parenting « Fancy Pantsy

Archive for parenting

Update, on various topics

August 17, 2009 · Filed under The girl, a day in the life, babywearing, jewellery, parenting, pics of me, pity party, the babe, update

1) It is hot. Too hot. I know a lot of people have complained about how cool the summer has been, but I am not one of them. I hate the heat. I am hot and crabby and sweaty and anti-social in the heat. Blech.

2) Charlotte is teething. Or has a virus. Or both. She has been feverish and fussy for days. She also HATES medication, to the point that she makes herself throw up if I force it into her…so it has been difficult to keep her temp down and pain under control. Daytime has been okay (with a lot of baby-wearing and nursing) but nights have been hellish. Besides waking a lot more than usual, getting her to sleep has been a chore. Usually she nurses to sleep between 8-8:30pm quite easily, but not in the last several nights. Instead, she has fussy and tired and WILL NOT NURSE (even though she nurses fine all day). She’ll latch for like 2 seconds, then pull off (sometimes after biting me) and starts screaming and crying until she calms down, and nurses again, repeat. Last night she did this for 2 hours, and then the man walked her up and down the stairs until she fell asleep. Seemed to be on the same cycle tonight, but she did eventually settle a bit more easily than last night. Fingers crossed that this is an indication of improvement. She is lucky she is so cute:

3) I have had to wear Charlotte a lot. I mean, I always have out of the house since it is easier than lugging a stroller all over (I reallly only use one for places like the mall, for quick trips or to go to places I will be setting her down anyways, I never do) but these days she likes to be close to me always and I have had to wear her at home a lot too, mostly on my back since I cannot get anything done with her hanging from my front. I have a new (to me) Storch and am working on my back carry (not easy). Luckily I can get her on my back in the Mei Tai very easily.

4) Did I mention I am hot and grumpy?

5) I am really into silver these days. Ihave been wearing a pile of silver bracelets I got, and a silver necklace with some Brighton charms my mom got me. I was always a gold girl in the past, but these days for some reason silver is winning me over!

6) I am very very hot. Hot and sweaty and miserable because I am so hot.

7) The girl has morphed into a dramatic, sassy, attitudy, non-listening wannabee tween. Luckily, she is cute too (I don’t have a recent picture you have not seen, loads on the previous post though).

8. Hot. Very Hot.

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anything different here?

June 19, 2009 · Filed under The girl, parenting

how about here?

Yup, earrings! Finally!

When she was 4, I told her she could get it done whenever she was ready. For 2 years she said she would NEVER do it, was scared it would hurt. Fine.

Yesterday at dinner she announced she wanted to. So today we did it! She was awesome; got a bit scared at the last second, but went through with it…then when they pierced she gave one big OUCH and than announced that it wasn’t so bad. She looks so cute and I am so proud of her. We already had plans (and a baby on my back!) so we could not make it a whole special mommy-daughter day like I had always thought it would be, but we did get smoothies on the way to my friend’s place.

It is funny, whenever I tell people I don’t pierce babies ears and wait until they are over 4 and ask, and that my 6 year old wont do it and says she never will…they think it is a reason to do ears when babes are too young to refuse and are surprised I did not do otherwise with the baby because of my experience with the girl, but whatever! I don’t agree…but I was starting to wonder if my girl ever would do it. I have multiple piercings and love earrings, so even though I was okay with her never doing it, it would be a tad disappointing.

I am so glad I waited. It was a sweet special day for my daughter and I, and the excitement and pride she felt well outweighed the pain. I actually got mine done at 6 as well. I remember how special it was to pick out earrings and have all my friends and family complimenting me for days, and how proud i was. I don’t remember the pain. I am glad I gave my DD the same experience and she will have the same memories!

The time came afterall! yeah!!

p.s. sorry for the crap pictures, i could not get a clear picture if my life depended on it!

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baby-wearing addiction

June 9, 2009 · Filed under baby stuff, babywearing, lust inducing, parenting

I have 3 slings, a wrap, a mei tai, a connecta…and a beco on the way. (and yes, I actually use all of these carriers, often over the course of 1-2 days!)

I have sold 2 bjorns and 2 slings, and free-cycled a mei tai.

i. want. a. kokopax.

help me.

P.S. if anyone here is loving on Hotslings, but not the price…check this out. Lovely, lovely slings. Well made with lots of options (though I just like the basic with no frills-does the job and folds up small enough to fit in my purse). I have the Heat Wave / Heat Wave Floral and it is gorgeous. I actually prefer this to my Hotsling and my Peanut Shell…just a better fit and the reversible fabric (you can get that on HS and PS too, but then they get even pricier) looks so nice when I fold over the shoulder for a snug carry.

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Finding a groove

January 6, 2009 · Filed under a day in the life, parenting

Charlotte is on a pretty good rotation of eating, peeing/pooping, sleeping, crying and repeating….every 2 hours or so during the day, every 3-4 hours at night (though it usually takes a couple tries and top-ups to get her settled to sleep at night. During the day it is easier as I use the swing…but I don’t want to use it for sleeping at night).

No problem here, seems pretty normal as far as I can remember for a newborn…what I cannot remember is at what age she’ll start to have some awake moments when she is not eating (or rooting and snorting-love those newborn snorts- and wanting to eat)!!!

I don’t mind this when I am alone with her…I can just chill on the couch watching TV or reading, or doze off a little. But it is hard for the girl who really wants to interact with her little sister, and cannot. It is also hard for her because it means whenever Charlotte is awake, I am pretty much occupied (of course I try to find ways to occupy her while nursing…like reading to Charlotte or wiggling her ears to keep her gulping).

Pics to come, as well as some book and cosmetic reviews in the works.

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The good, the not so good

December 19, 2008 · Filed under The girl, a day in the life, about the blogger, baby stuff, parenting, pity party, pregnancy 2008, the cat

Good

1. The crib is finally set up. It took the man and I several hours last night as there were some…um…issues. But it is now finally together and sturdy as could be. I will do some work in the nursery today and take pictures later.

2. That’s about all, except that there are no serious pregnancy problems, which is of course a good thing.

Not so good

1. I am so friggin’ achy. My hips, back, neck, hands, wrists and…of course (since baby is pretty well fully engaged now) pelvis are in constant agony. Taking hot baths is about the only thing that helps…but of course getting out of the bath is no picnic. The good thing (I am scared to say it) is that I don’t really have bad headaches now. By bed-time I am headachy in a *I am tired and it is bed-time* sorta way, but to my utter disbelief there have been no migraines since I finished work. Hmm….

2. There are no indications of impending labour, so I could be feeling like crap for quite a while yet.

3. Our cat is OBSESSED with getting to the fish. She is, as I type, methodically trying to push the fish tank off the table. Now, I don’t actually care about the fish (who has been holding onto life by a string for months) and even the girl is not so concerned (she’d like a purple one next)…but I don’t want to deal with the mess of a dumped fish tank. We have not changed the water in…awhile…so it’ll be a very stinky thing.

4. There 3 snowstorms fore-casted between today and my due date. That is kinda scary. To be honest…if I was not GBS positive, I would not mind. I wanted a home birth from the start but was just not quite there, so as long as there were no complications, I would secretly (ok, I guess it is not a secret anymore) be pleased to have my midwives say *The weather is horrible, everything is going well, you are a good candidate for a home birth if you want to stay here*. But, because of the GBS I really should be in the hospital. So, the snowstorms plus the GBS are not so good!

5. The girl has been such a brat lately. She never does what she is told, and gets so sassy and angry when she is forced to do what she needs to. This is mostly with her morning routine…which she knows well and is perfectly capable of following (go downstairs for breakfast when called, eat, put dishes in sink, go to bathroom to use toilet and wash and brush teeth, go to bedroom to meet mommy and get dressed with some assistance), but refuses to follow without being forced and cajoled into every single step, leading to arguments and tears every morning. I know I need to come up with a plan (probably a chart or something) but I am so lazy and unmotivated to do so. I need to deal with this though, as mornings are (potentially…if the baby is like the girl was, it’ll be asleep at this time, but who knows?) going to get a whole lot busier soon.

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