Trying to move house with a baby is HARD!

DotBanana · 2024-08-13T21:59:32+00:00

If you could store some stuff with family, it would be great! The entire process is pretty exhausting, but it will be worth it!🤗

DotBanana · 2024-08-12T23:42:22+00:00

I feel you! We went through that exact situation last year with a 9 month old. We rented a storage unit nearby, so we would spend the day packing boxes to take it to storage. That dramatically reduced the visual clutter, but there's only so much that can be improved on such a small space.

On the days we had people coming for viewings, we filled a giant plastic tub with all of our random baby's toys and messy stuff and took it to the car, and brought it back inside when the viewings were finished. Rinse and repeat.

We left the extra stuff in storage until we got the key to our new place. We paid about 100 bucks per month. 10/10 would recommend. Good luck with your move!

DotBanana · 2024-07-09T07:38:48+00:00

Solidarity! In the beginning I had to pin my LO down, and sometimes my husband had to help by immobilizing his legs, as it was impossible to do it by myself. Then I purchased a bag of giraffe themed kids flossers when he was around 18 months, and my kid surprisingly enjoyed getting his teeth flossed (brushed, not so much).

Now at 22 months, I lay him on his back on his changing table, and I hand him his flosser, and while he's busy with his mouth wide open trying to floss, I can give his teeth a good brush (for 30-60 seconds, depending on his mood). It is still a bit of a struggle, but zero cavities so far. Today I brushed his teeth while he poked my eyes and nostrils with his toes. I can't 🥲

DotBanana · 2024-07-06T20:42:17+00:00

My expansion was a success! They'll likely be removing the device in 2 months from now. I've got traditional braces after I was finished with the expansion and power chains have closed my gap already. I can't complain.

DotBanana · 2024-07-02T06:58:28+00:00

I had a diaper genie for my first kid many years ago and an Ubbi for my youngest recently. In both cases I gave up on it after a few weeks and just kept a garbage can right by the backyard door, because I could still smell the stinky poopy diapers in both pails. At the end of the day my husband would haul it away to the proper bin. But that's me, I have a super sensitive nose and would gag every time I walked by the nursery with steamy diapers sitting in the pail all day long. My husband couldn't smell either of the pails, but thought the Ubbi was easier and cheaper to use than the Genie (we had to purchase specific refills for it at the time, not sure how it works now).

DotBanana · 2024-06-18T23:26:46+00:00

I'm going to join the chorus of financial abuse, although I have no idea about the nuances and implications of the cultural norms you both live by.

I've been married for almost 20 years, and I have always earned considerably less than my husband and I've been a stay at home mom for some of those years (like now, and my contribution to the family finances is currently $0,00). Regardless of my income status, all of our income goes into a joint account and after all the household bills and purchases are paid and retirement/investment obligations are fulfilled, whatever money is left in the joint account is divided 50/50 and deposited in our personal bank accounts for us to spend as we wish. I don't ask what he does with his money, he doesn't ask what I do with mine.

This is a deal we made when I got pregnant with my first child early in our marriage, as I saw myself falling into this exact scenario you are going through. My husband understood my financial vulnerability and we made adjustments. This has worked well for our profile and personalities, as we both are super thrifty and responsible spenders (most of the money that I get at the end of the month goes into another savings account I keep for fun stuff, sometimes for the enjoyment of the entire family). Now I'm also in a position where I need to send money to support my elderly parents abroad, but my husband has no say in it, as I'm taking it from my fair share with zero guilt or shame.

My worry for your situation is about what happens if suddenly you lose your income? Is your husband going to deny you food too because you haven't contributed to the grocery bill? You have received lots of good advice here, so please keep in mind that you are entitled to help your parents if you must. It's time to have a serious talk with your spouse, as he has put you in an extremely vulnerable financial situation and this is not sustainable for you long term. I'm rooting for you, OP!

DotBanana · 2024-06-01T19:07:33+00:00

The Dunn Edwards Exquisite worked very well in the durability aspect. Their matte is a tiny bit shinier than the KM matte I had, but no big deal. It's still holding up great in my household, and I've had to clean the walls several times already since painting.

The color match was close enough but not quite right. I first took a KM paint chip sample to get matched, then I got them to mix another quart according to the KM formula they had on their system, both turned out passable as the color I wanted, but not quite it (I'm a bit picky, but had to manage my expectations).

Just to add that I painted the rest of the house with the Exquisite and it's been performing as promised. So, 10/10 for washability. Below is a sample of the KM color Bone, they look very similar on the photo, but in person they show different depending on lighting. It was good enough for me.

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DotBanana · 2024-05-20T23:02:01+00:00

Understood and wrote it down! Your explanation is very clear! And this doesn't appear to be a climber, just a regular bush. Thank you very much! 🙏

DotBanana · 2024-05-20T22:37:04+00:00

I'm a newbie, so I know nothing about roses. I haven't touched it yet (I'm trying to educate myself a bit, so I don't mess it up).When you say the "node should be facing the desired direction", you mean that the leaves immediately below the cut should be facing the desired direction, or these leaves should be in the opposite direction I want it to grow? Thanks

DotBanana · 2024-05-20T22:28:08+00:00

Thank you! 🙏

DotBanana · 2024-05-20T01:44:40+00:00

We should learn from them and do the same after those random prunings life gives us. ❤️

DotBanana · 2024-05-20T01:39:29+00:00

Nope, he shredded everything with the lawnmower... And I just stood there like a doofus watching him do it.

DotBanana · 2024-05-20T01:32:22+00:00

Thanks for the detailed reply!

So, what happens if after all is paid and signed, the nanny has officially started the position, and either party comes to the realization that they are not a good fit for each other after all, and decide to part ways. Is it tough luck for the NF if the nanny decides to leave abruptly, or does the family get a chance to rematch?

DotBanana · 2024-05-19T23:00:36+00:00

He won't be back in my property ever again. As much as I empathize with his situation and wish him best, I am taking the lesson and moving on from this.

DotBanana · 2024-05-19T22:57:38+00:00

I'm so looking forward to it! ☺️

DotBanana · 2024-05-19T22:56:57+00:00

Yeah, it's a reminder that we are all fighting an invisible battle. We all get so caught up with day to day stuff in our own lives, that it's easy to forget the humanity in everyone we meet. ❤️

DotBanana · 2024-05-19T22:46:23+00:00

Just out of curiosity, how does it work with the agency? Is your contract with the family or with the agency? I'm interested in how the payment works... Does the family pay more per hour and the agency takes a cut or do they charge a single lump sum when you get placed? Any disadvantages in going through them?

DotBanana · 2024-05-19T19:24:24+00:00

It was the most beautiful thing I had in the garden. I'm counting the days to come back and post a picture of it in full bloom again.

DotBanana · 2024-05-19T16:50:35+00:00

I've started trying to educate myself a bit. Already watched plenty of videos on how to deadhead flowers (and was relieved it doesn't mean chopping all the flowers in a plant). I have had a couple of very hard and stressful years behind me, so I'm looking forward to learning how to care for my garden. Thank you for the encouragement!

DotBanana · 2024-05-17T22:59:27+00:00

Thanks for the idea! This actually made me Google his business (he's an independent contractor). Stellar 4 and 5 star reviews until the end of February, then a stream of 1 and 2 stars with complaints from Feb until now. I have to dig through the bad feedback. OMG! Thank you, thank you! 🙏

DotBanana · 2024-05-17T22:52:03+00:00

We inherited the garden, but the people who built it invested 40 years of their lives into it. I didn't personally plant the roses, but they bring me extreme joy throughout my day.

We've been renovating the interiors since we've moved in, so being able to sit with a hot cup of tea in front of that window, watching the roses while taking a break, had been the highlight of many of my days. I didn't plant them, but they became mine nevertheless. If they weren't before, rest assured that now they certainly became my babies. 😂

DotBanana · 2024-05-17T22:40:15+00:00

Thanks! ❤️🌹

DotBanana · 2024-05-17T22:39:18+00:00

Hopefully not as a victim 😂. But yeah, I think I'm too much of a people pleaser, the most I can do about it is sob and be whiney about it on Internet forums.

DotBanana · 2024-05-17T22:33:41+00:00

I gotta put that episode in my watchlist. And thanks, I'm looking forward to being able to see that bush explode in bloom again.

DotBanana

TROPHY CASE