Liz (Tanner

when did you tour prospective houses? Did you go during the week or on the weekend? In the evening or during the day? And how soon did you see a house that you knew was the one? How long did it take you after finding that home to put in an offer? Just curious about other people's experiences.

Only got 4 answers when I posted last night and I really want opinions so...

My husband and I are expecting baby #3. We like names that are NOT in the top 10 or even in the top 50 because we don't really relish the idea of there being 6 kids with the same name in their class at school. Tanner is our son and Taryn is our daughter. We didn't intend to start their names with Ts, it just happened that they were the only names we agreed on. For baby #3 (a girl), we have had no luck coming up with a name we both like -- UNTIL today. I will be 37 weeks tomorrow so we really have to come up with something soon. So the name we're now considering is Seneca. No, it's not a T name. No, we have no desire to continue that trend. Opinions please.

Also, the name I have loved from the beginning is a traditional one: Faith. My husband likes the name but not enough to commit to it. I feel partial to it for a personal reason, namely that in trying for #3, I was losing faith in my body to conceive and thought we'd have to turn once again to fertility treatments. When she came along naturally, I immediately wanted to name her Faith to remind myself of the importance of keeping it. Because my husband isn't in love with the name, I don't want to force the issue of the first name -- I really want him to love our daughter's name -- but I feel strongly about including it as a middle name. However he's Hawaiian and, in his family, they like to have Hawaiian middle names. I've looked up the Hawaiian version of Faith in an attempt to compromise and it's totally unattractive (to me) and impossible for the non-Hawaiian to figure out how to pronouce -- Manaoio. How far do I go to get the name I love included? Do I pull rank and say it's FAITH :) (just kidding, I would never do that...maybe) or do I just put the Hawaiian version on the birth certificate to make his side of the family happy. Sigh. Never thought it would be such a process!

One last question: I also reintroduced the name Cecelia to him as an option. He didn't remember me suggesting this name in the past and really likes Celia as a shortened version. Any thoughts on Cecelia versus Seneca? I'm a huge fan of nicknames and love Celia or Celie (Cecelia would be on the birth certificate) but there's not really a nickname for Seneca which makes me a bit less of a fan. Would love any and all opinions. Thanks!!!

Candice and Laura: you'll be the only ones who know this name so keep it hush-hush on FB as we haven't decided 100%. :)

For everyone else, my husband and I are expecting baby #3. We like names that are NOT in the top 10 or even in the top 50 because we don't really relish the idea of there being 6 kids with the same name in their class at school. Tanner is our son and Taryn is our daughter. We didn't intend to start their names with Ts, it just happened that they were the only names we agreed on. For baby #3 (a girl), we have had no luck coming up with a name we both like -- UNTIL today. I will be 37 weeks tomorrow so we really have to come up with something soon. So the name we're now considering is Seneca. No, it's not a T name. No, we have no desire to continue that trend. Opinions please.

Also, the name I have loved from the beginning is a traditional one: Faith. My husband likes the name but not enough to commit to it. I feel partial to it for a personal reason, namely that in trying for #3, I was losing faith in my body to conceive and thought we'd have to turn once again to fertility treatments. When she came along naturally, I immediately wanted to name her Faith to remind myself of the importance of keeping it. Because my husband isn't in love with the name, I don't want to force the issue of the first name -- I really want him to love our daughter's name -- but I feel strongly about including it as a middle name. However he's Hawaiian and, in his family, they like to have Hawaiian middle names. I've looked up the Hawaiian version of Faith in an attempt to compromise and it's totally unattractive (to me) and impossible for the non-Hawaiian to figure out how to pronouce -- Manaoio. How far do I go to get the name I love included? Do I pull rank and say it's FAITH :) (just kidding, I would never do that...maybe) or do I just put the Hawaiian version on the birth certificate to make his side of the family happy. Sigh. Never thought it would be such a process!

One last question: I also reintroduced the name Cecelia to him as an option. He didn't remember me suggesting this name in the past and really likes Celia as a shortened version. Any thoughts on Cecelia versus Seneca? I'm a huge fan of nicknames and love Celia or Celie (Cecelia would be on the birth certificate) but there's not really a nickname for Seneca which makes me a bit less of a fan. Would love any and all opinions. Thanks!!!

What are some cool place names that would be good as a boy name (example Venice, Paris, Bristol for a girl -- BUT we already have girl names that we like so we need boy names). Like Israel or Jackson...but not those. :) Any ideas?

Okay, so they're not really out there, our kids are Tanner and Taryn. But they're not exactly names that a bunch of other kids are going to have in their class at school...and that's our goal. We're expecting #3 and we cannot agree on names for a boy. I throw out names like Dane, Rowen, and Flynn for a boy and he throws out Leland (whaaat?), Lyle (huh??) and SHARK. Yes, he seriously offered Shark as an actual name. Okay. So we need a little help. We're not looking for Christophers and Benjamins. I love those names but there will be three of each in his class, at least. We are in need of some help. Anybody have some ideas of some names that are cool and skater-boyish (I don't know how else to describe it) but DEFINITELY won't show up on the top100 names list?

I'd like to purchase a pair of wireless headphones to use for watching TV while on the treadmill. I'm mostly concerned that they stay on my head and have decent sound quality. It would also be nice to be able to use your basic AA or AAA batteries. I'm not looking to spend $500 dollars but I could do a couple hundred or so for a good product that will suit my needs and not break the day after I buy it. Thanks for any suggestions!

and then realize you're an epic failure by breakfast? I have a 22-month old son and a 6 month old daughter. They're both in "needy" stages (my son has entered the terrible twos early and my daughter won't have anything to do with anyone except me and my husband) and my patience is barely hanging on by a thread most days. I know that these are stages and that my little ones cant help the way they are right now and USUALLY I can remember that before I start having a tantrum of my own in response to their behavior...but too often I find myself shouting at my son like he's a rational adult who knows exactly what he's doing and is purposely trying to make me angry when really I know that's not the case. Despite knowing it, I still fly off the handle and treat him ugly and then I feel AWFUL. I go to bed knowing that I've got to change my way of thinking the next day and sometimes it works but many times I still resort to being angry at him for his little 2 year old behavior. Sometimes I find myself mourning the sweet baby he used to be and wonder who this little monster is who's moved in!! All normal, I know. But I still feel like I'm failing my little boy. Can anyone relate? Does it get better?

My uncle recently had a severe stroke. He has a wife and two sons and they are all really struggling with his new status. My sister had an idea to make a CD of inspirational songs that they could kind of use as their soundtrack to get them through this difficult time. My uncle is now at a rehab facility that has him working hard 3 hrs a day to try to improve his functioning...even more reason to get him some songs that can motivate him. I'm looking for anything with a good beat and positive message. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

We are considering adding a Yorkie to our family and are curious to hear from those with experience what it's like to own one. Anything you can tell me about their personality, breed habits, etc. would be great. Obviously I know that each dog is an individual so please no lectures on lumping them together as a group.

Any advice on breeders? While we would love to adopt an older Yorkie who needs a home, we have 2 small children and are well aware that rescues typically don't adopt out to those with little ones. We already have a small dog (chihuahua) and know how to coexist peacefully. But rescue orgs don't tend to make exceptions so any advice on breeders in Maryland would also be helpful. And how much can I expect to pay for a female puppy or slightly older dog? Thanks!

If so, where did you have it done? My friend had her daughter's ears pierced at the pediatrician's office (which would make me more comfortable) but our pediatrician doesn't do ear piercing. I'm hesitant to go to the traditional mall stores because of hygiene reasons (don't ask me why, that's where I had my ears pierced but I also wasn't 2 months old). Are there any other places that do infant ear piercing that I'm not thinking about?

My husband and I have a rancher and we sleep in the basement. We have about had it with the crickets that somehow get into our house and sing in the middle of the night. I'm 33 wks pregnant and have a 14 month old who doesn't care that I've been up all night hunting (to no avail) crickets. Do you have any tried and true ways of getting rid of these pests? Do they have ears? Would they respond to those little plug-in machines that emit a loud high-pitched noise that repel mice? Or sticky paper? I'm just going nuts and am willing to try most anything. I've looked online and learned about the homemade sprays you can make to kill them but first you have to FIND them and that's our big problem. Help!!!

Our firstborn, Tanner, will be 13 mos old on 7/18 and I'm 26 wks pregnant with our second (a *surprise* pregnancy, which we're delighted about). I had planned on nursing Tanner much longer than this but I've made the decision to wean him completely within the next week or two, just because I don't want 2 babies fighting over my breasts! I've cut back very slowly so he hasn't had as hard of a time with it as I seem to be having and I think my milk is all but gone, though he's still nursing once a day. Today, he popped off the first side within a minute and I realized that perhaps there's no milk at all and it really hit me that our breastfeeding time together is coming to an end. I know there are tons of wonderful experiences to come but I am really emotional about the end of this relationship with my firstborn. Did you find it to be quite difficult to stop nursing your child? I know there will be another baby soon -- but it's not the nursing I'm going to miss, it's the time and the relationship and the special closeness that will never exactly be there again. Sadness. :(

We are expecting our 2nd baby in October. With our first baby, we "found out" that we were having a girl only to deliver a boy. Thankfully, we painted the room a relatively neutral yellow. We are not finding out the sex of this baby and I'd like to have a color that would work for a boy or a girl. Any suggestions? It would help if you could specify the exact color and brand of the paint you chose so I can look at it online. Thank you!! :)

My firstborn is 11 months old today (gulp! sob!) and I also happen to be 19 wks pregnant with our second. My goal was always to nurse Tanner until he was at least a year old but I was flexible about extending that based on his needs/wants. However, because my doctor is concerned about the potential for pre-term labor, she really wants me to stop at 12 months (and would have preferred I stop much sooner). First of all, I am a complete wreck about the end of this very special relationship. It brings me to tears just typing this. I'll never get back the experience of nursing my first child again and, while I realize that it's been a good run and a positive experience for us both, it's just really hard to let go. So I'm really struggling with it on my end (pregnancy hormones, anyone??). Something else that makes it pretty tough is Tanner's dependence on the boob. He's never been interested in a pacifier and will only take it when he's half asleep and we "trick" him -- which is kind of evil but he's a sleep resister ESPECIALLY during the day and if I want him to nap (which he does for a max of 30 min maybe twice a day if we're lucky), then I have to soothe him with the breast and then put him down when he's asleep. Same with a bottle. He's just never taken to it. At nighttime, it's a totally different scenario. He nurses and I put him down awake. He fusses for a few minutes and then goes to sleep. I am mystified by the night and day difference but that's just how he is.

My issue at this point in time is the nursing before napping. I had decided that at 11 months, I would cut back to either the morning or bedtime breastfeeding -- hadn't decided which -- but no more daytime feedings, just solids and his sippy cup. At naptime today, I grabbed a bottle and said a prayer. He took the bottle for about a minute and then protested to the point that I gave in (serious self-doubter here) and nursed him. Boom, asleep. And then you have me, a guilty mom who took the easy way out so her little prince didn't have to suffer. Sigh.

My question is how to wean a baby who 1) isn't quite ready but it's doctor's orders and I'd rather WEAN than stop cold-turkey at 12 months and 2) doesn't know how to lull himself to sleep during the day without the comfort of the breast.

I understand that we're probably in for a difficult adjustment period and I'm willing to put the time and effort in to wean him in the least traumatic way possible -- but I want it to be just that: the least traumatic way possible. So I'd like to do it right the first time. Advice, please, from mommies who've been here?

I'm pregnant with our second child. When I was pregnant with our first, we were told that the baby was a girl so we decided on the name Taryn. Lo and behold, he was born a boy and we named him Tanner. Now we are in a bind because we still like the name Taryn and would like to name a girl this BUT it is so similar to Tanner, we're wondering if it will get annoying. I've never really been a fan of the similar sounding names -- and it's totally *not* our intention to do this -- but we like them both and it's really hard to find a name that my husband and I both can agree on. Help. What would you do? Are Tanner and Taryn too similar or could we utilize the name if this baby is a girl? Thanks for your help!

My 9-month-old LOVES to feed himself (and it really frees me up to do other things) so I'm looking for some new finger food ideas for him. Right now, he's rocking the cheerios, cut up cheese and those gerber puff things. I've tried spiral pasta cooked very well but that seems to make him choke -- don't know if it's the shape, texture or what but it just doesn't work. What else can I give him that he can mash up with his gums (no teeth yet). He has the pincer grasp down well and he doesn't let his toothlessness get in his way. Any ideas?

I'm 13 wks with #2 and I'm mostly feeling pudgy and uncomfortable in my clothes, but I can still wear them. I started showing around 16-18 wks with my first. I'm wondering if I'll pop out a little earlier the second time around. I'm petite anyway (about 5'5 and 112 lbs) so there's not much room for a baby to hide. When did you start to show with each of your pregnancies? Did you find that it got progressively earlier?

First of all, I'm so sorry for your loss. Having had one child and being pregnant with my second, I can't imagine the pain a miscarriage must bring and I am so sorry for the sadness that such an event must have brought you. The reason I ask is that I am 9 wks pregnant today and I can't wait for the 12th week to get here, for that lowered risk of miscarriage. I have been bleeding off and on with this pregnancy and did the same with my first, so I've come to the conclusion that my body just bleeds when it's pregnant. However, I was speaking to someone yesterday who said she had miscarried in her 10th week and so I know I'm definitely still at risk (I'm an OB nurse so I'm well aware of the statistics). My question is about what your body goes through when it loses a pregnancy. What are the symptoms? Is there pain accompanied by bleeding? Did you pass the fetus or was medical intervention required? How far along were you?

I hesitate to ask this question because it's one loaded with such emotion -- I pray that it's not hurtful to anyone. Please know that I ask it with the utmost empathy and respect for your experience. Thanks in advance.

I LOVE the 24 oz tub of Vanilla Activia yogurt. Unfortunately the store near me that always carried it has discontinued the product. I've called around and no other stores seem to carry it. I'm going to have to try another brand and no other one that I've tried has been better than Activia. What is your favorite brand of vanilla yogurt? I'm 9 wks pregnant and this is what I eat for breakfast everyday so suggestions would be so appreciated!!

I have an 8-month-old whose nighttime sleep is *very* dependent on darkness. He naps during the day but he won't go to sleep for his 11 nighttime hours until darkness falls, so he is very much influenced by light. I'm assuming that the change to daylight savings will make him sleep a little later in the morning (at first) and go to sleep a little later in the evening, but I could also be wrong. How does the change affect your child(ren)?