thumbsucker blues: sandbox parenting thead

Message Bookmarked
Bookmark Removed
Not all messages are displayed: show all messages (348 of them)
Once I saw a woman who was clearly in labor standing outside our local hospital having a smoke. Every time she had a contraction, she'd stop puffing and brace herself against the building. I wondered what she told the l & d nurses she was going outside to do.

Sara Robinson-Coolidge (Sara R-C), Tuesday, 12 December 2006 16:52 (seventeen years ago) link

We've broken down a bit on the "no kids in the bed" rule. I think with twins, a lot of "rules" go out the window. Another one we've given up on is the "no pacifiers" rule. It would seriously be impossible for my wife to stay sane without pacifiers.

We hope to get the kids out of the bed soon, of course. We only have a queen size bed, so it's a little crowded with the two babies. I suggested putting the bed in the garage and putting a king size mattress on the floor, but that was just too ghetto an idea for my wife.

A couple new pics:
http://static.flickr.com/127/320128244_16fd99dc76.jpg
http://static.flickr.com/131/317510856_4910fc3f7c.jpg

From the Flickr set

schwantz (schwantz), Tuesday, 12 December 2006 17:05 (seventeen years ago) link

We co-slept with both kids, but that was our plan in the first place. I was glad that we did with Alex, since he was born 6 weeks early and had apnea of prematurity. It was gone by the time he left the hospital, but after seeing my tiny baby stop breathing so many times, there was no way I was trusting that. We transitioned them into their own beds in our room (where Julia still is, actually); Alex moved into his own room when he was 4, I think.

Sara Robinson-Coolidge (Sara R-C), Tuesday, 12 December 2006 17:09 (seventeen years ago) link

haha rules. the only rules that count are the ones the government enforces.

teeny (teeny), Tuesday, 12 December 2006 17:14 (seventeen years ago) link

and I was just about to rep for co-sleeping too. It was not our plan (I didn't even think it was "done") but once we started we all liked it! Occasionally it is a pain but usually it is all cuddles and sweetness.

teeny (teeny), Tuesday, 12 December 2006 17:15 (seventeen years ago) link

At the risk of sounding completely insane, I used to wake up before Alex when he was a baby and try not to move so that he wouldn't wake up. Then I could breathe in his sweet breastfed-baby breath!

As for rules, yeah... good luck with that. You have to do what works with the kids you wind up with...

Sara Robinson-Coolidge (Sara R-C), Tuesday, 12 December 2006 17:21 (seventeen years ago) link

Had Ava in our bed until 4-5 weeks then transitioned her to a little bassinet by our bed before finally moving her to her own cot in her own room at 3 months.

With Tallulah we had some "success" initially with her in her own crib in our room - sleeping reasonably well, one major feed per night. But lately she's not been doing so well - whether it's the cold she's had since Ava snotted her sisterly affection all over her in week one or the looming spectre of colic (she has digestive/gas issues way worse than Ava ever did) - we usually need her in the bed for her to sleep soundly for more than 30min at a time. Last night was an exception - she slept in the crib until 3:45am, thereafter (fitfully) in the bed.

Whether through jealousy or by chance, Ava now wants back in on the act. I think it's the final throes of teething - she wakes up wailing at 1am or so and we have to take her into our bed to calm her down. You can tell it's a real illicit treat for her - she's smiling to herself as she burrows into the pillows between Mum and Dad. If Tallulah's already in prime sandwich position, I have to take Ava downstairs or just arrange the two of them very carefully. Hope it doesn't become a nightly occurrence.

Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Tuesday, 12 December 2006 17:43 (seventeen years ago) link

you are all scaring me.

Ms Misery (MsMisery), Tuesday, 12 December 2006 17:45 (seventeen years ago) link

Excuse the naive and personal question, but if you share your bed with a baby, when do you get teh good lovin ect? Or are you so knackered it wouldn't feature anyway?

Madchen (Madchen), Tuesday, 12 December 2006 17:48 (seventeen years ago) link

Other times, I guess. And yeah, we're knackered. And when you get a C-Section, you're on "pelvic rest" for a while.

Our doctor told us the only documented cases of people rolling over and crushing their babies involve BOTH obesity and drugs/alcohol. Something like 80% of the world's population sleep with their infants in the bed.

Thing to watch out for: Keep the covers/comforters away from their head(s).

And of course, put down a "piddle pad" because babies be wettin'!

schwantz (schwantz), Tuesday, 12 December 2006 17:55 (seventeen years ago) link

There are other rooms in the house. Maybe a guest room... ahem. (You have no idea how many times I have answered this question. I used to get kind of sarcastic and say, "Haven't you ever seen Fatal Attraction?" I quit that when I started to think that my friends were looking at me funny.)

Sara Robinson-Coolidge (Sara R-C), Tuesday, 12 December 2006 17:57 (seventeen years ago) link

I've never seen Fatal Attraction!

Madchen (Madchen), Tuesday, 12 December 2006 18:00 (seventeen years ago) link

Never seen Fatal Attraction?" Hmmmm. I don't know whether or not to recommend it; it's kind of creepy.

And when you get a C-Section, you're on "pelvic rest" for a while.

Really? Is it longer than the standard 6 weeks for vaginal births? (At 6 week post-partum checkup, my ob's standard comment is, "you can go back to doing anything legal...").

Sara Robinson-Coolidge (Sara R-C), Tuesday, 12 December 2006 18:02 (seventeen years ago) link

I think 6 weeks is it. We're at 4 right now.

schwantz (schwantz), Tuesday, 12 December 2006 18:07 (seventeen years ago) link

the kid sleeps fine in the crib for as long as it takes.

teeny (teeny), Tuesday, 12 December 2006 18:19 (seventeen years ago) link

It blows my mind that in this day and age anyone would consider smoking while pregnant acceptable.

I know! I discovered my mom smoked when she was pregnant with me, but I can sort of brush that off cause, hey, it was the 70s and she was 18 yrs old. Still...

In re to lovemaking: I think one of the reasons I put Ophelia in her own room was that I prefered doing some hanky panky when she wasn't around. ;-)

nathalie (stevienixed), Wednesday, 13 December 2006 12:10 (seventeen years ago) link

AHA! He was bottlefed! :-)

nathalie (stevienixed), Wednesday, 13 December 2006 12:41 (seventeen years ago) link

My mother smoked Salems and drank martinis when she was pregneant. I turned out...me.

Beth Parker (Beth Parker), Wednesday, 13 December 2006 15:27 (seventeen years ago) link

The martinis nullify teh ciggies

Blaze the Violet Flame (nu_onimo), Wednesday, 13 December 2006 15:28 (seventeen years ago) link

Excuse the naive and personal question, but if you share your bed with a baby, when do you get teh good lovin ect? Or are you so knackered it wouldn't feature anyway?

having a baby is the perfect birth control

akm (akmonday), Wednesday, 13 December 2006 18:13 (seventeen years ago) link

where's archel??

teeny (teeny), Thursday, 14 December 2006 15:20 (seventeen years ago) link

At home. On maternity leave. Baby not due until Boxing Day. She was around the other day on the Watercooler thread.

ailsa_xx (ailsa_xx), Thursday, 14 December 2006 15:22 (seventeen years ago) link

having a baby is the perfect birth control

We had a client in the shop whose two oldest childres were ten months apart. Yep. Ten months.

nathalie (stevienixed), Thursday, 14 December 2006 15:23 (seventeen years ago) link

OUCH.

Sara Robinson-Coolidge (Sara R-C), Thursday, 14 December 2006 15:31 (seventeen years ago) link

Hello, I'm not Archel but her husband cleverly disguised as her. Just to let you know this this happened yesterday...
http://re2.farm1.static.flickr.com/126/322500370_e4d5d1e1d4_m.jpg
...hence no Archel.
Her name is Alice Elizabeth and she and her mum are both still in hospital being taken good care of. They're both doing very well.
Anyway they should be home soon and I'm sure Archel will be posting lots on this thread in the future.
I'll leave it at that for now. Sorry there's so few details in this post but I thought Arch would enjoy sharing all that stuff with you herself.
Hope you're all well,
Matt xxx

Archel (Archel), Friday, 15 December 2006 21:31 (seventeen years ago) link

Matt send lots of HUGGELZ and CONGRATS to Archel!!!!

nathalie (stevienixed), Friday, 15 December 2006 21:38 (seventeen years ago) link

Congratulations - she's beautiful!!!!

Sara Robinson-Coolidge (Sara R-C), Friday, 15 December 2006 21:48 (seventeen years ago) link

yay!!! congrats to you both!

Ms Misery (MsMisery), Friday, 15 December 2006 21:48 (seventeen years ago) link

Oh, how wonderful! I was just wondering how Archel was doing, then I clicked on this thread and saw the beautiful Alice Elizabeth :))

Many congratulations - I hope you are all doing well. Thanks for letting us know, Matt :)

C J (C J), Friday, 15 December 2006 21:52 (seventeen years ago) link

Congratulations!

I Am Curious (George) (Slight Return) (Rock Hardy), Friday, 15 December 2006 21:54 (seventeen years ago) link

haha am I psychic or what?? congratulations to all of you! what a lovely name!

teeny (teeny), Friday, 15 December 2006 22:07 (seventeen years ago) link

Congrats, Archel & Matt!!!

scott seward (121212), Friday, 15 December 2006 22:51 (seventeen years ago) link

Hurrah!

Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Friday, 15 December 2006 22:53 (seventeen years ago) link

Congratulations! What a sweetie!

Beth Parker (Beth Parker), Friday, 15 December 2006 23:05 (seventeen years ago) link

Oh congratulations to all of you! And happy birthday Alice - welcome to the world!

luna (luna), Friday, 15 December 2006 23:21 (seventeen years ago) link

Congratulations Archel family! Such a lovely little one!

jaq (jaq), Saturday, 16 December 2006 04:35 (seventeen years ago) link

Congrats, Archel and Matt!!

As for co-sleeping: I planned to do it with Rufus, but it turned out we kept him awake and vice versa and it just made sense to put him in his crib. Cyrus is more cuddly or has elbows that are not as sharp and sleeping with him works better. We switch beds. Sometimes Cyrus ends up in bed with me; sometimes one of us ends up getting in bed with Rufus. Whatever works to keep the kids from screaming at night. We only have sex in the daytime when the kids are both at daycare.

I think you can make all kinds of rules but many of them go out the window once you deal with the kid(s) you have.

Maria :D (Maria :D), Saturday, 16 December 2006 07:32 (seventeen years ago) link

http://static.flickr.com/139/322918599_b685e0da54_m.jpg

Lego Ist My Ego

http://static.flickr.com/124/322918011_150a1e0e4a_m.jpg

but I like books too!

The heater's broke. BAH! I don't care about me being cold - I can always play Wii till but I hate O being cold. :-(

nathalie (stevienixed), Saturday, 16 December 2006 08:24 (seventeen years ago) link

Wow, congratulations R & M and hello to little baby Alice. That was a bit sudden!

ailsa_xx (ailsa_xx), Saturday, 16 December 2006 11:26 (seventeen years ago) link

Ava counted to ten today!

Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Saturday, 16 December 2006 14:47 (seventeen years ago) link

wtf! how old is she? she's still about 2, right?

nathalie (stevienixed), Saturday, 16 December 2006 15:22 (seventeen years ago) link

That is awesome!

Sara Robinson-Coolidge (Sara R-C), Saturday, 16 December 2006 15:39 (seventeen years ago) link

Ava's 22 months - she's been "counting" 1, 2, 2, [babble] for a while, but she did the lot today. Knowing Ava, she won't do it again (and certainly not on demand) for a few weeks and then she won't stop doing it.

Thank the Count and Sesame Street.

Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Saturday, 16 December 2006 16:26 (seventeen years ago) link

Michael,who cares if she stops doing it, SHE DID IT! You must be megaproud! I know I would be.

Ophelia has discovered tantrums. She doesn't want to have her *siesta* so screams and cries for about oh a good ten minutes. I don't know, am I coldhearted for letting her cry it out and fall asleep? I do pick her up once or twice and/or come into her room to let her know that everything's okay but on the whole I side with Thom: She must sleep, it's good for her.

nathalie (stevienixed), Sunday, 17 December 2006 12:51 (seventeen years ago) link

The best part will be when she counts saying "One! - Mwha-ha-ha-ha - Two! Mwha ha ha ha" with the Count.
Sesame Street is brilliant. I don't have kids (nor do I want them), and I sometimes find myself glued to the tv watching Sesame Street.
I'm a very proud Auntie, and my little niece Alice does several cute kid tricks. She's almost two. When someone says "sing opera!" she raises her chubby little arms and sings "Ahhh!", in a high voice for about three seconds.
Congratulations Archel and Matt! Christmas will be much easier NOT being pregnant - yes? Your Boxing Day present is here!

aimurchie (aimurchie), Sunday, 17 December 2006 13:31 (seventeen years ago) link

The best part will be when she counts saying "One! - Mwha-ha-ha-ha - Two! Mwha ha ha ha" with the Count

That's how she asks for the DVD! "DDD, pease!" "Which one, sweetheart?" "Ah-ah-ah!"

Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Sunday, 17 December 2006 13:39 (seventeen years ago) link

Oh good god, counting with the Count is just...classic. I am such a proud auntie. The kids are 6, 4, and just about two. Gus, Sophie, and Alice.
Or, as we like to call her, Allie-boo-boo. Or sometimes just "The Pooh!".
The ridiculousness with kiddlywinks makes me so happy.
I gave Gus, for his birthday, in october, the first two volumes of the Lemony Snicket series. He said "Chapter books! Look Mom! Chapter books!"
I love them so much...I can't even imagine how much you love one of your own. From your loins, and such.
I am the "book" auntie, and that makes me happy.
Hardcovers. Keepsakes. Books. To treasure. Forever.

aimurchie (aimurchie), Sunday, 17 December 2006 16:42 (seventeen years ago) link

Ok. Sorry i killed the thread. Tell me, mamas and papas, which books your children are loving right now? So i can be the best "book auntie" ever.
Also, go back to discussing the teething/pooping/co-sleeping stuff. Because i like to read about it here, in the sandbox.

alison murchie (aimurchie), Monday, 18 December 2006 03:35 (seventeen years ago) link

Congratulations to Archel & Matt!

My sons are currently rather obsessed with the Captain Underpants books. I'm not sure Anne likes the toilet humour (she had to have a word with David about making farts gags in front of teachers) but at least it has captured their imaginations. They have both started trying to write their own comic books and their reading has really improved.

We are also reading the Secrets of Droon fantasy series which Mark in particular seems to like and they still occasionally go back to the Mr Men series.

Onimo has his finger in the stink (nu_onimo), Monday, 18 December 2006 10:25 (seventeen years ago) link


You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.