*Baby Corner*

[sandinista! 1,816]

Congrats Carolyn on your boy! I love his name How did you choose it?

Ilyas (alternately spelled Illias or Illiaz) is the Arabic version of Elijah, or Elias. It has always been my husband's favorite name--he used to wish that he was named Illias (he is Mohamed--the most common name in the world, especially in Muslim countries).

When deciding on names, we came up with TONS of beautiful Arabic girls names that we both liked, but had a hard time with boys names. This was one of the few names that we could agree on. So, the only decision we had to make in the hospital about names was the spelling...

I love the name Ilyas, but I've already discovered that most people are very nervous about mispronouncing/misspelling it--add that to a difficult to pronounce last name and our poor son is going to be stuck with a life of always correcting people!

i was just the opposite! i had loads of arabic boys names that i loved, but my girl list was always short. i had to meet ayah first before i could finally, completely decide.

ilyas is a lovely name, great choice. and i hear you about a lifetime of correcting people. after dealing with insurance, pediatrician's office, etc. after having ayah, i no longer even say her name over the phone in those kinds of conversations, i just spell it.

[rclouse 0]

Well, Michael had his one year checkup and they gave him just two shots. Before when he'd have shots he'd cry and then 5 minutes later it was like nothing happened. This time he was somewhat OK after 10 minutes, then when we left he was crying, then at home after a nap he cried nearly nonstop for over an hour. Thank God after that he was fine, but obviously there was something painful about these shots.

Did anyone else have a similar experience?

As for names, we both wanted a simple, unpretentious name for our son (and daughter due in December) just to help avoid the inevitable teasing kids have to endure. For the Arabic middle name I get final say on that, to make sure it's easy for Americans to pronounce and spell. We could have gone with "Nasim" for Michael's middle name but we settled on "Naseem" for that very reason.

[Eveline 9]

Allie had her two week checkup today. They did a heel #######, she didn't like that but the state of TX requires it to be done twice (dunno about other states). She gained two pounds in two weeks and is now at 10lbs even, 21.5 inches and is in the 95%ile for weight and 75%ile for head and length. She is already outgrowing her newborn dresses. Yesterday, her cord stump finally fell off so we gonna have a bath tonight.

Well, Michael had his one year checkup and they gave him just two shots. Before when he'd have shots he'd cry and then 5 minutes later it was like nothing happened. This time he was somewhat OK after 10 minutes, then when we left he was crying, then at home after a nap he cried nearly nonstop for over an hour. Thank God after that he was fine, but obviously there was something painful about these shots.

We didn't have that experience but I guess he got the MMR Shot, right? They are known for triggering crankyness and also colds etc. afterwards. Sometimes kids don't show any reaction until about two weeks after the shot.

Edited August 29, 2008 by Eveline

[Mommy2ZaidnSalma 11]

I didnt show til about 23-25 weeks...but once i hit 30, i was ginormous....

[chnst 6]

Ben had shot day today too. He got 2 shots (Prevnar and Hib) and both legs are red and hot and he has a fever of 100.4. He doesn't want to eat anything and he's crying and drowsy.

We were supposed to go to a birthday party in Manhattan tonight and I just cancelled that.

He clocked in at 17lbs 9oz and 27 inches. He will be 4 months tomorrow, so he's off the charts. Doc was very happy with how healthy he is!

As for names: we wanted something that refers to my side of the family (as he has Hubbys last name) and something that's easy to pronounce for my fam in Germany.

So we named him Ben after my dad and Carlton for the middle name (after grandpa Carl)

But everywhere we go people call him Benjamin/Ben-Jammin'/Benny And no one had anything nice to say about Carlton yet.

[tnh9479 1]

As for names...we have been able to jointly decide on Hana for a girl and Zakaria for a boy. Unfortunately, if we find out on Wednesday that it is girl/girl or boy/boy, we have some more searching to do. Maybe I'll work on the husband this weekend because my family is very demanding and wants to know the sexes and names YESTERDAY. To be honest, I can't wait to see double trouble again either. I did feel them move for the first time last weekend when the music at my husband's friend's church was way too loud (I could feel the vibrations through the pew).

Twila

[Eveline 9]

@Twila: Let's cross fingers that it is a girl and a boy. . Whatever comes out at the ultrasound, congratulations on your twin babies.

As for names. We wanted names that are NOT in DH or my family so we decided on Adam Wyatt first and DH changed the middle name to Warren at the hospital. For Allie we had her first name (Allison) set pretty early and were looking for a middle name. I liked Emma, Mina, Emmy, Emily (all E names for some reason) and in the end we just went with Allison Emily. All kids in DH family are either Cecil, Juanita, Louise, etc....argh...too much confusion.

[Mommy2ZaidnSalma 11]

Twila

If it were two girls, I LOVE Hana and Jena....if it were two boys, well you could do zakaria and zaid ( ) or zain...

Im weird, I always said if i had twins i would want their name to match...I wanted the name zakaria and sofyan wouldnt have it...I also loved for a boy...Caden, Cain, and Malek..

The girls names are easy...I LOVE Amani, Amara, Amirah, Leena, Damiana, Jena, the list goes on....

We decided to use a name that was easy to pronounce here, but that would work in Jordan...I was also fixed on "Z" and liked the idea of one syllable...

(up until i was 35 weeks we were set on Zane, sofyans family told us it was "too feminine" for the first boy, and it pissed me off, so zaid it was...) now, zaid definitly suits him

[Nessa 23]

hey u guys, what's the best cream to avoid stretch marks? cuz my boobs already went from a C to a D and need to start using it asap.

[Mommy2ZaidnSalma 11]

nessa, I used every cream you could think of, and still got stretch marks, maybe someone here can offer an idea to what worked...the stuff i got was from motherhood maternity and wasnt cheap, and alas, stretch marks i have!

[Nessa 23]

when I google stretch mark cream it shows a lot of websites promising to completely eliminate stretch marks or promising to completely avois thenm. I don't fall for that #######. That's why I asked to see who has used a successful one.

[sara535 15]

I dont think the creams work, although they can make your skin feel better and not so itchy.

Amirah had her 9 month checkup (at 10 months) the other day - she only weighs 18 pounds! I think my son weighed 18 pounds at like 3 months! it makes me laugh. but no shots this time YAY! and the doc said she is doing exceptionally well development wise, so its all good.

Edited August 30, 2008 by sara535

[Nessa 23]

that's great news

[jodee 30]

Nessa,...My girls are now 15,...I had twins. when I was in Australia, I brought a Collagen gel based cream, and rubbed it on my belly. Because I am fair skinned, and small framed, I think I was like 110 when I fell preggo, I was paranoid, that I would be covered in them, especially having twins. Well, that collagen based stuff worked,..becasue I do not have one, nor did I have one stretch mark to show for it. I was also really fit, and healthy when I fell pregnant, with a strong abdominal wall, I think that had a lot to do with it. And from what I have read, you seem to be the same, with your fitness. I strong aabdominal wall really, really helps. My babies, were 3lb 15, and 4lb 9, so I had the total of one normal size baby I guess.

[Nessa 23]

i bought cocoa butter today. But i'm pretty sure i'll have stretch marks because i know I'll get real big since I can't work out the way I used to and I'm hungry all the time.