Naptime Blog

We went over a friends house for the 3rd of July, part of that was fireworks over the bay. It was a beautiful clear warm night and we had a blast. I was worried Tristan would be scared of the fireworks, but he loved them and actually watched them. It was amazing! I was a little nervous with all of the bang pops and sparklers around, my nephews kept wandering closer to the baby. I can’t seem to relax around sparklers, I feel that everyone forgets how hot they are and that they can seriously burn you. I saw 2 and 3 year olds with sparklers and they had them right by their faces. I found it more stressful then fun, I know that every parent has to make their choice about children and fireworks, I just have a hard time keeping my mouth closed. Thankfully a DC firefighter came over and reminded everyone how dangerous they can be. After that I relaxed and enjoyed the show.

Tristan is now eating a lot of table food, he got to try bbq ribs, grilled chicken, potato salad, and pasta salad. I can’t get over how good he was the whole day. I try to plan my schedule around his so I can keep him on his eating and sleeping schedule. We had him out until one am and he was fine. He went to sleep around 10 pm after the fireworks and stayed asleep through all the transfers from the party to the car to his crib. I truly have been blessed with a good baby.

Chrystal
www.everydayoates.blogspot.com

You will do anything to make that sweet baby of yours smile and laugh. Just to see their face light up with pure joy melts your heart. So when you do something accidentally, and they show they love it, you just have to continue. Well, I did just that. I have a channel that I ordered on DirectTV called BabyFirst channel. No, I do not sit my child in front of the television all day haha, but I enjoy having it because some of the baby programs they have are really good and we are both involved and interacting. They even have a Baby Class segment where you sit with your child and sing along the songs with them and do hand movements and excercises. The lyrics are at the bottom if you need some help! We both learn from the shows because I know I need a little brushing up on my nursery rhymes!

Well about a month and a half ago, during one of the programs, fun music was being played. When I did a little hop to the music accompanied by whatever silly sound I made at the time, Shaughn had the biggest smile and stared at me for more entertainment. Well, like the puppet I am for situations like that, I did it again and he laughed. I don’t know how this next event happened but I was stretching my right arm up over my head to the left side because it felt good for me, this was not part of my show, and started that hop dance mid stretch. Three little hops in, I heard a loud pop come from who knows where, and went straight to the ground in agonizing pain. Shaughn was filled with delight as he thought this all went together for him. As I’m laying on the floor thinking I’m going to pass out or something from the pain, I call my mom… for some motherly support of course. Okay, I cried to her.

The entire day I was crippled. I couldn’t turn my head, I couldn’t sit or stand straight up. The only position I could be in without screaming was hunchback with my head down. Thankfully, a friend came over and helped until my husband got home at 6pm. This happened at around 1pm! While I was convinced I broke or dislocated something, my husband said I just pulled a muscle. When he got home, I took ibuprofen and applied a heating pad. Surprisingly, the pain went away later that night and I was able to move. Last week, without doing any crazy dances that same pain came back just not crippling this time. I’m sure I’ll have to go to a doctor eventually! Do you have any battle wounds from entertaining your child?

-Krystle

I thought raising a little girl was difficult.  I mean for a seven year old girl, she has the mouth and attitude of a 17 year old!  And the outfits, hairdos and the girly melodrama issues are really starting to turn my hair gray!

So finding out I was having twin boys really made me very excited!  I wouldn’t have to deal with whining girls, I wouldn’t have to deal with the dramatics, I wouldn’t have to deal with the dressing up and competition with girlfriends…  But I guess I was not prepared for the boys!

My twins are only 10 months old.  They are a pleasure to have around.  I am amazed that I have been blessed with good sleepers, sleeping through the night since they were seven weeks old.  They have never given me any problems with eating, although Louis has acid reflux, and once we put him on Zantac and changed his formula, he became a new baby.  We go out and they don’t scream and cry.  We go to restaurants and they sit like big kids.  They smile at everyone and are always pleasant.  They really are great kids!

But boy are they bruisers!  I didn’t think I would have to worry about wrestling for years!  How can two ten month old boys lie on each other and roll around on top of each other without getting hurt?  I guess since they have always known life together, scrunched up inside the womb all those months, they are used to it, but wow!  And I would have thought it was way too soon to see them yank back and forth at a toy they both want!  I rarely hear them cry over any of this, but I am still amazed that this has begun at only ten months old!

Yesterday, Anthony took off his shoes and socks in the play corral.  He was standing up holding on.  All of a sudden, I see the tiny toes of one foot creep into the x shaped slats in the corral… then the second set of tiny toes crept in as well… and Anthony was halfway up the corral wall trying to get out!  And where was Louis?  Right behind him!  In a split second after that, I saw a third set of tiny toes creep in there as well.  I jumped up and got them both off the corral, but not without more gray hairs!!!  I am afraid my little monkeys will be out of the crib, corral and Pack and Plays sooner than I thought!

Shortly after the toes in the corral experience, I was cooking dinner and was peeking at them from the kitchen.  Luckily I can see everything from the kitchen.  I saw Anthony push Louis down on the ground and he stepped right on top of him to gain more leverage to the top of the corral wall!  And Louis wasn’t even complaining! Am I in trouble!  Especially since I am pregnant again…. with another boy!  Boy oh boy… oh boy!
I was hoping maybe I would have another famous family of male actors like the Baldwin family or a famous family of boy singers like the Jonas brothers, the Jacksons or the Osmonds… It would have even been nice to have another famous family of boy athletes like the Mannings of football or the Bodines of Nascar driving!  Instead, I may just be looking at the next Ringling Brothers!  Well, how fitting, sometimes this house is just that… a circus!

Hmmm…  and who said girls were easier?

Jennifer
Mom to Juliana (7), Louis (11m) and Anthony (11m)
Expecting #4 in September!
www.nevaland.com

When we FINALLY became pregnant with our second son Jayce, I started researching all the best baby products on the market. I asked friends & family members what were some of their favorite baby products. I found a lot of online blogs and chat rooms devoted to the same topic. When it came to finding the best milk bottle brands, the Avent, Dr. Browns & various Playtex Products were mentioned a lot. They all seemed to be pretty popular, but for my budget pretty expensive!!

One of my baby shower gifts included a small 4oz. Soothie milk bottle. It was cute and shaped kinda weird. I had never heard of the brand at the time, but my girlfriend encouraged me to try it. She was a big fan and mentioned that they have great affordable gift sets at Wal-Mart (one of my favorite stores).

After I finally finished ALL the thank you cards from the shower, I started inventorying what we received and what we needed to pick up with the great gift-cards that our family & friends had blessed us with. I was glad to find a little information online about the Smoothie bottle made by The Learning Curve.

Jayce has done really well with his Soothie bottles. I love the shape, they are very affordable, easy to clean, helps reduce gas/fussiness, and did I say AFFORDABLE?!?

I would recommend them to anyone looking for a good quality milk bottle at ½ the price of the more popular brand names!

Shanta

Last week I told you about getting away without the kids on occasion to refresh and unwind. Truth be told? We miss them badly when we do getaway alone so we do plan the majority of our vacations with babies in tow.

This can be stressful because it seems like we have to pack the house, but with careful planning, that doesn’t have to be the case.

I have figured out that some of the most enjoyable getaways for toddlers and young children are local ones that can be planned around naptime. If you can’t do that, try somewhere where they can snooze in their stroller or wagon. The boys adore the zoo because they think the animals are funny and they enjoy it when I pack a cooler of little boy friendly food for them to gobble up. Notice that I said pack a lunch. Although our zoo does offer concessions, I find it much more affordable (and healthy) to pack food for the boys. We usually fill the cooler with a jug of sweet tea, water, juice and milk along with sandwiches, yogurt and fresh fruit. We also swing by the store and pick up some store brand cola for the adults along with a box of store brand graham crackers for the kids to snack on while visiting the exhibits. Strawberries and blueberries mixed together with a banana or two makes a nice and easy fruit salad that the boys love. I just cut up the banana right before serving the salad so it stays fresh. We save so much money on lunch that we can then treat the boys to a frozen something or other later in the afternoon.

Not a zoo person? Other local getaways could include children’s museums, a different park than their usual, water parks or beaches.

If you would like to get away for more than a day and soak up new scenery but don’t want to pack the house, check out hotels that are family friendly. Most hotels have cribs available, but be sure to call ahead as many have a limited number. Ask the hotel staff to have the crib ready for you when you arrive since babies usually need a nap right away after a long car ride. If your family likes to swim, make sure the hotel has a swimming pool. Many hotels also offer free full breakfasts and evening snacks. This service can really save money. A lot of hotels also have refrigerators (for baby bottles, snacks from homes, leftovers) and microwaves right in the room. Don’t want to pay to board Fido? Some hotels allow your fur children to be part of the fun. My advice is to write down the features you want in a hotel then call around or do your research online to find hotels that offer those services. I was also recently enlightened that many cities have companies that offer reputable babysitting services in case mom and dad want to go out for dinner or a date alone. I haven’t tried that option myself though.

I think its fun to book a nice hotel and stay in and enjoy the amenities (hello, maids!) but if you like to venture out, check for free shuttle service or be sure to book a hotel near places you want to visit. Many tourist centers also have coupons for attractions and it’s usually easy to find deals and discounts by booking ahead via the internet.

Do you have any tips to add?

Shannon
Potamus Prefers
http://www.potamusprefers.com/

Our happy spitter at the pediatrician calls him is back. Tristan is getting worse again so our pediatrician told us to try a stage 2 baby formula. Tristan is getting vitamins and nutrients from is cereal and food, so this could be gentler. I was sad because I told myself no way would I be able to get the Parents choice in a stage two. So I thought this would be expensive. I went to Wal-Mart to get diapers and there it was in all of its glory.

They did have it, I was so excited. I hadn’t researched it yet, but I know I love my parents choice sensitivity. We have been feeding this for a week now, and guess what? He has not been spitting up! We are so excited, his daycare provider has commented on it many times. Its amazing how much less laundry you have when your child is not going through three and four outfits a day.

Since Tristan is eating better and on stage three foods, we have decided to introduce some table foods. We started with things he has had before like carrots. I did learn that he is allergic to Avocado, so always keep track of new foods. Last night we fed Broccoli, he went nuts for it. As a side note Parent’s choice also now has stage two foods. I just missed them since we are on threes and table.

-Crystal

Back in the good old days of when I proudly had health insurance, I would always go get a check-up whenever something is wrong or I didn’t feel right. After a month of being congested and an itchy nose, I went and got tested for allergies. If anyone has been through an allergy testing, you’ll know they are not fun! Being poked by a needle so many times while waiting to see what swells up like a hive. As my luck would have it, nearly all of them swelled up, and the ones that didn’t were re-tested on my other arm. Sure enough most of those swelled also. You name it, I’m allergic. Cats, dogs, dust, pollen, trees, weeds, mosquitos, cockroaches (ew!), etc. I find it easier to tell people I’m just allergic to life.

They prescribed me Zyrtec and Flonase, which for me, worked like a charm. It felt so good to finally breathe! No sniffling, or runny/itchy nose, no constant rubbing because that’s what made me feel better, just breathing freedom to smell whatever I wanted, pet my cats, and just be comfortable. Well that was great and all until my health insurance was over and then I was stuck again. After many many months of dealing with the allergies, I was so happy when I heard Zyrtec was going to become an over the counter medication. However, I was used to my $5 co-pays when getting the meds, that I didn’t realize just how much more they were for a 30 day supply.

When I had the money, I’d treat myself to a month’s worth. At least I could be comfortable for that month. It’s still kind of pricey but I decided to give a store brand a try. Walgreens had a special if you buy 1 30 day supply for around $12 I believe, you got a 2nd 30 day supply for free. I took on that offer and I have to say I have been pleased with the results. Now I regularly purchase Wal-Zyr and have more better days than I did before. I’m still searching for a great store brand nasal spray that compares to how much Flonase helped against the allergies, but for right now this helps me far better than no meds at all. And its more convenient than surgically removing my nose which trust me has crossed my mind in those terrible times. Anyone with severe indoor and outdoor allergies can agree

-Krystle

My mother wished on me a little girl just like me.  I don’t remember talking back to her like Juliana does, and I don’t remember my room being as messy as hers is, but my mom says that she is enjoying the payback.  The other day as my daughter was yelling from the shower about how I “HAVE to get my towel from my room so I can dry off!!!!”, I brought in the towel and said to her “I hope you have a daughter JUST LIKE YOU one day!  Maybe even two or three!”. And I will love to watch the payback like my mom does with me!

 Juliana was getting dressed in our resort as we were getting ready to leave for our Colonial Williamsburg tour (which I thought would fascinate her as she loves history).  I purposely told her to put her socks and sneakers on, knowing the walk was cobblestone, and there was sand and dirt to walk through.  Despite my three or more pleas, Juliana put her flip-flops on.

An hour later, in the 85 degree humidity, I heard whines, complaints and moans.  I was pushing the double stroller trying to maintain my water intake to avoid dehydration, and my seven-year-old was hanging on me, whining  about the sand, calling out “This place stinks” (referring to the horse manure), and getting louder and louder with each step. 

This went on for at least two hours, and I was beginning to lose my patience.  “Can we leave now?” was followed by “I need shoes, Mom, buy me shoes!” (OK, where?) and “What did I do to deserve this – no one cares!!!”

People were starting to look at us, and my attempts of scolding her were getting louder.

Things like this occur regularly.  Whether it is “Juliana put your jacket on” (and she leaves the jacket home) which results in “I’m freezing….. I need a jacket…  No one loves me” to “Juliana, it is passed your bedtime, you have school tomorrow” (and she continues to take forever to shower and get her pajamas on) which results in her being exhausted in the morning and her whining “Why didn’t you tell me to take my shower earlier?!?” You don’t care if I’m tired!!! 

I am so tired of this little girl’s attitude and her not listening.  But the worst part is the melodramatic whining and moaning.

So her last whine of “I want shoes, get me shoes!!!” Ended with me walking right out of my shoes yelling “Here!  Take my shoes!!!!”. My husband found it amusing, especially since I took two steps on the pavement and was in pain from the gravel!  Luckily she was walking behind me and didn’t see me mouth “Ouch!”

Behind me, Juliana grabbed my shoes, caught up to me, and gave them back to me.  We were almost back at the car, and for the remainder of the trip I didn’t hear another word.  Back at the resort she was put in time out for a few hours and had to wait to go in the pool due to her behavior.

I know this isn’t the end of the melodrama – I suspect it will only get worse!  But I will figure out how to handle her.  If nothing else, I look forward to when SHE has her own Melodramatic Princess!    

Jennifer
Mom to Juliana (7), Louis (9m) and Anthony (9m)
Expecting #4 in September!
www.nevaland.com

I am enjoying that fact that baby Jayce (5 ½ months) is sleeping all night. What I can’t seem to understand is what happened to those good old, hour long naps!!
He use to take the best naps around early afternoon and again around dinner time. It gave me just enough time to wash a load of clothes, start lunch/dinner, and just sit and exhale for a few minutes.

Now that rascal is sleep for about 15 minutes and that big head pops up looking around. I am very thankful for the full 8 hrs of sleep at night. But I still need that hour during today to play catch up! I guess you never really get caught up when you have children. I guess I will spend the next 18 years chasing my own tail/playing catch up!!! Lololo

Word to the wise, even if it is only a 15 minute “Cat Nap”, when they sleep-you better sleep!!

Oh well, I love it!! Wouldn’t change a thing,,,

Here is a picture of my little sleeping beauty,

-Shanta

I am a stay at home mom and don’t get sick days, vacation days or even a proper lunch hour. That’s just how it is, right?  I have figured out, however, that you have to carve out “me” time  to recharge the batteries, so to speak, if you want to give your children your all and be the best parent you can be.

On a weekly basis, I have my personal blogs and this blog as a creative outlet when the boys are napping, still asleep or already in bed at night. I also meet up with several very supportive girlfriends for Bible study once a week. And, even though we are on a tight budget, we try to find creative ways to have weekends away when we can. You don’t have to have a lot of money to enjoy a weekend or several days away without the kids (I’ll give a few tips I have learned about getting away with kids next week).

First off,  find someone to watch your children. Do you have a grandparent, other family member or close friend that would watch the kids overnight or for a couple days? Perhaps you could do a trade off and watch a friend’s kids for them the next time they need a break. If you are new to the area or don’t have anyone nearby that you trust with your precious little ones overnight, many hotels can help you find a local reputable babysitting service to sit with the kids in your hotel room while you go out to dinner, etc.

Secondly, figure out what you’d like to do and make it happen. This past weekend is an example I will use for you. I am lucky that my in-laws live in the same town as us so they offered to watch the boys for us while we took a weekend trip to San Antonio several hours away. I have a sister who works at a hotel and earns free nights that she can give to friends and family so our hotel stay was free. I know most people don’t have that option, but many people have reward nights through credit cards and frequent flyer programs. If not, you can always try staying on off peak nights. How about a business hotel that is virtually empty on weekends? Many times, you can get a great price on a hotel room if you shop around and use these tricks.

Our idea of fun is eating out at restaurants and hanging by the pool and in the hot tub so we chose a hotel with two pools and hot tubs. Check out restaurant deal sites like restaurant.com to save money on dining out (sometimes as much as 80% when they have sales). We also choose hotels that offer free breakfast and free evening snacks to cut down on our food budget. Many hotels have refrigerators and microwaves so you can bring food to warm up and eat in your room as well.

I also like to pack light. This weekend was awesome because I only had to pack one tote bag for me and one for hubby along with a few hanging clothes as opposed to the whole house when traveling with my boys. It is so worth it when they are with us (because we miss them when we’re gone), but it’s nice to pack light on occasion.

And, lastly, to save money on snacks and other travel supplies while traveling to and from our destination, we always stop by the store and stock up on store brands. We save a lot of money doing this as opposed to shelling out 2-3 times as much at truck stops or convenience stores on the interstate. We also save on bottled water, sun block, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, body wash and toothpaste by opting for the store brand version.

Do you have any tips for saving while traveling? Do you have any ideas for ways to refresh and unwind?

Shannon
Potamus Prefers
http://www.potamusprefers.com/