2 things
 

I believe she is dominant sexually, and certainly "in charge." I think you mean "in charge" with regard to the children. You might want to clarify.

2 things
 

They aren't your kids, so you don't have to take any responsibility. Feel free to laugh at any inappropriate antics, form alliances against Dad, and only trip them when nobody else is watching.

Things I Learned Today
 

1) Never ever leave a toddler alone with a big tub of vaseline. Ever.

2) If you do, be sure the toddler is on the tile/linoleum/wood floor, not the carpet.

3) And away from the upholstry. Far, far, far, away.

3) Toddlers do not have nearly the discerning palate they pretend to at mealtimes.

5) Vaseline is just as hard to clean up as one might imagine, perhaps harder.

Things I Learned Today
 

Well, on the plus side, you probably won't have to worry about hairballs for the next week, at least.

Things I Learned Today
 

Actually there's one on my stairs waiting for someone else to come home from work and clean it up. However, you are correct in that I can fairly safely assume it was not the Lexling that left it there.

Things I Learned Today
 

Also -- beware of leaving toddlers alone in rooms with drawers containing tubes of diaper cream -- just around the corner from a new couch. Particularly when you spend some time most days applying lotion to the child to ward off dry skin.

S_A_M

Co-sleeping
 

Okay, I think I just went into a diabetic coma.

We co-slept with two, with the baby between us. It made sense for nursing; I think there's less benefit for bottle-fed infants (who sleep longer anyway). Once they were sleeping through the night, into the crib they went.

I was stressed out about rolling over on the first kid; with the second not so much. I recommend co-sleeping because the really minor remote risk involved is counterbalanced by the sleep benefits for the mom, which are substantial.

That said, a FOAF had a grandchild die when he fell between the bed and a wall while co-sleeping. Two things about this are (1) he was almost two at the time, FWIW; (2) there might have been drugs or alcohol involved and grandma ain't sayin' so; and (3) YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE THE FUCKING BED AGAINST THE FUCKING WALL. Modern medical science says a fall from two feet is better than being trapped between the bed and the wall or those bed-rail things we all grew up with.

Co-sleeping
 

Oh, come on, I'm allowed a little post-delivery euphoria.

Plus, the really minor remote risk may actually be negated by a mother's heightened awareness of the child's breathing, which may in turn reduce the sleep benefits for the mom (at least in the early weeks, in my limited experience).

Co-sleeping
 

2. keep in mind Atticus and his wife don't take any drugs so their awareness is that much more heightened.

Co-sleeping
 

Having co-slept, Atticus should have an easier time handling it when the kids hit the teen years and start shitting in his bed again.

Dang
 

Ugh...while I was on the Gadget board posting thanks for the car advice, Viet Babe swallowed either a nickel or a quarter (can't tell which one). I guess it could have been a penny too - there was a pile of change and she went at it. Mom says I'm supposed to watch her poopies to "make sure it comes out." Anyone have a kid who did this?

(Cosleeping: I'd give anything if she'd snooze with me but she can't get to sleep if I'm there!! Everyone else I know co-sleeps for a portion of the night at least when kiddos are infants. I've spread the word about the bed against the wall thing b/c of Atticus talking about it a while ago).

Dang
 

As I was perusing the most recent copy of Parenting at the OB's office, I was surprised to read Sears' article about the family bed, recomending that you push it agaisnt the wall and put the baby between you and the wall.

Actually I wasn't that surprised. I have always thought Sears sucked and I hate his stupid cord-blood banking endorsements in every single baby and pregnancy magazine.

What does it say about my future parenting skills that I value more highly the advice from anonymous lawyers on a chat board than a trained and published medical professional (sellout)?

Dang
 

I never get a chance to read those mags but this doesn't surprise me. I have his "Baby Book" but have never been that thrilled with it, except for tidbits here and there. Granted most parenting books presume you are bio parents (and that there are 2), but his book is constantly referring to the bio relation/2 person parenting in one way or another as support for his advice which is of course lost on me. (Even though I think one of his kiddos is adopted). I also recall he insisted a child sleeping 5 hours was "sleeping through the night". Not in my house!

2. My best parenting advice so far has been from here. Scary!

Dang
 

Changing Daughter's diaper one day, i found a large two-pointed upholstery staple in her shit. We didn't see her eat it, and obviously would have freaked. We called the doc to ask if she needed to be tested for internal holes- it was a big-ass staple, he said if it comes out don't worry- if my grandkids eat coins I'll laugh. Round-edged coins? ain't nothing.

Dang
 

Well, that's a relief (as far as relief goes). BTW I feel like such a bad mommy. First, I didn't freak when I heard her gulp the coin and merely asked her, "How'd it taste?" while I continued typing. Second, not only did I not rush her to the emergency room, my only inquiry was to post a message on a lawyers message board 1/2-assedly asking whether I had cause for concern. Third, I didn't check to find OUT the answer until 2:30 pm the next day, AFTER exchanging witty banter about my new car on the Tech Board. Have I really become a hardened, cynical parent? Does this mean I'm ready for number two? Say it aint so.

Dang
 

But had you gotten the opposite reaction on this board, you'd be prepared to drive the kid to the hospital really, really fast since you got the turbo. So you bought yourself a little time.

Dang
 

Get a better job. You shouldn't be obsessing over how much money it was at a time like this. The kid's health is more important than whether you're out a quarter or a nickel.

Dang
 

More important - Health? Wealth? Nah - we both have it wrong. The most important thing is that, statistically speaking, someone else will have to deal with the quarter making its way through Vietbabe's bowels. That person likely makes about $7 an hour to watch a bunch of bratty lawyers kids. I think THEY'RE the one who should be getting a "better job", not me, heh heh.

(P.S. - I warned daycare about the quarter and added the obligatory joke about them deducting whatever they find from my tuition. Didn't even get a courtesy laugh. Huh.)

Like the glamor shot? Thanks god the first one thinned out just fine or I'd really have a complex about this.

You really lost weight. Looks cute though.

test results are in. turns out "your" kids really are atticus'. Time for you to leave here until you get some of your own. See you on FB!

I guess I should change my title to "24hr Eater," then.

Well, I suppose I saved all future generations of McFlints from the heartbreak of hereditary micropenis. My work here is done.

Co-sleeping
 

Wow, my first post on the parents board, and the LittledL has not even made an appearance yet...

Mrs. dL and I are getting a co-sleeper (this one, specifically), and for now intend to split time with the kid on our respective sides. This strikes me as a compromise between having the kid in the bed with us (which, despite what everyone says, still scares the crap out of me) and simply plopping him down in a bassinette.

Does anyone have any experience with these things?

Co-sleeping
 

Kids are loud and active when they are uncomfortable, even when they are tiny. Roll over on one and expect to be punished with a sharp kick to the groin. Plus, you will become a lighter sleeper than you can possibly imagine. In two years you will hear a half muffled 1 second whine from down the hall and be unable to go back to sleep for half an hour.

Co-sleeping is not a problem, as long as you aren't chemically altered.

Co-sleeping
 

I don't want to add to your anxiety, but having one of those things next to the bed is an invitation for the little bugger to roll over and out once em gets past the tiny little infant stage.

As for having the kid in bed with you, I can assure you that you won't roll over on the critter and smother it. Babies have a way of making their presence felt.

Co-sleeping
 

I figured as much, but we really only want it for the early infant stage, so I am not too worried about escape.

Co-sleeping
 

We had a bassinet for the Princess, but she never spent any time in it after the first week. With Wonk Monster, we learned our lesson and didn't bother getting him anything to sleep in until he got older and it was time to ween him out of our bed.

Co-sleeping
 

I have the exact co-sleeper to which AdL linked, and it is still next to my side of the bed, but it's gathering dust now. Itwas a godsend the first two weeks home from the hospital after the c-section (so AdL, I don't think it's a waste of money), but mostly for daytime naps rather than nightime sleepling. Now that I'm up and about in the house, the baby has not been in the co-sleeper in weeks. That's not to say it's not useful. Putting the baby in it is a foolproof way to wake her up. It also is a handy receptacle for all the extra pillows I use to prop myself up with when nursing, which I don't want to have on the bed when the baby is in it. On the down side, it's kind of in my way when I have to get out of bed.

Sometimes I have the baby on the outside of the bed and I do feel more secure knowing that she would only fall into the co-sleeper rather than onto the floor.


I think your notion of swapping sides that the co-sleeper is on is really cute and thoughtful. Let us all know how that works out!

Co-sleeping
 

Ours is actually sleeping at night in the PNP* changing table. I woke up this morning and he was in the bed. I have no recollection of how or when he got there - for all I know he flew.

When we do co-sleep, the baby does sleep on the outside of the bed: the Mr. would crush him for sure if he were in the middle - he's rolled on me before without noticing. It works like this: Mr. Lex crammed toward his side of the bed, me in the middle toward hubby, and the baby gets the rest of the bed.

And Alex, that swapping thing isn't going to work, especially if she's nursing. There's this condition called Selective Daddy Deafness that seems to infect most fathers after the baby has been home for about a month. It begins earlier and is more profound with each subsequent child. Don't think you are immune. You aren't.


*He's perfectly safe; he's too fat too rolll away. He sleeps on his stomach in our bed for naps, too. Go ahead, call CPS.

Co-sleeping
 

Yes. Unless you intend to start lactating, chalk this up as an excellent theoretical way to express moral support for what your wife is about to experience for the next 6 to 12 weeks.

Co-sleeping
 

Weeks?

Co-sleeping
 

It has been my experience that the experience after three months is qualitatively different. I think it's not because the child has changed any behaviors between midnight and 6 a.m., but rather because they begin to behave rather less like a glorified tick between 6 a.m. and midnight.

Co-sleeping
 

Wow, something to look forward to...

Co-sleeping
 

This all brings back memories.

First kid - concern about how to properly co-sleep.

Second kid - maybe he should really be learning independence by sleeping in his own room.

Third kid - open his door, throw in food in response to his cries.

Co-sleeping
 

What an awful thing to say!

Leeches are cuter than ticks.

And they do change behaviors between midnight and 6AM, to wit:
(1) They learn how to latch on in the dark, quickly, and while lying side to side with mom, and
(2) They become more vocal, even when they don't need anything. Grunt grunt groan coo gurgle kick kick kick grunt grunt grunt arm jerk kick kick grunt groan coo gurgle grunt grunt breathe breathe breathe breathe whimper ... whimper whimper (is it going to become a cry?) whimper grunt grunt groan coo breathe ...

Further, mom learns to sleep (however lightly) through 2 until it becomes an actual "feed me" call.

Co-sleeping
 

I sleep through the actual feedings sometimes...even those involving carrying the baby across the room. One day I fear I may wake up and find the baby in the sink.

Co-sleeping
 

That's fine. A baby can't fall out of a sink. The dishwasher, however, would raise eyebrows.

Co-sleeping
 

Somehow this post makes me think of this picture. Especially given your old avatar.

http://www.flint-river-ranch.com/Dishwasher.jpg

Co-sleeping
 

oh, i miss my old avatar! {sniff}