Naptime Blog

Oh my where does time go? Tristan is advancing so well, I often want to know where my baby went. He is down to 4 bottles a day, sometimes 3 and 3 solid meals a day. His weight is holding steady at 23 lbs and I am ashamed to say I have no clue how tall he is. All though he can reach the water on the front of the fridge, the dishwasher controls and the stove knobs, I did a ton more baby proofing. Tristan says a handful of words that include:

• Bop (pacifier)
• BaBa (bottle)
• Wim (swim, he brings me swim diapers)
• Baf (bath)
• Bite Bite (food)
• Ma, Mom (Me)
• Dad (Daddy)
• MaMa (daycare provider)
• Bwall (ball)
• Hi
• Bye

Tristan is also very good at sign language he knows:

• Mom
• Dad
• Milk (I use that sign for bottle its easier then the sign for bottle)
• Dinner (I use that for the general eating of solids)
• Ball
• Sleep
• Happy
• More

I love being a mother and I can’t wait for Tristan’s 1st Birthday party. The party is exactly 4 weeks away today. Tristan eats Parents Choice stage 2 formula with 1 to 2 oz of milk in it. I hope to have him completely switched to milk in his sippy cup by 13 months; I will still feed the stage 2 in his bottle until at least 18 months. For breakfast he eats adult steel cut oatmeal for breakfast with a jar of parents choice purred fruit mixed in. At lunch he eats a parents choice my little meal, I am not sure how long I will keep him on these. I love that they are a balanced meal, in my opinion daycare feeds way to many carbs for lunch and I want him to get the balance. For dinner he normally eats what we do, unless its spicy or not appropriate. Then he also eats a little meal.

Chrystal Oates
www.everydayoates.blogspot.com

If you are benefitting from WIC, then you should really read this! For the first time in over 30 years, the nutritional guideline in the Women, Infants and Children program are going to change! Your children will very soon be able to have better balanced meals during the day!

Beginning in October, 2009,  families will be able to buy fresh fruit and vegetables, canned beans and more!

First, the new voucher for fruits and veggies won’t have any specific foods listed. Instead, it will  have dollar amounts of $6, $8, $10, etc. Federal regulations require that all authorized vendors stock at least two different varieties of fresh fruits and two different varieties of fresh vegetables. The client will also be able to pay anything over their WIC allowance so they can receive their full benefits. No potatoes except sweet potatoes and yams are allowed. Clients may choose any fruit without added sugar, and any vegetable without added sugar, fats or oils.

Whole Grains are also allowed. This includes cereals, bread in 16oz units. CHildren are allowed 32oz per month. Some states have added 16oz packages of brown rice and whole grain tortillas as alternatives to bread.

Infants at 6 months of age will now receive 32 4oz containers of baby fruits and vegetables per month. They must be Stage two and single ingredients. They will no longer receive juice.  Exclusively breastfed infants will receive 31 2.5 jars of baby meats, and the amount of infant formula will vary with age, but over the full years, will receive less than they are currently allowed.

Another change is to Dairy products. If your child is over 1 year old, you will need to switch to low-fat milk. You will also receive less milk and less cheese as you have in the past. You may now substitute calcium set tofu in 16oz packages for milk.

A few other changes to the program will be, less juice allowance (64oz containers) and less egg allowance. Now, there will be an increase in fish allowance from 24oz to 30oz and Salmon is now allowed. Canned beans are also allowed now as a substitute for dried beans.

As always, I highly recommend discussing any questions or concerns with your local WIC office. For more information on how to apply for WIC, or what their food packages are, please go to the WIC homepage

~Monica Brady- Mommy Brain Reports

Since we have twin toddlers, we are used to having to stock up on baby gear for two.  Now with the new baby, we have to stock up on baby gear for THREE!  Yikes!  As it is, some days we were going through 12-16 diapers a day, now we go through 20-25!  We have been ordering diapers from Diapers.com online, as we found the best prices for diapers.  Of course we started off with the Pampers from the hospital, but then changed to Luvs a few months later to save on costs.  And the bulk wipes on Diapers.com with the best priced was the Pampers brand wipes.  I was never crazy about them, they are thin and don’t seem to absorb much.  The bigger they get the more absorbent wipes they need.  Not pleasant but reality.  And the Huggies brand wipes, while thicker, more absorbent and all around better, are more expensive.  So unfortunately we have been stuck with the Pampers wipes.

I was lucky to have started the boys on Parent’s Choice Gentle Formula from when they were about four months old.  Not only did it save us a ton of money on formula for two infants, the older twin had acid reflux and he digested the Gentle formula better than the Similac or Enfamil brands.  Double score!

As the boys got older and started with baby foods and finger foods, I naturally started with the Gerber or Beechnut brands for fruits and vegetables, as well as Puffs.  And on one of my shopping trips to Walmart to pick up formula, I came across the Gentle Puffs and baby food line from Parent’s Choice.  There were different flavors of puffs and my kids loved them (still do!), and I was pleasantly surprised with the baby foods!  Score another one for our household!  My kids were happy and so were Mommy and Daddy! 

I don’t know why I never tried the Parent’s Choice brand of diapers and wipes, I guess it never crossed my mind to try them, when I was trying the line of formulas and foods.  Honestly, even though I know I saw the boxes of diapers and wipes in the store, I guess I consciously never realized they were the same manufacturer of the foods my kids loved!  Ok, ok, sometimes I get brain freezes! 

My mother-in-law often stops at the grocery store or Walmart for us when I can’t get out.  One day, she brought us a box of the Parent’s Choice wipes.  I was THRILLED when I opened the package up and saw how thick and absorbent they are!  And they smell nice too!  Guess what?  I will not be buying the Pampers wipes anymore!  It’s Parent’s Choice for me!  I think before I buy another box of Luvs I better check out the Parent’s Choice diapers! 

Jennifer
Mom to Juliana (7), Louis (1) and Anthony (1)
Expecting #4 in September!
www.nevaland.com

I always feel like I need to show my kids the world and I need to do it as fast as I can. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE to relax and just chill around the house. But for some strange reason, I feel as if we need to be out doing or seeing something. I want my kids to be familiar with many different things. We are always trying something new.

But in my attempt to see the world in 60 days, I am quickly becoming burnt out!! I want to just rest,,,, do NOTHING. I often feel guilty for feeling that way. I wonder is there a fine balance that I haven’t mastered yet!

I want to be a good mom and share all the amazing things that the world has to offer to my kids, but I also want that QUALITY time, those small, quite moments that often slip by us.

I wonder how other parents balance it all! Can we have it all? Big family-career-peace of mind-great relationships! I wonder is it possible, how do you do it??

~Shanta

I learned a lot on vacation…

I learned that you don’t really relax or rest on vacation with two toddlers.

I learned that the enjoyment you receive during vacation is through living vicariously through little ones who are experiencing the beach and exploring the world for the first time.

I learned that there aren’t enough convenient places to stop quickly when you have two little ones in diapers.

I learned that fast food chicken nuggets get old really fast and I learned how to be creative in presenting new foods to my little ones.

I learned that it takes almost the whole week to get the little ones used to the new schedule (right up until it’s time to leave) but as soon as they get home to their own cribs, it all comes right back to them.

I learned that things we overlook daily are the neatest thing to a 16 month old and a 28 month old.

I now understand why my parents stopped taking us out to eat until we were teenagers.

I learned that a crowded outlet mall on a rainy day can over stimulated two toddlers in 10 seconds flat.

I learned that we can pack more into our SUV than I ever thought possible.

I learned that no matter how much work it is to go on vacation with two little ones, it is totally worth it for shots like this.

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

*Don’t buy individually packaged items:

Everywhere you go now things are “convienently” packed for on the go eating, or a ceratain amount of calories. These products are often more expensive and they use more packaging that needs to be thrown away or recycled. Food such as yogurt, pudding, granola bars, soft drinks, juice, cereal, and snack foods may come in packages of multiple single-serving sizes in addition to larger, “bulk” sizes. So next time you shop, buy the bigger package and divide it up yourself.

*Bring your own bags:

Everywhere you look you can buy cloth grocery bags, produce bags and even snack bags. This cuts down on the plastic we use and you can save money at some stores. At the Giant in my state when you bring bags they give you money back. Yes its only five cents a bag, but that savings adds up. Plus my cloth bags hold a lot more and have never broken or been sliced open by a package. Also you can get cute bags and insulated bags. I love my pink breast cancer awareness bags.

*Buy store brand:

This isn’t so much a green tip as it is a money saving tip. Since we started buying store brand our grocery bill is cut by 25% and up. I have never noticed a difference in taste or quality. My inlaws have also started buying all store brand, it saves money and often the packaging is better. My store brand cereal comes in a plastic bag. When you buy national brands that same plastic bag is in a cardboard box. Why produce more garbage?

What are your tips on being a greener shopper and saving money?

-Chrystal

So my son has FINALLY understood the crawling concept and goes everywhere. Everywhere! Its so weird for me to watch this because I was very used to his former means of exploration, the rolly polly method. I’m also very excited that he decided to do this before his birthday party. All the babies within 1-3 weeks of his age that will be there are already walking for the most part. Speaking of which, I am still bugging out because he’s one already! I received a card from Toys R Us about two months ago getting me ready for his party and things to do as the day approaches. I was even worried about what I would say when people would ask me what they should get Shaughn for his birthday. On that card, however, it tells you how to sign up for a Toys R Us Wishlist. It is like a registry, it just sounds way cuter

I sign him up for it and begin my online searching. Starting with age appropriate toys and books, I came across some really great learning toys. There’s a leap frog music table which I know will make Shaughn want to stand up and play with it. I hope he gets that….ok, I peeked. Someone got it for him! Everyone says I can’t look at the gift list and see what’s been purchased, but why not? I promise I won’t tell Shaughn, haha. With all the different toys he has now, you would think they’d keep him happy, but he is extremely happy when he makes his way to our vertical blinds and kicks and grabs them, resulting in twisted blinds and aggravation when I try to open or close them and they’re stuck. And of course, most babies’ “toy of choice” would be the remote control, and/or cell phone. If I left those two things out together, he would be so happy and every colorful or noisemaking toy around would be invisible to him.

Its funny to think about how a remote control is just that to us. Nothing amusing, but to a baby who’s experiencing and exploring the world for his or her’s first time, its this most amazing new toy.

-Krystle

My OB wanted to see me before we went on vacation from New York to Myrtle Beach, SC.  When I was pregnant with my twins, by 26 weeks my cervix was funneling and I was put on terbutaline to slow the contractions I was having every five minutes.  By 29 weeks (which was the point I was when we were leaving for vacation with this pregnancy) I was put on bedrest and desperately trying to keep them in.  Although we could be fairly certain these issues were because I was carrying two babies the last time, since my water broke at 36 weeks with my older daughter and she was born early, we wanted to just be on the safe side with this little guy.

So the morning before we were leaving, I was expecting a quick sonogram, measurements, blood pressure check and the “All’s fine” to go on vacation.  But the moment the ultrasound tech began, I knew it was going to be different. 

Turns out I have already started funneling at 29 weeks with this baby.  My activity was cut to 50% (which I still don’t know how I am going to manage with three kids at home on bed rest!), and I guess the only reason we were allowed to still go on vacation was because the baby is transverse, so he is not pushing down on my cervix. 

I guess I had known for a few days before that visit that something was up.  I was beginning to feel stronger contractions (more than Braxton Hicks) and was beginning to feel pressure.  I had been on my feet much too much the week before, celebrating my boys’ birthday and all the festivities that went along with that, and knew I needed a break.  But all I wanted was to get the ok to go on vacation!

Luckily I did, and we went, and we had a great time.  We relaxed by the pool and the beach and I kept my feet up for most of the week.  I remained hydrated and did as little walking as possible in the heat.  When I felt I had enough, I went up to our suite and me and the boys went to sleep while my husband and daughter kept busy with miniature golf or fireworks on the beach.  I am no longer feeling the pressure and the contractions are back to being much less intense.  We just got back home and I will be 31 weeks pregnant tomorrow.  My goal is my C-Section due date which is still 6 weeks away.  So the countdown is on.  And I know each day that this baby stays tucked inside is a world of difference for him.  I managed to remain pregnant with my boys until 36 weeks, so I know I can do it with this little guy.  It just won’t be easy with me being Mommy to the twins and my older daughter… but we’ll give it the best try we can!

I go back to the doctor this Thursday for another check and for some tests.  There is a test called the fetal fibronectin which the OB will do, and it is fairly successful in determining if my body is gearing up for labor within the next two weeks.  If so, I will be given steroid shots to help the baby develop his lungs in preparation for the early delivery.  I probably would also be put on complete bed rest to help keep the pregnancy going. 

I am NOT going to have to go through all that.  I am certain that we can do this and we will do this.  I may be complaining in a few weeks that I am tired of being pregnant already, but you know what?  I’ll get over it!  Wish me luck!

Jennifer
Mom to Juliana (7), Louis (1) and Anthony (1)
Expecting #4 in September!
www.nevaland.com

Our oldest son Jeromy is in the 4th grade this school year. He came exactly a year after we got married. We always knew that we wanted kids and was really excited about being parents. We were still very young when Jeromy came along, early 20’s. We still did everything in our power to be good, responsible young parents. We never put him off on others and would rarely leave him. We got fussed at a lot by the grandmothers for not letting him stay.

When Jeromy FINALLY made it pass TERRIBLE 3’s we knew we wanted to try for a sibling or two. I never thought we would have such a difficult time getting pregnant and staying pregnant, Jeromy came so fast and so easy.

After many difficult months of trying, a few horrible miscarriage experiences we finally made in through the 1st & 2nd trimesters with Jayce. When I hit 24 weeks, I finally stopped worrying and started to enjoy being pregnant!!

Jayce is now 7 months and crawling all over the place. But now that I am knocking on 33’s door and my husband is close to 35, I wonder when we should try again. I am already high-risk for so many other reasons that I don’t want my age to be added to that long list.

How long did you wait, my first two are already 8+ yrs. apart, I am NOT getting any younger,,

~Shanta

Before I had kids, friends warned me that I would have to pack the entire house just to go to the grocery store. I never realized how right they were! Now that the kids are a little older, day to day trips aren’t that bad. I can pack a couple diapers, a container of wipes, two sippies and a small snack and be good for at least an hour or two if I time the errand just right.

Vacations are a different story!

When I worked a 9 to 5 job (more like 7:30 to 5:30), before I had kids, I remember how much I would look forward to vacation. I also remember how much work it was to prepare for vacation and how much catch up I had to do when I returned.

Now that my job is of the 24/7 variety, that’s still the case, but now instead of making sure someone is trained to work on my projects, I have to make sure I pack enough clothes, food, diapers, strollers, floaties, sippies, play yards to keep the kids safe at the beach, pack-n-plays, blankets, swimsuits, toys, first aid kits, sunscreen, baby shampoo, baby wash, baby toothbrushes, Goldfish crackers, portable DVD players (for the 10 hour car ride), DVDs and money for all of the things I forget. I’m tired just blogging about it and that’s only the things the kids will need while we are on vacation. I still have to make sure hubby and I have enough clean clothes, underwear, shampoo and so on and so forth.

In addition to packing all of the needed supplies, I need to do my research and make sure the hotels/condos we stay in are safe for the kids and that there are fun places for them. By the time I’ve done all this and have the kids strapped in their carseats and ready to go, I am exhausted and ready to crash in the passenger seat with my travel pillow. But hrm, what is that smell emanating from the back seat? And back inside we go to freshen up again before we leave.
Oh, and did I mention we have to make sure we have someone to watch our beloved fur babies?

With all the work going on vacation entails, not to mention the unpacking, laundry, etc. when we get home, is it worth it? I would have to say it definitely is. If a bright, bouncing beach ball on a beautiful white sand beach with gorgeous blue water puts even one smile on the face of my little boys, it’s sooo worth it and I’d do it monthly. Anything that brings joy to their hearts is it worth it to this mommy.

I can’t say that so much for a 9 to 5 job.

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