Okay, really, this post has been in my head for about a YEAR... since I don't even have a 2 year old anymore. Still, I thought it would be worth noting a few things that have really been a benefit to our family as we have had little ones to raise up. These three things have been great for my one, two, and three year olds.
1) Consistent Lap Time. When I read the Bible aloud in the morning, the bigger children fold napkins and towels and/or color. I tried having the littlest one on a blanket beside me ("blanket time"), with the idea being that I would train them to stay on the blanket while I read. For me, it worked better to put that little one on my lap. (I admit, I quickly tired of straightening the blanket, correcting the child, etc.) With G on my lap, I could hold him tighter if he squirmed and I could prevent him from getting down. This was also great practice for us because during church he needed to sit quietly on our laps for an extended period of time. In essence, we were practicing for church. (But it also comes in handy on flights, in doctor's waiting rooms, and anywhere you would like to contain a squirmy little one for awhile!)
2) Productive Potty Time. I might be the only one, but it seemed I spent a good deal of time in the bathroom waiting for little people to finish so that I could wipe them and help them wash hands. During our toilet training, I kept books on hand (which I didn't really like to have in the bathroom, anyway.) Now, I use that bathroom time to run through catechism questions. It's one on one time with my little man and he loves it when he knows the answers and I make a big deal out of it. Honestly, this just doesn't have another spot in our full homeschooling day, so I'm happy we have a consistent time now to lay down these truths in his little mind. (G will ask me to say "YES!" really loudly when he gets it right.) These are a few of the simple questions that I can remember: Who made you? What else did God make? Why did God make you and all things? Can you see God? Where is God? What is God? Where do you learn how to love and obey God? Who wrote the Bible? Who were your first parents? What did God give Adam and Eve besides bodies?
3) Brother/Sister Time. This has been part of our homeschool day, simply so that I could focus in on older children and help them with their work. However, I've now seen so many added benefits! As each older sibling has 30 minutes with the youngest one, they get to plan their time, choose their activity (usually they are only given 2 options), and I tell them that THEIR goal is to be the teacher/babysitter. G gets one on one time with a variety of siblings every day, which is such a gift! I see how he has special and unique relationships with each of them that have been fostered through their times together. (And, I'm super glad that everyone is engaged in their own activity during our school time. Fewer distractions has been a huge help to this mama!)
Showing posts with label baby. Show all posts
Showing posts with label baby. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 16, 2016
Sunday, February 1, 2015
A Breakfast Conversation
The thing about having a verbal 2 year old boy who is potty trained... is that you have some interesting conversations. I shouldn't be surprised, as we've been through this a few times, but it still kind of cracks me up. This was a little conversation today at breakfast:
G: "Where's Tate?"
me: "I don't know."
G: "A potty?"
me: "I don't know. Maybe he went potty."
G: "A pee pee?"
me: "Maybe he went pee pee."
G: "A doo doo?"
me: "Maybe..."
G: "A big one?"
me: "I don't know. Maybe..."
G: "A flush it?"
me: "I hope so!"
G, nods his head and states again, "A doo doo."
G: "Where's Tate?"
me: "I don't know."
G: "A potty?"
me: "I don't know. Maybe he went potty."
G: "A pee pee?"
me: "Maybe he went pee pee."
G: "A doo doo?"
me: "Maybe..."
G: "A big one?"
me: "I don't know. Maybe..."
G: "A flush it?"
me: "I hope so!"
G, nods his head and states again, "A doo doo."
Friday, January 11, 2013
Seven Weeks In
We've turned a corner with nursing and I finally feel like it is EASY! So many concerned friends have asked me about this (I must have made it sound really bad before!). I am very, very happy: G is over 10 pounds now and I am mindful of what I need to do: drink lots and lots of water, take my Motherlove supplement, and try to rest when I can. I do not feel the soreness that I had before.
We've also had better sleep. G seems to be in a rhythm of nursing often from 5-8 p.m., then falling into a good, deep sleep for about six hours. Either I wake him to eat around 10 when I go to bed, or I let him sleep until he wakes. Either way, I really only have to nurse once or twice in the night and then he wakes around 7. This is such a sweet time of day! He (G) is super smiley and M usually comes to our bed, too, and I can enjoy both of my littlest boys. Not long after that, L come in. I treasure these slower, quieter mornings and the routine we have now.
We've also had better sleep. G seems to be in a rhythm of nursing often from 5-8 p.m., then falling into a good, deep sleep for about six hours. Either I wake him to eat around 10 when I go to bed, or I let him sleep until he wakes. Either way, I really only have to nurse once or twice in the night and then he wakes around 7. This is such a sweet time of day! He (G) is super smiley and M usually comes to our bed, too, and I can enjoy both of my littlest boys. Not long after that, L come in. I treasure these slower, quieter mornings and the routine we have now.
Monday, December 10, 2012
Week Three (Working Through Challenges)
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Francis John Wyburd: Baby's CornerThis was the third week of G's life. My midwife calls the first week the week to TAKE IN. That is the week when I stay in my room and let others take care of everything outside those walls. I take care of myself and the baby (which is a lot, after all!). The second week she calls the week to TAKE HOLD. It's a week to come out of the bedroom and do a few things, but also a week to take it easy and continue the work of healing, resting, and nursing. The third week is the week to TAKE OVER. When I've finished the first two weeks' work of healing, resting and learning my new baby, it's time to take my place again in the home. This is when our "baby vacation" is over (not so many movies and sweet treats and time with Daddy!), and we realize that life looks different than it did three weeks ago and the pace is altered, but it is good.Our third week started with a trip to the lactation consultant. I was still very sore and nursing was more painful than I expected it to be at that point. My friends and I (who have ALL experienced pain when nursing) know to give a good two weeks for the adjustment to nursing. I know to expect discomfort (yes, even pain!), but believed that at two weeks in we should be well on a path of nursing bliss (ha!). Here I was at the two week point, however, and feeling pretty miserable. There were feedings that were excruciating and evenings when I cried in our room for hours as I nursed and consoled a fussy baby.In addition to my own pain, I was concerned for G, who didn't seem to be as content as he was the first week and didn't look to be putting on weight. He had a pattern of eating, sleeping, and crying that didn't include wakeful content time. Still, I knew to watch for wet and soiled diapers and he did have those. He was also giving me some longer night stretches (4-5 hours) that were most welcome. I wondered if he was not getting all he needed.We went to the home of a wonderful lady who has been helping nursing mothers for over 25 years. To my dismay, G only weighed 6 pounds and 12 ounces (nearly a pound lighter than his birth weight). She corrected G's latch, gave me soothing hydrogels (so wonderful!), and sent me home with a list of suggestions and the encouragement I desperately needed.Our third week, then, was nursing intensive. I focused on drinking lots of water (which I try to do anyway... but know I fall short when I'm nursing and busy around the home). I took the Motherlove nursing supplements that a kind friend had given me months ago. I tried to rest. We watched more movies. I tried to get G latched correctly and also nursed frequently (sometimes it felt nonstop!).We are borrowing a gliding rocker from our dear friends. The little armchair from our room is being upholstered and our friends lent us their chair, knowing how helpful it would be for nursing. The chair sits by our bed and by the windows in our room. It's my "baby's corner." I've spent hours there over the past few weeks. . . praying, watching leaves fall, talking to G, nursing and nursing, dozing, thinking, listening. It's become a sweet place. That's why I like Francis Wyburd's painting (above). There is a tenderness revealed in the work of raising babies. . . beds to make, babes to dress and pray over, little needs to meet. And yet such sweetness!So we nursed through the third week (and it didn't feel sweet to me) and we will meet with the lactation consultant again to find out if we've successfully increased our supply and G's weight. |
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Two Weeks Worth of Thanks
It has almost been two weeks since G was born. So much has happened! And yet, we've also been very low key and the days have seemed kind of quiet (sometimes!). Through the challenges of nursing and trying to keep a family fed and clothed and pointed toward Christ, there have been so many little blessings. Here are some of them:
1086) Quiet moments with a sleeping baby. Here, O is asleep in the chair with G. They slept like this for two hours on Saturday!
1087) The Lawyer, sleeping with G. I love this man and his tenderness to our babies!
1088) Time to look out the window. That first week I watched the leaves fall like a flurry of snowflakes outside the window, saw leafy trees bared and sunlight streaming down in new paths.
1089) Grandmothers. I had been thinking before G was born how I miss my Grandma and how wonderful it was to have her come and stay with me after the first two babies. Seems like most grandmas these days are still working or too busy with their own activities to offer help to a mom with half a dozen children. And I don't expect that kind of help. BUT, God sent me grandmas! Three different grandmas came over this past week and blessed our family. They read books, taught the kids to fold paper frogs, and made lunch, one ironed The Lawyer's shirts, one vacuumed, they washed windows. . . and I rested and enjoyed their company and found it amazing that these ladies, who are only acquaintances, would come and serve our family.
1090) Big boys and The Lawyer working so hard to help a family from church move. They were gone two nights for many, many hours. On Friday, they didn't get home until nearly midnight! (Which is why O was sleeping on a Saturday afternoon.) I'm so proud of their willingness to help and the effort they spent for this family.
1091) Christmas carols playing.
1092) Kids' enthusiasm for Christmas. They got out all the decorations, strung lights, set up the nativity scene and calendar, and decorated the Christmas tree. Strangely, I was content to watch from the couch with G on my lap and I marveled at the capabilities of our children.
1093) CBS study. Even with the changes and adjustments, it is good to consistently study God's Word. I love that the boys, L, and I are studying the book of John together.
1094) Poinsettias. So lovely! And for laughter- L became confused and asked why the plants were called "placentas?"
1095) M (2) calls the crust of the bread the "skin." Sometimes he has "skinnies" left next to his plate because he doesn't like to eat the skins. He had a burn which blistered several months ago and now he is cautious of hot pans because he doesn't want to get a "bruester."
1086) Quiet moments with a sleeping baby. Here, O is asleep in the chair with G. They slept like this for two hours on Saturday!1087) The Lawyer, sleeping with G. I love this man and his tenderness to our babies!
1088) Time to look out the window. That first week I watched the leaves fall like a flurry of snowflakes outside the window, saw leafy trees bared and sunlight streaming down in new paths.
1089) Grandmothers. I had been thinking before G was born how I miss my Grandma and how wonderful it was to have her come and stay with me after the first two babies. Seems like most grandmas these days are still working or too busy with their own activities to offer help to a mom with half a dozen children. And I don't expect that kind of help. BUT, God sent me grandmas! Three different grandmas came over this past week and blessed our family. They read books, taught the kids to fold paper frogs, and made lunch, one ironed The Lawyer's shirts, one vacuumed, they washed windows. . . and I rested and enjoyed their company and found it amazing that these ladies, who are only acquaintances, would come and serve our family.
1090) Big boys and The Lawyer working so hard to help a family from church move. They were gone two nights for many, many hours. On Friday, they didn't get home until nearly midnight! (Which is why O was sleeping on a Saturday afternoon.) I'm so proud of their willingness to help and the effort they spent for this family.
1091) Christmas carols playing.
1092) Kids' enthusiasm for Christmas. They got out all the decorations, strung lights, set up the nativity scene and calendar, and decorated the Christmas tree. Strangely, I was content to watch from the couch with G on my lap and I marveled at the capabilities of our children.
1093) CBS study. Even with the changes and adjustments, it is good to consistently study God's Word. I love that the boys, L, and I are studying the book of John together.
1094) Poinsettias. So lovely! And for laughter- L became confused and asked why the plants were called "placentas?"
1095) M (2) calls the crust of the bread the "skin." Sometimes he has "skinnies" left next to his plate because he doesn't like to eat the skins. He had a burn which blistered several months ago and now he is cautious of hot pans because he doesn't want to get a "bruester."
Monday, November 26, 2012
Family Comparisons
In a family with five boys, there is a lot of competition going on ALL the time. Already, the gang is trying to figure out how G stacks up and fits in. Here is what we've come up with:
G is the FIRST of our babies to be born in the water. (And first birth watched by a sibling!)
G is the FIRST baby to be born on his due date.
G is the SECOND baby born in November (like R).
Both boys born in November were born on Mondays.
R was the hairiest baby, but G takes second place (with lots of dark hair in back!).
G has ONE dimple (that we've seen so far). That ties him with T, who also has one dimple. R has two. No one else has dimples (dimples are a Baughman trait).
G was the HEAVIEST baby at 7 pounds, 10 ounces. He had 7 ounces on T, the next heaviest. (I hope this is why I gained the most weight in this pregnancy!)
But, G was not the longest. In fact, he falls nearly last on length.
G was born the earliest in the morning, at 6:23 a.m. T would be next, then O, R, L, and M (at night).
G was the THIRD baby born at 40 weeks or later, along with the other "full" JuicePlus+ babies, T and M.
So far, G wins on sleeping. He has given me some good four and five hour stretches at night (perhaps because of health and weight?).
and... we're only just getting to know him.
The Story of Graham's Life
This may be the sweetest thing ever. I asked L (7) to write the story of G's birth (one week ago today!). She loves to write stories and letters to people and to draw pictures. She also really wanted to be present when G was born.
I wasn't sure how it would be to have my precious 7 year old watching me through the intensity of labor and delivery, yet I was trusting that if things became too intense she would either excuse herself or The Lawyer would protectively step in. As confirmation to me of her desire, she was up nearly all night with us, waiting for G. As The Lawyer filled the birth tub (in her room!), she roused and came to me. After the midwife arrived and I decided to sleep for awhile, she climbed into bed with me and we slept like spoons for an hour or so. When I got up and left the room, she awoke and came out to find me. And she was a powerful reason for me to follow through with my vision of a peaceful and calm birth experience.I had seen a wonderful water birth on the Ina May Gaskin movie and had been mentally replaying that as MY birth experience this time. In the past, my midwife has come during the intensity of transition and I've felt that I was hanging on to a steam train for dear life, the contractions barely subsiding until a baby was born within an hour. This time, our midwife and I had a different plan. I would call her early so that she wouldn't be rushed (or miss the birth!) and we would strive for a calm and quieter delivery. One main reason for this approach was to avoid tearing, which had happened during every baby's birth since I had an episiotomy at the hospital with O. Our thought was to use the water to help warm and stretch tissues and to allow a little recovery time between contractions to keep things more manageable.
I am so happy to say that this was a beautiful birth- the most calm, the quietest, the most aware, and without any tearing. But I can give more of my story later. Here is what our daughter wrote:
The Story of Graham's Life- by Livia Curtis
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| This is the "good long hug"- and L's flannel nightgown in the corner. |
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Savor- Thanksgiving Advice From My Midwife
How blessed I am to have a midwife calling me on Thanksgiving, checking in on G and me (and making sure I really didn't go with my family to our friends' house for dinner!). This midwife has been wonderful; so different than the other two midwives I've had and so right for me in this season. Her words seem wise to me today and come as healing balm for a mama adjusting, three days after having a baby. Here are a few of her words today- good, I hope, for others, too:
Savor this moment!
You have come a long way and you have a beautiful family.
Cheer up- something will hurt worse today, but something will hurt less, too.
This is temporary!
You are in a constant state of flux. You are learning this baby and taking it moment by moment. After two weeks things will even out. You'll find a new rhythm.
Today is a gift.
Savor this moment!
You have come a long way and you have a beautiful family.
Cheer up- something will hurt worse today, but something will hurt less, too.
This is temporary!
You are in a constant state of flux. You are learning this baby and taking it moment by moment. After two weeks things will even out. You'll find a new rhythm.
Today is a gift.
Monday, November 19, 2012
Giving Thanks!
Graham Isaac Curtis
November 19, 2012
6:23 a.m. at home
7 pounds, 10 ounces; 20 inches long
Healthy and Loved!
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Tuesday Night
Here are the random thoughts at the day's close:
Haven't posted any pregnancy photos this time around- and only six weeks to go! Maybe I'll manage to get one up before baby arrives. I probably look the same as in all the other pregnancy photos- only older this time around. *smile*
Rearranged some of the furniture today- which is surprising because there really aren't many options in our small space. This rearranging made me happy, however. R rightly guessed that it was because I made it easier to get my "big body around things." Also organized cds and cleaned out some other bins with items to donate and consign.
No baby name yet. This is really stumping us. The Lawyer and I haven't agreed yet and I'm not sure either of us love our top three contenders. The Lord will either content my heart or give us some new ideas in this last quarter of the name game.
The boys love acorn wars. It makes me laugh to see them outside, hurling nuts at each other. The acorns are especially prolific this year and we are still started to hear them falling and bouncing off the roof and our vehicles. Really funny.
I don't see any way that I'll be ready to leave for IL in a few days. Packing (which means pulling out the REAL cold weather clothes), food preparations, cleaning, wrapping up school, tying up loose business ends. . . the list of things to do is almost laughable. And then I'll still need energy to stay awake for 18+ hours of driving! (Thank goodness we'll have a wonderful rest and visit with friends in KY!)
Tomorrow is CBS. Yes, I was a pool mom this summer, and now I'm a CBS mom! I was also a gymnastics mom for the past five weeks (L loved it!), and am currently a piano mom. These are more mom hats than I'm used to wearing, but they seem to fit right now. All might feel differently in November!
Haven't posted any pregnancy photos this time around- and only six weeks to go! Maybe I'll manage to get one up before baby arrives. I probably look the same as in all the other pregnancy photos- only older this time around. *smile*
Rearranged some of the furniture today- which is surprising because there really aren't many options in our small space. This rearranging made me happy, however. R rightly guessed that it was because I made it easier to get my "big body around things." Also organized cds and cleaned out some other bins with items to donate and consign.
No baby name yet. This is really stumping us. The Lawyer and I haven't agreed yet and I'm not sure either of us love our top three contenders. The Lord will either content my heart or give us some new ideas in this last quarter of the name game.
The boys love acorn wars. It makes me laugh to see them outside, hurling nuts at each other. The acorns are especially prolific this year and we are still started to hear them falling and bouncing off the roof and our vehicles. Really funny.
I don't see any way that I'll be ready to leave for IL in a few days. Packing (which means pulling out the REAL cold weather clothes), food preparations, cleaning, wrapping up school, tying up loose business ends. . . the list of things to do is almost laughable. And then I'll still need energy to stay awake for 18+ hours of driving! (Thank goodness we'll have a wonderful rest and visit with friends in KY!)
Tomorrow is CBS. Yes, I was a pool mom this summer, and now I'm a CBS mom! I was also a gymnastics mom for the past five weeks (L loved it!), and am currently a piano mom. These are more mom hats than I'm used to wearing, but they seem to fit right now. All might feel differently in November!
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Baby Emmy!
Happy Birth Day, Emmy Girl!
We were so happy to celebrate Independence Day with your safe and healthy arrival!
Friday, March 4, 2011
Kicked the Ear Infection
The great news is that we have been ear infection FREE for about a month now. It was my prayer that we could come up with some solutions for M (10 mo now) and avoid putting tubes in, if possible. Even though tubes are very normal here in the U.S. , the rest of the world isn't jumping to the conclusion that tubes are best/necessary. Therefore, we opted to try many different things before seeing the ENT. Some of these I think were really helpful:
1) Waiora. Drops that I put in his ears each time he nursed. I also gave a few orally each day. Even though I can't explain exactly WHY this helps, I really do think it was the big gun for us.
2) Elderberry. In the form of JuicePlus+ Vineyard blend. This helps reduce tissue inflammation.
3) Probiotics. These friendly gut bacteria lead to greater health overall and an improved immune system to fight infection. I also feel this is crucial if antibiotics are being used, as they will replace the good bacteria being killed off by the "medicine."
4) Bromelain. Pineapple is in the orchard JuicePlus+. Again, it reduces inflammation and aids healing. I increased M's JuicePlus+.
5) Thieves oil to fight infection and other oils used to soothe.
1) Waiora. Drops that I put in his ears each time he nursed. I also gave a few orally each day. Even though I can't explain exactly WHY this helps, I really do think it was the big gun for us.
2) Elderberry. In the form of JuicePlus+ Vineyard blend. This helps reduce tissue inflammation.
3) Probiotics. These friendly gut bacteria lead to greater health overall and an improved immune system to fight infection. I also feel this is crucial if antibiotics are being used, as they will replace the good bacteria being killed off by the "medicine."
4) Bromelain. Pineapple is in the orchard JuicePlus+. Again, it reduces inflammation and aids healing. I increased M's JuicePlus+.
5) Thieves oil to fight infection and other oils used to soothe.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Sleep Experiment- Night 7
Put M to bed last night at 6:30, before I headed out to talk to a basketball team (How to have a Competitive Edge!).
M woke at 8:30, when L went into her room for her pajamas (and turned on the overhead light). I comforted him and put him down again.
10:45 p.m. nursed (M was crying persistently and I was still awake).
3:45 a.m. nursed.
5:45 a.m. nursed. I'm not sure he ever went back to sleep after this. O brought him down at 6:45 a.m.
I can tell M isn't getting enough sleep. He is tired in the early morning and ready for a nap by 8:30 a.m. It's a stretch to make him wait until 9:30 or 10 a.m., but it seems like we do need to space the two naps for the day later so he can make it to a 6:30 bedtime. He could probably go to bed earlier and easier if I would get dinner together earlier.
He sleeps much better in L's room when he is by himself. He sometimes takes great naps but lately they have been interrupted because he has needed to use the potty. I'm in the habit of nursing before I lay him down but maybe if I would forgo those sessions he wouldn't need to get up again mid-nap.
At this point there are more questions than answers! And sometimes I think I have ideas of what to do, but just can't seem to work that out in our life.
M woke at 8:30, when L went into her room for her pajamas (and turned on the overhead light). I comforted him and put him down again.
10:45 p.m. nursed (M was crying persistently and I was still awake).
3:45 a.m. nursed.
5:45 a.m. nursed. I'm not sure he ever went back to sleep after this. O brought him down at 6:45 a.m.
I can tell M isn't getting enough sleep. He is tired in the early morning and ready for a nap by 8:30 a.m. It's a stretch to make him wait until 9:30 or 10 a.m., but it seems like we do need to space the two naps for the day later so he can make it to a 6:30 bedtime. He could probably go to bed earlier and easier if I would get dinner together earlier.
He sleeps much better in L's room when he is by himself. He sometimes takes great naps but lately they have been interrupted because he has needed to use the potty. I'm in the habit of nursing before I lay him down but maybe if I would forgo those sessions he wouldn't need to get up again mid-nap.
At this point there are more questions than answers! And sometimes I think I have ideas of what to do, but just can't seem to work that out in our life.
10 Month Scare!
On his 10 month "birthday" M and I had a little scare.
I went into the office to check something and left him happily playing in the front room- or so I thought. It was a rare moment when the other children were all outside.
When I heard a noise followed by crying, I went to investigate . . . and found the 10 month old on the fourth stair step, head down, with his legs on the fifth step. He had climbed the stairs and fallen!
Last I knew, he couldn't climb stairs. Things change so quickly around here.
I went into the office to check something and left him happily playing in the front room- or so I thought. It was a rare moment when the other children were all outside.
When I heard a noise followed by crying, I went to investigate . . . and found the 10 month old on the fourth stair step, head down, with his legs on the fifth step. He had climbed the stairs and fallen!
Last I knew, he couldn't climb stairs. Things change so quickly around here.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Sleep Experiment- Night 3 and 4
"If you are not getting at least EIGHT hours of sleep each night you are pathologically sleep deprived."
~James Moss: The Power of Sleep
Night 3:
Nurse M and put him to bed at 6:30 p.m.
Nurse at 3:45 a.m.
Nurse at 5:45 a.m. and back to bed
Up at 7:30 a.m. - I like this!
Night 4: (a little off because we were out to a lecture)
Nurse at 7 p.m.
Finally fell asleep about 8 p.m.
Put him in bed when we got home- about 9:30 p.m.
Was inconsolable at 2:30 a.m. (when I was on my way home from another wellness event!)
Nurse at 2:30 a.m.
Nurse at 5:45 a.m.
Up at 7 a.m.
Night 4 was his first night in with L. She loved it... but I'm not convinced it will work. The first time M was up and The Lawyer went to retrieve him, she was standing quietly (and strangely still) beside his pack-n-play. I think she knew that she wasn't supposed to pick him up, but in her haze of sleep she couldn't figure out what to do. I knew that M was awake this morning when I saw her strolling past our bedroom door, baby on hip, headed for the bathroom. Hmmm.
~James Moss: The Power of Sleep
Night 3:
Nurse M and put him to bed at 6:30 p.m.
Nurse at 3:45 a.m.
Nurse at 5:45 a.m. and back to bed
Up at 7:30 a.m. - I like this!
Night 4: (a little off because we were out to a lecture)
Nurse at 7 p.m.
Finally fell asleep about 8 p.m.
Put him in bed when we got home- about 9:30 p.m.
Was inconsolable at 2:30 a.m. (when I was on my way home from another wellness event!)
Nurse at 2:30 a.m.
Nurse at 5:45 a.m.
Up at 7 a.m.
Night 4 was his first night in with L. She loved it... but I'm not convinced it will work. The first time M was up and The Lawyer went to retrieve him, she was standing quietly (and strangely still) beside his pack-n-play. I think she knew that she wasn't supposed to pick him up, but in her haze of sleep she couldn't figure out what to do. I knew that M was awake this morning when I saw her strolling past our bedroom door, baby on hip, headed for the bathroom. Hmmm.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
A Little Sleep Experiment
For the past two nights I have put M (9 mo) to sleep in L's (5) room and allowed L to sleep with me. My goal was to see how M would sleep if he wasn't disturbed in the early morning by my waking and getting ready for the day. I also wanted to see how M would sleep if I didn't nurse him each time he whimpered in the night (okay; I'm exaggerating slightly). Because I never know if his cry will be a 30 second cry and back to sleep OR a 1 hour, inconsolable cry- we nurse in the night. It's quick; it's easy; he's right back to sleep and so I am. It seemed to be working, although I'll admit it wasn't an optimal situation. So, this week has been our little sleep experiment.
A couple of things didn't go as planned. The first night, L woke up around 1 a.m. and needed to use the bathroom. Instead, she turned the light on in HER room and woke M. The second night, shortly after I put M down for the night, she went into her room to choose her pajamas and clothes for the following day. And, of course, she's begging to sleep in her room with him. I'm leaning toward allowing her to, simply because she isn't much fun to sleep with (she takes the covers like The Lawyer does!).
And our clock was wrong. Try as I might, I couldn't set it to the correct hour. Just hoping I could remember that it was an hour fast.
Oh, and I got sick one night and have been weary and . . . just sickish. Hence, I haven't eaten much this week. This effects the milk supply, which makes me think that I ought to nurse in the night.
And, I could give my arguments that nursing in the night is acceptable. I think it is. And, I have five babies that I've tried out these theories on- and I don't think I have any conclusions. I've scheduled my babies, let them cry, not let them cry. . . and I still just don't really know what's right.
But I am tired. And my husband is out of town, making my bed available for the displaced child, freeing up bedroom space. The experiment is on!
Night 1:
Nursed at bedtime; down at 6:45.
Nursed as I was going to bed; 10:30.
M woke and cried out briefly, several times.
Nursed at 3 a.m.
Nursed at 6 a.m. M did not go back to sleep after this.
Night 2:
Nursed at bedtime; down at 6:30.
Nursed between 10:30 and 11. (I don't mind this one as I'm still awake anyway.)
Nursed at 3 a.m. (one side)
Nursed at 5:45 a.m. (M went back to sleep until 6:45).
Tonight is Night 3.
A couple of things didn't go as planned. The first night, L woke up around 1 a.m. and needed to use the bathroom. Instead, she turned the light on in HER room and woke M. The second night, shortly after I put M down for the night, she went into her room to choose her pajamas and clothes for the following day. And, of course, she's begging to sleep in her room with him. I'm leaning toward allowing her to, simply because she isn't much fun to sleep with (she takes the covers like The Lawyer does!).
And our clock was wrong. Try as I might, I couldn't set it to the correct hour. Just hoping I could remember that it was an hour fast.
Oh, and I got sick one night and have been weary and . . . just sickish. Hence, I haven't eaten much this week. This effects the milk supply, which makes me think that I ought to nurse in the night.
And, I could give my arguments that nursing in the night is acceptable. I think it is. And, I have five babies that I've tried out these theories on- and I don't think I have any conclusions. I've scheduled my babies, let them cry, not let them cry. . . and I still just don't really know what's right.
But I am tired. And my husband is out of town, making my bed available for the displaced child, freeing up bedroom space. The experiment is on!
Night 1:
Nursed at bedtime; down at 6:45.
Nursed as I was going to bed; 10:30.
M woke and cried out briefly, several times.
Nursed at 3 a.m.
Nursed at 6 a.m. M did not go back to sleep after this.
Night 2:
Nursed at bedtime; down at 6:30.
Nursed between 10:30 and 11. (I don't mind this one as I'm still awake anyway.)
Nursed at 3 a.m. (one side)
Nursed at 5:45 a.m. (M went back to sleep until 6:45).
Tonight is Night 3.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Happiness Is...
Leaving the ENT office triumphantly yesterday, I felt happiness I haven't felt in a long time.
It had been a long week with M (9 mo) having ear pain again. He wasn't napping well, was writhing and screaming out through the nights, and I was at a loss as to how to help him. I didn't think my remedies were working and finally, on Thursday, B and I decided that I should call the ENT our pediatrician had referred us to and seek a pre-op consultation for tubes.
I'm not completely opposed to tubes. R had tubes. BUT, tubes are invasive and require anesthesia. They also cost money. And even though they allow drainage, they don't fix whatever it is that is causing the fluid to linger in the ear canal. However, I was desperate for the relief that tubes could bring for my baby (and me?). I made the appointment, but then immediately called my friend Jaime. Jaime is a living encyclopedia of natural remedies and supplements. On Thursday, she gave me a couple suggestions to try, because even if we did need to get tubes, there would still be several days and nights to survive and relief for M was critical.
So, we loaded everyone up and went to the health food store (again!). Once we were there, I realized I didn't have enough money to buy both the bromelain and elderberry that Jaime had recommended. BUT, I also realized that JuicePlus+ vineyard has elderberry in it and the orchard blend has bromelain (pineapple) and I committed there to giving M more orchard and starting the Vineyard for him. The naturopathic dr. at the health food store recommended another tincture, and it was less expensive, so I decided to try it.
Then, on Friday we had M's scheduled appointment. Loaded everyone up again, stopped at the library first, and waited at the ENT office with a bag of books. The kids were wonderfully quiet! The appointment was exceptionally brief- NO FLUID.
Amazing.
The ENT said that M's ears looked fine. He thought that if we could "hold off" on doing anything (i.e. tubes) for another month we would be through the winter and the fluid should go away on its own. That was his recommendation! And, just to be on the safe side, he thought we should use an antibiotic and a sulfa drug to keep infection at bay.
I couldn't help grinning. "Sir," I said. "I'll respectfully decline that prescription as it seems that what we are doing is working just fine."
Yay for good friends (#447) and health food stores (#448) and JuicePlus+ (#449)! Yay for waiora (#450)! Yay for a good night's sleep (#451)! Yay for probiotics (#452) and doctors who look for the cause of the problem (#453)! Yay for oils to calm the nervous system, to support the immune system, to kill bacteria (#454)! Yay for no tubes! Yay for a happy baby and a happy mommy.
So Happy.
It had been a long week with M (9 mo) having ear pain again. He wasn't napping well, was writhing and screaming out through the nights, and I was at a loss as to how to help him. I didn't think my remedies were working and finally, on Thursday, B and I decided that I should call the ENT our pediatrician had referred us to and seek a pre-op consultation for tubes.
I'm not completely opposed to tubes. R had tubes. BUT, tubes are invasive and require anesthesia. They also cost money. And even though they allow drainage, they don't fix whatever it is that is causing the fluid to linger in the ear canal. However, I was desperate for the relief that tubes could bring for my baby (and me?). I made the appointment, but then immediately called my friend Jaime. Jaime is a living encyclopedia of natural remedies and supplements. On Thursday, she gave me a couple suggestions to try, because even if we did need to get tubes, there would still be several days and nights to survive and relief for M was critical.
So, we loaded everyone up and went to the health food store (again!). Once we were there, I realized I didn't have enough money to buy both the bromelain and elderberry that Jaime had recommended. BUT, I also realized that JuicePlus+ vineyard has elderberry in it and the orchard blend has bromelain (pineapple) and I committed there to giving M more orchard and starting the Vineyard for him. The naturopathic dr. at the health food store recommended another tincture, and it was less expensive, so I decided to try it.
Then, on Friday we had M's scheduled appointment. Loaded everyone up again, stopped at the library first, and waited at the ENT office with a bag of books. The kids were wonderfully quiet! The appointment was exceptionally brief- NO FLUID.
Amazing.
The ENT said that M's ears looked fine. He thought that if we could "hold off" on doing anything (i.e. tubes) for another month we would be through the winter and the fluid should go away on its own. That was his recommendation! And, just to be on the safe side, he thought we should use an antibiotic and a sulfa drug to keep infection at bay.
I couldn't help grinning. "Sir," I said. "I'll respectfully decline that prescription as it seems that what we are doing is working just fine."
Yay for good friends (#447) and health food stores (#448) and JuicePlus+ (#449)! Yay for waiora (#450)! Yay for a good night's sleep (#451)! Yay for probiotics (#452) and doctors who look for the cause of the problem (#453)! Yay for oils to calm the nervous system, to support the immune system, to kill bacteria (#454)! Yay for no tubes! Yay for a happy baby and a happy mommy.
So Happy.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Friday, August 6, 2010
I'm Learning, He's Great, BUT
He is still a baby and I still have a lot to learn.
Let's just say it was a looooong day. I messed it up to begin with, because even though I know it works to nurse between 5 and 6 a.m. and then lay M back down, I overslept until 6 a.m. and didn't wake M until nearly 6:30. Then, others were up and M was just so darn cute that they were talking to him, picking him up... needless to say, he didn't go back to sleep. M was up most of the morning (sucking his fingers and either cooing or fussing depending on who was around) and didn't sleep well during his morning or afternoon naps. Instead of feeling great (like I do when I'm "accomplishing" things), I wore M in the Bjorn and felt like it was hard to keep anything on track.
We had to cancel plans with friends because the children were struggling this morning with disobedience and diligence in their tasks. We couldn't go anywhere because B had the van today. I felt a bit stuck.
It seemed all day as if I couldn't quite get my footing. Having a(n unpredictable) baby will do that.
Just keeping myself humble and keeping things real around here.
Let's just say it was a looooong day. I messed it up to begin with, because even though I know it works to nurse between 5 and 6 a.m. and then lay M back down, I overslept until 6 a.m. and didn't wake M until nearly 6:30. Then, others were up and M was just so darn cute that they were talking to him, picking him up... needless to say, he didn't go back to sleep. M was up most of the morning (sucking his fingers and either cooing or fussing depending on who was around) and didn't sleep well during his morning or afternoon naps. Instead of feeling great (like I do when I'm "accomplishing" things), I wore M in the Bjorn and felt like it was hard to keep anything on track.
We had to cancel plans with friends because the children were struggling this morning with disobedience and diligence in their tasks. We couldn't go anywhere because B had the van today. I felt a bit stuck.
It seemed all day as if I couldn't quite get my footing. Having a(n unpredictable) baby will do that.
Just keeping myself humble and keeping things real around here.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
I'm Learning, Or He's Just Great
Something is different this time around. M is 3 months and he feels so easy (at this moment). Life speeds on, full of activities, work and play. Having a baby doesn't seem like such a challenge.
Is it me? I daresay I haven't become more accomplished. Through four children I've learned that I like to establish and follow a routine (very rigidly with O, much more loosely with T). I'm committed to nursing; but I always have been. I will nurse routinely for nourishment, but I will also nurse for comfort. I'll nurse at night, if need be, to maintain a strong supply, but I prefer to stretch the night feedings out in an effort to phase them out completely. We follow nursing with a wake time and then to a nap.
It is probably just M that is making things so easy. He and I have established a consistent nursing routine of about three hour intervals. The crucial piece, for me, was having a consistent start to our day. It seems he usually is awake between 5 and 6 am, so I determined that this would be the first feed of the day. I'm committed to getting myself up after that feeding so that I can start my day. If he doesn't wake by 6:30, I wake him, nurse, and lay him back down. This is the key! Even though he is awake after this feed and I can hardly keep from cooing at him, I know it is best for me to put him back down (with just a few sweet words!). He will then typically rise between 8:30 and 9 am.
I have never had a child do this! Either I just thought that they were up for the day at 6 am (as I was), or they weren't so easy to put back down. M is a dream. When he wakes before the 9 am nursing, he rolls to his back and looks around and makes happy noises. What a joy! I remember reading Baby Wise and taking to heart that you should wait for your child to be happy before you pick them up. . . but that simply was NOT happening with other children. (L, especially, I put a concerted effort into trying to train to be happy- to no avail. She still wakes up without a cheerful disposition.) Perhaps M is, as The Baby Whisperer would say, just an "angel baby."
So, I don't know if I've learned much, but I do know that my days are running so smoothly when I can depend upon M's waking. I'm able to have a quiet time, start laundry, make breakfast, exercise, and organize my thoughts before we are full on. Bedtime is similar. I put M down around 6, then nurse again when I'm going to bed (around 9 or 10). It's much simpler to read to everyone else and complete our bedtime routines with my hands free. It doesn't always run like this, but things are more predictable than not. . . and I'm SO thankful. M is great.
Is it me? I daresay I haven't become more accomplished. Through four children I've learned that I like to establish and follow a routine (very rigidly with O, much more loosely with T). I'm committed to nursing; but I always have been. I will nurse routinely for nourishment, but I will also nurse for comfort. I'll nurse at night, if need be, to maintain a strong supply, but I prefer to stretch the night feedings out in an effort to phase them out completely. We follow nursing with a wake time and then to a nap.
It is probably just M that is making things so easy. He and I have established a consistent nursing routine of about three hour intervals. The crucial piece, for me, was having a consistent start to our day. It seems he usually is awake between 5 and 6 am, so I determined that this would be the first feed of the day. I'm committed to getting myself up after that feeding so that I can start my day. If he doesn't wake by 6:30, I wake him, nurse, and lay him back down. This is the key! Even though he is awake after this feed and I can hardly keep from cooing at him, I know it is best for me to put him back down (with just a few sweet words!). He will then typically rise between 8:30 and 9 am.
I have never had a child do this! Either I just thought that they were up for the day at 6 am (as I was), or they weren't so easy to put back down. M is a dream. When he wakes before the 9 am nursing, he rolls to his back and looks around and makes happy noises. What a joy! I remember reading Baby Wise and taking to heart that you should wait for your child to be happy before you pick them up. . . but that simply was NOT happening with other children. (L, especially, I put a concerted effort into trying to train to be happy- to no avail. She still wakes up without a cheerful disposition.) Perhaps M is, as The Baby Whisperer would say, just an "angel baby."
So, I don't know if I've learned much, but I do know that my days are running so smoothly when I can depend upon M's waking. I'm able to have a quiet time, start laundry, make breakfast, exercise, and organize my thoughts before we are full on. Bedtime is similar. I put M down around 6, then nurse again when I'm going to bed (around 9 or 10). It's much simpler to read to everyone else and complete our bedtime routines with my hands free. It doesn't always run like this, but things are more predictable than not. . . and I'm SO thankful. M is great.
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