Parenting Check-In - July 4th

[bexincanada]

What's up?

QOTW:  How did you spend your holiday weekend?

[bexincanada]

Things continue to be exciting over here. Our bug will be six weeks old on Wednesday. We're starting to see some legitimate smiles as opposed to gas.

We had a two hour consult with a lactation consultant on Saturday morning. I have so many feels about it. She gave us a tonne of info. I'm now back to pumping 8-12 times a day, it was OK on the weekend but should be a challenge today as I'm on my own. She also told us that our LO has a tongue-tie and that's what's causing her issues. This launched me into the internet world of tongue-ties and that's not a fun place. A part of me is relieved that there is a biological reason for our issues, another part of me is extremely frustrated at a new biological barrier and the possibility of yet another medical procedure. I'm trying to just keep an even head about it all. We're tracking everything... which is good and bad, how often/how much I pump and how often/how much/what we supplement with. I hope to see some improvements soon - I'm not sure if that will happen without getting the tie corrected, and when that could happen, and if that would be "too late" to correct the compensations she's been doing/if we can re-learn... and if not, the whole procedure would've been for naught. Ack! I don't know what to do.

Our weekend was pretty low key. My in-laws came for the day and we BBQ'ed Saturday. It was a good visit and they enjoyed getting to spend so much time with the little one. Last night we put olive oil on our LO's head, trying to get rid of cradle cap. Suggestions?

P.S. How are you and the boys doing @crazyaunt? I can't even imagine twins... well I can, want you to know I'm thinking of you all and hoping you're well.

[karlamo]

bexincanada, Thanks for starting the check-in. I think 6 weeks is still very early in the scheme of breastfeeding. You should be good with re-training her if need be.


My days have been so busy lately. The boys' are doing well. L is is taking steps on a regular basis, waves good-bye, says "bye-bye" and a million other cute stuff. He has been eating a ton of food lately. We gave him real mac n' cheese and he showed no signs of a reaction. We haven't tried straight up eggs or peanuts yet but my gut says he's not allergic. We plan for him to eat the same foods as R and us anyway but it is good to know that he could eat those things. I made a mistake a few weeks ago by accidently giving R, some of L's baby snacks that had whey in them. Even though R didn't react because it was just a bite before I caught my mistake, I still felt like sh*t for it happening.

R is same-same. He is testing us and is struggling to control his impulses as any 2 year old. I bought some parenting behavior books to help give me more tools to my tool box in how to handle these challenging times. I really wish he were interested in potty training. The diapers are a PITA and I am over them. He will be 2.5 in August, which I know is still well within the normal timeframe for PT, it's just that I'm ready for it.

On the moving front, we are still waiting to sign a PnS. Assuming it all works out we close on both houses July 28th. I am so over all of this already. For the most part everything is bein taken care of. We went with a daycare center this time around. We intended for R to start pre-school in January so it made sense to pick a center that is a pre-school, that way we won't need to switch him come January. L is at a funny in-between age at the center. He'll be in the infant room for all of a hot minute, then he moves up into the next classroom.

Since we are hiring packers and movers, I feel a HUGE weight off my shoulders. We can continue to enjoy the summer. I am getting into my summer routine which consists of lots of outdoor play time. There is a free spray park that is 15 near my house and R loves it!

QOTW: Yesterday and Saturday we spent a good deal outside hiking and playing. Today I'm at work but my wife took the kids to a July 4th Fest in our city. L competed and won a baby crawling contest and R was in a bike parade.

[kona]

We had O's tongue and lip tie clipped at 7 weeks. It definitely made a difference with her latch. There is a dentist about 3 hrs from us who did it with a laser since no one local would do the lip tie.

[Stringy]

Hey bexincanada - we had Ps tongue clipped last week (she was 2 weeks old). It was first evaluated by an ENT and she left it up to us saying she wasn't severely tied- just moderate. So we waited a week (she lost over 10% of weight in her first week) and it was still painful and she hasn't gained much so we got it clipped. Honestly it was no big deal. Like an immunization. I can tell you she has cried longer and harder today (off clusterfeeding day) than she did during/after the super quick procedure. Our doctor said she doesn't do stretching or retraining exercises anymore. So granted P was much younger- she also said she does the procedure anytime up to 90 days old.

It has been better since then. Not perfect but her sucking most def changed. We go get weighed again this week to see if we are up to birth weight now. Just my recent experience...

[2brides]

C has (had) a tongue tie. They said not to clip it if he was feeding ok (which he was) but now he has a pretty significant lisp. His frenulum has stretched over time, but is was still 'tied' when he learned to speak. He's done a LOT of speech therapy and can pronounciate if he REALLY tries and thinks about it, but most of the time he doesn't. If we could go back in time, I would have it clipped.

Things are going well here. Swim is taking up a lot of our time, but we are all enjoying it. G is enjoying swimming, we are enjoying the other parents and friends we've made, and C is enjoying hanging out with the kids and siblings during practice and the meets. I can't believe that it is July and school will be started in less than 7 weeks. This summer is flying by.

We had a crazy busy weekend. Friday - Swim team potluck. Saturday - Away meet (we had to leave the house at 6am!), lunch with other families, and then a birthday/pool party. Sunday - Swim clinic, took the kids to a birthday party at a trampoline place, and BBQ/fireworks at one of the swim team family's house for a BBQ/fireworks. Sunday - L and the other moms took all the kids to see The BFG while I got a pedi and then we met up for lunch. It was pouring so we went home to do some projects we had been putting off and then out to dinner since we haven't been to the grocery store. It was really busy, but fun!

[kh826]

William is 2 & Lucie is 5 months!

We had a nice holiday weekend together.
We went to a wedding on Sunday, and we got some pretty cute photos of the kiddos in their outfits.
William had yellow loafers that I ordered him online. Seriously, it was pretty adorable.
I had to take William away from the ceremony (it was outside) and I played kickball with him in a field across from the ceremony (it was pretty far away and behind a barn, so we were not a visual distraction), because he could not sit and be quiet for the ceremony. So I took him away before they even got started b/c as soon as I sat down with him I could tell it was a no-go. It ended up being fine, and a Dad and his 3 yr old joined us to play ball about 1/2 way through the ceremony (which was long!), because that kiddo couldn't sit quietly either.

Yesterday afternoon we played outside in William's water table and kiddie pool on our deck. He had a good time, and it wasn't too hot or sunny, so Lucie sat with us for a while out on the deck too. It was really nice. I love our new house.

William is definitely challenging. His listening skills leave something to be desired. He often intentionally does things he knows he shouldn't. He has shattered 3 dog bowls in the last 3 weeks (we have not moved to stainless steel and plastic dog bowls). He has a lot of fears at the moment (fear of the big bath tub -- needs to be bathed in the baby tub that is placed inside the big tub; fear of walking down the stairs -- always wants to be carried, he is super cautious; fear of overwhelming/large party type situations -- he gets easily overwhelmed by lots of people). It is challenging, but everything that I read tells me that this is a pretty common stage for a lot of kids. He is super articulate, and tells us when he is scared or overwhelmed and why. At this point, he is newly 2, and I am not going to push him to overcome his fears if he isn't ready. So when something scares him, we pretty much don't make him do it. That might come back to bite us, but right now that is what we are doing. He also seems to be going through this phase where he hates having his diaper off. It really freaks him out. He really dislikes diaper changes and getting undressed for bath time. He asks a million times to put his diaper back on and gets upset if he feels like we aren't rushing to get it back on. He is a very sensitive kiddo, and he is very tentative and cautious. In summary, he is my kid ten thousand percent. I see sooooooooo much of myself as a child in him. I was the scare-dy cat that was afraid to go down the slide. I was the kid that lost it when I fell in mud during recess and the school had to call my mom to bring me clean clothes because I couldn't get it together... oy!

On the other hand, he is sweet and funny and SO darn smart. He has entire books memorized and will repeat them to us word-for-word. He is so affectionate and cuddly. He LOVES Lucie so much, it is amazing.

Lucie has two bottom teeth poking through her gums as of Sunday!!!
She is a wiggle worm and rolls all over the room and hates to be contained.
She is so happy the vast majority of the time, and she thinks William is magical. She just stares at him endlessly.
J texted me earlier that she put Lu down for her first solo nap upstairs this morning using the monitor. She is growing up so fast!!!

[cetcar]

M is about 5.5 months old. As I said in our TTT, she's been doing great with all of our travel recently. She's been going with the flow. But I am worried she either getting her first cold or has allergies. She is coughing periodically and it doesn't sound as dry as it did. I think I'm a worrier. Any advice for baby coughs? Her nose isn't running.

It looks like we're getting close to her being able to sit up. She can do it for a few extended seconds unassisted then she will start to lean over.

We took some pictures of her and some family pictures on the 4th. They are adorable! We were given two outfits for the holiday and they are so cute. If this was more of a private board, I would post them.

She's been taking some long naps on the beach. We're under this UPF tent so much that I've been joking that I don't even need to wear sunblock. She has looked at the water but hasn't touched it yet. It's cold. The first time she looked a little concerned. There's a lot to take in.

It's just the cutest when she will smile at you from across the room. She's such a smiley and giggly baby.

[bexincanada]

Thanks to everyone for posting about your tongue tie experiences. I'd honestly never heard of it, so it's great to hear ao many folks comment about their experiences and how it's no big deal to have the procedure.

Today is flipping hot. We went to the midwives and Is weighed in at 9lbs. 4oz! She's 6 weeks today. I hope the LC doesn't consider that weight overfeeding. It's 8 oz in one week. I think she's just making up for lost time. I, on the other hand need to start lifting 10lbs. weights... I feel like a weakling.

We might go to the mall in a bit. I hate the mall but it will mean getting out of the basement (way too hot upstairs) again and there are books and cute baby clothes there, so there's that.

[bexincanada]

Kh, I love hearing you describe William and Lu's relationship... even from before she was born, it's too flipping adorable.

[cetcar]

bexincanada, we had some warm days a few weeks ago and some of our friends with kids went to the mall until 8pm since they don't have air at home. So, good thinking! Also, M gained like 7oz from Monday to Thursday when we first brought her home. We met with the LC Monday then had a weigh in on Thursday. She hasn't continued to gain at that same rate but the LC was impressed.

We took M to the clinic here this morning. Her lungs, pulse/oxygen, ears, and mouth were all fine. The doctor thinks it's either allergies or a cold. Her eyes have been watery and her nose just started to drip. Her cough seemed worse this morning. We really notice it if she's reclined or after she eats. I feel so bad. It's her first cold/allergy. The doctor recommended the 2+ month Zarbees and Tylenol if we need it. So, we're picking some up. Also, going to try a steam shower tonight. I would much rather be the one sick than M. Plus side our insurance worked! Only had to pay our usual $20 copay.