@ randoms - week of 1/8

[luv2rn4fun]

((Hugs)) estrellita.

C is now throwing up. Started MOTN and again this morning. We have well baby appointments for both of them today that took 2 months to schedule. I am not going to be thrilled if I have to reschedule. Also so sick of everyone being sick...especially all of this vomit and all the laundry I am having to do. It rained the last two days too so we have been housebound. I was hoping to get out for a good walk today...not going to happen 🙁

[tacocat]

I'm sorry estrellita! Everything is so much worse when you're not getting sleep. I hope the LC appointment goes well and things look up soon.

Hugs luv2rn4fun I hope C's sickness passes soon and everyone in your house is well soon.

DS1 went back to school yesterday. It was much needed for everyone for him to get out and see other kids.

I think we're going to forward face DS1 this weekend. He turned 3 a couple of weeks ago and it's getting more difficult to get him in the car. I just hesitate because he doesn't complain at all about rear facing.

[luv2rn4fun]

Jan 10, 2018 11:20:39 GMT -5 tacocat said:

I'm sorry estrellita! Everything is so much worse when you're not getting sleep. I hope the LC appointment goes well and things look up soon.

Hugs luv2rn4fun I hope C's sickness passes soon and everyone in your house is well soon.

DS1 went back to school yesterday. It was much needed for everyone for him to get out and see other kids.

I think we're going to forward face DS1 this weekend. He turned 3 a couple of weeks ago and it's getting more difficult to get him in the car. I just hesitate because he doesn't complain at all about rear facing.

Thanks tacocat!

C is still rear facing too and doesn’t complain at all. He small so there’s no reason to change it. DH has been wanting to since he turned 2 and I am all like “but why!?! He’s happy, it’s safer!” I hope the transition is an easy one for you! Your C looks so tall compared to my C.

[HoneySpider]

Jan 10, 2018 11:03:36 GMT -5 MrsMB said:

Jan 10, 2018 9:51:11 GMT -5 @opal said:

Anyone else have super active LOs? My 9 m.o. can crawl, use a walker, & pull up with ease. I often just supervise her play from a distance rather than playing with her but I'm wondering if I should be trying harder to play with her, especially educational play. Her motor skills are advanced but her communication skills are around average. Should I be sitting with her going over colours or signs in a game?

People look at me like I'm an idiot, but I talk to mine non-stop. Even in the grocery store, I'm telling them everything I do at every moment. People give me that look, "Oh, they can't understand you!" But DD started talking in full sentences early...so maybe I was onto something. 

Reading to her helped too, I know. 

I think they understand A LOT more than people think!

We do a lot of reading too.

[HoneySpider]

((estrellita))

[Deleted]

HoneySpider & MrsMB
I do that often. I talked to myself before and this is just a less crazy version of it! 😜

[luv2rn4fun]

Jan 10, 2018 11:53:35 GMT -5 HoneySpider said:

Jan 10, 2018 11:03:36 GMT -5 MrsMB said:

People look at me like I'm an idiot, but I talk to mine non-stop. Even in the grocery store, I'm telling them everything I do at every moment. People give me that look, "Oh, they can't understand you!" But DD started talking in full sentences early...so maybe I was onto something. 

Reading to her helped too, I know. 

I think they understand A LOT more than people think!

We do a lot of reading too.

I totally agree with all of this! I have always talked to the boys. Also, when C did speech it was all play based and saying different words and sounds repetitively. I think having this knowledge and experience has helped with L because he tends to talk a lot more (although I basically just let him be a lot when he was 0-6 months old...we read, I talked here and there, but if he was content in the jumper or on the playmat I was also using that time to get something done or attend to C). But I also think he learns a lot just watching C talk and play. They know so much at such a young age- it’s really fascinating to watch!

[estrellita]

luv2rn4fun liked for the hugs, not C being sick. Poor kid, hope he feels better soon!

[MrsMB]

((luv2rn4fun))

[christy082]

estrellita I'm sorry you are having a rough time. I totally get not wanting to spend money on formula and trying everything to nurse (or pump) exclusively.

I know for me, it turned into an obsession (not saying it is for u) and contributed heavily to my postpartum depression and anxiety. I know u know this already but don't forget your mental health is more important for A than breast milk. I know there are many factors at play for u and I hope this doesn't come off as lecturing because that is not my intention at all. Just coming from a place of caring and similar experience.

I hope your LC appointment goes well! Hugs.

[christy082]

Jan 10, 2018 9:51:11 GMT -5 @opal said:

Anyone else have super active LOs? My 9 m.o. can crawl, use a walker, & pull up with ease. I often just supervise her play from a distance rather than playing with her but I'm wondering if I should be trying harder to play with her, especially educational play. Her motor skills are advanced but her communication skills are around average. Should I be sitting with her going over colours or signs in a game?

I think reading to her and talking to her are the best things you can do! I don't think you need anything special, just lots of talking, no matter how mundane or silly it seems, helps!

Though you could get a little book of baby sign language to read and show her. My daughter used some signs before talking.

[bk1]

@opal I'm a big believer in reading. When G was 12 months our library started a 1000 books before kindergarten program. She finished it in 4 months (first finisher) because I just read to her that much. I also sing and talk to the girls constantly. G has always been ahead on language. C (14 months) says "thank you mama" already.

[estrellita]

Jan 10, 2018 12:18:16 GMT -5 christy082 said:

estrellita I'm sorry you are having a rough time. I totally get not wanting to spend money on formula and trying everything to nurse (or pump) exclusively.

I know for me, it turned into an obsession (not saying it is for u) and contributed heavily to my postpartum depression and anxiety. I know u know this already but don't forget your mental health is more important for A than breast milk. I know there are many factors at play for u and I hope this doesn't come off as lecturing because that is not my intention at all. Just coming from a place of caring and similar experience.

I hope your LC appointment goes well! Hugs.

Thank you, I totally know where you're coming from. Especially after having similar issues with E and giving up at 3 weeks and developing some major PPD. But I also barely had any milk at all. At least this time I have enough! I found out some things this time that could have helped me last time so I've been determined (stubborn) to exhaust every resource I have to make this work as best as we can. It just sucks when it's so easy for other people (I know it's not really that easy for everyone but easiER at least) and I feel like I have to work 10 times as hard!

[tacocat]

luv2rn4fun H has really started bringing up switching him since his birthday. I know it's probably fine and lots of kids are switched by now, but it still makes me nervous.

[estrellita]

Thanks everyone! Appointment with the LC went well. A got about 2.5 ounces in the weighted feed so she's doing pretty well, just need to keep working on getting her to be more efficient. She gave me some tips to help my sanity too. If she's nursing for a long time (over a half hour) and/or not really actively nursing anymore, I'm supposed to stop at that point so the whole process doesn't last hours. Also, she said I could drop pumping after one of the overnight feeds so I could get more sleep. I'm happy about that because that's definitely a pain point for me! I set up another follow up in a week so hopefully things improve again. She's gaining weight still, but on the lower end of normal so I'm supposed to keep doing the bottle afterwards. I'm feeling much better after the appointment. Still a bit frustrated and feeling tied to the pump, but better at least. I also ordered bigger pump parts because I think I need to size up. Hopefully that will help too!

[Deleted]

bk1: I'm a huge believer of reading too! (I went to library school) I love reading to her and she likes to pretend read, at least, that's what holding the book and squealing looks like to me.
christy082: We've actually taken out the same book twice from the library of basic signs. We practice them when we remember... Food ones are easy, it's "diaper" and "help" I forget to show her.
I'll take out some books this week on things like colours and shapes to read though, since I really enjoy it.

Thanks everyone. I'll try to be more aware of pointing things out when I talk to her & go back to reading all the time.

[pooh8402]

So, my kid may be the class bully? We had parent-teacher conference yesterday. His teacher told us that he often takes toys away from other kids (which they're working on). Obviously, we discussed their discipline techniques (redirect, time out). And we asked how he reacts when someone else takes a toy away from him. The teacher kind of hesitated, and she was like, "it doesn't happen very often..." I said, oh no, he's the class bully isn't he? She didn't say yes, but she didn't say no either. I'm glad he's moving up so that he will be one of the youngest in the class again, instead of one of the oldest.

I don't know how to work on not stealing toys when we're at home, because there's no one else for him to steal toys from.

[luv2rn4fun]

((Hugs)) pooh8402. C is very much a bully to L. We actually just had his 3 year appointment this afternoon and his pediatrician’s biggest advice was to get him in preschool and see how he does (we are in the paperwork/waiting list process so it’s something we are also wanting to so ASAP). I am hoping that it will help C learn to share better and also to identify feelings when someone does something he doesn’t like (and hopefully connect that L probably feels the same when C does that to him).

Anyways, there are a couple books on sharing that might be helpful...llama llama likes to share, and rainbow fish something or other. Maybe things like that would help? Have play dates with older friends/cousins? Role play with him?

estrellita- glad you had a good and encouraging appointment! Hope things continue to improve and you manage to save your sanity in the process.

So...today’s appointment was rough. Mainly because C vomited on the drive over and it was massive and everywhere. He hadn’t throw up since he woke up so I forgot to pack pretty much everything to help clean up. Thankfully he had a shirt underneath his shirt so he was only “wet” on his shirt (pants were gross). Had to disassemble his entire car seat and clean that when we got home (now need to figure out how to put it all back together).

Pediatrician is happy with most things...validated that a lot of C’s behavior is normal and that he does it because he’s bored and/or wants attention. He advised to ignore/not react but I am finding it hard to accept that especially when he’s hitting, biting, and kicking and even more so when he does these things to L. There has to be a balance between discipline but also not giving him the negative attention at the same time.

He also doesn’t like that I still nurse L MOTN. I wish I didn’t but we have tried many times and he will cry for a good 2 hours before I finally cave and feed him. We all get more sleep this way...but eventually he has to sleep without nursing because I won’t nurse him forever LOL

Overall both boys are doing well and achieving their milestones so that’s good! And L is less than 6 inches and 6 lbs from C...he’s catching up!

[estrellita]

Funny thing from E today according to H: "daddy, you have big boobs? I have little boobs and A has little ones. Mommy has really big boobs!"

/dead

[bk1]

Jan 10, 2018 22:47:55 GMT -5 estrellita said:

Funny thing from E today according to H: "daddy, you have big boobs? I have little boobs and A has little ones. Mommy has really big boobs!"

/dead

When G and I were walking through the store today she told me the bras were too big for her.. then asked if she could have one. 

[awick14]

estrellita- no experience with that age yet but I hope it goes away soon. So many hugs, I can't imagine doing the triple feedings like you are. That would be so stressful. Just remember you only have to do what you can mentally handle.

bk1- I bought some reusable pouches and I have yet to make anything to put in them. Dd didn't seem to like the ones I bought, but I don't know if she just didn't get how to eat from it or if she truly didn't like the flavor/texture. I'm also going to check out the library in our new town to see if they have any similar to your 1000 books before kindergarten program or something similar.

((HoneySpider)) like suzv I expected things to get easier with time (and now DD) but it's not. We are almost at the anniversary of our (5th and last) loss and it's been weighing on me lately)

@opal- I allow DD as much playtime by herself as she will allow. (She doesn't do it that often/long though) Like MrsMB said I talk to her so much, but dh talks to her constantly. He always is describing things to her. (He will never say "Here is your duck" it's always "here is your yellow duck" or something like that.

tacocat- I'm impressed he stayed rear facing so long. My family thinks it's odd that I haven't changed DD yet, at 12 months, as the law here is only 12 months. We will wait until she is at least 2 but I'm hoping for as close to three as possible.

At what age did your LOs start sleeping through the night? (If ever) DD was only waking up once but now it's anywhere from 3-6x a night. It's exhausting.

Also any tips on weaning DD? I don't want to actually wean her but I want to be able to work without pumping. She had her 12 month wellness check today and the doctor said that he sees no problem in either fully weaning her or just weaning enough to stop pumping at work. I would love to be able to only feed her at night and in the morning. It would make life so much easier. (But I don't want to be sore as I can't just take a break at work to do an emergency pump either)

[pooh8402]

awick14, hours often is she nursing now?

Here's what I did. When E was about 9 months old, I started scaling back my pumps (I was very prone to clogs, so I did it very slowly; most women only need like 1 month). And when E wanted to nurse outside of specified times (wakeup, before naps, before bed), I would offer food or a bottle of pumped milk. That was so I could decrease stimulation to my breasts and allow me to decrease pumps at work.

By the time he was a year, I was down to one pump at work, and he was nursing just at those 4 times a day on my days off. After I stopped pumping at work, he was still able to nurse another 6 months, gradually dropping sessions on his own. I did keep a hand pump in my locker just in case I felt painfully full, but never needed it past 15 months.


Oh, and he started STTN once the last of his one year molars was in, so 15 months. If your DD was sleeping well, and now she's not, I would rule out some cause, like teeth.

[awick14]

pooh8402- in currently only pumping once at work. (In a 12 hr day, so it's not too bad.)

Most days I'm off she eats 4-5x. (Morning, lunch, bedtime and one-two middle of the night feedings, I only do 1-2 wake ups other wise she wants to eat every time)

I'm hoping she will be able to feed for another 5-6 months once I stop pumping, in glad you were able to.

You said it took you about a month to get used to it? Right now if I go more then 7-8 hrs then I have to pump because I start to feel sore, so the 12-13 hr stretch seems so far away.

[pooh8402]

Jan 11, 2018 4:24:30 GMT -5 awick14 said:

pooh8402- in currently only pumping once at work. (In a 12 hr day, so it's not too bad.)

Most days I'm off she eats 4-5x. (Morning, lunch, bedtime and one-two middle of the night feedings, I only do 1-2 wake ups other wise she wants to eat every time)

I'm hoping she will be able to feed for another 5-6 months once I stop pumping, in glad you were able to.

You said it took you about a month to get used to it? Right now if I go more then 7-8 hrs then I have to pump because I start to feel sore, so the 12-13 hr stretch seems so far away.

Only once per day is good! If you can, I would shorten that pumping session to just take the edge off, or even just hand express. The last couple weeks before I dropped that final pump, I was pumping at the 8-10 hour mark, and only for 5 minutes.

That's about how often E was nursing at the time I was dropping the pump. I forgot about his MOTN sessions, which was 1-2x/night, so he nursed 4-6x in a 24 hour period, and I was still able to stop pumping.

[Deleted]

awick14: I think that's how I started to struggle. I chat with katiek a lot and her kids prefer to involve her in play. C just wants me to show her the toys, read a couple pages of a book then be on her own for 1/2h-h. She just calls for me if she's bored or stuck.
I am curious about this 1000 books before Kindergarten program. I'm actually joining the Friends of the Library Board in town today so I'll look into there.

On the weaning note, C doesn't like bottles but I want to wean from the breast to just pumping sometime around the year mark. Best time to offer bottle? Obviously it's best if DH can do it but with her bedtime at 5:30-6 right now, usually the only feeds she has after he gets home are bedtime feeds.

[bk1]

G sttn at 6 months. I had no idea how lucky I was.

C started sttn at 11 months. That was when I slept trained her a 2nd time. I was loosing it and couldn't mentally handle the motn wakeup anymore. Thankfully she trained easy. (Again, lucky!)


C only nurses to sleep at bedtime now. We cut out the other nursing sessions in the last weeks. My supply dropped big time when I was last sick and I didn't try to recover it. So she was getting frustrated so I cut the morning and nap sessions.

[MrsMB]

awick14 DD woke up one day (somewhere between 15-18 months) and decided she wanted to sleep through the night. It was like magic. Then at 18 months she looked at me one night and said, "Mama, I'm tired." Shocked, I went to lay her down in her crib, gave her a lovey, then walked out of the room. I must have checked her on the monitors 50 times to see if it was real. Sure enough, she had put herself to sleep. Thank GOODNESS considering that I had her little brother a few weeks later. Now, she DOES have wake ups now with teething or if she's not feeling well....but I'm totally fine with that. I mean, she's one of my babies....we're fine doing what we need to do if she's not feeling well. Of course, DH handles it when she does since I've got little man.

pooh8402 L can be a little bit of a strong personality. (ZERO idea where she gets THAT from.) We started rolling the ball to one another (me, her, and DH). Like I'll have the ball and roll it to her saying, "Lila's turn!" She'll roll it to DH and say, "Dada's turn!" Once she started getting "turns," that made a difference. Supervising her at a child's birthday party, when she tried to hog a slide led to the sharing discussions beginning over the Summer. She had a little bit of an issue with other kids playing with her toys at her birthday party last weekend...but I'm not stressing since she's TWO. She mainly just went over and whined to DH about it. I just kept telling her over and over again how proud I was of her for sharing her toys (acting like I didn't know she ran to DH to complain). I'm hoping all of that reinforces what I'm trying to teach her.

[luv2rn4fun]

awick14- C STTN with a dream feed at 4 months old and truly STTN at 10 months old. I didn’t realize how lucky I was until having L, who has STTN twice and he’s 15.5 months old. He usually wakes up 1-4x/night (mostly 1x but he has some really horrible nights still where we are up all night...I blame teeth even though I give Motrin a lot of the time).

[christy082]

Jan 10, 2018 22:47:55 GMT -5 estrellita said:

Funny thing from E today according to H: "daddy, you have big boobs? I have little boobs and A has little ones. Mommy has really big boobs!"

/dead

Recently while my H was giving C her bath she asked him what her nipples were for, then told him that she wants big breasts like mommy. LOL! 😂

[Deleted]

Jan 10, 2018 22:47:55 GMT -5 estrellita said:

Funny thing from E today according to H: "daddy, you have big boobs? I have little boobs and A has little ones. Mommy has really big boobs!"

/dead

One of the first times I met my MIL we went swimming in the hotel pool with my very young SIL. SIL said to me "You have very big muscles" and points towards my breasts. DH had to hold his breath to keep from laughing. Thankfully my MIL was not paying attention so I just said "Thank you" without navigating the whole "women have breasts" issue.  SaveSave