April/May 2008 MOMS (all others are welcomed too)

[Cocoa]

Hey Girls...
I guess I am bumping us up writing here today... I cannot believe our 4 day weekend is just about over but my sweet babies had their very FIRST Thanksgiving!!! We had a great time with family and my DH made a decision to be there with us even though it meant he had to rearrange some things... I told him it was his decision but I wasn't cutting short my visit with family for him and his "stuff." I hate that the days fly by and that time with family is over before it nearly begins... I can hardly believe my sweet babies are 8 months old next Thursday!!!

So baby boy got his two bottom teeth breaking through before baby girl but now they both have two bottom teeth growing in - he got his first Nov 10th and she got her first Nov 20th. They are both 20+pounds and growing out of everything. I have to get 12months size clothes. They should have 9-12 mos instead of 6-9months so I could buy better fits.

Baby girl has had a head cold for about 5 days now - poor baby... The doctor checked her on Wed - no ear or chest involvement THANK GOD! but it is hanging on...

We got our fresh Christmas tree yesterday. DH came and we cut it down and it is now standing in the living/family room. When the babies awaken from their nap we'll start to decorate - lights first. Its raining a light freezing rain so I made the decision to forego church due to baby girl's cold. Don't want to go out. My frefrigerator has been NOT working since a week before Thanksgiving and now that the part is in I have to wait until TH for the repair guy again... One thing after another... also deep cuts in my department so I may get transferred (this is where tenue has its benefits - I keep a job!

BabyB - I totally get your plight... It happened to me at 32!!! then my DH informed me he wanted a divorce at 37 - no more kdis???!!! Everything that has happened since has happened because God caused it to happen. I will pray that you can use your own eggs and complete your family... I love you...

WC... any more than 30" and your play yard will be useless to you because it would be liek a cage and that's not what you want. Believe me 30" is WAYYYYY tall enough...

Glad to be hearing from you all. BabyB please keep us updated about your progress.

BTW - Michelle is 21 weeks pregnant (sciteacher77) and LisaPa is 4 weeks behind her...

xxxCocoa

[woodcliff]

Hi Ladies!!! I hope everyone is doing well...

Cocoa, your holidays sounded lovely...wishing you a 'cool' fridge and a smooth transfer, if that is what ends up happening. Yes, tenure is good in this day and age--and always!

Babyb: Wishing you the best in your journey. How exciting that you are going to have more children...
I am beside myself with joy that Lisa and Sciteacher are both pregnant! What gifts...

Rebecca! Wow...how is it to be back in the UK? It sounds like a lot of running around to get settled in..moving is no fun...your girls sound delightful...this age is the BEST!

Stage 3 foods, I'm not keen on yet...my babies are 8 mos on Wed (one day before Cocoa's)...lil girl has 3 teeth, my son has nada...
they are so adorable...she is scooch crawling (yikes) and can really move...he rocks and rocks on all 4s then says 'nah, later, mom' and flops on his belly.
They laugh and giggle ALL DAY LONG.
They have outgrown 12 month clothing and, alas, are in 18 mo...which of course is too long (footies) but it's so cute...
2 weeks ago, he was 30" and she was 28" long...it's the length that gets us into the larger clothing, not the weight!

We had the best possible holiday...
I have an au pair...FINALLY. She's really, really good...I am so happy...it took a long time to choose her, then I had a sitter train her for 2 weeks, so she does the kitchen, babies' laundry, ALL of the babies' stuff (stocks diapers, cleans their room, etc etc)...it's wonderful, and cheap compared to a nanny.

OK...I must run. Vlada, I owe you my blog spot! I'm sorry..I am soooo behind and NEVER online except to update my blog.

Sooooo...if anyone wants the blog address pls PM or email me...

[Mandy J]

Hi Ladies,

Ellie has had a miserable few days, she has her first cough and cold and had a really high temperature going up to 39.7 at one point, she has done nothing but sleep for the past couple of days, today there seems to be an improvement with her showing an interest in milk, although she is still off her food. Its just a shame there is nothing to give them other than Calpol to make them feel a bit better, I just wanted to take her misery away, but nothing I could do but comfort her and wait.

We put our Christmas decorations up today, I have never put them up this early before, Ellie loves the twinkling lights on the tree, having been with DH for 20 years, Christmas has never been a huge issue, this year I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!! I am just soooo excited, I know Ellie won't understand yet but its going to be just such a special time for all of us new Mums & Dads.

I am still making Ellies food, I usually pcik 2 purees i.e. Parsnip and sweet potato and then mix with something lumpy like Lentils or minced chicken, I then make it runnier with either formula milk or Chicken stock. I usually do a huge batch of each vegetable and puree and put into ice cube trays, so that I have individual portions. She loves cream cheese added to anything, garlic bread and rice cakes!

I'm certainly not against her trying things like chocolate pudding etc, bt haven't got around to it yet, for dessert she usually has fromage frais or pureed fruit. I did try her on Jelly, she seemed to like the flavour but it kinda just bounced right back out of her mouth!

I am needing something to keep Ellie entertained but fairly contained, when I take her to work with me each Thursday, At the moment she isn't crawling but soon will be, my Mum saw a 'Saucer play thing???? Do any of you know what these are and if they are any good?

Anyone done all their Christmas shopping yet? Hoping to get mine done later this week if Ellie is feeling up to a trip out, its bitterly cold here in UK right now, so snowsuits prepared!

BabyB good luck with your plans, I really wish you all the luck and love in the world for you to achieve your dreams to add another member to your family. x

Mandy
x

[woodcliff]

Mandy, I hope Ellie gets well very soon!

Yes, it's called an Excersaucer here in the States...my twins love theirs...they also like the jumperoo.
But you're not supposed to keep them in either toy for long periods, something about hip development? Don't know precisely, but we have a 15 minute rule here...I do know lots of people keep their babies in for long periods...

good luck...

[kipatte]

Happy Hollidays Everyone:

Babyb I wish you all the luck. It will happen.
Cocoa, glad you enjoyed the hollidays. It does go so quick. We cooked Thanksgiving dinner for our British friends. Brits love American's cooking this dinner for them!

Stephie is 7 months and pulled herself into a standing position for the first time yesterday. Since she is crawling everywhere I have to put her in a play area now. I would prefer just to let her explore but it's too dangerous with the tree now.

We traveled with Stephie to Brussels for 3 days. It's harder now because she does not like being in her pram for that long a time. She is sleeping well in travel cots though.

Everyone tells me she will be walking by 8 months. That seems so soon to me. She is very well balanced with crawling, sitting up, and pulling up so maybe she will crawl soon. She loves to stand up! She tried to pull herself up on everything.

Love to all,

kipatte

[Cocoa]

HEY GIRLS!!! I am finally on-line here and signed in so I figured I would write!!!

So... both babies have had a terrible cold this week - its actually a little funny as baby boy - who LOVES to hear himself scream - has lost his little voice and has been trying, with no luck to scream... Its really very funny you know - watching him try to scream and be heard and nothing coming out... There was one advantage though, I was able to "sleep" through his crying at 3am and he finally learned to fall back to sleep on his own since I wasn't so unnerved by his usually VERY loud screams at night - so I used his lost voice to my advantage - does that make me a bad mom ? He is sleeping right now and we will see how he does tonight with self-soothing. They have to sleep through the night at SOME point right?

So I heard today that no one will be moving jobs in my department so THAT was great news!!! I am still in so much debt though so I may be broke for the rest of the school year - that's sad... The gas prices went down but food hasn't and I cannot believe they can get away with the prices they charge. This economy had better get itself straightened out.

So Thanksgiving in Britain must have been an experience Kipatte HUH? I would think that pretty much everyone would like Thanksgiving meal. We had really good food and I have gained probably 6 pounds lately - I have my "twin belly" again - I will just have to add another mile to my routine each night when I walk the dog.

So there are babies sitting up, pulling up and STANDING UP out there already?!?!? My babies still topple over when sitting and don't even reach up much less pull up - they are not even crawling proper yet. Strange... maybe I am not doing something? They have a lot of floor time so I don't get it unless its because they were 3 1/2 weeks early but that would make them 7mos and 1 week gestational age and they should still be crawling proper right? Oh, I don't know - they'll probably get up and start running in a week Their two little teeth on the bottom are SOOOO cute when they smile...

Anyway, I have snotty little babies - literally - and it seems to take forever to go away but THANK GOD they don't have fevers or seem to have any chest or ear involvement. They are pretty healthy babies. I am the one falling apart with all this running around and doing it all by myself. Its ok though - I am very blessed - blessed to have my little ones be the light of my life and blessed to have you all here to "talk" to...

I am preparing my complaint to the medical board about my OB/GYN. I am now removed far enough from the circumstances to be objective and BOY is she gonna feel the repercussions of her improper actions AND malpractice regarding my hypertension. Pray for me that I write it all out correctly...

love and blessings to you all...

xxxCocoa

Anyone heard from Carolinagirl? BabyB? Aliann? Hope to hear from LisaPa and Sciteacher77 (Michelle) soon!

[Mandy J]

Hi Girls,

I have been a total mess this weekend. I made Ellie some chicken soup (great for colds huh!) Well, it was a bit hot, so I was stirring it to cool and thought I would just butter some bread for Ellie too. How could I be so stupid!!!!! Whilst I was doing that, Ellie pulled the soup all over her tummy and legs, oh god the screams! I rushed her over to the kitchen sink and plunged her under the cold tap for a few minutes and then kept wetting her sleep suit. Her tummy and leg was all red, I rang Q-Doc who took over 20 minutes to ring me back by which time I realised I had panicked and the redness had faded and she was gurgling away quite happy, but with me still feeling like such a bad Mum.

But, it has taught me a valuable lesson and I am so glad it wasn't serious and no lasting consequences and also that I had done my first aid course to react so quickly.

Typical that I got an email later in the day from Bounty.com telling me that my 6 month 3 week old baby will now start reaching out for things...well at least I know she's developing at the right pace!!!!!!

Also Ellie sat up for a full 5 minutes without toppling over today, I was so excited about that!

Mandy
x

[woodcliff]

Oh, Mandy, that must've been so awful for you! Hey, it just is one of those things that is bound to happen...these babies are grabbing things and keeping us on our toes! I'm happy to hear Ellie's fine!
And you are a wonderful mommy!!!!

Cocoa...hope all is well...I admire you doing this alone...and your job is somewhat safe...

and lookout, Cocoa! My son started seriously crawling on his 8 month b-day...my daughter did tonight, 2 days later...AND she has 6 teeth, he has none (budding 2)...so yes, you may wake up and your babies are off and running...so ..
I pay NO attn to the milestones...as my babies seem to get to it when they want to
xxoo

[Mandy J]

Thanks WC! Its so great having you lot here when things are tough as well as for the good things too.

Here's an up to date picture of Ellie

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j181/mrjkj/0184b.jpg

[carolina1girl1]

I am still here. Have been really busy with thanksgiving, and getting ready for christmas. Miley still has no teeth.. But shouldn't be to much longer can see the little whites under gums of both bottom teeth. She will be 6 months on the 11th. She is sitting up for a few minutes then she thinks it is funny to throw herself back. She is amazed by the christmas tree and won't stay out of it, she figured if she rolls and rolls over and over she can get places. She just today started to get up on her knees in the crawling position but she goes backwards. That is their goal for her at rehab for her to be crawling by the end of the month. She still spits up all the time, they have her on zantax (sp?) helped some but not a whole lot. She loves her baby food, can you give them to much of it? It is like she wants to eat and eat. She was eating every 4 hours and now seems like she is hungry all the time, but she doesn't really want her bottle. She plays around with it, usually eating 4 ounces. And naps geez, it's okay to get her down for a nap I just put her in her crib and she will fall asleep the problem is staying asleep... She will take a couple 30 minute naps all day that is not even enough time for me to get anything down. Not sure how to break her of that. She sleeps good at night though goes down around 8:30-9:00 and slleps till 7-7:30. Anyway that is what we are up to. Hope everyone is well and Happy Holidays if i don't post back before christmas. oh Ellie is BEAUTIFUL!!!!! posting Miley's christmas pic..

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j207/ ... istmas.jpg

[Mandy J]

WC:

I have been trying to pm you, but my messages are just going into my outbox and not getting sent??? Any clues?

Mandy
x

[Mandy J]

Carolinagirl: Miley is gorgeous, what beautiful eyes and what a lovely outfit.

Ellie usually only eats around 4 ounces of milk at a time too, I just make sure she gets around 5 bottles a day as well as her solids, as long as she puts on weight I don't think it really matters if its in a routine you can cope with. She also doesn't sleep a lot during the day, possibly and hour around 10am and then sometimes 1/2 hour in the afternoon and possibly 1/2 hour around 5pm but not always, she will entertain herself quite happily though if I am doing housework/paperwork etc. She is also a good sleeper at night time 8.30pm - 8.00am. Also, when she trys to crawl she is moving backwards too!

[kipatte]

I love the picture of Miley. Thanks for sharing.

Mandy Stephie crawled backwards for two weeks before crawling forward. She is now walking the bars (the playpen ones) We are leaving for the US in 10 days and I am nervous about traveling such a long distance with her. So much to pack for 25 days. 25 sterlizer bottles, Geez.

I love seeing all the pictures. Please keep them coming.

love,
Kipatte

[woodcliff]

For you Brits:
Is there a 'chain' type Baby Store that a pregnant mom living near London might go to for gifts? My sitter is attending a baby shower here in the states for a cousin who lives in London...her family wants to get a gift but so far can only think of Harvy Nics (sp) or Herrods...
There must be a nice baby store you all frequent near or in London???
Thank you!

[kipatte]

WC,

Mothercare is the only one I know. I tend to like the online ones like Blooming Marvelous or even Amazon.co.uk.

Well Merry Christmas to all! We are off in a few days for a three week trip with family in the U.S. 5 plane trips in all. Wish me luck with Stephie. I am a little nervous about it.

Merry Christmas
Happy New Year!

Love,
K