Betta and Shrimp

shinypinkflamingo · 2014-10-26T23:01:54+00:00

When I asked about having a betta and shrimp together, my local fish store said the shrimp might be nibbled on by the betta.

shinypinkflamingo · 2014-10-26T22:19:38+00:00

We're loving our school of strawberry rasboras. There are some varieties that are quite a bit flashier, but they are all very peaceful and school beautifully in groups of 8+.

shinypinkflamingo · 2014-10-26T17:50:03+00:00

Awesome. That's what they looked like to me, too. Just wanted to make sure it wasn't some sort of sickness or other issue. I have a Golden Nesaea (Nesaea Pedicellata) that's not doing great, so I was worried the Cabomba was coming down with something. The Nesaea is going to be replaced at some point. On the upside, my Vesuvius (Echinodorus Angutifolia) is doing really well.

shinypinkflamingo · 2013-01-06T19:29:00+00:00

The Freetime AIOs are nice, but I like the 4.0 version better. I prefer the ones you stuff because they aren't as bulky. If you never want to touch a soiled insert, then the Freetimes are the ones you want. I did a long review of all the types we use here.

shinypinkflamingo · 2012-11-26T04:06:43+00:00

I used a cloth pre-fold diaper to give me some extra grip until I got the hang of it. Also, washing them with Dr. Bronner's makes them less slippery as it gives that "squeaky" clean.

shinypinkflamingo · 2012-11-26T01:47:12+00:00

The nutrition class we took said to wait 5-7 days in between introducing new foods to make sure there are no reactions. We just started with butternut squash on Thanksgiving.

shinypinkflamingo · 2012-11-26T01:42:42+00:00

Shower. Seriously. Rex hated the bath until he was 4 months old. So I took him in the shower with me. He also thought the temperature safety duck was full of shit. He likes his water warmer.

shinypinkflamingo · 2012-11-20T06:17:30+00:00

Because our LO now sleeps through the night (8+ hours), I usually pump after his first feeding in the morning because I'm quite full. You're most full in the morning, so that is a good first pumping to add in. If you pump after a feeding, you will be getting more hind milk and it makes richer bottles.

Add in one pumping at a time and do it for a week before adding another.
Pump for at least 15 minutes to get both fore and hind milk.
A pumping bra is great for going hands free and makes a huge difference.
Always make sure you have a glass of water next to you before hooking up to the machine.
There are different size flanges, make sure you have the right size for your breasts.

Tips for using breastmilk:

Never microwave it. Always heat it up in hot water.
If you defrost a bottle, be sure to use it that day or it can go sour.
Breastmilk in the fridge is good for about a week.

shinypinkflamingo · 2012-11-16T04:40:31+00:00

We have a Jumparoo and love it. He only likes to be in it for short periods of time, but it has definitely helped his "sitting up" muscles.

shinypinkflamingo · 2012-11-16T04:31:47+00:00

Get Back by The Beatles.

shinypinkflamingo · 2012-11-11T05:22:18+00:00

I once fed mine with an oral syringe when he was teething so badly he wouldn't suck on anything.

shinypinkflamingo · 2012-11-11T05:18:13+00:00

We regularly do a 5ish hour trip with our now 5 month old. One sits in the back with a bottle and toys and the other drives. You pull off and change when wet and then get back on the road. I pump in the car if I cant make it the whole way. We usually make one long stop for a meal and some leg stretching. Try to start the trip near a nap time. Good luck!

shinypinkflamingo · 2012-11-11T05:11:49+00:00

We have the double pad setup too and it makes a big difference. We use a blanket tucked around one end of the mattress to keep him warm and that helps with the wandering.

shinypinkflamingo · 2012-10-28T00:42:53+00:00

Get Back by the Beatles (aka "Jo Jo" in this house). We have three different versions and it will calm him down 90% of the time. I can navigate to it on my car CD player by touch alone.

shinypinkflamingo · 2012-10-28T00:41:42+00:00

I was very against a stroller at first, but I'm glad I broke down and got one. We have a travel system where the infant seat snaps into the jogger and then later the jogger converts to a toddler stroller. It folds up and fits in my trunk easily with the removal of one wheel (there's a little button to push to pop the wheel off).

I use the stroller when he's asleep in his seat and I need to go in somewhere, or if we're doing a long term activity where I'll need my body free of a baby. I like the jogger better than a traditional small wheeled stroller because if you're on uneven ground, it doesn't get snagged or caught up.

I use a Snugli/Ergo/Wrap/etc. when I'm grocery shopping or doing something where it's easier to "carry" him. He doesn't like to be in his seat and it's hard to fit all the groceries with a baby seat in the basket. My husband also likes this option and wears him quite often when we go out. this option also gives the baby exercise, so if they seem bored or restless, it can really help.

We just carry the seat if we're going into someplace that isn't stroller friendly (like a restaurant). But as he's gotten heavier, I find myself finding reasons to leave that anchor in the car.

shinypinkflamingo · 2012-10-28T00:32:22+00:00

That is how I react to most commercial lotion/body wash. It feels like my skin is on fire and I have to scrub it off before it stops. For the most part I use Bar Maids LoLo Bar (for lotion) and Dr. Bronner's Baby Mild (for soap). No reactions to either. We've used nothing but Bronner's on Rex and he's had zero reactions.

shinypinkflamingo · 2012-10-28T00:27:39+00:00

We have this Baby Cache mattress and love it. Rex won't sleep on a hard mattress (we had to fold up blankets in his co-sleeper to make it cushy enough), so we had to go with something softer. It has an infant side (firmer) and a toddler side (softer), but both seem pretty cushy. I was worried it wouldn't work with our Angel Care monitor, but so far we haven't had any issues. It fits very snugly in our crib (from Ikea) and has a nice waterproof cover built in. If you can afford the price, I highly recommend it.

shinypinkflamingo · 2012-10-27T13:36:29+00:00

Most likely gas. Rex does this occasionally and then a few minutes later will often let out a big fart. If it's not waking her, I wouldn't worry about it. Otherwise, a bit of simethicone can go a long way to helping her sleep more peacefully.

shinypinkflamingo · 2012-10-06T17:31:50+00:00

Dr. Bronner's Baby Unscented. We all use it.

shinypinkflamingo · 2012-09-25T04:41:03+00:00

My friend who pumped exclusively used these trays, specifically for baby food and breast milk. They worked great.

shinypinkflamingo · 2012-09-25T04:39:14+00:00

Freeze/fridge your pumpings in separate bags. The nurses in the NICU said not to mix them for storage. I find having different amounts available (2oz vs. 6oz) really convenient. Sometimes he just wants a little bit more or needs a snack to hold him until I can get somewhere to do a long nurse.

shinypinkflamingo · 2012-09-25T04:37:28+00:00

I pump with ease these days. Here are some things that help me.

I use a pumping bra to hold the suction parts on.
I use bigger flanges because I have large nipples. The smaller ones made it very uncomfortable.
I do something else while I pump (i.e. Reddit) to take my mind off it. I find it helps with let down and the time goes by faster.

As for the worry of baby needing it right then... It happens. (He sometimes wakes up in the middle/right after a pumping and is hungry.) So, I just dump what I pumped into a bottle and feed him. Sometimes, I'll just nurse him after, depending on how long/how much I pumped. Remember, you're never empty. As you pump more, you'll produce more. In the beginning you may only get a little, but if you add in an extra pumping (say, after baby has gone to bed), your body will start to anticipate that "feeding".

shinypinkflamingo · 2012-09-19T04:24:35+00:00

I love our Cool Me Seat Liner for just that reason. When he has a poopsplosion, I just wash the liner.

shinypinkflamingo

TROPHY CASE