pence's blog

DH and I are finally getting away for a weekend (much needed! first overnights away in 2 1/2 years since DS was born) in July. . .all well and good except my period is due right then. which is fine, except i was looking forward to all sorts of fun. . . i remember vaguely that somehow using the pill can alter when it begins and starts. would that be possible? would i really mess up my system if i took the pill for like 2 months? thanks!

i've been out of the hipmama loop for awhile, but want some feedback

have any of you ever engaged in online chatting that borders on inappropriate (re: naughtiness)? and how did you reconcile it? i know DH and i have loads of issues (his conversion to catholicism and restrictions on our sex life) and what i have been doing is avoidance, but an old fling has been messaging me and i'm indulging in it more than i should.
i'm probably asking so you will all tell me to stop.

o.k. next week we are flying to CA with DS who will be 2 this saturday (Happy Birthday, baby). . .we have flown a lot with him as a lap child, but this time we had to buy a seat. my question is. . . do i have to bring a car seat FOR his seat?

awhile ago someone posted a recipe for rye bread and i think mamanopajamas posted pictures of her progress making it . . .and i just want to say that i made it over the weekend and it is the best damn bread i have ever made. DS practically scarfed down a whole loaf (impressive consumption at 22 months!). . .thanks for a great recipe!

i can't get past that babybella blogad that keeps appearing with the photo of what i guess is suppose to help with nursing discreetly . . . but it keeps looking like a straitjacket for a tumor to me. with the bare shoulder it looks even odder. . .like she's topless under it.

5 hours until i am actually getting dolled up and going out for a couple hours. my work is having a swanky reception tonight. . . historic house, fancy appetizers, silent auction and OPEN BAR. and DH doesn't have his usual catholic men's fellowship group tonight. ..so he'll stay home with sleeping DS and i am going out. i can't wait. to get a wee bit dressed-up to chit-chat with friends and to have a drink like a grown-up. . .why don't i do this more??

i know sunflower tends to know about "natural" stuff and many others of you, too, so i'd like to know what people have done about eczema. DS has developed it over the past month (he's 11 months old). . .and at first i figured it was the dry winter weather and then i tried to eliminate wheat (no results) and now have eliminated his every other day egg yolk. . . he's got it on the backs of knees, creases in arms and wrist, a spot near his mouth and last night spots over his belly. it doesn't seem to bug him, but it is getting increasingly worse. . .one book i read said avoid over-bathing and the other said a 10 minute bath every day. would an oatmeal bath work? are there any other causes for eczema than allergens and genetics?

DH just brought DS to our homeopathic doctor (he is also an MD) for the 9 month visit. ds has been sick with a cold for about a week (with a fever for the past 4/5 days) and the doc said that it looks like his right ear is a bit inflammed. and suggested that we take a slice of garlic, wrapped in cotton and dipped in oil and put it in his ear before he goes to bed. i'm all for alternative remedies, but i am not sure how the antibacterial properties of the garlic will get through the cotton. . .weird, eh?

i made myself a midwife appointment for tomorrow, because i gotta get myself on some form of birth control. i told DH that if he thinks we are going to get busy (and it's been 6 months of no action due to the catholic stuff and him flipping out a bit)that i am going to take precautions and he can't say any different because it's my body. i'm still nursing and haven't bleed again yet. anyhow, i want your honest advice on what works for you. . .i've always had a partner who used condoms, so i haven't really had to think about the options.

poor DS was up about 6 times last night crying. . .he is 8 months and is cutting his fourth tooth and seemed really miserable last night about it. i was talking about it here at work today (since i got up 6 times last night too and i make sure all my co-workers know that if i am spacey or bitchy that it has to do with lack of sleep not necessarily them). . . and every single one who is a mom said to give him tylenol. why am i weirded out to give him tylenol? the homeopathic tablets i have don't seem to do the trick and the same goes for the clove oil stuff either.

2 packs of silken tofu thinking that 8 month old DS was gonna love it (plus it was on sale) and he is really not digging it . . . although it has allowed him to perfect his spitting/spluttering techniques. I wonder if you mamas might have some ideas of what to do with silken tofu. we aren't big "dip" people, so i am thinking scrambled tofu? how does one do this effectively?

i need to say thank you to all the people who responded to my earlier post about DH and catholicism. the ideas and general sympathy have helped me feel a little less isolated and a little less like i am overreacting to the situation. just want to express my gratitude! i'd buy you all a round of your favorite drink (alcholic or non) if i could. . .

what would you do? background: been happily (more or less) married to DH for 5 1/2 years (dated for 2 before). . .he is an artist, a searching soul and a stubborn taurus (gemini cusp). we had our first baby this past march. he has always been someone who likes to delve into the philosophical/spritual/metaphysical (while i am all about the practical). like he really use to be into numerology, astrology when i first met him. welp, we went out to visit his brother this summer who he hadn't seen in years and they spent lots of time together bonding. his brother converted to catholicism and is VERY catholic (thinks the american catholic church isn't traditional enough).

i'm just wondering what people's take on yogurt for the baby is? i am navigating the world of baby diets with my handy super baby food book and she recommends starting yogurt as early as 6 months. my bugaboo is 7 months and i am looking to vary his diet. i'm getting a little tired of serving up the avocado, rice cereal, peas, carrot, banana, sweet potato combo. oh, and pears!. . .i'm just hesitant on the yogurt because it is dairy and it seems a little early. any other yummy stuff you can think of for a 7 month old?

just curious what you all have done when you and your partner begin to argue in front of the baby/child? our DS is 7 months and has become so much more observant of our conversations and actions whether postive or, unfortunately at times, negative. we have tried to limit the heated stuff to when he is asleep or when he is self-entertaining (that sounds curious!?) in the crib. but we have had some recent spats in front of him. we try hard to show the resolution side of things and that everything is o.k. after we have calmed down. maybe i am a bit silly for worrying about the impact on him and am trying SO hard to keep it positive around him.

i am just wondering if any of you opted not to have the vitamin k shot, hepatitis b vaccination and hearing test done after your baby was born. And if you did opt not to, how did you navigate it with the hospital? we are hopefully having the baby at the alternative birthing center within our local hospital. i've let our wishes be known to our midwife, but i am still anxious about it, especially if we end up in the regular delivery rooms. i also am really concerned about making sure that the cord is not cut until it has stopped pulsating. any experience with either of these two topics, already-done-it mamas?

Just wondering if any of you out there have any tricks for turning a "heads-up" baby, "heads-down"? I am 34 weeks pregnant and the baby has recently repositioned his or her self into a breech/transverse position. i'm not TOTALLY stressed about it (yet!), but we were really hoping to have as natural a birth as possible. . . it's my first. i was hoping the my pre-natal yoga class would help, but not yet. any tips or similar experiences?