I think some would find something wrong with using a baby gate that way, but we're worried about her falling down the stairs in the middle of the night, getting into something, or otherwise getting out of the house (you don't know what they are capable of until they scare the shit outta you!) so we've done it with all 3 kids until they are around 3 and can understand more or can just climb over the top of it
So this is just a general good ol'fashioned bitch sesh about my stupid brother and his stupid wedding that I quite honestly do not want anything to do with. I have my dress. It was $167. Took it in to have alterations done because it basically doesn't fit me anywhere but my butt so lots of parts to take in (ie, I have no boobs) and it has to be hemmed. Alternations are estimated to be upwards of $130 because of the time it'll take due to the long, full skirt and several layers of fabric. Then had the latest news tossed at me about a month ago that my middle kid was to be the ring bearer (they didn't invite both of my boys, just the middle one, and didn't tell me about any of these plans until a month ago) which is just really shitty of them. It's showing favoritism, my eldest's feelings would be crushed because he idolizes his uncle and #2 does get a lot of attention because he's generally cute and sociable, whereas #1 is more reserved and shy so there'd be a major jealousy factor. So I told soon-to-be-SIL that maybe she should find someone else. She gets back to me saying that now she wants both boys in the wedding, they're going to hold a sign, and now she wants M in too as a second flowergirl. So, she sets up for the boys to hire tuxes for the wedding and says that I need to foot the bill for this plus M's ridiculous dress. Took the boys to get measured and fitted for their wedding clothes today, get all set to place the order. $372 fucking dollars for their clothes. TO HIRE THEM. We don't even get to take home the bow tie. 
. We also are expected to stay in a hotel room both Thursday night because the groom's dinner is going to be near the venue (which is a 3.5 hour drive north for us and will require taking both boys out of school for 2 days), and Friday night because that's the night of the wedding. Since we have more people than what can fit on a standard king-sized bed in a standard room we don't qualify for the "discounted block" of rooms that the hotel was keeping for wedding guests. We have to hire a room that is 2x more than the discounted one since we are a party of 5 and the kids need a bed to sleep in (even if together). Hotel room is another $500 for 2 nights. We also are going to have to eat whilst 3.5 hrs away from home and have to factor in eating out breakfast 2x, lunch 2x and making sure the kids' bellies are full so they don't start melting down in the middle of the 5 o'clock wedding service.
This doesn't include the gift that we are expected to get for them off of their registry which is full of ridiculously expensive things that they don't need as they've been living together for 3 years already and have everything they need.
This also doesn't include the fact that my mom and I have to drive 2 hours this weekend for the bridal shower that's in a fucking BAR ON A SUNDAY. It'll be great quality time with my mum, but my brother has been threatening to disinvite her to the wedding because of my parent's divorce, so she's not all that thrilled to have to drive up either due to his continued mean text msgs.
You guys, this is so messed up! I am so glad that DH and I just got married in a courthouse and went out for dinner. My boy's tuxes are costing us more than our ENTIRE WEDDING did.
Ok. I feel better. I need to tell someone else other than DH because he knows and he's so mad about all of the money we are expected to dish out for their crap.