Posts by m0m6

1. Make sure that each and every person who is coming into contact with you child is certified through the state/county to be a child care provider and is currently certified in first aid, INFANT and CHILD CPR and knows where the closest hospital/fire department/police station is
2. Make sure that every person who works there has a criminal background check available for the parents to see. If it is an inhome day care then make sure that everyone, including the spouse/roomie/children of the provider has a BG check and they aren't on a sexual offender list.
3. See if there are video cameras in the rooms, and inspect the rooms yourself. If anyone gives you any grief over it, then that isn't the place for your child.
4. The child- provider ratio should be stated in the contract, and ask what there procedures are if they go over the ratio.
5. If they are a nationally accredited child care center/provider they will be more expensive, but they will be the best trained providers.
6. When you do choose the provider/center you want to use, drop by unannounced and just observe your child in the environment. It may be the best center that money can pay for, but your child might HATE IT!
7. Find out what day's they are closed, and if they will comp you for those days. Also, if they are closed and you need child care see if they have a list of recommended back up providers. It's always a good idea to have one or two back up providers lined up, just in case.
8. Find out what there policies are on fighting/hiting/biting.  Kids are going to get bumps, scratches and smacks in daycare. There is no way around it. Its either self inflicted or the poor darlings get a smack over a toy or something like that. ( I saw my 14 month old son straight push a little boy down and take his toy. I was shocked, but also laughing at the same time because little guy tripped over his own feet and bopped his chin on the very toy he took!)

Thankfully I use the Child Development Center on base, and Ethan LOVES going to "cool" (school). Kids will pick up on the parent's "vibe" so if you approach this with excitement your child probably will too.  

Dude, I  CAN NOT sleep with my little guy and my hubby in the same bed! The last time we tried to have Ethan in the bed with us I got kicked in the throat, in the boob and smacked straight in the eye by my sweet little booger! He was sweet and gentle when daddy was holding him, but then daddy rolled over and went "nigh-nigh" and then Ethan saw "Mama" and wanted to play. He lasted about 5 minutes and then I plopped him back in his own bed! Cuddling on Saturday/Sunday mornings is just about as much as my poor throat/boobs/eyes can handle!

Yeah, just over cook a portion of what you are going to eat, add a dash of salt  or herbs to it and put it in the blender/food processor. That way you can control the "chunkiness" of the food.

At about 11 months my son was able to eat soft/overcooked unblended bites of what we ate at the table. It if was super spicy or salty I would make him about 1/2 cup of mild food. Now he just eats smaller portions of whatever we have. He has molars, so it doesn't have to be too squishy. I haven't done nuts or really hard food yet thought. He only has one molar on top and one molar on the bottom on both sides, so he can't grind very effectively yet.

He started drinking from a cup about 3 weeks ago, and can now walk and drink at the same time! (I only give him water unless he's sitting down in his booster seat. Less mess that way.)

First baby I went from 119lbs - 156lbs. Baby was 9lbs 6 oz, born on 14 april 2002. Took me about 11 months to get down to 135. I bounced up and down between 125-135 for the next couple of years.

Second baby went from 129 - 187lbs. Baby was 10lbs. 3.3 oz, born on 2 Feb 2008. I didn't have gestational diabetes or anything like that, I just grow babies REALLY big.

I was down to 133 on his 1st birthday, but then I got really sick and I couldn't work out for 2 months. I was 149lbs on the first of May, the day I was allowed to workout again. Right now I'm about 143lbs. I'm pleased that the weight is comming off, I'm just mad that it isn't going as fast as it had been in the beginning. Hormones are horrid!! I plan on getting back down to 130 by the first of September.

Light - moderate workouts throughout the pregancy are VERY beneficial! With your docs recommendations, of course. You can do light crunches and very light lower back exercises too. Look into water aerobics, if you can find a class. the water is soothing, and it supports up to 70% of your tummy in the water, so it doesn't put alot of strain on your back or joints. Yoga is good too.  

That is why I always do a range for my cal intake. Workout days its 1400-1650 and non workout days its 1250-1400. So, if im a little hungry I can have a bite of something and not be out of my "range." Also, varing your cal intake will help with the weight loss. It keeps the metabolism guessing, so it is continuously adjusting.

small meals through out the day help too. Instead of cutting up your cal intake into three meals, have something every couple of hours or so and spread it out through the day.

it could be round ligament pain. It shoots across your hips, groin and upper thighs like a mother!

You can put fiber powder into smoothies. That'll help fill you up.

It could also be puberty's evil horned head! I got really heavy there in the first few years of puberty and then slimmed down when my hormones regulated and I got really heavy into sports.

 She may not be interested in walking or running. Maybe some other kind of sport? Or activity? Dance classes, yoga? OOh, someone mentioned a mommy and me type of day, why not go to a yoga class or a cardio kickboxing class? Those are fun!! 

This is pretty much my life story. Insert my name for your sister and BAM... my sophmore year of High School all over! The best thing that you can do now is to be supportive, understanding, and strong for her. She probably feels LIKE CRAP right now. Hence all the crying. The utter humiliation, rage, frustration and emptiness after being dumped by the guy you lost your virginity to is on a whole other level then a normal dumping.  

The one way that you can help her is to take her to a OB/GYN and get a full spectrum STD screen. The last thing she needs is to contract some disease. I'd do that as soon as possible.

She probably already knows that you dissaprove of her actions. That adds to the feeling of humiliation and dispare. I'd talk to her like my sis ( 7 years older) did to me. She only mentioned once that it wasn't a very good idea, that I should have thought it through, and that was it. After that 10 minute, very gentle but honest conversation she just let me cry and rage.

There are things called posture bras. They help out through out the day.

Yeah, you should be eating more on the days you work out. I'm about the same cal burn/intake as you. I do a range on my workout days of 175-250 more then on non workout days. I've read that varing your cal intake causes the metabolism to continually adjust.

You know, you don't have to read her emails. If it is stressing you out then you probably shouldn't even be reading her forced advice. I know she means well, but enough is enough! If she wants you to have all that fancy stuff, then maybe she should offer to buy it for you for your shower? Hmmm.. might work.

There is nothing wrong with Goodwill, Discount stores or anything like that. I go to a store called Bealls and I can get Tommy Hilfiger baby outfits for around 10-15 bucks. I can go in there with $30 and walk out with two to three outfits of high quality baby clothes. (The best is when I found a $130 dollar dress for $35! It was for my sisters wedding and it rocked!)

The one thing about discount stores or Goodwill stores, you have to have the time and patience to rummage through to find what you want. Ooh, check out Big Lots. They sometimes have the overstock, high end baby equiptment. I found an Even Flow infant carseat and base for $35 at one a few months back!

*edit: the one plus to a changing table is that you aren't bending and strainig your back. We just got a big changing pad and would plop it on the floor or bed after our son was born. Man, picking him up and puting him down it would hurt my back something awful! You could just get a little night table or dresser and put the changing pad on it, or if you have counter space in the bath room you can attach the pad there. That's what we did a few months back.  

Yup, also see about a podiatrist for your feet. That can also have an impact on your knees, hips and lower back. The podiatrist might just make some inserts for your shoes. But definately talk to your doc first.

Has he been cutting you off from friend and family, either physically or emotionally? Blaming everything on you, or trying to make you feel guilty for NORMAL everyday interactions? Has it been recently, or the whole relationship? If the answer to any of these questions is even "kinda" then the behaviour is abusive.  The main thing here is that you said you aren't happy, and scared. When is that ever a good incentive to stay in a relationship?

I'm assuming that this guy has a job? He has a place to stay, so I guess that he is able to pay the rent? You shouldn't be finacially responsible for this guy.  He isn't a child, and you aren't his mother. Now this might sound weird, but both of you should be selfish right now. I think you should take care of yourself first, and he should take care of himself first. It sounds like he might have some severe insecurities and social problems. Those are HIS problems and HE should take the steps to fix them with the help of a professional. They aren't your problems to fix, and you can't fix them for him.

One last piece of advice. What if your sister/cousin/friend came to you and said the exact same thing. What would be your advice to her? Why should that advice not hold true to your situation? ( And don't let him use the " I love you lets get married" ploy.)The main thing here is your happiness and security. If this guy isn't providing it to you ALL THE TIME YOU ARE WITH HIM, then he isn't the one for you.

When I stopped taking my prenatal vitamin while breast-feeding my hair fell out like yours did. I was also under a lot of stress from my job at the time, and caring for an infant by myself while my hubby was stationed in Korea. I didn't take my vitamins for three days, and the hair loss was almost instantaneous!! I bought more vitamins in a hurry and it took about a week for the vitamins to kick in and the hair loss to stop.

I would try a multivitamin to augment your vitamin consumption. Surprisingly, the Flintsone chew ables are fairly good in supplying vitamins. But you would probably be better served by getting a multivitamin geared towards a young male.  Vitamin supplements would help I think, but I'd go talk to your doc as well.