Canadian Moms

paul update

2008-09-03T23:31:55Z

Hi all,

just an update. I took Paul to see the doctor, and he asked some questions and looked him over. There are no tumors in his eyes, and to look at him, he seems well...so he didn't think I needed to really worry...so I am getting a second opinion with a peditrician this time. He goes a week from Monday.

child question

2008-09-02T18:11:36Z

Hi all.

I am concerned about my babes. He's almost 15 months old. Last week, he has started to do this very weird thing that concerns me very much. He will be playing on the floor, and all of a sudden, his eyes will roll up like almost to the top of his head or something. It will last for a few seconds and he will be fine again. Then a little while later he will do it again. Then I didn't see him do it for like my 4 days that I worked, but Chris asked me about it last night...and turns out he is still doing it. I'm very worried that it may be something nerological....so I have called his Doctor, and he has an appointment tomorrow at 1pm to get checked out...or the ball rolling if need be. I'm very worried....has anyone seen this kinda thing happen to their toddler before?

x-posted

Gymboree Classes

2008-07-30T15:44:16Z

Curious, has anyone ever taken a Gymboree class? I'm thinking of enrolling and just wondering what others experiences have been.

Entertaining a 6 Month Old

2008-07-24T18:02:58Z

My son is 6 months old and is now eliminating a lot of his regular map times. So I have about 4 hours of awake time to fill! :)

Does anyone have any fun ideas for games, songs, anything that a 6 month old might enjoy?

Thank you for your suggestions!

Vacuum Suggestions

2008-07-20T00:06:32Z

My trusty old Hoover canister vacuum needs to go. It is 12 years old and is duct taped together in more than one spot.

Can any of you tell me what you would suggest getting. I have a few carpets, but mostly I use it for bare hardwood floors and a bit of linoleum. I'm thinking thatI should go for another canister vacuum because of all the bare floors. I would love to get a Dyson, but can't afford to spend that much.

Any suggestions of what works well for you, or models I should avoid? Anyone see any good sales on vacuums lately? We are just starting to look this weekend after I realized that its taking me twice as long to clean the floors because I have to keep going over the same spot to get the dirt. Imagine all the free time I'll have when I get a new vacuum. ;)

Thanks in advance for any helpful comments!

Sleep advice for 2 month old

2008-03-31T20:13:09Z

Quick update first: Not sure if you remember a quetsion regarding a mucus plug coming out and wondering how fast labour could start? Well, I went into labour the next day! My water boker, so it was really easy to determine. :)

Anyway, I now have a 2 month old son who I am trying to get to sleep through the night - or most of it anyway. We're on the E.A.S.Y. routine of eat, activity, sleep, and you. So we are basically feeding every 3 hours pretty well on the 3's (9am, noon, 3pm, 6pm, etc). letting him just sleep and wake on his own between midnight and 6am. He seems to be waking however around 3am for a feeding. I'd love to start getting him so that he doesn't need that 3am feeding.

Any advice on how to help a 2 month old sleep through the night? Or is this too soon?

having a second baby

2008-03-25T19:46:45Z

HI

So, I have an almost 10 month old little boy who is the light of my life. I've made many comments about the possibility of having a second child. I know without a doubt that I do want to have another one, but I am not sure when to start trying b/c it took us SOOOO long to have Paul. (2.5 years total from start to finish). We want Paul and baby 2 to be close. We are considering starting to try in the fall/winter of this year if we do have another one. I just have a few questions for all you mom's out there that have more than one child.

1. when did you decide to start trying for your second child and how far apart did they end up being?

2. When you had your second child, were you surprised by the amount of extra work it was for you? Was it literally twice as much work?

3. What is something you wish someone would have told you about having two children as compared to one, that you didn't know before hand?

4. when it comes to money, how were u able to decide if you had enough to support two children as opposed to one? and is it much more expensive?

5. do you have just as much love for the second as you do for the first without compromising your love for your first to have your second?

thanx for your advice!!!!

x-posted

question

2008-03-25T13:48:54Z

Ok... here is my question. Since he was 2 weeks old, we have done the same night time routine with him....he gets a bath, a massage, his pjs put on, a bottle and off to bed. He likes it and it seems to relax him and he sleeps well for the most part. Lately, we have been starting the bed time routine around 7pm. I am wondering if we need to start doing it sooner, like 6:30-6:45 b/c Paul is SOOOOOO tired, (being cranky, rubbing his eyes, not wanting to do anyting), by 6:00 most of the time. Normally, we just force him to stay up to start till 7 b/c the bed time routine takes about an hour from start to finish. I am concerned about starting it earlier b/c that would mean he would be up earlier in the morning as a result, and I am not overly thrilled about that...however, I hate seeing him so upset and having to deal with such an upset baby for that last hour. SO, my question to you mom's out there...at what time did u put your 10 month old baby to bed?

Thanks for any imput. Much appreciated.

Mucus Plug

2008-02-11T19:30:42Z

Has anyone else lost their mucus plug? I think I "lost" mine over the weekend, but not sure... clear and kinda wiggly like Jello with some other leakage as well throughout the day. Just wondering if that was the mucus plug as I haven't had any bloody show? Also, I know that it doesn't necessarily mean I'm in labour, but doesn't it mean it could happen in a matter of days or a few weeks? I also tested postive for group B strep - I don't need to worry abotu losing the plug and not going to the hospital right? Only the water breaking?

Medela Pump and Bottles

2008-02-08T17:51:22Z

Does anyone have any experience with the Medela breast pumps? I've heard that you can use Gerber bottles to attach to the pump to collect the milk, but there's SO many different kinds of Gerber bottles, I wasn't sure if I could use any type of Gerber bottle or if it had to be a specific kind. Anyone have any idea?

Forum

2008-02-03T03:16:19Z

I'm not sure this is allowed but there is a new forum called www.coffeetalkforums.com and there is a family area. It is still growing, there is only 150 members, but alot of people are posting in the family area~!
Just wanted to share it in case anyone wanted to check out a public message board :)

Kids left alone in freezing car

2007-11-24T17:55:42Z

I feel sick after reading this story in the Ottawa Sun this morning. What kind of parents would think its okay to leave a toddler and an infant in a van on a cold day? It was cold here in Ottawa yesterday. We just had our first big winter storm and we have all started to really bundle up when going outside. They don't know how long these kids had been in the van before they were found be a bylaw officer. He found them at 11:20am. The parents didn't return to find police waiting for them until 12:30pm. They had their kids back by 2:30pm, after picking them up at CHEO, and asked to be left alone. The local media outlets blurred their faces. I think they should have shown who they were so that everyone would know what kind of people they are. The kids were okay, but it must have been traumatizing for them to be sitting in there so long, have the police break a window to get them and then be taken to CHEO to get checked out. CAS investigated and no charges were laid, other than a parking ticket. I find the whole story sickening. I have a 5 year old and 16 month old. Its not easy taking them everywhere with me, but I would never, ever leave them in the car to freeze! I hope that CAS follows up with this family to make sure the kids are really okay and that this was an isolated incident.

Vax question

2007-09-14T22:45:10Z

We live in one of the Ontario cities that is experiencing a shortage of family doctors. My daughter has a paediatrician in a town a few hours away, and we haven't been able to get a hold of this doctor for several months. It doesn't bother me to miss well-baby appointments, because I know my daughter is healthy, but I would like to have her next round of vaxes administered.

Where else can you get the routine childhood immunizations done, other than at a family doctor or paediatrician?

BPA Free Bottles

2007-09-05T19:10:41Z

has anyone found a store that sells glass baby bottles or a website that sells them? An article came out in my hometown paper last week about the dangers of bottles that are made with plastics that have BPA in them. Avent was one of the worst kinds to have (and I love my pump sooo much! CRAP!!!!) and I've since recycled all of my bottles and have bought my daughter two new sippies.

I know, if you actually read the instructions on your baby bottles, and follow them, you are supposed to replace the whole bottle after at most, 3 months, or if they get scratched. But I also know if you actually read the diaper packages, you are actually supposed to remove "soil" from the disposable diapers before throwing them away too, and who does THAT??? (honestly, anyone do that? I have a couple of times, but I'm talking less than 5 times in two years worth of diapers...)

Anyway, for this new baby I'm looking into glass (which, and please correct me if you have other information, but I really dont' know much about it) but if you heat milk in a glass bottle, apparently the glass can make the proteins in the milk stick to it, and then the baby doesn't get as many. So, glass isn't perfect either. Besides that, it's heavy! So, I may be sticking with BPA free plastic.

I found a few links yesterday that I'm posting below that lists out BPA free sippys and bottles. Hopefully they help those who haven't bought a whole lot of bottles yet! (It also lists out the issue with BPA, if you have no idea what I'm talking about.)

X-posted to canadapregnancy and _pregnant_

My Mom Had a Good Idea

2007-08-15T20:26:31Z

So, we're potty training and rewarding with the most convienient, but bad for you thing, chocolate. The Doodle is 2.

I was talking to my Mom about good alternatives to chocolate, which I couldn't think of any for Danica. She isn't interested enough in stickers for me to buy "special" ones that she can put on a paper. That wouldn't entice her to use the potty. (not that she's really needed any enticing, she's done phenominally well!!! We don't even use the chocolate anymore, after about 1 week.)

I had wanted a non - food alternative to replace the chocolate with. I'm overweight, and my husband is prone to it too, so she will be as well, so why at the age of 2 am I even starting her down that path???

Anyway, so my Mom says to me, "Why don't you try a candle? Let her blow out a candle every time she goes pee." Now, what a great idea! What toddler (and I am sure that there will be some who aren't interested) doesn't like blowing out birthday candles??? So, I thought, yah, if she needs more enticing we'll get some cheap tapers from a dollar store and light them in a holder when she sits on the potty, and she'll get to blow it out when she is done!

So, I wanted to share that with you all. Maybe it will help!!!

LeapPad Books!

2007-07-26T14:29:55Z

Hello Fellow Canadian Momma!

My daughter got a LeapPad last year for her 4th birthday. Its one of her favourite things to play with. Last night she went to play with it and saw that the cat (or baby brother) had knocked water all over her books. The cartridges and the LeapPad itself are fine, but the books are ruined. By the time we realized what had happened, the pages were already stuck together.

My question for all of you: Does anyone have any of the LeapPad books that they would be willing to give away or sell to me? I know that sometimes cartridges get lost and then you're stuck with a book that is useless. I really can't afford to go out and buy her all new book and cartridge sets and her heart is broken.

I'm looking for the books for:

Madagascar (K-1st Grade)
Cars (K-1st Grade)
The Lion King (PreK-Kindergarten)
Finding Nemo (K-1st Grade)

Thanks!

Wonderful Story

2007-07-17T18:30:06Z

http://www.angelinthewaters.com/

A friend of mine just shared that link with me. It leads to the book online, where you can read it. it's written in the style of a childrens book and would take you about 4 minutes to read.

It is super sweet. Be careful though, if you are at work or in a public place... it induced tears in me!

X-posted to canadapregnancy and _pregnant_

This morning

2007-07-11T21:29:57Z

This morning on the way to Daycare Doodle told me she wanted to go shopping. I said "well, maybe tonight. We have to buy you new bums (diapers)." She said Ok. Just a minute shopping. Patience mommy.

Again with the patience! They must say that at Daycare a lot. :-) But it's darn cute to be told to have patience by your 2 yr old. Wonder when the cuteness will wear off????

Clear Plan Easy Fertility Monitor

2007-07-11T02:03:03Z

Hello Ladies,

I am looking for one of these monitors to try and achieve pregnancy, but simply do not have the $300 to buy one brand new.

Does anyone have one that they no longer need and would be willing to sell?

Thanks in advance to anyone who can help!

Maggie

X-Posted to a few different communities.

Washing freezer bags

2007-06-23T20:36:56Z

Can you put GLAD ziploc freezer bags in the dishwasher?

They're just so fiddly and annoying to wash by hand!

canadian_moms @ 2007-06-07T21:47:00

2007-06-08T01:49:42Z

Hi ladies!
I haven`t yet had my baby but I have a question to which some of you may be able to answer.
My midwife is putting me on sick leave but is unsure of the paperwork part of things. I know i need a note from her and I have to go to the EI office to file but...
How far in advance do I have to tell my employer?
Have any of you had problems getting the EI even after you applied???
TIA

child benefit

2007-04-29T20:47:44Z

How long does it normally take to process a CCTB application?

I know mine is going to take longer because we're new immigrants, but if I know how long ordinary applications take, then I'll know not to get my hopes up for that time!

thanks

How Important is a Birthday?

2007-04-26T18:00:24Z

I have been asked to go to Ottowa to do a presentation. I really want to go!

Problem is, it would be on June 19, 2007, my Doodle's Second Birthday! Granted, her party would be the weekend before. But I would be gone on her birthday!

Don't know what to do! I mean, when we first did this presentation, we asked to go do it. Now other random people are asking us to come give it at their general meetings. That's awsome, it really is! (and the best part is that it's my idea. All me. My co-worker helped me do it, but it was mostly me and I came up with the idea.)

Anyway... help!

X-posted

book recommendations

2007-04-22T12:39:20Z

Morning all! I hope everyone's getting to appreciate the spring weather, I am so enjoying being able to take my daughter out to the backyard again!

Anyway, it's driving me nuts not knowing what all the birds and trees are called (I've only been living in Canada a year - I know the British ones!). So could anyone recommend some good children's guides to Canadian birds and trees?

I'd like children's guides so that I can pass it on to the kids when they start reading.

Help give this little boy a birthday!

2007-04-09T15:14:59Z

Hey there all you wonderful moms, I have a very special request for you. There is a little boy in the hospital awaiting a bone marrow transplant and his wish for his birthday is to break the world record for the most birthday cards received. You can help by visiting his website and sending just one card to him. Please also post this and email it to everyone you know, I would love to help him to get his wish.

http://www.shanebernier.ca/

x-posted to my personal journal & attachedparents