August 2012 Moms — The Bump

Opinions, please

alrighthamilton — Fri, 08 Nov 2013 01:34:32 +0000

Our city is having an annual 5k run/walk through the lights festival. They close off several downtown streets and it's a family event. It's the beginning of December, and we live in Michigan so it's a given it will be cold. It's at 6:30 at night, so it will be even colder. Do you think Kate will be okay in the jogging stroller, provided she's in appropriate snow attire and has a heavy blanket over her? I'm probably being paranoid-kids have survived in cold climates for centuries, but I'm overly cautious. We're going with friends and their kids, and I'm sure the adults will have drink cups with warm beverages (wink wink), but not the kids. Do you think she'll be warm enough? Would you take your kiddo?

No stranger danger?

fastcarsandfreedom3319 — Thu, 07 Nov 2013 13:23:13 +0000

T is way too friendly. He will reach up to anyone, and I mean anyone, to pick him up--associates at the department store, cashiers at the grocery store, the woman behind us in line at the grocery store, other moms at the park, the really tall man that we passed by in the grocery store...it goes on and on.

It makes me really uncomfortable that he goes so easily to all these strangers.

Are any of your LOs like this? Should it be making me uncomfortable or should I be glad he is so easy going? Should I be teaching him stranger danger, and if so, how? What's your take on this?

I want to report this daycare I saw.

rp-chicago-mom — Wed, 06 Nov 2013 18:20:49 +0000

There were two daycares at the park this morning and they couldn't have been more opposite of each other. They both had 0-2 1/2 year olds with them and that's where it stopped. The good center was amazing. I almost want to find part time work just to send Howell there. They were so kind and engaged with the kids. They were even nice to my kid. He loved them. Anyway the bad center has a laundry list of reasons they are bad. Their method of care was to sit on their asses, look at their phones and occasionally yell at a child. They were in the five and up playground. That's not a hard and fast rule, but you have to be more careful. I take Howell over there but I watch him like a hawk. At one point a child fell and hurt himself and they mocked him. The worst part? They drove in a minivan and they had no boosters or carseats. The two infants had infant carriers but that's it. Also, they had ten kids with them. There's no way in hell there's a minivan that accommodates ten kids and three adults. No way. I am going to stalk them and figure out the name of their center and call DCFS. The other stuff is bad but probably legal. But piling them in that van in the most dangerous car city in the US is illegal and horrible. I can't believe those people. Go work at Denny's if you hate kids that much. Seriously, it doesn't pay that well so you can't say you're in it for the money.

Thanksgiving GTKY!

rp-chicago-mom — Tue, 05 Nov 2013 15:44:00 +0000

Sorry, Canadians. I know your day has come and gone but I am so flipping excited to make food! It's what will get me through our slew of houseguests.

Typical menu?

What is your favorite Thanksgiving tradition?

Favorite food?

Where are you going/who is coming to dinner?

What's your favorite pie/dessert?

Football or Macy's Parade?

What does everyone fight over every year?

Are you cooking or just eating?

Light meat or dark meat?

What are you drinking with your meal?

Gerber PJs

austenfan919 — Thu, 07 Nov 2013 20:27:37 +0000

I ordered DS some cute dinosaur pjs as part of his Christmas present in 12 month size, which he just switched to in the last few weeks. I didn't remember until they arrived today that Gerber onesies seemed to run pretty small when both kids were just babies, but we don't have any other Gerber stuff between 6M and 3T. Do the pjs run small, too?

DS was 29.5 inches and 21 lbs 6 oz at a year. I don't know if I should keep the 12M ones or try to exchange for the 18 months. They are fleecy, so they wouldn't be good summer pjs.

What's on YOUR Xmas list?

millerhomelife — Thu, 07 Nov 2013 17:59:53 +0000

I want the Lorac Pro To Go palette. It is something that I would never spend the money on for myself. New pots and pans... Ours are cheap ones that we used through college.

Shoe size

Maizey06 — Thu, 07 Nov 2013 03:04:51 +0000

What size shoe is your LO wearing? How long have they been in that size?

DD has been a size 4 for about 2 months and I only have one pair of fall shoes. When the nanny was on a walk with the DD and the other girl DD kicked off one shoe and the nanny could not find it. No big deal as they were not really expensive. I have a couple of size 5 shoes but they are too big. I wonder if I should get size 4 again or just have her wear the big shoes.

UO!

rp-chicago-mom — Thu, 07 Nov 2013 12:32:41 +0000

Whatcha got today?

LO's 'Artwork'

Maizey06 — Thu, 07 Nov 2013 02:45:47 +0000

Our nanny has art time with DD and the other little girl every day. So EVERY DAY DD brings home an art project. Of course at this point it is mostly artwork created by the nanny with maybe a scribble by DD.

Are you keeping your LO's artwork or creations? If so, what are you doing with them?

WDYT - Elf on the Shelf

abbyful — Sun, 03 Nov 2013 21:18:45 +0000

(I know, I know, it's not even Thanksgiving yet!)

I think DS is still too young for it this year, but I want to do it next year. DH thinks it's stupid/weird/creepy, every time we see them in a store, he's like "NO!".

Bad news

abbyful — Thu, 31 Oct 2013 15:21:37 +0000

No growth and the heartbeat stopped. This sucks... Life is so unfair. I decided I didn't want the risks of the D&C, so now I just wait to start bleeding, doctor said could be today, could be next week. This sucks so bad. :(

PSA - StrideRite on Zulily

abbyful — Thu, 07 Nov 2013 16:26:54 +0000

That is all

Moms of tall babes with compact cars

brandyleighxx — Wed, 06 Nov 2013 19:34:23 +0000

Ok, another car seat questions. Seems like my only option for my giant kid is graco my size 70 or diono radion R100 (and similar) but I have a honda civic. I've already reluctantly moved his current car seat behind the passenger seat because I cannot get him in and out without bonking his head on the top of the car and awkwardly dragging him out (I waited until there were no parents around to pull him out when the seat was still in the middle). Is there really no cheaper options for tall kids to continue RF?

Why did I buy that?: fitness edition

NeneCakies — Thu, 31 Oct 2013 23:57:40 +0000

Uh, better late than never yes? Today's Item: THE THIGHMASTER! The fitness revelation that started it all! Thank you Suzanne Sommers for making women everywhere think that spot reducing actually works. Dun, dun, dun it doesn't! We were poor growing up but somehow mom had money for this marvel. I never saw her use it, but I did 100 crunches a night in my teens because I was told, and reminded often, you are fat if your thighs touch. Thanks for that gem mom. Anyway, yes the thing has decent tension (I recall it hit me in the face a couple times when I released improperly and it forcibly sprung from my crotchal region) and if used with a complete diet and exercise program it might help. It does not work if you eat a Swiss Cake roll when you're done. Which I did. Verdict: there's a reason you don't see ads for this anymore. Get a Pilates exercise band instead. Those are awesome. What have you tried? Buns of Steel, Tae-Bo, P90x, Shake Weight??? Do tell!

2nd convertible car seat

brandyleighxx — Mon, 04 Nov 2013 17:59:20 +0000

I know the car seat discussion has gone around and around but I am being very indecisive about what to choose for our second car seat. We currently have an Evenflo Tribute Convertible in my civic and it's ok, but I don't love the straps. We need to get a 2nd seat for the mini van asap. I would LOVE to stay under $75. The Evenflo Tribute was only $45. The Cosco Scenera is getting good reviews. Anyone using it?

HALP PLEASE

HDBD!!!

britvahok — Wed, 06 Nov 2013 14:00:13 +0000

Let's see those cute toddlers!

NBR question. WWYD

AmySmolos — Wed, 06 Nov 2013 13:15:03 +0000

DH and I have lived with my parents for almost two years while DH finishes school. He's done in May but the time has come for us to move now. We lived with my parents to not take out student loans because I have enough of them. We are going to borrow money from DH mother to move out because on my salary with daycare it just isn't feasible to pay rent. Rent around here is more than mortgage payments for the most part. We were planning to buy once dh graduated in May so my question is this: is it completely dumb to even think if buying something now instead of renting? I can't get over how much a two bedroom apartment is and it makes me think let's just buy a house not live in a crapy apartment. We wouldn't be able to spend as much obviously then we would when he's done with school but there are a lot of inexpensive homes around that would be less then renting an apartment. Thoughts?

what motivates you to eat healthy?

shakinros — Sun, 03 Nov 2013 21:57:08 +0000

So, nearly 15 months later, I haven't lost a pound of my baby weight. What I lost at delivery (in the form of a baby! and...stuff) I gained back within a couple months cause I was always ravenous when nursing. Here I am, still 45lbs over where I was when I got pregnant.

I would say that I don't care, that my weight isn't important to me right now, I have more important things on my mind, etc, but the fact that I can hardly stand to look in the mirror is telling me a different story. I've always been an eat-my-feelings kind of person, and I know I'm overeating and making poor food choices to cope with stress, but then it causes MORE stress by reinforcing how I feel bad about myself. And repeat the cycle. I tell myself I'll eat healthier, reduce portions, cut back on snacks, but then I see a donut at work and I eat it.

Ladies, how do you keep yourself motivated to eat healthy? If you've lost weight or are successfully working on it, how do you keep yourself accountable? I can't seem to override the little voice in my head that says "eat more. and add cheese while you're at it!"

Overalls

Maizey06 — Mon, 04 Nov 2013 21:54:15 +0000

What are your thoughts on overalls? I feel like they would be a pain to put on DD and I try to avoid anything with snaps for diaper changes.

Sore Throat

Tapthathank — Tue, 05 Nov 2013 14:48:25 +0000

I hate going to the doctor for a cold - it's dumb and there is nothing they can do. My stuffy/runny nose is wrapping up, but my throat still hurts. Going on 9 days of a sore throat. I don't have a fever or white spots on my throat. I don't think that's normal though....at what point would you gals go the doc? It just irks me to pay $35 for them to tell me it's a virus and it needs to run its course. Should I just suck it up and wait it out?

Who's ready for WAFFLES??

rp-chicago-mom — Tue, 05 Nov 2013 14:26:09 +0000

TWAT waffles!!

Post your Halloween Cuties Here!!!!

britvahok — Thu, 31 Oct 2013 11:51:40 +0000

Let's see them!!!

@coleyj88

SJandVA — Thu, 31 Oct 2013 18:59:32 +0000

I'm so sorry for your loss. Such a hard day for you and @abbyful. Take care of yourself. Big hugs.

Dentist

Maizey06 — Mon, 04 Nov 2013 21:10:24 +0000

I got some free samples for baby teeth products, toothpaste, etc. and the pamphlet said that your baby should start seeing a dentist by the time they are one. That is not even on my radar right now. Have any of you taken your LO to the dentist yet?

"Vacationing"

RNbock2 — Sun, 03 Nov 2013 18:10:41 +0000

Me and the kids are in Chicago staying with my parents and my sister. Dh flies in and out three times for three different interviews while we are here. Every two days I pack up the suitcases, and all of our stuff and switch places from my parents to my sisters. It is getting exhausting. My 3 year old is acting up, bc he is all out of sorts. I love visiting, but between the time change and packing, I'm done! And here is a picture for your viewing pleasure:)

My Kinda Thanksgiving!

britvahok — Mon, 04 Nov 2013 15:13:33 +0000

Rant about pumping at work

Msbean22 — Fri, 01 Nov 2013 20:42:04 +0000

Here's a long one for you guys this fine Friday.

I stopped pumping at work on July 3rd, a month sooner than planned (I wanted to pump for a year) and the following is why.

To outline, I'd better describe what my work is like as concise as I can. I'm an auto claims adjuster, which means that I get in new claims throughout the day as they are reported. There are about 17 people in our region that handle non-injury accidents, although potentially complex. I can get anywhere from two to six or seven or more claims a day, depending on the weather and staffing. If you've ever been in an accident, you know that not everything is resolved in a day, so you can see how inventory adds up, while new claims are coming in. Busy stuff.

When I came back from maternity leave, I found I had an empty office all set up for me to pump in (I worked out of a cubicle, so this was nice.) I was pumping about three times a day when I came back, for a total of what added up to about an hour and a half out of my day pumping. Because I had supply issues and misunderstood how much I could truly pump, I never really built up a supply. What I did have was gone my first week back. So, I never wanted to stay late at work because I just wanted to get home asap to a) see my baby, and b) nurse my baby to minimize the amount of formula she'd have to take and maximize the breastmilk I could give her.

I quickly fell behind. We got into busy times quickly with staffing issues and higher volume. I got REALLY behind. In January I was given a warning. In February I was given a written warning. At the end of June, I was told that if my numbers weren't to where they needed to be by the end of August, I would be fired. That's why on July 3rd, I stopped pumping. My numbers have been amazing, and I'm the strongest rep on our team.

Additionally, there was this other thing. I was working in a satellite office an hour away from the main office. I was the only "basic" rep there, everyone else handled more complex claims. I was on the bottom rung, basically, and was constantly away from my desk in all parts of the state meeting with more remote customers. Not helping with the time management. In any case, corporate found it best to close my local office, which was 7 minutes from my house. The other reps had home offices set up for them. Me? I now drive 57 miles to work each day. I am out of the house 11.5 hours a week. I see Evie for 2 hours a day during the week, a little longer if she has a late nap.

In the months leading up to our office closing, there were a few opportunities for me to apply for a new position which would allow me to work from home, but because my performance was so sucky because I didn't have the time to do my job, I did not get the positions. So now I'm one giant ball of stress because I am never home and I miss my baby and my husband. It doesn't help that my husband has been unemployed since July.

I feel like this is so unfair. Is it unfair? I can't even tell anymore. I went into a big sobby mess of a rant to our HR lady, who just didn't get it. She has children, but clearly she didn't pump at work because she asked me why I had to do it. She didn't understand WHY I had to take time out of my day to pump. I explained how I just simply did not have the time to keep up with everything, and she said, literally, "well maybe this isn't the job for you."

I just can't shake the bitterness that I'm holding on to. No one seems to give a damn about how much stress and misery I've been through. I'm still actively looking for a new job, but there simply is nothing in the area that pays like this job does, and we're living on the edge as it is.

I just had to get that out. Hopefully someone out there understands

WFD this week?

rp-chicago-mom — Sun, 03 Nov 2013 21:06:33 +0000

This week H gets to be in NYC for work, lucky bastard, so I'm making lame food for the most part. Sunday maple glazed salmon with roasted carrots and steamed broccoli. Monday: quesadillas with fajita vegetables and black beans Tuesday: baked mac and cheese (already assembled in freezer) and snap peas Wednesday: seared chicken thighs, butternut squash and asparagus Thursday: tortellini vegetable soup. Friday: takeout Saturday: out because my SIL and niece are going to be here. Maybe at Nando's.

Dear people of Facebook: MYOB

piphigirl — Sun, 03 Nov 2013 15:52:04 +0000

A friend of mine from college posted one of those "30 days of thankfulness thing." This morning she wrote that she is thankful for coffee and bloody marys. She has a two-month-old, so, preach it sister.

Some dude we know from college responded with two links: an article about how caffeine affects breastmilk, and a LLL website about the effects of alcohol on breastmilk.

The kicker: this girl is a nurse. In the US Navy. I think she is pretty well informed about alcohol, caffeine, and breastmilk.

Some people.

Ignore

rp-chicago-mom — Sun, 03 Nov 2013 21:06:02 +0000

I thought the new format prevented double posts.

aaaaaaaaand now Emery has the pukes.

gollywollypog — Sat, 02 Nov 2013 01:23:26 +0000

I forgot how hellish it is to have a toddler throwing up.

At least the big kids can be reasonably counted on making to the toilet or the throw up bowl.

He threw up about a pint of breast milk and the remanents of his potato soup dinner all over his face, his hair and my sheets.

He's happy as heck now, his tummy feels better....for now.

It's going to be a loooong night.

best teething rememdy

zbeesma86 — Wed, 30 Oct 2013 21:58:18 +0000

DD is cutting 2 molars and 2 bottom teeth. She is waking up constantly during naps and at night. I feel horrible.

What's something I can give her to help with the pain?? What works for your LOs?

Thank you!

Short naps

JameyR — Sat, 02 Nov 2013 18:43:25 +0000

Hey ladies--I don't post much but thought I'd ask for help since I'm at a loss. DD2 is only taking one nap for about 40 minutes now. This has been going on for almost a month and it's driving me crazy. DD1 will be 3 in Feb and she naps for 2 hours and always has once we transitioned to one nap a day. Any thoughts? DD2 has always been a great sleeper but not lately. Also, my daycare provider tells me she sleeps two hours there. Sometimes I swear she's lying because it hasn't been more than an hour for me in a long time. She goes to daycare tue, wed, thur only and how she manages to stay consistent one place but not other beats me. So frustrated because I need nap time to get things done! Plus she's still tired when she wakes up! Help!

FFFC!

rp-chicago-mom — Fri, 01 Nov 2013 12:04:36 +0000

What sins have you committed? We won't judge, or maybe we will.

Overwhelmed

AmySmolos — Fri, 01 Nov 2013 00:21:29 +0000

So ds has been sick on and off for the past two months. He had two hospital stays overnight for febrile seizures and then breathing, then he's been dealing with severe constipation for the past three weeks, and now he's back to breathing problems. I've missed a lot of work and a lot of sleep. Plus I learned yesterday I didn't get a promotion I interviewed for that would have been a Huge help financially. We live with my parents until my dh graduates in the spring which is so stressful. I'm just over it all. I'm exhausted. And I'm so anxious about all this illness with ds. Mostly I'm just venting but for second time moms is it normal to have a period of constant ailments? It's getting concerning to me. Especially now that he got sick and is having wheezing and breathing treatments again. Blah.

Words Spin Off

jillybean7582 — Fri, 01 Nov 2013 13:11:54 +0000

I know we talked about how many words our LO's are saying last week. But does your LO say anything that cracks you up or makes you smile everytime? My DS "talks" all day long but has very few real words. Maybe 6 total. But the past week or so he has started saying "tickle, tickle" and does the finger wiggle like you are tickling someone.It is so freaking cute! I wish I could get a video but it seems like everytime I try he stops by the time I have the camera ready. What adorable things do your LO's say!

PSA Halo Sleepsacks

tumblefluff — Sat, 02 Nov 2013 13:44:45 +0000

Woot.com has sleepsacks on sale today for $9.99.

ETA: sale ends 11/5 or until sold out.

Catwearing (Updated: Picture!)

piphigirl — Fri, 01 Nov 2013 19:58:29 +0000

I am currently wearing my cat in a front carry using my Babyhawk Mei Tei.

No joke.

He likes me to carry him around so I had DH tie on the Babyhawk while I was holding him. He thinks it's the best thing ever.

Here's the picture!

The weekend just got better.

tumblefluff — Sat, 02 Nov 2013 13:26:59 +0000

For months now I have been waiting for a job to be posted in my company. I just got an email from the manager who is hiring that the job has finally been posted! I'm beyond excited since the position I'm currently in is just too stressful (and way to time consuming) to continue in but I didn't want to leave the company because of the vacation time and pay I get. DH is a part-time stay at home dad (he works ~10hrs/wk) so I'm the primary breadwinner and HAD to keep my job. With the new job I'll still get to keep all of that but my hours will be consistent. No more staying late every day for hours.

DH & I agreed that if I kept my current job we'd be waiting longer to have more kids since it would be too hard on both of us to add another child to the crazy schedule I have. So the new job will mean we can start trying sooner

Please! Please! Please keep your fingers crossed I get the job!

WWYD

AmySmolos — Sat, 02 Nov 2013 00:36:25 +0000

I'm supposed to go to a baby shower tomorrow. Other kids will be there and I was going to bring ds. He was sick yesterday with a low fever but mosty his breathing was all messed up and he had to have breathing treatments. Today he's been so much better. No fever and hardly any wheezing. He's been running all over the place. He still has a cough but it's not even that bad. Would you being him or as a mom of the other children would you be mad he was there? He'd be clear for daycare so I feel like it's ok plus I think he'd like to get out.