Baby Corner

[Eveline 9]

I didn't see it at first, but the red circle shows it... It looks like a butterfly, the girlie parts. Jona looked very different, and once my sister sent me a couple sample u/s pics from girls, it was clear to me

I'm sure it's just a different position. I have both US pics with my kids genders from 'underneath'. You see one leg on the right, one on the left and the parts in the middle. They both weren't shy about it and still aren't.

Does anybody else have a problem getting their toddler boy to pee in a toilet? Adam prefers to stand outside in the grass and pee on a tree..argh. While that's ok at home I'm just not ok with him peeing right in front of the library or the zoo. Allie isn't much better. She sees Adam pee like that and stands up, tries to hold her 'imaginary' goober and pees but of course everything runs down her leg in her pants. Not fun.

[Jenn! 918]

Does anybody else have a problem getting their toddler boy to pee in a toilet? Adam prefers to stand outside in the grass and pee on a tree..argh. While that's ok at home I'm just not ok with him peeing right in front of the library or the zoo. Allie isn't much better. She sees Adam pee like that and stands up, tries to hold her 'imaginary' goober and pees but of course everything runs down her leg in her pants. Not fun.

Oh boy, lots to look forward to! LOL

Oh, and one more thing...I found it interesting on DH with the Lynette/Susan thing. Whatever side you sit on, what I found most interesting is the fact that while Susan might have disagreed with it, she didn't kick up a fuss (no pun intended) for the baby's sake...she did so cos she 'can't handle any more crying'...then it was all about MJ crying, and missing Mike,etc. Furthermore, she really had no right to go against Lynette like that. She's Lynette's nanny, not a co-parent, and whether we agree or not, Lynette was attempting to 'train' her baby or what have you, and Susan just sh!t all over that. I'd have been furious.

Saying that, I wouldn't be able to handle hearing the baby cry, but I'm a new mom, so wth do I know? hahahaha

I agree. I am not a cry-it-out advocate, but ultimately it was Lynnettes decision.

[Jenn! 918]

I have a question for those of you who live in colder climates...

I know about how thick winter coats are unsafe for use in a car seat and that I should follow the "two finger rule". So basically that means that I will have to put Adam's coat on to go out to the car, then try to get him out of it while we are in the back seat, put him in the seat, then repeat the process in reverse to get him out? I'm exhausted just typing it. This wasn't an issue when he was an infant because I could just put him in the carrier and bundle him with blankets. I'm starting to see why a minivan is convenient, even with only one child.

Any tips? I was thinking of maybe trying to get him a thin fleecy type of coat that will work in the car seat and be warm enough to go door to door and save his heavy winter coat for when he's outisde for an extended period.

[Anna C. 4]

@ Jenn: Do you have a garage? We park in the garage and it doesn't get all that cold in there, so Jona just wears an undershirt, sweater and goes into the car seat like that. You could put a blanket on top of him I guess, maybe one that was in the dryer for 10 mins? Cars then heat up really fast. Once at the parking lot I get him out, put the coat and shoes on (not fond of dirty shoes on my car, Jona rides rearfacing)...

Also, yes, fleece type coats are ok, the one layer ones, like polar fleece, it's not thick at all but very warm. Jona has one of those from Columbia.

@ Evi: Oh boy. Well, I don't know yet to get Jona to use the potty (gosh he hates them both, we even have two!). But my friend has a urinal for little boys for the bathroom? Maybe an idea? Not when you're out of course... As for Allie - can you send over her imitation skills? I could have Jona imitate how daddy uses the toilet, that would be step forward...

Oh yes the shot is different than Jona's, he had one of those like you described. This is sort of from top and from the side and she is moving.

@ Lisa: Yeah I thought Susan's reasoning was all selfish and weak, but I think they did that to please both parent group in the audience, because this way they didn't judge Lynette nor Susan. And yes, it's up to Lynette how she wants to parent her kids, but also, if a babysitter doesn't agree with the methods, I would quit too. I couldn't do something I don't believe in!

Edited November 17, 2010 by Anna C.

[Mommy2ZaidnSalma 11]

Jenn,

Living in Chicago, being garageless, there is no other option but for us to put a winter coat on Zaid. I just do my best to make sure he is as safe as can be in the carseat with one on. Especially bc we leave at 7am when its FREEZING outside and the car is ice cold even after warming it up for 15 minutes.

Ev,

Zaid has NO interest in the potty @ 2.5 yrs old Its frustrating but im not gonna force it. I too have seen the standing urinals (think their called Peter Pottys) maybe that might be a different option for Adam!

[Jenn! 918]

No garage for us, which stinks! I'll see what I can find in terms of a nice thin fleece - there's a Rugged Bear right around the corner here. The dirty shoes in the car didn't even occur to me, lol.

Kelly, I've been researching potty training because I'm going to start to get Adam started soon (on the early side, I know, but I think it's possible). I've been convinced by what I've read of the Montessori philosophy that the first window of opportunity for toilet teaching is usually b/w 18 and 24 months. Training during the two's is very difficult and they say it's much easier again once they turn 3.

[Eveline 9]

Adam uses the potty..he's fully trained but I think he just likes the nature better than a toilet in a bathroom or whatever? We just now got home from school and the first thing Adam did was rip open his pants and pee on the curb ARGH..I wasn't even fast enough to send him inside. At night or when we're inside he will go to the toilet but not when we're in the backyard, beach, zoo, library or wherever. Anywhoo...I'm sure it's a phase (I hope I hope) and this too shall pass.

As for winter jackets. We don't really have that problem. It's 'cold' right now (76 degrees...chilly haha). No, just kidding. Today is one of the warmer fall days. Tomorrow it's supposed to be only 66 degrees. Still we don't need winter coats. Usually a sweater and a vest plus hat will do.

[Fandango 1,440]

Jenn...love the new photo! <3

[MARM 7]

Thanks all for your input regarding the gender! Luckily I have a friend who is a sonographer and is willing to take a look in 2D and 3D later in the evening today! Her purpose will just be trying to figure out the gender, hope that I get more confirmation today! It's nerve-wracking to think that it's not a boy because I told my mom, MIL, and my sisters...I should have waited but I couldn't keep the excitement to myself when the sonographer seemed to be 90% sure two days ago. Wish me luck guys. Of course either B or G we will be delighted, I just need some reassurance, call me crazy

[chnst 6]

Kelly: yeah so glad you passed the test! Thats awesome news!

Jenn: we are using a fleece jacket and we are parking in the garage too but when we are out I just let him wear a fleece unless its a long way to the car.

Marm: congrats to your little boy! I can't believe how time flies!

so I had to assist with my first 2 circumcisions today. I may be opening a can of worms here but I just want to say- Mommies- please please make a good informed decision when they ask you the question if you want your little boy circ'ed. There really isn't much that bothers me but I think I almost passed out when I saw this procedure. It was done by 2 different midwifes, one with a ring block (anesthesia) and one completely without any form of pain control (the midwife actually said "yeah I like to do the torture method" when I asked her why she doesn't want any lidocaine) Either way it was a very traumatizing experience for both babies and me to say the least.

Coming from another country where this isn't done routinely I just can't understand how casual they perform surgery on a helpless infant who is strapped to a table, naked for 30 minutes without adequate pain management or even any source of warmth.

If you decide you want your boy circumcised just please ask questions, insist on pain management (ring block, glucose etc) dont just sign the consent and let them take the baby because that's how it's been done forever. Maybe it's because I am overly sensitive from the preggers hormones but I just can't get over how gruesome that was. Ok vent end.

[Jenn! 918]

That's terrible about the circumcisions.

Circumcision was non-negotiable as far as my husband was concerned - my only real say in the matter was that it was done in the hospital rather than waiting until weeks, months (years?).

I hope Adam isn't forever traumatized by his circumcision - I'm guessing it was at least less painful than the whole birth canal experience, lol. I wonder why they don't let the parents be present for the procedure (at least they didn't at our hospital) - that's kind of shady.

[MARM 7]

Yes it's true! 100% confirmation today that I am having a boy ! Thanks for the congrats ladies!

[chnst 6]

That's terrible about the circumcisions.

Circumcision was non-negotiable as far as my husband was concerned - my only real say in the matter was that it was done in the hospital rather than waiting until weeks, months (years?).

I hope Adam isn't forever traumatized by his circumcision - I'm guessing it was at least less painful than the whole birth canal experience, lol. I wonder why they don't let the parents be present for the procedure (at least they didn't at our hospital) - that's kind of shady.

Because its probably the most traumatizing scenario you can imagine when you just gave birth. Or for anyone. I think the circumcision rate would be much lower if they would let parents watch/show them a video of how it is done.

The midwife said that 9 out of 10 parents who insisted on being present passed out on the floor right after she got the clamps on. So for your own good they recommend you stay in your room if you insist on having the baby circumcised.

But I just feel (and thats the reason why I brought this up) is that most parents don't think about how traumatizing/invasive/very painful the procedure actually is. It's been done for years, tradition so they assume its necessary. It's usually the daddy who calls the shots because he was "snipped" and he doesn't remember anything, right? The pain management aspect is rarely brought up nor are the details of the procedure in the 3 minutes that it takes to obtain the consent and wisk the baby to the "operating table". Most nurses I talked to today said their son's are circumcised but they'd not do it again if they had another baby.

[Vi Mazzella 4]

MARM@ Congrats on your baby boy!!!!

Kelly@ I tried to potty train Sofia when she was 13 months, it was way to early, she is almost 20 months now and as soon as she wakes up I take her to the bathroom and she sits on her potty with some Elmo books so she can pee pee, sometimes it happens sometimes not but I think that it will work (some day), the 1st time she did it I started jumping of excitement but I think I scared her , she run out . She tells us when she did poopie so we have to change her but never before she does it.

So far she is sleeping good, for a couple of hours in her crib and then with us .

Mommies@ Have you done your X-mas shopping? we just finished with Sofia's gifts she is pretty much getting tons of gifts (tricycle, Elmo's couch, Sesame Stress figures, books, baby doll) and the rest of the kids of the family, we just need to get gifts for the adults so I think we are going to wait for Black Friday)

Edited November 18, 2010 by Vi Mazzella

[chri'stina 190]

Kelly: yeah so glad you passed the test! Thats awesome news!

Jenn: we are using a fleece jacket and we are parking in the garage too but when we are out I just let him wear a fleece unless its a long way to the car.

Marm: congrats to your little boy! I can't believe how time flies!

so I had to assist with my first 2 circumcisions today. I may be opening a can of worms here but I just want to say- Mommies- please please make a good informed decision when they ask you the question if you want your little boy circ'ed. There really isn't much that bothers me but I think I almost passed out when I saw this procedure. It was done by 2 different midwifes, one with a ring block (anesthesia) and one completely without any form of pain control (the midwife actually said "yeah I like to do the torture method" when I asked her why she doesn't want any lidocaine) Either way it was a very traumatizing experience for both babies and me to say the least.

Coming from another country where this isn't done routinely I just can't understand how casual they perform surgery on a helpless infant who is strapped to a table, naked for 30 minutes without adequate pain management or even any source of warmth.

If you decide you want your boy circumcised just please ask questions, insist on pain management (ring block, glucose etc) dont just sign the consent and let them take the baby because that's how it's been done forever. Maybe it's because I am overly sensitive from the preggers hormones but I just can't get over how gruesome that was. Ok vent end.

That is sad and probably not thought about a lot by the people who don't see it themselves. After discussion we had planned on not getting Kavi circ'd. But then he was born with hypospadia and an (TMI)issue with the skin not being formed fully around. So "fate" would have it that he'd have to get one afterall. I had written back then how he had surgery at 8months old and thankfully he didn't feel the pain because he was put under. That whole thing must have traumatized him though. It still makes my stomach turn when I think about taking him to the surgery center and them taking him away to a different room to be with a bunch of strangers. And then have a mask over his face to breathe in anesthesia. I don't even know how he acted or how scared he felt til he went under. The first time he used the bathroom after his bandage was taken off, it was stressful for me and painful for him, especially with a not solid poop.

Edited November 18, 2010 by chri'stina