Frantic's little girl

“Welp I haven't been around TT for a bit and here is some of the reason why.

http://www.thebackpacker.com/pictures/users/frantic/57te2sgj/i0drr0h7og_s.jpg

Her name is Alyssa, she weighed 7lb 5 oz and was 20" long. She was born on Nov. 18th. She is a very healthy baby and she likes playing with my backpacking gear already LOL.”

“Mazal tove!”

“Congrats aren't babies the best!”

“congratulations, a scorpio!”

“congratulations frantic”

“Congratulations!”

“Nice! Get yourself a child carrier pack (unless you already got it)

I bought one before my daughter was born. I have used it a few times now and she loves it.

Congrats!”

“Congrats. My 4 year old daughter was born 11/21. Babies at Christmas are extra special.”

“Congratulations!

Pretty name.”

“Thanks everyone! Yeah we got one of those Sling baby carriers, I am not sure if i like it but the baby sure does LOL. I am looking into another style so I can use the baby for pre-hikes LOL.”

“Congrats Frantic!!!”

“Cool!! Nice pics, I checked the rest out too hehe. I need to get the pics of Sacha (our dog) and Alyssa uploaded tonight when I get home! I have about 400 pics of the baby all together but only about 5 or so here at work lol.

How do you like that baby carrier and what brand is it?”

“I know what you mean on the pictures!

The carrier is a Kelty and for the most part, I am happy with it. We have a REI diaper bag that would have attached to one of the REI carrier's, but I found the Kelty on REI Outlet for like 60 bucks.

Plan on doing a lot of spring dayhiking with her.”

“Very cool, heading to REI.com now LOL.

Yeah I almost took the family for a day hike on Monday, it was really nice outside but way too windy for the temp it was so we had to pass :(”

“congrats...my first is one the way as well...due in june...i can't wait...i've already picked up a backpack/chair/stroller combo”

“Stocking up on diapers yet?”

“congrats frantic!!!!!!! baby pics help remind me that i once actually liked mine.... :)”

“great pic WK.”

“I got another good one of all 3 of us on a hike we made to get the picture we used of Gracie on our Christmas card this year.

I gotta get that loaded on Webshots.”

“it's due in the summer, we're not gonna use diapers, just gonna take him outside and hose him off”

“Ha Ha! Go check out the yo thrifty thread in a second.”

“I didnt realize earlier that the link up there didnt go to the alblum Here is the better link!

http://www.thebackpacker.com/pictures/album/57te2sgj.php”

“And they grow up too!


Sarah (23), Debi (19), Julia (26)

Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
last edited: 12/28/05 9:46:25 PM”

“That looks like it was a fun picture to be in :)”

“I love the picture with the dog!”

“Congratulations, Frantic and Mrs. Frantic. Ours are the size of Phil's now. The older one's first bp trip was in a carrier, the old kind. Daddy had to make a shade frame from PVC pipe.”

“Yeah Sacha (dog) loves Alyssa to death and is already becoming over protective of her, Looks like all spanking will have to be done behind closed doors so she on't take my arm off LOL

Cool Wannabp, I have a feeling I will have to home make a few things myself, this baby stuff is getting too expensive LOL. Once the summer time Hits I am going to do like Thrifty and just hose her off in the backyard, I just use an old t-shirt to keep it from getting on the floor!!”

“Oh how sweet! She's darling. Congrats. My little girl is now 20. Sniff... She's off at school these days, but comes home periodically to warm up my credit cards.”

“Awwwww.... she's precious!! Congrats.


What's in the water around TT? Everyone's having babies! Mine's due in February. :)”

“That's wonderful news. Is this your first dicentra?”

“Thanks Creek Dancer and dicentra. Grats to you as well dicentra”

“Hey frantic,

How was your pooch when you brought her home? We have a Shepard/Lab mix that didn't know what to do. She followed the baby around and stayed near for the first week trying to figure her out.

She (the dog) went nuts when Gracie cried, which thankfully never got really bad.

Now, she kinda ignores her.”

“i've been thinking about that too...we've got two pooches...i think one will be fine but i'm a little worried about the other”

“What kinda dogs they be?

Ours is a high strung shep/lab that loves people a little too much.

I took the cap the doctor put on Gracie home the night she was born and let the dog get used to the scent. She was very curious and actually slept with the cap under her paw all night.

When we brought Grace home, we let the dog sniff her anytime she cried or made a noise. These movements always startled the dog and I think she just wanted to make sure she was ok.

It took about 1 week before she figured out that everything was ok.”

“one's a lab mix...i'm not really worried bout her...she loves everybody and has been around babies

the other's a beagle mix...real independent and stubborn...i'm not so much worried for when he/she is a baby but more for when he/she becomes a toddler...she really doesn't like kids that much...maybe she'll get used to him/her by then

(side note, can't wait to know what sex it is so i can stop with the he/she, him/her, it stuff)”

“My cousin has a Beagle and had it before they had a child and I don't think they had any troubles.

Make sure you continue to give the dog attention after the child is born. The dog may get jealous of all the attention you show to the baby.”

“Sacha is a Shepard/Collie Mix, and like WKs dog is High strung and Loves people too much.

She has pretty much always been right with the baby, when the baby cries she will come to one of us almost to say "Go check on the baby"

Sacha Constantly wants to be next to the baby and licks her feet and hands every chance she gets. She will also try to lick her face but we have been trying to prevent that very suttley for now.

We put alyssa on that big pillow alot when we are in that room and sacha pretty much always sits with her like that. Whenever Alyssa is in her Swing sacha will sway her head sideways with the swing and try to lick her LOL.

Thrifty, As far as bringing the baby home I told our nurse that we had a dog at home and she gave us one of the baby blankets that alyssa had been wrapped in to take home for the dog to get the scent, and sacha played with that blanket all night along. I gave it to her 1 day before baby came home.”

“Yup. Our first. :) Pixie's gonna be an auntie!!

Good points about the dog... There's so much to think about!! Dug's dog will prolly be just fine. Jealous as hell, but fine. He's a big drama queen anyway! ;) (the dog, not Dug!)
last edited: 12/29/05 5:27:43 PM”

“Other pointers from a first timer, Go on and put the car seat in place, and get use to taking it out and such.

I have found Pampers brand stuff works best for my child so far but try to pick up small packs of each brand so you can determine which works best for your baby. Huggies Suck! Sam's Usually has really good deals on Pampers Swaddlers. Babies R Us has a generic brand called especialy for baby which are pretty good and cheap as well.

Pampers Wipes seem to be the best, they aren't quite as wet but clean really well and I dont need as many to clean a poopie.
Huggies wipes arent bad but really wet and smear poppie around really bad at first.

If you are going to use a breast pump, bite the bullet and by a really nice expensive one (brand name is something like Medalia). We didnt have the extra money when we needed one and but a cheaper one and it broke quickly and those companies are a pain to work with on warranties.

Other Dog hints, We have made it look like the baby gives the dog a treat from time to time, and we have taught the dog the baby's name so we can say "Where's Alyssa" and she will look for the baby.

Buy a Swing and stock up on batteries for it.

We didn't buy a regular changing table, instead we got a Pack n Go Crib that has the changer on it (kinda like play pens that grow with the baby and fold up really easy for traveling). Most Changing tables start around $60 and go up to $400. You can get nice Pack n Go Crib Around $85 - $150 and they allow you to do alot more things then the table. We paid $85 for ours and Love it.

Also Get a Boppi (Horse shoe shaped pillow). They have many more uses then just nursing assistance. Our baby pretty much sleeps in a boppi that we lined with a fleece blanket and put in her pack n go crib which is beside our bed. We have like 2-3 boppis LOL.

Get some gripe water, but only use as directed by peditrician. It really helps the baby when he/she has gas problems.

Those are just a fews things I can think of that I know I would make sure I would do if I had to do it over for the first time again. Alot of these things we learned by trial and error LOL, woulda been cheaper the other way around.”