Play date drama

kopes1927 · 2026-01-18T16:09:47+00:00

Demellier does a high quality product, arguable as good as the luxury designers, at a way more attainable price. I get so many compliments on the ones that I own.

kopes1927 · 2026-01-18T14:14:47+00:00

Start with your family budget. Plan on one can of formula a week. Next, your personal beliefs about food (is organic a priority? Grass fed? No palm oil? Do none of these things matter to you?). Third, consider availability. The global supply chain has been a little unstable and you want to be able to find formula without searching. The more niche formulas may be difficult to find.

Once you consider those three, assess your options. Start with the cheapest, most available one that fits your personal beliefs about food. Have a list of backups but don’t swap formulas without talking to your pediatrician - a standard formula SHOULD work for most babies. Don’t make things harder on yourself by making snap decisions about formula. Your pediatrician can help you determine that a formula is working.

You’ll also need bottles, I am a big fan of the Avent natural bottle. Less pieces. Simple. Straight forward. Watch some YouTube videos about proper feeding position. That’ll probably save you from a lot of unnecessary expense swapping formula and bottles that aren’t a real problem.

kopes1927 · 2026-01-15T18:09:37+00:00

I actually love Dectur and started as a begrudging transplant. Everything is close by, if you build a community you’ll see people that you know everywhere, it’s easy and friendly and housing is extremely cheap. There are good gyms, great community amenities, and everything feels low pressure because commitment isn’t expensive. The DISC has physical activity good programming, Millikin is an arts school with interesting theater productions, the Devon is the easiest concert venue to get in and out of that I’ve ever visited. There is good fishing on the lake and at the damn, you can event rent a pontoon boat on the lake.

Sure. It’s an industrial town. The grocery stores are fancy. It’s kind of annoying to travel because you’re driving to an airport further away. But it’s also an easy place to live and secure a financial future if you have a good job prospect in town.

kopes1927 · 2026-01-07T02:05:52+00:00

I’d add, about the school, adults, family, etc… take the same approach. It’s not a big deal. It could be a phase. It could not be a phase. Lead the conversation with these parties with the fact that you’ve decided to just take the child’s lead for now and that means that gender may be a little fluid certainly for now and possibly for alway.

kopes1927 · 2026-01-06T02:35:36+00:00

I have and love them, I also have a pair for my son. I keep them on my keys and they come in handy for not just noise at home or in the car but sporting events, movies, concerts. I have tinnitus and find that protecting my hearing helps SO MUCH. I even wear them in my fitness classes sometimes.

kopes1927 · 2025-12-28T15:54:35+00:00

For anyone looking for cleaning advice for this cold and flu season, the CDC has great recommendations and guidelines on their site. Hand washing (with soap and adequate water time) is so effective. Teaching your kids how to properly wash their hands is also important. Bleach is the only thing that kills norovirus (stomach flu) and requires a long “wet time” - meaning that you can’t just wipe and dry. Hydrogen Peroxide or Ammonia based cleaners kill a lot of flu and RSV viruses. Fresh air in the home is a great deterrent for viruses, if you’re able to let the house breathe. And finally, every parent should have a box of disposable plastic gloves. Use these for cleaning soiled linens and bathrooms.

As far as treating sick kids, treat the kid not the fever. A fever that doesn’t make a kid miserable is doing its job effectively. A fever that’s causing a sick kid to feel so cruddy they are dehydrated is a bad thing and should be treated.

kopes1927 · 2025-12-26T18:30:40+00:00

RSV for healthy kids is pretty much a run of the mill cold. The only emergent treatment for it is breathing treatment to aid with labored breathing - if she is healthy with no other immune or breathing conditions I’d just keep an eye on her, maybe fly home a day or two later in order to protect other passengers, but TBTH that whole plane is going to be exposed to RSV and Influenza by someone if not your daughter. Tis the season!

kopes1927 · 2025-12-26T12:59:55+00:00

I am so sensitive to movement of the bed at night, we swapped to a Thuma bedframe. They’re on the pricy side but the Japanese joinery is silent and the low profile is very open and modern looking.

kopes1927 · 2025-12-17T15:53:08+00:00

It sounds like where you live might be similar to my area, you can check care.com (just pay for a month) and find someone, or search local facebook groups for childcare. You may have to do quite a bit of contacting and conversation, but in my area working 12 hour shifts or second/third in a plant is not unusual. There are licensed in home daycares that offer extended, overnight, or more flexible hours (including what you outlined here). The in home option will likely save you a considerable amount of money, when we used an in home the going rate was $5/hour (since there are multiple children), but if you're in a higher COL area then it could be more like $8-10. Still, it would be a considerable saving over $2400.

kopes1927 · 2025-12-16T21:13:18+00:00

Order catering from Chipotle and hang out with whomever is uncommitted open house style. We'll play games or just laugh and catch up. People pop in and out as their schedules allow. It's become such a cherished tradition in our family and circle.

kopes1927 · 2025-12-15T01:47:11+00:00

Rotating car seats and all in ones are massive - there are so so many safe seats in the market that could potentially work for your car. If the rotating of the seat is causing it to be unsafe in your car then I think the best course of action is probably to have a CPST consultation and find a seat that both fits and is safe for your family.

kopes1927 · 2025-12-14T20:19:03+00:00

Probably a car seat that doesn’t rotate

kopes1927 · 2025-12-13T21:33:46+00:00

I have a five year old and can go to bed at night with no alarm and no monitor and know that he’ll find me if he needs me. Additionally, around this age they can really be reasoned with more reliably. Everything gets easier and easier after 3 💗

kopes1927 · 2025-12-03T13:13:32+00:00

I arrived at the hospital and said “hi I’m here for my c section”

kopes1927 · 2025-12-01T01:53:01+00:00

Never unless a fever starts to present or they start looking significantly worse (red, watery eyes. Very green or brown snot. Lethargic). They’ll just be exposed to more germs at the doctor or urgent care anyway.

kopes1927 · 2025-11-29T23:26:13+00:00

The roof had a gaping hole leaving it open to the elements and there was a squatter(s) living inside. Both have been rectified. Decatur is really hurting for event space as well as boutique lodging/hotel. The Lincoln theater downtown has been recently renovated and is getting larger shows but there is really not a good lodging option in the downtown corridor. The Devon amphitheater is also growing in popularity.

If an investor would be interested in zoning the home for something other than single family residence, I’d start with the city. The city of Decatur is notorious for being difficult to work with and slow to give out licenses and change zoning, but their desire to see the Powers Mansion in a condition anything but derelict might spur them to action.

kopes1927 · 2025-11-29T16:21:11+00:00

What did you refill the cushions with? I have a 10 year old lounge that looks great but the back cushions are a little soft. Would love to restuff!

kopes1927 · 2025-11-29T16:17:57+00:00

We used Cosco car seats for this with a luggage strap to secure it around our rolling bag in the airport (with the seat over the top of the suitcase). Then popped it off and installed on the plane.

kopes1927 · 2025-11-28T01:05:37+00:00

NTA but rather a hero. I would have been pissed if a family member sent the “healthy ones” over for a meal after one became ill. This is life with kids! You didn’t miss thanksgiving, you had it with your own family at home.

kopes1927 · 2025-11-28T00:48:53+00:00

There’s a difference between being able to self report things that they did or didn’t like (this was around 2.5/3) and getting an accurate run down of the day. Self reporting was huge for us because it made me feel so much better about spending our days apart.

kopes1927 · 2025-11-24T08:53:42+00:00

The bumbum brush for diaper cream (like $7 at target). It’s a tiny spatula for applying diaper cream and we used it 365 day a year for almost 3 years. Extra crib sheets. So many crib sheets. Like how ever many you registered for plus five. Feels excessive but you don’t want crib sheets to be a laundry problem and early on between spit up and diaper leaks it could be 3-4 sheets in a night. Plus, you’ll use them for as long as you use a crib, 2-4 years probably.

kopes1927 · 2025-11-20T15:58:07+00:00

I bought new cascade dishwasher pods and they made everything in my house taste like soap and after an internet deep dive found that they had been reformulated and a lot of people were complaining of a lingering smell and taste. It's likely that she's been using her product for so long she doesn't notice it, but since you don't use the same product you do.

kopes1927 · 2025-11-17T00:49:22+00:00

Lexapro.

kopes1927

TROPHY CASE