The Second day o fthe Rest of Your Life

Hey how about we go back to the pre-bacon you that slept through the night. I don't like the 2 am play date Sha nay-nay had last night followed by the fussing until day light. Thank you for the almost hour of sleep before work this morning.

How about some pics to lighten the mood?

I like the 70's quality of this edited pic. It makes you look like mommy did in her baby pics.

If you can't read it, the pic to the left says, "Input". Hence the pic to the right. Yup, that shirt is all Dad.





Every morning we watch the cats eat (because it buys Mommy some time in cleaning/cooking in the kitchen:).





Well blogger and photos kinda is annoying, so that is it for now. Time to rescue Immobile Stefan from the frustration of "Roll ME!" ball!

Today is the First Day of the Rest of Your Life

Well, Monster, Mommy owes you an apology...sorry about that milk I consumed. I was hoping the allergy lessened, but it didn't. It's is just as horrible as ever. Let's add swollen adenoids to the list of bad things that I do to you when I have casein. Basically that means that it is really hard for you to breath, especially at night or when you've been crying. And that means Mom feels really guilty from about 6 pm until the morning. I can't believe I've forgotten to read all the labels already (it was yogurt in masala, I was hoping there wasn't so much yogurt in it). Though, today marks the beginning of me preparing more food at home (again, I've been slacking), not using pre-prepared stuff or eating out any more, except for monthly sushi:) Nom nom nom!

In fact, today, marks the beginning of a couple of things. Last night you slept through the night- no snacky nom noms at all. I can't remember my last "full" night of sleep (6 hours!)...I know I had them during the first trimester- hell, I wanted to sleep all the time then. The achiness of always having to sleep on my side kicked in during the 2nd, and that is about the time I recall having a lot of sleepless nights...so I'm calling it first night's sleep in a year- for everyone!

Another first- holding food and eating it! Or rather, holding teething relief (you still haven't held food really). A teething biscuit was more handy than the ice holder, which you make me hold anyway. It took a few seconds to coordinate hand and mouth, but you accomplished it! Hopefully that skill will transfer over to all food soon. Right now, if you eat it at all, you bring your mouth to the table and try to get it in. Very amusing now, not so hot with the ladies in a few years though. Abby will never want to play babies with you if you keep that up!

And now, why in fact is TODAY the first day of the rest of your life? Drum roll please...
We added bacon to your list of foods you have tried! I'm not sure where the article went, but there is proof that babies don't need to wait until a year to try certain foods. Foods that cause allergies like peanuts and strawberry are on there. Then there are ones that I don't think are there for allergy reasons...like meat...like BACON! Anyway, much like all the other "rules" people swear by, the foods on the not-below-1-year list are being questioned by doctors. Where as it was thought that cereal was a great first food, it shouldn't be the only, and really, probably shouldn't be given all that much- being a carbohydrate with little nutrition. Even the iron contained in it isn't readily absorbed (especially compared to that in breast milk), and other sources of certain nutrients are better for you. Regarding the allergenic food, not eating it won't save you from having an allergy down the road, so we'll just make sure you're not having reactions when we try them. Unfortunately you've missed strawberry season this year! In addition, we need to remind me that "food is fun until age one", repeatedly, as I keep getting needlessly concerned with your eating habits. I honestly don't know what I second, third, 4th, 5th guess everything I do.

But back to bacon...you actually just sucked on a little meaty strip, made your typical "new food-ew" face and I took it away once you started wiping the table with it. It's OK, we'll work on how you should treat bacon in the future. Kinda the same treatment as beer, except if some falls on the floor, you don't HAVE to suck it out of the rug;)

A letter From Stefan

To whom it may concern,
I'm sorry Mom didn't get very much done for you today. The dishes were left on the counter a little longer, the garden only half weeded, only 1 of two flutes repaired, and the office carpet is still only a little cut up instead of removed. My room goes unpainted another day, only one Kindermusik class practiced (though she is really excited about where she practiced that one lesson), and only one chapter of educational reading completed. Lunch was hot dogs instead of something much more healthy and yummy and only the diapers were washed, leaving 2 more loads until who knows when. I do apologize, but we had a lot of business to attend to.

First there was the morning meeting over breakfast. I gave that rice cereal sludge a try, but honestly, how can I ever go back to it after finding my new loves: grilled veggies and lentil soup. There was a rumor of nap time, but I headed that off quickly, reminding Mom that we've been cooped up inside the whole week watching it rain, and it was necessary to take a business trip to the walking path. This is where she practiced Kindermusik, singing me songs as we walked enjoying the scenery. We stopped to chat up a butterfly before returning home.

After a brief nap and a short conference call with Shawny, we supped on grilled red peppers and mushrooms. I can't have hotdogs yet, so I just watched, but one day I will consume their sweet meatiness. Though I think I'll make mine out of bacon...(Abby, give me a call and we'll do lunch!) Mom moved her office outside where we had a meeting with Puff (the tortoise) and discovered a snake skin and very cool a frog. Not the peepers from our walk at the meditation park, who made me giggle when they peeped and hopped into the stagnant lilly pad pond. It was a light brown one with a black stripe under it's eye with smooth wet skin. It almost hopped on my blanket (when she chased it there)! I was then immersed in mint, a great ripping plant, and played with the papery wrappers of the string beans which we've let mature for next year's seeds. I think there was more to do, but honestly, I was tired and it was time for a power nap.

I exercised on Mom while she giggled (I'm not sure why). I pull-ups and squats on her lap and teeth on her collar bones. I nodded my head to and fro just because it made the world look cool. I took some breaks to hug her and lay on her shoulder, before starting the whole routine all over again. We practiced actually walking (not that fake walking stuff from last week) while searching for the Kelder Kat, who discovered a great sleeping place under the folded up play yard. And somewhere in there, we tried to practice counting to 3 and "in and out", but honestly, I have no idea what she was talking about.

So though she missed some dead lines, we had a lot more living lines to meet and all those other things WILL get done...eventually.

Sincerely,
Stefan

Sha nay-nay sighting

When I'm hoping to keep things clean, Sha nay-nay finds ripping napkins a great way to help.











No, Stefan didn't arrive to clean...Sha nay-nay decided that breakfast belonged on the floor, hence the immaculate table.

Hey, hey, Sha nay-nay

"He's so adorable, how old is he?" asks a passing stranger. "A little over 8 months.", I reply, happy to engage in yet another conversation about Mr. Personality. "Oh wow, is he a good baby?"
UGH!!!!!!!

Can I say, I HATE that question. It kills every positive conversation. I thought people would stop asking it as he grew up. Nope. Is he a good baby...Are there bad babies? Is there some bad baby gang out there I haven't heard about? I envision their colors are powder blue and the rival gang would be pink. Or maybe the bad baby gangs would wear yellow and green- two neutral colors, so you can't tell what gender they are. They wear little yellow skull caps and watch out for the ones who have one pant leg higher than other (much like Stefan usually is because his clothes never stay put)...they're pakin' baby heat. And the baby dealers out there...you can get all sorts of illegal formula, biscuits, and pacifiers. I believe their secret code is something like, "waaaaaaaaaaaaa!" Most of all, watch out for those quiet bad babies...you never know what their up to...OH wait, that just kicked Stefan out of the bad baby gang.

Quiet honestly, even after working in New Haven, in the middle of the hood, I've met only 1 child I'd consider to be truly evil. And I bet he wasn't really evil, I just didn't take the time to know him. Babies don't really have the ability to be bad, though, and until they are older, don't have the ability to be manipulative either.

Considering that they can't be bad or manipulative, you can see how it's impossible to spoil a baby by holding them a lot or responding quickly to cries. At first I constantly questioned this. There is the old school of thought that wined, "you're spoiling him." vs. attachment philosophy, "his ability to cry is the only way to say he needs something." Responding to his cries teaches him to communicate when he needs mom, and sooner or later, he's learned to refine those cries to what he wants. After many months, I've had a lot of practice translating them. Insatiable shrieking for "hungry", weird shriek or small cry for "teeth pain", a single monotone hum for "tired", a bit of a wimper for "diaper change". He's been slower to crawl/be mobile then some others in his cohort (I'm referring to about 44 other babies whose mom's are in an online pregnancy forum with me), however, I'm not complaining. My baby is still where I left him when I put him down and my house isn't on lock down yet. In fact, I wish I could bottle him just the way he is right now- sitting very well, playing a lot, cute babbly talking, lots of smiles and laughter, and not moving all about the house. I sure know I'll get a run for my money when those feet start walking!

Now, I know those people really mean, "Is he cooperative and quiet?" Just as much as the next baby. I think if he was more quiet when he was young, he'd have some serious problems regarding the milk allergy (see previous posts if you need more info there). Also, I'd have not been so attentive, which I think is why he is ahead in some areas developmentally. He certainly would have been more hungry, and had a lot fewer diaper changes. He knows I'll be there to help him out when he needs me. Compliance isn't always a good thing either. He knows what he wants, and usually gets it, within reason. As he's gotten older, my parenting has changed a little too. At nap and night time, I put him down, usually crying or fussing. He soon drifts off. Now I let him get frustrated enough to cry for a bit when reaching for an out of reach toy and I don't carry, or sling him as much as possible. So while I rave about attachment parenting, I don't think it is the end all answer and that there is no one style that will always work...or will work through out all the months and years of Baby's life. In Kindermusik, parents are directed to "follow your baby", meant literally an figuratively. That is what I profess to do, what I think is the best thing for Stefan at that time.

Most importantly, I've learned to pay attention to him and meet his needs over my own. Instead of fighting him to get repair or house work done, I stop and play or feed him or whatever he happens to need, even if it's just holding him while whatever it is I can't figure out is wrong goes away. OK, I'm sure it's hard to believe that it is hard for me to stop and play...but sometimes I really need to get other things done. I learned that there is "Baby Time"...not spending time, but rather a "clock" type of time. Baby time means that if he's taking a nap, we can't go out, if he's up, I can't get done what I necessarily want, that it takes a bit more time to get out of the house, and that I need to plan around his schedule while not making any definite plans, or promises. Had he not been so demanding at first, I would not have learned this so easily. Quicker acceptance has lead to far fewer headaches.

That all being said, like most of us, there is a Jekyll and Hyde-ness to him. Stefan and Sha nay-nay, actually. Sha nay-nay rears his head around 6 PM or so. Or when a nap time is missed. He wines that one stupid monotone pitch I wish he'd forget and throws his toys about the room. But he's left by sunrise and Stefan is here most of the day.

The Ninth Month: Mr. Personality

"Baby's also a budding comedian (who will do anything for a laugh), an avid mimic (who delights in copying the sounds you make), and a born performer ('And for an encore I'll do that fake cough- again')" ~What to Expect in the First Year (The Ninth Month chapter month describes behavior of an 8 month old)

Damn, they nailed Stefan! I nearly fell on the floor laughing when I came to the fake cough statement. Do they have our place bugged? Stefan prefers to use it as the first line of fire in "NOTICE ME!!!" behavior. But it can really go anywhere, at anytime in the show, and last until someone pays attention and coughs back or it turns into grunting, then a scream, in the escalated "NOTICE ME!!!" game. He's actually been doing it for a couple of months now, but it's still cute. Above is the expectant "look at me!" face you'd most likely see after the cough.

He knows what the camera is all about and puts on his show there too. Mostly not doing the thing that it is supposed to take a picture of. He's finally giving hugs (great feeling!!) and was hugging a stuffed giraffe that is about his size. So cute! I ran for the camera, turned it on while running back so as to waste even the smallest amount of time, auto focused the shot (takes a couple of seconds), clicked, looked at the picture and there is Stefan, giraffe thrown asunder, looking for another toy. Yet another picture missed by a split second. Oh well! If it were back in the olden days of film cameras, we wouldn't have 800 pictures right now, and most of them would have been duds.

This morning, after a sleepless night of teething, I decided to try to sleep in a little. Rather, I decided to refuse to respond to the kicking and poking. Then I hear Sean grumble...he must have gotten poked. It was close to 8:30, when Sean usually gets up, so I just let the Stefan go instead of finding alternate sleeping arrangements. Cough...cough-cough...silence. "Cough...cough....COUGH!" (Can one even exclaim a cough?) I gave a grunt and my arm which he played with while I caught a few more minutes of rest. My elbow, hand, and fingers were taste tested, manipulated for a whole, then he moved onto flipping sheets and pillows, babbling and blowing raspberries until I decided to open my eyes. Which brings me to one of my favorite parts of the day: Morning smiles! "Yay, Mom's up, time to play!!" I remember that feeling...so bored until someone else in the house was up.

He's super cool in the morning. Smiling, playing, demanding attention. He starts the day watching the cats eat (he LOVES the cats more than most things in life) then moves to his play spot in the kitchen while I cook breakfast. By the time I'm cooking my eggs, he gets antsy, I pick him up and we continue to cook together. Then we eat breakfast together: cereal or toast etc. for baby, then whatever is on my plate that I think he'll eat. Today, bread, cheerios and egg whites were a failure. He didn't even taste them, he just gave me the "No way!" look and start sweeping everything on the floor. The egg was shoved in his mouth for a brief second before he made a yuck-face, spit out and tossed on the floor. I think teething effects the whole food game, since the last time he was teething he rejected even his favorites.

We then made our way to the bathroom to do...well, bathroom stuff. He plays with his bathroom toys (toilet paper tubes, sponges, whatever else is clean and laying around) while I get ready for the day. He loves brushing his teeth with Mom, and I can't get over how he is all business about putting the brush in his mouth, while watching as I do the same.

Usually a quick milk snack follows and if it is time, a nap (which is now, thank god! I only wish I could be catching up on sleep now, if only I didn't have full caffeinated coffee, ooops!) Today he immediately did the tired eye rub as soon as he assumed the sleep position in my arms. That is much nicer then when he does "The Squirm" until I get annoyed and plop him in his crib. I have found that he really settles easily when laid on his side, especially if there is a toy to look at while he drifts off. An hour or sometimes 3 later he rises and the fun beings again!

His sassiness is starting to come out...not a bad sassy, though. He really gets excited over certain toys, especially when they are taken out of toy rotation for a while. His face lights up like he's seeing an old friend. When we play building towers- actually he plays destroying towers- he becomes really intense and focused on knocking everything down. When he's done with a toy, he's started tossing it with "disgust" and if I take a fun toy, he protests (not for too long though). He isn't mobile yet, and when toys are just too far for him to rock forward to get, the grunting and screams start. They are identifiable though, short little bursts, with flexed pop-eye arms, as if he's trying to will them back. If only he had inspector gadget arms, he'd be all set!

Last night we went to the street fair Torrington has been having to boost local commerce. He cautiously handed out smiles only to certain people. The Jewelry girl only had a small one, scary biker dude got nothing at all, but if we had gone to the great-grandmotherly toy store lady, she would have been greeted with a huge, toothy smile. Otherwise, he just furrows his brow and takes everything in when we're out.

Often I catch him slapping things and looking at me (a grunt accompanies when I don't look right away). Sometimes I feed him at the computer, and his hand is usually slapping at something on my desk. He hopes it's the keyboard or mouse. One can always tell the "adult-only" type places where I've been sitting with Stefan from the huge clearing the span of his arm's reaching distance.

He makes interesting faces with new or interesting sounds like, "Whoa, did you hear that?" In addition to the attention getting grunts, there is the "I see a cat" squeal, "I love that, do it again" laughing, "no more" grunts, "I'm bored" wailing scream (HATE!), and various eye-brow expressions. What I think is the "teething" yell sounds like a full out banshee scream, but with his throat closed, so it's an indoor voice (nice!). Then there is the tired grumblings accompanied by flailing arms while playing so that toys get scattered all around. When there is no happiness during play, it's time to go to bed!

Oye, speaking of that cough...it seems like nap time is over. That was all too short. Until next post..."cough!"

It's a bird...no a plane...no it's Super Stefan!!

Here he comes to save the day!!! Who knew I lived with a super hero. Mild mannered, eh hem (OK not so mild), Stefan doesn't sleep through the night yet...he's off fighting crime. Whenever there's trouble he's there on the double. Where ever babies have monsters scaring them, he is there! Or if they have remote controls...pressssssciousssss remote controls and telephone receivers.






He can also do Rambo, though you need to submit a special request for that one.

So we're off to Cheerio Land to refuel and then there is much important work to be done...well there must be since we get up so stinkin' early.

Sound of Silence

I have just made the mistake of hopping on the computer to throw up a quick message for Kindermusik parents on FaceBook, which turned into having to post to the Kindermusic Blog, since another teacher popped a quick message up already (gotta spread our messages out ya know), then (here's where it all went awry) I went to baby Pelly's blog, and finally ended up here...because OK, OK I'm procrastinating!! After spending a nice day with Grandma, hanging out relaxing etc, I can't focus on work.

Stefan, you crossed a huge hump last night (there is a point, it all ties together). You were finally able to sit with Grandma and Grandpa (and cousin Pelly, Aunt Melissa and Uncle Matt) without Mommy! And it was fabulous. For the first time, I didn't have to search for you during measures of rest to see where you were being walked. Actually, I was getting better at not searching for you during pieces, as it really screwed up some of my entrances in the past. Who knew I'd completely forget to play the flute, while sitting in a 30 piece band...

Even better, Grandma had a tear free visit. Teething has calmed down for the day, and we all had a great time just playing, taking walks, eating cheerios, and shopping together. Much improved from the picnic of a thousand tears that happened on Sunday.

I tried to tell Melissa that teething hasn't been so bad- despite all day fussing, because compared to colic, it's a breeze! But she doesn't know colic, and Abby has the most precious little cry, so it's all good. (PS this is a random blog entry to get you to her site...My book mark is to pregnancy week 20, and a little out dated:)

And can I say again, as you nap now, happy boy, that I am still amazed that I can put you down, I hear fussing for a bit, but soon you drift off to sleep. I never thought that would happen...well at least I thought it was going to be a couple of years before it did. And there is no exaggeration on that estimate. I still hate to leave you in the crib- trust me I know how you feel taking all these naps when the coolest stuff is probably going on just outside your door (like dish washing and laundry). Rest assured, hanging out with you is usually much cooler than what you're missing. So it is me that should be crying when you go to sleep, not you!

OK Monster, time for Mom to get back to work, and I predict, time for you to wake up so I can't get back to work...or will this be one of those nap straight to bed time nights that I hate...

Some words of encouragement about breast feeding

An "after thought" before you read the thought:) (This has been sitting in the draft box a while). I didn't get why some moms had Breast feeding tickers attached to forum posts or FB profiles. "So what, you sat around and produced milk by doing nothing but eating a few more calories, your baby drank it, kudos." NOW I get it. It's hard to believe so many things could go wrong- bad latching/position, bad Dr's who just don't seem to promote breast feeding and undermine it all, genuine supply issues, allergies, potentially painful mommies and babies, not even considering illness or any other event that draws it to a premature close. Someone told me just when you're going to quit, you'll get it, and it will all fall into place. That is precisely what happened. So if you're breast feeding and the going is getting tough, stick it out, if you really believe it's what is best, and if not, do what is best for you and baby, without guilt. I think it is a great thing, nutritionally and emotionally, and if you've been doing it thus far, you're doing a great job!

Dear Stefan,
Breast feeding...at first, before you were born, I thought it would be so damn weird, and that I'd never get used to it. I didn't think it would be difficult. I thought I'd do it for only a year, then kick ya to the curb;). Turns out I had it all wrong!!

It wasn't weird, and since missing that "baby on your belly" feeling just after your birth, I think it was the perfect thing to connect with you a little right away. It felt so bad at it at first (actually for about 2 months). Latch was a little issue, position was an issue, but neither too bad. Mostly, your milk allergy was a big issue, and my over thinking EVERYTHING! I remember my cousin asking what it felt like and I think I told her something like it was painful and aggravating. If I didn't say that exactly, I thought it. After a month, it was less painful, and just raw. Lanolin cream really helped. Using the pump occasionally to give me a break helped and there were a couple of nights I fed you formula (which you promptly projected across the room- why didn't know you had a milk allergy then?!?). Luckily I had a Lisa, lactation and baby guru, one of my 2 Fluting Major Lisa's from TSC/TCNJ who are both the bomb for always having Lisa support and Lisa power- we were a silent triumvirate. Well not so silent I guess:)

Every time I've wanted to give up on Breast Feeding, Lisa has really been there to say, "Listen to your baby, listen to your heart, don't give up!" (not a direct quote). Around month 2 is when I first really wanted to stop. You writhed in pain, which hurt both of us physically, and hourly feedings were seriously too much. I actually didn't leave the house for 2 months, and I think hourly feedings were one of the reasons (then there was sub zero temperatures and swine flu). Two of my biggest supporters, Mom and Husband, were at the point of telling me to switch to formula, which probably fueled my desire to make this work even more. I don't do well with people telling me "no". I also wanted to give you the best diet I could, considering my typically bad diet and how most of the people in our family die, due to illness from bad diets. I persisted, since that is what I do, feeding you on demand, hourly. Nighttime was the best since you slept for a few hours and when you did wake to feed, you were right by my side and I could easily fall back alseep while you ate, one of the other reasons I was adamant about breast feeding.

This part is for the mommies, Stefan. Here's my problem with the Dr., repeat of info. if you've been reading all the posts here, so I'm sorry...but you'd think you could trust your health care professional!! I mean mine was really BAD, but I have heard of others who tell things they think are true, which just aren't. So if your Dr. says "your milk isn't nutritious enough for you baby" beware. Yes, our milk is nutritious enough. Don't even question it. It is more digestible than anything else we can give our babies and specially create by ourselves for what our baby needs right at that time. "You're not making enough milk for your baby" If baby is healthy and gaining weight you're doing OK. If you're feeding baby on demand, not on some set schedule dictated by a book, you're OK. Hourly feedings are OK and will stretch out over time, don't worry!! "Drinking from the breast, babies take in air, causing gas." DID THIS GUY EVEN TAKE HIGH SCHOOL BIO??? I didn't know I had air pockets in my breasts, I surely would have pumped them up if I had known! We don't have air in our breasts, and the air the baby takes in is from crying, not breast feeding. Finally I was told "You need more calories in your milk, drink juice, not water. Plants drink water, we are not plants!" Not even justifying this with a response, Idiot DR.!

There was a turning point, I think around the end of the 2nd month, where I was at my wit's end. That was it. I was giving up. I talked to Lisa, other moms, etc, and for one final time they convinced me to keep it up. I'm so happy I did, after that final bump (I can't even remember what it was, but only that it is there), things were a lot smoother. By month 3 I realized that I could keep doing this for a long time...it didn't hurt any more, I stopped convincing myself everything I was doing was wrong, and just went with the flow. Kelly Mom was a great resource through all these months as well.

Month 4 the milk allergy was discovered, almost by mistake (I nearly forgot to mention to the Dr. the symptom that brought everything into light!). After 2 weeks of de-toxing, we were really good to go. You were a pro, I was confident, things were great.

Now we have mostly good times with it all...I love that I don't need to keep track of bottles, keep them washed, keep formula, and every time I pack the diaper bag, I'm so happy this isn't one of the things I have to worry about- where will I heat the milk, how will I keep it cold, do I have enough for x,y,z...and when I falter, I first turn to a book who then tells me to listen to my baby. ie last night. I was done with night feedings for the second time.

"That's it, Substitute Pedi said he doesn't need them, so he doesn't need them." But then you cry, and cry and don't stop...I know I get thirsty at night, I'll just give you a nip. But as I sat feeding you, timing out a minute so you didn't think it was a whole big meal, I realized, it would be so much more healthy to feed you small meals continuously (considering the diabetes and heart issues in my family, doing anything I can to keep your insulin levels stable would be good). Then empathy kicked in...how would I feel, helpless, hungry, and pushed back into the co sleeper, despite an empty tummy? And is it fair to expect am 8 month old to relegate their hunger to only the daytime when thus far, you've eaten whenever you're hungry. I know you're not a freak-baby because the books suggest feeding on demand up to 2 years old. In addition, feeding breast milk is recommended until at least 2 years old, the first year of which can be exclusively breast milk. Though you eat cereal once a day with iron, it isn't as readily adsorbed as that from my milk (about 47% from my milk verses 4% from the cereal, if I remember my Dr. Sears facts correctly). And when it comes down to it, I really didn't like the Substitute Pedi's advice there or with your inability to get to sleep, which really worked itself out right after she told me to let you cry it out, which I didn't do.

So again, my demonstrative "I'm never doing this again!" is retracted and you keep night feedings. Which has also led me to reconsider pushing so many solids on you at once.That is why I chose BLW , the point of which is to do solids when you're ready, not me.

PS I am the HTML master...this thing was all screwed up with formatting and not fixing itself with buttons on the editor, but I busted out the HTML, deleted some stuff, and it's all good and I wanted to brag about it!

Good Morning, Friday!

"To Start Press Any Key". Where's the ANY key? I see Esk ["ESC"], Catarl ["CTRL"], and Pig-Up ["PGUP"]. There doesn't seem to be any ANY key. Woo! All this computer hacking is making me thirsty. I think I'll order a TAB." ~Homer

Dear Stefan,
Last night Daddy and I sat watching videos of you on mom's camera (the thing that constantly flashes you in the face)...funny how we put up with that tiny little viewer on the camera while wasting the acreage of the wide screen TV with preseason football. I was playing the vidoes and thinking, "Oh great, I'm one of those parents"...the ones that sit and stare at their children, rewatch videos they JUST took, blather on and on about how great their child is. But in retrospect, I get it now- the unexplainable it. And if that "it" wasn't enough, at the very least, Mom "worked" hard to get you into this world and in the last 8 months, we've invested a lot of time, effort, and wakeful hours to keep you healthy and happy. I DO love watching you play all day, but I'll have to say, I not just watching it because you're cute. Mommy loves observing children, how and what they are playing, what happens when "x" occurs and how the child responds, etc. It's what I've done for ten years with everyone else's children, I'm just so excited to finally do it with my own. AND I admitted to Daddy that I take so many videos of you because one day, we'll miss you being this small and cute, and we'll want to sit and watch anything of you that we can get our hands on.

So this very minute you're grooving on Mommy's lap, with a pen that seems perfect to tap on everything. This is keeping your little paws off the "ctrl" key. You really like to push this key while I scroll with the mouse which causes the browser to zoom out and really is very annoying. But if it isn't that key, it's another one, and I'm sure I'll miss moments like these, some day when were trying to extract information about your day in Jr. high and all you''ll say is, "Fine." For now, many times it's hard to get you to be quiet. You haven't found your indoor voice yet, but you're too cute to have that matter. I think you're anxious to leave this computer and start the day. It seems like a good time to get up, you're pen is now put away on the floor with everything else you've tossed down there. Love and Kisses, Monster!

Love,
Mommy

Milestones Age: 8 months

Happy Day, you're 8 months today, despite wearing 12 month clothes! Enjoy all these monthly celebrations, Monsterino!

You Can:

• look to make sure someone is paying attention to your antics.
• roll all over.
• sit well unassisted.
• go well from sitting to laying.
• rock while enroute to laying on your tummy, crawling is around the corner...yikes!
  
• almost pick up small things with your thumb and finger.
• hold both of your feet in both of your hands and clap or suck your toes (many people wish for this amount of flexibility).
• push up assisted to standing.
• stand and play holding onto surfaces.
• clap objects.
• slap.
• give occasional "5's".
• play for extended time on your tummy, though you still complain.
• Communicate with sound, non-verbally.
  
• follow where I point.
  
• know the words "cat/kitty", "Daddy", and "Mommy" when said to you.
• babble m, n, l, d, and g words. You're starting to put consonants at the end of your vowel sounds, like "add" which will easily become Dad:).
  
• turn lights off, and sometimes on.
• almost drink from a cup.
• make sounds while you inhale.
  
• pounce on your toys.
  
• look for interesting toys, people, or animals when they make noise out of sight.
  
• stand without anyone holding you for a couple of seconds (this is your favorite game now).
  
• still love most your first toys, the jingle rattles! But you also really enjoy paper, paper tubes, bags and boxes.
  
• cough/make other sounds to get others to look at or imitate you.
• show separation anxiety, but I'm never too far away!
• try to use a spoon and tooth brush, though mommy helps with the spoon as it is usually full of food!

*Red developmental actions are more commonly seen closer to 12 months.

With your 2 teeth you eat cereal, banana, peach, broccoli, squash of many varieties, avocado, bread, and cheerios (just got one in your mouth by yourself!) though most days you choose not to, despite my persistence. You have also tasted water, watermelon, pickles, Popsicles, juice and beer, and enjoy every one of them. Mostly you're still drinking milk and you still have that darn allergy (Mommy really wants a slice of pizza!!!).

You have a battery of scientific tests for everything...first you observe, then bend in for a closer look. Next you pick up the object, wave it, tap it, clap it, and lick it, not necessarily in that order. The licking is my favorite part because it isn't just a general suck, but rather a little taste with the tip of your tongue, then you think and make a face based on the taste, and perhaps give another little taste before moving on to the next test.

The Cambridge House was your first "eating out" experience. We were there when you were around 4 months, for a few minutes and you were great. Then, after summer camp, you Dad and I went for appetizers and a beer. Everyone loved you!

You have been taking music classes all summer. First we did some Peek-a-Boo I Love You, which now you're favorite song. Then came Sign and Sing. You still don't sign, but I hope you'll show us some soon! Also, you've been attending all my FVB and Torrington Symphony concerts. They are less fun for you since I'm in the band and not with you and they all occur right at your super fussy bed time.

You take 2 naps a day, on average, some days it's 1, others it's 3...most of which you go down for without much fussing- it's wonderful. After you wake and eat, we play blocks/toys, go swimming, play outside, go for walks on the trail or in parks around here.

A couple of weeks ago, you were hanging with the older kids at summer camp, and you taught classes with Mommy:). When you were sad, the kids would sing to you. When you napped, they tiptoed around the class and whispered. Everyone had fun watching you hold the recorder and suck on the end, or play with cheerios. You were very well behaved the whole two weeks!! Mommy is excited you did so well since we will be teaching Kindermusik together in the fall.

PS I have been compiling all this information for a couple of weeks...it has been a lot. Just when I finish adding information for the day, I shut down the computer, and realize I forgot 3 more things, some of which you weren't even doing when I started writing this. I find it amazing how quickly you change and grow. As I type, you're going through a growth spurt...constantly eating (OMG when will you get my supply up and calm this down!), sleeping weird hours (yesterday an almost 4 hour nap!), and your behavior is on a roller coaster this past week- a good one with mostly ups, actually.

Gonna Jinx it!

I just have to shout this from the roof tops, and I'll probably end up jinxing it in doing so, but...
...for the second night ever, Stefan drifted peacefully to sleep in my arms, we rocked for a few minutes (I didn't want to put him down he was too sweet just to sit and stare at), and I gently laid him down. He threw his head back, the way he does so his face doesn't end up smooshed into sheets (or arm pits as the case would be if he was next to me), and he stayed there without a peep for hours. It was bliss!

Now, however, there is all sorts of commotion and I have to go!

Gone Green

At first I thought cloth diapering meant all or nothing, no disposables...no reason why I thought this. I hoped I'd receive some of the g-diapers I picked out on my registry, which had either disposable or cloth inserts, could be thrown in the toilet if disposed, and very cute covers. Unfortunately, they were quite pricey, and when I was finally ready to buy them myself, they ultimately seemed too complicated and expensive. I soon found out that if I was going to save the world I'd be breaking my bank. I held off, not ready to commit to g-diapers and having too many other things to focus on. At about 6 months, my diapering/lactation guru, Lisa, posted her experience with cloth and, as it turns out, her favorite ended up being simple prefolds and covers.

Well, I had prefolds like mad from the shower, and covers couldn't be too much for a couple. Suddenly cloth wasn't going to be so expensive...in fact, it would be under $20 for me to give it a try with crappy gerber plastic covers and some extra diapers. I was soon in love with cloth diapering and wished I hadn't wasted 6 months waiting to start. I had one of those light bulb moments, too: I could use a combination of cloth and disposables, duh! So at night, and when I'm out working with Stefan accompanying, we stick with disposables (a class of 20 children doesn't wait for a diaper change!) But otherwise, it's all cloth!

I was NOT in love with the gerber covers, however, and soon found Econobum Covers, for about $8 a diaper, and they came with wicked thick prefold, good enough for long naps. Yes, I said "wicked", for that Cleveland Steamer of a diaper, much like the night Melissa was married;P. The adjustable daipers have a lot of snaps and are gusseted, so I shouldn't need to buy more for a very long time (if ever). The only other cost consideration is the washing machine (nominal). Total cost (without HE washing machine cost as I don't feel like figuring that out): Under $75. In a month, they have paid for themselves.

So we're happily cloth diapering, I love it, Stefan is doing his part to save the earth, and all is Kittens and Sunflowers here.

PS How To Super Cost Effective...
1 dry diaper pail (I used a small trash can with a lid)

29 prefolds (24 is a great number of prefolds for washing every 3 days or so) I'll be looking for hemp when I actually buy these again.

5 (adjustable) covers (3 could work if I was on a budget, and had back-up plans for if all three were suddenly unusable.) I prefer Econobum.

2 Snappis diaper things (replace pins- they are so worth it, you'd consider them free, despite paying a couple of bucks:). One would suffice, but I lose things.

Solid soiled diapers are rinsed in a the toilet. Everything else goes straight into the pail. Occasionally I add baking soda to keep it fresh. About every three days (taking into consideration time I have, smell of the pail, and sun drying time), I wash the diapers on the most heavy duty setting, with the most rinses possible in our HE front loader. We have to use special detergent, and the wash isn't as abrasive I suppose, but they come out OK doing it this way, which is different than how I've read to care for the diapers. I put white vinegar in the fabric softener dispenser, no it doesn't react with the baking soda. Then they are hung out on the line to dry..the sun is the MOST AMAZING stain remover, bleaching all the poo if allowed to stay out all day. In a bind, I use the dryer, but that makes it all less green:)

I had fun playing with diaper folds. The bikini was best when he didn't sit so much. It seems uncomfortable to have a whole twisted diaper pushing on your sitz bones. A traditional fold is what we use now. AMAZINGLY blow out, up the back diapers do not happen any more or less frequently than with disposables. The aforementioned Lisa, told me of the Jelly Roll, where you roll the sides slightly diagonally from the front. It contains the poo. You Tube has a ton of diaper folding videos.

All work and no play make Stefan a dull boy.

For the past 2 weeks, Stefan has accompanied me to Summer Song, the music camp I've taught in for the past 10 years. This is the year that a little girl, who started the camp and the year long version at age 3, the same year I started teaching, is graduating from our program. It is so strange to have so many children to be connected to through teaching, and now to have my own baby there too. What will be even more interesting is when he stops being a fly on the wall, as it is, and starts being a student too.

Stefan has been doing a wonderful job. He is held most of the time...he is my 20lb. weight loss plan. Yes it would have been cheaper to carry a sack of potatoes for weight loss, but potatoes don't giggle when you poke at them or try to sing with the camp kids, which is much more fun. We do large group music classes (singing, dancing, playing instruments) and small group recorder classes. Today, the second to the last day, he's coming out of his shell and "talking" to the children. He has also become a master of sleeping through recorder classes. I've finally have most of the children trained to touch only his feet. Thankfully neither of us have caught the virus going around.

Though I leave before the musical rehearsals daily (which shaves a couple of hours off our day), things have gone very well and aren't too different from last year. Unfortunately, I haven't put as much attention to figuring out the more difficult children, which for a two week camp, is kind of and act of futility. The best thing, this is the first year I've really lightened up and just had fun at this camp, which I hope carries into all the teaching I will do in the future. We've played a lot of games, sung songs, I've pushed them hard to do things they shouldn't be able to do but did, and we've had fun the whole time.

The cutest thing: the youngest group never misses the Stefan frown and is quick to break into "Twinkle Twinkle" to cheer him up. I've posted about the emotional connection music has (at least I think I wrote about this, I've certainly intended to, but I can't remember much of the past 2 weeks...besides camp there have been busted cars, rental cars, concerts, insurance companies, etc to mention a few...). They are constantly trying to touch him and hold his hand, to connect with him (...I can only imagine how he feels being bombarded by all these strange children daily). However, the connection they have made through song is much stronger than holding his hand. It only takes one round of "Twinkle" to get him to smile, but we usually sing two just because it is so fun to make him happy. At the end of the day, I imagine he appreciates the song much more than the poking. At least I hope he does, we don't need to start creating reasons for therapy this early in his life.

We take off around 1:30, except for performance day. If I'm not supposed to be anywhere (a concert or rehearsal), we've been able to hop in the pool, roll on the bed, and just spend quality time together. If there is an impending concert, we have a little less time to play around, and then starts the concert weight loss plan again...this time for the grandparents who walk him around the park or green while the band plays (Thank you!!!!!!!).

Needless to say, I can't wait for the weekend...probably neither can he. (I can't believe I used to have a hard time getting there and functioning without a baby!) Our only plans are Sign and Sing class, but that is all about Stefan:), and then we'll be off the grid up here at home until Monday!