My two year old's bedtime strike is at defcon 11. He stood in his crib for hours last night, asleep on the rail half the time, and then waking himself up and protest crying for a bit then head on rail again, but would not lay down until after 10. In the lucid times, he is demanding everything under the sun including that I sleep on the floor in his room. Mind you, he has always been the kid for whom the bedtime routine worked and he would then lay down and go to sleep at about 7:30. So much for post kid's bedtime chilling as adults. It's so stressful and we have no idea what else to do!! Add in me at 20+ weeks and worn out at the end of the day and it feels beyond my capacities.
We tend to be pretty conservative spenders in all aspects of our lives, but luckily have a ton of family who is just dying to spend money on our kids. So when we found out the sex of this baby, my mom and my crazy ass MIL both went NUTS and literally bought her a new wardrobe within 48 hours. And then of course if baby girl was getting new things, big brother needed new stuff as well. So now we're overloaded with stuff and trying to move in a week lol. Of course I appreciate it, but it stresses me out at the same time. We were gifted all the big things with DS (which we kept) - carseats, strollers, high chair, rocking chair, monitor, boob stuff, clothes, pnp, rnp, nursery bedding, crib - literally everything. We'll reuse it all with this baby, with the exception of crib bedding (because I want hers to be insanely girly). Only thing we really need to buy is new swaddles, because we only had 2 that I liked with DS.
@BourbonBiscuits other people buying us loads of stuff stresses me out and I don't even have the excuse of moving. It makes me sound incredibly ungrateful but the thought of getting multiples of stuff that I might not even have wanted in the first place makes me really antsy. My MIL, as far as I know, has consulted me before buying anything, and she has just generally been super mindful of my feelings about these things. But GrandMIL has basically told me that she has bought all sorts of stuff but won't tell me what it is. (PS I'm not having a shower.) I am sooooo confident in my decision to stay team green right now.
@hannahbananas11 I'm totally with you, it sounds like we had MMCs around the same time. I hadn't bought any baby stuff, but I did buy some maternity clothes and a book about multiples (I had been expecting triplets) which is now hidden somewhere. I don't think I am going to be buying any baby stuff or really even registering until the third tri even though everything so far looks good. Maternity clothing on the other hand is non-negotiable since I can't fit into any of my trousers. Hugs to you.
We also get tons of shit from the grandparents. We're the only people that will have grandkids on either side (since my brother died and SIL is developmentally delayed). My mom has similar style opinions to DH and I - MIL does not and buys gaudy, terrible shit. But they also have both bought us big stuff (asking what we wanted first).
The biggest problem at this point is honestly the toys. Holy fuck, the toys.
@kayjay44 Haha, I’ve already told my parents, friends and inlaws that toys will have to be approved by us. Especially if they make any type of noise! We’ll see how long until that rule is ignored.
My MIL told us she wanted to take us out for a big shopping spree. Since this is the first grandbaby on either side, everyone’s going a little nuts with stuff. My parents can’t really buy big things since they’re in Norway, but they’re already picking out family heirlooms to bring for the baby. Three of my grandparents died within the last few years (the fourth died a long time ago) so we have a LOT of old family stuff!
My dad is remarried, and the way he is with his wife’s grandkids... Oh boy we really need some boundaries or our apartment will completely overflow.
DS born 2/18/2019 DD born 4/1/2023 Baby #3 EDD 11/21/2024
@grebretso good luck!! Ours will also be the first on either side, I don't even want to think about how much MIL will end up buying (I am particular...), but so far she has surprised me.
We asked for no gifts at my kids party this year - "Your presence is our present". Everyone brought gifts. At least one of my BFFs listened and the other gave us Chick-Fil-A gift cards.
This is just one part of our play area, covered in all the new things that my DS got for his second birthday a few weeks ago (which gifts did not include the Jung book he apparently pulled from the dining room lol). The rest looks same or worse..
@becks_726 and @grebretso if its not someone who will remember what they bought you, you can exchange it at the store for something that is needed for the baby that no one bothered to buy. I had to do that with a lot of stuff. For some reason no one bought me some of the most necessary important things on my registry, so I exchanged ugly/unnecessary things for the important stuff that was missing.
@disneybaby84- I did loads of exchanging too. Since I had a registry at BBB, they were pretty cool about doing exchanges for shelf price of things they carry, even if not on my registry.
My DS gets a new toy every time my mom watches him which is quite often lord help me.
I have most most of my big stuff too from DS but I need a new infant car seat and a double stroller now. I’m still undecided on the stroller (which one to get) but my mom has graciously offered to get that no matter what it is. We need some new infant clothes and towels but that’s about it!
@kayjay44 I am same way about used baby stuff...very neurotic lol I also live in NYC where I feel like everyone and everyTHING has bedbugs hahah
Also want to cry bc I just got chick fil a Cobb for lunch and a few pieces of the chicken were grisly and now my stomach is completely turned. So much for lunch
A lot of Baby Einstein toys have multiple volume controls, off buttons and do more than one language so we like them. We had the first grandchild on DHs side- but they aren't crazy stuff people so it hasn't been nuts. MIL is super crafty so she has made a bunch of stuffed animal, teethy blanket things which is cute. My parents b/c their other granddaughter is a state away did go a little nuts- but all family is good with boundaries on stuff. This one is the first grandson on either side- and my mom has wanted a boy since b4 my sister and I-so I could see them going a little excited on clothing. We are also moving from an apt to house next month, so we finally have space!
TW: 1 infant loss 8/17: Our daughter was born 8/18: Our daughter kicked open heart surgery ass 2/19: We lost our son to Prader-Willi/Paradoxical Vocal Cord/ Noonans at 6wks old 4/26/2020: EDD for baby #3!!!
We have many toys too. I really need to go through and put some away. I have a niece and some friends with girls near DD’s age so a lot of it is hand me down stuff as well as stuff from ILs and my parents. And my husband is a teacher so he has gone WAY overboard on books.
One of my friends actually has commented several times that I have SO many toys and my house looks like a daycare and she also wondered if that many toys can cause ADHD! Ha! This is coming from someone who let their 2yo watch Harry Potter (all of them) since he was a baby and only allows her kid a few toys (they fit in one 2x2 bin) and none of them can make noise.
The toys. Holy fuck the toys. I purge ALL.THE.TIME and it feels like I’m constantly back at square 1. My moms love language is physical crap (look it up - that’s a thing) and she ALWAYS brings new crap into the house every time she visits (few times a week). I do have a rather large “regift” pile and don’t need to buy much for birthday parties that my kids get invited to so that’s a plus.
TimeHop gives me the sads all the time. Lol. On the subject of annoying toys. Thanks for this Christmas stocking gem mom. It’s small in size, not in noise. My current situation.
This is grandchild #6 for my ILs and both of my parents are dead, so we are not being bombarded with all the things, thankfully. We have a smaller house so I don’t really have room.
Today I have pissed my pants, and given myself a bloody lip not once but twice. First time I hit myself in the mouth with a hanger. Second time my dog hopped up while I was about to lick the last bit of a snack off of my fork. Smooth. BUT my H one upped me. He won the dumbass of the day award. This big dork accidentally took a drink of DD’s bubble solution. She asked him to hold her bubbles while she went potty. He had that in one had, cold after work beer in the other, was really into a show he was watching and bam. Highlight of my week.
Timehop gets me all the time - I'm like why do I even have this thing??? haha.
DS tripped and whacked his head pretty good on the tub this morning right before school. He's okay but has a nice line bruise/red mark down his forehead. He was very weepy on the way to school and wanted me to carry him. We're only about a block and a half away from school - he walked most of the way there but then pulled a "throw myself on the floor and not gonna move" move so cue me carrying my big purse, my lunch bag, DS's book bag, and the 35lb toddler. I almost died.
Also, babysitting my aunt's cat while she's away and the cat somehow popped the drain cover off my bathroom sink and hid it somewhere...this morning was fun.
DS woke up after I left (I'm still working crazy hours due to end of quarter) and isn't feeling well and is begging for me. So now I'm trying not to cry at work over it. Being a working mom really sucks hard sometimes.
Adding to all of the "what a great week this has been!" posts: one of my dogs has a huge sarcoma on her hip, and in the last week has started pooping or peeing in the house if we're gone for anything more than 4 hours (she's otherwise been very house-trained for the last six years). The sarcoma, which was diagnosed back in April when it was the size of a marble, is now roughly the size of a basketball on her hip (she's a Great Dane). DH and I are discussing putting her down this weekend.
Re: Weekly Randoms (9/24-9/28)
The biggest problem at this point is honestly the toys. Holy fuck, the toys.
BFP 6.8.2018 EDD 02.18.2019
My MIL told us she wanted to take us out for a big shopping spree. Since this is the first grandbaby on either side, everyone’s going a little nuts with stuff. My parents can’t really buy big things since they’re in Norway, but they’re already picking out family heirlooms to bring for the baby. Three of my grandparents died within the last few years (the fourth died a long time ago) so we have a LOT of old family stuff!
My dad is remarried, and the way he is with his wife’s grandkids... Oh boy we really need some boundaries or our apartment will completely overflow.
DD born 4/1/2023
Baby #3 EDD 11/21/2024
@bellebaby221 - Make sure you drink PLENTY of water. I usually buy a big bottle or two after security and bring it on the plane.
BFP 6.8.2018 EDD 02.18.2019
Work travel. But there should be some time for fun stuff if I'm not too tired from being on my feet at a conference all day.
We asked for no gifts at my kids party this year - "Your presence is our present". Everyone brought gifts. At least one of my BFFs listened and the other gave us Chick-Fil-A gift cards.
BFP 6.8.2018 EDD 02.18.2019
This baby is getting all hand me downs. Sorry, kid.
I have most most of my big stuff too from DS but I need a new infant car seat and a double stroller now. I’m still undecided on the stroller (which one to get) but my mom has graciously offered to get that no matter what it is. We need some new infant clothes and towels but that’s about it!
@kayjay44 I am same way about used baby stuff...very neurotic lol I also live in NYC where I feel like everyone and everyTHING has bedbugs hahah
1 infant loss
8/17: Our daughter was born
8/18: Our daughter kicked open heart surgery ass
2/19: We lost our son to Prader-Willi/Paradoxical Vocal Cord/ Noonans at 6wks old
4/26/2020: EDD for baby #3!!!
One of my friends actually has commented several times that I have SO many toys and my house looks like a daycare and she also wondered if that many toys can cause ADHD! Ha! This is coming from someone who let their 2yo watch Harry Potter (all of them) since he was a baby and only allows her kid a few toys (they fit in one 2x2 bin) and none of them can make noise.
The toys. Holy fuck the toys. I purge ALL.THE.TIME and it feels like I’m constantly back at square 1. My moms love language is physical crap (look it up - that’s a thing) and she ALWAYS brings new crap into the house every time she visits (few times a week). I do have a rather large “regift” pile and don’t need to buy much for birthday parties that my kids get invited to so that’s a plus.
MMC 2.12.11 @ 8w
PVM 5.8.12
GWM 3.17.15
RPM 2.21.19
BFP 6.8.2018 EDD 02.18.2019
DD born 4/1/2023
Baby #3 EDD 11/21/2024
BFP 6.8.2018 EDD 02.18.2019
MMC 2.12.11 @ 8w
PVM 5.8.12
GWM 3.17.15
RPM 2.21.19
DS tripped and whacked his head pretty good on the tub this morning right before school. He's okay but has a nice line bruise/red mark down his forehead. He was very weepy on the way to school and wanted me to carry him. We're only about a block and a half away from school - he walked most of the way there but then pulled a "throw myself on the floor and not gonna move" move so cue me carrying my big purse, my lunch bag, DS's book bag, and the 35lb toddler. I almost died.
Also, babysitting my aunt's cat while she's away and the cat somehow popped the drain cover off my bathroom sink and hid it somewhere...this morning was fun.
BFP 6.8.2018 EDD 02.18.2019
@kayjay44 - Oh no. Poor thing (and you!). Anyway you can FaceTime/ Skype with her to “hold her over”?
MMC 2.12.11 @ 8w
PVM 5.8.12
GWM 3.17.15
RPM 2.21.19
DD born 4/1/2023
Baby #3 EDD 11/21/2024
@danixbanani24 sounds like you and your son had a rough morning! Hope your day gets better. Also what a crazy cat to hide your drain cover like that!
@kayjay44 ugh that is just heart wrenching! Hopefully you can get in some extra snuggles when you get home.