Papabear got me a new camera and here is the first video we shot.
Friday, December 25, 2009
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Four month check up
LittleGuy is four months old and had his well visit today. He gained almost four pounds in two months, putting him at 14 pounds and he grew three inches to put him at 25"!!! He's actually half an inch taller than his brother was at this age (and one pound less). Interesting...probably only to me. :) As you can tell from the video I posted previously, he is one happy, giggly, active baby. I am pretty busy loving him to pieces. And I could not ask for a better "big brudder." Littleman, despite his occasional tantrums (which are decreasing), is patient and helpful everyday. When he sees me getting ready to nurse he gets the tv remote, locates the burp cloth, and often fills up a cup of water! (He has figured out that he can snag some extra tv time if he is so helpful...sad, but true...and clever!).
So, LittleGuy is growing and I am encouraged to move him to a four hour schedule - he's currently more consistently on a three hour. I totally agree that this needs to be done. He's getting bigger, etc. Do you want to know why I am reluctant? It means I feed him less during the day...just when I am getting really good at this whole nursing thing! I literally want to stomp my feet on the ground and demand my oompa-loompa! What I mean is, I am just feeling stubborn. I know it's best for him, so, of course, I am moving him to the four hour - and he's not really giving a problem, so clearly he's ready. I just miss the thirty minute sessions of him and me, face to face...or rather face to boob, over and over again. Did I ever complain? I can't believe we're here at four months and he can fill his little belly in ten minutes, probably less if I let him.
Papabear is so ready to give him solids...I am not talking about the traditional rice cereal. I'll be eating a piece of bread or an apple while holding LittleGuy and Papabear will say, "See if he likes it." ??????? Men. They can be so ridiculous. He's a PA for crying out loud! Anywho, since I am breastfeeding, I am in no hurry to introduce solids. I'll see where he's at when he's five months old and take it from there. (With Littleman I was chomping at the bit, convinced solids would get him to sleep through the night. I gave him cereal a week before he was four months old...and no, it did not help him sleep. I am pretty sure b/c he was not ready for cereal and his belly did not like it). Silly first time mama. Things are so different now. I know I am more confident just because I have done this once before...but I somehow feel that breastfeeding has made me more sure of myself and my ability to nourish my child. Strange. I really have no explanation for it. I am clearly feeling a lot of things these days.
Finally, LittleGuy is on day three of sleeping in his crib, in his room. He's getting over his cold, so he's starting to get back to that lovely time when he'll sleep for six to eight hour stretches, that will hopefully get longer and longer each night. Last night he woke up at 2...and then again at four...he's not hungry at the four o'clock. His room is colder than ours and I think he's chilly. I need to figure that one out. At 2 I nurse him and he goes right back in his crib. By six, I end up bringing him into my bedroom. It's warmer and I'm spent from chugging up and down the hallway. Today he slept an extra hour - and so did I (even Littleman slept an extra hour!). Lovely.
So, things are going well. I can't wait for Christmas. We're all as giddy as school girls...well, Littleman and I are. We're singing carols all day long and rearranging presents under the tree. Do you think Finny-Finn will inherit our love of Christmas, too? I hope so.
Merry Christmas, everyone. Happy Holidays. May your days be merry and bright. Enjoy each other and all the wonderful moments we have with one another. For those of you far away, I miss you dearly. And for those of you nearby, please, PLEASE stop me from eating more holiday treats! You know I can't say no!
Friday, December 18, 2009
'Tis the season
It's time to be merry and we are. My mom came for a brief visit, but it was just the thing to make the season jolly. I miss my family so much and Christmas is really "our" holiday. Both my mom and dad, before and after the divorce, made Christmas the most special, huge, happy holiday of the year for as long as I can remember. It is by far the most difficult time for me to be away from all of them. Anyway, while my mom's visit was short, it was wonderful. She showered Liam in her special Mormor love and cuddled with Finn. My stepdad finally got to see where we live and meet our newest member. It was a really nice weekend.
In the meantime, I am celebrating the holidays with friends, the friends who have kindly made themselves our extended family. And while all this merry-making occurs, I am constantly thinking about having another child. I KNOW! I swore two was the number for me....and I can't figure out why I am thinking all day long about another baby...hormones? The desire to try for a girl? Or nurse another little wonder? I certainly cannot afford another person...but that's beside the point. I love the babies Papabear and I have made...it seems sad not to bring one more into our lives. The c-section was so terrifying, but also very, very quick. Ack. I am just rambling. I go back and forth. I feel guilty making LittleGuy a middle child. I know it would turn all of Papabear's hair gray. It would mean...a million things. I'm just thinking. I love our little family, it really is perfect the way it is. I'm just saying...should there be another...one day...just IF...it would be totally okay with me.
So, please forget you read all that and enjoy the video and photos below. I have a bunch of videos to upload, they just take forever.
Mormor
I make it to the other side of the camera.
Fun, fun Mormor.
I haven't had latkes since I moved to Texas - my mom was kind enough to make a huge batch. They are AWESOME!!!
A friend loaned me her Bumbo - aaahhh, the baby stuff, it's neverending!
Littleman all decked out for his caroling show at preschool.
Sleepy baby.
I swear he doesn't usually sleep with all this stuff, as recommended by the American Pediatric Association. He was asleep with all this stuff for about one minute - just long enough to grab the camera.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Funny little things...
Littleman will never cease to make us laugh. I uploaded some pictures the other day and found these:
This must be what he's doing while I am changing diapers....I love, LOVE that my kid is such a character.
Also, Papabear and I recently discovered that Littleman has an interesting way of saying November and December. For some reason he adds "derf" to the end. So, he says, "Novemberderf" and "Decemberderf." Go ahead, say it out loud a couple of times - we were in tears.
Here's the "snow" we had the other day.
I have a video up on facebook of the snowfall, I'll try to get it up here soon.
Littleman has finally begun to show an interest in letters and writing. Here's a drawing of the two of us. (I'm on the right, you can tell by the hair.) :-)
And finally, this year's gingerbread house.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Prepare yourself
for some SERIOUS cuteness! Can you believe his shirt says "little guy"??????? AND, it was only three bucks at WalMart! This might be the most perfect picture I have ever taken. Ever.
And I almost wish these two were related so this could be my christmas card!!!!
Can you stand it???? I know, neither can I. *sigh* Such cuties....
Friday, November 27, 2009
The turkey has come and gone...
Well, technically, the turkey is still with us in the form of blessed leftovers! Mmmmm, can't wait for my sandwich at lunch today. I prepped everything for turkey day the day before, so all there was to do was put the turkey in the oven and wait. SO, we decided to put up our tree. As I have mentioned, Littleman is beyond excited about the holidays, so we went ahead and got them rolling. We had a really nice morning together and a very nice afternoon with the family. Here are some photos:
These two are just of LittleGuy gearing up for chilly mornings...
Papabear is always cracking me up...
Yes, our tree topper is a chicken.
I included this one not so much to showcase our tree but to show that while my boobs and belly continue to grow, my butt appears to be keeping itself at bay.
This is serious business for Littleman.
The beloved 19 lb turkey....
LittleGuy hung out here for two hours while we decorated the tree!!
Always love an opportunity to use the wedding china.
My little turkeys with grandma (Maday).
Let the feasting begin!!
Grandma brought some fun stuff!
I can be an airplane, too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Nursing
I really didn't think nursing was going to work out for me. Most of you know that. For the first month of LittleGuy's life, I was very close to giving up. A few trusted sources told me to stick it out until six weeks. I did. Amazingly, they were right, it did get easier...but I still wasn't sold. I was dependent on that damn nipple shield and I had very little confidence that my "chest structure" would ever truly be able to feed my child.
However, ten weeks into this nursing relationship with my baby and I'm a done deal. I love it. I feel like breastfeeding Finn is one of the most amazing things I have ever done in my entire life. An accomplishment as much as it is a gift. He practically weaned himself off the shield over a week ago and I can't believe that "they" work - all by themselves! Well, LittleGuy is bigger and knows what to do now, so that helps A LOT.
I finally feel comletely in tune with the whole experience. I did not believe people who told me it's easier to breastfeed, but now I know it's true. And, it is just an amazing thing to be able to nourish your child...just by being alive and eating and drinking and staying near your baby. Amazing. My body makes food. I am a fully functioning kitchen for my baby. Completely mind blowing. Everytime we sit down for a "meal" I am washed in awe.
It really irks me that the nurses in NY did not encourage me more when Littleman was born. It makes me sad that this experience was lost for him...and me. I am sad that I'll only get to nurse one baby. I don't feel any less connected to Littleman, plus, I really didn't know what I was missing. (Since I won't be letting LittleGuy sleep in our bed, I feel like the boys are even in "closeness to mommy as a baby" issues). And I am not saying that every one should nurse - it has to be right for that mom and that baby at that moment. It really is not easy. It takes patience and confidence (when you have none) and, most of all, a support system.
All that said, as much as I love nursing, it is pretty gross. Milk gets every where. At times I am literally a geyser. It completely suppresses my libido and there are a multitude of drugs (ie, birth control) that are forbidden. I lack grace and tact, so in public I am pretty much a nursing nightmare. (Thank goodness Littleman is too young to be embarassed by me...and Papabear is working so much, he's usually not with us). And, I know I have complained about this before, but the sheer size that I have to carry around...is really ridiculous. So, it's not heaven or perfect. But, it is beautiful. *I* may not be, but the act is beautiful. Beautiful and peaceful and almost magical. I feel completely and utterly content. I am living my dream.
I am a mommy of two beautiful boys and wife to a man I love and adore. If I died today I could say I have everything I ever wanted.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Last Halloween pics...
Here's the last of 'em. LittleGuy as a horsie and Littleman with his friends.
Now that Halloween is over, Littleman is already talking about Christmas. Taking down the Halloween decorations was so sad for him (we've had them up since October 1!!!!). I almost wish there were more decorations for Thanksgiving. BUT, I am not going there. The day after Thanksgiving we break out the Christmas stuff and that's good enough for me. I love that Littleman shares my excitement for holidays. He could ignore my jollyness, but he embraces it. We'll make some turkey decorations to get us through until black Friday. I have to make calendars for him to hang in his room so he can check off the days.
Well, I haven't been sleeping great, so I think I'm going to head to bed. I think all the adrenaline and elation that got me through the first two months has finally wore off...and the lack of sleep is taking its toll. I can't say enough how grateful I am to have friends out here who invite me over for dinner or come over when I need their kids to entertain mine. I couldn't survive without them.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Laughing man
For some reason, Papabear gets the biggest grins out of our LittleGuy and today we had our first big laughs - amazingly I caught them on video.
Littleman had his Halloween party at preschool yesterday. They made jack-o-lantern cupcakes.
LittleGuy's wearing shoes!!!! How cute!
Pumpkin carving....
Papabear went all out when making a veggie tray for Littleman and a friend he had over for dinner!!! Would it surprise you at all to hear that Littleman cried when Lauren ate a little of HIS name???
In case you want an update on the breast feeding, continue reading: I started weaning LittleGuy off the shield a few days ago by taking it off for one of the afternoon feedings. WELL, by yesterday afternoon, he decided he wanted NONE of the shield at all! It's been a little bit of a struggle. When the jugs are full, so to speak, there's not a lot of surface area which makes it difficult for LittleGuy to latch on. He gets royally pissed, though, if I try to start with the shield - he really wants nothing to do with it! But, he has trouble getting "on" without it. This morning, though, we finally made things "work" by using the latch-assist. Without going into too much detail, for those of you who have no interest in reading about the finer details of breastfeeding, it's going well. We had a full feeding session completely free of the shield. I am still amazed that I am doing this. I am feeding my baby and it feels great to be able to do so.
Are you wondering if he sleeps through the night? He's pretty much on this eating schedule at night: 8p, dreamfeed at 10:30p, 3:30a, 7a - So I am up at 3:30 and 7 ish....I have adjusted to this so I am functioning okay. I am hopeful that he'll start sleeping longer soon....aren't we all? He's cute and sweet and cuddly, so I feel well compensated for the lack of sleep....
This little one is NOT sleeping in our bed like Littleman did for so, so, so many months. (not yet anyway, ha ha) He sleeps in the bassinet next to our bed. I tried moving him to his room the other day, but it's too soon. I felt absolutely haggard running down there in the middle of the night. I'm going to try again in a couple of weeks.
That's all for now folks! Hope everyone has a happy halloween!
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Fall fun
Went to a pumpkin festival...Papabear was working so I was technically on my own (we went with some friends). It is still too warm most days to feel like fall, but we had fun.
Yes, Littleman is holding a giant "diamond." He bought it with his own money...the kid has strange likes, I know. Okay, this next one is seriously too cute for words.
LittleGuy was the talk of the festival in this little number!
Littleman in a pumpkin house.
Yes, that's fake grass. I swear we live in "The Truman Show."
And Vox is acting funny so I literally cannot delete this picture I accidentally posted twice. Well, it is so cute, enjoy it again.
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