How've you been doing balancing a toddler(s) and your pregnancy this past week?
What is your toddler really into right now? What are their favorite things?
Rants/Raves/Questions:
Anything you want to add/share?
Bonus Question: What have you done/will you do recently/soon for self-care?
Re: Moms with Toddlers - 9.12.16
it was a CRAZY week. DS developed separation anxiety for the first time and got a bug (related) I had to pick him up from childcare a couple times and then the day he was with my mom I had to go home early. This was all on the craziest work week I could have possible had. A bunch of reviews due and then finding out I've got to testify in a trial as an expert witness a couple weeks after birth... and trying to set up for filing a motion to depose me early...
On top of this I found that my abs actually do have a gap... only about 1 cm at the moment but I am worried I'll make it worse.
What is your toddler really into right now? What are their favorite things?
mama. and his shape sorter. And tractors. with his newfound need for mama he's starting to figure out some clever new ploys. Such as the fake trip and fall and fake cry. The cute thing is he's super off on the fake cry facial expression and looks like Elvis. I'm just responding by giving him lovies overload as he's clearly going through this emotional growth spurt.
Rants/Raves/Questions:
Rant - I don't feel like childcare is really working out for us. Their nap policy doesn't work for DS. One nap a day is not enough for him and when I've had to go get him, all the little toddlers are so tired seeming. I don't think they sleep enough there and I think it's a big deal. It's only 2 days a week for a couple more months and we have no other option at the moment but I'm just not into it. They are really sweet and try hard but their nap policy just doesn't work.
Anything you want to add/share?
Bonus Question: What have you done/will you do recently/soon for self-care?
I got a pedicure and a haircut this weekend.
How've you been doing balancing a toddler(s) and your pregnancy this past week?
Pretty well. DH does SO MUCH of the work, though, that I'm spoiled. Like he gets her ready completely in the morning and fixes her breakfast. He changes like 90% of the diapers. He even started bathing her much more frequently when it was hurting my back to bend over the tub. I tend to be DD's plaything and comfort a lot of time. She still enjoys boob-squeezing for comfort, which is fun for sore pregnant boobs. But I figure it's the least I can do in my child's care.
What is your toddler really into right now? What are their favorite things?
Elmo...that little red guy is a life saver. She also enjoys music and dancing, but she really only likes Taylor Swift's Shake It Off...I'm about to cut that little blonde b!#ch if she doesn't shut up. She also LOVES coloring. My mom brought her a cheap little desk that sits in the corner of the den, and she will slave over her coloring book at that desk for long, precious moments of peace.
Rants/Raves/Questions:
We started potty training just last week @jenlynne0624 but we're still kind of lazy with it. Daycare is potty training too, but they're still in the 'just trying to make the kid not be afraid of the toilet' phase. So we haven't been quite as diligent on our end as we could be. Is it bad that I'm like kind of okay with diapers until she's a teen or something? I just don't feel like doing this. That said, we have sat it out on the potty twice this week, and she peed both times after a while. So she's slowly getting the point, even if she's most interested in flushing the toilet and having a temper tantrum if we don't let her do it because she didn't pee.
Anything you want to add/share?
Bonus Question: What have you done/will you do recently/soon for self-care?
Self-care? What's that? No seriously I haven't done crap for myself. I don't think it necessarily counts, but I'm going to force myself to the employee gym at lunch to sign up for a membership to force myself to start working out more regularly. Then I'll have to make myself get up at 5:30 several days a week to have time to workout and shower before I have to be in by 7:30. I know myself and between fatigue and wanting to pick DD up to see her as soon as possible, I'm just not going to be working out in the evenings anymore. I also want a fitbit...maybe to try to prove that my lazy self isn't as lazy as I think I am? Or I'll discover that I'm getting even less activity than I thought, guilting me into working out. Bleh...is this self-care if I hate it so much?
Baby #1
Baby #2
~04/19/16 EDD 12/26/16~
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Probably not the best. She's fully throwing fits for everything right now and I just can't handle it. She's a total daddy's girl at least but sometimes she makes me cry...like today. It was "music day" and typically I sit her next to me for guitar and piano playing. We went towards the music room and she said "don't come mommy, Daddy only". Ugh. First, DH doesn't even know how to play either instrument. And second...mommy has feelings too.
What is your toddler really into right now? What are their favorite things?
Hating mommy. Minnie mouse. Reading. Watching "mickey and doc on ipad".
Rants/Raves/Questions:
Most of the time I absolutely love this age. But not the past few weeks. Also, we are 90% potty trained. Good thing as I just opened my last box of pull ups! (She sleeps in diapers still, no need to waste a pull up when she usually doesn't wake up for potty). Oh and last night she was up every 2-3 hours with bad dreams then was up for good at 455. I was hoping for an early bedtime but nope.
Anything you want to add/share?
I'm so ready for my bathroom remodel to be done. Sharing one bathroom on the other side of the house with DH and DD is horrible. No space for anythimg. Stepping on bath toys during showers is getting old!
Bonus Question: What have you done/will you do recently/soon for self-care?
nothing.
I can't say I'm rocking toddlerhood this week, we had a fundraiser, and prepping for homeschool to start up tomorrow... Poor toddler is just along for the ride... As is this pregnancy.
What is your toddler really into right now? What are their favorite things?
She loves dogs and goats and picking mint out of our garden and eating it. She's also totally into my mom and dad and demands to go see them!
Rants/Raves/Questions:
I wish she would just sit and watch a movie for one hour. She just toddles around getting into mischief... But I can't blame her.
Anything you want to add/share?
Nope
Bonus Question: What have you done/will you do recently/soon for self-care?
Nothing... Oh! I took a nap. That's was delightful!
Due December 27th with baby #7
Although I totally do get #7
ETA - also #15
Just wanted to add that my toddler bit me on my butt today! That's a new one for me. I was cooking and evidently not picking her up made her mad.
Due December 27th with baby #7
What is your toddler really into right now? What are their favorite things?
Ever since we took her to the Natural History Museum last week all she can talk about is dinosaurs. Something about a toddler saying such a long word is adorable!
Rants/Raves/Questions:
Breastfeeding was really difficult for me the first time around-- baby had reflex, allergies and lost so much weight we were close to failure to thrive. Anyone else just thinking of doing formula from the get go?
Anything you want to add/share?
I'm anxious to officially schedule my gallbladder removed (I've had terrible gallstones that I've been controlling with diet). Looks like surgery will be 2-4 weeks after giving birth-- I wish they could just do it when I give birth!!
Bonus Question: What have you done/will you do recently/soon for self-care? Prenatal massage this Friday- I can't wait!!! 90 minutes of bliss!
IVF #1 Oct 2013- cancelled
IVF #2 Mar 2014- success.... baby girl born 11/28/14
FET #1 Mar 2016- baby boy due 12/16/16
so-so. It's hard on days that I'm tired- she watches a little more TV than I'd like....
What is your toddler really into right now? What are their favorite things?
Strawberry shortcake, birthdays (first year of getting excited for her own!), "being nakey" after bath
Rants/Raves/Questions:
I still worry about our relationship after the babies get here- I know people do it all the time, but it makes me sad that she wont be the only center of our universe anymore! I'm going to really try to make a point of spending one on one time with each of my kids. I dont know how realistic that will be at first-but gotta start somewhere!
Anything you want to add/share?
She loves to be held, which is getting more difficult... but a nurse at my insurance company gave me the tip of having them climb onto the couch or chair and you pick them up from there- really saves on the strain on your body! It works pretty good!
Bonus Question: What have you done/will you do recently/soon for self-care?
I take a bath at least every other day- really takes pressure off my hips!! (even though the bump is 75% out of the water.....) turns out you can get used to luke warm baths! (I normally love so-hot-can-barely-stand-it ones)
Due December 27th with baby #7
This time I plan to try to BF or pump for a few weeks but I just can't do it at work. Laws are there I know...but sometimes it really just can't work. So if I am successful at all, DD2 will only get breast milk for a few weeks then go to formula. However if it doesn't work out I don't mind going straight to formula.
I know there is a big push to potty train before baby's arrival. It's a hard deal! Potty training my 5th was/is a complete nightmare. I thought I knew exactly what to do by that point but she's taught me that pushing it can be very detrimental.
Due December 27th with baby #7
That being said...the past week and a half, she's been waking up crying at night needing to go potty. She had been staying dry most nights before this but now she wants up every night about 5 hours after bedtime. I'm not calling this a regression because she's actually waking up to go...and not peeing in the pull up. I miss sleep but I'd rather her keep waking up to pee so we can ditch pull ups sooner.
My biggest problem is that she won't leave her bed without a parent. So we gotta go get her and walk her to the potty. But she won't let me or DH in the bathroom to help. In some ways I wanna train her to get up on her own, but in other ways...it's really freaking nice sometimes that she actually stays in her bed! Oh the dilemma!