Maybe I just suck at cleaning? But whoever decided crayons were a great idea for children was out of their mind. Why is something that permanent and hard to get out still being marketed for kids when markers are washable?!? It makes no sense and I'm sick of it. Two of our expensive wooden trucks are now ruined and our pikler climbing wall is covered in purple crayon. Not to mention I can only get %70 of the crayon off the walls. I'm not a big supporter of throwing away things that children like and it seems so cruel but I'm so over crayons I feel like pitching them all in the garbage. Probably a better Monday bitchfest topic 😆
@kalesix3 Crayola does make washable crayons, they're just not the "standard" version. DS2 went through an intense phase a few months back where he found any writing utensil and suddenly he was drawing on the hardwood floors, the walls, DS1s pillow, the kids table in DS1s room, wooden toys and the farmers market cart from Hearth&Hand, on ANYTHING 🤦♀️ with anything. Sharpie, dry eraser marker, dot markers, crayon, marker, paint sticks (damn you lovevery), you name it, he found it somewhere and colored on something! We rent too and our walls are the shoddiest, cheapest, builder grade material, Magic erasers tear them up. UGH. It was the worst. And he'll still do it if we don't watch him very carefully during art time at the kitchen table. DH threw away all our "regular" markers and crayons and bought the ultra washable versions because he was so frustrated.
@thescarletmom ugggh yes that's the phase we're in. I already supervise art time but he's just lightning fast. Our walls are those crappy textured wall and the paint on them and our nice haba moover truck both wash off leaving the crayon behind, like HOW 😵💫 I know with walls we can just repaint but the moover truck is basically ruined and he's only had it since Christmas, I'm so sad. I probably need to just throw the crayons out when I replace them, thank you for the tip. Why are art supplies so darn irresistible to the demographic that has no impulse control 🤣
@kalesix3 I know! And DS2 loves art so much, I can't institute a ban on it because it would break his lil heart. So we just have to watch him like a freaking hawk anytime he has supplies out. The worst of the stage was when he was finding things god knows where because we would have sworn 17 separate times that all the stuff he could possibly use to draw on the walls was put away/hidden, and he'd manage to find a new crayon somewhere anyways! He's drawn on so many expensive wooden and Montessori toys like damn kid these were supposed to be heirlooms!!!
@kalesix3@thescarletmom not to be that person "my kid would never" but my son just never did any of that stuff. I can not think of one thing he got into or ruined or even a big mess he made as a toddler. He is six now. I feel like I am oblivious to the fact that most kids do that and I am going to be in for a rude awakening with this one haha.
TTC History:
Started dating DH 2006 . Married 2015
TTC July 2015-November 2015
BFP November 2015 Baby boy born August 2016
Oops BFP February 2021 MMC March 2021
Back on BC for a year to decide what we want to do.
@ReadyForaB I have some of those with my kids too! My "my kid would never" that always gets people: DS1 never had a diaper blow out until he was like 10-11 months old. And it only happened total maybe 2-3 times after that! He also never peed on me during a diaper change (DS2 did it plenty to make up for it though haha). DS2 is definitely my more "wild child" of the two, DS1 wasn't a big mess maker outside of really liking tzatziki dip as a baby and it *always* ended up in his hair.
Reese has done it a handful of times but what he's really good at is spilling things on the couch. I understand the simple solution to that is not to allow him to eat or drink on the couch, however, it's just easier most the time and just deal with the messes when they happen. Actually we're terrible about sitting at the table together and eating. We really never do it😬 we eat in the living room a lot and watch a show or movie together. Our evenings are so limited on time and we all need downtime! So we end up in the living room and reese makes a mess 6/10 times.
@ReadyForaB it's that first child energy to never draw on walls 😂 we're in a weird spot because my son is through and through a second child but because he doesn't have his older sister in his life he's got a lot of the particular, orderly first child energy as well as the beautiful chaotic wall drawing, fiercely independent, autonomous second kid energy so it's a whole ass learning experience 😂
@thescarletmomI'm usually am extremely chill with messes, he's been in a phase of wanting flour dumped on the counter so he can drive his trucks through and I'm happy for him to do that because it doesn't hurt anything and it's sensory play he'll get actually tolerate. But damn the Montessori toys hurt my heart, it's hard too because I had almost no toys as a kid, and he has so many and I'm so proud of what I've been able to give him and then they're ruined with crayons and smeared paint from my cleaning efforts. Ugh. It's not the end of the world but today I'm extremely triggered 😂
On another random note, I don't know if anyone pays attention to full moons and what it means for labor, (I'm kind of a nerd about it) but I saw today that my due date falls on the Full Strawberry Moon in June 😍 I'm still kind of curious if baby will end up being a May baby instead but either way it's cool!
I’m always mystified by the kids who don’t get into everything. I remember when both our oldest kids were like 18 months and my sister told me that if she told her son not to touch something he wouldn’t. It blew my mind, lol. So far I’m 2/2 on “spirited” children. DD is sensory-seeking with ADHD and DS figured out how to use a toy broom handle as a lever to pop the child lock straps off cabinets at barely 2…
It would be really nice if this one more chill, or her toddler years may actually drive me crazy.
@kalesix3 ooohhh!! I hadn’t even though about checking moon cycles around my EDD yes but now I totally will. What am cool timing! Excited to see how that plays out for you. As a doula and meditation lover I swear my life is ruled by the moon cycle lol
@kalesix3 so this prompted me to see what the moon situation was on the night I was born. It was a full moon and according to the article, the body part/organ likely to be affected on that given night is the thyroid. What are the odds given my thyroid cancer?? I didn't realize the organ/body part thing was a thing. Now I'm down a rabbit hole.
@hitcj4687 you're welcome 😁 It's such an awesome rabbithole! I'm enthralled with the moon cycle! If it's the 9th full moon after your conception date the odds you'll go into labor around that time are pretty high, my daughter was born on my ninth full moon and my son was born on a new moon. There are a ton of factors so it's not an exact science but I put stock in it anyways because it's cool!
@bridgettetheboxer the moon cycle affects so freaking much!! It's amazing! I'm interested to see what you find! I think I saw the strawberry moon is two weeks before summer solstice though and I'm slightly sad I missed out on a solstice baby AND the flower moon in May but the strawberry moon is still a beautiful coincidence 😍 Idk though because I always trust the mittendorf-williams rule for estimated due dates because it's been right for me twice regardless of what my "traditional" due date was, both my babies were born on the day it predicted and it's estimating this baby will be born May 30th so yeah I'm not sure but either way pretty close to the full moon 😍
Goin in for my second attempt at a cerclage today. Having to fast all day sucks because my gag reflex is so strong when I’m fasting something always ends up making me throw up.
@kalesix3 I looked up the mittendorf-williams rule and used a calculator for it! I wish I could still remember the specific LMP stuff for my other two just to see if it's been accurate for me! The calculator puts me at June 10th instead of 14th, which is my husband's birthday haha.
Definitely. Probably time for that. Usually at about this point in the 2nd trimester the bonds formed on these boards are strong enough for private groups. That way the newcomers can interact without offending the cliq.
We announced on social media today with some professional valentines day photos we got. Most people we are close with already knew but it will still fun to shout it out to the world!
TTC History:
Started dating DH 2006 . Married 2015
TTC July 2015-November 2015
BFP November 2015 Baby boy born August 2016
Oops BFP February 2021 MMC March 2021
Back on BC for a year to decide what we want to do.
The gender heart rate prediction was really true for my first two kids, but it’s not true at all for this one. I guess DD just happened to have a high heart rate all the time. Maybe this one being lower means it will be more chill? 😂
It’s interesting, this is the farthest I’ve ever made it without needing insulin, even though this the least stressed about it I’ve been. I think getting past “interventions are bad/mean I’ve failed” has really helped mental health be better this time. I don’t feel like I have to half starve myself so I can avoid insulin to have a “natural” birth and it’s really reduced my stress over the diabetes.
@pttomato the HR thing was wrong for 2/3 of my kids!
I've definitely found that my anxiety is a lot less/easier to manage as I've gotten to a place where I can acknowledge (sometimes, I'm not perfect) what's in my control and what isn't. And not making it a guilt fest for myself when something that isn't in control isn't what I want it to be. I'm glad you feel so much more peace about your GD and insulin this time 🩶 I had literally just been telling my husband that this pregnancy was the least anxious one I've had so far, and while I'm feeling a lot more anxious than I was a few days ago, I'm still not as bad off as I could be. This kind of news in one of my first two pregnancies would have ended me.
@francesgs I've been thinking about that too, the random lurkers make it difficult. I was thinking we were having way more issues this time than with my sons BMB but then I realized it's just because with his group there were a ton of no nonsense moms who handled all the drama before I saw it basically. I'm more active with this one so it feels a lot worse. All that to say I'm ready when everyone else is, I think most of our little group here agreed that they'd move to a private group when the time was right. ❤️
@thescarletmom that's so fascinating! I honestly don't know why I remember my edd and my MW EDD that was right with my last two, my brain holds onto useless facts like that sometimes lol My birthday is May 31st so I might have a birthday twin too which would be really sweet!
@pttomato omg what a relief that they were able to place your cerclage, I hope it's smooth sailing from here on out and I'm so glad you're not having to rely on insulin yet, that must be such a weight off your shoulders too and not feeling all the stress and pressure this time around. I'm really happy it's been more low key for you this time, that's a huge win!
@sunny_native14 it's such a fun rabbithole to go down! I'd like to go a week early, the days leading up to my due date are really stressful from past complications.
I stepped away for a few days and got busy with life stuff but hopefully I'm all caught up now with everyone! Also one tiny win is that while not officially recommending or buying materiels from the company because they're awful and bigoted and stand for a lot of hate, I'm trying to spend as close to a thousand hours outside this year, which has been challenging because I can't take a two year old out in sub zero weather, but our cold front moved out so this month so far I've been able to get outside with him every day! I've got 7 hours logged so hopefully I can keep it up!
@kalesix3 welcome back! It's been so cold here too and yesterday was 20 degrees warmer than the days before (not counting the wind chill, wind has been brutal), in the 50s! Today and tomorrow will be warmer as well and we have big plans to get out and moving in the sunshine while it lasts - it will be back to the 20s/30s by Tuesday.
@thescarletmom oh I hope the warmer temps last just a little bit longer for you all, it's such a mental health boost to soak up the sunshine this time of year! Oh also, the friend that I had the dream about where we went and saw her after the baby was born and I said to her "you have another little boy and I have another little girl"? We were talking a week ago and I asked her what she thought she was having because I had started thinking she was having a girl instead and she said she thought boy but she randomly bought a little girl outfit because she couldn't get the what if out of her head 😅 well she had her baby today and it was a girl! I'm not sure if that means my intuition is redeemed or if it's still broken since that dream was completely wrong 😂
@kalesix3 yesterday was beautiful and we spent like 6 hours outside at the park and walking around in the quaint little mainstreet of the suburb town I grew up in. I'm so excited that DH and DS2 will get to be out and about today and getting some sunshine! DS2 really needs it after being cooped up, between the cold and DH being sick and low energy for almost 2 weeks now. He just ran and ran yesterday while we were outside (when he wasn't doing his very favorite past time, just like his brother - throwing rocks into the river at the park).
Oh my goodness. I genuinely felt so lost intuition wise this pregnancy. Even after that dream finally came, I still second-guessed it! Intuition broken lol. I think it would be funny to track what you think/lean towards the baby being every week and compare when baby is born and see which had more weeks 😂
@thescarletmom I absolutely am going to do that now! I love the idea of looking back and seeing which one was prevalent! Gosh 6 hours outside sounds like a dream! Naptime in the middle of the day makes it so hard to do bigger chunks of time but I still want to try to aim towards more than 2 per day!
@kalesix3 yes, I'm so excited for this spreadsheet 😂 it was glorious, we left the house around 1-2 and didn't come back till it was almost dark. Definitely something that wouldn't have been possibly if DS2 were still napping like he was before the winter came. I realized last fall just how much sunshine and being outside affected all of us and I'm looking forward to this spring/summer and longer daylight hours.
@thescarletmom right? It's such a mental health boost through uncertainty like you and I both have on our plates. How have you been feeling about your placenta news the past day or so? Any different or just extremely anxious and apprehensive? I've been thinking about you a lot, I so hope it moves for you 🙏🏻 I'm really excited for this summer, I'm sad we still won't be on our own house but hopefully summer in a bigger rental will still be an improvement.
@kalesix3 ebbs and flows. When I'm distracted it's okay. But as is usually for my anxiety, at nighttime it creeps back in and I worry a lot. It's definitely disrupting my sleep. I know that for the vast majority of people it resolves, it's no big deal. But there has to be the people that it *doesn't* resolve for and I go in circles in my head about how that will end up being me. Every little achy feeling makes me nervous and I worry if there will be blood when I go to the bathroom. It's such a mindfuck after a way more relaxed pregnancy anxiety-wise. And has seriously stunted my bonding with baby. There was a bit there at first where I was angry, as though it could possibly be her fault 😞 it's been a mess of emotions for me and it's only been a few days. I think I'm trying to process too much at once and getting ahead of myself, and it's making it harder. I've found I'm already grieving my birth as if its set in stone. I do really appreciate all the thoughts and well wishes 🩶
Thinking of you and your move as well, I know there's so many things you've got on your mind.
@thescarletmom I feel that a lot, I definitely find it's been the same with specific pregnancy worries in the past, just an ebb and flow. Your feelings and struggles are extremely valid though and I think it makes sense to struggle with bonding as you try to protect your heart and just want the baby to be safe. I've been where you are about grieving a birth that hasn't even happened yet and just really dialing into what failed or who. So much solidarity, I believe with all my heart that you'll get a beautiful redemptive birth. I hope your family members don't end up triggering the wounds and being insensitive. Holding space for you and this sweet baby girl ❤️
@kalesix3 thank you 🥺 I find myself doing the pity-shame spiral too, where I'll feel upset and then start a game of what I like to call pain Olympics and feel guilty because "other people have it worse/it could be so much bigger of a deal" etc. Which it turns out is not at all helpful in processing feelings. I haven't lost hope that things will resolve, but some days it's harder to find.
Oh gosh @thescarletmom the pain olympics is such a miserable mental space that I gaslight myself about too. I'm so sorry, you already know of course but it doesn't matter how hard other people have it, we all struggle on different levels from each other and this level is allowed to be hard for you and you're absolutely allowed to grieve the things you may not have, even if it's preemptive grief. Your feelings are always valid and we're here for you ❤️
My glucose tolerance test came back- looks like GD again this pregnancy 😞
I'm bummed. I was prepared, but it's still an additional stressor. Plus, the logistical tangle of testing 4x per day, menu planning, figuring out what I can eat at events...
I'd hoped I'd be that magical unicorn whose GD doesn't recur, but alas!
Oh no @peyts228 that's so sad, I'm sorry 😔 have you found a really good GD support group you could join to brainstorm meal plans with others in the same boat? I know the cookbook Real Foods for GD is supposed to be amazing but obviously it's up to your body what it'll tolerate. I hope you hit your stride with the meal plans etc.
Re: February Randoms
Probably a better Monday bitchfest topic 😆
TTC July 2015-November 2015
Baby boy born August 2016
Oops BFP February 2021
MMC March 2021
Back on BC for a year to decide what we want to do.
TTC Since March 2022
MMC June 2022
BFP September 2022 - Due June 2023!
@thescarletmomI'm usually am extremely chill with messes, he's been in a phase of wanting flour dumped on the counter so he can drive his trucks through and I'm happy for him to do that because it doesn't hurt anything and it's sensory play he'll get actually tolerate. But damn the Montessori toys hurt my heart, it's hard too because I had almost no toys as a kid, and he has so many and I'm so proud of what I've been able to give him and then they're ruined with crayons and smeared paint from my cleaning efforts. Ugh. It's not the end of the world but today I'm extremely triggered 😂
On another random note, I don't know if anyone pays attention to full moons and what it means for labor, (I'm kind of a nerd about it) but I saw today that my due date falls on the Full Strawberry Moon in June 😍 I'm still kind of curious if baby will end up being a May baby instead but either way it's cool!
It would be really nice if this one more chill, or her toddler years may actually drive me crazy.
It's such an awesome rabbithole! I'm enthralled with the moon cycle! If it's the 9th full moon after your conception date the odds you'll go into labor around that time are pretty high, my daughter was born on my ninth full moon and my son was born on a new moon. There are a ton of factors so it's not an exact science but I put stock in it anyways because it's cool!
@bridgettetheboxer the moon cycle affects so freaking much!! It's amazing! I'm interested to see what you find! I think I saw the strawberry moon is two weeks before summer solstice though and I'm slightly sad I missed out on a solstice baby AND the flower moon in May but the strawberry moon is still a beautiful coincidence 😍
Idk though because I always trust the mittendorf-williams rule for estimated due dates because it's been right for me twice regardless of what my "traditional" due date was, both my babies were born on the day it predicted and it's estimating this baby will be born May 30th so yeah I'm not sure but either way pretty close to the full moon 😍
I am carrying a solstice baby. The moon aligns.
And I went into labor a week early during a full moon with my last pregnancy, so now I'm going down the rabbit hole, too!
TTC July 2015-November 2015
Baby boy born August 2016
Oops BFP February 2021
MMC March 2021
Back on BC for a year to decide what we want to do.
TTC Since March 2022
MMC June 2022
BFP September 2022 - Due June 2023!
@thescarletmom that's so fascinating! I honestly don't know why I remember my edd and my MW EDD that was right with my last two, my brain holds onto useless facts like that sometimes lol
My birthday is May 31st so I might have a birthday twin too which would be really sweet!
@pttomato omg what a relief that they were able to place your cerclage, I hope it's smooth sailing from here on out and I'm so glad you're not having to rely on insulin yet, that must be such a weight off your shoulders too and not feeling all the stress and pressure this time around. I'm really happy it's been more low key for you this time, that's a huge win!
@sunny_native14 it's such a fun rabbithole to go down! I'd like to go a week early, the days leading up to my due date are really stressful from past complications.
I stepped away for a few days and got busy with life stuff but hopefully I'm all caught up now with everyone!
Also one tiny win is that while not officially recommending or buying materiels from the company because they're awful and bigoted and stand for a lot of hate, I'm trying to spend as close to a thousand hours outside this year, which has been challenging because I can't take a two year old out in sub zero weather, but our cold front moved out so this month so far I've been able to get outside with him every day! I've got 7 hours logged so hopefully I can keep it up!
Oh also, the friend that I had the dream about where we went and saw her after the baby was born and I said to her "you have another little boy and I have another little girl"? We were talking a week ago and I asked her what she thought she was having because I had started thinking she was having a girl instead and she said she thought boy but she randomly bought a little girl outfit because she couldn't get the what if out of her head 😅 well she had her baby today and it was a girl! I'm not sure if that means my intuition is redeemed or if it's still broken since that dream was completely wrong 😂
Gosh 6 hours outside sounds like a dream! Naptime in the middle of the day makes it so hard to do bigger chunks of time but I still want to try to aim towards more than 2 per day!
I'm really excited for this summer, I'm sad we still won't be on our own house but hopefully summer in a bigger rental will still be an improvement.
I'm bummed. I was prepared, but it's still an additional stressor. Plus, the logistical tangle of testing 4x per day, menu planning, figuring out what I can eat at events...
I'd hoped I'd be that magical unicorn whose GD doesn't recur, but alas!
I know the cookbook Real Foods for GD is supposed to be amazing but obviously it's up to your body what it'll tolerate. I hope you hit your stride with the meal plans etc.