It's practically Friday, right?

[cetcar]

What's up for the rest of the week and weekend? How are you all feeling?

(P.S. If anyone else wants to share Christmas cards, sign up today. I'll send out a private message tonight.)

[kona]

M's mom is coming Saturday morning to watch O so hopefully we can start wrapping. We bought almost everything online. There is literally a big pile of boxes in our basement because as the packages arrived, they got dumped in the basement.

I'm really glad I don't have to work this weekend, although I will probably work my 2nd job tomorrow afternoon. I'm hoping to get to yoga both Saturday and Sunday morning.

I'm feeling pretty good with where we are with presents. I am really glad that we started early this year. I need to get a few things for M's stocking and we have a few friend gifts left to buy but we probably won't see them until after Christmas anyway.

[2brides]

Christmas cards were just delivered to the house (thank you, FedEx text!) I hope to get at least half addressed tonight after the kids go to bed. We typically send out 100 or so. kona, We also have a HUGE pile of boxes on our dining room table begging to be wrapped. I think we are done except for some stocking stuffers for the kids.

L is working late tonight. Friends invited us to go to a nearby town for an event where all the stores are open late, there is live music, and lights. But 1) it's been a crazy week and 2) it is outside and and supposed to be in the single digits tonight and is on the water with a breeze. No, thank you. I hope to have everyone in bed early.

This weekend is busy. Holiday work happy hour tomorrow night, G has a swim meet Saturday AM from 7:30am-12:30 where L and I are both volunteering. Home to bake cookies for cookie swap. Sunday L is taking the kids to church and I am going shopping for the kids my office is sponsoring for the holidays. Santa pictures and then the cookie exchange at the neighbors.

[mahler5]

The kids and I are going out of town this weekend to see some of my family. I'm super excited as we haven't seen my sisters for over a year and C doesn't even remember them. I'm excited for them to meet E.

I got holiday pics done but I haven't ordered cards and probably won't. The pics are just of kids so it might not be that weird to send them out with the separation. But I'm also trying to save money because of separation. I was really good the last few years at getting them out, and I feel sort of crappy not continuing to do so.

I took C and E to mall. C was difficult most the time. She didn't want to ride carousel so we went to indoor playground and Barnes and noble. She wanted this book really bad but I already bought her an ornament so told her she would just have to ask Santa. Big mistake. Then she wanted to go ask Santa right away, and since he said hi to her on his break walking around the mall she knew he was around. So I thought we might as well go see Santa even though he's not the free Santa and she had mac and cheese on her shirt. So when we got to Santa she was so scared of him she wouldn't even get out of the cart. Do then after playground I told her we had to leave and she had a fit I wouldn't let her ride the carousel even though I asked her twice before. So I get out to the car and she is still screaming and it's freezing, and she won't get out of the cart. The poor baby is crying too. By the time I get C in the car E has cried herself to sleep.

Now we are back home and C is asleep on my bed and E is asleep on my chest after nursing

I feel bad for E. Being the 2nd with a demanding older toddler sibling can be rough. Plus with the separation they don't get as much individual time at times. But I'm still convinced it's for the best.

I was a little surprised at C's tantrum. She hasn't done that for awhile. Granted she's not 3 yet, but she does seem to throw more fits since separation. I think partly because I've let up on discipline a bit because of all the changes and the guilt. So then when I put my foot down she throws a fit.

Overall she's adjusting well though. I just need to get back in routine with everything, including discipline.

Anyway, didn't mean to go on and on. Hope you all have a good weekend!

[JustJudy]

kona, Yoga two days in a row sounds magical. Good luck with the wrapping! I need to get on that too.

2brides, This weekend is busy for you all! But it sounds fun. Enjoy it.

mahler5, I don't know personally, but anecdotally there does seem to be correlation with kids behavior and life changes. I'm sure things will calm down soon, adding in the holiday likely isn't helping. You're a great mom and your kids know it.

I'm just hanging out still on bed rest. Though I have to go in to work next Monday for a few hours. I have a desk job so it's not like I'll be running a marathon, but I can't miss this meeting. J is sick of the bedrest thing, I'm trying to do light housework, but I know she's really frustrated. The bleed is getting smaller though, and baby is just floating around in there unaware of what's next to her. So I'm going to keep on keeping on.

We have the best neighbors, they're making us dinner tomorrow night bc they heard about what's going on. I love them.

[rikkiandjulie]

We are so so behind this year on holiday stuff. I addressed all the Christmas cards, yesterday, and I don't have any left to send out to anyone in this group, so here is ours.

We have more boxes laying around the house than ever. 1/2 are from all the online shopping I did and Christmas presents and the other half are from the baby shower. We also need to send out thank you notes!

Have I mentioned how expensive stamps are?! Seriously. Blowing my mind.

We don't much going on this weekend thank goodness.

Julie put in her two weeks at her part time job so we can wrap stuff up here before the baby comes. Can't believe it's happening so fast, June feels like yesterday.

[2brides]

mahler5, Yes, evidence shows that life changes, sometimes big and sometimes small, affect kids behaviors. Between the move and the separation, C has had some big life changes recently - not to mention 2y olds aren't known for moderating their emotions well. But the great thing is, that pretty soon this will become her new normal and things should even out - except for those pesky toddler/preschool tantrums which most (all?) kids have.

Toddlers suck sometimes. Sorry it was a hard night at the mall. Hopefully, next time will be better.

[bexincanada]

I can't believe next weekend is Christmas. We're prepared but it seems like time is flying by. There has been a ton of snow here... we have spent a lot of time shoveling.

[bexincanada]

Feeling heartbroken. Is is upstairs wailing with Heather. I'm trying to let Heather and her work it out more with soothing but it breaks my heart to hear her cry when I know I could comfort her and she'd be content. Am I doing the right thing??? We don't subscribe to CIO, my goal is to have H. be able to do bedtime, but she's not always home so it's not consistent and the past month she screams bloody murder for a half hour before H. can get her to sleep. During the week I find myself hoping H will be home after Is is in bed just because I know it will go smoother, even though my body is sore from all the stand up rocking (we've created a fun sleep association there). I just don't want to spoil this time when we could be bonding (either she and I or H. and her.)

Ahhhhh... sorry for rambling.

[mahler5]

Dec 17, 2016 18:03:26 GMT -5 bexincanada said:

Feeling heartbroken. Is is upstairs wailing with Heather. I'm trying to let Heather and her work it out more with soothing but it breaks my heart to hear her cry when I know I could comfort her and she'd be content. Am I doing the right thing??? We don't subscribe to CIO, my goal is to have H. be able to do bedtime, but she's not always home so it's not consistent and the past month she screams bloody murder for a half hour before H. can get her to sleep. During the week I find myself hoping H will be home after Is is in bed just because I know it will go smoother, even though my body is sore from all the stand up rocking (we've created a fun sleep association there). I just don't want to spoil this time when we could be bonding (either she and I or H. and her.)

Ahhhhh... sorry for rambling.

It's so hard to know what to do sometimes. She will be ok either way. If she learns to self soothe more with H then maybe bedtime will be easier or sleep will be better in long run. As long as you are getting decent sleep I wouldn't worry about it too much. But it's easy to say and harder to listen to the crying.

The inconsistency may be hard at times but she will likely not always have the same person putting her down either.

I'm rambling now. Hope it goes better!