NBR (not baby related)

SandNStarsNJ · January 2017

A place to ask the non-newborn questions...

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SandNStarsNJ · January 2017

I need cold lunch suggestions for a toddler that do not include peanut butter. Help! DD has been stuck with tuna, peppers, and crackers fir two days and DH failed to send her hot lunch, well hot, today. So help me out, please!

rspalding001 · January 2017

I too am stuck on the peanut butter bandwagon. Occasionally I'll send leftover pizza, quesadillas, rolled up turkey meat or "lunchables" with the meat, crackers and cheese, left over pasta, hard boiled eggs. I've tried cheese sandwiches but DD is super picky and won't eat them yet. I figure eventually she will expand her menu options but right now we are still pretty limited on what she will eat.

kristah2 · January 2017

Will they eat hummus?? Crackers and hummus is great, filling and high in protein (like PB)!

SandNStarsNJ · January 2017

kristah2 said:

Will they eat hummus?? Crackers and hummus is great, filling and high in protein (like PB)!

I've thought about that but have no idea if she'd eat hummus. Any particular brand you recommend?

kvruns · January 2017

H's birthday is at the end of this month and I have no idea what to get him. He didn't have any Christmas ideas until like 2 weeks before and I doubt he'll have any other ideas (I never want anything either so I don't blame him). While I don't feel the need to go overboard I also feel like I need something but I'm tapped out on ideas. On the plus side my parents are still in town for my mom's treatment instead of being in FL like normal for winter so I might be able to get them to baby sit so we can go out to dinner and movie or something that night.

kristah2 · January 2017

@SandNStarsNJ personally I stay away from Sabra since they tend to have SO many recalls.
I really like the Hummm! Brand (we buy at Costco). They have flavours like Caramelized onion (my fav!) and beet and roasted red pepper.

rspalding001 · January 2017

Ok so how do you not loose your shit with your toddler if you have one?!? I swear it's getting so hard. Bedtime is an absolute nightmare. She fights it so hard ever since DS was born. Also it's everything else too like getting dressed, eating on her own, listening to me in general. It's a battle every time and I feel so bad both because I don't want to be fighting with my precious first born DD who until 7 weeks ago was the center of my world because it's absolutely exhausting but also because I don't want her to be emotionally hurt by these battle of wills we go through on a daily basis.

I know part part of it is the terrible Three's and we might be having these struggles anyway, but a new baby in the mix makes it extra hard. It's just that sometimes I want to shake her or spank her so bad, but I do not want to go down that road so I'm not. But seriously people, I totally see how people just loose it because she pushes me to the brink almost every time and I hate it

I need to find a way to chill out and calm down with her because it's not doing either of us any good.

DH too is fighting back his anger and frustration. So it's both of us struggling.

I never thought id say this but a newborn is soooooo easy in comparison to a toddler. At least they just have physical needs and no real emotional ones yet.

Sigh... just venting I guess, thanks!

MrsBigTime · January 2017

@rspalding001 Oh, girl! I wasn't sure I'd survive 3 years old! They are legit crazy!

I felt like I was constantly wavering between completely losing my cool and trying to be zen. One thing I did find was if I paid special mind to take a deep breath during an all-too-frequent meltdown and let her figure out her spasticity on her own, she'd actually calm down quicker. Sometimes, when it had been an especially difficult day, she really just needed a hug. Sounds so cheesy, but it actually worked a lot.

One more strategy that started as a total fluke is to take baths together. When I was very pregnant and had a mishap with some Nair, I had to take a bath and my little girl stripped down as fast as she could and we played with all of her little bath toys together for an hour - she was in heaven! Now, if she's needing some mama time, I try to make a normal thing more special by bringing in some paint or shaving cream to paint with and we get some special time together because I'm not distracted by chores or my phone (truth). The baby is often with us, but it doesn't take much to fill big sisters cup and it kind of resets a lot of bad attitude.

I'm seeing the light at the end of the tunnel (most days!) but rest assured, you'll get your sweet girl back!

rspalding001 · January 2017

@mrsbigtime thanks! I know it's got to be relatively normal behavior but it doesn't make it any easier when you are going through it ha ha

im going to do my best to be the calm in her storm ha ha. Fingers crossed! And yes I do think I need to focus on her more without my phone or the TV going.

SandNStarsNJ · January 2017

@rspalding001 - I have some similar issues with DD that are a result of LO and the ever-growing sickness around our house. I have to say @mrsbigtime has some super awesome advice. The only thing I would add is that when DD started having these uncharacteristic tantrums, we originally would jump right in and try to correct her, but one day I made sure she wasn't endangering of hurting herself on anything and let her have it out while I watched. When she looked towards me I told her "to feel her feelings" and she left out a few more bouts of aggravation, took a deep breath, looked at me, and said "I feel better." Sure enough, it worked. So lately, pending the circumstances, I've just been letting her have it out.

I will admit that I keep the phone and TV away when we are together and that certainly helps.

kvruns · January 2017

I'm so tired of bleeding. My PP bleeding ended right before 6 weeks but now after the IUD I'm. BAck to bleeding. It isn't super bad but it's pretty red like a light period booooo

RhodaMorgenstern · January 2017

Completely both baby related but I thought I'd ask; does anyone here have any experience with dealing with dementia patients? My mom, who lives with us, has she early onset Alzheimer's and has become completely incontinent. I need to convince her to wear diapers (no, I don't call them diapers to her) but she absolutely refuses.

I belong to an Alzheimer's caregivers board but they're generally significantly older than me and tend to talk to me like a child (I'm 30 and really hate it when they tell me I should view it as a blessing to take care of my mom). So I figured I'd ask here.

hjmommaplus1 · January 2017

@RhodaMorgenstern I don't have experience as a caregiver for dementia patients. My grandmother suffered from Alzheimer's and we eventually had to put her in a home. That is such a tough disease to deal with and I'm sorry your mom suffers from it. I hope you're able to find a good support system. *hugs*

kvruns · January 2017

@RhodaMorgenstern hugs for you that is a lot to take on

jmama1611 · January 2017

@kvruns
You might've figured out a birthday gift by now. My husband and I barely exchange gifts now and instead put the $ towards date nights and family weekends away. Something to consider.

kvruns · January 2017

@jmama1611 haven't thought of anything but I like the idea of a weekend away or experience type of thing

MrsMaryK2016 · January 2017

@kvruns Our birthdays are two days apart and we never do gifts. We do a trip or some type of experience instead. It's way more fun and it allows to get away just the two of us for a little while.

SandNStarsNJ · January 2017

This is kid related... is it weird or should I be worried that my 2.5 yo DD calls her stuffed animals her friends? Every once in a while she refers to a person as a friend, but I've realized in almost every story from daycare and at home regarding what she was doing with her friends, it's in reference to an animal. It kinda makes me sad.

rspalding001 · January 2017

@sandnstarsnj I don't think it's weird at all. Kids at that age are developing their imagination and just learning how to pretend and make believe. I think it sounds totally normal. As far as having other friends at school and such that will happen in its own time. We have to encourage the friendships our DD has now at 3 by having play dates and going to parties and such. Otherwise I'm not sure how many people she would call her friend on her own.

rspalding001 · January 2017

Feeling touched out. Not by the baby... by my three year old. All day her hands and feet are all over me. It's constant and getting so annoying. I find myself wanting to push her away all the time. Sigh... I suppose this too shall pass like everything else.

SandNStarsNJ · January 2017

rspalding001 said:

Feeling touched out. Not by the baby... by my three year old. All day her hands and feet are all over me. It's constant and getting so annoying. I find myself wanting to push her away all the time. Sigh... I suppose this too shall pass like everything else.

I feel you on this. I find myself getting frustrated with my 2.5 yo when I usually would not. And suddenly whoever is holding the baby is the bad guy to her, which is really exacerbating the 'tude.

SandNStarsNJ · January 2017

Is anyone having trouble accessing TheBump today? I had to try 4 separate times.

desoky01 · January 2017

@SandNStarsNJ I had lots of trouble today too!

camcbeth · January 2017

@SandNStarsNJ no it's not weird your kids refers to stuffed animals as friends. My first is 3 1/2 and they are her friends. She brings a friend with her everywhere and our rule is not to bring it into the store, car is fine, but then we leave it till we get back. She also asks me to babysit her friend when I drop her off at preschool. She also cycles through who is her favorite. She talked to them like people. She's currently treating them like a baby (feeding, changing invisible diapers, and swaddling them). So it's completely normal. My other worry is how she acts like a cat all the time. She even wants a cat themed birthday party complete with pictures of cats in frames. Did I mention she was dressed as a cat for Halloween? I think I'd rather her go back to just having her stuffed animals as her friends.

SandNStarsNJ · January 2017

Thank you @camcbeth! You're describing almost the exact same relationship my DD has with her animals. The cat thing, not so much, but I think is perfectly normal. It's like all the girls who wanted to be Elsa or the boys choosing Batman; she's just choosing a cat.

I do have a follow up question. DD prefers to play alone. Enough so that she tells me she likes to play by herself at school. She's 2.5, but in a class with 3 and 4 year olds because the teachers deemed her "advanced" (whatever that means at her age) so I don't expect her to necessarily play with other kids extensively, but she goes out of her way to tell me which strikes me as odd.

anne11716 · January 2017

Does anyone have a cure for these insain stretch marks I have on my sides?! Yikes!

MrsMaryK2016 · January 2017

My doctor recommended mederma. I've been using it for a week so I can't tell you if it works or not.

kristah2 · January 2017

Gift advice help!
DH is being called to the bar in a month. I need to find the perfect gift! I have zero clue.

lajoliedreamer · January 2017

@kvruns - I am so with you on the bleeding! I had my IUD put in a week and a half ago and keep thinking it's getting better then it starts up again. I guess I thought the "could bleed for 3 months" thing was an exaggeration, but my sister told me she was bleeding on and off (mostly on) for 2.5 months after she got hers in. I may be the minority, but I miss wearing thongs!

kvruns · January 2017

@lajoliedreamer I'm 2.5 weeks out from mine and still bleeding. It's light now but still have to wear something. Baby is almost 2 months old and I've had some sort of pad on this entire time, ugh. My Dr said she bled for the 3 months when she had hers in, I really hope neither of us is in that camp.

camcbeth · January 2017

@SandNStarsNJ don't worry, she's young still at 2.5. Kids between 2/3 tend to parallel play and then as the reach 3/4 they start to interact with others. I just went to a presentation at my mommy and me class with a preschool teacher who's taught for 20 years. She just gave those guidelines and one mom had a similar concern to yours. One thing was brought up, kids can be introverts and extroverts too. However, most of the time it's the age and the development.

SandNStarsNJ · January 2017

Does anyone here sell LuLaRoe? And if so, want to post a link to their store? Their leggings are my postpartum indulgence right now (LOTS of weight to lose) and my friend only has crazy bright patterns right now.

camcbeth · January 2017

@kristah2 my husband liked his man crate this year. As well as his UKeg 64 from growler works in Portland Oregon, it's a copper beer growler that uses the seltzer chargers. It's a hit with all the guys that come over. Good luck to you and your husband.

MrsMaryK2016 · January 2017

Severe weather headed my way tonight. Trying to decide if I should go stay with the in-laws tonight with little guy since they have a generator. Ugh what a pain.

kvruns · January 2017

@MrsMaryK2016 I saw
some parts of FL were supposed to get bad weather. Central to northern FL right? Hope you stay safe whichever you decide.

MrsMaryK2016 · January 2017

@kvruns Yep we're in that zone. I've decided to stay home. We'll see if that's a mistake in about an hour.

SandNStarsNJ · January 2017

Let us know @mrsmaryk2016! Hope it's not too bad.

MrsMaryK2016 · January 2017

What a to do about nothing. Didn't lose power and I'm so glad we didn't pack up for my in-laws. I'd so much rather be home.

lajoliedreamer · January 2017

Anyone else have taste buds change since being pregnant/having a baby? I can't taste sour anymore, it just tastes sweet! (Haven't yet done a lemon test, but I've tried other things that people have said were really sour and didn't taste any sourness.)

hoosiermama-2 · January 2017

Nothing that drastic! But my usual hop-loving beer palette can't really handle 'em anymore.

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