Preschool Moms Week of 11/13

[LA98]

So are you allowed to start a thread if you've been mostly MIA?? :o :) I kept trying to post last week and somehow never got to do it! But I was trying to read and keep up on everyone:

Lara, hope Natalie's feeling better by now?

Susan, congratulations on your move! We lived in Virginia the year I was 4, and I'm positive that's when my fear of spiders started. ;) They grow 'em big down there...

Heather, sorry about your SIL situation. I'd be really irritated too!

I'm doing fine here. Brian's had a little coughing here and there ever since the weather started to get chilly, but it hasn't turned into anything to worry about yet. I really can't wait to see how he does this winter, respiratory-wise. We went out to restaurant last night for my mother's birthday and Brian sat at the table for the solid hour we were there (and he ate too!). That's really an accomplishment for him, I was pretty proud that he did it. I think he's growing up. ;)

And, I had my amnio last week and during the ultrasound learned that I am going to be outnumbered 3-1 in my house: it's a boy! We're thrilled (even if I do admit to about 5 minutes' worth of sadness about no dolls, dresses, barrettes or ballet lessons in my future :) ) Still waiting for the "official" results to come back but everything looked good on the US, and that's all I care about!

Hope everyone has a great week!

Lori

[tbb113]

And, I had my amnio last week and during the ultrasound learned that I am going to be outnumbered 3-1 in my house: it's a boy! We're thrilled (even if I do admit to about 5 minutes' worth of sadness about no dolls, dresses, barrettes or ballet lessons in my future :) )


Congratulations! I wanted a boy and a girl but I'm thrilled with my two sons.

And depending on the boy...dance lessons of some sort (hip-hop) might be in your future. Michael's hair is long enough for barrettes..but he won't wear them (I keep suggesting a pony-tail...but he won't go for that either :) )

Plus I think same sex siblings will be closer as adults then brothers/sisters combos (I know that there are exceptions).

[LA98]

Thanks, Tyra, and LOL! Before Brian's first haircut, he had SO much hair, just tons and tons of these blonde curls, I was dying to put barrettes in it!! :D And I was going to post that DH and his brother are very close and that I hope Brian and his brother have that kind of relationship (whereas my brother and I don't get along at all.....)

ETA: And I agree that dance lessons of some kind aren't out of the question, but I doubt there will be any pink tutus involved... ;)

[tbb113]

ETA: And I agree that dance lessons of some kind aren't out of the question, but I doubt there will be any pink tutus involved... ;)

One can only hope that this is true :p

[JoanneOR]

Lori, congrats on the boy!! I had all boys until Caitlyn was born and it was fun! I agree, dancing can still be in the future, but no pink tutus!! That's not necessarily a bad thing! Never had to worry about combing out hair either, or what to do with it. Boys, you just run a comb through it and go. Caitlyn has been waking up with the back of her head looking like a birds nest lately :( . No fun! Great news to hear that everything looks good on the ultrasound. When is your due date?

Well, just when I was thinking how lucky we were that no one has been sick this fall yet, DH and Ian got sick yesterday. Although I think it was food poisoning. I made chicken and salmon Saturday night and they were the only ones who really ate the chicken. No one else got sick. Both seem fine now and if no one else gets it (crossing my fingers) it probably was bad chicken. Of course, DH isn't letting me live it down for awhile about how I poisoned him and Ian! :rolleyes: Unfortunately Sunday was Ian's birthday and his party. The poor guy started throwing up as soon as he got out of bed. I had made cinnamon rolls for breakfast (our birthday tradition) and he couldn't eat them. I came so close to cancelling his party, but he got so upset and said he was OK, that we went ahead with it. I should have rescheduled. He just wasn't himself and no one from his class showed up :( . It was us, some neighbor kids and our niece and nephew. Which was fine, but I know he was dissappointed no one else came. Just really not a good birthday all around. I know birthdays aren't all about the presents and I try to stress that to the kids, too, but to a nine-year-old it's kind of important. Well, I got him two games he really wanted so he was happy about that. But, MIL got him a 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzle :confused: that is really complicated and he had absolutely no interest in. FIL got him a toy guitar - one of those ones for little kids - like three-year-olds. Caitlyn loves it. :rolleyes: He got a remote control car that he really liked, but it stopped working already and I don't think I can return it - the box is destroyed. He got a couple gift cards, so I told him we can go shopping next weekend and he can pick out some stuff. By the evening he was feeling better and was able to keep down some toast and jelly (four pieces!) and went to school today. Last night he's sitting on the couch and he just started crying. He's really hard to talk to and just gets really upset when you ask him what's wrong. I took him upstairs and he finally said his birthday stunk because he was sick and he didn't like his presents. :( I felt bad because I always try to make the kids' birthdays special and this one just really didn't go so well!

On a brighter note :) , Saturday night was Ian's opening night in Oliver. He did really well, although you could tell he was really nervous! He said he really enjoyed doing it - we'll have to see if there are any other opportunities. He's in two shows this coming weekend - DH and I are going to one with probably Jameson and the grandparents are going to one.

Gotta run to a meeting....

[JoanneOR]

Oh, Lori, I just remembered an incident that happened with Caitlyn this weekend that might make you glad you'll have two boys! We're riding along in the car and she was crying about something - I can't remember what - I think it was she wanted milk or something and I was trying to explain to her that we were in the car and I had no way of giving her any milk. Well, she proceeds to tell me she doesn't like me and that I am a pen*s :eek: :eek: - yes, the male body part that I think you can't say here :rolleyes: I pulled over the car and said, "excuse me, what did you say". She said it again with a big smile on her face. I asked her where she heard that and she said "the boys". I told her that was inappropriate to say that and that it was a body part, not a name you call a person. I imagine we would have gotten a phone call home if she called someone at school that! :o

[RunnerKim]

Congratulations Lori! Glad to hear he's healthy. I love having a sister so would have been happy to have 2 girls - not that I'd ever give up Jamie of course but it wasn't like I was estatic to have "one of each."

Joanne - that's wonderful that Ian's opening night went well. Very exciting for him to be involved in something like that! I'm so sorry about his birthday though - I can see that's a bummer. Your ILs are out to lunch.

We had a fun long weekend. Lainey woke up from nap one day while I was making cards (MIL's birthday and then I went "crazy" and decided to make some Thanksgiving cards). Lainey sat down with me and made a card too. She's not at all arty (coloring is generally a chore) but making something, she finds fun and she's getting old enough to follow allong with what I'm doing. So of course she's taking all my scraps and adding them on to her card-the more the better. "My card is the fanciest, but I still love you and your cards"

Jamie's starting to talk more and more - saying "more" frequently now and he said his first real 2 syllable word Turtle- (if you odn't count Mama, Dada, Lay-Nee). He wants to destry anything that Lainey's playing with and there's really no where I can tell her to go so that's not an issue. He can climb up and reach far enough on the table it's not really a solution and forget telling her to play in her room (which is technically Jamie's anyway) - I'm so thrilled she's playing by herself that I don't want to squash it by telling her to play in a room by herself (which she'd never do).

We went to science museum to see the Star Wars exhibit this weekend. I wasn't sure how much she'd get out of it but she had a lot of fun. they had a hovercraft she could "drive" and then some other Millenium Falcon ride/movie thing - I took a rather frustrated Jamie to the science playground area while the rest of the group did that activity.

Kim

[tbb113]

Never had to worry about combing out hair either, or what to do with it. Boys, you just run a comb through it and go. Caitlyn has been waking up with the back of her head looking like a birds nest lately :( . No fun!

You haven't seen Michael's hair. Since it is curly...he doesn't like to comb or brush it since the ringlets become waves (which he doesn't like). If he washes it on the weekends...I force him to sit still so I can comb out the snarls. Otherwise he just finger combs it in the shower :rolleyes: BUT, most boys don't have hair halfway down their backs!

Glad that the Ian is having fun performing. Too funny about Caitlyn. The joys of having older brothers :p

[LaraW]

Congratulations on the boy, Lori! Glad to hear everything is good with him, and he's healthy.

We're doing pretty well here. My parents are visiting this weekend (they go home tomorrow) so its been busy.

Natalie has been on her amoxicillin for 4 days now, and she seems to be feeling better. I think her sleep has been disrupted these last few days, so I'm anxious to get back into the swing of things with school and everything.

Its getting late, so I'm going to go to bed. Will catch everyone in the morning.

[Sarah428]

Lori - I've been MIA too, it's that time of year! Congrats on boy #2! When Owen was born the first thing I mentioned was how nice it will be to not have to do hair for 2 girls! :o ;)

Lara - Hope you get back to a schedule soon and Natalie gets better.

Kim - That's great that you and Lainey got to make cards together. I'm dreading when Owen can start tackling Ella and taking toys away....and at the rate he's growing it won't be long.

Joanne - Poor Ian, I try not to put too much into bdays too but sometimes you feel like you only have 1 day to make it something special. How wonderful that he's loving the play and the whole family is coming to see his shows.

Tyra - Your boys sound like so much fun, you did such a good job with them!

Last week was a nightmare at work, hoping things slow down this week. We spent the weekend at step-FIL 60th and then step-MIL 50th party (try explaining that to a 3 y.o. :p). Sunday DH went to HD and loaded up on crown molding, paint, light fixtures, etc for us to finally get the house put back together.

This saturday I'm going Xmas shopping w/ some GF. I'm really not into it but going because I haven't spent time w/ them in awhile. I just can't come up with any wishlist ideas for either Ella or Owen. Any thoughts??? Ella has been mentioning polly pockets lately but wondering if she's too young for them. Everyone keeps asking me for wishlists and I'm lost.

Sarah

[JoanneOR]

Tyra, that's funny about Michael's hair. I guess his is probably alot more work than Caitlyn's! Caitlyn was in the bath yesterday and I noticed her hair looked shorter. She told me "grandma cut it." :confused: :( MIL has been picking her up from school and keeping her for a couple hours on Mondays and Wednesday so DH can sleep, which is great. So, I probably won't say anything. But, I must say I was a bit annoyed. I'm growing her hair out and didn't want any cut off the back. I guess it's not a big deal, but I don't think she should have cut it without asking us first.

Lara, glad to hear Natalie is feeling better. Hopefully things will be back to normal soon.

Kim, the Star Wars exhibit sounds fun. Is that something that is a traveling exhibit? I think the boys would like that. That's great that Jamie is talking more. It seems once they start it all comes so quickly. Caitlyn went through that - when she would want to get into everything the boys were playing with. I think that's probably why they are not into board games very much - it would be a disaster whenever they'd try to set one up - Caitlyn would want to "play" too.

Sarah, I'm having a hard time thinking of Xmas gifts for the kids, too. Ella is three, right? Caitlyn has Polly Pockets and loves them. At first she had trouble getting the clothes on herself, but now she can do it. She'll play for a long time with them. Does Ella have a dollhouse? Caitlyn got one last year and gets alot of use out of it. I think the wobblers thread had some good suggestions for Owen's age.

I think Ian is feeling better about the whole birthday thing. I think his reaction was mainly because he was feeling so crummy. He was back to himself yesterday.

[Sarah428]

Joanne - Yes, Ella is 3. She's seen the commerical for the Polly Pockets cruise ship (http://www.amazon.com/Hip-Cruise-Ship-Playset-Collection/dp/B000E40RW8/sr=8-1/qid=1163524017/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-4552240-2485612?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games) and thinks she can't live without it :rolleyes:. I just hate the thought of all those little clothes etc all over, how do you corral it all? She doesn't have a dollhouse per say but she has the Little People house, school, playground, farm & castle that were hand me downs from my neices so we set up a whole town in her room sometimes.

Off to check out the wobbler thread!

[JoanneOR]

Sarah, well, right now the pieces are in various places all over Caitlyn's bedroom floor. :rolleyes: Oh, and a random skirt or shoe on the basement floor. But, she does have a case that looks like a lunch box that all the Polly Pockets are supposed to go in. Occasionally they'll find their way in there.

[cchhbb]

Lori, Congratulations on another boy. I felt the same way you did when I found out that Griffin was going to be a boy. I did 'mourn' the pretty dresses, ballet, ect. I do think that Garrett and Griffin are going to be much closer than my brother and I are.

Sarah, I just bought Polly Pockets for my niece who is going to be 4 in January. I think she will love them.

Joanne, sorry to hear about Ian's tough birthday. I can't believe that no one from his class came. What a bummer.

My grandmother who broke her hip last month is now in really bad shape. On Saturday, they called and said she had about 48 hours to live. My parents just got there this morning and said she looks really bad. She's in congestive heart failure. I decided today to fly up on Thursday with the children and stay through Thanksgiving. I'm taking Garrett out of school for 4 days, but after e-mailing his teacher I feel pretty good about that. I was able to get a flight for under $200 each if we left on Thursday. If we went any later, the price was over $1000. I'm flying into Columbus which is where the Ohio State Michigan game will be played on Saturday so all the rental cars are taken in Columbus too.

I almost have everything done in the kitchen now. I just need to empty out the final cabinets and the silverware drawer. I've made all the decisions and bought most of the stuff needed. I still need to buy butcher block for the island and some recessed cans. DH hates the wall color I picked so I'm not sure if I'm going to go with it or not.

I really need to run. I have a lot of packing to do.

Cheryl

[tbb113]

Cheryl - sorry to hear about your grandmother. Have a safe trip

[JoanneOR]

Cheryl, so sorry to hear about your grandmother.

Today is report card day. I think the boys should all do really well. Next week is parent-teacher conferences.

Tonight we are all going to the circus. DH is not very excited as he hates the circus! Must have had a scary clown experience or something ;) . I guess Jameson is getting a bit old for this stuff. He asked me this morning if he had to go. :confused: He'll probably like it once he gets there and I know Colin and Caitlyn will have fun. Ian probably, too.

[MrsReber]

Cheryl, I'm so sorry to hear about your grandmother. I wish you luck with your trip. It's a very sad occasion to be flying- glad you could get the cheaper airfare.

I took Casey to her new pediatrician yesterday. I got his name from the closest hospital. At first, I had my doubts. He was an older man, no dr's coat, not very "official." He walked in and ignored me. Started talking to Casey and pretty much ignored me through the whole exam. Meanwhile, Casey was captivated. She was chatty and making jokes. Brenden even liked the guy! When he was done with the exam, he turned to me and asked if I had any questions. I mentioned that she's very healthy except that the doctors always comment on her low weight- she was 38.4 lbs yesteday. That's fully clothed (jeans, t-shirt, and sneakers). He said "well, she looks fine, she's probably just programmed to be thin." He asked if I wanted her to get a flu shot, so we did that, too. I felt bad since I promised her no shots, but I figured it was a good idea since she'll be at school each day. I'll have to get all their records and get Brenden in there for a shot, too. I missed the free shots at my job- I left a couple of days prior to the free flu shots, unfortunately. So, all in all, I was pretty happy with the exam. The doctor talked to Casey about horses, too. He has horses and has a picture of one of them in the office.

Speaking of horses, Casey will have her first lesson here on Saturday! It's even cheaper than NJ- but a little farther to drive.

I started work today! Finally! Still some glitches with my access. The things that I can't get to on the server are things that I don't really need right now.
The IT group got my request for a fix. I got a lecture from the IT guy about using dial up. I listened to him ramble and then I said "look, I have dial up. I have no other option right now today. Please help me log on to the system." He straightened up a bit when I told him that. I mean, really- help desk??? I found out later that they have a bunch of new guys in IT and, according to one of my friends from work (he's in IT) the new guys are rather arrogant.

Brenden told me earlier this week that he does miss going to school. After the holidays, and when we have both our incomes coing in again, I'll look into a place for him. I think he misses having friends outside of here. He's been talking about them a lot lately. I feel bad, but he's having a blast today hanging out with DH. We just had the drive re-graded. It's pretty long- goes from the front of our house all the way back to the "shop"- took them 2 days. Lots of construction equipment. Brenden was thrilled.

Joanne, hope the report cards are good! I love the Caitlyn story about calling you p**is. We have had similar moments. Lately, Brenden keeps forgetting not to call his sister a bada$$ (DH's word, unfortunately). DH forgets that the kids hear everything he says- well, really only the things they shouldn't repeat!

These days go so fast. Casey will be home in another 15 minutes. And people said I'd be bored at home!!??

[RunnerKim]

Cheryl - sorry to hear about your grandmother. Hope your flight went okay and glad you were able to get one that was affordable.

Susan - sounds like you've found a good pediatrician - although it would be weird to be "ignored" at first! Let us know how the riding lesson goes.

Joanne - how was the circus? My sister took Lainey last year but its been ages since I've been. Do you have any photos of Ian in his Oliver costume?

Yeah, it's Friday. I cannot believe Thanksgiving is next week!!! Where has the time gone?! I found out that I'm going to Phoenix in mid-December for almost a week. Christmas is going to be here before I know it.

Sarah - I hope you have fun shopping tomorrow. There's a young kids gift thread going so hopefully that will give you some ideas. I'm mostly recycling stuff for Jamie - shopping in the garage :D He is getting a booster seat for the table (just like big sis) and he'll love that. He currently has a seat that attaches to the table and it's just not safe anymore (he tries to climb in and out of it).

Kim