Parenting Check-In

Jazibel · March 2014

Happy Monday Everyone,

How was your weekend? Any new developments, challenges or accomplishments? Please remind us of your LO(s) age as well.

QOTD: Describe your LO(s) personality (or your best/current guess).

PIPs always welcomes :-)

AmandaG47 · March 2014

Hello! Joining the parenting check in for the first time! My baby girls are just over two weeks old.

I'm unfortunately sitting here at work pumping and very sad. I hate that I had to return to work so soon and miss them so much. The first few days back, J brought them to me over lunch so I got to feed them and didn't go for more than a few hours without them. Today I left the house at 7:15am and won't be back until 6:15pm. This is really really hard. Plus, I'm a nanny currently and one parent is here today, making the day that much harder.

Oh my, I just realized what a downer I was being, sorry! On a lighter note, we had our newborn photoshoot yesterday and I'm so excited to get all the pictures back! Also, J and I split night duty by each of us taking one baby for the night (same room, just responsibility-wise). Vienna slept so well last night, it was amazing! She had her bedtime feeding at 9 then her next at 1am! Then she fed sleepily and went right back down until a little after 5am. It was glorious. Unfortunately Lexie did not sleep as well for J.

QOTD: I think they change pretty often still. Sometimes one is more easy going, sometimes the other. They both love to cuddle and be wrapped up and worn (yay!).

JGY · March 2014

@AmandaG47 mad props to you for holding it together after having to go back to work so soon. That's sheer craziness, but I understand you're doing what you need to do for your family. Here's hoping it gets easier!

Let's see, what's going on this week in the world of no sleep ... Gabe is 11 1/2 months old and FULL OF IT. He is constantly on the move and into everything. S is finally feeling better after being sick for over 2 weeks, and now I have whatever she had. It's miserable. I don't think there's any way Gabe is going to avoid getting it, but I can dream.

In other news, Gabe has a massive ear infection. Seems like for any of my weekly updates, I could just refer you to a previous week. 1. We don't sleep. 2. Gabe has an ear infection. RINSE AND REPEAT.

Personality. Hmmm. I think Gabe is and is going to be a generally happy guy. I also think he's going to be a bulldog; singularly focused on what he wants and perhaps a bit careless in his pursuit to get it. His new thing is to throw is head back and scream when we take something away from him or take him away from somewhere he wants to be. That should be nicely developed by age 2. Right now our strategy is to just ignore it. He doesn't get any attention for it, and he doesn't get what he wants. We'll see how effective that is.

He's still ridiculously cute though.

Have a great week everyone!

2brides · March 2014

Nothing really new development wise - although when people are asking how old they are now, I am saying, "they will be 8 in a couple of months" which seems so much older than "they are 7."

The boys' schooling is up in the air for next year, which is causing great strife and heartache if we are making the right decision for them.I know it will all work out, but damn, this is hard.

QOTD: My kids are night and day. Such different temperaments and interests that it is sometimes amazing they get along as well as they do. Carter is our extrovert. He hates being by himself and talks incescently - mostly about sports and video games (oof.) And his new passion is Knock Knock jokes that he makes up and thinks are funny - but aren't. :P He is a gentle soul who loves to snuggle and if he thinks you are upset with him, will need physical affirmation that everything is okay. Gray is more of an introvert and enjoys being alone (as well as being with people) - but he needs downtime. He is more serious than his brother and more mature/less silly. He follows rules pretty closely. He is L's mini-me.

trisholio · March 2014

As usual our weekend was crazy. The girls keep us busy and even when we are at home there is always stuff to do.

The good/bad news is that during the girls visit with their bio mom last week, she showed up high. The social worker let the visit continue, I am hoping there was some type of warning given though. It is frustrating that we are busting our butts to raise her children while she is out getting high when she wants. But I know its not my job to fix the mom, my job is to raise and love the girls. The positive note is that M the toddler did not throw a fit when the visit was over. This is a first, she usually cries screams and I have to carry her to the car. She I am happy that she is making small improvements, even if her bio mom isn't.

We went on Saturday to find out the sex of our baby and we are having a girl. My wife's parents came in town and I know my wife appreciated them coming to the appointment. They are a bit strange and VERY laid back people, its so annoying. But they love us both and are sweet, so we tolerate them.

Sunday we spent the afternoon/evening with at my moms house. It is nice to have other people keep an eye on the girls for a few hours and play with them. It is our little break each week since we are not able to have anyone babysit them just yet.

Baby K slept from 9pm to 4am the last two nights, we are super excited about that!

I think that is about it for now. I am going to get the girls dressed (and myself showered) and we are going to get out of the house because its sunny and in the 60s here today. So excited for the warm tempatures finally!!!

ATXmommas · March 2014

Taking a quick break from a busy work day! Well, I am working at home this afternoon. You see what happened was…

Ash spit up on me when I dropped him off this morning. Ah well, it's going to happen. Later in the morning, I realize I forgot to put on deodorant. Oops! Then, when it comes to pump for the first time in the day, I realize I left my hands-free bra drying at home. So, I had to pump by holding the stupid things and refused to do that two more times during the day. So, home I am. Sigh. At least I have the flexibility to work from home when I need to.

We had a good week/weekend. Ash was a giggling fool this weekend, which is so super cute. Last weekend I had to act a fool to get him to giggle, now he giggles at just about anything. He's also discovered his voice and has started this high-pitch squeal randomly throughout the day. I'm not sure how long we will think it's cute, but we do for now.

I do think the time change messed with him. We had a little trouble getting him down at his normal bedtime - normally, he nurses and conks out between 7:30-8:00pm. Last night, he was up a bit later and squealing when he should have been sleeping. I hear it can take about a week for babies to adjust, but I'm keeping fingers crossed tonight is better.

As far as personality, I have no idea. Right now, he is a pretty chill little dude who just goes with the flow. Other than bedtime, we have never put him on a schedule (and we don't really schedule bedtime either, he just fell into his own routine with that) and he seems pretty happy with whatever we're doing for the day. When he was born, we joked around that he will be a very prompt person due to him choosing to be born on his due date and in such a timely fashion (less than 5 hours), but who really knows? Z and I both are enjoying seeing more of his personality come out and are completely curious about what he's going to be like. Such a fun ride!

ATXmommas · March 2014

@AmandaG47 - Welcome to the check-in! I'm sorry you had to go back to work so soon.

Z wasn't able to take any extended leave either. It's a shame. I think it is so great that you are able to help nurse your babies!

@JGY - I'm so sorry about the ear infection. So, what do the tubes do? Minimize the infection? Not very up to speed on all that. I hear of so many kiddos with ear problems, that it makes me wonder. I had very bad ear infections when I was a kid, but not until I was older - like middle schoolish age.

@trisholio - Yay for more sleep! And, I love what you said about your job not being about fixing mom, but loving those girls. Sounds like you are doing great!

@2brides - your two boys sound like me and Z (Z being the extrovert).

Good luck with making a decision about school. I am already mulling over school choices even though we don't plan on buying a new house for another couple years. Tough decisions await, I know.

@mommymonster - such a cute kid you have! Sounds like he comes with a big personality too!

JGY · March 2014

@ATXmommas the tubes are supposed to provide a new drainage path for any fluid collecting in the ears, which would typically drain down through the sinuses. Let me tell you, they sure do work! Gabe has crap draining out of his ears on a daily basis. In theory, infections typically happen (or at least this is my basic understanding) when fluid is trapped in the ear. The fluid gives the bacteria something to grow on. Because that fluid can now drain, ear infections should, in theory, stop. But I guess it's not unusual for kids to continue getting them anyway. Of course now the infection just drains right out of his ears ... disgusting.

So I guess we have a 50% win. He no longer has fluid trapped in his ears and he isn't in pain from that pressure. But we've had no relief from the actual infections. There is one other positive though, now that he has the tubes and therefor a clear path into his ears from the outside, we can treat infections with drops rather than oral antibiotics. That's a definite plus!

ATXmommas · March 2014

@JGY‌ - thanks for the explanation. At least your little guy isn't in pain and you have a better way to administer the meds. I would give that a thumbs up.

Jazibel · March 2014

Happy Tuesday everyone - sorry to join in so late. Seriously not sure where the day went yesterday.

We had a great weekend. I worked in the city (San Francisco) for about seven hours each day and EV was home with Kaden. I may not have come home to a clean house and dinner on the table but Kaden and EV had a great time together and that's what counts. ;-) I fell behind on things like laundry, etc. that I usually get done on the weekend and spent Sunday afternoon and yesterday playing catch up. I love my little gig though, and being in the city. I miss Kaden while I'm away but EV sends me lots of pictures and videos and its only for a couple of days so... :-) What I really miss is our little stolen family moments together. Even when EV is doing homework all weekend we get some time to laze around or go to the park together.

Kaden is doing great. I've stalled on the potty training this past week, and haven't been offering the potty and communicating as much. I did get some training underwear and plan on working on helping him learn to get dressed and undressed. Hopefully I can start focusing on that today.

Other than that we're doing pretty good. Except for the random toddler behaviors. He's cut down on throwing things in the house. I bought a really cute melissa and doug ladybug ball, it bounces a lot and we throw that outside, and practice "only throwing balls outside". Of course as I say this he is throwing little wooden screws from his toolbox around. LOL!! Spoke to soon.
His voicing of preferences is emerging and he says "ah me" (which means for me, or mine) and "nooo" and "yes" with a deliberate point, frown or smile. It's really quite cute. We work with him to be able to have his preferences, but don't give into "demands" or inappropriate things (like yesterday's oreo milk shake he wanted sooo badly).

QOTD: Kaden has a very charismatic personality, he charms people with his smile, laugh, etc. We literally get stopped 10 to 20 times every time we go anywhere - people just adore him. The KD is a friend and is also the most outgoing and friendly personality I've ever met. I think Kaden has a strong dose of that, mixed with unique bits of EV and me. Kaden loves other kids and people. I was telling EV last night that I really think he's the type of kid that will be really happy with siblings, since he's such a people person. I think he also has a bit of a stubborn and determined side. He's definitely strong willed. Finally he's very emotional. He's a Cancer. He feels big feelings and has to take the time to move through them. EV and I are both Aquarius and more in the thought realm so we work on reminding ourselves to make room for his feeling nature.

Want a personalized experience?

Parenting Check-In

Re: Parenting Check-In

Choose Another Board

Search Boards