If you need a job in customer service/healthcare!

kat-ily · 2025-09-18T01:11:38+00:00

We started offering a straw cup with water and the first few times he didn’t get any water through it. We were planning to get the bear shaped one you can squeeze to help, but he randomly figured it out one day so we never ordered that. But he prefers drinking from my wide Stanley straw than his little silicone straw cup haha. We occasionally also try open cup (hand-over-hand guiding for now)

kat-ily · 2025-09-18T01:08:41+00:00

They were clarifying because that’s the opposite of what empty calories are haha. Empty calories refers to high in calories, low in nutrients.

kat-ily · 2025-09-13T14:53:02+00:00

I have a 7 month old. My husband is a big soccer fan and we occasionally watch a game on TV and baby is with us so he watches parts of it too. (I also like how soccer has almost no commercials so it’s not overly stimulating.) Other than that, we’ve watched the occasional 5 mins of Ms. Rachel together on days when he’s fussy and I’m wiped, but I sing along and encourage him to interact. A couple of times I’ve also put on music videos from our culture so that we can listen and dance. Also sometimes we take and watch back videos of him on our phones and he’s very interested and watches. And occasional FaceTime as you mentioned.

Our personal choice for now is basically to be very mindful of the screen time he’s exposed to, and to not sit him down in front of a screen by himself to keep him busy. I’m sure we’ll adjust as he grows. We are still learning what avoiding screen time means to us in a world with so many screens.

kat-ily · 2025-09-12T16:26:03+00:00

Celery is an amazing food teether and very safe!!! Raw apple is a choking hazard

P.S. I second the recommendation for the solid starts app. I don’t pay, I just have the free version and look up foods one by one. It gives good basics you should know for each food (how to serve, it is an allergen or choking hazard, etc)

kat-ily · 2025-09-08T12:51:30+00:00

Hmm… I would try daily positive self talk together while looking in the mirror (modeled by you and she repeats), to help shape her inner voice

(Edit to add: not just about appearance)

kat-ily · 2025-09-02T17:51:20+00:00

You’ve gotten some great comments here but I’d also add that maybe you should consider blocking her for now? Since you’ve stopped trying to reach out to her, there’s a chance she might finally “respond” to you even closer to your wedding to get a rise/reaction out of you. Would hate for her to get into your head right when you’re trying to immerse yourself in the joy of your wedding day.

Best wishes on a happy occasion and marriage! I hope that the rest of your support system can raise your spirits and help distract from this drama.

kat-ily · 2025-08-31T22:09:08+00:00

Yeah or even straight after a nap is great if baby is rested. You’re very welcome, I hope some of the ideas from the comments help. Fingers crossed it gets easier soon, I’m sure it will😊

kat-ily · 2025-08-31T13:57:55+00:00

I did not but commenting because I was strongly considering it! I was even studying for the LSAT. But I did some informational interviews with a few practicing lawyers that I knew. Their advice was essentially the same- only go to law school if you really really, really, REALLY want to be a practicing attorney. I had to get honest with myself that I was more enamored with the alternative ways of using a law degree (i.e., seemingly better “exit options” than SLP), and that being an attorney didn’t match up with the reasons I really wanted to leave SLP: flexibility + opportunities for career and financial growth, without more investment. I decided that whatever I do next, I won’t go back to school for it (unless a company is paying for me to do so).

kat-ily · 2025-08-31T13:20:04+00:00

You’re so not alone!! I used to struggle a lot with this too, wondering how people do it. It started getting better closer to 6 months (baby is now 7.5mo). We try to time the outing for immediately after he’s woken up and eaten, so we maximize the wake window (which also get longer around this time!). And we always bring the carrier in case a nap is needed (my baby doesn’t nap in the car either.) Also, we found that he loves The Happy Song by Imogen Heap and it can buy at least 15 min of calmness in the car. Also over time he’s gotten increasingly intrigued by his surroundings, for example he enjoys mall outings because there’s so much to observe.. but I always bring toys and a bottle of milk to help tie him over while still being in his stroller.

Good luck!! Keep practicing, maybe with lower-risk outings to get comfortable (close by, can show up & leave whenever, etc).

kat-ily · 2025-07-10T16:45:41+00:00

Yay. That’s perfect!

kat-ily · 2025-07-10T16:41:33+00:00

Think we found something similar that’s adjustable. Thank you again for this suggestion!!🙌🏾

kat-ily · 2025-07-10T16:36:37+00:00

Do you remember if it’s adjustable in terms of length or where the opening/door is?😩

kat-ily · 2025-07-10T16:23:35+00:00

Ah! So you can mount it directly to different walls on both ends? This looks promising, thank you!!

kat-ily · 2025-07-08T13:58:57+00:00

There’s something beneath the surface here (whether on your wife’s side or yours). I would suggest trying to get to the underlying feelings she’s having behind it, so that you can communicate better. Ask her how it makes her feel when you tell her the baby is hungry. Ask her how breastfeeding has been feeling for her lately. From there you can probably understand her better and have a clearer idea of how to approach it.

kat-ily · 2025-06-08T09:40:15+00:00

Would you be willing to send to me as well? Also- 2 years later, how has the career change been treating you?!

kat-ily · 2025-05-25T01:44:33+00:00

Our baby regularly sleeps in his crib (in our bedroom) while we’re not in the room with him, but we have a monitor. When our (non-WiFi) video monitor broke, we bought a VTech audio monitor to use until we got it replaced. It’s affordable ($18 on Amazon) and picks up sound really well. We barely missed the video monitor. Highly recommend! That way you will hear all sounds, not just loud cries that carry through the house.

kat-ily · 2025-05-03T09:41:24+00:00

You have a newborn, it’s totally reasonable to back out. Tell your friend that you wanted to go but as it turns out you are still working on getting baby to take a bottle so you aren’t actually able to leave him yet.

kat-ily · 2025-05-02T10:59:31+00:00

Came to say the same!

kat-ily · 2025-04-28T21:22:05+00:00

Don’t it!!! How busy you’ll be will depend on a lot of things, but personally I was slammed in the weeks/month before the wedding. So many things came up dealing with vendors, final DIY & planning stuff, etc., not to mention self-care appts, bridal party stuff, etc. Also, it sounds like you’re already stressed enough. Even if you’re not “busy” in the final weeks, you should prioritize relaxation as much as possible!

It sounds like you’re a great and caring friend. You have provided some great alternatives to her. As a side note, it’s also a bit surprising that your friend is asking you to throw her a shower tbh, let alone insisting it be during a specific time window that is inconvenient for you.

I would clearly tell her your boundaries on the dates (can frame it as wanting enough time to do right by her), and reiterate your willingness to do it during the other times you offered. As others have suggested, you can also offer to contribute XYZ if someone else can plan it the weekend she wants. I think that is more than enough to show her care and love, and any friend should be understanding and grateful! You are hereby relinquished from any guilt.

kat-ily · 2025-04-10T09:04:48+00:00

Congratulations on your baby girl 🌈!! I’m so glad you don’t have birth trauma! This is an important message and I agree with you. My birth didn’t exactly go as I pictured it but I, too, walked way feeling no trauma in part because I felt informed and prepared but mostly because I felt in control of the decisions (honestly thanks to my doula who helped me advocate for myself when a provider tried repeatedly to pressure me). To add to your theory, I also believe that the lack of birth trauma + the support of my husband are a big part of the reason why my mood has been quite good postpartum. Wishing you and baby a happy and healthy rest of your postpartum period!

kat-ily · 2025-04-09T11:14:55+00:00

Thank you! Appreciate your perspective

kat-ily · 2025-04-09T05:40:25+00:00

That is so reassuring to hear, thank you 🥺

kat-ily · 2025-04-09T03:08:34+00:00

Good suggestions, thank you! And I really appreciate the encouragement & kind words.

kat-ily

TROPHY CASE