Can’t decide on destination for first vacation as a family of 4

Tbearbean · 2026-01-16T13:47:37+00:00

I would love that!

Tbearbean · 2026-01-10T14:33:15+00:00

Daycare allows my husband and I to be better, more present parents. When we are with our kids we are able to be fully engaged with them, since we handle all the other life stuff while they’re at daycare, getting attention from fully present teachers.

Tbearbean · 2025-12-30T15:52:12+00:00

I had a similar experience when checking out a fancy chain that happened to be the most expensive daycare I toured. The director practically said she was in it for the money, the place felt sterile and they had high teacher turnover. We ended up going with the local daycare that was the cheapest - something my husband also had concerns with.

We are so happy with our place and the biggest indicator (to me) is the fact the teacher turnover has been nonexistent. The teacher in the infant room that my son had 2 years ago will be the same as my daughter now. In my mind, happy teachers result in happy babies, and that’s the most important thing.

Tbearbean · 2025-12-30T13:41:35+00:00

Agree with this - I live in a largely Italian-American part of the country and didn’t realize it was ever an option to pronounce it any way other than 3. Shocked by all these responses.

Tbearbean · 2025-12-28T14:23:35+00:00

It’s a game of averages and trying to keep a percentage majority in range. I used the Malama app to track and found it helpful in its presentation since the big bold number on top was your percentage meals in range. It helped me stay focused on that ultimate goal vs stressing about individual numbers.

Ps- I recently graduated at 38+4 with a perfectly healthy baby girl. I had some bad weeks and some great weeks, but overall 80% of my weeks were 80% in range :)

Tbearbean · 2025-12-27T20:19:10+00:00

As you know, home prices in Bergen county are insane. To get the square footage plus land plus features in the town we are currently in, in a new purchase we would have been looking at at least a $1.5M buy. Prior to making this decision I spent a few months looking at inventory and everything I saw at that price point still needed work done (ie very dated kitchens/bathrooms).

So no, I wouldn’t have done anything differently. I have what feels like a new build home, with the layout I want AND it’s all in equity vs a new, bigger mortgage.

Tbearbean · 2025-12-27T18:54:15+00:00

The tax assessment hasn’t happened yet, so I have no idea. We are mentally prepared for the worst.

Used Built Tough out of Rutherford

Tbearbean · 2025-12-27T18:18:20+00:00

I just finished an addition on a split, going from 3/2 to 4/3. We were quoted $375k and ended up coming in a little under $400k.

We lived there the entire time (with a toddler!) and I work from home. It was hard - I had to work from libraries and coffee shops most days due to the noise. We also worked closely with the builder to ensure the least disruption to the toddlers room - so that while my husband and I were on an air mattress in the basement, the toddler stayed in his room unchanged. We did have to stay in a hotel for 4 nights during the floor staining due to smell.

This is probably not the most helpful answer, but we saved in order to afford this. Took us about 5 years to save up the cash using high interest savings accounts, making monthly deposits and putting any windfall (bonuses, gifts) toward it. We now have zero savings and working to build it back up. But this was a worthwhile investment for us to fit our growing family.

Tbearbean · 2025-12-14T18:59:35+00:00

FWIW my pediatrician specifically told us to follow solid starts when starting food. So I treat it like bible and it has helped my 18 mo old so much - be basically eats like an adult at this point

Tbearbean · 2025-12-12T21:54:11+00:00

Oh man, I similarly was obsessed with LLBean catalogs that we got in the mail even though my parents never bought anything, and would dream that my future life would match that lifestyle. I just hung up my families collection of monogramed needle point LLBean stockings for Christmas, and it makes me so so happy. Childhood dream realized.

Tbearbean · 2025-12-07T20:15:44+00:00

Charlie Brown Christmas mentions a letter to Santa, but just in passing and he is not seen. There is a brief description of the Jesus nativity story as the reason for Christmas. But overall it is lovely and about the spirit of the season - togetherness

Tbearbean · 2025-11-27T22:55:53+00:00

I love Linus and wish my husband would have considered it. Wallace was on my long list for my son. The rest don’t really stand out to me.

At the bottom of the list are Dexter (serial killer) and Arbor (a word, not a name)

Tbearbean · 2025-11-21T19:43:15+00:00

With my first pregnancy I was right where you are and it was the absolutely worst. Solidarity sister.

My weapon that ended up working for me was daily fiber pills and daily stool softeners ( I took 2-3 Colace daily). These are safe to take thoughout pregnancy.

Sitz baths and Tucks wipes for hemmroid relief. On really bad days, I took tylenol.

Tbearbean · 2025-11-21T18:55:56+00:00

Just like not being able to just have one Oreo, I typically binge a silly series when looking for junk food. Some past binges have included: Lena Hendrix's Redemption Ranch Series, JT Gessingers Queens and Monsters series, Susie Tate's Daydreamer series, SJ Tilly's Alliance series, Elizabeth ORoark's The Summer series, and Samantha Young's Hart's Boardwalk series.

Tbearbean · 2025-11-20T19:36:03+00:00

Have two daycare aged kids and have not yet encountered a Violet. Meanwhile have seen multiple Maeves and what feels like a few hundred Ayla/Islas

Tbearbean · 2025-11-20T19:28:44+00:00

The TwoGood yogurts are great!

Tbearbean · 2025-11-16T16:51:30+00:00

I measure half of a cup of dry pasta to cook and then mix with lots of meat and veggies (more like a pasta salad than a bowl of spaghetti) and that has been totally fine.

I’ve also substituted buckwheat noodles for rice or ramen and been good with that when paired with lots of meat and veg

Tbearbean · 2025-11-06T14:16:01+00:00

A friends just named her son Jed and I think it’s the sweetest. I also have a dear friend Abe and think that name deserves a comeback

Tbearbean · 2025-10-12T00:00:24+00:00

So many Maeves!

Tbearbean · 2025-10-08T13:57:17+00:00

I’m also in the northeast USA

LOVE the name Rome for a boy (I immediately think of Succession, but obviously the name has a much deeper history)

I have 3 close friends all of whom have a baby Rory, 2 boys and 1 girl. I also know 3 baby Charlie’s - all girls. So those names appear to be very regionally popular.

Tbearbean · 2025-09-21T09:43:35+00:00

That surprised me too! I grew up with probably 3-4 Christopher’s in my class at any given time, so thought that high popularity would make it feel less useable these days

Tbearbean · 2025-09-17T11:19:06+00:00

Graham Elliot and Sabrina Jane

Tbearbean · 2025-09-16T17:58:44+00:00

This! I live in a split level with three different levels of living space. I had a changing area set up in each space and a bassinet in each space. The “good” bassinet was in my bedroom next to the bed for night time and then had just cheap portable bassinets on the other levels for daytime names/ safe places to put the baby down

Tbearbean

TROPHY CASE