Secular Confessions [Archive] - Page 100 - American Pregnancy Association

Ky'sMom

11-01-2011, 10:46 AM

Oh and I'm not cool. I think I'm pretty awesome but yeah cool is not me. I like more nerdy things like sci-fy and reading and doing goofy things like putting DH and I in matching colors when we go out in public together. And I find nerdy men hot. I loved that fact that DH was into chess, studying something in school with the word physics in it, liked to program games on his graphing calculator for fun and that he loved to read and we could have these really deep conversations (not so much anymore, but than again I really haven't done that kind of reading and thinking for a while either....might be fun to do this winter though, pull out some Plato and read it together and talk about it).

Funny but I like all the things you like too sci-fi and reading and I am just generally goofy, it was one of my nick names as a child and I would respond by talking like Goofy the cartoon character. I still do that to this day actually. It cracks the kids up. But I still think I'm cool.

I think my definition of cool is not the general one though. I think people who are cool are themselves and they are not acting like something or someone else just to fit in or make people view them in a specific way.

"Hipsters" to me are not cool. They are lost souls who haven't found themselves yet IMO. Some play the game their whole lives, some become cool by being genuine.

I love someone who can have a conversation. To me being able to speak about your interest is very cool. That is the main reason why I was attracted to DH. Even though he has some far out ideas and believes a lot of stuff written in books that I think are propaganda, he is very passionate and intelligent and can speak very well about most any subject.

But nerdy people are my people so of course I think pretty much all nerds are cool.

I also think good mom's are cool and good dad's.

Erin

missychrissy

11-01-2011, 10:50 AM

To me, anyone 'cool' is just someone I like. I don't know if I even know what a hipster is. I tend to take people as they are with me though...I don't care what they're in to or how they dress or what their philosophical ideals are about life. If we can talk, laugh, have a good time and they're honest...then they're 'cool' in my book.

I tend to be goofy too Erin. I play the dumb blonde role very well and have fun with it. Sometimes at work :P It makes the day go by faster. Rich used to call me "GoofTroop" as a pet name.

demigraf

11-01-2011, 11:23 AM

girlwonder

11-01-2011, 11:26 AM

As I have gotten older my definition of cool has changed. When I was young it was irony, non-involvement, judgement and stillness. Now I am much more interested by people who are enthusiastic about something, super-excited means super-interesting person usually. Now I find myself drawn to enthusiastic people.

My comedy wasn't really goofy. Maybe a little scatter-brained, dorky but still kind of cool. The last set of managers I talked to told me that they would only represent me if I would dye my hair blond as it would match my persona better than brunette.

demigraf

11-01-2011, 11:29 AM

Happy belated birthday to Karen too. :D I didnt' get the chance to give you my wishes yesterday. Hope it was awesome.

AbbeysMom

11-01-2011, 11:40 AM

I wish! Only Wife #1 cooks. She's an amazing cook, though. The rest eat out/eat frozen food mostly.

Maybe I'll just ply them all with liquor, provide snacks, bread, cheeses, keep it *really* simple. And provide a veggie platter and dip for the vegetarian/sober friend :laugh:

Hey! If you're doing bread and cheese why not do a fondue party?

daylilies

11-01-2011, 11:41 AM

I agree with the potluck idea or a bunch of little appetizer type things, veggies, crackers and cheese, maybe dip or spread.

Congrats on your smily Erin ;)

AbbeysMom

11-01-2011, 11:47 AM

AbbeysMom

11-01-2011, 11:49 AM

Also, speaking of comfy shoes, I can't find the show blog someone mentioned awhile back. Can someone post the link again?

missychrissy

11-01-2011, 12:00 PM

demigraf

11-01-2011, 12:13 PM

Mylah ... We'll have to have a playdate in a scenic spot just so I can take some pictures of you and Bodhi together.
...
Oh, and back to Bridget. I hate hate hate it when people say something mean and then try to dismiss the insult by saying they were kidding or put the responsibility back on the other person by the second insult of "what's the matter, can't you take a joke?" It's just plain bullying.

L, we'll just have to set up a proper playdate together... PERIOD. Somewhere there aren't a million people milling around and it'll be easy to keep an eye on our kids and they can actually play.
Have you checked out the new Creativity museum in SF yet? I'm thinking of taking Bodhi there. The beach is a nice place for mellow kid interaction too, I find.
...
I call people who try to use the kidding angle "verbal snipers". They say something offensive and then retreat behind the cover of it all having been in the name of fun, and then try to pass it off like you need to lighten up too. It's cowardly is what it is.

(Did you like that last sentence, Ash?)

Abbey woke up sick, and all she wants to do is lay on the couch and watch cartoons. I feel guilty for letting her watch cartoons all day and guilty for not letting her watch cartoons all day.

Awwwww. :( Poor baby. Bodhi has been hypnotized by Clifford cartoons before too. I find the idea of a big red dog somewhat terrifying.

My DH is extremely social. He has a lot of what I call "loser friends." I don't consider everyone I meet my friend like he does. He has "friends" that he doesn't even know their real names. To me that is not a friend. His associate that he calls the "Haitian Sensation" comes to mind. Or the ghetto-popular name "Ray-Ray." (All ghetto people know a Ray-Ray). They are not people I would like to hang around so I don't really speak to many of his friends except Corey who was our former neighbor and I love his mom because she is the best seamstress I know and his friend Tony who I used to work with and who I let stay with us for a few months when Elle was a baby. One of his friends just had a birthday and he is what I call the "tacky friend." He sends out invites to his own birthday every year and always puts at the bottom BYOD (bring your own drinks) and bring the "birthday boy" either $30 cash or a bottle of (insert expensive drink, this year it was Hennesey which is not as expesnive as years pasts). DH is so silly to me because he usually does what the invite tells him to do. After he told me that this friend sent him an invite I asked what liquor he wanted this year and DH then remembered that this friend does this every year and decided not to go. He finally agreed that the man was tacky.

OMG. Erin, this whole paragraph was just hilarious. From your stories, I've always thought you were sitting on sitcom material, but now I'm also thinking your life would be reality TV gold, and I hate reality TV. A Haitian Sensation sounds way cooler than a Snooki or a Situation.

We really need to have our friends over to inaugurate the finished basement/bar (especially the bar). It's kind of hard to plan an adult party with the little critter on the loose. Plus, I seem to have chosen a batch of people all of whom have some weird food related quirk or the other.
...
Anyone want to handle the menu planning?

When in doubt, I find an assortment of Chinese food keeps everybody happy. And it's easy too.

There's this one mom of Syd's friend that is 'too cool' for us... Anyway, every single time I'm around her I say something stupid and she just looks at me. Not with any expression-but I cringe inwardly. It's always over stupid things and she doesn't hold it against me...but I'm not sure what it is about her that gets me so out of sorts.

DH's favorite sister makes me feel that way sometimes. She's the one who stares at me for 2 seconds before she replies to something I've said. I've just decided it's just her way, though.

And avoid talking to her as much as possible. LOL.

... part of the reason I haven't gone to a skill share night is that I feel like I don't have a skill to share and plus they have a music circle at the end of each night and I do not play an instrument.

Have you considered making percussion type of instruments with your little ones and showing others how to make their own shakers/drums out of household items? That might be a fun activity on music night. There are quite a few ideas online for making your own instruments with children. And homemade instruments can be so much more fun than real ones.

Cosmosmom

11-01-2011, 12:14 PM

YES! I'm totally going to overuse this.

Not very many people intimidate me, least of all people who would be considered cool. I've been around enough musicians and artists to generally be annoyed by hip people. I also purposely wear crocs and pastels to rock shows, just to offend hipsters wearing their vague shades of gray and Onitsuka Tigers.

I don't know what my internet forum personality is, but in real life, I don't really like very many people. Not that I'm unfriendly, but I make friends for keeps, so the list is short.

I don't even know what onitsuka tigers are...but I think crocs are cool! :laugh:

I like that you don't like many people. Reminds me of my sister....it's a rare person that doesn't annoy her....and yup I'm sometimes on her annoying list. :laugh:

I have two people other than DH and my sister that are my close friends IRL....one I met at age 15 and the other at age 16.

demigraf

11-01-2011, 12:14 PM

Also, speaking of comfy shoes, I can't find the show blog someone mentioned awhile back. Can someone post the link again?

http://barkingdogshoes.com/ :hi:

Bridget

11-01-2011, 12:17 PM

in real life, I don't really like very many people. Not that I'm unfriendly, but I make friends for keeps, so the list is short.
This is exactly how I am. The friends I have I have had almost my whole adult life. I find most people I meet to be ingenuine. I will be really turned off by someone who does not participate in give and take conversation and really listen to me when I am talking instead of just waiting for their turn to speak. Oddly enough, speaking of stoner friends, I find that when I spend time with my hippy farmer friends, the people they introduce me to are really interesting and interested at the same time.

missychrissy

11-01-2011, 12:20 PM

I call people who try to use the kidding angle "verbal snipers". They say something offensive and then retreat behind the cover of it all having been in the name of fun, and then try to pass it off like you need to lighten up too. It's cowardly is what it is.

--------
OMG. Erin, this whole paragraph was just hilarious. From your stories, I've always thought you were sitting on sitcom material, but now I'm also thinking your life would be reality TV gold, and I hate reality TV. A Haitian Sensation sounds way cooler than a Snooki or a Situation.
'verbal snipers' :laugh:

And omg YES! I'd love to see an Erin Reality Show!

Bridget

11-01-2011, 12:21 PM

Haaa! Verbal snipers is perfect!

Ky'sMom

11-01-2011, 01:05 PM

Testing this emoticon here:

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s320x320/389475_10150368283399454_704539453_7942038_4238527 76_n.jpg

-------------

Cool. It worked. :D

Until they add it permanently to the standard set of APA smileys (and so they should), save the link below. Then, if you want to use it click the "Insert Image" button on the toolbar and paste it into the URL field.

http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s320x320/389475_10150368283399454_704539453_7942038_4238527 76_n.jpg

Congratulations, Erin. Your first smiley. You earned it. :clap:

I am not easily embarrassed but that both embarrassed me and made me smile so thanks!! I am all excited about it now. I even thought that I should make some sort of speech in order to thank all the heathen women for their creative, intelligent conversations that made me able to be in contention for such a smiley!!

OMG. Erin, this whole paragraph was just hilarious. From your stories, I've always thought you were sitting on sitcom material, but now I'm also thinking your life would be reality TV gold, and I hate reality TV. A Haitian Sensation sounds way cooler than a Snooki or a Situation.

Have you considered making percussion type of instruments with your little ones and showing others how to make their own shakers/drums out of household items? That might be a fun activity on music night. There are quite a few ideas online for making your own instruments with children. And homemade instruments can be so much more fun than real ones.

Oddly enough my co-worker told me today that we should have a reality show of my family due to me asking him about fire fighter training facilities here in Atlanta. DH got accepted to take the physical abilities test in Chicago and wants to train in an actual FD facility and my co-worker used to be a fireman so he has some hookups for this.

Anyway I told him something wierd that DH said or did (I forgot what it was) but he did tell me that we should have our own reality show. I told him that DH has already thought of that but it doesn't involve regular every day life it is of the X rated variety and I shot that idea down really quickly even though it is not truly XXX or intercourse related, it is just something that DH likes to watch and he thinks someone else would want to watch it too. But I was like, um....No! My co-worker also thought that hilarious and the fact that I made sure to tell him I wasn't sexually harrassing him. Our company has had a lot of people get fired for sexual harrassment so any sort of conversation that involves gender or any reference to anything to do with sex, even if I don't mention sex or anything sexual, I make sure to introduce my statement as not intending to cause sexual harrassment. He also thinks that is hilarious as well (my co-worker, actually all of them, they swear they won't accuse me of sexual harrassment but I don't believe them).

And Bridget I agree with making your own instruments. Do any of the homeschoolers have any sort of African percussion instruments? If not you can make a lot of them out of gourds and beads and other easy to find materials. We made some sort of rattles out of gourds when I was a kid. I wish I could remember how to do it, I would let you know. But we made our own drums as well and had a percussion jam in a music program I was a part of.

I also don't have many true friends. Not including relatives I only have 2 people in my real life I consider friends. The one I mentioned before who throws the Mardi Gras party and one who was my roommate in college. He doesn't live far from me and comes over a couple times per week.

Most people get on my nerves though and I am honest and will tell people when they are getting on my nerves. Especially my former roommate as he can get needy and even though I always feel horrible later I am always trying to tell him how to manage his money since he is always broke and complains about not having money. But I also joke with them because I saw this movie with Jim Carey in it where he was a gay guy who figured out he was gay after he was married and have a kid...okay remember now it was called "I Love You Phillip Morris." And one of the parts of the movie that made me crack up was when he was talking about how he got into a life of crime because he didn't realize that being gay cost so much money to have all the designer clothes and go to parties and date and have a cool car. I always joke around with my friend since he is gay that he shouldn't be living the gay life so hard and he better watch out before he turns to a life of crime.

Erin

missychrissy

11-01-2011, 01:29 PM

I always joke around with my friend since he is gay that he shouldn't be living the gay life so hard and he better watch out before he turns to a life of crime.

Erin
:laugh:

and..."I don't mean to sexually harass you, but..." :lol:

Suja

11-01-2011, 01:30 PM

demigraf

11-01-2011, 01:46 PM

Yaknow, I'm not cool, I don't care, and I don't spend a second of my life worrying about it. I don't think any of my friends can be classified that way either. I am who I am, like who I like, take it or leave it. And if you decide that I'm not cool enough for you, then your loss, not mine.

You're so cool. :winks:

On a related topic, I have stopped talking about how cool I'm not, because that seems to have become the battle cry of the hipster too(ETA: not to imply that you were making any sort of hipster maneuver, Suja!).

Those pesky hipsters have co-opted everything!

AmeriBrit

11-01-2011, 02:44 PM

(Did you like that last sentence, Ash?)

Fo' shizzle, I did! I even had to log on to my laptop so that I could type a reply since I was trying to keep up with the conversation on my phone and it was killing my eyes! Verbal snipers are a dime a dozen here in the UK....they try to pass it off as "their humor" but it don't fly with me!

OMG, you guys, me in high school...I was the weird girl that lived in her own reality. I was so uncool that I must have been cool. LOL. Kurt Cobain was my style icon, so you can imagine me there amongst the girly girls in high school with my wool cardigans and unkept hair. I cringe when I think about high school. I mean, it was great in some ways but in other ways, I was soooo unaware of how other people saw me. Oh, and I was a band geek, too. Nowdays, I am more girly in my style, but I'm still a quiet person. I like me, though. I'll do the whole Stuart Smalley routine in the mirror sometimes just for a laugh. Some people just talk all the time, though, like my MIL...she's a hairdresser, so it's in her blood to just yap yap yap! A lot of times, I feel like I should talk just as much back, but I just don't talk that much!

Erin, your comment about how you had to preface your conversation to your colleague with that you weren't sexually harrassing him reminded me of a conversation I had with a teacher friend the other day. She was telling me about how she'd taken a group of students of France for a week and when they'd gone to a goat's cheese farm, the kids were asking to do something and she'd told them they weren't "risk-assessed" for that. She said after that, for every activity the kids wanted to do, they'd say, "Miss, are we risk-assessed to do this?" LOL.

missychrissy

11-01-2011, 04:06 PM

Erin, your comment about how you had to preface your conversation to your colleague with that you weren't sexually harrassing him reminded me of a conversation I had with a teacher friend the other day. She was telling me about how she'd taken a group of students of France for a week and when they'd gone to a goat's cheese farm, the kids were asking to do something and she'd told them they weren't "risk-assessed" for that. She said after that, for every activity the kids wanted to do, they'd say, "Miss, are we risk-assessed to do this?" LOL.

Kids are so funny like that! :laugh:

girlwonder

11-01-2011, 06:11 PM

I Love You Philip Morris was a GREAT movie.

missychrissy

11-01-2011, 06:13 PM

I haven't seen it. I should though 'cause I love Jim Carrey.

AbbeysMom

11-01-2011, 06:28 PM

I've now ordered a ton of shoes off Zappos, because I need new shoes. I just need one pair, but I have sensitive feet and I'm very particular about how shoes fit. I really only have one pair at any given time, then when I notice they start to wear out, I order another. They don't carry my old shoes, so I need to find a new kind.

I ordered 7 pairs, I had to return all of them, I ordered 7 more, and all are going back as well (free shipping both ways). Today I ordered 7 more and the credit card people finally called my husband and said "I don't mean to alarm you, but this women has ordered a high quantity of merchandise from an online shoe store. Can you validate the purchase?" He just said "Well she has sensitive feet, and it's hard to try on shoes with a toddler." I think the guy meant "approve" and not "validate" but Dh took him literally. :laugh:

Anyway. I never understood how some women have just a ton of shoes or a "shoe fetish" because I can't stand this. And how do they find that many pairs of shoes to fit their feet?!

Thanks for link Myles, I'll be doing research tonight. :)

missychrissy

11-01-2011, 06:33 PM

I love shoes-the older I get, the worse it is. But for as many as I might have (and it's not many compared with what other women have), I only wear 1 pair every day. The others are my 'special occasion' shoes. I can't order online though because the few times I tried they didn't fit me at all. I don't go shopping for myself often because I hate it, but every time I do I try on at least 10 pairs of shoes. I rarely buy myself a pair though because I can never find a pair that fits me well.

Bridget

11-01-2011, 06:49 PM

"I don't mean to alarm you, but this women has ordered a high quantity of merchandise from an online shoe store. Can you validate the purchase?" He just said "Well she has sensitive feet, and it's hard to try on shoes with a toddler." I think the guy meant "approve" and not "validate" but Dh took him literally. :laugh:

. :)
I literally lol'ed. Startled Sawyer!

Smplyme89

11-01-2011, 06:58 PM

I hate shoe shopping :pokey: My feet are really skinny and I have a super high arch so its a PITA to find shoes!!!

Cosmosmom

11-01-2011, 07:59 PM

I'm most likely going shoe shopping Saturday. I have flat feet and a heel spur....no way could I order shoes online. So off to Minneapolis I go....nice part is no taxes on shoes and clothes in MN and I'm guessing a new pair will likely run me between 120-280 so that helps. After that is the Lego store at MOA.

I really need something to wear as I have been in my sandals all spring/summer/fall and well it's getting cold! And I can't wear my tennis to work. My Naot shoes from the past few years are just too worn and not comfortable anymore.

Going here http://www.schulershoes.com/Search.aspx?a=Style%20=%20'Tailored'

Kind of interested in trying this one http://www.schulershoes.com/Womens-Finn-Comfort-Quebec-P308.aspx
Maybe this one http://www.schulershoes.com/Womens-Beautifeel-Aquila-P6762.aspx
Or maybe http://www.schulershoes.com/Womens-Romika-Citylight-03-P2887.aspx

daylilies

11-01-2011, 08:11 PM

LOL Molly!

I buy a lot of shoes online too because I used to be a size 5 (now I'm 6 for some reason, IDK why) But it's a lot easier to find fives online than in stores.

missychrissy

11-01-2011, 08:15 PM

Your feet grow when you're pregnant.

missychrissy

11-01-2011, 08:15 PM

Well, not grow exactly, but the extra weight makes your ligaments stretch out. Or something like that.

girlwonder

11-01-2011, 09:07 PM

3andMe

11-01-2011, 09:31 PM

I have a really difficult time with shoes, too. I started having a lot of foot pain after my last pregnancy and had to see a podiatrist. I wear my Keens almost every day and the last time I tried to wear dressier shoes my feet screamed within a few minutes. I took them off and put them in the Salvation Army bag.

When I finished reading to the twins tonight they started drumming on my belly and their own. I was listening to the different sounds, and then DS commented on how fat my belly was. I didn't think much of it, because kids say stuff, and then DD added, "Yes, it's really big. It's very, very fat. But do you know who has a much fatter tummy? Daddy! He's really fat." I sat up and asked them where they heard the word fat, because I've never said it in front of them.

DS told me that one of the (very thin) preschool boys says it a lot. Referring to himself. And that Daddy says he's fat. I talked to them about how bodies are composed of various tissues, like cartilage and bone and muscle and fat, and everyone has fatty tissue. That is what makes it more comfortable when we sit down on our butts. Some people have more fat than others, and they are overweight and it's not healthy. However, it is not kind to call people fat, and I would put it in the same category as a potty word - that it is fine to use in a medical or scientific or clinical context, but not okay to use as an insult or to describe someone. Finally their bodies are wonderful and they should treat them well -- think about all the good things their bodies do for them like climb stairs and do somersaults and take them fun places, and they should always feed their bodies healthy foods and exercise them and say kind things about them. If they hear someone like Daddy saying "I'm too fat" then they should remind them to say kind things about their bodies.

I was so sad after I kissed them goodnight. I have talked to dh about negative body image in front of them, and even little things like when they ask him to draw a cat and he says "I'm no good at that, I just won't even try." When there are 6-year-old girls out there dieting, can he not be more aware? Or am I just making a big deal out of it? And can you believe the 4-year-old boy who is walking around at their preschool talking about how fat he is? Anyway, dh is overweight, and he knows it, but what he needs to do is lose the weight and not talk about it in front of the twins.
=============

Good luck with your party, Katy!

AbbeysMom

11-01-2011, 09:31 PM

raspberry

11-01-2011, 09:33 PM

I have the hardest time finding comfy shoes that fit me. I think one foot is bigger than the other. And since I live in flip flops all the time, I swear my feet have spread. Good times. My dad has the widest feet ever. He wears a EE, could even be a EEE. I remember when were little my brother and I used to play in our parents closet, and we'd snicker at my dad's dress shoes. They looked like a platyus bill, they were so wide. Stylish 1970's dress shoes in size EEE.
Now I groan thinking I must have my dad's feet. When I do buy actual closed toe shoes, they end up hurting my feet, then I give them away to charity. I will need help if I ever move from a warm climate.

Bridget

11-01-2011, 09:48 PM

Lydia I think everything you said to them was spot on. I'd be sad too. It's crazy to think how easily children are affected by our own self image.

Gwenn

11-01-2011, 09:48 PM

L, that is so sad. I remember when I was 6 another little girl told me she hated me because I was thin. I've never understood that - she was a healthy weight and I was severely underweight. I've had a negative body image because of that for most of my life, I suspect. I feel sad for her, too.

I'm too tired to catch up with all your chattiness - sorry because you girls had fun in here. But I will say that I saw the doctor for a recheck of my knee and he referred me to an orthopedic surgeon.

demigraf

11-02-2011, 12:30 AM

Ah, all good points, L. So far, B's only been introduced to the word "fat" thru books about opposites, as in "Some pigs are thin, some pigs are fat, but how big is a pig? Can you tell me that?" It is a little jarring to hear B use the word even in the context of it being the opposite of thin. The term has a cruel 'nyah, nyah' type of connotation. I like the way you classified terms as scientific vs. potty words. Will add that to my repertoire.

Molly, your DH story made me LOL too. :D

beanpop

11-02-2011, 01:07 AM

:crazy: I missed two pages worth!

Yes, my birthday was Oct 30th too. How cool, I've never met anyone who had my birthday before! That's crazy. Happy birthday you two and Savana too!

Christina, I hate shoe shopping too. HATE it. The only shoes I think look remotely good on me are Converse but DBF keeps telling me I'm stupid for buying them because they're so flat and give me no support. Which is true but I like them :laugh:

Speaking of shoes, DBF found these at Ross the other night and showed them to me as a joke. Little did he know HOW AWESOME THEY ARE:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v400/beanpop/2011-10-30230949.jpg

He'll never forgive himself for showing them to me :laugh:

demigraf

11-02-2011, 01:20 AM

:crazy:

You know how you should always just count on 50% of people saying no when you invite them to a party? We have had only 3% say no, according to my pingg invite stats. So at last count we will have 55 people here on Sunday. Oh, and I just found out that rain is likely. HAHAHAHAHAHAHHHHHHAAAAAHAHAHAHAAAAA!!!!!!!:crazy:: crazy::crazy:

Are some of your guests kids (I presume)? Maybe you could set up an activity area in the garage that'll keep the smaller guests corralled in there. It won't reduce the head count, but it could make the party seem less crowded. On the plus side, how fun is Jojo's party gonna be for her? Wish I were there to help.

Speaking of helping, DH & I just agreed that B is a candidate for becoming a spoiled child, so we decided that we will do charity activities - including "volunteer vacations" in less developed countries - as a family. (ETA: when he gets older) I'm very excited about that and all that B will learn.

Karen, fun shoes. The sell Docs @ Ross now? Wow.

Gwenn

11-02-2011, 01:20 AM

Those shoes are awesome!

Oh, and Myles, I meant to apologize if I upset you about the "cool" comments. It was intended as a sign of respect for you, not to make you feel like I think you're hyper-critical of everyone. Because I know you aren't that way.

demigraf

11-02-2011, 01:57 AM

No, no, no, Gwenn! 'Course not! :hugs:

AmeriBrit

11-02-2011, 03:50 AM

My feet a freakishly narrow. Not really small in length. I wear a size 5 but my feet are so skinny. They look so childish do my feet. And buying boots is nearly impossible for me because of my scrawny calf muscles. Saying all that, though, I did just buy some really cool shoes for the winter. I'll post a picture when I'm on my laptop next time.

AbbeysMom

11-02-2011, 04:07 AM

Lydia, I'm going to try to remember everything you said to your twins when the conversation happens with Abbey. A friend was telling me that there is a giant billboard advertising plastic surgery (common in DFW) that has a thin women saying in a word bubble "I went from a size 8 to a size 2!"

I almost cried at the thought of how many girls/women were made needlessly self-counscious because of that sign. I know this sound sover-the-top but I plan on introducing feminist literature to Abbey pretty early on. Hopefully that can counteract the mass amount of body-conscious imagery and general self-loathing that she will encounter in the world. :|

I'm up at 5 am and have been up for 3 hours, because Abbey threw up from coughing in the middle of the night and I had to clean her up, change the sheets, and rub her back until she went back to sleep. I'm not complaining, actually I'm basking in the glow of feeling like a pretty good mommy right now, since she took to stroking my cheek lovingly and thanking me when she was dozing off. :wub:

Bridget

11-02-2011, 05:26 AM

Poor Abbey. I hate when they are sick. But bask away. You are such a good mama. Have you heard of the book, Tatterhood and other Tales? It's a collection of fairy tales where the woman is the hero. It's such a great read. I read it to Savana a few months ago.
All this talk about body image and gender bias makes me want to live off the grid so bad. Apparently dbf will need to shape up if he wants to come with us.
I used to read US magazine for my celebrity gossip but stopped buying them once Savana was old enough to look at what I was reading. I don't want her wishing she looked like anyone but that beautiful girl in the mirror.

Ky'sMom

11-02-2011, 06:41 AM

I also think you handled the conversation well L. My mom was constantly talking about how fat she was when I was a girl and that she needed "to lose 100 lbs." I never really saw my mom as fat and I remember thinking if she lost 100lbs she would be invisible. Even though she was overweight she didn't need to lose 100lbs IMO. It is strange now because I am overweight as well and I probably could stand to lose 100lbs, at least in my mind I think I do. In logical Erin mind, I think I could stand to lost around 60lbs and that that would be sufficient based on my body composition since most people don't think I weigh as much as I do since I am rather muscular, but based on the number on the scale and those charts, I could stand to lose 100lbs. I remember thinking of it a lot after having Elle when I was much fatter than I am now (scientifically fatter too, I was 265 lbs so I was very fat). I lost 58 lbs in 3 months after I was given the clearance to do so and wanted to lose another 40lbs on top of that but got side tracked. I think I've gained around 10lbs back, but that is just guessing since I don't weight myself anymore because I felt that based on my mom's history and just society's view of women's bodies in general, I truly believe that I will probably never be satisfied with my weight, so it was a goal of mine to not talk about it anymore or to even think about it. I try to just think in terms of health. Am I heating healthy, am I exercising at least 3 hours per week, which is my exercise goal. Lately I haven't been exercising because I have just been swamped with things. I haven't been to the gym in a week so I am going to try to make sure I go this weekend at least. I think I have pneumonia though and have been feeling tired and crappy so after I feel better I will go back.

But based on my mom's comments about her weight and based on my own similar thoughts that I used to have about my own appearance, I do not talk about fat/thin things at all. DH does because he grew up in a family that is extremely thin. He was a chubby child, not really fat IMO but his mom and family would refer to him as the "chubby" child of the family and he is still affected by it as he still thinks he's fat and he has said on more than one occasion that he is too fat and needs to lose weight in front of the children. Ky went through a time at the age of 5 where he kept saying that he was fat as well (based on some girl in his class calling him fat and I think DH's comments about his own weight didn't help matters).

And Molly I don't think it's over the top to introduce feminist sort of literature to a child at a young age. I do that with Ky even though he's a boy and I am sure I will do so with Elle as well. I also will not read them any fairy tales that include a man saving a woman, like Snow White or Sleeping Beauty. I know it may be over the top but I do not like those stories. I don't want my son to think he needs to save some woman who may end up using him and I don't want my daughter to think she needs a man to "live happily ever after." So we just do not read those stories at all and I will tell them why as well when they are old enough, like 4 or so. Elle has never read or seen any of the "princess" stuff for girls because I don't like those stories. Sometimes I feel maybe I am being to crazy about these things but it is just something I am not comfortable with introducing to Elle especially. She will already be told by society she is not pretty enough or thin enough and I don't want her to think that she needs a man to be pretty or thin or worthy of love.

Erin

Smplyme89

11-02-2011, 07:03 AM

Gwenn I hope you don't need surgery :(

Karen I can't see the pic at work, I'll check it out when I get home. And for the record Converse are THE most unfcomfortable shoes EVER :laugh:

Poor Abbey, I hope she is feeling better. I concur with Bridget you are most definintely a good mama :wub:

I'll have to store Tatterhood and other Tales in my memory bank to buy for Nolan.

Erin I don't think your being over the top! I can understand your reasoning completely. I always hated the general consensus that a woman 'needs' a man :pokey:

missychrissy

11-02-2011, 07:23 AM

And can you believe the 4-year-old boy who is walking around at their preschool talking about how fat he is?

That is so sad. :( They say childhood eat disorders are on the rise. I think you handled the situation perfectly...much better than Jesi does. If any one of us makes a comment about our weight, she punches us. Jokingly, of course.

But I will say that I saw the doctor for a recheck of my knee and he referred me to an orthopedic surgeon.

:( I hope you don't need surgery Mandy.

raspberry

11-02-2011, 07:54 AM

Love the Erin smiley!!

Mandy that is too bad, I hope the surgeon gives you good news.

Poor Abbey, hope she feels better. Sweet story about her rubbing your cheek. That memory will always be with you.

L, that makes me so sad about the kids and body image. It's a real problem in the US. I suffered from poor body image while growing up. My mom was overweight, and was always on a diet. In high school I was a normal weight, but I have thick strong legs, and of course I wanted thin legs. I wanted this mini skirt for my birthday, once I got it, I refused to wear it because I thought my thighs were fat :ohno: Of course now I would love to have those 17 year old thighs.
Makes me want to move to South Africa and live on a farm. Learning to speak Afrikaans could be a problem though.

I became a great-aunt yesterday!! My nephew and his wife had a precious baby girl named Sophia. They are 3,000 miles away though, I'd love to give her cuddles and snuggles.

missychrissy

11-02-2011, 08:12 AM

Smplyme89

11-02-2011, 08:23 AM

Aww congrats on your new niece :wub:

Ky'sMom

11-02-2011, 08:50 AM

I went through a phase when I was a teen where I thought I could stand to lose weight. I even quit gymnastics because I was afraid my thighs would bulk up more and I didn't want to look 'muscle-bound'

I always wanted to do gymnastics but my mom didn't sign me up because she couldn't afford to do it. It was a pay activity in our area and was pretty expensive. Instead of telling me we couldn't afford it though she said she didn't because my "tits would get too big" eventually and I wouldn't be able to flip anymore. It was funny at the time but I was upset that she said that about my boobs. I was 7 at the time and I was already in a training bra and I wore an A cup when I was 9 but I figure if I had been involved in a strenuous activity like that, I may not have had such large boobs. That is my random memory of the day!

Erin

Smplyme89

11-02-2011, 08:57 AM

Awww thats sad Erin, what a thing to say to a 7 year old :(

Cosmosmom

11-02-2011, 09:02 AM

Aww I just want to hug everyone who has had such body issues. I honestly don't know why I don't have that. Well I did after a point like when I had the gastric bypass...I didn't like being THAT fat. But I also have no desire to be thin....I think that I would look old and sickly. Really I have a picture of me at Disney when I was at my absolute thinnest point after the surgery and that was still 204 and a size 18(and I'm not super tall or big boned, my height is an average 5'5/5'6). And I look like I was sick....though it probably didn't help it was right after a long WI winter and I was also pretty pale.
Now I went and was stupid and didn't maintain that and instead let things get out of control again and gained back more than I should have. So I would ideally like to lose 30-40 lbs and would be thrilled with that...something where I'm back in 2x instead of 3x clothes. Still a plus sized girl but would just feel better and have a better time with clothes fitting correctly. Hopefully I can get on better with the exercise and I already eat pretty well (actually enjoy fruits and veggies and eat both daily at usually 2-3 times a day).....and knock off the drinking (something I picked up along the infertility route and am realizing that I cannot keep it in the house or I will drink it...expensive and way too many calories).

I started being a chubby kid when I was about 6/7....and I grew up with a pool and spending summers playing it and riding bikes so was at least somewhat active. But I still didn't have really issues about it. I think that it really helped having two parents who were involved and loved me. And my mom made sure that I always was dressed nicely and looked nice for things like school. Her belief is that you can be fat and still look nice...no need to be fat and dumpy. I had great hair, loved reading and was great at being a student. I know the few times I heard some idiot making comments like in high school, I would just say to myself, and where is he/she going to be in 10 years, probably nowhere. And from what I have seen on FB...generally came true.

As for stories, I love ones where the girl is the hero and more often than not pick series with a female lead. But I also love a princess story with a handsome prince to the rescue.

Ky'sMom

11-02-2011, 09:21 AM

Suja

11-02-2011, 09:31 AM

Gwenn, I hope your consult goes well.

I've already mentioned that I have terrible feet, but I didn't mention that they're shaped like Donald Duck's feet (no exaggeration). With being flat footed and having an extra bone and some ligament now stretched over the extra bone and all that, let's just say that I live in my hiking shoes with the orthotic. And when we actually go hiking (it's been a while and I very badly miss it), I have to tape it up further. I also have small feet - size 6 - 6 1/2, so it can be hard to find good hikers at stores, and I end up ordering them online, at Sierra Trading Post. I had to go to Houston about a month ago to meet with clients, and picked up some cute shoes to go with my cute/sexy suit. OMG, they totally killed me. I ended up walking barefoot at the airport. Torture devices, that's what they are.

Other than when I was pregnant (and shortly thereafter), this is the heaviest I've been. Need to lose about 10 pounds. What I don't like though isn't so much the number on the scale, but how I actually look. My upper body has changed completely. I don't like being a C-cup; I want my Bs back. And my stomach - OY! At some point, once DH is more able to handle Mira by himself, I will resume going to the gym.

My body image issues come more from my height (or lack thereof), than my weight, actually. You have no idea how difficult it is to be armpit high, packed like sardines in a NYC subway car. On the plus side though, people always think short = young, so I can pass for being a lot younger than I actually am.

Karen, those are some awesome shoes, and you must get them.

Smplyme89

11-02-2011, 09:37 AM

I'm in the short club too Suja :hi: I hate it. I look SO extra frumpy because of my height, but I spend all day in 4 inch heels to offset it though :winks:

missychrissy

11-02-2011, 09:38 AM

Yeah, my mom is weird like that. But really I didn't think of it as sad. Big boobs run in our family. I was just sad I couldn't do gymnastics.

Forgot to add though that I did post the pics of our Halloween getups on FB this morning in my Oct 11 album. Ky decided against the teeth on the side of his mouth though bwcause he didn't like the pic on the directions and thought it too freaky, so I just did a basic zombie.

Erin
I was trying to check them out shortly after you posted them, but I kept getting a message that they weren't available when I clicked on them. After you posted this I went back and was able to view them. FB is strange!

You have very cute kids. I'm sure you know that, but I can't get over how adorable they are!!

Suja

11-02-2011, 09:41 AM

demigraf

11-02-2011, 09:54 AM

missychrissy

11-02-2011, 09:56 AM

Omg - I forgot about these "smart" elevators! :winks:
Me too...I know you told us, but I've forgotten...how do they work again?

Smplyme89

11-02-2011, 10:08 AM

I couldn't agree more Suja! Pants too long that I'm stepping on all day and that make me look like I have a saggy crotch :pokey: I don't buy flowery prints anymore for that reason and it seems everytime I buy one of the flowers ends up dead center on my boob :eyebrow: I can't do juniors though-I have too much a$$ and hips :laugh:

Suja

11-02-2011, 10:26 AM

I rarely wear prints. It's hard to find the right ones. Mostly, I live in jeans and an assortment of plain colored Ts (in summer) and turtlenecks (in winter).

"Smart" elevator? What's that?

- Signed, Dumb Human

Cosmosmom

11-02-2011, 10:28 AM

So basically everyone has trouble finding clothes that fit right?

God I'm so jealous of DH, he's not all that tall for a dude....like 5'10 and can walk into shopko or walmart and basically grab a pair of jeans and leave. Doesn't even try them on and they fit because he's knows his waist number and inseam number.....and doesn't have hips to work with. I hate that ours come in petit, average or tall.

Smart elevator?

I just sent my MIL an email asking her to leave the perfume at home for thanksgiving. Last time she visited it took about 5 days and me washing all bedding and towels in the guest room and bathroom or it to stop smelling like her perfume. It was like it was stuck in the carpet. I also had to give Cosmo a bath because she smelled like her grandma after being snuggled by her. We already make her go outside to smoke or in the garage (which was almost set on fire last visit but I think that wouldn't happen again). I thought she would take a hint after I started flipping on the fans and coughing but it didn't work. I really hope she doesn't take it too personally...this is what I said ...

Yeah Thanksgiving will be here soon. Like three weeks! You can bring whatever you want....though we do have one request and that is maybe the perfume can be left at home? The less we are around things like that, the more it seems to irritate the allergies and asthma. It's annoying to be so sensitive to smells...that bottle of shampoo and conditioner I got to try when we were at shopko last time....I thought I could tolerate the smell but it turns out I cannot and am probably going to have to toss/get rid of both.

I hope that she doesn't take it wrong...though she's known me for 13.5 years now and knows I can be a PITA sometimes. Years ago I said I couldn't eat the meat for dinner unless it was defrosted properly. That got some eye rolls and I know they all thought I was weird and would be like well nobody in the house has gotten sick before. But I'm picky about food safety and they did start defrosting the meat in the frig when I was eating over.

demigraf

11-02-2011, 10:31 AM

Cosmosmom

11-02-2011, 10:36 AM

We must just be smart enough to not wear shoes that hurt! ;) I mean I hope to have a shoe that looks cute enough too but if a choice has to be made, it will be for comfort. Sorry but my feet just do not come to a tiny point and I like room for my toes to wiggle.

I really hope to find something this weekend that is comfortable. And hopefully it's something more in the 100 range and now 200 range price-wise.

demigraf

11-02-2011, 10:37 AM

I think your note to your MIL was fine, Jen.

missychrissy

11-02-2011, 10:48 AM

I'm starting to think very few of us actually have fussy feet (extra bone notwithstanding, Suja) but instead that most of us Secular ladies just refuse to wear torturous shoes. I just need shoes I can walk in for distances.

Jennifer, I love my Naot Mary Janes. The sandals not so much.

I'm gonna pull back on the last thing I posted out of paranoia, Chrissy. Was just trying to be cute, which never gets me anywhere. Will remind you how they work privately, not that I expect you to be terribly interested. :P

I have very high (5") heels that I can walk in all day comfortably. And I've bought sneakers that I couldn't run 1/4 of a mile in. For me it's not about style, it's really all about the fit. You'd think all 9W's would be built the same, but they're not. I have to try them on and stand in them (both if they're heels) before I can decide if I can wear them all day. I had super cute, comfortable 4" heels that I wore almost daily for over 2 years...till the heel started to warble when I walked. I was so sad to let them go. I haven't found another pair of high heels that have been quite as comfy for me since.

And Myles, I'm definitely interested. I remember being fascinated when you explained it, but for the life of me I can't remember the details. Remember, I'm kinda geeky so these things do intrigue me. :P

missychrissy

11-02-2011, 10:50 AM

As for clothes, I have a terrible time because I guess I'm small in the waist (don't feel like it, but for having 4 kids I guess I am) but my legs are long. It's extremely difficult to find pants that fit my waist and are long enough at the same time. If they're long enough, they're usually far too big around my waist and hips and they sag at my butt. I hate clothes shopping!

Ky'sMom

11-02-2011, 10:54 AM

I remember the smart elevators too but don't remember the details.

I also don't like wearing tortuous shoes. I have perfect feet IMO. My feet and my hair are my favorite parts of my body. My grandma told me a long time ago to make sure I always wore comfortable shoes so I don't mess up my feet. To this day I have never had a bunion or callous or anything really since I never wear extremely flat shoes. I rarely wear flip flops (the cheapo kinds with no support). I won't wear any shoe with more than a 2 inch heel since that is the height (2" and below) that are most comfortable for me.

Erin

AmeriBrit

11-02-2011, 10:55 AM

missychrissy

11-02-2011, 10:58 AM

These are the latest shoes I got for wearing to school:

http://www.dorothyperkins.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=&catalogId=33053&storeId=12552&productId=3410586&langId=-1&sort_field=Relevance&categoryId=208738&parent_categoryId=208609&pageSize=20
How strange-the link showed up in my email notification but I can't see them here?

Anyway, they're too cute! I'd wear them!! And now I'm really in the mood for shoe shopping. I desperately need another pair of cute heels I can wear all day.

AbbeysMom

11-02-2011, 11:39 AM

These are the latest shoes I got for wearing to school:

http://www.dorothyperkins.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=&catalogId=33053&storeId=12552&productId=3410586&langId=-1&sort_field=Relevance&categoryId=208738&parent_categoryId=208609&pageSize=20

This link works:

http://media.dorothyperkins.com/wcsstore/DorothyPerkins/images/catalog/54000823_large.jpg

and neat shoes! But just the kind I could never wear. I ordered these and am awaiting their arrival to see if they are finally the pair that work:

http://www.zappos.com/birkenstock-boston-soft-footbed-denim-suede

I know, they're so hot. :eyeroll:

AbbeysMom

11-02-2011, 11:45 AM

I don't know who designs clothes for short people, but they're generally AWFUL. The prints end up huge and I look like I'm being eaten by giant flowers or somesuch. The other option is to get into junior clothes, but good lord, I don't want to show that much boobage or my buttcrack.

:laugh:

I'm of average height, and average weight (size 10 on top and 12 on the bottom, which I think is pretty USA average). I don't have any trouble finding clothes, but I pretty much only shop at the Gap or American Apparel (t-shirts and jeans). Maybe a jacket from REI. And now those unisex Birkenstocks. So basically, I dress like a boy, except I favor pretty colors.

girlwonder

11-02-2011, 11:51 AM

My feet are awful, too. I spent a long time trying to find supportive shoes like Keens, Naots, etc. and my feet kept getting worse and worse and worse. Finally went to a foot surgeon who did x-rays and told me that my shoes were TOO supportive and that I needed to wear completely unsupportive shoes (flats, flip-flops). My feet underpronate ( high arch) from not fully "uncurling" from when I was born. I tend to walk on the outside of my feet and so any support there actually does more harm and overstretches those tendons and bones.

And now I am off to my volunteer job which I am not skipping today, though I am thinking about letting them know that I can't work after Thanksgiving at all because I will be too busy. Hate to do that, but I am already getting cranky and crazy from the stress of the holiday shows.

daylilies

11-02-2011, 11:51 AM

I confess I have never worn heels in my life. I just don't know how people manage to walk in them.

I didn't know feet grow when you're pregnant-I thought they just swelled and went back to their normal size after the baby. I thought my feet were just getting fat. :P

I hate how clothes fit me and I've said this before so I'll just shut up now :)

Smplyme89

11-02-2011, 11:53 AM

Ash I think those are so cute!!!

I like the shoes from Zappo's they look extra comfy!!

I am comfortable in heels, always have been. Theo nes I have now are starting to wobble in the heel so I guess after over a year its time for a new pair :eyeroll: I think I am going to try to go with wedges this time. If I can find some in my cheap-o budget :laugh:

Smplyme89

11-02-2011, 11:55 AM

My feet are awful, too. I spent a long time trying to find supportive shoes like Keens, Naots, etc. and my feet kept getting worse and worse and worse. Finally went to a foot surgeon who did x-rays and told me that my shoes were TOO supportive and that I needed to wear completely unsupportive shoes (flats, flip-flops). My feet underpronate ( high arch) from not fully "uncurling" from when I was born. I tend to walk on the outside of my feet and so any support there actually does more harm and overstretches those tendons and bones.

Wow! You have my feet!! :laugh: I guess its a good thing I adore flip flops than! :laugh:

Bridget

11-02-2011, 11:57 AM

I wear runners most of the time day to day but if I'm going out I wear stacked boots because I'm 5'2 and just really feel like I need to be taller.:laugh: I went and got those skecher (sp?) lift ups or whatever and I wear them in my kitchen on cooking days because it just feels right to be up a little higher at the sink, stove, etc.

Suja

11-02-2011, 12:12 PM

I don't think I've ever found comfy heels. I don't suppose there are any shoe manufacturers whose target audience is people with Donald Duck feet.

Smplyme89

11-02-2011, 12:13 PM

I don't think I've ever found comfy heels. I don't suppose there are any shoe manufacturers whose target audience is people with Donald Duck feet.

:lol:

Bridget

11-02-2011, 12:15 PM

I still have the six inch platform knee high boots I used to wear. Never know when I might need those. :winks:

Smplyme89

11-02-2011, 12:16 PM

I still have the six inch platform knee high boots I used to wear. Never know when I might need those. :winks:

I don't know why, but I have a REALLY hard time envisioning you in six inch platform knee high boots :laugh:

AmeriBrit

11-02-2011, 12:17 PM

I love heels. I'm 5'6" and I never thought I was that tall til I moved here and everyone (female) around me seems to be 5'2" and shorter! When I wear heels, I'm nearly as tall as DH; he's 5'11".

missychrissy

11-02-2011, 12:18 PM

I don't know why, but I have a REALLY hard time envisioning you in six inch platform knee high boots :laugh:
Mine are only 4" and they're not platform, but I did wear my knee high boots over the weekend :P I love them! And they're super comfy. I could (and have) wear them all day, but they don't match all my outfits.

Bridget

11-02-2011, 12:21 PM

I don't know why, but I have a REALLY hard time envisioning you in six inch platform knee high boots :laugh:
I used to wear some wild outfits back in the day. I had super funky bell bottoms that were custom made and they looked fabulous with my boots. I loved getting dressed to go out!
I still wear the bell bottoms minus the boots. :)

missychrissy

11-02-2011, 12:22 PM

:( I wish I kept my bell bottoms. I didn't think I'd ever lose my weight though so I gave them to a charity.

Suja

11-02-2011, 12:22 PM

I don't know why, but I have a REALLY hard time envisioning you in six inch platform knee high boots :laugh:

Yeah, me too. If there are no pikchurs, it didn't happen, right? :laugh:

Smplyme89

11-02-2011, 12:23 PM

I used to wear some wild outfits back in the day. I had super funky bell bottoms that were custom made and they looked fabulous with my boots. I loved getting dressed to go out!
I still wear the bell bottoms minus the boots. :)

I bet you looked HOT!!! :ohyea:

Suja

11-02-2011, 12:29 PM

Smplyme89

11-02-2011, 12:32 PM

Mine are only 4" and they're not platform, but I did wear my knee high boots over the weekend :P I love them! And they're super comfy. I could (and have) wear them all day, but they don't match all my outfits.

I never could wear knee high boots, I have man caves so I'm jealous :pokey:

BUT you did look awesome :ohyea:

:( I wish I kept my bell bottoms. I didn't think I'd ever lose my weight though so I gave them to a charity.

I LOVE bell bottoms!!

Yeah, me too. If there are no pikchurs, it didn't happen, right? :laugh:

:laugh: True!! Bridget we need pics!!!

Cosmosmom

11-02-2011, 12:47 PM

Ash those are cute....I just couldn't wear them myself! I can barely wear my Dansko clogs without tripping and those heels aren't as tall.

Um, I think that the birkenstocks are cute. I haven't tried a pair in years and years, mostly because I feel the need for more cushion in the heel. But I like the look. :)

Katy, I think that it is totally reasonable to let the volunteer gig know you won't be there for a while.

OMG I think I might go crazy if I get a baby that keeps me up all night for too long. My second night of 4.5-5 hours of sleep in a row and I'm dying today and that is after coffee, espresso and now diet mt dew. I will miss the first few weeks until we can bring baby home and will also do formula and not bf so maybe I will get lucky and get one that doesn't want to party all night....right?

missychrissy

11-02-2011, 12:49 PM

AmeriBrit

11-02-2011, 12:52 PM

OMG I think I might go crazy if I get a baby that keeps me up all night for too long. My second night of 4.5-5 hours of sleep in a row and I'm dying today and that is after coffee, espresso and now diet mt dew. I will miss the first few weeks until we can bring baby home and will also do formula and not bf so maybe I will get lucky and get one that doesn't want to party all night....right?

Maybe! If not, you just adjust pretty quickly. Your mood might not be great for awhile, but newborns tend to do that to your life...hehehehe. I do miss the days of sleeping as much as I wanted...but I wouldn't trade my kids for anything, of course....lol....it's just nice to have a night to ourselves every now and then provided by the grandparents babysitting. :)

Cosmosmom

11-02-2011, 12:52 PM

:D

Should I keep it to myself that my worst 'offender' of the up-all-nights was formula fed?

:laugh: Haha I was one of those....and I was a party 2am my crib kind of girl. My sister was bf and not so much a night owl as me. I'm just kind of hoping that maybe I can still get some sleep. Maybe maybe? I think that I need more sleep than I did in my 20's!

missychrissy

11-02-2011, 12:56 PM

:laugh: Haha I was one of those....and I was a party 2am my crib kind of girl. My sister was bf and not so much a night owl as me. I'm just kind of hoping that maybe I can still get some sleep. Maybe maybe? I think that I need more sleep than I did in my 20's!
I definitely need more sleep now than I did in my 20's. That's probably why having Bobbie and Jesi so close together when I was a teen didn't seem to affect me as much as having Conner at 30 did! lol

Every one of my kids was different in their sleep patterns. Bobbie was formula fed after a week (she was in neonatal ICU and I lived 40 miles away and couldn't afford a breast pump), and the other 3 were breastfed. Jesi was my 'best' nighttime sleeper.

Coincidentally or not, they're still like that. Bobbie often stays up till 4 a.m. or later, while Jesi will frequently go to bed at 7 p.m.

AbbeysMom

11-02-2011, 01:21 PM

Um, I think that the birkenstocks are cute. I haven't tried a pair in years and years, mostly because I feel the need for more cushion in the heel. But I like the look. :)

OMG I think I might go crazy if I get a baby that keeps me up all night for too long. My second night of 4.5-5 hours of sleep in a row and I'm dying today and that is after coffee, espresso and now diet mt dew. I will miss the first few weeks until we can bring baby home and will also do formula and not bf so maybe I will get lucky and get one that doesn't want to party all night....right?

Thanks for that, especially because they came today and fit great so screw fashion, I'm wearing birks. But I never felt more like I belonged back in Boulder when i tried on my new Birkenstock sandal-clogs with socks. :laugh:

And when you get your new LO I bet you'll get into a mommy mode where you sleep lighter and 'need' less, for awhile anyway. I'm a 10-hour-night sleeper but miraculously survived on half that when Abbey was tiny.

Cosmosmom

11-02-2011, 01:40 PM

I saw screw fashion too. :) I pull a big no no daily and wear socks with my sandals (thin black socks, black sandals, black pants....I don't think that it stands out too much). It's more comfortable plus work dress code requires socks or hose at all times.

girlwonder

11-02-2011, 02:02 PM

:laugh:
I don't think I've ever found comfy heels. I don't suppose there are any shoe manufacturers whose target audience is people with Donald Duck feet.

missychrissy

11-02-2011, 02:06 PM

Smplyme89

11-02-2011, 02:11 PM

Jennifer I think you'll be amazed at what you can when you bring home that squishy new bundle of joy :wub: I also agree that some babies are just simply better sleepers than others, but you never know-maybe you'll get lucky :winks:

Smplyme89

11-02-2011, 02:12 PM

I can't wear closed toe'd shoes AT ALL! I hate my feet to be enclosed, they get all hot and sticky :gross: I'm a flip flop/open toe heel girl all year round! Good thing I don't live up north :laugh:

Cosmosmom

11-02-2011, 02:12 PM

I absolutely hate socks...if I could get away with it, I'd wear my shoes without them even in winter. I learned as a teen though that that does nothing pleasant for the insides. :D I wear the thinnest trouser socks I can find in winter.

I'm so bad about it that if my feet start feeling hot at all, I get witchy with a b. I even sleep with my feet sticking out of the covers, even during the winter. I hate my feet to be warm.

I'm normally hot...except my feet. I almost always wear socks except in summer and only if not working and in sandals if wearing capri...if I have my jeans on, I have socks on. I don't like wearing socks to bed though.

raspberry

11-02-2011, 02:12 PM

missychrissy

11-02-2011, 02:13 PM

I'm a flip flop/open toe heel girl all year round! Good thing I don't live up north :laugh:
Me too...or I would be. I happen to live up North. :cry: My preference is to be barefoot. Flip-flops are a close second.

Smplyme89

11-02-2011, 02:15 PM

Shelley I'm sorry to hear that, I hope she has some supportive people around her to help.

missychrissy

11-02-2011, 02:16 PM

Oh I loathe high heels, I avoid them at all costs. I am tall at 5'8", so I never felt I needed them. When I would wear them I could hear my toes crying in agony.

My niece is having bfing issues her new baby. I know how hard it is, I wish I lived closer to help her.

I still feel tired, and not caught up on my sleep and my son is 3 years old. He was a terrible sleeper in the beginning, and quite honestly I have never felt such complete exhaustion as I did during those first 8 weeks of his life. Now he sleeps through the night, but morning still comes way too early. It does not help that I stay up too late reading. And I am not a morning person at all. Never will be.
I'm 5'8" too and I still :wub: heels.

:( ask her to find a lactation consultant. our local hospital provides LC free of charge for new mothers.

I'm not a morning person either. When my oldest started Kindergarten it was a real life changer for me. I often stay up far to late to this day, and she's 18 now. I got better about waking in the morning and not being so grouchy (and making it where I needed to be on time!) but it's still a challenge for me. I'm always rushing around to meet my bus.

Smplyme89

11-02-2011, 02:16 PM

Me too...or I would be. I happen to live up North. :cry: My preference is to be barefoot. Flip-flops are a close second.

I LOVE to be barefoot, but one too many ring worms and unfortunately I had to stop that... except when I'm at home :P

ETA: Not that I went barefoot everywhere, I just meant in my yard :laugh: Now I only go barefoot inside my house :crazy:

raspberry

11-02-2011, 02:18 PM

She is talking to the hospital LC, I hope they can help her. I've been talking to her and hopefully helping her. Her dh will support her, but she doesn't have any bf friends where they live.

Smplyme89

11-02-2011, 02:18 PM

I'm the grouchiest morning person! I can't help it, I wake up not wanting to wake up :laugh: I'm alot better than I used to be, I still have to consciously remind myself that just because its 5o'clock in the morning doesn't mean I have the right to be a grump :P

Cosmosmom

11-02-2011, 02:19 PM

I can't wear closed toe'd shoes AT ALL! I hate my feet to be enclosed, they get all hot and sticky :gross: I'm a flip flop/open toe heel girl all year round! Good thing I don't live up north :laugh:

Says the Florida girl. :laugh: I just bought these http://www.columbia.com/Women%E2%80%99s-Bugaboot%C2%AE-Plus/BL1490,default,pd.html#

And will pretty much wear them everytime I leave the house from basically anytime now (though hopefully the longer the better!) until probably close to April. I leave a pair of shoes under my desk to change into for work.
Notice how these are lined with special reflective material to warm your foot from your own body heat? I believe that they are rated to keep feet warm up to -25 outside.

raspberry

11-02-2011, 02:19 PM

Smplyme89

11-02-2011, 02:20 PM

She is talking to the hospital LC, I hope they can help her. I've been talking to her and hopefully helping her. Her dh will support her, but she doesn't have any bf friends where they live.

I hope its a good LC. It's hard when you don't have any support, been there done that. I'm sure you are helping her, just hearing someone elses experiences can be extremely uplifting during hard times :hugs:

missychrissy

11-02-2011, 02:21 PM

ugh-I couldn't do 5:00 a.m. It's all I can do to get up at 6...and i have to catch my bus at 6:45. It doesn't leave a lot of time for showering and stuff.

Cosmosmom

11-02-2011, 02:23 PM

You can get ringworm in the back yard? I think that we probably have less icky bugs or at least less of them up north!

Um I'm not a morning person and have such a hard time in the morning....and I don't get up until almost 7am.

Smplyme89

11-02-2011, 02:23 PM

Says the Florida girl. :laugh: I just bought these http://www.columbia.com/Women%E2%80%99s-Bugaboot%C2%AE-Plus/BL1490,default,pd.html#

And will pretty much wear them everytime I leave the house from basically anytime now (though hopefully the longer the better!) until probably close to April. I leave a pair of shoes under my desk to change into for work.
Notice how these are lined with special reflective material to warm your foot from your own body heat? I believe that they are rated to keep feet warm up to -25 outside.

YES! I was destined to be born here! I would die if I had to wear shoes. We lived in TN/GA for a few years and I even wore flip flops up there, but those winters are mild compared to going farther north!

Wow. I couldn't imagine spending that much on shoes, my flip flops cost like $5 :laugh: That is kind of cool how they warm your feet though!!! Still wouldn't wear them, I can just imagine the sweat rolling down my ankles :gross:

I don't like to even talk before 9am, which is difficult around here :)

A woman after my own heart!

missychrissy

11-02-2011, 02:25 PM

I don't like to even talk before 9am, which is difficult around here :)

:lol: Me too...thankfully it's only my boss & I in our office and he never makes it in before 9:00 a.m. I'll chat with the cleaner guy but that's about it. I even ignore the phone before 9. :P

You can get ringworm in the back yard? I think that we probably have less icky bugs or at least less of them up north
I think you can get ringworm anywhere...I have known people around me to have gotten it. But maybe it's harder to get in northern states? I know I've never had it and I don't think any of my kids have. Rich has had it, but he worked on a farm and it's something you can get from cows.

Smplyme89

11-02-2011, 02:25 PM

ugh-I couldn't do 5:00 a.m. It's all I can do to get up at 6...and i have to catch my bus at 6:45. It doesn't leave a lot of time for showering and stuff.

Yeah 5a.m. is pretty harsh, its not even light out yet! This week DH has been getting up at 3:30 and normally I would get up with him, maybe help him get out the door, and tell him bye... but I can't do it. I stay up til 1 or later doing homework, there is no way I can become conscious at 3:30! :shocker:

You can get ringworm in the back yard? I think that we probably have less icky bugs or at least less them up north!

Um I'm not a morning person and have such a hard time in the morning....and I don't get up until almost 7am.

Yeah, its Florida. You can get ringworm anywhere!! Hate those things... Ick!

That is one thing that is nice about the cooler weather, less bugs!

Cosmosmom

11-02-2011, 02:26 PM

Christina, the sweat isn't pouring off of you when it's cold enough to wear boots like mine! LOL

My last pair of boots from them lasted at least 10 winters so it's really cheap when you look at it like that. These are basically the same except they are way lighter so hopefully that will be a good thing.

Really what i need them for though is my uncoordinated self cannot walk on ice/snow well at all and I need major traction soles....and my old boots were vital in my not a$$ busting all the time.

missychrissy

11-02-2011, 02:27 PM

Yeah 5a.m. is pretty harsh, its not even light out yet! This week DH has been getting up at 3:30 and normally I would get up with him, maybe help him get out the door, and tell him bye... but I can't do it. I stay up til 1 or later doing homework, there is no way I can become conscious at 3:30! :shocker:
Yeah, no freaking way. In our early years Rich worked on a farm and had to get up at 3:15. The only time I saw him to kiss him goodbye was when I was still up! lol

3rd shift is easier for me than 1st.

Cosmosmom

11-02-2011, 02:27 PM

OMG, I wish it was time to go home. I wonder if I can get out early tonight......

missychrissy

11-02-2011, 02:28 PM

It's 2 minutes away from quitting time for me. :hooray: I'm exhausted today.

Smplyme89

11-02-2011, 02:32 PM

That does make sense Jennifer, just the idea of wearing something like that all day... Ugh... Can't do it! I guess I'll just keep my butt in Florida :laugh:

Which reminds me, were going to GA in April for my cousins reception :cabbage: Can't wait to see everyone again and I love GA in April!

It's something I started doing a long time ago Chrissy. A kiss goodbye from DH in the morning is really just an awesome way to start my day. Especially now that I'm back to school, whats me getting up 30mnis-hr earlier if I get to spend a little time with him :wub: Of course he works til 9 or so and I am already in my books at that point, so you take what you can get right?? Now 3:30... Not happening... Hopefully he goes back to his normal 5:00 next week!!

Smplyme89

11-02-2011, 02:33 PM

It's 2 minutes away from quitting time for me. :hooray: I'm exhausted today.

Luck you! :pokey: I still have half an hour left!! :truce:

AmeriBrit

11-02-2011, 02:34 PM

I'm also a bare footer. I was raised a true hill billy and we only ever wore shoes to school and Wal-Mart. For real. I used to have dreams that I was at school and had forgotten to put my shoes on!

I'm also not a morning person. People who are morning people must be freaks of nature. And I say that not meaning to offend any morning person. ;-)

Smplyme89

11-02-2011, 02:35 PM

I couldn't agree more! DH is one of those morning people, wants to wake up straight out of bed and have indepth conversations :pokey: Than again I do that to him late at night when he's trying to sleep :laugh:

Suja

11-02-2011, 03:14 PM

OMG I think I might go crazy if I get a baby that keeps me up all night for too long. My second night of 4.5-5 hours of sleep in a row and I'm dying today and that is after coffee, espresso and now diet mt dew. I will miss the first few weeks until we can bring baby home and will also do formula and not bf so maybe I will get lucky and get one that doesn't want to party all night....right?

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Going on 20+ month of being sleep deprived. I don't think this child will sleep until she starts school, and then she'll be impossible to wake up. Just watch. FWIW, you develop coping mechanisms, one of which is having lowered expectations for oneself.

Suja

11-02-2011, 03:20 PM

She is talking to the hospital LC, I hope they can help her. I've been talking to her and hopefully helping her. Her dh will support her, but she doesn't have any bf friends where they live.

Is she willing to get on APA? The BF-ing forum is all kinds of awesome, and maybe can help, even if it is with moral support.

raspberry

11-02-2011, 03:51 PM

I baked bread and pumpkin muffins today, can I serve that for dinner? I sorta forgot dinner.

Suja, I told her about APA and invited her. She did post a couple times, but not sure it was for her. I don't want to push too far. The bf forum was huge help for me!!

Smplyme89

11-02-2011, 07:49 PM

haha bread and pumpkin muffins (never had 'em) sound like dinner to me :laugh: I keep Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup always handy for when I forget to get something out :laugh:

Quick question, how do you ladies respond to the various Christian talk?? We have some pretty pushy members that just want to go on and on about at work and I don't want to pretend I am agreeing with them (that would be a lie) nor do I want to state my beliefs (they would probably picket the CU:eyeroll:)

Gwenn

11-02-2011, 07:56 PM

Missed a lot again today. I've been meaning to get some Danskos, but in the meantime I've been wearing Sketchers with my dress pants at work. Because I'm awesome that way.

Funny to hear everyone's height. I didn't picture Bridget as short. I'm pretty solidly average height.

My PT friend at work says the ortho surgeon may just recommend a brace. We'll see. I really don't want surgery.

Gwenn

11-02-2011, 08:15 PM

Smplyme89

11-02-2011, 08:29 PM

Gwen that is weird :eyebrow: and for the record you will most definitely be an awesome mom!!

Suja

11-02-2011, 08:38 PM

missychrissy

11-02-2011, 08:39 PM

I was talking with a woman at work today about my STC and she said, "I think you'll be a really great mom."

I said, "I hope so."

She said, "well, maybe you won't." and completely changed the subject. Ummm...???
:indifferent: Wow. That was rude. And of course you'll make a great mom. wtf?

I was so tired all day and I fell asleep very early (for me) at around 9:30. It's 10:30 now and I'm wide awake. I'm afraid I'm going to have a sleepless night again.

demigraf

11-02-2011, 10:20 PM

Gwenn, that woman's comment... not sure what she was trying to say, but it definitely missed its mark. Maybe she was just trying to say we're not all natural born muthas (NBM), and it's a skill like any other that you can practice and perfect. I hope she meant something positive like that.

Random anecdote of the day ... DH has been doing a recording session up at that movie studio on the ranch all week again. It's been cool for him because it's sort of a reunion with people he's worked with in the past. Even that symphony woman whose tire he changed - the one that'll get us into the ballet - is in it. No free tix yet for the Nutcracker, but she has been giving him Hawaiian chocolates, which I don't mind one bit. But I digress. One of the engineers on the session is an avowed atheist who started really pressuring DH about Christmas tonight - how it's a Christian holiday and we shouldn't celebrate it since we're not Christians. I know we've all had this discussion in this room before, so we don't need to revisit its pagan origins, Krismas/Xmas alternatives,the kids/Santa question and all that. Anyway, DH was starting to wonder if the guy had a point and maybe we shouldn't even be celebrating the holiday, the way we don't observe Chanukkah or Kwanzaa, etc. But then the guy started spouting off his theories about how he didn't believe in cholesterol - something about how it's not inherently bad for you if you just get enough exercise. My DH isn't a decathlete, but he's reasonably active, has always had a healthy 5 mile run 3-4 days a week. He did have high cholesterol that put him at risk for heart disease despite his activity level, and he managed to lower it by 40 points thru diet alone. So I dunno. Maybe in some sense, the guy's right, and you can eat a side of bacon with a 6-egg omelette daily as long as you spend all day doing pliometrics in boot camp class or something. Long story short, we've decided that the next time someone starts to ask us if we believe in celebrating Christmas, we're just going to have to first ask him if he believes in cholesterol.

Smplyme89

11-02-2011, 10:25 PM

Gwenn

11-02-2011, 10:56 PM

demigraf

11-03-2011, 12:46 AM

I'm the grouchiest morning person! I can't help it, I wake up not wanting to wake up :laugh:

Us too. I have to wonder what it must be like for Bodhi - who is all smiles and sunshine in the morning - to see mommy and daddy dragging themselves around like zombies at the beginning of every day. I hope it doesn't suck too badly for him. It takes me a good hour to shake the cobwebs off.

demigraf

11-03-2011, 12:54 AM

OK that is too hilarious! :laugh: How can you not 'believe' in cholesterol :laugh:

I love Christmas, don't care about the origin. Pretty lights, yummy food, and good time with family :D Who couldn't love that!

Speaking of grumpy, count me in as a Christmas hater. The holiday to me just has connotations of cold weather, spicy smells I don't like, the ugly (IMHO) combination of red and green and plaid, pointy trees, exploding ducks (long story) and lots of extra gift-related busywork I don't feel like doing but feel obligated to do. DH thinks I'm pure evil because he loves the holiday so much. I saw an ornament the other day that said "bah humbug"; and I wanted it so badly I almost paid the $18 for it.

daylilies

11-03-2011, 05:21 AM

Haha! now you must explain the exploding ducks!

I like the idea of Christmas, but gift shopping stresses me out to no end and ruins it for me. I just want to be around family and eat good food. That's why I like Thanksgiving best :)

Bridget

11-03-2011, 05:44 AM

I feel very lucky that christmas is not stressful for me at all. We don't go crazy with gifts. I really only buy for my kids and my younger brother. I make my dad home baked goodies. Dbf and I don't buy each other gifts. I buy for my little bro because he buys for my kids so I like to get him something. I don't do malls or department stores at all so I don't have to deal with insane holiday shoppers and stressed out employees.

Sawyer is sick:( And his top two teeth are going to bust through any day. I wonder does teething weaken the immune system? From the stress maybe? Oh, and yesterday he was so fussy. And biting me and banging his head against my shoulder. He wasn't like this at all when his bottom teeth came through. All of a sudden I realized his amber teething necklace wasn't on him!! I can't find it anywhere and wonder if I took it off at some point?? Anyway, I guess this means maybe it really does work!

missychrissy

11-03-2011, 06:18 AM

Poor Sawyer. I hope he feels better soon.

Long story short, we've decided that the next time someone starts to ask us if we believe in celebrating Christmas, we're just going to have to first ask him if he believes in cholesterol.

:lol: omg-that's funny!

I'm atheist, but I still believe in giving to my family and togetherness and all that. And while I hate shopping, I love giving so I shop a lot for Christmas. Not many days (usually just 1) but it's an all day adventure. Some of it I'm miserable (well, a lot of it) but at the same time I love buying for others and trying to picture them opening my gift (hoping they'll like it). It's definitely worth it Christmas morning to me. :wub:

I saw an ornament the other day that said "bah humbug"; and I wanted it so badly I almost paid the $18 for it.
:laugh: You're a trip!!

It's going to be near 60 today, so I wore shorts. With my winter jacket 'cause it was like 35 this morning. :shock:

Smplyme89

11-03-2011, 06:53 AM

We don't go crazy with gifts here. I buy for my mom, dad, DH's mom, and my brother, than of course now Nolan. I don't believe in going overboard with gifts for Christmas-thats not what its about. The holiday can be stressful if you let it, but I just don't. Decorating the weekend after Thanksgiving, a few gifts Christmas morning, and dinner-Love it!

Aww poor Sawyer Bridget :( I hope you can find his necklace! I need to get one for Nolan, but I'm having serious doubts he's EVER going to get in any teeth so I don't want to waste my money :laugh: I'm j/k of course :winks:

Smplyme89

11-03-2011, 06:55 AM

It's going to be near 60 today, so I wore shorts. With my winter jacket 'cause it was like 35 this morning. :shock:

Brrrr!!!

Were in the 70's today with a nice breeze, and thats perfect! Any colder than that and I have to wear a sweater :pokey:

missychrissy

11-03-2011, 07:52 AM

I do go overboard for Christmas with my kids. For me, that is what it's about. But in my defense I don't really buy them a lot throughout the year. They get gifts for their birthday and they get clothes for school and that's about it. All year long they make mental notes about things they'd like to have, and if they still want it by Christmas I try to get it for them. I'd never buy an iPod (for example) during the middle of the year. That's something "Santa" would bring. The beginning of school and Christmas are the only two times a year I buy them clothes too...and actually, instead of me buying their clothes I get them $100 gift cards at the local mall and let them buy whatever. I can't remember the last time I spent less than $2,000 on Christmas in gifts for my kids, but like I said that's the only time of year they get things that aren't necessities.

AbbeysMom

11-03-2011, 08:25 AM

That's funny about cholesterol.

I don't think that lady meant to be as rude as that sounded. Not sure, but maybe she meant to say I would never have kids, rather than to insult my future mothering skills ... She's a little strange and quite blunt but nice enough so I don't think it was an insult. Couldn't help but wonder what was going through her head, though.

That's what I thought when I read it. Still, it's not blunt, it's rude. :hugs:

Speaking of grumpy, count me in as a Christmas hater. The holiday to me just has connotations of cold weather, spicy smells I don't like, the ugly (IMHO) combination of red and green and plaid, pointy trees, exploding ducks (long story) and lots of extra gift-related busywork I don't feel like doing but feel obligated to do. DH thinks I'm pure evil because he loves the holiday so much. I saw an ornament the other day that said "bah humbug"; and I wanted it so badly I almost paid the $18 for it.

I remember that! Tell the story.

And not to be the contrarian, l so I love the smell of spicy christmas things (I have a pumpkin spice scentsy bought for me by my MIL that's plugged in right now). I also love cold weather. More of a gold and red girl, though. But I really think it took a good decade for me to recover from all the cr*p memories I had about Christmas and start enjoying the holiday again. Now I love it. :)

Ky'sMom

11-03-2011, 08:43 AM

I enjoy Christmas and I do feel lucky I don't get into the pressure of it as well. I only usually buy my kids something, no one else, not even DH. I am going to get him a Kindle Fire though this year since I am cutting back on my spending on the kids this year. I am aiming to spend only $200, maybe $250 this year on them. I also am like Chrissy in that I don't really buy them much at all during the year. This year Ky didn't even get school clothes since I bought his uniforms too big the the previous year and I was happy he didn't grow 2 sizes and only grew one this year, so I only had to buy him shoes. He gets a bunch of free, name brand hand-me-downs from his cousins so I have a closet full of regular street clothes for him that will probably last the next 2 years since they are 16s and 18s and even some 20s. He is a 14 tall right now.

I asked Elle what she wants for Christmas and her response was "candy" LOL! I am considering taking half of her Halloween candy and filling her stocking with it for Christmas.

I do like to shop but I don't like spending money. We do most of our "Christmas" shopping after Christmas since that is when the good deals start up IMO. Especially DH and I. DH is really excited about the Kindle Fire though because I have denied him access to an iPad and iPhone for so long. He likes techy things even though he always asks me how to use them. I think he just wants to have a cool toy like his friends. They are always showing him their gadgets and I think he wants something to brag about too. He saw the commercial for the Kindle Fire on TV and now is uber excited, like a little boy. It is really cute.

Erin

missychrissy

11-03-2011, 08:45 AM

I bought myself a Kindle Fire. It won't be shipped till mid-November.

daylilies

11-03-2011, 08:48 AM

Erin, reusing the Halloween candy is a brilliant idea!

Bridget, I hope Sawyer feels better soon. Josh went through teething amazingly well (I wouldn't have even known he got a new tooth if I hadn't kept checking) but I think I have heard about babies getting sick while they're teething.

I don't have a huge family, but most of them aren't local and I don't know most of them very well so I have to worry about what to get them and then worry about getting it to them in time. I always feel rushed and I feel like I didn't get them anything personal enough. I send e mails out asking what people would like and they never give me ideas!

Rant over...sorry!

Smplyme89

11-03-2011, 08:50 AM

I do like to shop but I don't like spending money.

hehe me too :shame: Now if I could shop with someone elses money, that would be HEAVEN :laugh:

AbbeysMom

11-03-2011, 08:53 AM

Abbey's birthday is January, so I'm trying hard not to go overboard for Christmas. I know she's getting a dollhouse (actually a fairy house (http://www.magiccabin.com/mcabin_assets/images/shop/catalog/825386e.jpg)) and a mini trampoline. I'm also making her a nap mat and a matching one for her bear.

She'll probably get books and some rocks to add to her collection as well, as stocking stuffers.

But for her birthday Matt's going to make a couple waldorf playstands. I'm going to try to make the silks that go on top.

AbbeysMom

11-03-2011, 08:53 AM

seriously. stop. with the double posts.

Smplyme89

11-03-2011, 08:56 AM

Abbey's birthday is January, so I'm trying hard not to go overboard for Christmas. I know she's getting a dollhouse (actually a fairy house (http://www.magiccabin.com/mcabin_assets/images/shop/catalog/825386e.jpg)) and a mini trampoline. I'm also making her a nap mat and a matching one for her bear.

Oh My! That fairy house is adorable!!!

The double posts are driving me crazy too. Sometimes they turn into triple posts :pokey:

Cosmosmom

11-03-2011, 09:09 AM

Gwen that is a weird comment. I fully believe that we both will be moms and will be great ones. Just a matter of time.

I also didn't picture Bridget as being on the shorter side.

Christina, when people start talking all religious like, I just respond with something like Oh my family isn't really all that religious. At this point I do feel like I have one (though I rarely get my butt out of bed for church) and say that I'm a unitarian universalist (which you can be christian but you can be an atheist there or whatever you want). But really most people I work with seem to not really talk much about religion at all.

Umm, how can you not believe in cholesterol? FWIW, there does seem to be two different issues there. You can have people who can control it through diet and exercise....but you also have people where high is truly genetic. I personally know some who are thin, exercise a ton, eat right and still need to be on statins.

On xmas.....I LOVE it. I love the traditions and decorations. I like making the frosted cutout cookies I have always made with my mom, having the stocking hung that my mom made, having ornaments on my tree that my parents started getting for me when I was a baby/child. I love the songs, I even love my nativity scene (I don't believe but like the story and well the little baby and animals are cute). I have a small family anyway but we don't buy much anymore. And I think that this year it will probably just be DH and I at home. I will get some candy probably and some lottery tickets for our stockings. I will get a toy for Cosmo and some Legos for DH. But the majority of "presents" are empty boxes that I wrapped last year because well it just looks nice to have them under the tree. I even like sending out the cards. Now once we have a baby and my sister has a baby....I would buy for them. Probably a lot. I do think that my child is in danger of being spoiled because well I have waited a long time, DH is an only child so his mom's only grandkid and my parents probably won't have more than 2-3 grandkids and have been waiting a long time. Probably the only thing that will help is DH holding me back.
Dh and I do disagree on Santa. I want to do it, he's not so into it. His problem is wants the good gifts to come from him and for the kid to know he's giving the good ones.

Smplyme89

11-03-2011, 09:24 AM

Oh Jennifer I didn't say Gma won't go crazy :laugh: I keep telling her he's only going to be 10 months old, he's not going to care about anything but the wrapping paper! If it was up to me thats what he would be getting, the child doesn't need any toys or anything we have a living room full :eyeroll:

I thought about wrapping up empty boxes for looks, but DH kind of looked at me like I was crazy :laugh: I can't decide on Santa either, I'm not neccesarily opposed, but at the same I just don't see the point. Mom and DH want to do Santa though, so more than likely we will :dunno:

missychrissy

11-03-2011, 09:31 AM

hehe me too :shame: Now if I could shop with someone elses money, that would be HEAVEN :laugh:
I'd feel too guilty. I'm thrifty all year long...except at Christmas. I don't feel bad about spending that money though because I budget for it. I only spend what I have though...no credit cards or anything like that.

I do Santa. :P

Cosmosmom

11-03-2011, 09:48 AM

My mom says if you don't believe in Santa he won't come. So my dad, sister and I still believe. :)
DH is getting this for xmas http://shop.lego.com/en-US/Fire-Brigade-10197 and this one for his birthday in Jan. http://shop.lego.com/en-US/Grand-Emporium-10211 I might also get him this one http://shop.lego.com/en-US/Emerald-Night-10194
And yup he is just like a kid with his toys. :)

I would like a puppy or a baby for xmas....but don't think that I will get either one! Otherwise I want to buy Cosmo 2 toys. I don't want anything else really but I basically buy what I want all year long once I'm really sure we have a need/use/strong desire for whatever it is.

I absolutely do not feel bad spending money. We work hard for it and saved and lived tight for years. And we only buy what we can afford.

demigraf

11-03-2011, 09:54 AM

Bridge, :hugs: for Sawyer. Teething must be so uncomfortable for them. Let's hope the pain has peaked already.

On Xmas... it can be such a commercial holiday (as in I hate the commercials. Lol.). I try to put meaning into it by handmaking things for people, but usually by the time I get around to it, I'm late and rushing. To do it the way I'd want, I'd have to start now, but then I resent the non-negotiable deadline. I know. I know. I have the worst attitude about it. Bodhi has made it much better since I see the holiday thru his eyes now too. This year, we'll be in Vegas again; my aunt is so into lavish parties and inviting random people she meets on cruises that I have to make polite small talk with. The good part is that DH & I are planning to do an overnight backpacking trip into Zion if we feel comfortable enough to leave B w/ my folks this yr.

I'll see if I can dig up the duck story. I know Molly got the brunt of it when it happened. :P

Smplyme89

11-03-2011, 10:00 AM

Jennifer I think your DH and mine would get along wonderfully :laugh:

Smplyme89

11-03-2011, 10:08 AM

DH bought 2 gas powered remote control cars :eyeroll: I think they are called RC Cars. Similar to this (http://www.rctoyhouse.com/Twister_XB_1_10_Scale_2_Wheel_Drive_Buggy_p/ec-redcat-xb.htm) he 'claims' they are "for Nolan"

missychrissy

11-03-2011, 10:12 AM

This year, we'll be in Vegas again; my aunt is so into lavish parties and inviting random people she meets on cruises that I have to make polite small talk with. The good part is that DH & I are planning to do an overnight backpacking trip into Zion if we feel comfortable enough to leave B w/ my folks this yr.

I'll see if I can dig up the duck story. I know Molly got the brunt of it when it happened. :P

Sounds like fun and now I can't wait for the duck story!

DH bought 2 gas powered remote control cars :eyeroll: I think they are called RC Cars. Similar to this (http://www.rctoyhouse.com/Twister_XB_1_10_Scale_2_Wheel_Drive_Buggy_p/ec-redcat-xb.htm) he 'claims' they are "for Nolan"
My dad and brother had them when my brother was a teen. Actually, they both still have their 'toys' but they don't race them around the front yard like they used to. It was funny because they actually had a dirt track going all around it, and my dad was always such a fuss-pot about the lawn! They've both talked about giving their RC cards to Conner.

AbbeysMom

11-03-2011, 10:13 AM

AmeriBrit

11-03-2011, 10:28 AM

I love Christmas. Food, wine and presents. Oh, and the Queen's speech. I couldn't not love that!

Mandy, that does sound a little mean of that lady to have said that to you; I would've looked at her like WTFBBQ?

Sorry Sawyer is not well. I hope the little'n feels better soon!

I did my substitute teaching today; it went really well! Some of the things the kids say to each other and to me would make one of those funny little one-liner books! LOL

Ky'sMom

11-03-2011, 10:37 AM

Forgot to say I hope Sawyer feels better. I always wonder about teething too. Ky was never bothered by it but Elle would get fevers of 101 and up every time some teeth would pop through. It was pretty strange, especially since my aunt who is a nurse keeps insisting to me that teething cannot cause fevers, only illness can cause fevers. But I swear as soon as those buggers popped through, Elle was fine.

Regarding Santa, I never bring him up, but kids seem to pick it up from other kids and just the Christmas programming and atmosphere. We never told Ky about Santa and DH especially has very blatantly told Ky that Santa is not real since he was 2 or 3 but Ky still was excited about Santa and I think he really wants to believe he's real because it is so magical and fantastical the thought of a real Santa. I don't go out of my way to be like "Quit talking about Santa, He's not real dog-gone-it!!!" I think it is cute so I don't say anything either way. Ky is at the age now where he knows Santa is not real but he will still talk about him and I can see his mind thinking imaginatively about it and I like that he is still childlike in this way. I told DH that and he has cut back on the "fat man doesn't bring presents" stuff as well.

Erin

Cosmosmom

11-03-2011, 10:55 AM

When I was little, there was a older guy down the block and on xmas eve he would dress up and stop by the houses with the kids and visit and bring a little gift. How sweet that was one of him. (the parents knew he would be stopping by). That was when we had a nice neighborhood before it got icky when I was a teen (the older people died and we got a lot of renters or trashy people in there and a house a few down from me was a druggie house). But when I was a kid, we had young families or elderly and knew most of the people. It was great.

My dad looks like santa if you put a red suit on him....same with his brother....and he even has the perfect hohoho.

Smplyme89

11-03-2011, 11:27 AM

Ash glad you had a good day subbing!

Jennifer that is just too sweet! :wub:

Bridget

11-03-2011, 11:33 AM

daylilies

11-03-2011, 11:45 AM

So we found a little fuzzy leopard printed children's purse (empty) on our stairs when we got home from trick or treating on Halloween. Nobody came back to claim it and Josh asked if he could have it. :) DH kind of shook his head, but what did he expect? Josh spends all day with someone who uses a purse.

missychrissy

11-03-2011, 11:52 AM

I did my substitute teaching today; it went really well! Some of the things the kids say to each other and to me would make one of those funny little one-liner books! LOL

:hooray: I'm glad it went well!! Any thoughts about PT/FT?

So we found a little fuzzy leopard printed children's purse (empty) on our stairs when we got home from trick or treating on Halloween. Nobody came back to claim it and Josh asked if he could have it. :) DH kind of shook his head, but what did he expect? Josh spends all day with someone who uses a purse.
:D I'd have let Conner have it. Conner has played with dolls before. Your dh would probably raise his eyebrows at my son. :P It's ok. I think it's cute when Conner plays Daddy. My favorite was when he went through the phase where he wanted to grow up and be a mommy bird. :wub:

daylilies

11-03-2011, 12:10 PM

Oh yeah I bought a doll for Josh a long time ago because he asked for one. He wanted a boy doll but I couldn't find one, so I bought a girl and got newborn boy clothes for it. LOL

Josh played with it for a while and forgot about it but has been asking to sleep with it recently. I think it's sweet.

Cosmosmom

11-03-2011, 12:14 PM

I like when I can get DH to carry my purse for a while for me in public. I always have a water bottle in there so the sucker is heavy! LOL

daylilies

11-03-2011, 12:15 PM

LOL! My husband wouldn't be caught dead with my purse!

Bridget

11-03-2011, 12:26 PM

Dbf will carry the girly diaper bag ever since his mom was here and she said, "you have a husband, use him" because I had Sawyer and the bag and she knew I'd been having neck pain.
Now my dad will always carry the diaper bag, my purse, Savana's purse, whatever. He doesn't even think twice.

Myles! I forgot in my previous post to say that the farm where we have been getting our raw milk always has packets of info you can take along and there was one that said, "The Myth about Cholesterol" and it's just what your friend was talking about I bet. I read it and you know I can't even remember what it said! lol. That is terrible that I didn't retain anything from that.

AbbeysMom

11-03-2011, 12:56 PM

Molly the oil from the amber is supposed to be absorbed through the skin and provide pain relief for teething, arthritis. I got one for dbf too.
We pretend Santa is real but Savana demanded the truth at a young age so they know it's pretend.

I'll have to remember that! I feel dumb, I have seen them but I think I always thought they were for biting, and then wondered "isn't that a choking hazard?" :laugh:

-----

So today Abbey was doing something and I asked her if she was ready for her bath. She ignored me, so I said "Can you put on your listening ears?" She did what she always does, this little twisting motion near her ears and then looked at me expectantly. I asked again and she said "Yes" then she did the twisting motion again. I asked her "What are you doing?" and she said "Taking off my listening ears." lol. Because she wouldn't want to accidentally listen to me all the time.

AmeriBrit

11-03-2011, 12:57 PM

That's interesting about the cholesterol. I'll have to read more in to it. The first time in life that I ever fainted was when I was getting a free cholesterol check at work and they squeezed my finger for a blood drop and I hit the floor....so...no cholesterol check for me!

My husband and my FIL both carry my and my MIL's purses for us in public. It's cute.

AmeriBrit

11-03-2011, 12:58 PM

Ah, and to answer the question you asked, Chrissy about p/t or f/t. I definitely would prefer p/t but the job and the school are ideal for me so if they can only offer f/t, I might just have to take it b/c it would be too good to pass up!

missychrissy

11-03-2011, 01:02 PM

So today Abbey was doing something and I asked her if she was ready for her bath. She ignored me, so I said "Can you put on your listening ears?" She did what she always does, this little twisting motion near her ears and then looked at me expectantly. I asked again and she said "Yes" then she did the twisting motion again. I asked her "What are you doing?" and she said "Taking off my listening ears." lol. Because she wouldn't want to accidentally listen to me all the time.

:wub: That's so cute!

My husband and my FIL both carry my and my MIL's purses for us in public. It's cute.

I think that right there should be a test for all men. When women are dating, they should nonchalantly ask the guy to carry her purse. If he refuses, that's the end of the relationship. :P lol j/k....sort of.

Ah, and to answer the question you asked, Chrissy about p/t or f/t. I definitely would prefer p/t but the job and the school are ideal for me so if they can only offer f/t, I might just have to take it b/c it would be too good to pass up!

kup on things. I'm excited for you.

Smplyme89

11-03-2011, 01:04 PM

DH has no problem carrying my purse. He also has no problem buying tampons/pads or anything like that. He's awesome like that :D

Now if Nolan wanted to play with a purse or dolls, I know I would have to censor that conversation between DH and him. I'm not looking forward to the mentality of treating little boys like they are little men, it annoys me :pokey:

Cosmosmom

11-03-2011, 01:11 PM

DH would prefer a bit more a girl over a boy for those reasons. Easier for girls to do everything but not as easy for boys in society to do everything. I don't think he would ever tell a son not do something but warn him that other kids might tease about _______ thing.

missychrissy

11-03-2011, 01:14 PM

Rich has carried my purse. He's also bought the 'good stuff' when I ran into an emergency situation, but he did kinda gripe about it. :D

AmeriBrit

11-03-2011, 01:35 PM

DH has no problem carrying my purse. He also has no problem buying tampons/pads or anything like that. He's awesome like that :D

I asked my DH to get me some pads once when he was out and he came back with panty liners! He thought they were the same thing. Ah, men; they don't realize how lucky they are not to deal with AF.

Ky'sMom

11-03-2011, 01:46 PM

So today Abbey was doing something and I asked her if she was ready for her bath. She ignored me, so I said "Can you put on your listening ears?" She did what she always does, this little twisting motion near her ears and then looked at me expectantly. I asked again and she said "Yes" then she did the twisting motion again. I asked her "What are you doing?" and she said "Taking off my listening ears." lol. Because she wouldn't want to accidentally listen to me all the time.

That is so cute!!!

My DH would NEVER carry my purse. He doesn't even want to touch it. A long time ago one of his former "girlfriends" (i.e. girl her was having relations with) asked him to pass her her purse, he did. The next day she accused him of stealing $20 of her food stamps (back when they were still paper and not cards). He said he will never be accused of stealing food stamps again so he never touches a woman's purse. He will have Ky bring it to me if I need it and he will not hold it for me. He has no problems buying pads or tampons though. He will even ask women in the store what they prefer in a tampon even though I write down exactly what kind to get. He will then call me and put some random chick on the line and have me tell her to point out what I need since it is all so confusing to him. But he always comes back with the right thing so I don't complain, except about the purse thing because it is ridiculous and plus we don't have foodstamps and all our money is our money so he cannot possibly steal from me.

Erin

missychrissy

11-03-2011, 01:48 PM

I asked my DH to get me some pads once when he was out and he came back with panty liners! He thought they were the same thing. Ah, men; they don't realize how lucky they are not to deal with AF.
:laugh: No kidding!!

Erin-your dh is a trip!! I think I'd tease him about stealing my food stamps just for fun!! lol

Bridget

11-03-2011, 01:59 PM

Molly I totally thought that the beads were for chewing on too and had only heard of them after Savana and Kai were too old to get any use from them. I looked into them further when I found out I was pregnant with Sawyer and was like, "Ahhhhh, I see."
I get asked about it almost everywhere I go. Dbf's Aunt said, "That's quackery. What quack dr told you that." :pokey:
Um, you just said "quackery". I can't continue this conversation. :laugh:

Smplyme89

11-03-2011, 02:22 PM

Erin your DH cracks me up!!!! DH won't go IN my purse, but he will bring it to me. He said my purse is my private space and he refuses to get anything out of it :eyeroll: I don't know why he thinks that way, I don't think his wallet is his private space and go into whenever I feel the need :laugh:

Bridget- quackery :laugh: Where did you order your amber necklace from??

Cosmosmom

11-03-2011, 02:27 PM

Gotta admit I think that it's quakery too (and I'm not anti-alt medicine at all and have used some forms myself). Probably won't hurt (found something about amber dust being bad for lungs but nothing about beads/oil/solid amber) but I cannot find any evidence for it. And while harder, I can usually find alt med info from reliable resources.
I actually saved a guy a month or two ago several thousand dollars...he was looking for reliable info on magnet therapy and was about to plunk down thousands on it including mattress after a seminar presenting all sorts of "info" about how it works. Everything said no evidence for and probably won't hurt unless you have a pacemaker or other type device....which the guy said was NEVER mentioned to them.

Suja

11-03-2011, 02:30 PM

I don't even use a purse on a regular basis, just when I'm visiting clients. Otherwise, I carry a wallet. And if I have a crapton of stuff to carry, it's in a backpack.

Bridget

11-03-2011, 03:08 PM

I don't know if it works or not but it's super cute either way so...win-win! I ordered it from Inspired by Finn.

Cosmosmom

11-03-2011, 03:14 PM

I don't know if it works or not but it's super cute either way so...win-win! I ordered it from Inspired by Finn.

:) Yeah I am not against trying things long as the cost is reasonable and it can't hurt. and I'm not always all that thrilled with western med either....
at least with a baby you really shouldn't be seeing a placebo effect.

demigraf

11-03-2011, 03:20 PM

Just want to share what I'm doing to waste time right now:

http://youtu.be/6_W_xLWtNa0

Thoughtch'all wouldn't mind a Jon Hamm cameo at the end there. These SNL shorts are a bright spot in my dreary existence. :P

Have some real discussion in response to some of the above in the works...

Bridget

11-03-2011, 04:52 PM

:) Yeah I am not against trying things long as the cost is reasonable and it can't hurt. and I'm not always all that thrilled with western med either....
at least with a baby you really shouldn't be seeing a placebo effect.
True. And I will say that I didn't even realize he wasn't wearing it and he had never been that fussy in his life. (I put it on him at 3 mos just so he would be used to wearing it) I found it shortly after I posted this morning because I remembered I took it off him and put it in my toiletry bag on friday night when I went in the jacuzzi tub with him at the hotel. I put it on him right away and he has not bit me once today, much less fussy in spite of the fact that his top gum is super swollen and I can see one tooth just breaking through.

Who knows.

Bridget

11-03-2011, 04:56 PM

Too much Magic Treehouse audio going on over here. I just heard Kai say (for the third time in 2 weeks) "Mmm, this tastes just like Galway Ireland.":laugh: I love it when he takes the things he learns from that and uses it out of context. Like when he told me my coffee was digustingly rude. Cracks me up.
He was arguing with my brother this weekend and telling him it was Louis Armstrong (pronouncing the "s") while my brother was telling him it was Loo-ee. He's like wtf are you letting your kids call him Louis? So I had to explain that Jack and Annie travel through time and meet him when he's a child and apparently went by his given name.

daylilies

11-03-2011, 05:09 PM

I'll have to remember that! I feel dumb, I have seen them but I think I always thought they were for biting, and then wondered "isn't that a choking hazard?" :laugh:

-----

So today Abbey was doing something and I asked her if she was ready for her bath. She ignored me, so I said "Can you put on your listening ears?" She did what she always does, this little twisting motion near her ears and then looked at me expectantly. I asked again and she said "Yes" then she did the twisting motion again. I asked her "What are you doing?" and she said "Taking off my listening ears." lol. Because she wouldn't want to accidentally listen to me all the time.

I've been using the term "open ears" to see if that helps him listen. If I don't say it he'll say "well you didn't tell me to use my open ears!"

That's interesting about the cholesterol. I'll have to read more in to it. The first time in life that I ever fainted was when I was getting a free cholesterol check at work and they squeezed my finger for a blood drop and I hit the floor....so...no cholesterol check for me!

My husband and my FIL both carry my and my MIL's purses for us in public. It's cute.

My cholesterol was just checked for the first time and it's 185. I read under 200 is good, but I wasn't sure if 185 is getting too close?

demigraf

11-03-2011, 05:10 PM

I don't know if it works or not but it's super cute either way so...win-win!

Yeahhhh...

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/6174_123622884453_704539453_2212278_6078891_n.jpg

:wub:

daylilies

11-03-2011, 05:13 PM

Would an amber bracelet work or does it have to be around the neck?
Hastily edited to say that I don't need to know, or anything...I'm just curious.

demigraf

11-03-2011, 05:32 PM

I know they do sell amber bracelets too. I'm not sure if they work at all either.

Remember the Dave Grohl discussion awhile back and I mentioned the "Punched" video? Here it is, for anyone interested in wasting more time. Some Dave Grohl for Kate & Mandy, and some Bon Jovi for Chrissy. A little window into my sense of humor, anyway:

http://youtu.be/ILvkEHQPHHg

Smplyme89

11-03-2011, 05:33 PM

Yeahhhh...

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/6174_123622884453_704539453_2212278_6078891_n.jpg

:wub:

Awww look at him :wub:

It's official I have to order Nolan one!

missychrissy

11-03-2011, 06:06 PM

demigraf

11-03-2011, 06:07 PM

On the gender-conditioning topic, I wanted to add that Bodhi likes to play this game where he gets out of the tub and I wrap him in a towel. For some reason, when he's wearing the towel, he likes saying "I'm a lady!", and even puts on this falsetto voice (which is funny coming from someone whose little voice is so high to begin with). Anyway, he seems extremely pleased with himself to be a "lady". He hasn't asked me for a dress or anything, but if it's any indication that he might want to cross-dress when he grows up - and I know that there's only the tiniest chance that the towel lady game might point to that - I'm totally fine with it. I read that a lot of transgenderism in boys starts young with them trying to make dresses out of sheets and things (though, honestly, he rarely even sees me in a dress). Who knows. I have no idea where the game came from. Maybe he just likes playing "lady" the way he likes playing "lion" or "dinosaur". Either way, I'm gonna be there for him.

Bridget, now that you mention it, I think I've come across the 'Myth of Cholesterol' viewpoint before too. There was a bit of that in Nourishing Traditions, and there was an article not too long ago about it in the HuffPo. I think one problem with calling it a myth is that there's some truth to the case against it. From what I can remember, the point of the "myth" argument is that cholesterol isn't the public health villain that the national health orgs would have you believe, and the body does need some cholesterol at healthy levels to perform basic functions. That makes sense to me. However, some people run with that and start believing there's science out there in support of letting your cholesterol consumption run rampant. I still believe it can be a health hazard, especially after 7 yrs working on the disease management software project, where we got to see actual patient outcomes associated w/ lowered cholesterol levels. So I guess I could see "Cholesterol = Poison" as something of a myth. But I would say "Cholesterol = Bad for you after a point" is not a myth. But what do I know? I'm just someone who doesn't like Christmas. :P

demigraf

11-03-2011, 06:08 PM

Awww look at him :wub:

It's official I have to order Nolan one!

I don't want to get your hopes up, but I was selling some and might have a couple lying around. But we moved and stuff is still in boxes. If I find them, I'll just send you one for free.

missychrissy

11-03-2011, 06:12 PM

But what do I know? I'm just someone who doesn't like Christmas. :P
I nearly snorted!

Smplyme89

11-03-2011, 06:37 PM

I don't want to get your hopes up, but I was selling some and might have a couple lying around. But we moved and stuff is still in boxes. If I find them, I'll just send you one for free.

Aww you are too sweet :wub:

I nearly snorted!

hehe me too!

Gwenn

11-03-2011, 06:51 PM

You girls crack me up!

I loved Chistmas, but it's difficult when you are STC. I hate holiday shopping.

Myles, Dave Grohl and Josh Hamm! Loved them both for different reasons.

daylilies

11-03-2011, 07:16 PM

I can't watch the video right now but when I get to my laptop I will take a look :)

I think the last time I tried on a dress was around April when I was preparing for the cruise. Coincidentally the last time I *wore* a dress was in May. On the cruise. LOL

Oh wait, there was father's day too...someone asked me if I was pregnant. No more dresses.

Suja

11-03-2011, 07:28 PM

I nearly snorted!

Yaknow, you shouldn't be admitting that in a public forum :laugh:

On a completely different note: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/03/nyregion/suit-against-photographer-seeks-re-creation-of-wedding-after-divorce.html?_r=1&smid=fb-nytimes&WT.mc_id=NY-SM-E-FB-SM-LIN-SAP-110311-NYT-NA&WT.mc_ev=click

Guy needs a therapist more than he needs a lawyer.

missychrissy

11-03-2011, 08:17 PM

Oh wait, there was father's day too...someone asked me if I was pregnant. No more dresses.

I thought we discussed this and decided he was an idiot?

On a completely different note: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/03/nyregion/suit-against-photographer-seeks-re-creation-of-wedding-after-divorce.html?_r=1&smid=fb-nytimes&WT.mc_id=NY-SM-E-FB-SM-LIN-SAP-110311-NYT-NA&WT.mc_ev=click

Guy needs a therapist more than he needs a lawyer.

:shocker: goodnight! That's one of the most ridiculous things I've ever read...and I've read a lot of ridiculousness.

Gwenn

11-03-2011, 08:19 PM

I thought we discussed this and decided he was an idiot?

we did and he most definitely is an idiot.

girlwonder

11-03-2011, 08:29 PM

Yaknow, you shouldn't be admitting that in a public forum :laugh:

On a completely different note: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/03/nyregion/suit-against-photographer-seeks-re-creation-of-wedding-after-divorce.html?_r=1&smid=fb-nytimes&WT.mc_id=NY-SM-E-FB-SM-LIN-SAP-110311-NYT-NA&WT.mc_ev=click

Guy needs a therapist more than he needs a lawyer.

That picture of the photog freaked me out - the photo of the girl to his left looks exactly like me. I thought it was for a split second. My dh agrees. creeepy.

missychrissy

11-03-2011, 08:39 PM

That picture of the photog freaked me out - the photo of the girl to his left looks exactly like me. I thought it was for a split second. My dh agrees. creeepy.
That is creepy!

Smplyme89

11-03-2011, 08:41 PM

Yaknow, you shouldn't be admitting that in a public forum :laugh:

On a completely different note: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/03/nyregion/suit-against-photographer-seeks-re-creation-of-wedding-after-divorce.html?_r=1&smid=fb-nytimes&WT.mc_id=NY-SM-E-FB-SM-LIN-SAP-110311-NYT-NA&WT.mc_ev=click

Guy needs a therapist more than he needs a lawyer.

Wow! THat is just silly! I agree, he definitely needs a therapist!

Cosmosmom

11-03-2011, 10:11 PM

Guess who is off work tomorrow????? ME!!!! My parents are driving up for the weekend and so I took off work to help Dh clean the house in the morning and do some errands like grocery shopping....and go to Joanns to buy paper. I'm a bit obsessed with buying paper....so much pretty paper out there! But really I just need black paper. Also have to get the dough made because my dad's favorite is our special homemade pizza.

My fun for the night was cutting Cosmo's hair. She doesn't need a full cut at the groomers, especially not being summer. But her feet were really shaggy and she was starting to slip pretty badly on the vinyl and in the garage so I trimmed up between the pads and the nails. Especially wanted to get it done before I vacuum tomorrow! She is such a girl girl lying there and letting me cut around her feet (even though she is ticklish).

Now if only I was ready for bed and not in weekend party mode.....

3andMe

11-03-2011, 10:35 PM

I keep wanting to reply to the cholesterol issue, and I've gotten pulled away mid-post and deleted it about three times already. Anyway, high cholesterol is associated with a shorter life expectancy (although at age 50, it actually is not as much as a hazard as being unmarried or being in a low-level job), but I think what may be in doubt is to what extent dietary cholesterol really influences levels. Most cholesterol (85%) is produced in the body, so only a small percentage is influenced by one's diet. I personally can eat very little cholesterol or eat a ton of it and still have fairly borderline-high levels. My levels are primarily influenced by how active I am. If I exercise more, my cholesterol levels drop. So obviously I believe in cholesterol, but I think it (and salt) are not necessarily the evil dietary choices that people think they are.

Shoot, I think I have to go again, and I had more to say....

Okay, I'm back. All the kids are sick. I have been sick for 3 1/2 weeks now, and dh has been sick for almost 3 weeks, and finally the kids are sick just when I think I'm almost better. Baby S. threw up last night from coughing too hard, and tonight dh and I have been taking shifts lying with him propping him up so that he doesn't cough and cry as much, hoping he'll go to sleep. It's been hours. The twins have pretty nasty coughs too.

Anyway, last night I think I found out why DS likes to speak in different voices. He sometimes speaks in kind of a falsetto. Lately he's been telling me he doesn't like certain people's voices, like my bil's voice and his swimming teacher's voice (not the one who was with him when he almost drowned), both of whom have kind of nasal voices d/t foreign accents. Last night he was telling me he loved DD's voice more than anything else in the world, and her voice was colored red. He told me he loved my voice too, that it was pink, and Baby S's voice was purple with white and he loved it. That he loved dh's voice too, and my sister's, and he named off some others. He explained that he often tried to make his voice sound like DD's voice, because he loved the sound of it so much. I've been hearing for a while that he doesn't like to be around certain people because he doesn't like their voices, but I am just now starting to realize that this voice thing is probably one of the most important way he judges people. He also told me that he really likes the way machines sound, which might explain his fascination with them. Finally, dh is a synesthete and when I mentioned this to him he said he would have described DD's voice as red, also.

We went to our local kindergarten information night, and I have to say, I loved it except for a couple of minor things and I really want to have our kids go there. We totally lucked out by having this school in our neighborhood. The only bad thing was that there were 169 families there in November 2011 for a possible 72 openings August 2012. There is going to be a lot of competition. Apparently our school is not the little unknown gem anymore. Pluses--they encourage teaching through creativity, play, and do not try to "teach to the test" and they have done better on standardized tests since they started doing so. They start in kindergarten with music classes and continue that through fifth grade, beginning with recorder and up to orchestra. They include art and drama in their curriculum, as well as science and social studies. They believe that homework should be minimal and family life maximal. They offer supplemental afterschool classes in cooking, Mandarin, Spanish, engineering with legos, and yoga (those are all extra money, though). They have "families" which are comprised of groups of two students in each grade that help each other and get to know different ages. The kindergarten classes have a program called "seeds of empathy" which brings in local babies to show them what babies are like and what they can do and can't do. Each class has their baby's picture proudly displayed, and some kids who are not around babies much learn that little babies can't talk or eat food other than milk or ride a bicycle or walk, and you have to be extra gentle with them. Anyway, I love it. I saw three other moms I knew there. I get this pang when I think of the twins being there every day, and not being able to just go out and hit the trails all day when I have the day off, but I think they would like it.

AbbeysMom

11-04-2011, 01:54 AM

Lydia, that school sounds A-mazing! What a score that it's in your neighborhood! at least you'll have first dibs because of the location, and maybe most of the other parents are from outside of your area. :fingerscrossed: that they get in!

I wanted to add to the cholesterol discussion, because DH has been struggling with cholesterol for awhile now. I put him on a Vegan diet when we found out his cholesterol was 300 (!) and it *went up* by 15 points. His mom said that she had insanely high cholesterol, and it was genetic. His doctor prescribed a statin.

He didn't start taking it though, because we were scared of the long term effects of being on a statin. If he started now he's looking at about 50 years of being on one, and there are no studies done to prove effectiveness/safety for that long of a term. We were also worried because DH's brother is a runner and started a statin, only to quit after a few weeks due to debilitating muscle pain. When all of this started DH began to run to improve his health, and he's kept it up. Now he runs 10K+ 3 times a week. I would hate if the healthiest part of his life was hindered by meds.

He took high dose niacin as an alternative and it went down about 30 points, which is good, but not good enough. Right now he's taking red yeast rice, which is the natural alternative to a statin, and he'll have his levels rechecked next week sometime. :fingercrossed: that they have gone down enough to avoid a statin, but I'm not sure about that. We talked and decided that if his level weren't down significantly, he's have to go the statin route. If it causes muscle pain, he'll have to get off of them and we don't know what to do.

I'm worried about the long term effects (muscle deterioration being my main concern) of being on a statin. Most of you guys don't know this, but my mom was prescribed Vioxx for "fibromyalgia" that was a huge catalyst in her fatal brain aneurysm (long story, but she was on blood thinners after finding a sizable clot after taking the drug. The blood thinners made the aneurysm inoperable). There was a large lawsuit for Vioxx, but we weren't eligible because she had had a heart condition prior to taking the drug. Regardless, I have a huge mistrust for doctors who throw out medications for every ailment, without focusing on telling a patient what they can do to better their health without meds. I don't believe high cholesterol is OK by any means, but statins worry me. My MIL, who has high cholesterol, has been on a statin for decades and claims no side effects. At the same time, she has debilitating joint and muscle pain. I see the two as being related, especially is light of BIL's reaction to the meds.

Anyway. Sorry for the novel!

AmeriBrit

11-04-2011, 02:11 AM

Myles, those SNL shorts were sooo funny! I love those things. I think that's the same guy that did "D*ck in a box" with Justin Timberlake, isn't he? I'll have to look that one up on youtube...it's the perfect Christmas song!

Bridget

11-04-2011, 04:54 AM

Lydia, that school would have me very excited. It makes me so happy when hear about places like that. It scares me that so many schools have totally lost focus as to what children really need. Sorry you guys are sick! That's a long time. Do you guys take any immune boosters? Sawyer is fighting something right now and I am lathering him in goot, a homemade garlic salve. I do it whenever the kids the sick and their illness rarely lasts for more than a few days. Anyway, I hope you are on the mend. :hugs:

Molly that is just awful about your mom and I too have a distrust of doctors who whip out prescriptions withouth first encouraging lifestyle change. My dad was on blood pressure meds for years and was clearly depressed. I asked my mom to give me a list of the meds he was on and sure enough one of the main side effects of both of them was depression. So he started excersizing, quit his high stress job (for a huge cut in salary but so worth it) and bingo, no meds needed.

Bridget

11-04-2011, 05:18 AM

AbbeysMom

11-04-2011, 06:52 AM

Oh, I almost forgot that the owner of Savana's dance school called me last night to tell me that her teacher thinks she is better suited for the class below the one she is in now. I was actually thinking the same thing since Savana has told me she feels like the kids in her class are too big and it makes her nervous. I was glad to hear the teacher noticed and offered a solution. I told Savana that Miss Alexis noticed that she's a bit nervous and thinks that because Savana is such a good dancer that it's very important for her to have fun in class so she wants her to switch to a class withmore 5 year olds. Savana was happy with that. But when I told dbf he was all hot and bothered and acting like Savana had failed or something. "That sucks" was how he so eloquently put it.

:eyeroll:

I would've asked him if he was projecting his issues of failure onto his daughter. Maybe he tried out for some ballet in high school and didn't make it, and now he's trying to vicariously live through Savana, because that's the only reason I can think for a grown man to respond like that, unless he's just a complete tool.

missychrissy

11-04-2011, 07:44 AM

L, I'm sorry your family is so sick, and for such a long time :( That school sounds great though. I hope the twins get in.

Yikes Molly, how scary. I agree though that it sounds like the risk of side effects from the medication is probably worse than the actual high cholesterol itself.

Oh Bridget. I have no words. I'm sure Savana will be just fine and she'll likely accelerate now because she'll feel more comfortable and confidant.

Ky'sMom

11-04-2011, 08:18 AM

:eyeroll:

I would've asked him if he was projecting his issues of failure onto his daughter. Maybe he tried out for some ballet in high school and didn't make it, and now he's trying to vicariously live through Savana, because that's the only reason I can think for a grown man to respond like that, unless he's just a complete tool.

I would thought the same thing Molly!!

And I understand why you don't want to go the statin route with your DH. Statins have some nasty side effects. When I was way more overweight my doctor wanted to put me on them and when I said no, that I would just lose weight, he tried to convince me to take them and I spouted off a lot of horrible side effects and told him I'd just lose weight. He didn't believe I would lose weight I guess, which I can understand since so many people try and fail, but when I really get my mind on doing something in a specific period of time, then I will do what I am focused on probably 95% of the time because I am stuborn like that.

Anyway, my cholesterol did go down. It was 235 and went down to 145, which is way below normal. I read about eating foods high in "good cholesterol" and I still do my best to eat walnuts and almonds and olive oil and canola oils are the only oils I sautee food in. Also, ground flax meal is something that naturally raises good cholesterol levels and good cholesterol helps to keep the bad cholesterol down. I put golden flax meal in a lot of things I eat like yogurt or smoothies or oatmeal sometimes even soup in order to give me extra Omega 3s and raise my good cholesterol levels.

I hope your doctors gave you the breakdown of his HDL and LDL cholesterol levels and not just the total numbers in order for you to have more of a complete story regarding it.

And so sorry about your mom and Vioxx. All Rx drugs are scary to me and I go out of my way not to take any. I don't even like taking acetamenaphin or ibruprofen but I have to take the latter every month due to horrible joint pain when AF comes. The joint pain, I was told, is caused by low iron due to AF but not sure I believe that. I eat a lot of meat and have great iron levels. I just think it is hereditary as all the women on my dad's side of the family experience this and all of us only have it on one leg. Mine is my left leg, my thigh/hip joint, knee, and ankle will all seemingly get inflamed and even though it is not excrutiating, it is very bothersome so I consider it horrible pain. If I don't take asprin or ibruprofen for it, then it will tak a week to go away, which is actually longer than AF sticks around.

Erin

demigraf

11-04-2011, 08:53 AM

Molly, :comfort: about your mom. I feel the same way about doctors who hand out prescriptions without discussing alternatives.

Suja, I just shared the article with my DH and our theory is that the plaintiff is a nut job who is trying to get his ex-wife back with this crazy lawsuit. The photographer says the whereabouts of the ex-wife aren't even known? If all her family has to fly back to recreate the photos, then surely they'll drag her back with them, right?

L, I hope you get your first choice of school (and I'd be sad too on B's first day of kindergarten). Have you ever used this site before?: http://www.greatschools.org/ Perhaps it'll help get you psyched about other schools in your area too. That way, you can formulate a Plan B or C that you're excited about. The great thing about the East Bay in general is that there seems to be a great openness toward alternative teaching methods and inventive curriculum.

Suja

11-04-2011, 09:17 AM

Suja, I just shared the article with my DH and our theory is that the plaintiff is a nut job who is trying to get his ex-wife back with this crazy lawsuit.

That's my theory as well. There is probably a good reason why his wife left the country.

Molly, I'll write about statins when I return, but now I have to go get a mammogram.

Smplyme89

11-04-2011, 10:08 AM

L, I've never heard of that before. I had to go look it up and do some reading. I find it very intriguing and will probably return to it when I have more free time (HA) I think the concept of your DS referring to peoples voices in terms of colors is just absolutely beautiful.

Prescription drugs can be a slippery slope and should only be introduced if all other options have been exhausted. My poor mama lives in pain everyday. She had back surgery from a ruptured disc (that went undiagnosed for 3yrs) a couple years ago and they pinched a nerve while they were in there :ohno: Now she has 2 additional bluging discs, plus the pinched nerve, and a heap of other issues. She gets pain meds, but is so stubborn she doesn't them until she can't move anymore :pokey:

Bridget I think that is great her dance teacher was pyaing enough attention to notice she is getting intimidated by some of the bigger kids. and :pokey: at your DH. He obviously did not think it through from Savana's perspective or he never would've said that. Men are dumb :eyeroll:

missychrissy

11-04-2011, 10:16 AM

Molly, :comfort: about your mom. I feel the same way about doctors who hand out prescriptions without discussing alternatives.

Suja, I just shared the article with my DH and our theory is that the plaintiff is a nut job who is trying to get his ex-wife back with this crazy lawsuit. The photographer says the whereabouts of the ex-wife aren't even known? If all her family has to fly back to recreate the photos, then surely they'll drag her back with them, right?

I'm also in the camp of distrusting dr's that just prescribe the current pet drug without any apparent thought or attempt to find alternative solutions.

What else could that re-take pictures thing be about? He sounds stalker-like and I'd be afraid he would attempt to kill me if I were his ex-wife.

L, I've never heard of that before. I had to go look it up and do some reading. I find it very intriguing and will probably return to it when I have more free time (HA) I think the concept of your DS referring to peoples voices in terms of colors is just absolutely beautiful.
That is very interesting indeed. I :wub: kids and how their minds work.

Suja

11-04-2011, 10:43 AM

Okay, back to statins. There are serious heart issues on my dad's side of the family. My father has had high BP/high cholesterol, which is familial, not related to diet/exercise. He had a heart attack when he was around 50, and subsequently went on meds for his blood pressure and cholesterol. The damage was unfortunately done, so he ended up with a quadruple bypass a couple of years later. That was about 20 years ago. He has been on statins the entire time. A few years back, he started experiencing leg pain, and lab tests revealed muscle death (increased CPK levels). He came off the statins and his cholesterol levels went back through the roof, and one of the bypassed arteries blocked. As he says, if he has to choose between his legs and his heart, he's got to pick the heart. He's back on the statins.

Sometimes, there are no easy answers.

daylilies

11-04-2011, 11:17 AM

I thought we discussed this and decided he was an idiot?

It was a SHE! LOL There have been 5 or 6 people who have asked me if I was pregnant...only one of them was a guy.
I'll have to catch up later...stuff to do...

daylilies

11-04-2011, 12:33 PM

Finally watched the Punched video-I think that guy's name is Andy Samberg, right, and he does all those shorts--
I wasn't digging it at first until Dave Grohl and Jon Bon Jovi showed up, and then it got even better with the zombies! LOL

I took Josh to the doctor today because he said it hurts when he pees :( They told me they saw blood in it (red blood cells not white) and they said to stop giving him bubble baths-they don't think it's an infection, but an irritation. They have to send the culture somewhere else and I should hear back Sunday or Monday.

But you know what really kills me? When I said I was taking in Josh, DH rolled his eyes. He immediately assumed Josh was faking it to get attention. And that's one reason why I feel I can never leave Josh alone with DH. It wasn't until I told him I'd heard Josh saying "ow ow ow" in the bathroom that he believed it wasn't a fake.

I thought it was a myth that bubble baths cause issues down there. Josh was sad that he can't have bubble baths anymore :(

I hope Savana likes her other class better, Bridget!

missychrissy

11-04-2011, 12:43 PM

:( I hope Josh feels better. :pokey: at your dh.

Jesi was always really sensitive to bubble baths. I wonder if there's a 'safe' kind you can buy for him?

Smplyme89

11-04-2011, 12:53 PM

Suja that is one of those 'rock and a hard place' situations. You do what you have to do to survive.

Poor Josh :( Are you using scented bubble baths?? have you chaged what you are using recently? I am very sensitive 'down there' to any kind of soaps or anything. I have to get the cheapest, non scented, least amount of chemicals body wash I can find (locally).

Bridget

11-04-2011, 01:02 PM

Burt's bees makes a bubble bath. It still irritates Savana but she's very, very sensitive down there. Cali Baby also makes one. It's pricey but good.
Kate, I know what you mean about wondering if you can trust daddy all the time. Yesterday I asked dbf to watch Sawyer while I cleaned Savana's room and suddenly I realized I could hear him in the garage (dbf) so I went to the bedroom where Sawyer was ON our high off the ground bed in our room with hardwood floors. Savana and Kai were on the bed with him and when I approaced dbf about he said he asked the kids to watch Sawyer for a minute.:eyeroll:. Just a week ago he asked me why I can't lay Sawyer on our bed for naps with pillows around him and I was like :shocker: he moves now, dude. He'll crawl right of the bed. Please tell me you understand this.
And this is our third child! You'd think he'd know better by now.

3andMe

11-04-2011, 01:04 PM

DS has been having pee issues too, and he doesn't ever have bubble baths. He had red cells in his urine the first time but not the second, and he's got some irritation on the tip that I've been having to put ointment on twice a day. I thought it was because he was just messing around with it too vigorously, but it is taking a long time to get better.

Baby S. was crying until 2:30 AM, despite being held semi-upright on my chest the whole time after dh and I decided to try to go to sleep, and despite Ibuprofen. I think he's got a sore throat and an ear infection, because he's clutching at both of them and he's drooling a lot, as if it hurts to swallow. He screams pretty much whenever we try to lay him flat.

This is the first time the kids have been sick this season, to my recollection. I give them vit. D supplements. I think I've been sick for a long time because I'm stressed and feeling overwhelmed. I have a ton of stuff to do in the next two months and I can barely keep on top of my regular chores. I have a big test next week I haven't studied for, a newsletter to publish the week after that, this whole job interview and decision, school selections, holidays, work projects, blah.

I really dislike it when adults assume kids are faking about things. Even if they are, I don't like it when they call them on it. I remember feeling really traumatized as a child when I fell down at some point in a group of adults and hearing someone say that I was faking. I thought that they must not like me and not want me there. If the kids want the attention, for whatever reason, I think it's important to give them the attention but in a positive way. Like ask them if they think they can fix the problem themselves since they are so grown-up, or remind them that the last time they had an injury we cleaned it and that helps prevent infections. Does this one need to be cleaned or is it a closed wound?

missychrissy

11-04-2011, 01:06 PM

:ohno:

eta-this is in response to Bridget's post about her dbf.

girlwonder

11-04-2011, 01:09 PM

[QUOTE=Smplyme89;1058466683 She gets pain meds, but is so stubborn she doesn't them until she can't move anymore :pokey:
[/QUOTE]

I have a lot of pain meds for chronic pain from a back issue and I HATE taking them. They don't do too much for the pain and they make me too tired/stupid/woozy to function. For me, the only time I want take them is when I am in so much pain that I can't move so I won't be doing anything anyway.

L - I love that DS has synesthesia! I wonder if it will stay or if it wears off/changes as he grows. My own has lessened dramatically from when I was small. Hope you all feel better today.

Kate - sorry about Josh. Maybe get something from California Baby or some other more natural company?

Gwenn - I hope the surgeon says that all you need is a brace and some time.

Bridget - I'm glad you and the teacher could frame it for S better than your dbf can. Who exactly does it suck for? Grrr.

Molly - I'm sorry about the medicine issues.

I am excited because I just made some dulce de leche overnight in my crockpot! :cabbage: You just take the paper labels off of sweetened condensed milk and put them in a crockpot, cover with water, set for low for 8 hours and voila! Perfect dulce de leche cooked right in the can! It's like magic. I am making it for icing for Sunday. That and chocolate cream cheese icing. Both on vanilla cupcakes because I can't be bothered to make two different flavors of cupcake as well.

I made about 30 yards of pennant banner last night - cut orange and turquoise fabric into triangles and zigzagged them onto a turquoise rope. It only took about two hours from start to finish and I think they will look pretty cute. Now I need to go purchase some orange and turquoise tissue to make giant tissue flowers and puffs to scatter around. The house will have to wait until tomorrow to be cleaned as I still have to do Friday Egg - you should check it out today: a new ostrich egg!

missychrissy

11-04-2011, 01:10 PM

I really dislike it when adults assume kids are faking about things. Even if they are, I don't like it when they call them on it. I remember feeling really traumatized as a child when I fell down at some point in a group of adults and hearing someone say that I was faking. I thought that they must not like me and not want me there. If the kids want the attention, for whatever reason, I think it's important to give them the attention but in a positive way. Like ask them if they think they can fix the problem themselves since they are so grown-up, or remind them that the last time they had an injury we cleaned it and that helps prevent infections. Does this one need to be cleaned or is it a closed wound?
ita with you.

I had psychosomatic symptoms a lot growing up-most likely due to the stress caused by my mother's illness-and it seemed like almost all the adults around me accused me of faking it. I also thought they said that because they didn't like me or didn't care about me.

Ky'sMom

11-04-2011, 01:10 PM

Forgot to say I hope your kids get into the school L!!

There is nothing like having a wonderful place to send your kids to. Ky's school is very similar to what you describe, minus the homework thing. I have gotten into arguments this year with Ky's new teacher (whom I do not like as much as his old teacher who moved to Kindergarten and whom I sorely miss!) about homework. I feel they think I am now a nut because I told them I don't believe in homework for elementary students who are not below grade level. There are many studies that show (and I was snotty and mentioned that she as an educator should know this) that homework does not increase the academic achievement of students in Pre-K through 5th grade. She had mentioned to me that her 3 year old gets home work in preschool and I told her that she was crazy (didn't say crazy, but different) to let her DD do homework at 3 years old and that I have a 3 year old and she will not be doing any homework at all! I am very anti-homework if you can't tell. I also think that she took my thoughts as a criticism of her and I did apologize for that but basically this whole situation started because Ky had to go to some sort of outing with his dad one day and he did not get to complete his homework because of that. He doesn't get to spend as much time with DH as they would like so I wrote a note to the teacher explaining this and she had the audacity to tell me that I should make homework a priority in Ky's life and I kind of went off on her via email. I also thought it funny that she said she was going to have to inform D, our principal about my views, as if that was a threat, I told her to go ahead that I have had plenty of conversations with him (he lives in my neighborhood and is a great guy, which is why I originally sent Ky to the school). I actually tattle told on her regarding this and she did apologize to me as I told D about it and that I didn't felt that she (she is a new teacher) fit in very well with the model of our school, which is about teaching the "whole child" and that homework should not be the most important thing in a child's life.

Erin

Ky'sMom

11-04-2011, 01:11 PM

Bridget

11-04-2011, 01:12 PM

Lydia, I agree that if kids are faking it is a cry for attention. I keep meaning to make a first aid kit with cotton wraps and essential oils to heal those wounds that don't truly require a band aid.

Suja

11-04-2011, 01:14 PM

I thought it was a myth that bubble baths cause issues down there. Josh was sad that he can't have bubble baths anymore :(

I'm pretty sure I have an extra bottle of the Burt's Bees sensitive skin type bubble bath stuff lying around. I really don't like how it smells. If he has one once in a while, maybe it'll be okay?

I have to get the cheapest, non scented, least amount of chemicals body wash I can find (locally).

Ooh, I've got this soap that I got off Amazon that I really like. http://www.amazon.com/Raw-African-Black-Soap-Ghana/dp/B0038J3MNM/ref=sr_1_7?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1320433904&sr=1-7 It's unscented, and does a much better job of de-stinking me than any regular soap (which tends to just cover up with the perfume). I'm deodorant free today (because of the mammogram), and so far, no BO! If you'd like, I can send you a chunk (it comes in a big block and you chop off pieces).

missychrissy

11-04-2011, 01:17 PM

I'm with you Erin-I don't care for the young kids to have homework. Heck, I get bent when my older girls have 'too much' of it. If they're doing homework from 3:30-8 or later, that's too much. Sydney's 4th grade teacher was awful about assigning homework. I wondered if she allowed for any work to be done during class time at all because there was so much of it.

girlwonder

11-04-2011, 01:20 PM

Smplyme89

11-04-2011, 01:20 PM

Chrissy and L :hugs: to both of you. It's hard when your surrounded by adults that don't undestand :hugs:

L I hope DS feels better soon :(

I have a lot of pain meds for chronic pain from a back issue and I HATE taking them. They don't do too much for the pain and they make me too tired/stupid/woozy to function. For me, the only time I want take them is when I am in so much pain that I can't move so I won't be doing anything anyway.

I am excited because I just made some dulce de leche overnight in my crockpot! :cabbage: You just take the paper labels off of sweetened condensed milk and put them in a crockpot, cover with water, set for low for 8 hours and voila! Perfect dulce de leche cooked right in the can! It's like magic. I am making it for icing for Sunday. That and chocolate cream cheese icing. Both on vanilla cupcakes because I can't be bothered to make two different flavors of cupcake as well.

Okay so your stubborn too :P Good to know :winks:

Oh my those sound yummy, feel free to ship some cupcakes my way :D:bellyrubs:

demigraf

11-04-2011, 01:21 PM

Suja, :( for your papa. I'm sorry. It must be hard to know what the right thing to do is in that situation.

Bridget, scratching my head right now at your DBF's latest assumption. Hmmm.

Kate, poor little Josh! It is really sad when kids are dismissed as faking sickness or injury. L is right, that - if they're not really sick - they're feeling needy for some reason or another. For the record, B must have picked up "I've got a tummy ache" from school at some point and uses the phrase regularly now while putting on this really dramatic voice. And inwardly I have started to assume "that ain't real", and the truth is he probably is faking. What I usually do is ask him if he can wiggle his toes (which he does). And then I ask him if he can wiggle his nose (which he does, and by this time a smile is forming). And then I ask if his tummy hurts too much to do this?!? And I dance around like crazy (and he follows me and starts laughing). I figure if he's well enough to play that little game, he must not be so bad off. I feel like I can tell when he's really not feeling well.

L, I hope your littles (AND YOU!) start to feel better. The 3 of us are going to a groom/bride shower tomorrow in Alameda and I'm going to try to get DH to go to the John Muir exhibit at the Oakland Museum of CA beforehand around 11am. I know you said you are super busy and in need of some rest, but I thought I'd let you know I'd be in your neck of the woods again so - even if we can't meet up - we can at least give each other a mental wave while I'm nearby.

missychrissy

11-04-2011, 01:22 PM

I think homework is a terrible idea for kids under nine or so. It doesn't help them at all - it's just extra torture. Weird. I guess the only benefit of it is that it would get the parents more involved in what the kid is learning?
I don't know about anyone else, but I don't have 4+ hours to spend helping with homework. I honestly don't know how kids do the extracurricular activities and have time to be involved with their families because homework takes up so much time. It's a minimum 2 hours every single night for all 3 of my girls. Usually longer.

If they were in sports, they wouldn't get home till 6 o'clock on practice night (later on game night). Eat dinner, 2 hours worth of homework...and when do you talk with your parents? Dinner time isn't enough imo. Maybe I'm just selfish. :P

Erin-you got me started!! lol

demigraf

11-04-2011, 01:31 PM

It looks like we were all posting at once. :D

Katy, I'll bet that banner is going to look super cute and festive for Jojo's party. And it'll match your front door too. :D It sounds like it's going to be a yummy and fun day for you and all your guests.

On homework, awhile back, a friend asked me to go see this documentary
with her that was basically about academic pressure:

http://www.racetonowhere.com/

It was really eye-opening, especially because I started off dismissing the film as just some rich parents complaining about too much pressure on their kids to be Ivy League material. But in the end, they were able to make the message more global about how children are adversely affected by tough schooling and demanding extracurriculars - basically too much structure and not enough play. One of the most interesting things I learned in the movie was about the "Stop Homework" project. I haven't completely decided if I'm totally anti-homework, but the statistics they gave comparing the US with countries that have less homework were pretty interesting if they correctly attributed the results to the right causes. I think the movie is worth checking out at least once. Erin, maybe you and that crazy teacher should watch it and then compare notes.

missychrissy

11-04-2011, 01:35 PM

I'm familiar with that racetonowhere, but I can't for the life of me remember if I've watched it or not. I'll have to make time this weekend and watch it (again).

Smplyme89

11-04-2011, 01:37 PM

Ooh, I've got this soap that I got off Amazon that I really like. http://www.amazon.com/Raw-African-Black-Soap-Ghana/dp/B0038J3MNM/ref=sr_1_7?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1320433904&sr=1-7 It's unscented, and does a much better job of de-stinking me than any regular soap (which tends to just cover up with the perfume). I'm deodorant free today (because of the mammogram), and so far, no BO! If you'd like, I can send you a chunk (it comes in a big block and you chop off pieces).

That looks wonderful! How long does it last you?? I have a mild case of psoriasis that gets worse during the winter and that sounds like it would really help it!

3andMe

11-04-2011, 01:54 PM

Suja, I forgot to mention that I had a mammogram yesterday. It wasn't as bad as everyone says it is, except that they squeezed a rib into the crusher as well as my boobs. I asked her if she knew there was a bone in there, and she said yes. And I always use glycerine soap. It's not as perfumey and it doesn't leave a weird film on me or dry my skin out.

My preschoolers have homework, and I know they will have homework at the elementary school, but I know it won't be as bad as some schools. Recent preschool homework included "Bring in a fire safety rule written on a paper flame." It is really fun to see what all the different kids come up with. There is a big wall of different flames with safety rules at school, and then they dress up in fireman outfits and do fire drills and tour a fire station. The funniest rule I saw was "Don't eat the yellow snow." I would love to see how that one came up as a fire safety rule. And I like how that makes us start talking about things.

The kindergarten teacher gave an example of a week's homework: "Call your grandparent or an older person and ask him or her what school was like when he or she was young." That's the kind of homework I can handle, too. I have also heard that more homework does not contribute to academic success. Some things, like bigger projects, or working on problems or reports or reading outside of class, I can see as being important, but not until older.

Bridget, I rarely give my kids bandaids unless something is actively continuing to bleed and might get clothes or furniture messy. I have always taught them that cleaning with soap and water is the most important thing. They're also really good at giving each other kisses on their owies if I have my hands full.

Mylah, I have been thinking about going to the Oakland Museum lately because the weather has turned crappy, but I have decided to not take my kids out around other people. I even canceled their swimming lesson tomorrow. Otherwise it would be cool to meet you. The John Muir exhibit is fun. Here is a video of DD jumping over the crevasse there (http://youtu.be/WwkJZDe703s).