While I won't say I didn't have the taste of beer in my mouth when I thought of these, no babies were harmed or drunk in the creation of my games. Also, I don't condone playing so many baby drinking games that you lose or forget you have a baby.
The Original Baby Drinking Game
It involves about 10-12 colorful 3-D shapes: specifically 2 of each color and shape, which make for a multitude of game possibilities and provide a little bit of a challenge. If that isn't an option, blocks work just fine, though using more than 10 will keep it interesting. And don't forget the baby...if you have, you're too drunk to continue.
Directions aka the non: Stack the blocks, drink for every block stack before Baby destroys your tower. Drink extra for double color or shapes. Chug 1/2 a beer if pieces are stacked in rainbow order. Chug if you use all the blocks before Baby destroys them. Once the blocks are knocked down, it is the next player's turn.
So the easy version (aka. to drunk to keep track the above, but not too drunk to forget or lose the baby)...start stacking, if player one can stack pieces before the baby knocks them over, the player wins the round, and subsequently has to drink. Once the pieces are knocked down, player 1's turn has ended and it is player 2's turn. This one can be spiced up with the following version...
Speed round/ Sudden death: Player 1 has 1 minute to stack all the blocks into one tower. If player 1 does not succeed, player two has 1 minute to do the same. The player that stacks a tower using all the blocks first is the winner.
Variations
Stack many small piles according to shape before Baby can get them. IF the shapes fit into a container, fill container before Baby starts removing them. Build a pyramid before Baby destroys it...and so on. Get the point?
Yes, this is what I do with my weekends;)
There are educational benefits to baby, but I'm much too drunk to remember them;) Just Kidding DCYS, I'm sober.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Monday, July 26, 2010
Peek a boo, I love you!
So, I'm killing time before I absolutely don't want to sit in front of a computer any more. Camp started today, and Stefan was amazing! I still can't get over it. If you're in my family, you wouldn't think it was the same baby. We arrived in the class room, I set up everything, and plopped him down in a super mini pack and play (it is only 1 foot tall and 2 feet long), and he played through the first couple of hours. He only became a little crabby because he was hungry. We sang him some songs (thank you Summer Song children for helping entertain the baby!) and he was fine until I was done teaching. Then he sat with me at home through lesson planning and practicing flute. Are there misaligned planets? Hopefully they don't move!
We've been attending Kindermusik Summer Camps. One for his age with singing (Peek-a-boo, I love you), and another, for a larger age span for signing...that being more for me, since I'll be teaching it in the fall. Plus it jump started me signing with him. SO, it is so cool, every time I sing the Hello song from the baby "Peek a boo" class, his whole face lights up in a smile. Hurray for the emotional connection music offers! We also sing a fish song every night while feeding the fish...same face-lighting smile!
He'd knock someone down just to see the cats so he can laugh and squeal at them. He thought Kelder hanging out with us by the pool was THEE most hilarious thing ever. I'm really getting a kick out of all "thee most hilarious things" ever too. There are new funny things every day. Sometimes two:) Sneezing always cracks him up and his farts- so he's about as mature as any male I know. Then there are other random unexplainable funny things. We're having a ton of fun.
One of the best accomplishments is how well sleeping has been going. Now we're down to a few minutes of fussing, if that, after I read a story and rock him for a bit. It has gotten to the point that I want to sit and just watch him sleep well after he's drifted off because it's finally so much better. I'm keeping my fingers crossed it continues.
He's started communicating vocally, which is interesting. I'm learning what his various grunts and screams mean. Like, "don't shove any more food in my mouth, Mom" and "I really really want to get up, but I can't do anything but sit, Mom." He has started liking tummy time a little more. He wines about it instead of full out wailing. He's started trying to move forward by digging his big toes into the rug and pushing. So he's mobile, a centimeter at a time. He likes to clap toys together and slap things. He's very good about taking everything out and not putting it away, I'm sure my mom would love to hear about that retribution she's getting through him;)
That is it for now...time to get some relaxation in before bed and camp tomorrow.
We've been attending Kindermusik Summer Camps. One for his age with singing (Peek-a-boo, I love you), and another, for a larger age span for signing...that being more for me, since I'll be teaching it in the fall. Plus it jump started me signing with him. SO, it is so cool, every time I sing the Hello song from the baby "Peek a boo" class, his whole face lights up in a smile. Hurray for the emotional connection music offers! We also sing a fish song every night while feeding the fish...same face-lighting smile!
He'd knock someone down just to see the cats so he can laugh and squeal at them. He thought Kelder hanging out with us by the pool was THEE most hilarious thing ever. I'm really getting a kick out of all "thee most hilarious things" ever too. There are new funny things every day. Sometimes two:) Sneezing always cracks him up and his farts- so he's about as mature as any male I know. Then there are other random unexplainable funny things. We're having a ton of fun.
One of the best accomplishments is how well sleeping has been going. Now we're down to a few minutes of fussing, if that, after I read a story and rock him for a bit. It has gotten to the point that I want to sit and just watch him sleep well after he's drifted off because it's finally so much better. I'm keeping my fingers crossed it continues.
He's started communicating vocally, which is interesting. I'm learning what his various grunts and screams mean. Like, "don't shove any more food in my mouth, Mom" and "I really really want to get up, but I can't do anything but sit, Mom." He has started liking tummy time a little more. He wines about it instead of full out wailing. He's started trying to move forward by digging his big toes into the rug and pushing. So he's mobile, a centimeter at a time. He likes to clap toys together and slap things. He's very good about taking everything out and not putting it away, I'm sure my mom would love to hear about that retribution she's getting through him;)
That is it for now...time to get some relaxation in before bed and camp tomorrow.
Monday, July 19, 2010
And then there were two...
Saturday morning, Stefan greeted me with a huge smile sporting 2, yes 2 teeth! I can't believe they came so fast together. Perhaps that is why he no longer wants solids. This is cut short, he just woke up! Pictures to follow when he's down again. Hoping to get the birth story up soon, too, because why bother being chronological?
Thursday, July 15, 2010
The Birth Story
Written in January, edits/additions now in green...I was going to edit this for content, but if I wait for that to happen, it will be posted next to his college graduation story. So here is the rambling Lisa version. Cheers!
Stefan George (which turns out to be a combo of two of our family names: Stefan from Sean's Great Grandfather, and George, a family name that has passed through generations on my mother's side, my Grandmother, Georgianna had it last. )
Born Dec16 @1:31 pm
8lbs, 6 oz, 21 in.
EDD Dec. 6
After 3 nights of heavy contractions that never progressed to active labor, I went to a Doctors Appointment, and was sent to L&D for the second time (after being sent home on the first of these 3 days). The first trip in to L&D, I was put in an observation room. I was a finger tip dilated and his head wasn't engaged. They kept me there a 1/2 hour, had me walking the halls. I had been doing so much walking in our unusually warm December that I could have told them, this extra 1/2 hour wasn't going to do anything. So we head straight to the hospital, as our bags have been in the car for a while, just in case. This time, instead of being put into the observation room, I'm sent to an actual room and they start the admissions process... I'm thinking, "This is it!" and "OH MY GOD, I'm about to be a mom, "holy crap" might have been more accurate.
I tell the nurse about my past few nights, and have a contraction while on the monitor, to which she says "That one was a big one!" and I tell her that was nothing compared to what I've been going through, and that my contractions at home last up to 7 minutes. She was a bit shocked. I thought I was just being whiny after a while, turns out, I don't think I was. I remember, I couldn't even feel the contraction the nurse pointed out. The past few nights, I felt like someone was knifing me from the inside. I haven't been knifed before, but I have cut into my fingers;) I'd rather cut off one of my fingers than experience those contractions again. OK I'd rather have the pain of cutting off my finger, without actual finger loss.
I was told to walk the halls to get things going more (NO way did I actually think this was going to work, what a waste of time, could they feel me rolling my eyes at this!?), as I was only dilated 4cm. Again, I didn't contract or progress much as it was daytime. After spending a few hours there, the Dr. came in and said that I could either stay or go, but I'd be induced the next morning. I was so upset to have to go through another horrible night, I don't understand exactly why they couldn't suck it up and start the induction right then. I was actually more pissed that my hand would be stuck with IV's once again...because the travelling gypsy nurse couldn't get it right the first time...or the second, I think she got it on the third. Hosp. staff kept saying I should go home to be comfortable, get some rest, eat, turns out the only thing home offered was the opportunity to eat solids, which I didn't even want to eat. (Never has chinese take out been so unwelcome) They told me to take Benedryl to help me sleep...that was a JOKE! No way I could sleep through those contractions, and I was just waking up groggy trying to deal with the pain, confused about what was going on. SO I had no sleep for the 4th night, neither did Sean. I tried so hard to let him sleep, but honestly it really sucked dealing with all that pain alone. Again I was left to pace the house, a giant track of the living room and kitchen with places to stop and contract, like the exercise ball or the wall. The cats kept me company on the ball, I love my kitties:)
We returned to the hosp. for the induction, only I had dilated more, so they let things go on their own. Cool with me, I didn't want pitocin, hoping to go natural. SO I walked and did the ball, and rocking chair, things were kind of moving along. The Dr. came and offered to break my water (I"m so psyched that the Dr. I love of the 3 was on call!! and the nurse I had on my first visit, who was really awesome, was also my nurse, not the doofy traveling nurse from the day before), but she found it was close to breaking on it's own, so she just let me go. I also was happy they were taking things step by step, so I could decide if I wanted the epi, or whatever.
OK, the only thing I was looking forward to was using the hot tub thing. I think a bathing suit was the first thing I packed. I was hoping to spend most of my labour in it. So things are moving along at whatever pace...I didn't notice and difference between dis organized labour, actual labour, transition...why did I bother with birth classes. It was NOTHING like they said it would be like. So I was holding off on asking about the tub, since I figure I could be there a whole 24 more hours. I am finally at the point of asking the nurse "where" I am in the progression of labour, and when can we bring on the tub, and her response is...."pushing". When the heck did that happen? And I sadly lost hope for the tub. So I'm not sure when they told me about the 8-9 centimeters coming up in the next paragraph.
SO I laboured for about 6 hours, I think, when I got to 8 or 9 cm, and I asked what the next step was...to which the nurse said, "pushing, lets us know when you have the urge!" She was very excited I had gone natural thus far, and that not too many people do and she was appreciative for the experience. Then I THINK I went into transition, I didn't notice too much of a change besides the contractions were nearly impossible to deal with (like the ones I had for the past 4 nights!). She suggested I take some stadol, as I couldn't bring my self to relax and rest in between. I agreed (fun drug:-) and it really helped, at least how I felt, I feel asleep between contractions, nearly forgot I was in labour. Actually I DID forget I was in labour, completely. It was very surreal. I got to pushing, and I don' t know how long I did it for, but I was constantly changing positions, and Sean, the nurse, and the Dr. were doing all these things to get Stefan to move down more, but nothing was working. So then I was told not to push, which was MISERABLE, and nearly impossible.
The Dr. came in, I tied my legs practically behind my head (JK- but I'm flexible, and did have them jacked as far as I could to a birthing position), and tried pushing but again, nothing was happening. The baby's head wasn't fitting and his heart beat kept dropping really low, which was kind of scary. It stopped a few times...I don't know if that happens to all babies during labour, but it was enough for me to start saying in my head that we'd be doing whatever we needed to get him out OK- even if it meant a dreaded C-section...the same thing I was crying about 3 days or 2 days prior. I told Sean, they WOULD NOT cut me... She let me try to push hard a couple of times, but she was afraid that his heart beat was dropping too low. So I was went in for an emergency c-section. IT was really hectic and that thing we saw in birthing class that I thought would never happen. Luckily the heart beat came up enough that I only had a spinal, and wasn't completely under and Sean could come in with me. That whole thing was also surreal, I was in my own episode of ER!! And I was the star on the table. I pretty much remember every thing from the "We're going to have to do and emergency C-section" through Stefan's birth clear as day. Lots of adrenalin I guess! I assume it was routine. Sean sat by my head and talked to me while he tried not to watch them cut my guts open. It was by FAR the easiest part of the whole thing!
Stefan was born, and taken directly to where ever they do tests, Sean saw him from where he sat next to me, and before I went into recovery, they showed me the baby for a few seconds, then took him away for more testing due to the heart beat stuff, I think. Then I had to wait a few hours to see/hold him, which totally sucked. They finally brought him down and I breast fed, not so successfully, but we're learning:-)
Well still breast feeding...that was a long 2 months of getting it down, but it's working great now. Every time I pack the diaper bag and not have to think about bottles and reheating etc. I smile:)
The only thing I really am sad about is that I didn't get to have the baby on my chest after pushing him out. I wanted that immediate connection to him, that joy after the hardest work in my life, and I don't feel like I had that at all. In fact, if I had been able to, I would have put up much more of a stink that I waited back in our room for him forever! He was born at 1:31 and I think it was 5:00 before I got to see him. I feel like it must have been close to an hour that I just sat in the room after recovery, since we called parents, expecting them to take a hour to get there while we bonded with him. However they were coming in the door right after I got to hold him for the first time, Sean hadn't yet had the chance to hold him. The Dr's I will use again if we have another child don't do VBAC (vaginal birth after c-sec.) so while I'm happy that next time I will have a scheduled birth, 2 weeks earlier than the due date, I'm will never have that one part of the birth I've always dreamed about.
Stefan George (which turns out to be a combo of two of our family names: Stefan from Sean's Great Grandfather, and George, a family name that has passed through generations on my mother's side, my Grandmother, Georgianna had it last. )
Born Dec16 @1:31 pm
8lbs, 6 oz, 21 in.
EDD Dec. 6
After 3 nights of heavy contractions that never progressed to active labor, I went to a Doctors Appointment, and was sent to L&D for the second time (after being sent home on the first of these 3 days). The first trip in to L&D, I was put in an observation room. I was a finger tip dilated and his head wasn't engaged. They kept me there a 1/2 hour, had me walking the halls. I had been doing so much walking in our unusually warm December that I could have told them, this extra 1/2 hour wasn't going to do anything. So we head straight to the hospital, as our bags have been in the car for a while, just in case. This time, instead of being put into the observation room, I'm sent to an actual room and they start the admissions process... I'm thinking, "This is it!" and "OH MY GOD, I'm about to be a mom, "holy crap" might have been more accurate.
I tell the nurse about my past few nights, and have a contraction while on the monitor, to which she says "That one was a big one!" and I tell her that was nothing compared to what I've been going through, and that my contractions at home last up to 7 minutes. She was a bit shocked. I thought I was just being whiny after a while, turns out, I don't think I was. I remember, I couldn't even feel the contraction the nurse pointed out. The past few nights, I felt like someone was knifing me from the inside. I haven't been knifed before, but I have cut into my fingers;) I'd rather cut off one of my fingers than experience those contractions again. OK I'd rather have the pain of cutting off my finger, without actual finger loss.
I was told to walk the halls to get things going more (NO way did I actually think this was going to work, what a waste of time, could they feel me rolling my eyes at this!?), as I was only dilated 4cm. Again, I didn't contract or progress much as it was daytime. After spending a few hours there, the Dr. came in and said that I could either stay or go, but I'd be induced the next morning. I was so upset to have to go through another horrible night, I don't understand exactly why they couldn't suck it up and start the induction right then. I was actually more pissed that my hand would be stuck with IV's once again...because the travelling gypsy nurse couldn't get it right the first time...or the second, I think she got it on the third. Hosp. staff kept saying I should go home to be comfortable, get some rest, eat, turns out the only thing home offered was the opportunity to eat solids, which I didn't even want to eat. (Never has chinese take out been so unwelcome) They told me to take Benedryl to help me sleep...that was a JOKE! No way I could sleep through those contractions, and I was just waking up groggy trying to deal with the pain, confused about what was going on. SO I had no sleep for the 4th night, neither did Sean. I tried so hard to let him sleep, but honestly it really sucked dealing with all that pain alone. Again I was left to pace the house, a giant track of the living room and kitchen with places to stop and contract, like the exercise ball or the wall. The cats kept me company on the ball, I love my kitties:)
We returned to the hosp. for the induction, only I had dilated more, so they let things go on their own. Cool with me, I didn't want pitocin, hoping to go natural. SO I walked and did the ball, and rocking chair, things were kind of moving along. The Dr. came and offered to break my water (I"m so psyched that the Dr. I love of the 3 was on call!! and the nurse I had on my first visit, who was really awesome, was also my nurse, not the doofy traveling nurse from the day before), but she found it was close to breaking on it's own, so she just let me go. I also was happy they were taking things step by step, so I could decide if I wanted the epi, or whatever.
OK, the only thing I was looking forward to was using the hot tub thing. I think a bathing suit was the first thing I packed. I was hoping to spend most of my labour in it. So things are moving along at whatever pace...I didn't notice and difference between dis organized labour, actual labour, transition...why did I bother with birth classes. It was NOTHING like they said it would be like. So I was holding off on asking about the tub, since I figure I could be there a whole 24 more hours. I am finally at the point of asking the nurse "where" I am in the progression of labour, and when can we bring on the tub, and her response is...."pushing". When the heck did that happen? And I sadly lost hope for the tub. So I'm not sure when they told me about the 8-9 centimeters coming up in the next paragraph.
SO I laboured for about 6 hours, I think, when I got to 8 or 9 cm, and I asked what the next step was...to which the nurse said, "pushing, lets us know when you have the urge!" She was very excited I had gone natural thus far, and that not too many people do and she was appreciative for the experience. Then I THINK I went into transition, I didn't notice too much of a change besides the contractions were nearly impossible to deal with (like the ones I had for the past 4 nights!). She suggested I take some stadol, as I couldn't bring my self to relax and rest in between. I agreed (fun drug:-) and it really helped, at least how I felt, I feel asleep between contractions, nearly forgot I was in labour. Actually I DID forget I was in labour, completely. It was very surreal. I got to pushing, and I don' t know how long I did it for, but I was constantly changing positions, and Sean, the nurse, and the Dr. were doing all these things to get Stefan to move down more, but nothing was working. So then I was told not to push, which was MISERABLE, and nearly impossible.
The Dr. came in, I tied my legs practically behind my head (JK- but I'm flexible, and did have them jacked as far as I could to a birthing position), and tried pushing but again, nothing was happening. The baby's head wasn't fitting and his heart beat kept dropping really low, which was kind of scary. It stopped a few times...I don't know if that happens to all babies during labour, but it was enough for me to start saying in my head that we'd be doing whatever we needed to get him out OK- even if it meant a dreaded C-section...the same thing I was crying about 3 days or 2 days prior. I told Sean, they WOULD NOT cut me... She let me try to push hard a couple of times, but she was afraid that his heart beat was dropping too low. So I was went in for an emergency c-section. IT was really hectic and that thing we saw in birthing class that I thought would never happen. Luckily the heart beat came up enough that I only had a spinal, and wasn't completely under and Sean could come in with me. That whole thing was also surreal, I was in my own episode of ER!! And I was the star on the table. I pretty much remember every thing from the "We're going to have to do and emergency C-section" through Stefan's birth clear as day. Lots of adrenalin I guess! I assume it was routine. Sean sat by my head and talked to me while he tried not to watch them cut my guts open. It was by FAR the easiest part of the whole thing!
Stefan was born, and taken directly to where ever they do tests, Sean saw him from where he sat next to me, and before I went into recovery, they showed me the baby for a few seconds, then took him away for more testing due to the heart beat stuff, I think. Then I had to wait a few hours to see/hold him, which totally sucked. They finally brought him down and I breast fed, not so successfully, but we're learning:-)
Well still breast feeding...that was a long 2 months of getting it down, but it's working great now. Every time I pack the diaper bag and not have to think about bottles and reheating etc. I smile:)
The only thing I really am sad about is that I didn't get to have the baby on my chest after pushing him out. I wanted that immediate connection to him, that joy after the hardest work in my life, and I don't feel like I had that at all. In fact, if I had been able to, I would have put up much more of a stink that I waited back in our room for him forever! He was born at 1:31 and I think it was 5:00 before I got to see him. I feel like it must have been close to an hour that I just sat in the room after recovery, since we called parents, expecting them to take a hour to get there while we bonded with him. However they were coming in the door right after I got to hold him for the first time, Sean hadn't yet had the chance to hold him. The Dr's I will use again if we have another child don't do VBAC (vaginal birth after c-sec.) so while I'm happy that next time I will have a scheduled birth, 2 weeks earlier than the due date, I'm will never have that one part of the birth I've always dreamed about.
Pickles and Watermelon...are you pregnant? Or How we're taking a step back in BLW
Stefan was getting along famously with avocado and cereal until this week. It all started with some peaches. Fresh, ripe, soft, organic peaches. Stefan hates them and mommy learned that if you keep trying to convince a baby he wants what you're giving him, you may end up with a lap full of puke. Good gag reflex, Stef.
No problem, lets go back to bananas. Fresh, ripe, succulent, organic banana. Nope, now those are on the "gag until he pukes" list too (no I didn't learn my lesson the first time...or rather, I'm persistent).
Ok, no problem, lets just go back to our old buddy avocado...but, mark my words, mommy is making it thick- you need new textures! Blat!! Even after I thinned it out! That's now on the list. Ok, but how could we go wrong with rice cereal....we could. On the list. He had no clue what to even do with cheerios.
A side note: he still salivates over my food, like bacon...so maybe he's just ticked that I get the good stuff;)
In my efforts to be a sassy mommy, I gave him my pickle- just a hint on his lip. Viola- he loved it. Just like he loved water melon the other day- however that is kind of prone to being bitten with Mr. Tooth and chokable chunks come loose, which cause him to gag, then puke, and really has little nutritional value, so don't count on it too soon, Kid.
And just what is BLW and why does all the current food refusal effect it? Baby Lead Weaning, where basically we skip pureed food and head right to solids when he's developmentally ready. However I got a little bored and started him with some solids that could be easily mashed- by my definition, ones that he could eat if left to his own devices.
To be ready for BLW, baby has to exhibit certain signs...sits upright unassisted well, gag reflex lessened/gone, and able to pick up things with a pincher grasp. Then, healthy food is served in pieces that can be held in a fist. Baby experiments more with the new morsels than eats them, is able to explore on his own, and isn't forced to eat foods he don't want. He's not eating for nutrition, but rather for experience. Also, it prolongs the amount of time he receives breast milk, as he isn't filling his belly with solids quite yet.
So, in an effort to work on his gag reflex, I've been thickening his current food, without success. And I think we've worked backward in solid food, but it seems the other babies in his cohort on a forum I read kind of have done the same thing, so we'll just wait this out. Two steps forward, one step back...
No problem, lets go back to bananas. Fresh, ripe, succulent, organic banana. Nope, now those are on the "gag until he pukes" list too (no I didn't learn my lesson the first time...or rather, I'm persistent).
Ok, no problem, lets just go back to our old buddy avocado...but, mark my words, mommy is making it thick- you need new textures! Blat!! Even after I thinned it out! That's now on the list. Ok, but how could we go wrong with rice cereal....we could. On the list. He had no clue what to even do with cheerios.
A side note: he still salivates over my food, like bacon...so maybe he's just ticked that I get the good stuff;)
In my efforts to be a sassy mommy, I gave him my pickle- just a hint on his lip. Viola- he loved it. Just like he loved water melon the other day- however that is kind of prone to being bitten with Mr. Tooth and chokable chunks come loose, which cause him to gag, then puke, and really has little nutritional value, so don't count on it too soon, Kid.
And just what is BLW and why does all the current food refusal effect it? Baby Lead Weaning, where basically we skip pureed food and head right to solids when he's developmentally ready. However I got a little bored and started him with some solids that could be easily mashed- by my definition, ones that he could eat if left to his own devices.
To be ready for BLW, baby has to exhibit certain signs...sits upright unassisted well, gag reflex lessened/gone, and able to pick up things with a pincher grasp. Then, healthy food is served in pieces that can be held in a fist. Baby experiments more with the new morsels than eats them, is able to explore on his own, and isn't forced to eat foods he don't want. He's not eating for nutrition, but rather for experience. Also, it prolongs the amount of time he receives breast milk, as he isn't filling his belly with solids quite yet.
So, in an effort to work on his gag reflex, I've been thickening his current food, without success. And I think we've worked backward in solid food, but it seems the other babies in his cohort on a forum I read kind of have done the same thing, so we'll just wait this out. Two steps forward, one step back...
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Houston, We have Tooth!
Finally, after months of anticipation, a tooth has appeared. There would be a picture here, however, I can barely jam my finger in there to apply pain relief gel. So...play pretend.
The official tooth spotting date was Monday, July 12th, at 6 months and 3 weeks old. Not sure why people look forward to teeth so much except for the fact that once one is down, there is one less to have to console him through. I mean, a tooth is cute and all, and it's another step closer to being able to eat without Mom around, but I'm not nearly as happy as I imagine I'll be when he has a full scholarship to Juliard.
So now he can chomp his way through cereal and avocado, his two favorites, and actually the only two he'll eat without subsequently puking all over the place. He has one effective gag reflex. We'll try the cheerios, bananas and peaches again later.
The official tooth spotting date was Monday, July 12th, at 6 months and 3 weeks old. Not sure why people look forward to teeth so much except for the fact that once one is down, there is one less to have to console him through. I mean, a tooth is cute and all, and it's another step closer to being able to eat without Mom around, but I'm not nearly as happy as I imagine I'll be when he has a full scholarship to Juliard.
So now he can chomp his way through cereal and avocado, his two favorites, and actually the only two he'll eat without subsequently puking all over the place. He has one effective gag reflex. We'll try the cheerios, bananas and peaches again later.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Here Sleepy sleepy sleep...
Here's the list of what we do, I read Stefan's cue for what works, it changes daily:
These first two really help all the time but can't necessarily be done all the time.
Bathing: A quick bath before bed really calms the wild spirit!
Swaddling/ Blanket wraping: Swaddling at first, now just around him to make transferring from my arms to a bed smoother.
Nightly we use:
Rocking: all directions, slow, fast.
Bouncing: from a light pat on the back all the way to me full body dipping. Also use and exercise ball.
Singing: all sorts of songs, calm ones, and if that doesn't work...
Shushing: soft to loud.
Nursing: laying in bed so I don't have to move him once a sleep.
Occasionally:
Reading: a book or two, but usually this is kind of stimulating.
Laying in bed: with my back to him, to demonstrate sleep, not give him attention, yet be there and not ignoring cries that need my attention.
And when all that fails:
Get up and play it out:) Much more fun then Cry It out! Then we try to get some sleep at the very next time he shows signs of sleep.
These first two really help all the time but can't necessarily be done all the time.
Bathing: A quick bath before bed really calms the wild spirit!
Swaddling/ Blanket wraping: Swaddling at first, now just around him to make transferring from my arms to a bed smoother.
Nightly we use:
Rocking: all directions, slow, fast.
Bouncing: from a light pat on the back all the way to me full body dipping. Also use and exercise ball.
Singing: all sorts of songs, calm ones, and if that doesn't work...
Shushing: soft to loud.
Nursing: laying in bed so I don't have to move him once a sleep.
Occasionally:
Reading: a book or two, but usually this is kind of stimulating.
Laying in bed: with my back to him, to demonstrate sleep, not give him attention, yet be there and not ignoring cries that need my attention.
And when all that fails:
Get up and play it out:) Much more fun then Cry It out! Then we try to get some sleep at the very next time he shows signs of sleep.
Some Ideas on Monsterous Sleep Issues
Stefan has struggled with night time sleep since birth. I think there have been 3 issues plaguing him. Diet (milk allergy), Sleep (or lack thereof) and a busy mind or body. I'm hoping this story and some of the info. may help someone out there in the same position. It's not you, it's your baby. It's really hard to know what they are trying to tell you when they only have a cry. Now at 6.5 months, my memory is kind of fuzzy (see it gets better), but I'll try to recap. I know I have left out some stuff we do to help, do check out the following post on techniques getting a high needs baby to sleep).
Let me start with how we sleep. I feel pretty strong about parenting the baby to sleep (babies sleep patterns are different, they don't necessarily drift off to sleep like an adult)- I don't follow all of one parenting style, attachment parenting would be what I do the most, but I've found, you can't predict a baby and you can't lock yourself into any ONE fashion of parenting. So, he has my bed, a co-sleeper attached, and a crib in his room. At night, he sleeps in bed with me, occasionally making his way to the sleeper. At first, it was just really hard to lift him from the sleeper (I had an emergency c-section after 4 days of unmedicated labor- I was hurtin' for about 2 months before I felt human again). It's also easier to nurse while sleeping if he's in bed with me. Until about 4-5 months he slept in everything but the "bed" places for naps or before I headed to sleep. Car seat was his favorite, then swing chair, sometimes the carriage. He's often in our bed, since I can sneak out ofter nursing him to sleep without moving him.
The first days in the hospital (I was there 3-4), he was mellow. Sean made the mistake of pointing out how "chill" he was. I guess anyone would be after what he'd been through. We arrived home and he started showing signs that something was wrong. Here is proof of where "Cry it out" (CIO) would have been detrimental- and this was before we realized it should never be used on children under 6 months. He'd start wailing, at 2 weeks old (too young for colic), starting at around 4 pm and this could go on until 12 am. The worst stretch was 6 hours of blood curdling screams. CIO isn't a practice I really agree with, but as confused, new parents out of ideas, I gave it a try. He cried one night for hours. I'm not sure what the "it" part of CIO is, he didn't get it out, and still hasn't.
At 2 months, things seemed to get a bit better. Stefan waited until 6 pm to start the wailing, and stopped usually by 11 pm. Some nights it was all those hours, sometimes just a couple. He started staying awake more during the day. Pretty soon, he started with this constant eye rubbing. It went on a few weeks, I thought they were itchy, a part of his eczema. Sean told me to mention it to the Pediatrician (Pedi), and I did, and he had nothing to offer, really. I believe that was at our 4 month visit, where we were more concerned with the milk allergy. I don't even think I mentioned his inability to get to sleep or night time fussiness, I just assumed he was being a baby. Then came the big light bulb moment: He's rubbing his eyes because he's sleepy. DUH!
I had been letting him "choose" when he took a nap. If he didn't sleep all day, I really didn't question it. "Baby knows what Baby needs", right? Well not ALL the time. I started working on getting him down 3 times a day for naps. It was hard. By the last nap, then subsequent bed time, I was so tired of putting him down, I often resorted to the baby swing. Here's why...
At the first sign of sleep- an eye rub or yawn- I hopped into a darkened, quiet room. Then I'd try to nurse, shush, and rock him to sleep. This isn't comfy rocking chair rocking. It's aggressive dipping (like dead lifts if you know weight lifting), broad swaying with lots of bouncing, lots of knee bending (I literally don't have much cartilage in one of my knees from injuries, and I tell you, sometimes it hurts like heck to rock my boy). Loud shushing accompanied- really loud. Louder than his cries. After an hour or two, he'd fall asleep. If he didn't, by the 3rd hour, I was reaching for the swing chair. With loud music playing (from the chair), and the swing set to at least a 4 (out of 6), he'd cry for a while longer, before passing out.
Sleep begets sleep. After getting him to take those naps, his temperament regarding sleep was easier. Not wonderful, but better. Once the casein (what causes the allergy to milk) was out of my and his system, things became a easier still. The first nap of the day was and is always the best, he'd go down within a 1/2 hour. The rest were steadily harder. But, at this point (4-6 months) usually took only 1 hour to put him down at night. Other times 2, occasionally more than that. But all of this was still taxing...I mean at the end of a 24 hour day, I had spent 4-6 hours trying to put Stefan to sleep. That's way too many for his age, I thought.
I jumped on my Facebook mommy circuit- and soon was getting all sorts of advice. The best gem being the exercise ball in place of standing and rocking. It was a knee saver! And it worked more times than not. Bathing before bed is also a wonderful technique that works more often than not I was also reassured that I was doing my best, it's just a phase, and we do what we need to do to get by, ie I'm not a child abuser because I resort to the swing chair to get him to sleep some nights. Reassurance is sometimes the best "advice". It really helped me regroup and refocus my efforts on wanting to parent Stefan to sleep.
Now at 6.5 months, he's doing better. In the past week, I've put him down for his first nap by simply laying him in his crib. He fussed a bit, but drifted off very easily. In the past couple of days he's gone down for the night in about 20 minutes time- that is he nurses to sleep and I take a little snooze until I know I can roll out of bed without waking him- he's in deep sleep.
I currently don't schedule naps- there are times when I break that schedule, and other times where he does. It just doesn't seem necessary or worth it now. He has created a schedule that includes a late morning, mid afternoon, and early evening nap...though he may miss one of those so it throws off the others. His patter is more awake for 2-4 hours, sleep for 1-2 until bed time. And no, he does not sleep through the night. He's a baby, who mostly breastfeeds, and nature built him so that he wakes when he's hungry. Some times that means every couple of hours, with a larger 5 hour stretch somewhere in there.
At this point, I think I'm dealing with his over active brain or body- or both. Last night, he seemed to not be able to shut off his body, though his eyes and mind certainly wanted a break. Other times, I think his crying is because, like me, I can't shut my thoughts off at night. So it's an on going thing, trying to figure out what works best, and just when I have the magical combination of rocking, singing, shushing, and nursing, something changes and I have to figure out how to revamp the process.
I plan to have the sleep enticing tricks I've used in another post...sooner than later if he doesn't wake up from this nap soon!
Let me start with how we sleep. I feel pretty strong about parenting the baby to sleep (babies sleep patterns are different, they don't necessarily drift off to sleep like an adult)- I don't follow all of one parenting style, attachment parenting would be what I do the most, but I've found, you can't predict a baby and you can't lock yourself into any ONE fashion of parenting. So, he has my bed, a co-sleeper attached, and a crib in his room. At night, he sleeps in bed with me, occasionally making his way to the sleeper. At first, it was just really hard to lift him from the sleeper (I had an emergency c-section after 4 days of unmedicated labor- I was hurtin' for about 2 months before I felt human again). It's also easier to nurse while sleeping if he's in bed with me. Until about 4-5 months he slept in everything but the "bed" places for naps or before I headed to sleep. Car seat was his favorite, then swing chair, sometimes the carriage. He's often in our bed, since I can sneak out ofter nursing him to sleep without moving him.
The first days in the hospital (I was there 3-4), he was mellow. Sean made the mistake of pointing out how "chill" he was. I guess anyone would be after what he'd been through. We arrived home and he started showing signs that something was wrong. Here is proof of where "Cry it out" (CIO) would have been detrimental- and this was before we realized it should never be used on children under 6 months. He'd start wailing, at 2 weeks old (too young for colic), starting at around 4 pm and this could go on until 12 am. The worst stretch was 6 hours of blood curdling screams. CIO isn't a practice I really agree with, but as confused, new parents out of ideas, I gave it a try. He cried one night for hours. I'm not sure what the "it" part of CIO is, he didn't get it out, and still hasn't.
At 2 months, things seemed to get a bit better. Stefan waited until 6 pm to start the wailing, and stopped usually by 11 pm. Some nights it was all those hours, sometimes just a couple. He started staying awake more during the day. Pretty soon, he started with this constant eye rubbing. It went on a few weeks, I thought they were itchy, a part of his eczema. Sean told me to mention it to the Pediatrician (Pedi), and I did, and he had nothing to offer, really. I believe that was at our 4 month visit, where we were more concerned with the milk allergy. I don't even think I mentioned his inability to get to sleep or night time fussiness, I just assumed he was being a baby. Then came the big light bulb moment: He's rubbing his eyes because he's sleepy. DUH!
I had been letting him "choose" when he took a nap. If he didn't sleep all day, I really didn't question it. "Baby knows what Baby needs", right? Well not ALL the time. I started working on getting him down 3 times a day for naps. It was hard. By the last nap, then subsequent bed time, I was so tired of putting him down, I often resorted to the baby swing. Here's why...
At the first sign of sleep- an eye rub or yawn- I hopped into a darkened, quiet room. Then I'd try to nurse, shush, and rock him to sleep. This isn't comfy rocking chair rocking. It's aggressive dipping (like dead lifts if you know weight lifting), broad swaying with lots of bouncing, lots of knee bending (I literally don't have much cartilage in one of my knees from injuries, and I tell you, sometimes it hurts like heck to rock my boy). Loud shushing accompanied- really loud. Louder than his cries. After an hour or two, he'd fall asleep. If he didn't, by the 3rd hour, I was reaching for the swing chair. With loud music playing (from the chair), and the swing set to at least a 4 (out of 6), he'd cry for a while longer, before passing out.
Sleep begets sleep. After getting him to take those naps, his temperament regarding sleep was easier. Not wonderful, but better. Once the casein (what causes the allergy to milk) was out of my and his system, things became a easier still. The first nap of the day was and is always the best, he'd go down within a 1/2 hour. The rest were steadily harder. But, at this point (4-6 months) usually took only 1 hour to put him down at night. Other times 2, occasionally more than that. But all of this was still taxing...I mean at the end of a 24 hour day, I had spent 4-6 hours trying to put Stefan to sleep. That's way too many for his age, I thought.
I jumped on my Facebook mommy circuit- and soon was getting all sorts of advice. The best gem being the exercise ball in place of standing and rocking. It was a knee saver! And it worked more times than not. Bathing before bed is also a wonderful technique that works more often than not I was also reassured that I was doing my best, it's just a phase, and we do what we need to do to get by, ie I'm not a child abuser because I resort to the swing chair to get him to sleep some nights. Reassurance is sometimes the best "advice". It really helped me regroup and refocus my efforts on wanting to parent Stefan to sleep.
Now at 6.5 months, he's doing better. In the past week, I've put him down for his first nap by simply laying him in his crib. He fussed a bit, but drifted off very easily. In the past couple of days he's gone down for the night in about 20 minutes time- that is he nurses to sleep and I take a little snooze until I know I can roll out of bed without waking him- he's in deep sleep.
I currently don't schedule naps- there are times when I break that schedule, and other times where he does. It just doesn't seem necessary or worth it now. He has created a schedule that includes a late morning, mid afternoon, and early evening nap...though he may miss one of those so it throws off the others. His patter is more awake for 2-4 hours, sleep for 1-2 until bed time. And no, he does not sleep through the night. He's a baby, who mostly breastfeeds, and nature built him so that he wakes when he's hungry. Some times that means every couple of hours, with a larger 5 hour stretch somewhere in there.
At this point, I think I'm dealing with his over active brain or body- or both. Last night, he seemed to not be able to shut off his body, though his eyes and mind certainly wanted a break. Other times, I think his crying is because, like me, I can't shut my thoughts off at night. So it's an on going thing, trying to figure out what works best, and just when I have the magical combination of rocking, singing, shushing, and nursing, something changes and I have to figure out how to revamp the process.
I plan to have the sleep enticing tricks I've used in another post...sooner than later if he doesn't wake up from this nap soon!
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
STEFAN
Smiles abound
Talk talky talk
Eats my cups
Flirty eyebrow flutters
Aeroplane Baby
No paper left unripped
...waking! Time to go get the baby!
Talk talky talk
Eats my cups
Flirty eyebrow flutters
Aeroplane Baby
No paper left unripped
...waking! Time to go get the baby!
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