Hi all!!
So sorry I have been MIA. But I've gotten caught up so here goes...

Angela, Reece is soooo stinking cute!! Good luck with both the boys. It will be a handful, but I'm sure you'll handle it like a champ!! Glad Ethan is being such a good helper. Also glad the BFing is going so well!! That is one area I wish I could re-do. To this day it makes me sad I didn't do as much as I wanted. I am so happy for you and am sending you good mommy vibes all goes smoothly.

MA, yeh for another TTC journey. I'm with everyone else saying I love to hear the TTC stories and struggles. MOst of us on this thread struggled so we're all aware of the stress it can cause and I never really think you forget, so bring it on!! How is Amelia?? How is her rash?? And the weather...don't even gets started... I walked to yoga on Saturday, the first of December, in capris and flip flops!! Here in the mountains of Colorado at 9,000ft!!! It has been crazy warm and no snow. Really worried how my store will do. Man I hope the weather pattern changes we need snow!! Oh and for baby sitters try your church. We use girls from daycare, but since you don't have that connection, how about church?? Just a thought.

Steph, speaking of will you send me that rain,we'll gladly take it in snow form. How are you lady?? How is katelyn? How's the sleeping thing going ?? I know you probably don't want to hear this, but at 2:30am, let her cry it out. I know it's hard, but think of it a she needs her sleep too. Easier said than done I know. We're back on the sleep train, but it always takes a period of adjustment. I was determined to let Jo cry it out last night, but I can tell when she's really upset because she throws her body around and last might I could hear when she hit her head on her crib. After the third head bang, which always results in crying louder (of course), I had to go in and give some Mommy loves, rocking her back to sleep. So I preach, but I don't always practice. Hope tonight goes better!!

Beth, how are you?? Sorry to hear you too are struggling with sleep issues. It's so hard. They just seem to need periodic adjusting I think. Hope you are well and best of luck with TTC!!!

AFM, things have slowed down at work. As there is no snow, town is pretty quiet. Jo is doing better having gotten most of her molars ( thank the lord!!). And we have roughed out a few hard nights, but she is now sleeping mostly through the night. She has a cold right now which I hate, but seems in good spirits. DH unfortunately is sick again I think with a type of flu. Jo and I have not gotten this one and we both had flu shots where he didn't, so of course he's being a typical man. It's just so much harder on me because when he's sick I'm not only a single mom, getting Jo up for daycare, lunches made, cleaning house, laundry, work, daycare pick -up, dinner, bath, and bed time by myself, I have another whiney baby at home too. Anyway I complain, but it's ok if she sleeps.

So maybe you're asking if I haven't been busy at work why was I MIA?? I am sad to admit that I got completely engrossed in a new book series by H.P. Mallory. It's total escapism, but a guilty pleasure that consumed me. I have now finished all books. So sorry girls I blew you off for witches, worlocks, vampires, fairies, and werewolfs.

On a brighter note I got my Christmas cards done and all photos printed for the grandparents' gifts and feel pretty proud of myself.

So that's all from here. Pray for snow. Anna

Quick question, MA I'm trying to post a photo here from photo bucket but it won't let me copy the URL address. I'm trying to do it from my phone, so that may be the problem, but I swear I've done it before. Seems like the web site has changed and not for the better. Have you had trouble??

Hi Anna

I can't BELIEVE you ditched us for witches, warlocks and fairies. I'm actually doing the same thing but my hours are at 2am until I fall asleep. I tend to read books with historical fiction in it. Right now I'm reading a book about two sisters who were raised by a mother who they thought never really loved them. Turns out she lived in Russia and during the WW she lost all her family including two other children her girls never new existed. I'm getting to the end but it's very heart-wrenching. I have another book lined up.

I was on photo bucket last week and via my mac, it's been fine to upload but I haven't used it with the phone. I'll check it out tomorrow and see what I can find. I don't see why you'd have a problem but as you said, they're ALWAYS tweaking things there. It can be a pain.

We've missed ya! So sorry work isn't doing well. I can't believe there's no snow. I was out in capri's today and a short sleeve sweater. It rained later but the whole day was AWESOME and Doug had it off so we enjoyed the whole day.

How is everyone else??

AFM: Had my first ever acupuncture treatment and then a massage afterwards. Holy Cats! ((faint)) I'm looking forward to next month. As it stands, I have another acupuncture appointment the day OF IUI and then one more I think he said 5 days afterwards. I'm looking forward to it and after talking with my mom...she thinks she may want to go with me for some treatment and my cousin may do it too. She's also recently engaged and has spoken about a fertility specialist so she may be able to meet the Dr.

Anyways, not too much going on. Tomorrow is another lab and sono to see the follies. Praying they grew. ray:

Love to you all!!

Well, I got a disappointing call today and I'm cancelled mid-cycle this month. ((sigh))

It's all for the best and while I'm disappointed and it took me a few hours to get my bearings back, I have a lot to be grateful for. I'll take the next 4 weeks to celebrate Christmas and New Years with my husband and daughter then we'll start again next month with "hopefully" better results.

If you'd like more info, you can check out my journal through my siggy.

Hope everyone is having a lovely day today. It started to snow here and is cold again I don't mind it as it's cuddle weather. I DO wish we didn't have longer darkness. I have SAD and it's a bit of a pickle this time of year to enjoy the snow with all that darkness.

MA, so sorry to hear about the TTC delay, but bright side bring on the spiked egg nog!! Your book sounds gripping but so sad. Truth be told I should read "better" books, but real life is so stressful that reading becomes my form of escapism.

Quick question to all...does anyone have a little grabber/pincher?? Jo just loves to reach out and grab the beejeezus out of anyone's face, hair, dog face, etc. we've been working for weeks to break the habit, showing how to touch and using the phrase "gental touches", but she gets this devil look in her eyes and look out!! Just wondering if anyone else has had this happen. I know we've been down the whole spanking road, and I really don't want to spank, but I did finally slap her hand the other day. Otherwise she just laughs at me. Grrrr so frustrating!!!!

Anyhoo, hope all is well, anna

Hi Anna,

Amelia doesn't pinch though she does have that silly look about her when she puts both her hands together and squeezes the air REALLY hard in order to share with people she'd like to squeeze them.

My guess is this is what Jo is trying to share with those she pinches?? Maybe that she loves them and is trying to play? Could be the reason she's laughing too. Amelia DOES laugh at odd times too. They're just little babies so obviously we know they haven't a clue about appropriate behavior.

Not quite sure HOW to deal with the pinching other than to redirect her somehow. Angela and Steph are usually good with ideas. I'll be watching for their responses.

Also, I didn't have any issues with photobucket. I'm going to test right now to see if the photo comes up and then share how I did it. So lets see...

Okay, so this is working.

What I did was click on the picture I was trying to share. Above that picture in the upper right hand corner there are sharing icons. Click on the one directly next to the envelope with the arrow pointing right. That is the icon for "sharing to other services". Once opened at the top is a linky looking tab that says "social media", "email" or "links". I clicked on the one that says "links". There's a drop down menu now that has 4 types of links. You want the one that says "DIRECT LINK". Put your curser over it and click it. Should say "SAVED" so that you can come back here. You'll click on the icon that has the mountains between the link icon and quote icon. Add the HTTP address and then post. Hopefully this will work for you!

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Thanks MA!! Fricking finally worked. Loved the picture of Amelia, man she's a cutie!!

This is a photo taken the other night at the lighting of Breckenridge. It's finally snowing today!! Thanks for the two cents on pinchin and grabbing, I think you're right in that she just wants to love and play, just have to figure out how to do it in an appropriate way.

I have another group question... Does anyone know if there is a toy web site for moms? Something that lists what toys are Best for what age groups and or interests. Jo loves anything musical so trying to find some good Christmas presents for her age, but there's so much crap out there. Anyway any thoughts are much appreciated!!

Hi Ladies,

Can't really write a proper post as I am about to head to a meeting. Rebekah and Anna love the photos! Will respond about pinching and toy website in a bit. Also, Anna why did I think you were blonde?

Be back soon!!!

Hugs,
Steph

my favorite catalog for buying gifts for the nieces and nephews is Hearthsong - they have fantastic toys, and everything has an age rating on it. On the website you can filter your search results by age so you're only shopping age-appropriate stuff. www.hearthsong.com

They have great customer service, too - I once got notice from them that a toy I'd bought three years earlier had been recalled, along with a gift certificate for the value of the toy so I could buy something else. Nevermind the fact that niece had outgrown the toy two years earlier! I was pretty impressed.