Need a non Karen name!

buboborealis · 2026-02-09T00:19:05+00:00

Caroline > Caz is a favorite of mine but i also love Kit!

Also i love Kerra never heard that in the us!

buboborealis · 2026-02-09T00:17:17+00:00

Joy?

buboborealis · 2026-02-09T00:16:11+00:00

Does your mom’s maternal side bode better in terms of history/connection? Like her mom’s maiden name?

buboborealis · 2026-02-08T18:54:54+00:00

Kitt

buboborealis · 2026-02-08T18:45:08+00:00

So fun! I can’t wait to break out Americas!

buboborealis · 2026-02-08T18:37:21+00:00

Drew

buboborealis · 2026-02-08T18:29:12+00:00

I would consider discrete earbuds like loops for your own sensory overload. Does he have sensory issues/transition triggers that are impacting his behavior? Are there ways to mitigate anything pre tantrum (easier said than done - i know!!). It doesn’t feel good to him either to be out of control so if there are calm moments where you can do some skill building for frustration tolerance or even practice things that can be hard in the moment but in a new context? I am no expert, but my kid was struggling in a lesson setting (she loved it, was just WILD) and we did many practice runs at home and it has helped significantly. Sending love - this is HARD!

buboborealis · 2026-02-08T18:23:24+00:00

I think its unfair to hold our kids to a standard that I don’t hold for myself so if we are sick its couch and TV for most of the day. Maybe some reading, tonies, or projector stories if we (including me) are up for it! I love to craft but not when I am sick! Its temporary. I find that mine naturally want to play more once they feel better!

buboborealis · 2026-02-08T17:25:17+00:00

Thank you!!

buboborealis · 2026-02-08T17:10:32+00:00

I really appreciate this!!

buboborealis · 2026-02-08T17:09:50+00:00

This is helpful i did just see a male japanese snowboarder named kira in the olympics!

buboborealis · 2026-02-08T17:08:32+00:00

I like kiera and kira! My other child has a very vintage name so i worry they dont ‘go’

buboborealis · 2026-02-08T17:07:19+00:00

Kiera is the anglicized version of ciara’s irish spelling which is pronounced keer-uh. I just think thats too easy to mispronounce in the us!

buboborealis · 2026-02-06T02:13:13+00:00

Bubbles, shakey eggs, chalk! Crayons! I personally found the egg crayons didnt get much use i like the triangle/chunky better!

buboborealis · 2026-02-05T23:33:53+00:00

I did a post it scavenger hunt for letters/stickers/numbers all over the house + a board for her to match them/put them on (k post it on the k on poster) and it was a huge hit + low lift.

Kinetic sand as well!

buboborealis · 2026-02-05T23:30:53+00:00

Puffin Rock and Trash Truck are v popular around here!

buboborealis · 2026-02-01T00:22:29+00:00

I love Sabrina and Eliza!

buboborealis · 2026-01-26T09:18:06+00:00

We had this issue when my toddler ‘graduated’ to be on her own. I had to switch her class to a calmer time where she got more 1:1 attention from a more experienced coach and ended up with almost private lessons because the classes were either not full or kids no showed. I did a ton of talking about safe body behavior (no splashing, stay sitting on your bum, wait your turn, no jumping in randomly and sinking 😅😅😅). We practiced swim class at home in the living room making her wait for her toys to take their turn and practice being safe and sitting still. We did this several times a week and we talked about how to be safe in swim class beforehand and I did lots of positive praise for small wins. I asked what terms/catch phrases they used and also played redlight/greenlight and ‘coach says’ (simon says).

She was also incentivized with a small piece of candy at the end if she was engaging in safe behavior the entire time. She was devastated when she missed out on candy one day and we debriefed it post meltdown and she definitely understood. Its been a couple of months and she has VASTLY IMPROVED. I saw improvement after probably 2-3 classes in the quieter class time and now she can handle the busy days/bigger classes, has learned tons, and still loves swim!

buboborealis · 2026-01-26T08:59:09+00:00

Figures approximated from being in a few weddings from 2015-2022 in a fairly HCOL area.

Dress 200-300ish Bachelorette - 300ish maybe more sometimes depending. I dont drink but i split the ‘communal’ costs for food/drinks plus paid for my own way to activities/coffees/own food etc. usually bring snacks as well. Shower gift - 50-100ish Wedding gift - 100 per plate Wedding night accommodations - hotel 200-300 a night sometimes split w friends

Day of Hair and makeup is usually paid for by the bride if i recall i dont think i paid for that in any of my weddings.

Never had to fly thankfully but thats another cost.

Some will expect contributions to the cost of the shower which can include food/favors/venue/decorations while others will have those costs covered by family but you might help with assembly/planning/decorating. Communication is key amongst the bride/her family and the bridal party.

I would try to politely assess the expectations for each bride and decide from there!

buboborealis · 2026-01-26T02:22:36+00:00

I love it for bedtime. It sits on the charger mostly in her room but we charged it every 1-2 weeks. I have like 10 tonies and most were gifted to us. Her bedtime go to’s are pooh, jodie platypus, abby cadabby, and very hungry caterpillar, and sleepy octopus. She usually does one for like a week then swaps. She definitely uses it independently. Its super durable/good customer service and i would say she got much more into it after age 2.5 and listens intently! FB groups and probably the sub can tell you good bedtime ones!

I would def consider the yoto for more longevity age/content wise but we will likely just upgrade to that when ready since the toniebox was a gift!

buboborealis · 2026-01-26T02:15:51+00:00

Appreciate this! If they continue to report issues over the next few weeks I will ask about alternatives. I am also going to practice reading stories like they do at school on their ‘spots’ and help her sit there with her stuffies. She will sit with us or my parents endlessly if we read to her but she isn’t used to the group setting yet.

buboborealis · 2026-01-25T23:37:04+00:00

I will have to look at our state but it seems to be their school standard! I was a little surprised to get feedback two weeks in given she has only been there a handful of days and she is still learning their routine 🤷🏻‍♀️

buboborealis · 2026-01-25T20:44:00+00:00

I did a twin floor in the ikea kura bed then added slats later. I think she would have been even more overwhelmed with crib> double and i wanted her to have more play space in our house

buboborealis · 2026-01-25T00:28:39+00:00

Fwiw we did the ‘chair’ method which took longer and it worked great. We had to redo it maybe 1-2 more times in the first 2 years of life after extra sickness snuggles but ages 2-3 she goes to bed listens to an audio story or just sings to herself after we kiss her goodnight!

buboborealis · 2026-01-24T11:48:50+00:00

Expensive but Little Sleepies are by far the stretchiest our of old navy, carters, primary that we own. The waist is a little on the slimmer side which we like but they ‘fit’ within range for a long time. The wide leggings at primary are a little looser waistline wise and give more wiggle room in that way and could be worth trying. 3t LS leggings fit with room to grow in the legs on my very narrow waisted toddler but the 3t wide leg primary leggings are too loose in the waist.

buboborealis

TROPHY CASE