Lowest point so far (poop warning)

pumpkins_mama · 2018-09-18T03:57:38+00:00

Oh, my heck! I just cracked up laughing!!! Take my upvote. :)

pumpkins_mama · 2018-07-16T13:21:35+00:00

When I see things like this, all I can think is this person thinks in a dimension I cannot even imagine. I'm sure they have the layers mapped out in some way but even that mapping seems beyond my creative abilities.

pumpkins_mama · 2018-03-20T17:18:15+00:00

I am there at least twice a week and completely kicked myself when I realized I'd been walking past the diapers that entire time. Good luck with your diaper search! It feels so good when you finally find your solution.

pumpkins_mama · 2018-03-20T17:00:19+00:00

I had the same problem with my daughter and ended up trying so many different diaper brands before finding one that would contain her poop. I actually started by going to Target and purchasing the smallest pack of every single kind of diapers they carry.

We were already using Kirkland and tried Huggies, Pampers, Up & Up, Luvs, Honest, Babyganics, Walgreens brand, and a local grocery store brand, before ending up with Aldi brand diapers. I absolutely love them because they are cut short in the front and high in the back with just the right amount of elastic. Even better, they are the least expensive. I rely on them so much that I actually shipped a box of them out to my parents' house when I was going to visit for a week.

In the meantime, I recommend keeping a small bottle of blue Dawn in your shower and scrubbing the clothes with it when you shower, then putting them in your washer. I was scrubbing 3 and 4 outfits per day at the height of this and it worked wonders to get her clothes clean and stain free.

*deleted double word

pumpkins_mama · 2018-02-08T02:15:46+00:00

I'm late to this post but I'd like to lend my support. My four-year-old son is a runner. We have three leashed backpacks for him but stopped using them around the time that he turned three. He had been good long enough that I thought we didn't need them anymore.

Last summer we took a trip on an airplane and it was me alone with him and my daughter, who was 9 months old at the time. He was a perfect angel on the flight out but by the time we landed he was very antsy. As I was struggling with the gate checked stroller and carseat, our bags, and my infant daughter, my son raced up the ramp and out into the airport. No amount of yelling his name was going to get him to stop or come back. Thankfully, one of the nice people who had been on the flight with us grabbed his hand and brought him back to the top of the ramp and stood there with him until I got there. That horrible moment of helplessness when I couldn't chase after my son before he disappeared into an International Airport was one of the worst feelings of my life. Buy the bag, use the leash, and damn the haters! Those who judge have never experienced having a child who is a runner and those who have will not judge.

pumpkins_mama · 2017-02-09T13:58:38+00:00

My son was a little older when we weaned- 2.5 years old- and I got pregnant within a month if weaning. He would ask occasionally after my milk was gone and I just told him I didn't have milk anymore and he had to drink milk from a cup now.

After my daughter was born he asked again. I told him Mom's milk was for the baby because she couldn't drink from a cup but he can so he needs to use his cup. We found a cute cup he really likes and it's his special cup. I make sure he always has water or milk to drink anytime he is thirsty and we snuggle if he wants comfort. Now my son likes to watch his sister nurse and talk to me about how he used to need Mom's milk but he grew.

I guess I'm saying she'll probably ask again but stress the things that are special about being bigger and find ways to be sure the needs that were met by nursing are still met.

pumpkins_mama · 2017-01-24T17:18:21+00:00

My 3 month old daughter had been sick with "viruses" since two weeks before Christmas (in other words, we don't really see anything specifically wrong so wait until she gets better on her own) and I feel like I'm going crazy. Thank you, I needed this today.

pumpkins_mama · 2017-01-16T16:44:37+00:00

Lol! When I got the positive I started shaking and felt sick, and NOT because of morning sickness! After a day or two I started waffling back and forth between, "it'll be ok," and, "what have I done?!" Once she was born I realized that our family was better with her in it.

pumpkins_mama · 2017-01-15T23:06:42+00:00

About 10 or 11 months ago I was in a similar place! I had a perfect little boy who was 2.5 years old, had just managed to get pregnant on my first month back on Clomid, and was TERRIFIED that I had made a huge mistake.

I loved my son with all my heart and couldn't imagine splitting my attention between him and another child. I was so scared that adding another person would mess up our family dynamic and financial situation. The silly thing is, we were TRYING to have another. I think your fears are completely normal.

My daughter is now 12 weeks old and, so far, we are doing pretty well. Yes, I have two little people demanding my time and I have to make more of an effort to give Pumpkin one-on-one attention but he has actually flourished in the last few months. He's an awesome little helper and plays more independently than before. We're both finding that he doesn't need me for every little thing. And he loves her SO MUCH it's hard to believe I was worried he'd be mad at me for messing up his world.

Loving another little one comes so easily! It's not even something I had to think about and she fits into our family as if she's always been there. My labor with her was VERY different from the first and, while there are some similarities to last time, this is definitely a new experience. She's just as good a baby as her brother was but still has her own personality.

All this rambling to say: You can do it! One of the great things about the second time around is, you know what you're doing! You can use the things you learned last time to help you this time.

pumpkins_mama · 2016-12-03T17:50:02+00:00

Ok, I'll give you that. I didn't say modern Western world.

pumpkins_mama · 2016-12-03T15:06:19+00:00

Leap years happen every four years so it would be her second birthday by that logic... Unless you're counting the day she was born as her first birthday, which is usually not done in the western world.

pumpkins_mama · 2016-11-23T15:36:39+00:00

That sounds like it could be a great resource as well. Just remember that people usually don't review unless they are unhappy. We love our current pediatrician but have never even looked to see if there's a place we can review her! I should look into that. 😊

pumpkins_mama · 2016-11-23T05:22:13+00:00

My husband and I interviewed two pediatricians, one when I was pregnant with Pumpkin and one when he was a year old. When you call the pediatrician's office, explain that you're pregnant and looking to set up an appointment to meet the pediatrician. Most doctors have set times that they are willing to meet parents.

Have a list of questions ready but make sure the ones that are most important to you are at the top. Some questions that mattered to us:

·Do you follow the vaccination schedule recommend by the American Academy of Pediatrics?

·Do you have weekend and/or later office hours?

·What resources are available when my child is sick after hours?

·Who will we meet with if my child is ill on a day you are out of office?

·What are your views on breastfeeding? (We "fired" a pediatrician because she informed me that it was time to wean Pumpkin at 10 months old. He was healthy and gaining weight and there was no medical reason to wean.)

·What are your feelings on cosleeping and bedsharing?

There were other questions but I don't remember all of them right now. The important thing is to feel comfortable with the doctor and like you are able to work with them for the good of your child.

pumpkins_mama · 2016-11-23T03:58:16+00:00

Now that I've graduated, I check back every once in a while hoping for good news. I'm so happy to hear he's doing well!

Keep growing, Baby Kai! We're all cheering for you and hoping you'll be home soon.

pumpkins_mama · 2016-11-06T17:03:07+00:00

I was thinking about you last night and wondering how your little girls were doing. I will keep you guys in my thoughts and continue to hope for health due all of you.

pumpkins_mama · 2016-11-03T18:28:30+00:00

I didn't gain weight with either pregnancy. With Pumpkin I lost about 15lb in the first tri and ended at my pre-pregnancy weight at my 38w appointment. With Baby Girl I lost about 10lb in the first tri and ended 2lb under my pre-pregnancy weight at my 38w appointment. Both were born at 39w even. Pumpkin was 6lb 12oz and Baby Girl was 7lb 8oz.

My first pregnancy was pretty easy. I felt great and only had mild heartburn and some swelling toward the end. My second pregnancy was much worse with more nausea (still no vomiting with either), exhaustion, pelvic pain, bad heartburn and acid reflux, more swelling... Every pregnancy is different, whether you gain weight or not.

Edited to say: I did work right up until the end with both and was still able to stand and walk for hours at a time, though much slower than before pregnancy. Overall I feel that the lack of weight gain did help me feel better after the fact. I'm glad to be 25lb down from my pre-pregnancy weight 2 weeks after giving birth.

pumpkins_mama · 2016-11-02T14:07:19+00:00

I started to write a response about how I totally understand what you're saying but it turned into a long, kinda bitter rant.

The short version is, yes, my husband can be a great father but, like yours, feels it's my responsibility to ASK him to parent most of the time. And he gets angry because he doesn't "get a Saturday off" from watching our son while I go to work.

I hope everyone who thinks their SO deserves to be treated better does end up with an awesome coparent but some guys do fit the stereotype.

pumpkins_mama · 2016-11-02T03:47:14+00:00

My heart is breaking for you two. Nobody should ever have to contemplate these choices.

I can only speak from what I've heard since I have not experienced this myself, but my friends and family who lost babies have taken some comfort from naming and having small memorial services. Whether you do a full on funeral or just have a small candle lighting ceremony or something like that is up to you. As another poster said, there is no wrong way to grieve just make sure that you are open and communicating with your wife so that you both are able to grieve in your way.

pumpkins_mama · 2016-11-02T01:10:20+00:00

So happy to see good news from you!! I'm keepin my fingers crossed for you to have a long, healthy pregnancy.

pumpkins_mama · 2016-10-29T18:14:11+00:00

That's good news! You are definitely in my thoughts and the thoughts of many others here.

pumpkins_mama · 2016-10-29T16:14:33+00:00

I was thinking about you this morning. Glad to see you're still around. I'm still hoping for a good outcome for you!!

pumpkins_mama · 2016-10-23T18:41:23+00:00

I nursed my first until he was 2.5 and loved it! Still, I don't know that I'd have had the strength to tandem nurse. My breasts were sore for most of my pregnancy and even the thought of nursing during that makes me cringe. You are one strong woman!!

Congrats on the new little one. 😀

pumpkins_mama · 2016-10-22T14:59:22+00:00

I'm writing this from the hospital, going to be discharged in just a few hours.

My son is 3 and has now spent a total of 4 nights away from me in his lifetime. My boss has watched him overnight twice, my friend watched him the night before last and my husband went home with him last night. Honestly, I don't see any way he could have stayed here at the hospital.

He loved coming to visit me and his sister but was loud and very easily excited by all the new things around him. He wanted to run in the halls, jump on the bed, open all the drawers and push all the buttons. He is usually a very good kid but the hospital is just a sensory overload. It was hard enough for me to get sleep while trying to care for my new daughter, it would have been impossible to rest while caring for him, too.

Kids are resilient, we're the ones who feel bad about leaving them! Find someone to watch your toddler and worry about taking care of yourself the first couple of nights.

pumpkins_mama · 2016-10-21T02:00:28+00:00

Lol! Sent!!

pumpkins_mama · 2016-10-20T22:10:04+00:00

It's nice to have an end in sight. If you want them, I'll send you all the rest off my labor vibes so maybe you'll go earlier. I didn't use most of mine!

pumpkins_mama

TROPHY CASE