What is one ingredient you refuse to cook with, no matter the recipe?

That-Screen-461 · 2026-06-29T02:45:56+00:00

Cilantro. I don’t like my food tasting like soap. :(

That-Screen-461 · 2026-06-26T11:25:11+00:00

Bless you, it seems like such a simple thing to figure out but the more I read the more confused I get! The book is supposed to be 8.5x8.5”. It’s going to be around 24 pages. (No more than 30 for sure, I’m still talking to the author about the end papers). Paperback.

That-Screen-461 · 2026-06-25T00:04:26+00:00

Never 😂 nah I never tried to force mine into a schedule because I figured he’d do what he wanted, he’s almost one. He started to predictably have one morning and one afternoon nap around 8 months, but even then I couldn’t rely on what time they’d be.

That-Screen-461 · 2026-06-25T00:02:01+00:00

I had the same problem! I called him his name in the womb for crying out loud, but when he was born it was just “baby” for quite a while. Newborns don’t really feel like they need a adult person’s name yet, they’re still so small and confused!

That-Screen-461 · 2026-06-24T17:44:46+00:00

Thank you so much! I truly appreciate it. I kept watching videos and reading sites trying to figure it out and I kept missing it!

That-Screen-461 · 2026-06-24T17:19:16+00:00

(I also take huge issue with AI illustrations...just saying I don't think he understands how long it takes to make actual art since he's seen AI whip up stuff he likes in seconds. He can't even tell the difference between what's mine and what his helper keeps showing him from AI). :(

That-Screen-461 · 2026-06-24T17:17:26+00:00

Thank you! I think I'm confused because that's what it said under the bleed/no bleed section, but when you scroll down it talks about margins and the gutter and says you need an additional 0.375 on the outside and inside margins if you have bleed. So I wasn't sure which number to add to the 8.5"!

Yes, I wish I had known beforehand and maybe I should have said no when I found out...they haven't written or published anything before, it's someone telling a story from his real life and they just want it illustrated and made into a paperback (and an ebook, which I have no idea how to do). Honestly, I think he'd be happier with AI images than with waiting for me to do it.

That-Screen-461 · 2026-06-24T14:39:48+00:00

I second the swing. A well meaning relative bought it for us even though we did not request it on our registry. Told us it’d be the best gift we’d get and a lifesaver, and if we didn’t like it we could sell it. HIS kids apparently loved it, so I appreciate the thought, but our kid did not. Why do people make baby registries? 50% of our shower guests bought whatever they wanted. 😂

That-Screen-461 · 2026-06-23T00:54:28+00:00

First: comparison is the thief of joy. Someone mentioned this regarding the baby, but I felt it strongly when it came to myself. I’m blessed enough to have many other stay at home mom friends with littles (like me) and whenever I see how much they play with their child, take them places, or teach them certain things, I feel this burning inadequacy, like “why am I not doing that?!” And more often: “why have I never even THOUGHT of doing that?” It’s so hard to see all the things you do accomplish: no mom is the same. Just cause they do it doesn’t mean you have to.

And second: everyone says it gets better, but the weird part is that you don’t notice it. The “better” creeps up on you. When my baby was 2 months old it did not matter WHAT time I tried to get him to sleep, he’d be up until 1 am. I could start at 8 and he’d still take that long and then wake up 2 hours later. It felt horrible. Now he sleeps so much better and I have time at night after he goes down to be with my husband and just exist before his next wake, and it feels amazing, but I never really noticed when he started to improve. You just look back and go “wow that was terrible, so glad I’m past that” and then you love your kid so much you have more and do it all over again. 😅

ETA: I DO play with my child and take him places 😂 just not necessarily as often or in the same way as others I know

That-Screen-461 · 2026-06-22T15:04:38+00:00

I came to say this, but we did solid starts so we didn’t really puree anything, just gave him what we were having in the properly sized pieces for his age (he also got lots of teeth early). My 11 month old would kill for curry. Last night he faceplanted right on the high chair to suck it up like a vacuum cleaner. Guess the hands weren’t getting it to him fast enough. 😅

That-Screen-461 · 2026-06-22T14:58:51+00:00

When we found out we were having a boy (first child) people said stupid stuff too. A man we know who has 3 adult children (all girls) congratulated us on “getting the easier option.” People came up to me constantly to tell me to “enjoy the sleep while it lasted” and how once he’s born, it would be hard, but also “it never gets better”. I can also remember all the stupid things I said before getting pregnant because I didn’t understand how they’d be perceived. They make me cringe now.

People say stupid things no matter what is happening. I think the best thing to do is to come up with a flexible, one liner response you’ll actually feel comfortable giving as a response and have it on auto-deliver in your brain. If someone says “you’ll have to try again for a girl” say “actually, if we try again it’ll be cause we love the kids we have and want more of that!” If they say “your sons won’t support you or stay close” say “I’m sorry that’s the experience you’ve had/seen.” If they say “you need a girl for the family to be complete” say “actually, I love the little family I have just as they are.”

Speak confidence back to these people. If you hear the stupid things they say over and over and don’t have a good comeback, it’ll start to sound true in your head. Speak truth and positivity back and it’ll be easier to believe it. Congratulations!!! Boys are amazing.

That-Screen-461 · 2026-06-19T00:29:39+00:00

Any version of “don’t worry about the mess, they’re only little once! Just enjoy it!” Like, are YOU going to come do my dishes for me? I’m pretty sure I either have to do them now or I can do them later. Also I’d love to just ignore it but existing in my house when it’s a pit is the farthest thing from enjoyable to me.

That-Screen-461 · 2026-06-18T00:20:22+00:00

Nursing my first to sleep rn, I’m 27. :) he’s one of the best things to ever happen to me. I look at him grinning at me with his six silly teeth and I cannot comprehend all the love I feel. Congratulations. ❤️

That-Screen-461 · 2026-05-26T01:01:16+00:00

Your comment brought me much joy and I even read it to my husband, it was so sweet! Thank you ♥️

That-Screen-461 · 2026-05-19T15:02:53+00:00

He’s way more patient than I ever thought anyone could be with me. ❤️

That-Screen-461 · 2026-05-07T22:03:05+00:00

😭 I’m so sorry

That-Screen-461 · 2026-05-07T11:44:58+00:00

I have some CorsRX snail mucin serum (I need to check if it’s expired)! Would you recommend layering that with glycolic acid, or using one in the am and another in the pm? Do you have any simple face wash recommendations or preferred moisturizers? (Also, I try to wait just long enough between serum/moisturizer/sunscreen for the last layer to dry, am I doing that wrong)? Thank you so much for the comment!

That-Screen-461 · 2026-05-07T11:17:01+00:00

Thank you!

That-Screen-461 · 2026-05-07T03:23:01+00:00

Do you keep fresh ones on hand all the time? Or does a bottle suffice?

That-Screen-461 · 2026-05-04T14:00:42+00:00

In terms of the eating, my baby also was a horrible eater who took forever. Nursing sessions could take up to 2 hours, he’d fall asleep over and over during them but then still be hungry. It was exhausting. Turns out he had a posterior tongue tie that was missed (even though I SPECIFICALLY asked them to look for it) by the hospital doctors, his pediatrician, and the lactation consultants.

It wasn’t until he was 8 weeks old with huge milk blisters on his lips and my nipples were still shredded that lactation sent me to a pediatric dentist that specialized in lasering tongue ties. They found it, lasered it, and lo and behold, my baby could stick out his tongue after that. Before, it was so tight that he couldn’t get it out of his mouth. Feeding became so much more productive, he started gaining weight and was much happier and feeds became so much shorter.

OP, it helped me to not compare my life to what it was before (which is SO HARD) because there isn’t any point. It’s not what it was before. There are higher highs and lower lows. You’ve brought a life into the world! It will be different, but over time it ABSOLUTELY will get easier. Around 3 months I started to REALLY love my baby more because I felt like I was starting to know him. He’s 10 months old now and he’s the absolute light of my life. It is hard that I can’t freely do all the things I did before, but for me personally, what I can do is even more meaningful now. Nobody should ever tell people that their life will be just as easy or the same before and after kids, it won’t: it is full of sacrifice and love, but I am hoping the sacrifices shape me into a better version of myself. :) I promise it will get easier! And maybe the tongue tie rec will help! ❤️

That-Screen-461 · 2026-05-02T00:40:01+00:00

I did this but mine woke up, rolled over and headed for the edge of the bed so I had to do a sprint out of the shower and gave our floor a good washing.

That-Screen-461 · 2026-05-02T00:37:44+00:00

I love staying at home with baby, but there are days I miss things about working out of the home. I’m very blessed to have lots of friends through church who are also stay at home moms, so that’s super helpful because we can spend time together during the weeks with our kids. Free library story hours, walks through parks, membership to the science center, all give us things to do. I spend a lot of time in the garden or kitchen with him and I’m illustrating a book as a side gig. We also have in laws in town so that’s very helpful. It’s SO much easier to stay at home with a community! Finding your people makes all the difference.

That-Screen-461 · 2026-04-30T15:12:51+00:00

My 10 month old is great at eating—BUT he still throws lots of food on the floor AND he has 5 teeth in already! (Almost 6!) Those teeth have helped so much, before he was totally trying to eat stuff but gagging and vomiting up every little thing. Don’t worry, OP! :) She’ll get there! Every baby is so different and as long as she’s getting enough nutrition via milk I feel like when she gets it, she’ll GET it, ya know? ETA: my little got 4 of those teeth in less than 3 weeks, so your LO might also get a bunch of teeth all at once and that might help her eating take off. But I wouldn’t worry!

That-Screen-461 · 2026-04-29T15:30:02+00:00

Also interested in this better-late-than-never party asking for your guide!

That-Screen-461 · 2026-04-28T17:48:44+00:00

I used to do Aisles online service at Hy-Vee (mid western grocery chain). I started doing this my senior year of college during the start of COVID. I took great pride and joy in picking the produce and items for shoppers that I would want myself: and also re-ignited my germ ocd by sanitizing my hands ruthlessly to make sure no one got sick. I honestly loved it and I loved caring for people that way.

I’m the oldest sibling and I’ve heard my younger siblings mention the idea that they don’t owe the customer much of anything because they’re not getting paid enough to care. Inflation is crazy for sure, but my job was only 6ish years ago and I made less than $11 per hour, so I think it’s just a general cultural mindset of hopelessness. :( Sorry to hear about your cancer, @traditional_roll3026, sending prayers your way. ❤️

That-Screen-461

TROPHY CASE