You can rinse the filters and air dry them, to make them last longer. I called to check. I rotate two at a time, so one is drying and one is clean.

Are you nursing? If so I'd wait, or just bring the baby. I don't abide by the "dont take them out for a month" thing. Life goes on. I put them in a sling, up against my body, where other people can't touch or breathe on them, and do my thing. My mother was horrified, but I explained that we needed groceries or we wouldn't eat, lol. heck. I took my dd to her check up at the pediatrician 1 day after our homebirth, and stopped and ate at Wendy's on the way home! I didn't let anyone near her, and she was fine. I would just be scared to offer a bottle that soon. I think she'd also be exposed to just as many, if not more, germs being handled by a friend than if you held her yourself and took her with you. If you really can't handle that idea, how about having a friend take your son out to do some fun stuff? That would honestly be my preference anyway. Get a cool sitter to take him to the movies, or the playground, or whatever. That would be fun for him and give you a chance to just sit with the baby and get some rest.

I still don't see how she treated the OP badly. She got emotional at co-op, and complained about other people, not the OP being late. HOw is that treating the OP badly?

Drop logic for now. They don't need it at this age, and time is a premium here. I'd do ASL OR Spanish, not both. And make Science after lunch for the kid that loves it. That way she will still be engaged. Or, do one kid before lunch, and one kid after lunch, all subjects.

Well, my son nursed until 3.5 years old, and my daughter is still nursing at 2, and they ate fine. I don't think it is the nursing that is the problem. There may be some oral issues though that need to be addressed.

what time do you start? what are you planning? Maybe we can help you streamline?

We did a chicken curry yesterday. Saute some onion in a pan. Add 1 can coconut milk, two big tablespoons peanut butter, some honey and soy sauce, and a bunch of curry powder, oh, and some garlic, a clove or two diced. I used that sauce on some frozen veggies I'd cooked, and a diced sweet potato. But normally I use rice, not sweet potato.

I don't understand what you are so upset about? She got upset that everyone wanted to do Biology, and got overemotional (probably because of being over tired or hormones or something totally unrelated), and decided not to do the co-op anymore as it wasn't going to meet her needs. What is so crazy and awful about that? What am I missing? Sure, she could have been less emotional about it, but she is not acting that way now, and I see no reason to make her revisit her sins and confess them to you.

When I was young I really liked the way my library handled it. If you read a certain amount (and it was a lot!) you got your name on a "plaque" on the inside cover of a book. So that when it got checked out on the inside cover was a sticker that said 'In honor of _____________'s Reading Achievment in the Summer of __" or some such thing. I got a huge kick out of it. There was also an ice cream party....a lower number of books was needed for that.

LOL, I know you were joking, but seriously, I like to think the two things are connected, or at least not exclusive of each other. Continuum Concept was a fun book to read, and addressed both these things. I raise my babies in an AP style, never leave them to cry if I can help it, carry them, wear them, etc etc. And yet I also don't go out of my way to entertain them, and expect them to help out We are NOT child centered in this house. My daughter, and my son before me, tag along with my life, at my side, and eventually mimic and learn those tasks.

Just remember that later babies are easier babies. Early babies are needier, in my experience. And the baby triggers labor, not you, so nothing you do is going to make it happen sooner. These last few weeks the brain is really doing amazing things, and that makes for a calmer, more organized baby when he/she finally comes. Besides, normal gestation is about 41 weeks, so it makes sense that you wouldn't go early. You just have sensible babies.

You were lucky...women's fertility drastically drops in the late thirties. Many women won't be able to have children if they wait that long. And yes, you can practice law, but not at the level a woman may have dreamed of, same with academia. You show up at 45 fresh out of grad school and you are competing with other women the same age who have years of experience, and maybe more importantly, connections.

Mine did this for about a week, then it stopped. I think she was teething which was altering her bowels a bit.

actually, until 42 weeks is normal.

I think your point agrees with mine though, that in some fields this works, but there are fields where it just doesn't. And that means if you grew up wanting to be in that field then you have to make a sacrifice one way or the other, you can't have it all.

First, I don't think the valium is a joke. I'd give her something to calm her if she is that freaked out. Second, I'd start taking her to the doctor's office once a week just to walk in, get weighed, say hi to everyone, and leave. Call the office and talk to them about this idea. the goal is to desensitize her. Right now classical conditioning has her in fight or flight response when she is in that office. Work on getting her comfortable at the office, then with the doctor saying hi, etc. And in the meantime, yes, if need be, ask for a script to help her relax.

Thanks everyone! Tonight seems to be going well as well. I guess I'll buy a bag of just frozen blueberries to try. My cousin is allergic to strawberries too, so that certainly could be it. How awful! I agree that allergies can add up, and my hayfever has been bad lately, so maybe it was just too much.

No, sometimes you can't. That was one of her main points. That if you put off kids to get your career on track you may find yourself unable to have children, due to simple biology. If you put off your career to have kids first, depending on your career, may NEVER be able to attain the level of the profession that you wanted. (she mentions academia and law in particular). The idea that you can have it all, but not at once, is the whole idea she was trying to debunk.

What I would do is NOT make him write about reading this year. It is a great way to kill the love of the story. I'd require him to read 1 hour a day...30 minutes must be your choice, the other 30 can be more of that book or another book/magazine/etc.

I still use it, just add to it. We will be doing Sonlight for that reason...I think all the historical ficition will fill that need for us.

I'd just wait and not do any American history this year then. Wait and do it when it fits more with what you are studying.

Ok, personally I don't think you can do a great, in depth, full curriculum for both ancient and american history at the same time. I think that is totally overkill. Can I make a suggestion? Either just do American next year, because you are interested in it, and that is fine, OR do ancients, but supplement on the American Holidays with American History. So, around Columbus Day get some picture books on Columbus. On 4th of July find some on the declaration of Independence. At thanksgiving study the pilgrims and such. Etc etc. This will give you some American history without being overwhelming.

Yes, this becomes more apparant in her adult books....I have History of the Ancient World and this is very clear there. She relies on stories, documents, etc...written history of great events. Personally, I prefer a social history approach, so for me her text is really dry and uninteresting. I want the details of life, not the outline.....(I like anthropology much more than history in college, for this reason). Thanks for pointing out why I didn't enjoy that book, I hadn't really thought of it. I'm more a "living history" person....take me to a historical recreation like our local "pioneer village" or give me historical fiction or biographies...those I love. But typical texts, especially document based ones, just don't appeal.

No..not really. It is more like she is the only one willing to talk about something that was hidden, not like something no one was willing to be rude about. Women are STILL being told that if they plan right they can have any job they want, and a great family life. She is saying hey, maybe we need to be more realistic and tell these young graduates that no, that really isn't true. Maybe we need to change things so it IS true. Either way, we need to stop saying that there isn't a problem with having it all, because there is. She has gotten a lot of flak from high level women workers for saying what she is saying. They still don't want to acknowledge it.

Ok, no berries yesterday, and no red/flushed/itchy face either. How odd! I'm really bummed....frozen berries with coconut milk are my favorite treat!!!!!