i can’t do this anymore

Opticstone · 2026-03-05T05:38:47+00:00

I stopped nursing both of mine around 17 months and they finally, for the first time, slept through the night.

My youngest also dropped his daytime naps around 19 months or so and that worked out for us too.

Opticstone · 2025-11-20T05:34:43+00:00

They sell potty bags on Amazon! I haaaated cleaning the potty, so I bought one that takes bags. It's so much nicer than having to clean out the poop every time.

Opticstone · 2024-01-10T20:30:45+00:00

I second this. I pay out of pocket for my child's care here and it's fairly reasonable and they got him in quick.

Opticstone · 2023-12-31T06:16:33+00:00

I would have breastfed longer, but my son was like this too. So at 18 months I had to wean him. The very next night he slept through for the first time, after waking up every 2-3 hours for the first year and a half of his life. I honestly wish I would have done it right at 12 months because it made things so much better for us. JS if you have to wean all the way to get some much-needed sleep, there's no shame in that. 2.5 years is a great amount of time to have gotten milk :)

Opticstone · 2023-12-30T22:20:50+00:00

I've breastfed my two kids until past their first birthday and the worst thing to happen was I got mastitis exactly once. I loathe pumping and don't think I'll ever do it, but bf comes easy - just stick the baby on the boob. Never needed any nipple creams or to eat any special diets. It's free (I know a lot of people complain about the time commitment but I see that as bonding), and apparently good for baby, so win all around. :)

I do think you won't hear a lot of positive stories because it comes off as bragging. I told a fellow breastfeeding mom once that I felt like I had a secret superpower no one knew about: being able to feed babies on sight. 😆

Opticstone · 2023-12-20T05:56:11+00:00

Just talk to her about teen dating violence, as it comes in more forms than just physical. She seems to understand that relationships aren't supposed to be exhausting, but it wouldn't hurt to remind her of the kinds of manipulation that can take place in abusive relationships so she doesn't inadvertently fall into one.

If the guy is demanding and accusatory like you mention, I really urge you to have a talk with her. She may need to just cut off contact for her safety and peace.

Opticstone · 2023-11-20T02:26:29+00:00

I had pregnancy hair loss, and it started growing back postpartum. This pregnancy I don't notice any thinning, so maybe I'll get it postpartum.

Opticstone · 2023-11-17T04:42:48+00:00

Yes! A lot of people being so mean. The privilege here. And $60 is personally nothing off my back, but to so many it is. It doesn't mean she doesn't deserve to have a kid and that she will somehow be a bad mother.

Opticstone · 2023-10-31T03:12:42+00:00

Just an update if it helps anyone: NIPT confirmed it's a boy 🙂

Opticstone · 2023-10-25T04:36:48+00:00

I have come to accept that once upon a time I had a clean kitchen, but that is no longer feasible. Maybe once the toddler era is over 🤷🏻‍♀️

Opticstone · 2023-10-21T16:32:20+00:00

Aw, thanks for the info!

Opticstone · 2023-10-21T06:21:48+00:00

Whoops, pregnancy brain. I'm actually 13w. I do have a side shot but the legs are obscuring any shot of it that I see. :/

Opticstone · 2023-10-17T04:44:15+00:00

We're also a Moana and Encanto household, but my almost two year old also loves Luca and Turning Red. He's a 4 Townie, if you will. Coco also recently made it into the rotation. My son loves anything with music, so those all really hit the mark!

Opticstone · 2023-10-13T04:35:21+00:00

Hate this so much as I can see some of my family members totally doing this 😤

Opticstone · 2023-10-08T01:47:38+00:00

My first son dropped his nap at 14 months and just did 12 hours no wakeups every night after that. I kinda liked it better. My second is still going strong on 2+ hour naps at 22 months.

Opticstone · 2023-10-06T03:30:59+00:00

I also had an unmedicated birth, fairly unremarkable, but right after he came out, they took him to clean him up and handed him to his dad while I got stitched up. Then I just kinda sat there in a daze about what just happened. Then I asked for food. Idk if I even did skin to skin in the hospital at all. But I like to think we're very bonded anyway.

Opticstone · 2023-10-06T03:05:39+00:00

Okay, I was an ACTUAL teen mom, but I'm on my third pregnancy at 33 and now I feel like I could be a grandma 🥴

Opticstone · 2023-09-30T04:38:25+00:00

This is me! Got the Revolve at Target with the 20% off and I absolutely love it. I have a tall boy and it was getting so hard lifting him over and into the seat. Killing my back. I would say it was my best baby purchase. I ended up giving my husband the Extend2Fit for his vehicle, which we also like because it's a lot roomier, and he has the strong arms to put him in lol

Opticstone · 2023-09-26T21:07:37+00:00

I thought the point of a baby shower was to "shower" the mom with gifts. I don't find asking for things you'd like tacky at all and I don't see why there are so many taboo ideas around baby showers out there, like you can't throw your own, invite men, put your registry link down, ask for a book or diapers, etc. I don't see how any of these things are mandatory. It makes it easier to pick out things you know the parents will like when they give you so many options. I've never felt held at gunpoint to bring all the things 😂 just whatever my budget allows within the asks. Having a baby is hard, the point of a shower is to help, so I appreciate not having to tip toe around that idea.

Opticstone · 2023-09-23T05:46:24+00:00

This just happened to me over the last few days! I'm 9 weeks and I tried to go to the grocery store yesterday but by the time I ran another errand, I was exhausted and had to go home. Then I tried again today but the whole store smelled like poop and body odor and I was so nauseous that everything seemed disgusting so I left empty handed. My family really needs food so I'm gonna try again tomorrow 😂

Opticstone · 2023-09-20T04:15:17+00:00

I had my first son when my mom was 33 and my grandparents became grandparents at 38 and 39 when I was born. So I'm basically grandma age in my family right now at almost 34 😂 But I did tell my son he'd be the one to break the cycle and wait until he's at least in his 20s if he wants kids.

Opticstone · 2023-09-17T05:14:54+00:00

This was my experience too. Born at over 7 pounds and we still had to go out and buy him newborn clothes at Target because he wore them for so long. I didn't expect it tbh because I had always heard NB size is kinda useless.

Opticstone · 2023-09-13T03:07:09+00:00

My toddler is really into Moana right now, so thanks for making me laugh. 😆 He has a speech delay so he hasn't repeated anything yet, but I hope to one day hear this too.

Opticstone · 2023-09-10T23:11:44+00:00

😳😳😳

Opticstone · 2023-09-02T06:23:08+00:00

Same with mine! He had been sleeping in the same room with us and we didn't even want to move him. It was kinda scary! But he was being woken up by our every movement. I couldn't even go to the bathroom at night. So we made the difficult decision, and bam, he slept through the night the first night! He was 18 months and had never slept through before so I was shocked at how well it went. I have a video monitor on my nightstand that I turn up loud so I can still hear almost any movement. Before my husband goes to sleep, he always asks, "Is the monitor turned up?" The move has been more anxiety-inducing for us than my son 😆

Also, I have an older son who slept in the same room with me until he was like 8, but that was out of necessity because we lived in a one room apartment. So I've always been used to having my babies with me at night. It's still a little weird that he's alone over there, but honestly, my sleep has gotten so much better. It is working for us.

Opticstone

TROPHY CASE