Parenting Check-in (April 6)

[karlamo]

Good Monday Morning!

How is everyone doing after the holiday weekend of Passover and Easter?  Any new updates or challenges you are facing?

Parenting
kh826
karlamo
jgy
sherminator
mahler5
wittyandwaiting
kona
strings
mrsnorris
2mrsks (mrs&mrsk)
jennicole
amberreva

QOTW:  Now that the temps around here are getting warmer, it has me thinking of fun summer plans.  Anyone like me, and already planning your summer vacation or weekend trips?

[kh826]

William is 10 months old!

Please add us to the list of parents dealing with a kiddo who is cutting molars! J actually was able to feel one of the bottom ones starting to poke through before Will tried to bite her. He has been having a hard time at night, and we ended up giving him teething tablets and Tylenol the last three nights. Last night he did STTN, but it took him 1hr15min to go to sleep and he was pretty miserable. The two nights before he was up around 2 or 3 am and struggled to go back to sleep. Lots of rocking and holding until he was in a deep enough sleep to lay back down. Poor little bugger has been gnawing on anything he can stick in his mouth, and he has been holding the sides of his face -- it's super sad. I am hoping these molars come in sooner than later. I hate it when he is uncomfy.

Other than our molar teething struggles, we had a good weekend. Will and I went out for a while on Saturday (Target, grocery store, etc.), while J stayed home and did some house work. It gives Will and I some 1:1 time, it helps us get our errands done, and it gives J some kid-free time to putter around the house and do some things that she feels she can never manage to get done with Will during the week. So it is a win-win. We don't do it every weekend, but 1-2 times a month we will have a Momma & William day and Mommy stays home and cleans or does other things around the house. It seems to be working for us. So that was Saturday.

Yesterday, we went to J's parents' house for Easter. Will had a good time hanging out with his grandparents, Aunt and Uncle, and a few other people who were there. He did a great job eating dinner with us. He loved the baked sweet potatoes that my FIL made. They seemed to be a new favorite.
My MIL bought him a push toy for Easter so that he can practice walking. He has pulled himself up on it, but hasn't quite figured out that if he pushes it he can take steps with it. He is still taking steps holding onto our hands (3-5 steps at a time), but he is super wobbly. He has been cruising on furniture and shuffling his feet from side to side to move along the couch, etc. We shall see when he feels brave enough to let go!

He loves clapping! It is his new favorite trick. He seems very proud of himself when he claps, and he seems to do it to indicate that he is happy about something pretty much every time. If Moms are silly and sing him a song that he likes - he claps. If he eats yummy food that he likes - he claps. If he pulls himself up on the couch, he looks proud and claps. Last night I asked him if he wanted to read a book and he clapped - I took that to mean yes HAHA.

QOTW: Yes! We have several things planned for Spring and Summer, and I totally can't wait. The weekend of May 22nd, my sister is graduating from college. We are going to Boston for a 4 day weekend for that. I am hoping to squeeze in some fun outdoor time while we are there if the weather is nice. Then two weeks later is William's bday and his bday party. His actual bday is on a Thursday and his party is that Saturday. I have taken off that Thursday and Friday, and Thursday we have decided to have a "Will-Adelphia" day. We live in Philadelphia, but we don't often do a ton of things in the City. We are planning to do some fun City things on his bday including museums, lunch in the park, etc. Then the next day we will prep for his party and my family is flying in. It will be a busy weekend, but I am really looking forward to it. THEN, just a week after that is our week-long Myrtle Beach vacation with J's family. It will be William's first plane ride. I am nervous, but excited. We have already purchased him a bathing suit and a few other things for the trip. I can't wait to introduce him to waves and sand! It is going to be great. I also have a 3-day weekend for the 4th of July. We don't have plans yet, but I would like to come up with something fun for us to do. That is as far as I have gotten with Spring/Summer planning so far, but we have enough going on in the next two-to-three months that should keep us busy for a while!

[amberreva]

Parenting Emerson a 1 month old where has the time gone. I think E is about/going through a growth spurt she is eating ALL the time and is cranky when she isn't eating. We had one decent nights sleep but the last couple days she has been getting up every 2 hours to eat at night again. She is becoming more and more alert. During her alert times I read to her and have been working on tummy time until she gets frustrated with it. She also seems to have a bad case of baby acne we have her one month checkup on Wednesday so will ask the pedi about it.

[2mrsks (mrs&mrsk)]

Rory is 5w old

He is eating a lot and only sleeping for one 5hr stint then fussy the rest of the night/day. We had had good sleeps for a while prior. I think this is his 2nd growth spurt.
We have baby acne too.and heat rash if he's in the carrier too long
Ugh I'm back to work next Monday. Dw is home now for 12 wk (fmla)
Easter was good except for a ruined outfit and no sleep the night before =no church lol

Plans!!! We have a few date nights planned , a few outings with kids (baby animal day, pride parade!, etc) and a camping trip with the whole family (well DWs side plus my mom &sister) in august

[amberreva]

2mrsks (mrs&mrsk) I am hoping it is the 5 week growth spurt/ wonder week. It is constant feedings and cranky baby in-between.

[wittyandwaiting]

DS is 13!!! I am a teenagers Mother!!!! He's actually been 13 for a while but it blows my mind every time I write or type it. Right now we're having lots of future planning discussions as he moves into high school and talking a lot about choices. It's tough when they get older and you can't be there for every little (or big) decision but I'm proud that we have the type of relationship where we can talk about things.

I really haven't thought of summer much. TBH it will depend where we are at with TTC #2. We are total beach bums so definitely some beach time.

kh826 - that one on one time is the best! DS and I still do that.

[karlamo]

R is 13 months.

He is at the stage where every week he is learning something new. I have to say that this time right now is my favorite time with him. He is exploring new things and walking everywhere. I now am seeing what parents of older kids mean when they say it gets easier as they get older. He can feed himself with little help, drinks from a sippy and a straw and is adding new words to his voabulary weekly.

We like going out to eat and do it a lot. R does great at restaraunts and loves people watching. He stalks people really. Lucky for him he is adorable and people love engaging with him.

Now that the temps are getting warmer for us, 50's, we are outside playing more. On Friday R went and got his shoes from the shoe rack and went to our sliding glass door that leads to the backyard and started banging on it to go out. Very cute and helpful to know what he wanted without whining.

QOTW: In May we are vacationing with 2 other lesbian couples, one of which as 2 kids that are very close to R's age. We are already planning on watching each others kids so we all get couple alone time. 6 moms with 3 kids on vacation seems the way to go for me! We also are planning some weekend trips to Maine and P-town.

[mahler5]

C is 13 months!

She sometimes drops her morning nap now but when she does she is cranky. Yesterday at church was a prime example but she tolerated the nursery during the service at least. She does not want to hold still. We were waiting in line for church brunch and I had to put her down and let her run around or she would start screaming. I'm sure I am teaching her if she screams she gets her way but it don't know what else to do and I want her to run around generally but at church isn't always the best place for that!

She is still talking a little more slowly. She will say new sounds or words one day and the next day she goes back to saying her old words only.

Oh and she loved hunting for Easter eggs yesterday once she figured out they made noise when you shake them and had crackers inside. Although we generally had to open them for her

She is starting to grow out of some clothes too. And her hair is getting longer. I feel like I should do more with it. Maybe put a bow in it but she doesn't like hats so I have generally avoided bows and hair bands. Personally I'm definitely not the girlie type (although not really butch either) but I don't mind dressing my daughter a little girlie at times. And other times we dress more neutral. I think it's fun to dress her in different types of clothing. But I feel inept when it comes to the hair stuff. I'm sure I'll figure it out.

QOTW-- we are going to LA in July for the world special Olympics. My brother is competing. I also used to live there so it will be good to be back after 10 plus years. And we can show C the ocean for the first time. We are in the middle of the Midwest, so we don't get to the beach often. One of my grandmas never saw the ocean. Which I though was sad but by the time she was older she didn't really have the desire to.

I am a little nervous about flying with c. Getting car seat installed in a rental car. Having C dart out in traffic etc. The last thing could happen here too but we aren't around busy streets often. Anyway, it will probably be stressful traveling with her but totally worth it!

[jennicole]

DS is 21 months.

We're at my parents house in VA on vacation for a couple of weeks. This is the first time DS is meeting my dad, so it's very special to me.

We almost didn't even come when my mom told me DS would be forward facing in his car seat while we were here (yeah, she went there). I flipped and told her she was way out of line. We still rear face and DS will continue for quite some time. She said some hurtful things but eventually (I think) she realized I'm the parent and turned the seat around.

SO is home with the fur babies since she didn't have the vacation time. It works out though since we have a super long list of small renovations she could start and/ or finish.

DS is having a blast playing with my niece (my brother and SIL's daughter) who is two months younger. She's more advanced verbally than DS but he surpasses her with his fine motor skills. It's hilarious watching the two of them run around

Yesterday we had a blast with the toddlers. New toys, bubbles, an egg hunt and crazy sugar highs were on the agenda. Bubbles were the biggest hit of them all!

QOTW: I'm not sure if we're going to plan more than this vacation. Since SO has no vacation time we're pretty limited. I'd love to take DS to pride this year but I know that hotels are already booked. Maybe next year ::sigh::

[Deleted]

This was hell week, since DS was on spring break, and I worked so less sleep,etc. We got thru it and had a happy easter weekend! It was hard. Now only 4 more days of work till vacation. I cant wait to live like normal people, more than anything else. The happiest of days came today however when we were out in the barn and DS announced he wanted to ride my horse! Not common. No pressure, but I want him to ride more than ANYTHING, so total success! Super happy. We dont have summer plans, but I do want some mini get aways if only for an overnight.

[karlamo]

Apr 6, 2015 14:25:09 GMT -5 jennicole said:

DS is 21 months.

We're at my parents house in VA on vacation for a couple of weeks. This is the first time DS is meeting my dad, so it's very special to me.

We almost didn't even come when my mom told me DS would be forward facing in his car seat while we were here (yeah, she went there). I flipped and told her she was way out of line. We still rear face and DS will continue for quite some time. She said some hurtful things but eventually (I think) she realized I'm the parent and turned the seat around.

SO is home with the fur babies since she didn't have the vacation time. It works out though since we have a super long list of small renovations she could start and/ or finish.

DS is having a blast playing with my niece (my brother and SIL's daughter) who is two months younger. She's more advanced verbally than DS but he surpasses her with his fine motor skills. It's hilarious watching the two of them run around

Yesterday we had a blast with the toddlers. New toys, bubbles, an egg hunt and crazy sugar highs were on the agenda. Bubbles were the biggest hit of them all!

QOTW: I'm not sure if we're going to plan more than this vacation. Since SO has no vacation time we're pretty limited. I'd love to take DS to pride this year but I know that hotels are already booked. Maybe next year ::sigh::

This is being disussed on my BMB right now.  Everyone is pretty set on waiting at least until they are 2. Some even have waited till 3.
I think our parents still follow the 70's and 80's parenting style.   My mother was surprised to hear they do anatomy scans "nowadays".  She gave birth with to twins without her or her doctor knowing about it. Yeah...

[jennicole]

Apr 7, 2015 9:02:41 GMT -5 karlamo said:

Apr 6, 2015 14:25:09 GMT -5 jennicole said:

DS is 21 months.

We're at my parents house in VA on vacation for a couple of weeks. This is the first time DS is meeting my dad, so it's very special to me.

We almost didn't even come when my mom told me DS would be forward facing in his car seat while we were here (yeah, she went there). I flipped and told her she was way out of line. We still rear face and DS will continue for quite some time. She said some hurtful things but eventually (I think) she realized I'm the parent and turned the seat around.

SO is home with the fur babies since she didn't have the vacation time. It works out though since we have a super long list of small renovations she could start and/ or finish.

DS is having a blast playing with my niece (my brother and SIL's daughter) who is two months younger. She's more advanced verbally than DS but he surpasses her with his fine motor skills. It's hilarious watching the two of them run around

Yesterday we had a blast with the toddlers. New toys, bubbles, an egg hunt and crazy sugar highs were on the agenda. Bubbles were the biggest hit of them all!

QOTW: I'm not sure if we're going to plan more than this vacation. Since SO has no vacation time we're pretty limited. I'd love to take DS to pride this year but I know that hotels are already booked. Maybe next year ::sigh::

This is being disussed on my BMB right now.  Everyone is pretty set on waiting at least until they are 2. Some even have waited till 3.
I think our parents still follow the 70's and 80's parenting style.   My mother was surprised to hear they do anatomy scans "nowadays".  She gave birth with to twins without her or her doctor knowing about it. Yeah...

My parents have the mentality 'it didn't kill you so it won't kill him.' So many things have changed since the 80's and they don't seem to understand they're safety issues now. It also doesn't help that my brother and his wife turned my niece when she was 10 months old. They think I'm being overprotective and told me I'll have to let him out of the bubble eventually. If I ever do this to DS when he has kids I'm going to give him full permission to slap me out of it.

[kona]

Olivia is 8 months

I've stated this numerous times but she just won't sleep. She is SO busy. I'm too tired to write much else. She is a lot of fun when I can enjoy her.

We have a low key week planned in Lake Placid with my sister and her wife. I'm looking forward to this very much. I miss my sister now that they are 10 hours away and we trust them with O so hopefully we will finally get some couple time. And it may be our only vacation before one of us is pregnant again.