Moms of Todders & Multiples...

[melanalyus]

Hi everyone! How are all the mommies doing out there? I'm in a real rut with Baby Justin (2 1/2 years old). He's just a little terror lately (owning up to his age). He's just so darn cute though!!! Here's so challenges & funs we're having lately:

Funs:
--Just learned to whisper
--Likes to fish
--Loves to look at books, especially about Diggers
--Continues to be fascinated with belly buttons

Challenges:
--Not being jealous of his little brother
--STILL not talking! (so he whines and points)
--Naps 1.5 hrs daily
--Not very portable

Okay, I think that's well balance, four of each. I keep telling myself, "there is a time for every season" and this one will too pass.

Jadon (9 months) is doing marvelous. Such a fun age, he has taken his first steps already. Not a big eater, still breastfed with a little rice cereal daily. He wakes up several times nightly to snuggle and feed.

Jory (12 years) begins 6th grade next week. He likes to antagnoize Justin (and play 3rd parent). He's great with Jadon. He's getting antsy and ready for school.

That's it. I think our (or my) plan for baby number 4 will have to wait until Justin grows out of "2s"...somedays I feel like I can't handle the 3 I have!!!!!

For workouts, pretty normal for me. 4-5 workouts weekly. Lots of running & kickboxing. Still trying to adhere to SouthBeach type diet. Recently had to go on sugar--fast to get my addictions under control.

Hope everyone is doing well.


~Melanie~

Jadon born 11/23/05
Justin born 1/17/04
Jory born 4/9/94

" Take care of your body like it will last a lifetime. Take care of your soul like it will last for eternity"

 

[shopaholic]

Melanie, I am so glad you started this thread. My how time flies! Alexis will be 3 in a few weeks. Ashley is now 3 1/2 months. Ashley is growing quicker than Alexis and is almost in her 3-6 month outfits. Alexis has grown but remains thin, but finally is tall enough for her 24 month outfits.
Weightwise, I am 2 pounds away from my prepreggo weight prior to Ashley but weigh 5 pounds less than my prepreggo weight with Alexis.
Ashley seems to be an easier baby than Alexis, but maybe its because she takes a bottle.

Alexis' funs
-talks up a storm
-enjoys shopping
-gets excited everytime she sees "her baby"
-strong opinions
Alexis' challenges
-says she'll go on the potty "tomorrow" but yet tomorrow never comes. She sits, she wipes, washes her hands , but nothing comes out
-unstrollered she is a nightmare, and plays hide and go seek in stores
-strong opinions(yes, this a plus and a minus)
-bounces the bouncy seat, with Ashley in it
-tries to pick up Ashley on her own.

 

[Biteset]

Hi Melanie & Shopaholic!

I've got Abigail, age 4 in November, and Gabriel, almost 2.

I'm 5'10" and my normal weight has hovered around 150-153. I'd weigh more if I had bigger boobs, so there's a silver lining to being small.

I'm adjusting to having finally accepted that I absolutely MUST eat a small meal every two hours, or else I can't think or function properly.

Abby's funs:
-has an amazing vocabulary and grasp of English grammar. She is SO fluent in English!
-potty trained
-mild-mannered and generally easy-going.
-rarely runs away from me in stores.
-loves her little brother and plays well with him.
-conveniently lightweight, easy to carry
-has great imagination and plays independently, with anything.
-sleeps until at least 9:30 most mornings
-has worn the same size shoes FOREVER
-has the long hair my mother never let ME have when I was little!
Abby's challenges:
-iron-willed, stubborn, passively disobedient.
-whines and fusses at the slightest difficulty--I CAN'T DO IT! WAH!
-seems to not require food to sustain life. How does she it?
-tends to scream when little brother annoys her.
-doesn't want to dress herself, even though she can.
-finds me when I'm taking a break online.
-doesn't enjoy library storytimes! Why?

Gaby's funs:
-fearless
-big, strong, active, all boy, cute, sweet, funny, affectionate.
-starting to say some words, though inarticulately, understands us when we speak to him.
Gaby's challenges:
-fearless
-big, strong, active, all boy, too cute, dangerous at times:
-loud!
-poop machine!
-eating machine!
-screams if food doesn't appear quickly enough!
-bruises himself multiple times per week
-runs away wherever we go, if not restrained.
-wakes up screaming to leave his room
-whines and points, rather than use language...hmm...

I workout first thing in the morning, but can't seem to get it going every day yet. I'm doing all weights these days. I don't currently want to do cardio, so I'm not forcing myself to do it! Life's hard enough!

Gisela

 

[tricia]

Hello Moms!

Thanks, Melanie for this thread - don't we all love to share about our sweet little ones!! I have three children, my older daughter and my twins.

Isabella will be 4 in October. She is getting ready to start 2 days a week of Pre-K, and is excited/nervous about it.
She is a very articulate little girl, loves playing with her siblings (Most of the time!). She does tend to get bored with it sometimes, but isn't that normal?

Then there are the twins, Philip Anthony and Marissa, who are twenty months old. They are just the cutest!! My favorite thing that they are doing recently is when they go to bed, whomever I pick up first will wave and say "Nigh, Nigh" to the other two and blow kisses! It's adorable!

Melanie, I think something that would really help you with both your little ones is Baby Signs. I used them with all three of mine, and it really helps them learn to communicate. They pick up words easier and don't get frustrated because although they can't speak, you still know what they want. Your 2 1/2 yr old could be a helper to teach the 9 month baby, and would be learning at the same time.
I used the Baby Signs book and video with my kids.
(www.baby-signs.com) However, if you search the web, you'll see lots of other sites as well. Just a suggestion.

I know it's hard to keep your older child occupied and happy with a little one, but like you said - it's a phase that will get better.


Tricia

 

[melanalyus]

Tricia, I"m really interested in the baby signs book & video. I checked the website, but it was invalid. Do you have another website that you like for baby signing...or should I do a google search?



~Melanie~

Jadon born 11/23/05
Justin born 1/17/04
Jory born 4/9/94

" Take care of your body like it will last a lifetime. Take care of your soul like it will last for eternity"

 

[tricia]

Sorry about that! I checked, and it should be www.babysigns.com with no dash! Wow, has this site changed since I first went there in 2002!! It used to be very plain jane, now its got classes, instructors, etc!! Like I said, signing has really seemed to catch on alot from my first pregnancy to now.

I can't tell you how much this helps us every single day. My twins are still signing, especially my baby girl. She isn't as good as her brother at repeating words back - but she can sign and let any of us know what she wants. And she's not shy about letting us know anything!! Please feel free to post or email me with any questions you may have. (My email is [email protected])

I didn't read alot on the website, but I'll just tell you the video I got is about 25 minutes and has children and babies using the signs, with music (that will be in your mind at the strangest times!!) and is not too much, if you know what I mean. My older daughter would watch it at least once a day, and at 11 months she was picking up signs from the video that I hadn't taught her. (Sometimes you don't have a use for an elephant sign in your day to day life, ya know??!!)

I could go on about this, but I'll just say that I was thrilled with using signs. You get a real sense of just how smart your kids are!

Tricia

 

[melanalyus]

Thanks Tricia! My Justin is very intelligent (I'm not just saying that b/c I"m his mom) . Anyway, I"m going to check out the site now & see if my library has any. Thanks for the info!
Oh, and since your encouragement on this, he's already signing for book, and drink (I"m limited on my signing)!!!!

~Melanie~

Jadon born 11/23/05
Justin born 1/17/04
Jory born 4/9/94

" Take care of your body like it will last a lifetime. Take care of your soul like it will last for eternity"

 

[tricia]

That's great, Melanie!! Good luck with the signing - I'm kinda a fanatic about this stuff, in case you hadn't noticed!!


Tricia