Weekly Randoms 4/17

m6agua

LO finally rolled over for the first time yesterday (back to belly) at 21 weeks! Now there is no stopping her, she is always sleeping on her belly now. We just need to work on going from belly to back now.

ETA: Later today I am going on a mad hunt for a bridesmaid dress. I am in a wedding in 2 weeks!

kvruns

yea @m6agua! Go LO!

Do you just have a to wear a certain color for the BM dress? 

m6agua

@kvruns Yes, blush or some sort of soft pink, it also needs to be long and more of the flowy type. The other girl got hers at Davids Bridal so I think I will too just so I can get the same color. I'm going there later today in the city I work in, there is one that fits in the city I live but I think is shows too much skin. It also looks like I can order some that fit online and just pay for the shipping to get it here in time, but then I will most definitely need alterations to shorten it (I'm 5'1").

kvruns

Just looked at the EOB for B's 4 month well baby visit - $660.76. The majority of that is for the 3 vaccines but sheesh that just seems ridiculous. It is preventive care so it isn't like I'm paying for it but still. This is the first time the submitted charges and what insurance pays are almost the same - $684 vs $660.76. Usually submitted charges are 50% more at least

RhodaMorgenstern

@kvruns my understanding is that most insurances don't pay as much as federal employee insurance does. That's why so many people take our insurance. Either way, the amount charged by everyone in the healthcare industry, from the pharmaceutical companies to the doctors to the hospitals, is insane.

SandNStarsNJ

I think I might have turned the monitor off last night after getting up for a feeding. And now I feel awful! Like I should wake him and apologize or something... oh, the mom guilt is so real today and I won't even see him until like 4 this afternoon. 

kvruns

Awww @SandNStarsNJ even if you did turn it off he will be ok

kristah2

@SandNStarsNJ I did it one night too. Mom guilt is real but its really okay! 

kvruns

I really wish we had a dedicated pumping room at work. I understand why we don't, and instead have one small conference room that is the defacto pumping room, but it is constantly scheduled back to back to back every 30 min so while I have my set times scheduled already it is annoying to keep having to kick people out when their meeting runs over or to worry about getting done and cleaned up before someone else needs the room for a meeting right after me. 

Ladybug2821

Yes lady in the bathroom, it's ok not to cover your mouth when hacking your head off. The rest of us would love to get sick. People are so nasty sometimes. 

Ladybug2821

@kvruns I have a dedicated office to pump in but unfortunately that hasn't made pumping easier.  Before coming back to work, I didn't think I would have any issues but I was wrong.  One person in particular became very upset that I could not attend his entire meeting weekly and made a big deal about it.  And later made a passive aggressive comment when he was looking for me, asking "where have I been".  I told him it was called pumping and really didn't care how I came off.  At this point, he has one more time to make a comment.  They definitely don't make it easy on us.  I'm sure this situation has caused some stress on me and impacted my supply and it probably does so many other moms.  Another reason why maternity leave should be a full year in the US.

kvruns

Ladybug2821 said:

@kvruns I have a dedicated office to pump in but unfortunately that hasn't made pumping easier.  Before coming back to work, I didn't think I would have any issues but I was wrong.  One person in particular became very upset that I could not attend his entire meeting weekly and made a big deal about it.  And later made a passive aggressive comment when he was looking for me, asking "where have I been".  I told him it was called pumping and really didn't care how I came off.  At this point, he has one more time to make a comment.  They definitely don't make it easy on us.  I'm sure this situation has caused some stress on me and impacted my supply and it probably does so many other moms.  Another reason why maternity leave should be a full year in the US.

that stinks to have crappy people to deal with. I don't think I'd do well in an environment where someone made a big deal about that. I am fortunate that everyone is cool with it (there were 5-6 pregnancies in my office last year so it isn't a new thing), and even when I kick them out they see my bag and are like "oh so sorry for running over, I bet you're about to explode" or something. No one sees my pumping as a burden or anything which is nice, we are just tight on space.

SandNStarsNJ

Ladybug2821 said:

@kvruns I have a dedicated office to pump in but unfortunately that hasn't made pumping easier.  Before coming back to work, I didn't think I would have any issues but I was wrong.  One person in particular became very upset that I could not attend his entire meeting weekly and made a big deal about it.  And later made a passive aggressive comment when he was looking for me, asking "where have I been".  I told him it was called pumping and really didn't care how I came off.  At this point, he has one more time to make a comment.  They definitely don't make it easy on us.  I'm sure this situation has caused some stress on me and impacted my supply and it probably does so many other moms.  Another reason why maternity leave should be a full year in the US.

I'm pumping as I type this... a big YES to the year maternity! Could you imagine? We wouldn't be strung out on minimal sleep trying to perform a job AND we could see our children more! I teach juniors and seniors in high school; they were being themselves yesterday (the day after spring break) and all I said was "I did not wake up after sleeping in two 90 minute intervals last night to listen to THIS" and they were perfect little angles from that point forward.

Ladybug2821

@sandnstarsnj I'm glad that worked!  I wonder if I say that to this particular person if he'll mind his business for now on.

ZoeFer

LO used to make sounds similar to talking `ouuw` `ooo` etc. Then she completely stopped that . Now she moans , almost constantly. She smiles and laughs in the between but moans as soon as she is bored. I love her to death but this moaning is really annoying. Is this something to worry ? Do you LOs make sounds similar to words ?

jsmai

It's still mostly vowels here.  Every now and again I'll hear an m or a b mixed in. 

Ladybug2821

ZoeFer said:

LO used to make sounds similar to talking `ouuw` `ooo` etc. Then she completely stopped that . Now she moans , almost constantly. She smiles and laughs in the between but moans as soon as she is bored. I love her to death but this moaning is really annoying. Is this something to worry ? Do you LOs make sounds similar to words ?

S did that when she was going through Leap 4 and it was super annoying.

SandNStarsNJ

The teething situation over here is insane. I caved and bought an amber necklace as a last resort. He passed out nursing within 5 minutes but of course I can't leave it on him while he's sleeping. His gums are razor sharp; at this point I just hope they break soon because this kid does not tolerate pain well. 

kristah2

@SandNStarsNJ we use amber! But I got a bracelet I keep on his ankle all the time!! That way it's in his sleeper so I don't have to worry about it. I'm finding it is making a difference for us. 

kvruns

Do those necklaces work? What do they do 

kristah2

@kvruns there are a huge group of people who swear by then and a bunch of people who say they are useless so I think it depends on the child. 
My cousin was against them and didn't see the point in it. Until their 18 month old who wore it everyday lost hers and he had 3 days of hell before they got another one on her. It concerted him to a believer. 

Supposedly there is something the amber releases into the body that reduces pain and swelling therefore making teething a whole lot easier. Who know how effective it is but I certainly won't be taking mine off M to find out. 

SandNStarsNJ

kristah2 said:

@SandNStarsNJ we use amber! But I got a bracelet I keep on his ankle all the time!! That way it's in his sleeper so I don't have to worry about it. I'm finding it is making a difference for us. 

The necklace can double around his ankle as a bracelet. So you never take it off? I put it on this afternoon but took it off for bath time and bed and assumed I'd put it back on tomorrow afternoon because there is no way daycare will allow that. And when you do take it off is there a way to store it? Obviously I have no idea what I'm doing...

kristah2

@SandNStarsNJ I take it off for bathtime (or if we go swimming) but that's it! Otherwise it's inside his sleeper or I tuck it down into his sock and pull his sock up high so it won't come off. He's been wearing his now 3 months ish. 
As far as I know there's no special way to store it! I usually just leave it on his change table so I remember to put it back on. 

SandNStarsNJ

Thanks @kristah2 I wish I had gotten a chance to leave it on longer as his teething and low grade fever are often worse at night. I guess I'll be relying on Tylenol tonight. 

jsmai

Do you carry your little one inside their carseat or do you carry your little one separately and then put them in their seat once you get to the car? I've been carrying dd and her carseat together but she's about 15 pounds and it's getting pretty heavy. However, I don't love and putting her in her carseat sideways standing next to the car. But I think my back can't take this much longer. When did you stop or when do you plan on stopping if you do this too?

Ladybug2821

@jsmai I'm still carrying S in the car seat.  But I agree, she is getting heavy and its starting to be a bit much.

rspalding001

@jsmai I still put DS in the car seat and then carry him to and from the car that way. He's 20 lbs now and it's SO heavy! I think with DD I stopped doing that once she was sitting on her own and had some more core streangth. I'm hoping DS learns to sit in the next month!

MrsMaryK2016

@jsmai I leave the car seat in the car. Between the seat and his 20lbs it's just not worth it to me. I usually carry him in the Ergo in stores or the stroller if I can. 

desoky01

I've been carrying him and leaving the seat more often. We usually carry him in the seat to the house though. But I agree, him and the seat together is getting to be too much. 

SandNStarsNJ

We carry outside of the seat unless we have no other option like into the car from the house or daycare. 

kvruns

I'm having one of those woah is me, I miss my old life days/weeks. The funny thing is I think it was caused by people posting about going to concerts - I don't even care about concerts and rarely went to any before LO but I just feel like I'm really missing my freedom now. I'm sure summer won't help since we have done some sort of big beach vacation the past 4 summers but this year we won't be going anywhere so that kind of stinks 

rspalding001

@kvruns I'd say those are totally normal feelings and not to beat yourself up too much. It's such a huge adjustment having a kid and none of us really comprehend what that means with our first. But the sacrifice and selflessness required really do change us as people. Try to plan some fun weekend outings you can do with (or without) the baby. Even if it's just for an afternoon it will help

kvruns

rspalding001 said:

@kvruns I'd say those are totally normal feelings and not to beat yourself up too much. It's such a huge adjustment having a kid and none of us really comprehend what that means with our first. But the sacrifice and selflessness required really do change us as people. Try to plan some fun weekend outings you can do with (or without) the baby. Even if it's just for an afternoon it will help

I just scheduled a PTO day for next week and am going to use a gift certificate I have for a massage + pedicure. I have enough PTO that I should be able to do 1x per month of a "me" day which I think will help. 

kvruns

Today is a volunteer day at work doing a community service project. Thank goodness I realized last night it will affect my pumping so I got to work, sent 1 email and am now pumping before leaving for the project in 20 min. Phew

lajoliedreamer

What bath toys do you like? I don't actually have any and I'm tired of fighting her for the washcloth. 

m6agua

lajoliedreamer said:

What bath toys do you like? I don't actually have any and I'm tired of fighting her for the washcloth. 

I have some chain links she likes. I have some at the changing table and some for the bath.

SandNStarsNJ

lajoliedreamer said:

What bath toys do you like? I don't actually have any and I'm tired of fighting her for the washcloth. 

Old school rubber duck. Great for teething!

kristah2

@lajoliedreamer we love variety here. We have boats and rubber ducks. My fav is his oball turtle because he can grab it easily 

Ladybug2821

@lajoliedreamer We have the rubber toys here. You could also give her her own wash cloth. 

kvruns

We have some bath toys but don't use them. Tried a rubber duck once and he didn't care about it 

lajoliedreamer

I ordered a rubber duck and the oball turtle - hopefully she likes them!

@Ladybug2821 - since she tries to suck on the washcloth I was thinking she shouldn't have it because of possible water intake which she shouldn't really have yet. Is that just me being overly cautious?

@kvruns - E wasn't really interested in anything but splashing for a long time, but the past couple weeks started grabbing a lot more at our hands and the wash cloth so I'm just guessing she'll be interested in toys now.