day. Try it out, see how it goes.

 

[natalina]

DD-good luck today! I would definitely go to the daycare at lunch, especially if only for a few months.

 

[Blenheim]

DD - I''m going to ditto what NF said. The main thing that I found to be annoying about pumping was cleaning the pump stuff, which honestly would take a lot less time to do than driving 20 min roundtrip per lunch. Walking sheer to the other side of the building to pump also contributed to the PITA-edness of pumping for me. Pumping itself was fine if I had a magazine to read or something like that.

I''ve heard that looking at a picture of your baby and/or smelling your baby (bringing worn clothing or something) can help with letdown when pumping, but haven''t tried it personally. Also just imagining that your baby is at the breast instead of the pump can help.

Good luck today!

 

[fieryred33143]

Natalina-Ellie is so adorable!

Hair loss: mine fell out big time around 3 months pp. I sat on the bathroom floor and cried. It has slowed down significantly but I need to detangle every day.

Cranky pants: Sophia hasn''t hit this stage. I think she spends a lot of time with other people during the day that she doesn''t really have an issue being separated. However, when I''m around her she watches me like a hawk. If I''m in the kitchen, for example, she''ll stare at me from the living room. I''ll glance over, she smiles but doesn''t take her eyes off of me.

Sabine-We still use onesies because I prefer it too.

Nails-I''ve never had a problem cutting her nails when she''s awake. She sits really still. If she''s moving around too much I''ll get in front of a TV and let her zone out for the minute it takes to chop them off

Dreamer-I really don''t think it''s crazy at all. However, some babies (not all but a lot) tend to reverse cycle when mom goes back to work and the best way to correct it is to offer more food and in a structured schedule during the day until they get back on track. It is very possible that Hunter may need more than one feeding during those 6 hours so I would still try to pump and at least have one bottle available.

But 10 minutes, IMO, is very manageable. If Sophia were 10 minutes from me, I would have skipped the lunch time pump and just nursed her.

Pumping full time is a PITA but it isn''t impossible.

****
Sophia had her 6 month appointment on Saturday. She''s 16lbs3oz and 27in. We started cereal. I was going to skip it all together and go straight to veggies but after trying it out on Saturday, I''m glad I did because she has no idea what to do. I think this practice would be good for her. I''m going to give sweet potato this weekend.

I''m torn between wanting to be the one to introduce food and just letting MIL do it herself. I would much rather do it myself since I can detect if she isn''t "normal" after eating something much easier than MIL would and I would also really love to see her expression and experience that with her. However, doing it myself means introducing a new item only on the weekends. She''ll go through the foods at a much slower pace. Any tips/opinions?

 

[fieryred33143]

Here''s her cereal pic

. She was very interested in grabbing the spoon herself so I would "let" her feed herself but just help her a little

 

[fieryred33143]

Yum!

 

[fieryred33143]

Then she saw a bird outside and that was pretty much the end of her interest in eating.

 

[ChinaCat]

Happy 2010 ladies. Here''s my quick catch-up attempt:

Pandora- I''m a highlight girl, so I vote highlights. I tend to have fine and slightly oily hair so for me highlights really cuts down on the oil and I don''t have to wash my hair everyday. Plus we have the same hair tone and I find some highlights around the face really brightens my face up. I would go very natural with the color, if I were you, and explain that you need low maintenance highlights. You do have to get them touched up, but it''s worth it to me. Just my two cents!

RE: Being hot- I am normally always cold but ran really hot while preggo and for a few months after the birth. I did have the crazy night sweats the first month. Now I''m back to normal.

RE: Hair falling out- I think mine is just starting at 4 months PP. Ugh, our shower is running slow and I have a feeling it''s my fault.

So far seems to be pretty balanced all over, but we''ll see.

Sabine- I love your "mommy do" and think it looks quite stylish and sophisticated. Not mommy like at all! I am still doing onesies and pants, I have a thing about liking O to look like a baby and he has so many cute onesies still. Plus he''s so skinny, most pants outfits are huge on him.

PhxGirl- Wrestling match b/w 9 mos preggo and an old man????? Ha ha ha!!!!!! Funny funny funny visual image! I think the preggo wins, every time. All she has to do is sit on him!

Tao- I hate doing the nails too. Luckily my nanny does it for me.

O screeches all the time, but it''s a happy screech. It''s so freaking loud, but it''s hysterical b/c he''s sooo proud of it.

Natalina- When you want to try formula again, maybe try mixing it with breast milk. May help get her used to the taste. Only thing is you can''t re-use the milk, you have to throw it out if she doesn''t finish it. BEAUTIFUL girl, Miss Ellie!!!!! Everytime I think I have O figured out, he changes his schedule. Just an FYI, but so far I found there was a huge change in O from 3 to 4 months. I kept trying to keep him in his infant ways, and he was becoming more of a baby. I was hugely frustrated until I just relaxed and let him lead for a bit. So you might just be prepared for her to change things up a bit. Just my experience.

CDT- Well look at it this way re: bra size- the number is just how big your rib cage is, it''s nothing to do with breast size. So actually, you are skinnier than you were and that''s a much better size to be!!!!

O had a terrible weekend as well and did the same stuff Lex was doing. Ugh.

Blen- Uh oh with George and the stairs!!! Cute though. I love when they figure out new things.

DD- I actually think that sounds ok for a short time. Definitely try the pumping thing though, because I get so much more when I pump at work. Good luck today!!!! Let us know how it goes.

Fiery- No help on the food thing, but I am interested in what you end up doing. I''d like to do it myself, but since I work, either it''s on weekends or let the nanny do it. Pictures of Sophia always make my heart smile.

Whew! Ok, quick update on me:

Good: Oliver is now laughing like a maniac and has become ticklish. He now "jumps" on command if I start singing "Five Little Monkeys". I was making him a bottle and had the nipple off and he grabbed the nipple and put it in his mouth. So cute that he''s made the connection. Of course, you should have seen the expression on his face when nothing came out the other end!!!! We have successfully de-swaddled!

MIL came to visit and meet O for the first time. Yesterday he took an hour and a half nap! After 2 weeks of getting up at night, he slept from 7:45 till 6 am last night. THANK GOD. MIL left.

Bad: I have been in sleeping hell since Christmas. He got up every night during the holidays at my parents. Was ok for a few days and then MIL showed up and it all went to hell again. This weekend was the worst- getting up twice a night, refusing to let me put him in his crib or moses basket so I ended up rocking him for an hour each time. I think he had a stomach-ache b/c he was crying like he was in pain and jerking his knees to his chest.

Though we have successfully de-swaddled, he is fighting sleeping in the crib at night now. Yesterday he took an hour and a half nap- but only if I held him.

MIL''s visit was nice, but what is about MIL''s???? Mine is very sweet and I have no issues with her at all, but I was so ready for her to leave. She means well, but what''s up with all of the questions about how we do things with O?????

I went to Pilates this morning for the first time since July! DH has agreed to take O for the morning so I can go to a 6:30 am class. Let''s just say that pumping and getting out of the house with all of my stuff at 6 am was a nightmare, but well worth it.

PROMISE to upload pictures this week. Got a new camera and have to figure out the uploading thing.

 

[Pandora II]

Cdt - I know just how you feel, it's really exhausting being 'in demand' so much. I was really hoping for a break over Christmas but she'd scream the place down if I went out of the room.

I spoke to one of my baby development people and they said it's separation anxiety and that it tends to be a lot worse in babies who get mobile early as they don't have as much emotional maturity to cope as well as those who get mobile later on. You just have to wait for them to grown out of it though. I tend to just carry Daisy everywhere as it's less stressful to me than putting up with a screaming child who I have to pick up after 5 minutes anyway...

I'm glad George is calming down Blen - this gives me hope! Sending you lots of 'eyes in the back of your head' dust with the stair climbing!

Nat - Ellie is adorable and I love the elf outfit!

DD - Good luck at work! I'd probably do the drive to daycare if it were me.

Here's a photo my SIL took at Christmas. I don't know why, but Daisy is quite happy having things on her head and allows me to put her in a range of ridiculous hats without trying to take them off. Here I was perhaps going a step too far...

ETA: I measured Daisy today and she's 25 and a half inches and 19lbs at 7.5 months. This puts her at 9th percentile for height... very odd since I'm the shortest in my family at 5ft 10" - my sisters are 6ft and 6ft 2"...

 

[cdt1101]

Pandora - I finally get my Babyhawk Mei Tai this week, so carrying him should be better at home. Lex had a horrible night last night, waking 6 times! I don''t think he''s ever done that, not even in the beginning. He was fine this morning though when I dropped him off to daycare (I was afraid he was going to cry when I left, but nope all smiles when he saw his teachers). Daisy looks so much taller in that pic than 25.5 inches!

China - Glad that O had a better night last night! And if my ribcage is smaller, it''s the only thing smaller right now

Dreamer - I didn''t BF, but I would probably go to the daycare to feed rather than pump (pumping sounds like such a chore!).

Fiery - such cute photos of Sophia! Lex likes to "feed" himself too

 

[Dreamer_D]

Pandora Hunter was 28 inches and 19lbs at 9 months! Daisy is a shorty!

 

[so cal girl]

Date: 1/4/2010 12:31:07 PM
Author: Pandora II

ETA: I measured Daisy today and she''s 25 and a half inches and 19lbs at 7.5 months. This puts her at 9th percentile for height... very odd since I''m the shortest in my family at 5ft 10'' - my sisters are 6ft and 6ft 2''...

Pandora - Are you sure you measured her right? She looks much taller than that. And if I''m remembering correctly, wasn''t she really long at birth? Like 24 inches? Maybe I am thinking of someone else. According to my pediatrician, my DS was already 25.5 inches at his 2 month appointment. But he will most likely be freakishly tall

Either way, Daisy is such a cutie!!!

 

[Pandora II]

Date: 1/4/2010 3:54:16 PM
Author: so cal girl

Date: 1/4/2010 12:31:07 PM
Author: Pandora II

ETA: I measured Daisy today and she''s 25 and a half inches and 19lbs at 7.5 months. This puts her at 9th percentile for height... very odd since I''m the shortest in my family at 5ft 10'' - my sisters are 6ft and 6ft 2''...

Pandora - Are you sure you measured her right? She looks much taller than that. And if I''m remembering correctly, wasn''t she really long at birth? Like 24 inches? Maybe I am thinking of someone else. According to my pediatrician, my DS was already 25.5 inches at his 2 month appointment. But he will most likely be freakishly tall

Either way, Daisy is such a cutie!!!

I know, I was shocked she was so small! She was only 20" at birth, so on the shorter side then.

I was fairly small till I was 15 and then shot up overnight so maybe she will be like that - but I was never THAT small! DH is just under 6ft, but my father is 6ft 4", my brother 6ft 5" and my uncle and grandfather both 6ft 8" so the tall gene is very strong in my family.

I measured her by standing her against the door with a book on her head and marking the point, so it should be accurate enough I think - I did it 3 times to make sure she wasn''t bending her knees or anything!

Fiery - Sophia is gorgeous, and seems to like her food! Daisy insists on holding the spoon as well

 

[lili]

Pandora--
Haha, I thought that D was 24" when she was born too?
I remember thinking that "wow, she''s about DD''s size at 4 months!"
Maybe you had a typo?
Do you have her legs together when you stand her against that wall?
That could shaved off some inches.

Anyway, Daisy is a pretty girl.
Her features are so alive.

 

[so cal girl]

By the way, I just wanted to pop in and say Hi to everyone on the thread. My son is already 3 months old, but I was off work the entire time, and my home computer was pretty much dead, so I couldn''t really keep up with the thread. Now that I''m back at work, and we have a brand new home computer, I''m hoping to keep up with everything going on here. You guys were such a big help when I was preggers, I''m sure the mommy info will be just as valuable!

 

[Pandora II]

Just checked back (and reread my l&d story

) and I must have been on something... I wrote that she was 8lbs 4oz and 24 inches. She was actually 8lbs 3oz and 20 inches...

Very odd!