For those who don't know, my husband and I are both graduates from OU who have very strong feelings for our beloved Sooners (I mean, look at my blog colors). Now knowing this, it would come as no surprise that we were beyond ecstatic to learn that for Christmas my in-laws were sending us to the Sugar Bowl. Being the tried and true Sooners we are, despite the lack of hope from the rest of the country, we held on to one tiny thread that something exciting would happen at this game. If anything, we still wanted to support our team through a likely loss. Long story short, we road tripped to NOLA- A much needed vacay for two very tired parents struggling to stay afloat through an almost three week stint of "baby's teething" sleeps. So to put that in non-parent terms that means sleep is "few and far between."
The road trip down was exciting despite our moderate despair regarding our predicted outcome against Bama. Even the approximate 12 hour, childless drive seemed short compared to the hour and half drive to visit my parents with a screaming toddler in the back. We missed the babe, but let's be honest. We did not miss the responsibility.
Our first night in NOLA we did exactly what I assume most child-free parents would do. WE. WENT. ALL. OUT.....on Bourbon Street with our friends from college that, in a few cases, we had not seen since college. How fun is that?! Now interesting enough our "ALL OUT" meter has shrank dramatically since having a child, and if I'm being really honest, probably since we reached our late 20's even though I know my husband and I would both love to think that we could still keep up with those crazy college kids we once were. We were in bed by 12:30. Lame? No. I am old enough to recognize the value of a good night's sleep.
Anywho, at the end of our night (Yes. Midnight.) our group found ourselves in a sketchy "cabaret." Why we ended up there, I'm still not entirely sure, but I'm pretty sure it started with a conversation about how when I was a child my family took a vacation to NOLA and being the attentive child I was, soon learned what those girls were up to. I, still flabbergasted at the thought, popped up in bed one evening during our stay when my dad was trying to quietly leave our hotel room to get a newspaper or something from the lobby. "You're not going to one of those places, are you?!" I exclaimed, sincerely concerned. After assuring me he was not, and my mom getting a good laugh, I drifted off to sleep. Today, it's still one of my parents favorite stories to tell when the good ole' family stories are being passed around.
Ok, back to the cabaret. When I say sketchy, I mean that the girls were likely on their least hoorah in this line of work and when you walked through the door their was an aura of questionability looming in the air. My gracious husband, as sweet as he is, made a very valiant effort to assure me I looked much better than those girls. As much as I appreciated it, it really wasn't needed. I knew I looked better than those girls, but I did get to thinking about how my body has changed since having the babe.
Jump to our drive home. I found upon checking my email for the 400th time on that long drive that I was excited to see that Victoria Secret was holding their semi-annual sale. Now maybe it would have still been exciting if I had received that email at home, not having just been to the "cabaret" (Yes, there is a reason I keeping putting that word in quotes), but I'd be willing to bet that I was a teensy bit motivated by our recent trip as well.
Breastfeeding takes it out of the little ladies. Those nice perky tatas are no longer. They've been worked and worked and look like it. As much as I enjoyed breastfeeding little O, this is one major drawback. No, not a deterrent. I'd do it all over again (and plan to), but, oh, I would love to have my 22 year old boobs. This being said my husband was sweet enough to watch the babe as I went to get remeasured and buy some new boob gear. Even if they weren't show off material anymore, they sure were going to be supported by pretty things. In the end, I came home with two new bras and a whole new size! I was certain my ladies were deflated and smaller, however I actually got to go up a cup. BOOM. These bras were also the first push-ups I'd purchased since middles school. Sadly, they were bought out of necessity both then and now. Wearing the new bras, I totally noticed a difference!
Moral of this lengthy post. After pregnancy your whole body changes, especially your boobs if you've been breastfeeding. Probably even if you don't, too, I'm sure. Get yourself remeasured so that you know what size of bra you should be wearing. It will change your life.
Friday, January 10, 2014
Thursday, December 5, 2013
The Trying Toddler
I will not give in. I will not give in. I will not give in. How many times have I said this mantra to myself today? WAAAAAY too many to count. How many times this week? Think AT&T's "times infinity" mind explosion.
How many times did I betray myself? Less, but enough times that I truly feel guilty for judging other parents for doing the same before I had a child of my own. These days I find I'm regularly quickly mentally weighing the odds and potential outcomes of battle after battle of wills. Is this something I really want to stand my ground on? Chicken versus the desired blueberries? Yes, my toddler is very stubborn and finds that it's even more funny to laugh after being openly defiant. Throwing food off of his tray seems to be a favorite. So much so, that frequently I give up on the high chair and hand him piece by piece of food. He is not too pleased with this new dinnertime exchange, but I am also tired of racing to pick up food before the dog scarfs it up. Okay, if I'm being completely honest, I let her win occasionally...only because I'm soooooo dang tired of cleaning it up myself. Unfortunately, feeding the dog seems to be a positive reinforcer to the food throwing! I was hoping this would have the opposite impact as in "Ah! She's eating MY food!" Nope.
To say my husband and I have our hands full is a complete understatement. I realize at this age discipline is not a concept O totally grasps, but a firm "No" used to do the trick. Now O continues to test the boundaries. Thankfully, distraction is still helpful...most times.
Our daily battles seem to be mostly over food. O was a fantastic eater up until about 13 months. I mean a FANTASTIC eater. If it was put in front of him, he tried it and generally liked it. Today, his diet consists mostly of fruits, dairy, and grains (i.e. crackers and Cheerios). Right now the only veggie I can get him to eat is soy beans and even then he's become more finicky about these as well. He used to eat ham and cheese sandwiches on bread like a champ, but even a slice of bread doesn't do the trick. Forget toast which used to be a breakfast favorite. Sigh. He was also happy to eat chicken or meatballs which I found were a great way to sneak in a serving of veggies discretely (those were the first to go). Peanut butter used to be a special treat, but is now scoffed at! I'd question whether he was my child given his current distaste for PEANUT BUTTER, but of course I was there for his birth.
I'd be happy to just give in to his desire to eat cheese and fruit all day, but naturally my concern as a mother is whether he is getting all of his nutrients. As mentioned before, I began hiding veggies in meatballs. I felt some sense of accomplishment and grinned giddily as I watched him scarf down these incognito veggies happily. VICTORY! Alas, that victory was short lived now that meats seem to be off the table as well.
Now my task seems to be to figure out where to get a good solid source of iron and protein? More milk, continued fruits of many color varieties, and soy beans (the only green left on the table and quickly headed for the ledge it appears). For now this is getting us by. The little stinker even figured out that I put a few carrot slices in his peach, mango, and apple smoothie I made this afternoon. The following is a few tricks I've tried to get a rounded diet into this decidedly picky eater. Maybe you'll find them helpful, but I'd also be very happy to hear your own tips and tricks as well!
Smoothies: I've found great recipes for veggie/fruit concoctions online and have even mixed a few of my own based on ingredients listed on veggie and fruit pouches made by Gerber and Beechnut bought in the baby aisle. When no longer semi-frozen, they make for a great juice treat which O happily drinks.
Meatballs: I have never followed a specific recipe for meatballs. I tend to just throw in ingredients until I feel that the consistency is about equivalent to a meatloaf mix. My meatballs generally include crushed crackers of any sort, meat (I've used both ground turkey and beef. O seemed to prefer the beef), pureed veggies (like a can of carrots and peas blended or even just baby food), and a few spices. I use onion powder and garlic powder in the mix and then top the meatballs with Cavender's seasoning. I do not have a specific amount of seasoning, but I use enough that I catch a scent of the seasonings when I smell the precooked meat mixture. Next I roll about one inch meatballs and make for about 20 min. at 350. They come out smelling delicious and are quite tasty! I've even caught my husband stealing one or two off the babes plate!
Muffins: O loved these! Me not so much, but I've also had plenty of real blueberry muffins in my life to know that there was definitely a taste difference. For O's muffins, I cooked cauliflower and then pureed it until very smooth. Instead of the full amount of milk or water requested by the box instructions, I only did about half of the liquid requested and filled the rest with pureed cauliflower. I mixed the cauliflower in with the rest of the mixture and baked according to box instructions. They came out smelling slightly different and tasting a little different, but O was happy to eat these. Again, I grinned slyly as he happily consumed disguised veggies!
English Muffin Pizzas: Again I used pureed cauliflower and mixed it in with the pizza sauce which I spread on a toasted English muffin and then covered with cheese. This is a favorite of O's and one I will be sadly disappointed if he denies, because I find it pretty tasty too and am very happy to use the other half of the English muffin to make my own pizza.
V8 Fusion: This is the less sugary of the two kid friendly V8 juices (Splash is the other option). I generally use this as a last resort only because it does have quite a bit of sugar in it and seems more of treat than a meal supplement, but days like today I am happy to have it on hand. In each 8 oz. serving there is a full-serving of fruits and a full-serving of vegetables.
How many times did I betray myself? Less, but enough times that I truly feel guilty for judging other parents for doing the same before I had a child of my own. These days I find I'm regularly quickly mentally weighing the odds and potential outcomes of battle after battle of wills. Is this something I really want to stand my ground on? Chicken versus the desired blueberries? Yes, my toddler is very stubborn and finds that it's even more funny to laugh after being openly defiant. Throwing food off of his tray seems to be a favorite. So much so, that frequently I give up on the high chair and hand him piece by piece of food. He is not too pleased with this new dinnertime exchange, but I am also tired of racing to pick up food before the dog scarfs it up. Okay, if I'm being completely honest, I let her win occasionally...only because I'm soooooo dang tired of cleaning it up myself. Unfortunately, feeding the dog seems to be a positive reinforcer to the food throwing! I was hoping this would have the opposite impact as in "Ah! She's eating MY food!" Nope.
To say my husband and I have our hands full is a complete understatement. I realize at this age discipline is not a concept O totally grasps, but a firm "No" used to do the trick. Now O continues to test the boundaries. Thankfully, distraction is still helpful...most times.
Our daily battles seem to be mostly over food. O was a fantastic eater up until about 13 months. I mean a FANTASTIC eater. If it was put in front of him, he tried it and generally liked it. Today, his diet consists mostly of fruits, dairy, and grains (i.e. crackers and Cheerios). Right now the only veggie I can get him to eat is soy beans and even then he's become more finicky about these as well. He used to eat ham and cheese sandwiches on bread like a champ, but even a slice of bread doesn't do the trick. Forget toast which used to be a breakfast favorite. Sigh. He was also happy to eat chicken or meatballs which I found were a great way to sneak in a serving of veggies discretely (those were the first to go). Peanut butter used to be a special treat, but is now scoffed at! I'd question whether he was my child given his current distaste for PEANUT BUTTER, but of course I was there for his birth.
I'd be happy to just give in to his desire to eat cheese and fruit all day, but naturally my concern as a mother is whether he is getting all of his nutrients. As mentioned before, I began hiding veggies in meatballs. I felt some sense of accomplishment and grinned giddily as I watched him scarf down these incognito veggies happily. VICTORY! Alas, that victory was short lived now that meats seem to be off the table as well.
Now my task seems to be to figure out where to get a good solid source of iron and protein? More milk, continued fruits of many color varieties, and soy beans (the only green left on the table and quickly headed for the ledge it appears). For now this is getting us by. The little stinker even figured out that I put a few carrot slices in his peach, mango, and apple smoothie I made this afternoon. The following is a few tricks I've tried to get a rounded diet into this decidedly picky eater. Maybe you'll find them helpful, but I'd also be very happy to hear your own tips and tricks as well!
Smoothies: I've found great recipes for veggie/fruit concoctions online and have even mixed a few of my own based on ingredients listed on veggie and fruit pouches made by Gerber and Beechnut bought in the baby aisle. When no longer semi-frozen, they make for a great juice treat which O happily drinks.
Meatballs: I have never followed a specific recipe for meatballs. I tend to just throw in ingredients until I feel that the consistency is about equivalent to a meatloaf mix. My meatballs generally include crushed crackers of any sort, meat (I've used both ground turkey and beef. O seemed to prefer the beef), pureed veggies (like a can of carrots and peas blended or even just baby food), and a few spices. I use onion powder and garlic powder in the mix and then top the meatballs with Cavender's seasoning. I do not have a specific amount of seasoning, but I use enough that I catch a scent of the seasonings when I smell the precooked meat mixture. Next I roll about one inch meatballs and make for about 20 min. at 350. They come out smelling delicious and are quite tasty! I've even caught my husband stealing one or two off the babes plate!
Muffins: O loved these! Me not so much, but I've also had plenty of real blueberry muffins in my life to know that there was definitely a taste difference. For O's muffins, I cooked cauliflower and then pureed it until very smooth. Instead of the full amount of milk or water requested by the box instructions, I only did about half of the liquid requested and filled the rest with pureed cauliflower. I mixed the cauliflower in with the rest of the mixture and baked according to box instructions. They came out smelling slightly different and tasting a little different, but O was happy to eat these. Again, I grinned slyly as he happily consumed disguised veggies!
English Muffin Pizzas: Again I used pureed cauliflower and mixed it in with the pizza sauce which I spread on a toasted English muffin and then covered with cheese. This is a favorite of O's and one I will be sadly disappointed if he denies, because I find it pretty tasty too and am very happy to use the other half of the English muffin to make my own pizza.
V8 Fusion: This is the less sugary of the two kid friendly V8 juices (Splash is the other option). I generally use this as a last resort only because it does have quite a bit of sugar in it and seems more of treat than a meal supplement, but days like today I am happy to have it on hand. In each 8 oz. serving there is a full-serving of fruits and a full-serving of vegetables.
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Where's My Money?
It's no secret that a baby drastically impacts the family finances, but I have to admit that I did not truly appreciate or prepare for just how much a child can change things in the budget--Especially when I transitioned to part-time. Not only is there one more mouth to feed, but a baby requires so many extra special necessities (most notably during the first year). That's not even accounting for childcare if you are a mother who chooses or needs to work! It's no wonder people hold baby showers! There is just no possible way we could have afforded all our little guy's necessities on our own even while both my husband and I were working full-time making a pretty solid living. We were so very thankful (and continue to be) of the generosity of our very dear friends and family to help us prepare and care for our new family of three.
I also have a new appreciation of consignment retail stores these days. When your son grows out of that $30 adorable, department store outfit you just had to have within a two weeks time, consignment stores are where it's at! Not just for selling, but buying too! I recently found a brand new heavy coat for this winter for the little guy that sold in department stores for almost $40. I paid a hefty EIGHT bucks. Booyah! These days I find I am grateful to live in an area with many options for finding these types of resources for meeting my son's needs while also keeping our budget in tact. These same consignment stores are where I've found great deals on toys selling for pennies compared to the price for new, slightly modified models currently selling at Target and Wal-Mart. So what if it may be the previous model, but my son is 1. He's not going to care...or know the difference for that matter. Now in a few years time I do realize I will not be able to get away with this as easily. A four-year-old O will very likely notice that the lever on this model is red and goes up and down while the level on the new model is green and twists (Oh, and also comes in a sealed box). Oye!
Other ways my husband and I have trimmed our budget have been attempting to change our mindset. We focus on what we need rather than what we need...and then some. Case in point-it's been months since I filled up my entire gas tank just because I needed some gas. Instead, I focus on where I will be going the next week and calculate approximately how much fuel it will require to get to my destinations. Given that I've transitioned jobs from one that requires me to travel frequently to one that has me spending my entire day at an office in addition to no longer working full-time, trimming our gas budget has taken a lot off of our monthly spending. Other ways I've learned to trim gas usage is by following The Peaceful Mom's blog. Among the many ways she shares to trim a budget, she suggests planning your errand days as well, but making all of your errands in one day rather than going to the grocery store one day, then getting back out to pick up dog food from the Pet Store, then running out for gas. This reduces your gas usage by reducing your commute from your home. I have to admit I was very guilty of these short, unplanned trips, especially on days that seemed to drag on. In order to break up the day, I'd make a run to Sonic and then pick up some ingredients at the grocery store for dinner, even though I was just at the grocery store the day before. Which brings me to my next budget trimmer: The grocery list.
I, like many, was intrigued with the show on TLC Extreme Couponing. How in the world did those people whittle their $200 grocery receipts to just a few dollars?! It still blows my mind, but made me motivated to start my own adventures in couponing. No, I will never be an extreme couponer, but I do value the extra dollars coupons take off of my grocery bill. With a tiny bit of planning and coupon clipping/researching time, I have been known to shave off up to a third of our grocery bill. I get a thrill to see on my receipt how much money I saved percentage-wise and dollar-wise. Most recently I saved $23 off of a $70 dollar bill plus got an additional $.25 off/ per gallon of gas at my next Shell stop (I shop at Homeland if you haven't put that together). My grocery shopping days of just buying whatever sounded good at the time of my trip are no longer. I now plan our weekly meals in advance based on what I already have in my freezer and cabinets and what coupons I was able to find online and through newspaper clippings. Remember, my husband and I are attempting to focus on what we need versus what we need and then want. That's not to say that those Lofthouse "Better Than Sex" sugar cookies (Shout-out to my girl Dell!) don't occasionally end up in my basket, but more often than not I find myself oogling them at the store than moving right along on my weekly grocery store trips. These days less excess food is thrown out due to spoilage (read money down the drain). We're also getting good grub and full tummies while keeping money in the bank.
In addition to adding coupons to my spending habits (yes, retail/restaurant coupons too), we've been attempting to use cash as much as possible. I do find it is slightly more irritating to have to go by the ATM each week or ask for cash back when depositing a paycheck, but it has totally cooled our spending. Instead of buying that $1.99 Dr. Pepper out of the checkout line fridge for the drive home that I probably won't drink all of, I find that I'm more prone to wait and just swing by Happy Hour at Sonic for the $.50 small that is more my size or not get one at all. When the allotted cash is running low for whatever we've designated it for (grocery, gas, fun/extras-like going out for lunch or in the case of my husband-beer for the football game that weekend, etc.) we tend to spend our money more wisely and prioritize better.
These are just a couple of ways we've adjusted our budget to accommodate for a family of three on a 1.5 provider income without drastically changing our habits (i.e. dropping cable, lawn care, etc. which can also be viewed as extras). Our needs and priorities as a family can still be met with just a few simple changes. While this was not my most exciting post, I hope you maybe found it helpful. Also, seriously go check out the Peaceful Mom. She's got great advice on parenting, spending, and life in general. I always learn something new over there!
Lastly, here are a few of my favorite places to locate online coupons FO' FREE:
coupons.com
http://www.couponnetwork.com/?utm_campaign=CD2038&utm_source=MySavings_Media_Network&utm_medium=Affiliate
http://www.redplum.com/coupons/syndication.html?AID=11309494&PID=6630543
http://www.pgeveryday.com/tag/coupon?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=PG+Everyday_Search_Desktop_Brand+Awarness&utm_term=procter%20and%20gamble%20coupon&utm_content=sifYFi46E%7Cpcrid%7C22931583440%7Cb%7Cprocter%20and%20gamble%20coupon
http://coupons.target.com/
I also have a new appreciation of consignment retail stores these days. When your son grows out of that $30 adorable, department store outfit you just had to have within a two weeks time, consignment stores are where it's at! Not just for selling, but buying too! I recently found a brand new heavy coat for this winter for the little guy that sold in department stores for almost $40. I paid a hefty EIGHT bucks. Booyah! These days I find I am grateful to live in an area with many options for finding these types of resources for meeting my son's needs while also keeping our budget in tact. These same consignment stores are where I've found great deals on toys selling for pennies compared to the price for new, slightly modified models currently selling at Target and Wal-Mart. So what if it may be the previous model, but my son is 1. He's not going to care...or know the difference for that matter. Now in a few years time I do realize I will not be able to get away with this as easily. A four-year-old O will very likely notice that the lever on this model is red and goes up and down while the level on the new model is green and twists (Oh, and also comes in a sealed box). Oye!
Other ways my husband and I have trimmed our budget have been attempting to change our mindset. We focus on what we need rather than what we need...and then some. Case in point-it's been months since I filled up my entire gas tank just because I needed some gas. Instead, I focus on where I will be going the next week and calculate approximately how much fuel it will require to get to my destinations. Given that I've transitioned jobs from one that requires me to travel frequently to one that has me spending my entire day at an office in addition to no longer working full-time, trimming our gas budget has taken a lot off of our monthly spending. Other ways I've learned to trim gas usage is by following The Peaceful Mom's blog. Among the many ways she shares to trim a budget, she suggests planning your errand days as well, but making all of your errands in one day rather than going to the grocery store one day, then getting back out to pick up dog food from the Pet Store, then running out for gas. This reduces your gas usage by reducing your commute from your home. I have to admit I was very guilty of these short, unplanned trips, especially on days that seemed to drag on. In order to break up the day, I'd make a run to Sonic and then pick up some ingredients at the grocery store for dinner, even though I was just at the grocery store the day before. Which brings me to my next budget trimmer: The grocery list.
I, like many, was intrigued with the show on TLC Extreme Couponing. How in the world did those people whittle their $200 grocery receipts to just a few dollars?! It still blows my mind, but made me motivated to start my own adventures in couponing. No, I will never be an extreme couponer, but I do value the extra dollars coupons take off of my grocery bill. With a tiny bit of planning and coupon clipping/researching time, I have been known to shave off up to a third of our grocery bill. I get a thrill to see on my receipt how much money I saved percentage-wise and dollar-wise. Most recently I saved $23 off of a $70 dollar bill plus got an additional $.25 off/ per gallon of gas at my next Shell stop (I shop at Homeland if you haven't put that together). My grocery shopping days of just buying whatever sounded good at the time of my trip are no longer. I now plan our weekly meals in advance based on what I already have in my freezer and cabinets and what coupons I was able to find online and through newspaper clippings. Remember, my husband and I are attempting to focus on what we need versus what we need and then want. That's not to say that those Lofthouse "Better Than Sex" sugar cookies (Shout-out to my girl Dell!) don't occasionally end up in my basket, but more often than not I find myself oogling them at the store than moving right along on my weekly grocery store trips. These days less excess food is thrown out due to spoilage (read money down the drain). We're also getting good grub and full tummies while keeping money in the bank.
In addition to adding coupons to my spending habits (yes, retail/restaurant coupons too), we've been attempting to use cash as much as possible. I do find it is slightly more irritating to have to go by the ATM each week or ask for cash back when depositing a paycheck, but it has totally cooled our spending. Instead of buying that $1.99 Dr. Pepper out of the checkout line fridge for the drive home that I probably won't drink all of, I find that I'm more prone to wait and just swing by Happy Hour at Sonic for the $.50 small that is more my size or not get one at all. When the allotted cash is running low for whatever we've designated it for (grocery, gas, fun/extras-like going out for lunch or in the case of my husband-beer for the football game that weekend, etc.) we tend to spend our money more wisely and prioritize better.
These are just a couple of ways we've adjusted our budget to accommodate for a family of three on a 1.5 provider income without drastically changing our habits (i.e. dropping cable, lawn care, etc. which can also be viewed as extras). Our needs and priorities as a family can still be met with just a few simple changes. While this was not my most exciting post, I hope you maybe found it helpful. Also, seriously go check out the Peaceful Mom. She's got great advice on parenting, spending, and life in general. I always learn something new over there!
Lastly, here are a few of my favorite places to locate online coupons FO' FREE:
coupons.com
http://www.couponnetwork.com/?utm_campaign=CD2038&utm_source=MySavings_Media_Network&utm_medium=Affiliate
http://www.redplum.com/coupons/syndication.html?AID=11309494&PID=6630543
http://www.pgeveryday.com/tag/coupon?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=PG+Everyday_Search_Desktop_Brand+Awarness&utm_term=procter%20and%20gamble%20coupon&utm_content=sifYFi46E%7Cpcrid%7C22931583440%7Cb%7Cprocter%20and%20gamble%20coupon
http://coupons.target.com/
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Who's Going To Watch The Baby?!?!?!
No one tells you about the extra, extra stresses of raising a child. When preparing for a child everyone warns you about the lack of sleep, the never private restroom visits, the adjusted finances, and everything else your standard parenting book covers. No one mentions how stressful just childcare can be. Date nights are no longer planned on a whim (or guaranteed for that matter. A great date night may be planned only to get a call from the sitter 45 minutes in due to an inconsolable infant) and also come a double the cost (dinner/movie cost PLUS babysitter fees). Also, finding the perfect childcare situation can be daunting (In home or center? Which nanny or center to choose? How much are we willing to pay? Childcare availability/ hours of operation?). In my case going to work is a constant calculation of how much I'm making versus how much I'm paying the sitter that day (Again, keep your therapy, dentist, doctor, hair, nail, etc. appointments people! No shows and last minutes cancellations are especially sucky for those of us trying to make a living off of billable hours. End rant.)
Our family recently had our first minor (read MAJOR, but I'm trying to downplay because I know it could have been much worse) crisis regarding childcare-- meaning we had none and needed some last minute. O typically stays at home with a babysitter we found through Care.com. We have been so happy with her and are so grateful to have her, but this particular day she was unexpectedly unavailable. Whomp, whomp, whomp. Thankfully my dear friend Sara (visit her here) graciously offered to watch O while I went to work for a half day unexpectedly. Talk about a lifesaver! My husband and I had always discussed what we would do in this type of situation where our regular sitter was unavailable for one reason or another. Ideally, my husband would work from home for a few hours while I went and covered my scheduled appointments, but this particular day last week this plan just was not feasible. What were we going to do?!
To say I had a minor freakout moment is a drastic understatement. I was a ball of nervous energy, my stomach was in knots, and my eyeballs may have been bulging out of my head (think creepy cartoon character size as seen below.) In fact, this actually a pretty close representation of what I looked like as I frantically listed my options.
So what were my options? Thankfully, I have a couple of friends who stay at home and knew that they would be happy to help if they were able (i.e. the lovely Sara), but I also knew that they were not a guarantee. My second option was to contact them for sitter referrals. Did they know anyone? Who would they recommend? My third option was to contact daycare centers and Mother's Day Out programs to see if they accommodated drop-ins. For our family, this was only the third option because O had never been exposed to such a large group of children at once without my husband or I in tow. Also, in my quick Google search I found that very few childcare centers around us accepted drop-ins.Yikes! I will note that I did not actually call any of these places and have considered that maybe they will accommodate such situations if contacted more directly, but do not advertise this online as to not invite regular drop-ins.
In my frantic search, I did learn a lot about the childcare programs around us like their hours of operation, programming, and enrollment processes if we chose this care option in the future. My search also exposed me to options parents have when their own children become sick. For our family, my husband and I will always make arrangements for one or the other of us to stay home with our sick guy, but I do realize that some parents do not have that option. Care.com has a list of many sitters who are willing to care for sick children. According to this Babycenter article (yes, my go-to), some hospitals and child-care centers offer sick care as well, but it can be pricey. This page also lists various options for identifying back-up child care and includes ideas I hadn't thought of in my hurried, frantic state like looking into local college programs or contacting a nanny agency for a list of backup care providers.
In closing, I would just like to say that I would be happy to pay Sara's generosity forward to any of my friends who need it! Please don't hesitate to call, and if I'm not working myself I'd be happy to have a playmate for O for the day and help you out as well. Parenting is a tough job and we're all in this together.
Our family recently had our first minor (read MAJOR, but I'm trying to downplay because I know it could have been much worse) crisis regarding childcare-- meaning we had none and needed some last minute. O typically stays at home with a babysitter we found through Care.com. We have been so happy with her and are so grateful to have her, but this particular day she was unexpectedly unavailable. Whomp, whomp, whomp. Thankfully my dear friend Sara (visit her here) graciously offered to watch O while I went to work for a half day unexpectedly. Talk about a lifesaver! My husband and I had always discussed what we would do in this type of situation where our regular sitter was unavailable for one reason or another. Ideally, my husband would work from home for a few hours while I went and covered my scheduled appointments, but this particular day last week this plan just was not feasible. What were we going to do?!
To say I had a minor freakout moment is a drastic understatement. I was a ball of nervous energy, my stomach was in knots, and my eyeballs may have been bulging out of my head (think creepy cartoon character size as seen below.) In fact, this actually a pretty close representation of what I looked like as I frantically listed my options.
So what were my options? Thankfully, I have a couple of friends who stay at home and knew that they would be happy to help if they were able (i.e. the lovely Sara), but I also knew that they were not a guarantee. My second option was to contact them for sitter referrals. Did they know anyone? Who would they recommend? My third option was to contact daycare centers and Mother's Day Out programs to see if they accommodated drop-ins. For our family, this was only the third option because O had never been exposed to such a large group of children at once without my husband or I in tow. Also, in my quick Google search I found that very few childcare centers around us accepted drop-ins.Yikes! I will note that I did not actually call any of these places and have considered that maybe they will accommodate such situations if contacted more directly, but do not advertise this online as to not invite regular drop-ins.
In my frantic search, I did learn a lot about the childcare programs around us like their hours of operation, programming, and enrollment processes if we chose this care option in the future. My search also exposed me to options parents have when their own children become sick. For our family, my husband and I will always make arrangements for one or the other of us to stay home with our sick guy, but I do realize that some parents do not have that option. Care.com has a list of many sitters who are willing to care for sick children. According to this Babycenter article (yes, my go-to), some hospitals and child-care centers offer sick care as well, but it can be pricey. This page also lists various options for identifying back-up child care and includes ideas I hadn't thought of in my hurried, frantic state like looking into local college programs or contacting a nanny agency for a list of backup care providers.
In closing, I would just like to say that I would be happy to pay Sara's generosity forward to any of my friends who need it! Please don't hesitate to call, and if I'm not working myself I'd be happy to have a playmate for O for the day and help you out as well. Parenting is a tough job and we're all in this together.
Friday, October 11, 2013
"My baby ate ____" and other Google Searches
Hi World! My apologies for my blogging hiatus. It turns out September and early October has become quite the busy time for us--Our entire little family's birthdays all crammed into one month (and one day...if my husband is reading), the beginning of the most pleasant time of the year-FOOTBALL SEASON or Fall as others like to call it, a scare with our poor kitty cat who now seems to be miraculously healed after a thousand dollar vet bill and still no ultimate diagnosis (Ugh!), and a few other fun adventures with family and friends.
Since I last wrote, Baby O has transformed into a Toddler. He's rambunctious and ON. THE. MOVE. His first birthday celebration was fantastic and we were so happy to be able to celebrate his birth with such amazing friends and family. It meant so much to us to see just how many people care so deeply for our little guy!
I believe O was motivated to take off on foot when he realized the other kids at his party were getting around so much quicker than his primary transport of crawling. Prior to the party there was a step here and a step there, but those days are no more. He even prefers to walk on his own over cruising in his stroller which leads to a much slower shopping pace for mom and dad. On the contrary, at home he is a movin' and a shakin' around the house which keeps me on my toes at all times.
In my experience a walking toddler is MUCH more challenging than a crawling toddler just because they really do get around faster on their own. This brings me to my point-Google searches. In the last few weeks I have had more Google searches open for things that I never even considered that anyone would ever have to type! Seriously. Yesterday I typed in "My baby ate a mot." Yes, in my frantic state after O ate a moth I misspelled "moth" but oddly felt a little relieved when Google courteously asked, "Did you mean "My baby ate a moth?" Yes! Yes, I did! Other parents had Googled this before me; therefore I was not alone with my child who may or may not be exhibiting early signs of Pica or honing his skills to prepare for a life modeled after Bear Grylls. I did also find some relief that he did not eat poop or a roach which were also suggestions as I was beginning my search. In the past week, he's also attempted to eat a fly (He caught that thing mid-flight! I like to think of it as a sign of advanced fine motor skills :)), rocks, dirt, and grass. Face palm.
After I concluded from my search that a moth was really no harm to my child aside from the disturbing residue of "fairy dust" that lined his lips (this was my tip-off something was awry), I began to wonder what other interesting searches Google received on a daily basis. In my search I found this article by the Huffington Post. What?
In just the short time since my husband and I have been graced by our little guy, I cannot believe how many searches I've done on constipation, breastfeeding (i.e. "When will my nipples stop hurting?"), signs of concussion (I may be a hypochondriac, but I will note that this search is opened more frequently now that O is often so preoccupied with getting to his destination he often runs into things-Less so now than when he was crawling, but still a daily issue), and of course, my already mentioned "My baby ate___." Thankfully, I have yet to be the first to search any of these items. There is some relief in knowing that others can relate. Misery really does love company, or at least in the case of this mom. What things have you searched that you found to be a surprising need?
Since I last wrote, Baby O has transformed into a Toddler. He's rambunctious and ON. THE. MOVE. His first birthday celebration was fantastic and we were so happy to be able to celebrate his birth with such amazing friends and family. It meant so much to us to see just how many people care so deeply for our little guy!
I believe O was motivated to take off on foot when he realized the other kids at his party were getting around so much quicker than his primary transport of crawling. Prior to the party there was a step here and a step there, but those days are no more. He even prefers to walk on his own over cruising in his stroller which leads to a much slower shopping pace for mom and dad. On the contrary, at home he is a movin' and a shakin' around the house which keeps me on my toes at all times.
In my experience a walking toddler is MUCH more challenging than a crawling toddler just because they really do get around faster on their own. This brings me to my point-Google searches. In the last few weeks I have had more Google searches open for things that I never even considered that anyone would ever have to type! Seriously. Yesterday I typed in "My baby ate a mot." Yes, in my frantic state after O ate a moth I misspelled "moth" but oddly felt a little relieved when Google courteously asked, "Did you mean "My baby ate a moth?" Yes! Yes, I did! Other parents had Googled this before me; therefore I was not alone with my child who may or may not be exhibiting early signs of Pica or honing his skills to prepare for a life modeled after Bear Grylls. I did also find some relief that he did not eat poop or a roach which were also suggestions as I was beginning my search. In the past week, he's also attempted to eat a fly (He caught that thing mid-flight! I like to think of it as a sign of advanced fine motor skills :)), rocks, dirt, and grass. Face palm.
After I concluded from my search that a moth was really no harm to my child aside from the disturbing residue of "fairy dust" that lined his lips (this was my tip-off something was awry), I began to wonder what other interesting searches Google received on a daily basis. In my search I found this article by the Huffington Post. What?
In just the short time since my husband and I have been graced by our little guy, I cannot believe how many searches I've done on constipation, breastfeeding (i.e. "When will my nipples stop hurting?"), signs of concussion (I may be a hypochondriac, but I will note that this search is opened more frequently now that O is often so preoccupied with getting to his destination he often runs into things-Less so now than when he was crawling, but still a daily issue), and of course, my already mentioned "My baby ate___." Thankfully, I have yet to be the first to search any of these items. There is some relief in knowing that others can relate. Misery really does love company, or at least in the case of this mom. What things have you searched that you found to be a surprising need?
Thursday, September 12, 2013
The Hospital Pack List: Everything the Internet Over/Under Told You
Today my son turns one and instead of posting one more sentimental piece about this past year (see previous two posts) I found myself more motivated to write about my hospital pack list that was oh-so-carefully put together, reviewed, repacked, reviewed, repacked, repeat, repeat, repeat up until the big day one year and one day ago today where all chaos broke lose (see these two posts here and here.) I packed my bag at approximately 36 weeks just because I knew that it could be go-time at any minute even though I was yet to be "full-term". I've known people to pack earlier and some to not even be packed when it came down to the 40 week mark.
I packed at 36 weeks because I am a planner--A planner I am. Packing my hospital bag helped me to calm myself and find some sort of organization in the whole "becoming-a-new-mother-VERY-soon" mess of a brain. I did find the task a little daunting at first and so of course turned to Google to help guide me. Babycenter I have found does a great job organizing information whether you are having a c-section or planning a natural delivery; however, like most magazine articles and self-help guides they do go a little above and beyond. For example, a journal to document feelings and/or to track feedings??? Um, yeah right. Those first few days in the hospital for me were a blurred mess. When baby was not nursing; there was not a visitor, doctor, or nurse in my room; or I was not being served a meal, I was making every effort to catch up on some much needed shut eye. Journaling was the LAST thing on my mind. Also the nurses did a great job of waking me when it was time to feed baby at night and encouraged lots of feeding while I stayed in order to help my milk come in. Trying to get baby on a feeding schedule or making any effort at deducing feeding/sleeping patterns those first few days seems a bit ridiculous to me, but that is just my opinion.
I tried to stick very closely to Babycenter's guidelines mainly because I had no clue what to expect once I got through those hospital doors; therefore, I over packed. After my experience and some thought about my experiences one year ago here is my refined list. When it comes to our next one this is what I will bring in my bag. Hubby can fend for himself :).
I packed at 36 weeks because I am a planner--A planner I am. Packing my hospital bag helped me to calm myself and find some sort of organization in the whole "becoming-a-new-mother-VERY-soon" mess of a brain. I did find the task a little daunting at first and so of course turned to Google to help guide me. Babycenter I have found does a great job organizing information whether you are having a c-section or planning a natural delivery; however, like most magazine articles and self-help guides they do go a little above and beyond. For example, a journal to document feelings and/or to track feedings??? Um, yeah right. Those first few days in the hospital for me were a blurred mess. When baby was not nursing; there was not a visitor, doctor, or nurse in my room; or I was not being served a meal, I was making every effort to catch up on some much needed shut eye. Journaling was the LAST thing on my mind. Also the nurses did a great job of waking me when it was time to feed baby at night and encouraged lots of feeding while I stayed in order to help my milk come in. Trying to get baby on a feeding schedule or making any effort at deducing feeding/sleeping patterns those first few days seems a bit ridiculous to me, but that is just my opinion.
I tried to stick very closely to Babycenter's guidelines mainly because I had no clue what to expect once I got through those hospital doors; therefore, I over packed. After my experience and some thought about my experiences one year ago here is my refined list. When it comes to our next one this is what I will bring in my bag. Hubby can fend for himself :).
- a copy of the birth plan-A few weeks prior to my due date I sat down with my doctor during our appointment and reviewed my ideal plan that I again got off of Babycenter here. I loved that it listed options and I could fill it in as if I were filling out a survey. I even added my own little remarks with further explanation to the side if I felt it necessary. At my appointment my doctor made a copy to put in my file, but having one on hand just in case it was needed for any reason was comforting.
- camera-I feel this is pretty self explanatory. I mean, duh!
- batteries-For the camera...Hello! It has always been just my luck to be ready to take pics and dun, dun, duuuuun...the battery in my camera is dead. I was NOT going to let that happen on the most special day ever!
- cell phone charger-The texts, the phone calls, the photos, the Facebook browsing while waiting for labor to progress wears down that battery pretty quick and you'll likely be there for more than just one day.
- bobby pillow-I did not bring one and had to have ours brought from our house. This is the ONE item I really, really, REALLY needed while in the hospital as I was making every effort to get acquainted with this breastfeeding business. Figuring out how to support your baby while he feeds is a tricky game even with all those fancy holds they teach in that overpriced breastfeeding course your doctor "encouraged" you to attend. The boppy helps tremendously! Thankfully we live close enough to the hospital that sending someone home for it wasn't that big of a deal.
- LANOLIN-A must have!!! Your poor little boobies will be screaming for mercy once they are put to work. Remember these ladies aren't used to manual labor!
- nursing tops/ nightgowns-Notice plural--For a reason. I wore a nightgown in the hospital, but wished I had just worn a nursing top merely because hiking up the nightgown at each feed was annoying and there was all this extra fabric to deal with when attempting to figure out breastfeeding. I also felt more was exposed of me than necessary (i.e. my post pregnancy belly. Ugh). Nightgowns are important because doctors and nurses need easy access to The Baby Exit (if you know what I mean) for follow-up monitoring, but since your pretty confined to the bed anyway going pantless under the sheet really isn't a bad choice. Have a pair of pants at the ready for those few instances when you are brave enough to get out of bed (Ouch!--The memory sends chills down my spine).
- robe-I packed one, but didn't end up needing it. Some women recommend them for the hours of walking around the hopsital that may be necessary when trying to get that labor moving a long. I guess this could also provide a good alternative to pants if you aren't ready to brave pants yet when getting out of bed. Actually, as I'm typing this it sounds like a fantastic idea--Especially after a vaginal delivery where every single movement of your legs, waste, or any other connected body part to The Exit is excruciating. The last thing you want to do is bend over or lift a leg to get your pants on.
- yoga pants-Anything stretchy is fantastic! I wore yoga pants when leaving the hospital with a maternity T. The only downfall of yoga pants is their tightness around The Exit. I was embarrassingly swollen and was grateful my shirt was long enough to cover up what my yoga pants were exposing. Maybe a loser pant choice (i.e. sweat pants) would be better.
- long shirt-to cover that swollen vag. For real! It's not so much of an issue of your pants are a looser fit (see above). When your any part of your body goes through trauma (i.e. sprained ankle, broken wrist) one expects swelling. Your The Baby Exit is not exception.
- reading material-If you find you are waiting, waiting, and waiting conversation can be exhausting with friends and family who are gracious enough to ride it out with you. If they love you, they will understand if you need some quiet time as you prepare for the bumpy ride ahead.
- glasses if you wear them-I don't, but if you do, you need them!
- makeup-I am vain enough that I considered what I would look like post labor and delivery. I was determined not to look as though I had just been through labor and delivery in all the hospital photos. While most of our hospital photos post delivery still depict me looking comparable to someone who had been run over a bus, I'd like to think I look more like I was hit with a short bus (beep-beep) and not a Greyhoud (hooooonk-hooooonk).
- face wash
- toothbrust/toothpaste
- hair brush
- ponytail holders
- deodorant
- body wash
- underwear for home
- baby's going home outfit- I packed clothes for his stay, but quickly realized the hospital provided him with shirts which were much more convenient for those first few diaper changes (oye!) when we still didn't quite have the swing of things. Sometimes I wish I could have been a fly on the wall that night in our room when my husband and I attempted to change our first poopy diaper all on our own. So glad we had FOUR hands and not just the usual two! Giggle. We did have an outfit planned for him to go home in and changed him quickly before walking out of the hospital doors with our discharge papers. Yes, the hospital provided a shirt, but it was not near as cute as the OU onesie we have in all our going home pics. For those concerned about pictures in the hospital with baby--Baby is rarely unswaddled during the hospital stay and clothes will not be seen anyway.
- blanket for baby when leaving the hospital-The hospital is nice enough to let you use theirs while you are there, but they are not for keeps.
- socks- Some good socks. Your feet will get cold, then hot, then cold, then hot. It's weird how the body reacts to all that stress and medication it's trying to manage. I wore blue fuzzy socks and at one point I think even had one sock off and one sock on..."something, something...My son John."
- comfy shoes- Whether your feet swell or not post delivery will be unknown. Make sure you bring shoes to leave the hospital in that have a little leeway. Thankfully my son was born in September so I could still get away with flip flops.
- snacks-While in labor you can't eat a thing, unless the hospital gives you a popsicle or something. Afterward you may or may not want something on your stomach. I remember feeling very grateful I brought granola bars in my bag, because after 12 hours of labor I had not had a thing to eat and I was famished. My husband kindly fed me a granola bar I had packed in my bag while I did skin to skin time with my son. I've known friends to be too nauseous to stomach much, whereas I did not have a problem eating meals.
- baby book- Those tiny feet MUST be documented! They will never be that tiny again.
- clothes for baby while at the hospital-see above at baby's going home outfit.
- blankets for baby while at the hospital-see above at blanket for baby when leaving the hospital
- breast pads-I brought several because I didn't know any better. I knew my milk would come in delayed, but had no idea of the time frame. I personally do not know anyone who's milk came in while they were in the hospital, unless they had a c-section. It wouldn't hurt to take a couple, but definitely not the whole box. Such a waste of space.
- maxi pads- The hospital provided all of my needs regarding The Exit as part of my post-delivery care package. I would still suggest bringing a few for when the hospital supply runs out. I asked for more, but was informed that I had no more in my package. Not a big deal.
- underwear for days- I don't know about you, but when I pack for even just a weekend getaway I pack enough underwear for a week! I don't know why. I just do. There's just something about wearing fresh underwear that makes me feel clean, no matter if I'm covered head to toe in mud. And I always have this fear that I will run out of clean underwear, thus I over pack. In the case of your hospital bag, there is not need to pack underwear for days because the hospital provides disposable mesh panties for all the after birth goodiness that can only truly be appreciated after you've experienced it yourself. Trust me, you don't want to be wearing your nice VS bikini cuts the first few days post birth. Take your own if you're really uncomfortable wearing the mesh disposables, but I suggest you get some oversized Wal-Mart cheapies.
Monday, September 9, 2013
I-N-D-E-P-E-N-D-E-N-T
It's time to face it. My little baby boy is growing up. As his first birthday looms around the corner, mocking me and terrorizing me with threats that all too soon I'll be sending him off to college, I find myself feeling very anxious. I have an aching need to maybe hug him so tight that his growth just might be stunted and he will forever be this tiny little baby I can rock and snuggle. Some of you may be sighing and saying, "Geez, lady he's just one! Lighten up!" And to that I say to you, "Yes, he is just one, but he is growing up by the SECOND." By the end of this post I'm sure to have grandchildren!
Every day I find I'm delighted to see that he's picking up on new things. I find infinite joy out of his obvious pride over newly acquired tricks and skills, but I also take mental note of his growing independence. This is what parenthood is about, right?--Nurturing these skills in order to help these tiny dependent creatures turn into independent, thriving adults. So if I were to reframe these accomplishments in my mind (Hello counselor!), it would indicate that maybe I am doing an okay job at this parenting gig, right? Probably; however, I think any parent would agree that at each milestone there is a sense of accomplishment and joy, but also a bit resistance to the fact that our tiny baby is growing ever so further away from "baby."
Today I find my son has quite the sense of humor and understands the concept of cause and effect. He finds delight in getting a good laugh out of his audience and will repeat what he perceives others to find funny in order to continue this response. For example, over the weekend my parents came into town briefly and like many new grandparents do upon their arrival my husband and I got the quick, "Hi!" then attention was directed straight to the babe. Baby has began to point out objects in the room and desires some sort of response from you (i.e. for the object to be named or marveled at). My mom went the marveling route and responded "Wooooow!" to objects pointed out by Baby and soon Baby was also pointing out objects with a very theatrical "Whhhoooooow!" Amazing. It is now two days later and he is continuing to marvel the sink, the light, the door, the potted plant, the couch, and all these other "astounding and breathtaking" home fixtures. Silly boy!
I also know my son to be cautious in nature. He is willing to try new skills, but at his own pace. Baby took his first steps just shy of 11 months. Over the past month we've watched him grow more brave, taking just a few extra steps each time he finds the confidence to try this new skill out again on his own. On occasions where he requests assistance, he has let go of our hands on his own accord when before he had a held a death grip to each of my pointer fingers. He no longer looks for two hands to walk with and seems comfortable just grasping a pinky as he steps down the hallway. He does not like falling and was initially deterred by this unavoidable side effect of walking thus waited quite awhile before making another effort at two-footed transport. With each day, his walking efforts have become more frequent and his falls have been fewer and far between. Hand holding has become less frequent and distance conquered has increased. I admire his persistence and marvel myself at his accomplishments.
My heart hurt when on our most recent shopping trip for 12-18 month clothes for this winter I found myself in the Little Boys' section of the store rather than the Infants' clothing. His clothing print options no longer are limited to cute cuddly bears, circus animals, and pastels, but now come adorned with footballs, monsters, and other little boy icons. WHAT?! This winter his feet will not be warmed with booties, but actual boots! Am I ready for this?! Guess I have to be. Sigh. Head sulk.
To say I have enjoyed every single second of this first year would be a lie, but to say I appreciate and love each tiny moment is true-good or bad. As I've said before, I feel so blessed to be a parent. I am very grateful. Any parent knows that there are very trying times as well as very over-the-top fantastic times of raising an infant. I can say that I do look back at the entire year fondly and wish it hadn't gone by so fast. My son's FIRST birthday is in three days. Technically he is still an infant for three days and I will cherish every single second of his last few moments of infancy.
Every day I find I'm delighted to see that he's picking up on new things. I find infinite joy out of his obvious pride over newly acquired tricks and skills, but I also take mental note of his growing independence. This is what parenthood is about, right?--Nurturing these skills in order to help these tiny dependent creatures turn into independent, thriving adults. So if I were to reframe these accomplishments in my mind (Hello counselor!), it would indicate that maybe I am doing an okay job at this parenting gig, right? Probably; however, I think any parent would agree that at each milestone there is a sense of accomplishment and joy, but also a bit resistance to the fact that our tiny baby is growing ever so further away from "baby."
Today I find my son has quite the sense of humor and understands the concept of cause and effect. He finds delight in getting a good laugh out of his audience and will repeat what he perceives others to find funny in order to continue this response. For example, over the weekend my parents came into town briefly and like many new grandparents do upon their arrival my husband and I got the quick, "Hi!" then attention was directed straight to the babe. Baby has began to point out objects in the room and desires some sort of response from you (i.e. for the object to be named or marveled at). My mom went the marveling route and responded "Wooooow!" to objects pointed out by Baby and soon Baby was also pointing out objects with a very theatrical "Whhhoooooow!" Amazing. It is now two days later and he is continuing to marvel the sink, the light, the door, the potted plant, the couch, and all these other "astounding and breathtaking" home fixtures. Silly boy!
I also know my son to be cautious in nature. He is willing to try new skills, but at his own pace. Baby took his first steps just shy of 11 months. Over the past month we've watched him grow more brave, taking just a few extra steps each time he finds the confidence to try this new skill out again on his own. On occasions where he requests assistance, he has let go of our hands on his own accord when before he had a held a death grip to each of my pointer fingers. He no longer looks for two hands to walk with and seems comfortable just grasping a pinky as he steps down the hallway. He does not like falling and was initially deterred by this unavoidable side effect of walking thus waited quite awhile before making another effort at two-footed transport. With each day, his walking efforts have become more frequent and his falls have been fewer and far between. Hand holding has become less frequent and distance conquered has increased. I admire his persistence and marvel myself at his accomplishments.
My heart hurt when on our most recent shopping trip for 12-18 month clothes for this winter I found myself in the Little Boys' section of the store rather than the Infants' clothing. His clothing print options no longer are limited to cute cuddly bears, circus animals, and pastels, but now come adorned with footballs, monsters, and other little boy icons. WHAT?! This winter his feet will not be warmed with booties, but actual boots! Am I ready for this?! Guess I have to be. Sigh. Head sulk.
To say I have enjoyed every single second of this first year would be a lie, but to say I appreciate and love each tiny moment is true-good or bad. As I've said before, I feel so blessed to be a parent. I am very grateful. Any parent knows that there are very trying times as well as very over-the-top fantastic times of raising an infant. I can say that I do look back at the entire year fondly and wish it hadn't gone by so fast. My son's FIRST birthday is in three days. Technically he is still an infant for three days and I will cherish every single second of his last few moments of infancy.
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