We've entered a brand new phase of life/awareness with M as he is sitting up, eating solids, and rolling over both directions (and sometimes over and over again). He is scooting/pulling/pushing himself around and is so anxious to crawl/walk/be grown, it is palpable.
So, in honor of this new phase for M, D & I ordered some new toys for him. Just in case you are interested in ordering some fun new things for your darling child, here are our recommendations for summer:
Sunday, May 30, 2010
The "real" cry
So, it has arrived. Gone are the days of the somewhat-cute whimpering cry of my little baby boy and here are the days of a real, honest-to-goodness cry. He wasn't screaming or anything but last night, he started to really cry. It was so sad. He had wet through his onesie and when we went in to change and resettle him, he was really crying. It broke my heart. He had been producing tears since birth but these tears had real meaning. He was upset and that was obvious. He had been sleeping comfortably and then was awakened by that terrible wet/cold sensation. And, Mommy & Daddy were not right there.
I fear that we are entered a new phase of attachment to us and worry that we are about to embark on this new journey of helping M to learn how to settle himself. I am NOT looking forward to it.
I fear that we are entered a new phase of attachment to us and worry that we are about to embark on this new journey of helping M to learn how to settle himself. I am NOT looking forward to it.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Could M really want to go to bed EARLIER???
So, we have been trying to put M down between 7:30-8pm. With his eating schedule, it just made sense. I couldn't imagine that the boy would want to eat sooner than 2 1/2 hours since his last bottle and less than 90 minutes since his last solid foods. The last few nights have been ridiculous in our household because M has been wired and rammy when we try to put him to bed at his "normal" time. I couldn't figure it out. He would drink and then push it away. He would cuddle and then squirm and push me away. It was getting on my NERVES! Last night, I looked at D after an hour of this bedtime-nonsense with a look that was probably a bit shocking but I was spent!
Thought about some advice I got from a girlfriend on Tuesday --- perhaps M was over-tired and he just wouldn't be able to turn the corner to go to sleep if his was already in this sleep-deprived-rant with his eyes bugging out of his head.
So, tonight was a GREAT NIGHT.
Picked up M after work to learn that he didn't nap (oh no - here we go). But, he held it together and didn't fall asleep after his 5pm bottle. We played and then we sat down to have dinner at 6pm. M joined us for the first time at the table in his booster seat and had some yogurt while we had our dinner. He had a great time. He started to get fussy at 6:30 so D took him out and I had this epiphany .... time for bed.
So, made his bottle and took him up. Changed him into a nighttime diaper, gave him his Hyland's and a bit of generic Tylenol to help with this incessant teething, and gave him his bottle. He was relaxed and eating like a champ. Got to 1/2 oz remaining and he pulled the bottle out, smacked his lips (seriously) and then closed his eyes. I put him on my shoulder to burp and there he rested for 8 minutes before I laid him down.
He went right to sleep. I even stayed in his room by the window to read for a bit (which has been my nightly position during the past 3 nights) and watched him reposition himself a few time before settling into that mouth-gaping-open sleep. The kind I envy and think about doing every time I see him in that gorgeous place.
So - my boy was TIRED!!! Who knew???!!!!
Thought about some advice I got from a girlfriend on Tuesday --- perhaps M was over-tired and he just wouldn't be able to turn the corner to go to sleep if his was already in this sleep-deprived-rant with his eyes bugging out of his head.
So, tonight was a GREAT NIGHT.
Picked up M after work to learn that he didn't nap (oh no - here we go). But, he held it together and didn't fall asleep after his 5pm bottle. We played and then we sat down to have dinner at 6pm. M joined us for the first time at the table in his booster seat and had some yogurt while we had our dinner. He had a great time. He started to get fussy at 6:30 so D took him out and I had this epiphany .... time for bed.
So, made his bottle and took him up. Changed him into a nighttime diaper, gave him his Hyland's and a bit of generic Tylenol to help with this incessant teething, and gave him his bottle. He was relaxed and eating like a champ. Got to 1/2 oz remaining and he pulled the bottle out, smacked his lips (seriously) and then closed his eyes. I put him on my shoulder to burp and there he rested for 8 minutes before I laid him down.
He went right to sleep. I even stayed in his room by the window to read for a bit (which has been my nightly position during the past 3 nights) and watched him reposition himself a few time before settling into that mouth-gaping-open sleep. The kind I envy and think about doing every time I see him in that gorgeous place.
So - my boy was TIRED!!! Who knew???!!!!
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Things I will remember if/when #2 comes along
#2 is barely even a topic of conversation as a possibility for us but this morning, a few things dawned on me that I want to remember when #2 comes along:
- Nap when the baby naps. (will be tough if M is a toddler at home)
- Get help with nursing from Day 1 and advocate until I get the answer that I need/want so that I can continue to nurse
- Start to lay the baby down awake to go to sleep. Then rocking will be a little treat instead of necessity.
- Let people help me. With everything.
- Don't feel guilty or ashamed to get a family member to watch the baby so that D & I can have some marriage time.
- Save up enough money to pay someone to clean the house.
- Get in the habit of using a cloth diaper system.
- Get 2-3 glass Dr. Bronner's bottles. The plastic ones don't get nearly as clean as I would like them to (although I am sure that I am a bit obsessive)
- Get in an exercise, eating, & showering routine right away so that I always remember to take those minutes for myself to make ME feel good.
- Don't be afraid to let others know when I am feeling lonely or when I am needing some time to myself.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Seriously -- he wet through again???
M is doing it again....he is sleeping through the night minus the nights that he wets through his diaper, pajamas, and sheet. He did this several months ago before we switched him to #3 diapers but he is doing it again. It is incredible how much this boy pees!!
My amazing mama bought him some #4 diapers, but they are just longer. They don't seem like they will hold any "extra" liquid. So, now I am in the market for either overnight jobs and/or diapers made for boys. I have read that they make overnight diapers in size 3 so I will try them. My MIL told me about diapers for boys but I cannot seem to find them . . . yet.
The craziest part about it is that I have managed (not yet mastered, but on my way) to change M, change the crib sheet, replace the crib sheet, rediaper & re-pajama M all while he remains sleeping. One night, my darling hubby got up to "help" me but frankly, it was easier to do on my own. The first thing he wanted to do was turn on the light. Good thing he is thick-skinned because the look that accompanied my hushed "NO" was a doozy!!
Ah, the skills that are acquired by mothers are incredibly impressive and hardly recognized.
My amazing mama bought him some #4 diapers, but they are just longer. They don't seem like they will hold any "extra" liquid. So, now I am in the market for either overnight jobs and/or diapers made for boys. I have read that they make overnight diapers in size 3 so I will try them. My MIL told me about diapers for boys but I cannot seem to find them . . . yet.
The craziest part about it is that I have managed (not yet mastered, but on my way) to change M, change the crib sheet, replace the crib sheet, rediaper & re-pajama M all while he remains sleeping. One night, my darling hubby got up to "help" me but frankly, it was easier to do on my own. The first thing he wanted to do was turn on the light. Good thing he is thick-skinned because the look that accompanied my hushed "NO" was a doozy!!
Ah, the skills that are acquired by mothers are incredibly impressive and hardly recognized.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Last Night was one of those nights . . .
I should have known. When M skipped his afternoon nap, I should have known that we were in for an interesting night. He had a great morning nap and even zonked out on me for a quick catnap while visiting some relatives for lunch. I thought ... what a great day he's having. I'll go to bed when he goes to bed tonight and tomorrow we will be so refreshed and awake.
Then, everything changed. He had lunch about an hour later than usual which altered his normal nap time. I tried to get him to nap even for 45 minutes before his bottle around 5ish but no dice. And, he wasn't really hungry so we got him showered and then gave him his bottle, of which he consumed about 3/4 before passing out on D's arm for 40 minutes. He woke up and finished his bottle but then was so fussy and sleepy that I took him upstairs and he was asleep in a few minutes. He fussed a few times before we went to bed around 10:30 but he never fully woke up.
Until 1:30am.
Good morning, mama & dada. Wide awake and fussing so we made him a bottle and he drank the whole thing down and passed out before we could even lay him down. But, then when we tried to lay him down he wasn't having it. After an hour of attempting to settle him we both knew that this was ridiculous so at 3:30am he joined us in bed.
Needless to say, that whole notion of refreshed and awake went out the window. I am now going with conscious and zombie-like. Come on, coffee!
Then, everything changed. He had lunch about an hour later than usual which altered his normal nap time. I tried to get him to nap even for 45 minutes before his bottle around 5ish but no dice. And, he wasn't really hungry so we got him showered and then gave him his bottle, of which he consumed about 3/4 before passing out on D's arm for 40 minutes. He woke up and finished his bottle but then was so fussy and sleepy that I took him upstairs and he was asleep in a few minutes. He fussed a few times before we went to bed around 10:30 but he never fully woke up.
Until 1:30am.
Good morning, mama & dada. Wide awake and fussing so we made him a bottle and he drank the whole thing down and passed out before we could even lay him down. But, then when we tried to lay him down he wasn't having it. After an hour of attempting to settle him we both knew that this was ridiculous so at 3:30am he joined us in bed.
Needless to say, that whole notion of refreshed and awake went out the window. I am now going with conscious and zombie-like. Come on, coffee!
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
A New World has opened up . . .
M has been working on a new skill and I am proud to say that he has figured out how to sit up unsupported. He has been sitting supported for a while and has been "practicing" sitting up on his own but today, he figured it out. He even started to topple over a few times and caught himself.
He now can observe life and participate in a whole new set of activities and he is loving it!!! He is also VERY close to rolling back to front but I am convinced that he CAN do it but that he CHOOSES not to. For example, if I tickle him on his back, he rolls over. He just doesn't propel himself without the motivation (to get away from the tickle torture!).
It is AWESOME watching my little man learn all sorts of new things.
He now can observe life and participate in a whole new set of activities and he is loving it!!! He is also VERY close to rolling back to front but I am convinced that he CAN do it but that he CHOOSES not to. For example, if I tickle him on his back, he rolls over. He just doesn't propel himself without the motivation (to get away from the tickle torture!).
It is AWESOME watching my little man learn all sorts of new things.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Been a while . . .
It's been a while - so much going on in this crazy life. On this Mother's Day Eve, though, I find myself contemplating this new role.
I just finished reading "Lift" by Kelly Corrigan. What a book! I am definitely planning to write something to my children as a tribute to her. Here it is if you haven't heard of it/read it yet.
Add that to the article I just read in Parents magazine about a mother of 3 traveling solo with them and I find myself in a bizarre contemplative state.
When I married D, I knew that I had married my best friend and the person I wanted to create & raise children with. He is just an incredible person and I felt honored to be matched with him. Our marriage has been wonderful and I am grateful for him every day. Then, we got pregnant and 6 months ago, we became parents to M. I fell in love with a completely new side of D that was born when M was. What an incredible father! He is willing to do anything and he really looks forward to his time with M.
With all of that being said, however, I find that there really is nothing quite like a mom. I always thought before M was born that we would "team parent" just like we have "team-wed" since our marriage. We make all of our decisions together and we prefer being with each other to anyone else. I had this vision that we would share parenting duties as well and that we would be, somewhat, inter-changeable. Wow - was I wrong!
D has an incredible relationship with M but it is obvious to me that the relationship between Father & Son is markedly different than that of Mother & Son. Equally important and essential, of course, but different. While D is for playing and laughing, I land in the realm of reality more often that he does. How do we put him to bed? Do we let M cry it out or do we rock him to sleep? When and what do we feed him? Is it ok to go out for a while or will that interrupt his nap schedule? And, if it does, what does that mean for M?
At first, this was a hard transition for me because I felt a little bit alone and let down, in a way, that this wasn't the vision that I had of how we would parent. I resented D a bit, because he was seemingly more balanced in his life of work, family, social life, etc. I found it unnerving, really, that he always looked to me for the answers.
Until now ....
Now I realize that I have a special gift and that I am not alone. I share that gift with every other woman who becomes a mom. We are mothers and, frankly, there isn't anyone or anything that can compare to that. We are the playmates, the schedulers, the decision-makers, the boo-boo kissers, the meal makers, the mess cleaner uppers, the ones who make a big deal out of one little smile or one new skill attained. We love unconditionally and always find ways to lovingly teach in every moment. We read and read and read and read so that we are sure that we know the latest and greatest for our kids. We compare diapers, bottles, food, poopie, playgrounds, strollers, toys, books. We choose the best whatever...every time; even if it means we go without. We buy organic and mash until our hands are sore. We forget to brush our hair, our teeth because our little ones are doing the cutest whatever in that moment.
It took 6 months and a handful of days to realize that motherhood is not to be shared with your spouse. They have their own role in your child's life, which is just as important. I embrace this role of mother and know that God has blessed me with the opportunity to be M's mommy.
Happy Mother's Day
I just finished reading "Lift" by Kelly Corrigan. What a book! I am definitely planning to write something to my children as a tribute to her. Here it is if you haven't heard of it/read it yet.
Add that to the article I just read in Parents magazine about a mother of 3 traveling solo with them and I find myself in a bizarre contemplative state.
When I married D, I knew that I had married my best friend and the person I wanted to create & raise children with. He is just an incredible person and I felt honored to be matched with him. Our marriage has been wonderful and I am grateful for him every day. Then, we got pregnant and 6 months ago, we became parents to M. I fell in love with a completely new side of D that was born when M was. What an incredible father! He is willing to do anything and he really looks forward to his time with M.
With all of that being said, however, I find that there really is nothing quite like a mom. I always thought before M was born that we would "team parent" just like we have "team-wed" since our marriage. We make all of our decisions together and we prefer being with each other to anyone else. I had this vision that we would share parenting duties as well and that we would be, somewhat, inter-changeable. Wow - was I wrong!
D has an incredible relationship with M but it is obvious to me that the relationship between Father & Son is markedly different than that of Mother & Son. Equally important and essential, of course, but different. While D is for playing and laughing, I land in the realm of reality more often that he does. How do we put him to bed? Do we let M cry it out or do we rock him to sleep? When and what do we feed him? Is it ok to go out for a while or will that interrupt his nap schedule? And, if it does, what does that mean for M?
At first, this was a hard transition for me because I felt a little bit alone and let down, in a way, that this wasn't the vision that I had of how we would parent. I resented D a bit, because he was seemingly more balanced in his life of work, family, social life, etc. I found it unnerving, really, that he always looked to me for the answers.
Until now ....
Now I realize that I have a special gift and that I am not alone. I share that gift with every other woman who becomes a mom. We are mothers and, frankly, there isn't anyone or anything that can compare to that. We are the playmates, the schedulers, the decision-makers, the boo-boo kissers, the meal makers, the mess cleaner uppers, the ones who make a big deal out of one little smile or one new skill attained. We love unconditionally and always find ways to lovingly teach in every moment. We read and read and read and read so that we are sure that we know the latest and greatest for our kids. We compare diapers, bottles, food, poopie, playgrounds, strollers, toys, books. We choose the best whatever...every time; even if it means we go without. We buy organic and mash until our hands are sore. We forget to brush our hair, our teeth because our little ones are doing the cutest whatever in that moment.
It took 6 months and a handful of days to realize that motherhood is not to be shared with your spouse. They have their own role in your child's life, which is just as important. I embrace this role of mother and know that God has blessed me with the opportunity to be M's mommy.
Happy Mother's Day
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