Thursday, July 28, 2011

Who's watching whom?

William is officially all over the house.  He can crawl, he can bounce, he can pull himself up to standing using anything for support, he can climb stairs (Oh yes...I watched him not just stand up on a stair but make his way to the 2nd and 3rd stair while I watched).  I totally understand why people buy those baby jail things to make sure baby does not lose any limbs via stairs, TV stands, electrical outlets, walls, fall toys, dogs that step on their heads, etc.

The most fun part of his mobility is just watching to see what he does.  I can practically see the gears turning in his head while he determines his next move.  Watching him play and move around is about as much fun as playing with him myself.  I can't help but smile. 

"Hey...I think I know those guys!  Let me out of here!"

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Wordless Wednesday - someone's not happy


...yes, I know.  Mother of the year, right here, taking a picture of her clearly unhappy son.  How bad is it that I find this picture adorable!  Don't judge me, please! :)

Monday, July 25, 2011

The beginning of the end

Today I am sad.  The time has come when we have had to have infant formula added to our grocery list.  Lil' man and me have made it eight months, one week and six days with breastfeeding and my supply has dropped to the point where we are needing to supplement. 

If you would have asked me nine months ago how this would make me feel, I don't think I would have thought anything of it.  But now?  After eight and a half months of bonding and putting in the effort to  make breastfeeding work, I'm crushed. 

I understand this does not make me a bad mother.  I understand I should be happy to have made it this far.  I understand that William and I will continue to bond in other ways and I will continue to try to nurse and pump as much as I am able to get him some of my milk.  Even knowing this, why is it still breaking my heart? 

Breastfeeding has been one of the most wonderful experiences I have ever had in my life.  It has evolved as William has grown and starting to wean him will be just one of the other million signs that he is growing up.  I will miss the time we have gotten to spend together during the day and at all hours of the night.  (yes, even then)

Friday, July 15, 2011

I Can Read

  1. Imperfect Birds - Anne Lamott
  2. Operating Instructions - Anne Lamott (definitely recommend for any mother's out there)
  3. The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins
  4. Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins
  5. The Audacity of Hope - Barack Obama (audio book)
  6. Mockingjay - Suzanne Collins
  7. The Green Book - Elizabeth Rogers and Thomas Kostigen  (definitely a book I would recommend for anyone interested in going green)
  8. Firefly Lane - Kristin Hannah
  9. Baby Proof - Emily Giffin (audio book)
  10. Healthy Child Healthy World - Christopher Gavigan  (go out and buy it! wonderful resource for keeping your family healthy while living a green lifestyle!)
  11. Heart of the Matter - Emily Giffin
  12. Bossypants - Tina Fey  (Hilarious!)
  13. Prey - Michael Crichton (audio book)
  14. Julia's Chocolates - Cathy Lamb
  15. In Defense of Food - Michael Pollan
  16. One Day - David Nicholls
  17. The Help - Kathryn Stockett   (Loved it!!)
  18. Dismantled - Jennifer McMahon  
  19. Always Look Up - Michael J. Fox
  20. How to Talk to a Widower - Jonathan Tropper (currently reading)
  21. Queen of Babble - Meg Cabot (currently listening to)
  22. Room - Emma Donoghue (up next)

I am still just so happy that I have fallen in love with reading.  Since I started these in April, this is the most books I've read than in the last ten years of my life combined.  It makes me happy!

I would highly recommend The Help.  I can wait to also see the movie that comes out next month.

I just started How to Talk to a Widower and I can tell I am going to love Jonathan Tropper's writing.  I am literally on page nine and he is fabulous -
It's supposed to be charming having rabbits in your lawn, a selling point, incontrovertible proof that you've made it out of the city and into the rarefied country air of suburban Westchester. We may be driving enough minivans and SUVs to singlehandedly melt the polar ice caps, may be retrofitting our stately eighty-year-old homes with enough fiber optic cable to garrote the planet, may be growing Home Depots, Wal-Marts, Stop & Shops, and strip malls like tumors on every available grassland, but we've got these rabbits, scurrying back and forth across the lawn like a goddamn Disney movie, so case closed.  We are one with nature.
Love it.

Reading anything good lately?

 

Thursday, July 14, 2011

My guide to making a diaper sprayer for the non-handy

Since lil' man has recently transitioned to the lovely peanut butter poop (is that too graphic or too gross for you?), a diaper sprayer is a must for cloth diapers.  Since I am not the handiest person in the world (I can be, just not when it comes to plumbing), I have put together a tutorial for those of you that are also not handy on how to make your own diaper sprayer.  You ready?
  1. Go online
  2. Go to your favorite cloth diaper website
  3. Look for diaper sprayer
  4. Add to cart and check out
  5. Once you receive package, call someone to come over your house
  6. Have them install according to manufacturer's instructions
Between the wandering in the hardware store's plumbing aisle for half an hour looking like a dope, trying to figure out what the crap the parts on my list were and purchasing those, paying about as much as buying a complete diaper sprayer would cost, attempting to assembly my sprayer, taking another trip to the hardware store for some plumber's tape, assembling with plumber's tape, taking another trip to the hardware when my hose was leaking, assembling with new hose - it's pretty safe to say I would just buy one the next time.  hehe

Even with the progression into "real" poop, I still love the fluff!!



Tuesday, July 12, 2011

New phase...

I knew this day would come.  I wished it hadn't.  It's here. 
Oh, how I miss the day of exclusively-breastfed, poopy diapers. 

Is there really a need for further explanation?

Friday, July 8, 2011

Purees it is....

We have hit another baby (or is it a parenting) milestone.  I had him try some pears last night (which he loved - the usual: peel, steam, puree, freeze) and I decided to give him some dice bananas for him to feed himself.  Like, actual pieces of food.  I just took the very tip of the banana and sliced into a few pieces.  I then was sure that I had over-estimated the size of his mouth and ability to not choke on these and sliced again.  Repeat about four times until I had practically microscopic pieces of banana for the high chair.  He did pretty good.  Mostly played, but fed himself quite a few pieces. 

So after this experience where I didn't take my eyes off him for more than two seconds for fear of choking, I made the decision that I don't think I can take the stress of food choking hazards and therefore he will stay on purees until he is at least eleven twelve thirteen years old. 

Thursday, July 7, 2011

An Infant's Guide to Building an Immune System

  1. Anything at a restaurant tastes fantastic.  I'm not talking about the food (let's face it, you probably don't even have teeth yet!), I'm talking about anything around the vicinity of the adults while they are eating.  Start with the table edge, then the high chair, then hopefully one of those paper/menu displays in the center of the table.  Feel your immune system getting stronger by the second.
  2. Shopping cart handles are excellent source of immunity.  Never mind that thousand of people touch it on a regular basis and they are left outside for hours - that's just what gives it that excellent, unique flavor.  Good for your gums.
  3. You may have to look for them, but you may find there are specks of dust or paper or dirt or hair on the rugs since the last time your mom vacuumed five minutes ago.  These might be considered sprinkles on ice cream (you'll learn what those are later).  Take full advantage of your tiny fingers and your proximity to the floor and gobble these up.
  4. While you are on the floor gobbling up bits of "stuff", go ahead and put your entire mouth on the floor.  No need to work on your finger coordination picking up small pieces on the floor when you can just dive in for the real thing.
  5. Do you live in a house with a dog?  You have the immunity-building jackpot.  Hopefully your doggie is nice and cuddly and loves to give you kisses directly on/in your face and mouth.  You can reciprocate by sticking the tail or snout in your mouth for a big ol' baby kiss.  Maybe you could lick the floor together for some lovely bonding time.
  6. While your mom or dad (or aunt, grandma, grandpa, uncle, second cousin, babysitter, anyone will do) is changing your diaper - there are a few exciting options.  First option - grab your private parts before the changer can clean you off and then bring your hand to your face/mouth area.  Watch as said changer freaks out and quickly tells you no.  They aren't upset with you, just upset that you are stealing all the immunity.  Make sure to offer them your hand to help with their immunity.  Another option is to stick your foot in the diaper and then it becomes the perfect time to suck on your toes.  Yum.
  7. You know those vegetables that taste funny that your parents try to feed you?  Those are not meant to be good for you.  The adult human folk will try to tell you that it will help you get big and strong.  It's just a trick to keep little and cute. 
That is all.....

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

The weekend with no pictures...

So the long weekend was good to me and the family.  Nothing completely eventful, just a lot of stuff keeping us busy with friends and family and it was fabulous.   The thing is, I didn't pull out the camera once.  I took like two pics with my phone, that's it.  Not that there weren't plenty of photo opps, I just didn't take advantage of them.  I kind of just soaked it in while it was happening instead of running away from the moment at hand and yelling "Hold that pose!  Nobody move!"  It was very unlike me. 

That begs me to ask the question - which is better?  Taking the time to capture pictures to help remember the moment or put that effort towards being in the moment, where you might end up forgetting the specifics without a documented picture?  It's especially a question I've been asking myself as William grows. 

There was a visit with an old friend and his bride-to-be, there was a visit to my brother-in-law's new house, there was time spent at the pool, there was a cook out, there was magical ice cream, there was a 4th of July parade, there was playing.  All combined to make a fabulous weekend that I hope I will remember...


One of two phone pics for the weekend - one of my favorite parts.  Swimming wore out lil' man and he was out before I was able to spend much time in the pool with the rest of the family.  I was happy reading my book and watching him sleep in the shade....

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails