Parenting check in 8/17

[karlamo]

Good Monday!

How was everyone's week?  What's new in the parenting world?

Parenting
kevinandjesse
foodislove
megd893
calsurb
andstilltrying
jazibel
kh826
karlamo
jgy
sherminator
mahler5
wittyandwaiting
kona
strings
mrsnorris
2mrsks (mrs&mrsk)
jennicole
amberreva

QOTW:  2brides got me thinking about cars last week.  What car are you currently driving?  What family car do you WISH you were driving?

[2brides]

We had a great weekend. Spent Saturday at a friend's house hanging out, swimming, and enjoying the beautiful weather. It is a win:win because the kids get to hang out with their BFF and we get to hang out with our BFF - her mother. Sunday we went for a family hike and played in the river for a few hours.

We are off all week for Camp Mom and Mommy. So far we have had a lazy morning, but are going on a family walk in a little while and take the kids to Dave and Busters.

QOTD: I traded in my Jetta when the kids were 2m old and got a used Honda Odyssey (minivan.) I had that until the kids were 4y and the transmission went. I got a used Town and Country (minivan) and still have that - although based on previous posts, I need a new car because I have sunk a lot of money into it recently. I will be getting another Town and Country. From a reliability perspective, I would rather get another Odyssey, but to be in the price range I need to be in, I would need to get a car with 50k miles on it (vs the Town and Country around 20k) - plus I actually like the layout of the T&C better.

We've debated not getting another minivan due to the gas mileage (and I drive a lot with my commute), but we use the 3rd row of seats often and we put down the 3rd row all of the time to haul the kids bikes, etc. I've thought about a large SUV with a 3rd row, but I really like the sliding doors and the easy access to the 3rd row. L has a Civic and we almost never take it anywhere as a family. I actually like diving my minivan - so I don't have issues having one. I often think about what I would (will) drive once I don't have kids at home and I think I am pretty boring - a Prius looks like a good option.

[shemarie82]

The boys will be 15 months on Wednesday. Last week we got to go with the twins when they got their first hair cut on Thursday, #1 was having no part in it, so it is a bit of a mess, but #2 did great until they got around his ears. Either way I am so excited to have been invited to take part. I picked them up on Friday after work and we kept them overnight. Bedtime is a bit tricky since it is so different than at their current placement. #1 sleeps in the room with the foster parents, and #2 sleeps in a room with his two older brothers. When they are with us, it is just them in single rooms. This visit we decided to turn on the radio which seemed to help calm them pretty quickly.

We took them to my ILs and two of B's aunts were there. I think they are all as much in love as I am with these darn kids. My MIL is already talking about having quilts made for them, like she has for all of her other grandchildren. It warms my heart so much.

We are meeting with the birth parents, current foster parents, licensing, and the boys' social worker this Wednesday to discuss the transition of them coming to our house as soon as our license is set. I have the website where it will be posted, I feel like I refresh every 10 minutes waiting for our name to go from pending to active!

QOTW: I have a Ford Fussion and B has a Grand Am. The car seats will not even fit in the back of her car, and it is old, so we will be trading hers in for a SUV sooner than later. She will be doing daycare drop off, so at this point it will be with my vehicle until we can find something for her.

[karlamo]

I've been missing check ins lately.

R is going strong. We bought him new shoes yesterday. He was wearing a 4.5 and when he got refitted, he now is up to a 6! I feel bad that the poor kid had his feet crammed in there.

It was so hot here this weekend that we didn't get to play outside much. We went to the farmer's market on Sat and R got his first taste of frozen lemonade. The kid went nuts over it! We also fed him filet mignon for the first time on Saturday night. Big mistake; we'll never get him to eat any other cut of steak again. I only bought 2 steaks because I was sure he wouldn't like steak. I should have known better. I'm thrilled he likes it because it's something we can now add to our menu. I'm making it again this week for all of us, except this time he's getting his own. I'm not sharing.


QOTW: My wife and I are funny about cars. Neither one of us claims ownership over any particular car. We share them and take/drive whatever car we want/need that day. It works for us.
We bought the new redesigned Rav 4 when my wife was pregnant. We flove it! We spared no expense and got all the fancy bells and whistles that it had. Once I saw that I could close my trunk with a touch of a button, I HAD to have it.
Our other car is a 2006 L.L. Bean edition Forester. It's nice and I like it but it's almost 10 years old and she's starting to show her age. There's a good chance we will pay off the Rav4 in a few months and if that's the case then we may sell the Forrester in the spring. Even with the car being 10 years old we could sell it for about $5,000. The car isn't giving us any trouble but it would be nice to have a new car. I've been looking at the new Outbacks and liking them a lot.

[karlamo]

shemarie82, Those boys must be troopers with having to adjust to sleeping in a different house with a different routine. I really hope that you get the permanent placement soon for them. When they are at your house do they share a room or are they in separate rooms?

You may want to get a sound machine to help them fall asleep. R uses one and it cost $20. It has different settings but we use the white noise button to block out household noise.

[shemarie82]

karlamo, They really are so good! It makes me sad to think of the amount of change that they have had to endure in their short little lives. They are in separate rooms currently, because the foster mom said that they keep each other up from their crying. They are separated only by a wall though, so they can certainly still hear each other. I have thought about a sound machine, I just don't want to buy two of everything until we are sure that they are going to be with us. B keeps reminding me that it is an "if" until they are in our home.

[jgy]

Aug 17, 2015 9:30:24 GMT -5 karlamo said:

shemarie82, Those boys must be troopers with having to adjust to sleeping in a different house with a different routine. I really hope that you get the permanent placement soon for them. When they are at your house do they share a room or are they in separate rooms?

You may want to get a sound machine to help them fall asleep. R uses one and it cost $20. It has different settings but we use the white noise button to block out household noise.

I was going to ask the exact same question, and offer the same advice re: sound machine.  

[karlamo]

jgy, great minds....

shemarie82, you could also download an app on your phone to use. We've done that for when we travel.

[kh826]

William is 14 months.

His eye teeth broke through over the weekend. Saturday was a bit of a rough day due to teething. Poor guy, he woke up with 4 new teeth on Sunday morning. Molars are rough!

He is jibber jabbering away and saying all sorts of new words and phrases.
We have been telling him that there is a baby in Mama's belly, and now if you ask him where the baby is, he points to his own belly! It's adorable.
He totally loves playing with Reese (our dog) these days. The feeling is not always mutual, but she is super patient with him and we are super grateful for that. He has started calling her "pup-pup" even though he can say Reese. It is really cute.
His walking has become a lot more steady over the last week or so, and he doesn't take many breaks anymore (he will run laps for 5+ mins before he sits down!).

It was also super hot here this weekend, so we spent a lot of time inside. This week is going to be just as bad, so I am sure he will be craving some time at the playground as soon as the heat breaks a bit.

QOTW: I drive a Nissan Rogue and J drives a Dodge Journey. Both are 2010 models. I love my Rogue, and I plan to drive it for as long as possible (I think -- and hope -- it has many, many good years still in it). J's Journey on the other hand... I HATE. I can't wait to trade that darn thing. We have our eyes on a Honda Odyssey, and I am hoping we can trade in J's car for that in late 2015/early 2016. We shall see.