Alyssa's Mommy!!

I need suggestions for a vacation spot for my family this summer. We live in NYC so I would like it to be no more than 4 hours driving distance(traveling with a 2 year old). Want something family friendly, beach maybe boardwalk or some sort of amusement park.

My daughter is 19 months old and I am getting a little concerned about her language development. She has a vocabulary of about 40-50 words (not all of them clear) but she has not started to put two words together and there are some words that I have been trying to teach her for months now that she still makes no attempt to say. She has also stopped saying words that she used to say which is what really has me worried. For example, she used to say her name, if she saw a picture of herself or we were looking in the mirror she would point and say her name, now nothing. She also used to say our dog's name now nothing. She also used to say "all done" when she was finished eating or doing whatever it was she was doing, now she only says "done". Am I being overly analytical on this or do you think that this is cause for concern? Please no nasty comments just looking fornsome feedback/common situations that other moms have.

My 16 month old daughter still does not say Mama...she says Dada and Papa and a ton of other words but no Mama. This probably wouldn't bother me so much except for the fact that she makes no effort to call me anything. My friends son couldn't say mama until he was about 15 months old but he would at least make an attempt to try and say it (even though it would come out as vava) If she sees a picture of my husband and I she will point and day Dada but completely ignores the fact that I am in the picture. It is really starting to get to me.....I am a stay at home mom so I spend a majority of the time with her but I go out once a week for class and when I come home she is not the least bit excited that I am back, meanwhile when my husband comes home from work as soon as she hears the door open it's "Dada" and she runs to the door....is this normal??

I need some ideas on what else I can feed my 16 month old daughter for lunch. Right now I am on a rotating schedule of either grilled cheese sandwiches, PB&J, Cheese Ravioli's and Pastina with vegetables. I want to introduce other foods into the lineup but I am not sure what else to give her. I have tried Mac & Cheese and she didn't like it and I also tried Tuna sandwich and that didn't go over very well either.

She doesn't have the runs just yet but she really isn't eating well the last 2 days and her poop has been mushy and she has been going a lot. Need some ideas on what to give her, also she usually takes 10 ozs of milk before bedtime but I don't want to give that to her tonight, any ideas on what I can give her instead?

This is what I have been trying with my 8 month old daughter:

8:00 am 6-8 oz bottle of formula

9:00 am- Cereal (anywhere from 2-4 tablespoons depending on her appetite that day)

12:00 pm- Fruit, Veggies and Meat baby food (typically 2 ozs of each, again depending on her appetite)

2:00 pm- 8 oz bottle

5:00 pm- Fruit and Veggies (2 ounces each) followed by a 4 oz bottle

7:30-8:00 pm- 8 oz bottle (last feeding of the night)

What do you think?

I know that it is customary to give a frame, but I want to give something a little more than that. The couple we have picked are very close friends and they have already spoiled our daughter rotten so we were looking to give something a little more fancy I guess. Any ideas?

last night she slept through the night which suprised me but my question is when she wakes up for her next bottle do i continue with a 4 oz bottle or do i give her more to make up for the feeding she missed?

Hi Ladies, I am in desperate need of help. Hubby and I are having our first baby girl in October and if it wasn't hard enough to come up with a name, my DH made it even more difficult. He asked if we can give our daughter his grandmother's (she passed away several years ago) first name as her middle name. Now I am not a fan of the name, but really how could I say no, so now I have the challenge of finding a first name that sounds halfway decent with the middle name. Do you ladies have any suggestions on what first names would sound good with the middle name Virginia?

Most of the names that I like already end in A so it sounds kinda stupid with the middle name:

Alyssa

Gabriella

Marissa

Layla

I have just started to "pop" and the other night my DH jokingly said that I look a lot bigger than 5 months. I love the fact that I am showing and growing because I know that means my little girl is getting bigger in there, but now I am a little self-conscious. I am 5'2 and my pre-pregnancy weight was about 110, I have gained about 10 pounds to date. I posted two pics that I took at 20 weeks 2 days, do you think I look a lot bigger than I am??

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m93/sugarm81/Th...

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m93/sugarm81/Th...

I am expecting a baby girl in the beginning of October and I am just wondering how long should you usually wait until you baptize your baby.

I have an 8 year old Lab mix who is our first baby and truly the king of the castle. He is great with other peoples little kids(lets them pet him, doesn't bark or growl), but now that I am pregnant I am worried how he is going to react to his new baby sister(lol). Any tips on how to make the transition smooth for us and the dog, I would hate to have to get rid of him because he becomes aggressive towards the new baby so I want to try and get some advice to prepare him for the new arrival.

Thanks for any comments/suggestions & stories

Okay, here's the situation: I thought that I started feeling the baby at 16 weeks, but since it was so sporadic I chalked it up to gas bubbles/indigestion. The last few days I have noticed it more, but it is typically after I drink something or eat something so I don't really know what to think. It has felt like a tapping/poking from the inside and last night when I was lying down I had my hand on my belly and I actually felt it from the outside so I am pretty sure that was the baby:) Also for the last 2-3 days I have felt a tightening in one spot in my lower abdomen (not painful at all) which lasts for no longer than 10 seconds. It has only happened a handful of times but I am wondering is this the baby turning/switching positions or could it be Braxton Hicks or what? I have a doctor's appointment on Tuesday and I am going to bring this up with him, but I am just wondering if anyone has any ideas/advice or similar experience.

Thanks ladies:)

I live in the Bronx and I have googled to find a few places in the Bronx, Westchester and Jersey but I was hoping that I can get some feedback from anyone who has been to an ultrasound location in one of these areas. I would feel more comfortable going to a place that has good reviews. Thanks:)

Just for fun, how far along do I look?? Also do you think I am carrying high or low, boy/girl?

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m93/sugarm81/Th...

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m93/sugarm81/Th...

I am 17 weeks today (YAY!!) but I haven't really experienced any round ligament pain. Do some women not experience it or do you think that I should be concerned? Just looking for personal experiences. Thanks.

when you aren't telling anyone at the moment? I am 16 weeks today and am starting to show a little bit, but I am still not telling any of my co-workers or boss (I had a miscarriage in October of '08 @ 15 weeks). Nobody has said anything yet to me. Just wondering how any of you ladies handled the question....I don't want to tell people just yet but I don't want to make anyone feel bad about asking.

I am having such a hard time finding maternity clothes that fit nicely. I am 5'2 and my pre-pregnancy weight was 110, at 14 w 4d I am at about 116. I typically like to wear pants/jeans that are form fitting (not super tight) Everything that I try on is huge!! I feel so unattractive, I feel like I am swimming in the pants and jeans. For any thin moms to be, what brands did you find that actually fit you the best?

I am only 11 weeks 4 days and this getting up in the middle of the night 2-3 times to pee is killing me!! Does it get any better after the first trimester or is it all down hill?? LOL also I wanted to know about breast soreness/tenderness- does this subside at all or will "the girls" hurt throughout the whole pregnancy??