Glider Makeover

We were lucky enough to inherit a very nice glider and a comfy gliding ottoman, separately, so that the two didn't match.  The glider was a light denim--a tad frumpy, but liveable... and the ottoman was beige in a fuzzy velour-type fabric.  Nothing screams hip, young mom like light denim and fuzzy velour.

Before

 

I'm kicking myself for not getting a picture of the ottoman.  It bugged me so much that it mismatched that I purposely left it out of all my pictures and then forgot to take a formal "before" picture. oops... but it was fuzzy and beige... a little dingy... had a Dora band-aid on it from its previous owner.  You get the idea.

Well, hip, young mom is still questionable, but one thing is for sure, I have a VERY cool new glider and matching ottoman!  This project had been on my to-do list for over five months, and I finally tackled it this weekend while visiting my parents!  (nothing to do + doting grandma to free up hands = productivity)

After

 There are pockets on both sides... for, you know, all your glider essentials.

  

Caedmon seems to like it, too! ... though he hasn't been scratching at this glider arm.  :(

 

I think it fits in nicely with the rest of the nursery, wouldn't you say?

Lucky in Love: 5 Month Update

Today was one of those days that I just felt so lucky to be Caedmon's mom... and so incredibly blessed that I get to stay home with him this year and watch this fantastic little boy grow.  Nothing special happened today. We didn't even go anywhere during the day, which is usually a recipe for major cabin fever and stir-craziness.  No, we just stayed home, and played... read books, engaged in an all-out tummy tickling and giggle fest, danced to corny children's music, and scratched at different fabrics and surfaces around the house (one of Caedmon's favorite games). 

I never thought I'd enjoy staying at home as much as I do... doing so much of nothing, haha.  But I get to nurture and care for my baby who is growing up before my eyes!  And that's far from nothing... it's everything! 

Caedmon turned five months on Sunday.  Some milestones he reached this past month... he's rolling both ways, all over the place, sleeping through the night (from 7 to 7!), and recently started sitting on his own.  Some non-milestones that I never want to forget... Caedmon LOVES being naked.  Whenever we strip him of his diaper for bath time, he squeals and laughs and has the biggest smile on his face.  He also loves the arm of the glider.  It's one of his favorite "toys"... not his stuffed hippo, nor colorful teething ring, or even the ever popular Sophie Giraffe.  Nope, it's the arm of the glider that has really caught his fancy, scratching it and mouthing it to his heart's delight.  Go figure.  And just yesterday, he stuck his foot in his mouth.

Yeah, I'm just a little bit head over heels for this little boy...  Just as a mama should be.

 

 

 5 Months!  Not the kind of solids I envisioned starting on, though...

 

Me and my little man!

 

He loves that upholstered arm...

It's Naked Baby!

 

Sitting like a big boy!

Garage Sale Success

Today was our neighborhood's annual community yard sale, and we scored these two fun toys for Caedmon!  He may be a little young right now, but I'm excited to teach him how to write letters for the mailbox and leave little surprises in there for him.  The lawn mower is also a bubble blower.  I considered it brand new at Target for $20, but we got it today for just $1!  STEAL!  Considering what we paid for the lawnmower, though, the mailbox was a rip-off at $5... It was early on in our garage sale hunting, and I was just a bit of an eager-beaver.  (Oooh!!!  I love this mailbox!!!! And it's only $5!!!)  Didn't try to bargain.  Don't even know if I could have, given how overtly excited I was.  Still, two fun items for $6 is not bad!

P.S. We were able to fit these two items in the bottom of our stroller!  Yay, for the Uppababy Vista!

Boy Cookies

I have a term for cookies that guys make.  I call them "boy cookies", because, well, they taste like a boy made them.  Not that that's necessarily a horrible thing, but they really do taste... different.  You know what I'm talking about.  They're a little to a lot drier.  A little to a lot denser.  They're a little to a lot just not as good.

I've been bugging Wayne to try his hand at boy cookies for some time now, you know, just for kicks.  I wanted to see what makes boy cookies boy cookies, if it's the same recipe used by everyone else.  (Wayne says it's so I can watch and laugh at him, which is also partially true).  Up until this point, Wayne just hasn't had the desire to help me figure out the nuances of the boy cookie (or to be laughed at mockingly by me), but one fateful day, I made a bet with Wayne, which he lost, and guess what?  It's boy cookie time!

So we manned our respective stations--Wayne behind the mixer, and me, perched at the kitchen counter, kicking my legs in eager anticipation for the show ahead of me.  I giggled when Wayne clumsily cracked the eggs and proceeded to SHAKE out the egg whites, as one shakes out the last bits of cereal from its box.  I literally guffawed when Wayne separated the egg yolk and then didn't know where to put it, and so set it gingerly back in its shell, tried to balance it on the counter, then resorted to a plate (a little prep bowl, perhaps?).  And then I snickered when Wayne proceeded to sprinkle in each ingredient, instead of just dumping it in to the mixing bowl... With the Olympics on in the background, I cheered on the US Men's 4x100m swimming relay... I watched Grevers explode to the front with his backstroke and then Japan creep into the lead after the breaststroke leg... looked over, and Wayne was sprinkling.... Phelps caught up!  Adrian stretches the lead!, still sprinkling... US wins gold!, sprinkling... post-race interview, Phelps earns his 18th career gold medal!, sprinkling.  And sprinkling... and sprinkling. 

But at the end of the night, Wayne was the one who had the last laugh, because his cookies were AMAZING!  They were crispy on the outside and chewy throughout, and they were humongous!  "Man cookies", Wayne calls them.  And I have to admit that these boy--er, man cookies were better than many girl cookies I've had.  So I happily eat my words, along with a mouthful of cookie goodness. 

Good job, Sweetheart!  So proud of you!

 

Wayne studies the recipe before proceeding.

 

Wayne's meticulously shaken-out egg white and creatively, if oddly, placed egg yolk.

 

still sprinkling...

 

Man Cookies!

 

And man, they're delicious!

Sleep Train...

... a ticket to a better night's sleep.

We started sleep training last night.  For us, we decided to use the cry-it-out (CIO) method, aka rip-my-heart-out.  Though highly controversial in the parenting world, CIO is effective, and after reading my many books and speaking with other moms who say CIO changed their lives, we chose to have Caedmon cry it out, as well.  It is what it sounds like--we let Caedmon cry it out when we put him down for naps and bed, in order to teach him how to fall asleep on his own, even if it means letting him cry for hours (though each family sets their own limit--ours is two hours for night sleep).  CIO gets a bad rap because it's hard, but hard doesn't mean wrong, and I'm eager to be teaching Caedmon this very important skill.

We knew Caedmon was ready for CIO when he started falling asleep more independently.  Though we were still rocking him a lot (so much so that my knees were starting to hurt), we would put him down increasingly more awake, and often he would let out one cry of protest, then turn his head to the left, suck his fingers, and fall asleep. We knew he could do it.

So we started last night, and actually, Caedmon is doing really well.  Last night, he cried for 24 minutes before falling asleep, and tonight, only 13.  For his naps, he took less than 10 minutes each time, and for one nap, he didn't cry at all!  I knew falling asleep wouldn't be Caedmon's struggle, though.  It would be falling BACK asleep after waking prematurely, and that has definitely proven to be true thus far.  This morning, he cried for nearly an hour, but just as I was about to get him, all was quiet and he was off in dreamland!  He's learning, our little chipmunk! 

Ask any mom who has done CIO, though, and she will tell you how heart-wrenching this is.  It takes all my will not to rush in there and "rescue" my baby, but I know that in doing so, I would be acting on my own emotions and robbing him of the chance to learn how to sleep.  I actually got choked up a little even BEFORE I put Caedmon down for bed last night, as I was giving him a small pep talk that was as much for me as it was for him.  But what strengthens my resolve is seeing Caedmon's fast progress and knowing that after this, my baby will own an important skill, and we'll all get better rest.  Caedmon still greets me with a big smile when I get him from his crib, so I also know he's doing just fine.

Just like mastering any new skill, though, there will naturally be some regression along with the progress, as we spiral towards the end goal.  These moments will be rough, so wish us the best this week as we continue to cry it out.  Hopefully, I'll have positive results to share soon!

[cue jingle]

Earlier this week, Caedmon fell asleep while playing on his playmat.  That's when we knew he was definitely ready to learn how to fall asleep independently.

Armed with video monitor, notebook, and graph, I am ready to log everything Caedmon.  It's not nutty; it helps me figure out what works best for him, his patterns, and track his progress!

Not Just a Blob Anymore: 3 Month Update

Caedmon turned three months old on Monday, and I'm amazed at how much he's growing and developing.  In just a month, he has gained much control of his neck so that he is able to sit in the bebePod unassisted.  He rolls over from tummy to back on both sides, and looks as if he'll be rolling from back to tummy very soon.  His favorite toy is his hands and fingers, often sucking on them so voraciously that he gags himself.  And he is "talking" so much; I love his "ah-goo"s and other baby babble.  Recently, he discovered how to increase the volume of his voice, so now he also enjoys yelling across the room.  And today, he laughed out loud for the first time!  That is probably the most beautiful sound to a mother's ears. 

My favorite development, though, is how attentive and responsive Caedmon has become.  He watches me when I enter and leave the room, and he is clearly happy when he sees me and Wayne.  He not only loves to smile, I've noticed that he loves to make US smile.  Caedmon has this special smirk, like he's flirting with us, and he pulls this out especially when we're trying to put him down for a nap.  He will be really sleepy as I lay him down in his crib, but as soon as his head hits the mattress, his eyes will spring open and he will coo and smile, inviting me to play.  I feel rude in ignoring him, so I've been keeping my eyes closed while I soothe him to sleep, so as not to make eye contact.  Wayne also came up with the idea of acting sleepy, so that Caedmon will pick up on our cues and become drowsy himself.  As I rock Caedmon, I have my eyes closed and Wayne will sometimes stand next to us, eyes closed, head down, breathing heavily, and yawning.  It's a pretty funny sight, I'm sure.  It seems to work, but for all I know, Caedmon is just laughing at how goofy his parents look.

Caedmon is also responding to our emotional cues.  As I shared in my last post, I have been trying SO hard to get him to nap longer and better.  The other day, I burst into tears after Caedmon woke early from his morning nap.  This has been the one nap I've been able to count on (two to three hours!), and has become my new found freedom, allowing me time to work on my scrapbook, journal, eat breakfast leisurely... It's when all is right in the world, because he is actually sleeping well.  So when he woke early, it was like the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back, and I burst into tears.  When Caedmon, who had been happily perched in Wayne's arms, saw me, a look of alarm came over his face and he immediately burst into tears too!  And after I quickly regained my composure to smile at him, Caedmon, sensing that all harm was gone, beamed back at me, as well.  It really took me by surprise that he was so in tune with us emotionally.  And it amazes me that he's learning what emotions look like and mean.

Our little baby is growing so much and so fast!   And how special it is that we get to witness all these developments!  Caedmon is truly no longer a blob anymore, but a tiny person.  I look forward to watching and helping this tiny person get bigger, grow stronger, and gain in maturity.  How wonderful it is to be a mom.

"Well, the book says..."

The Nursing Mother's Companion
What to Expect: The First Year
Your Baby's First Year
Babywise
Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child
The Sleep Easy Solution
The Wonder Weeks
Baby Play
Secrets of the Baby Whisperer
The Baby Whisperer Solves All Your Problems

These are the books I've read over the last three months.  Let's not forget the countless websites and mommy forums I've also pored through.  I'm crazy!!!  And a stress case, trying to do everything "right" according to the books. While Caedmon's week 8 fussies are gone, thank goodness (they were most likely caused by a developmental leap, according to The Wonder Weeks), he is still napping poorly. Except for his morning nap, which is still a solid 2 hours, he naps for only 30-45 minutes each time for the rest of the day.  And I am on a mission to solve this problem that has been plaguing my entire being.

So I have immersed myself in baby literature, and perhaps, as Wayne suggests, it may be causing more harm than good.  While I am definitely more informed, I may be TOO informed.  I am hyper-vigilant during his activity time, mindful not to overstimulate him and simultaneously watching his cues and the clock, lest we keep him up too long.  I employ soothing-to-sleep methods while putting him down, careful to get the technique just right, as I've read over and over and rehearsed in my head.  When he stirs, I put on white noise or administer the "shush-pat", as advised by the Baby Whisperer.  Sometimes he sleeps extra long in the mornings, and I worry, "Is this okay?  Will it interfere with the rest of his day?  The books say he should be napping 1 1/2 to 2 hours."  And the worst is when he wakes early, as he always does, and I am at a loss... I've done everything right!  Perhaps it is the "45-minute intruder", according to Babywise, and he is hungry.  But he isn't interested in food, and I don't want to turn him into a snacker, as warned by the Baby Whisperer.  Is it another wonder week?  Or a growth spurt, which What to Expect says should come around this time... Okay, let's see what Babywise Mom has to say...

Wow, I sound like a nut.  And poor Wayne has to listen and endure my frantic distress.  But he is so patient.  Yes, he calls me crazy, but he also reminds me that books are books; we have a REAL BABY, not a robot.  And what a joyful baby we have!  Caedmon is thriving, smiling and happy.  Why am I so worried all the time?

I really should just take a deep breath and a step back... and away from all these books and references.  With my nose buried so deeply into these guides and my mind so wrapped up in what "should be", I may miss out on these fleeting magical moments.  Perhaps I should listen to my own intuition sometimes, or just let go, roll with the punches, and ENJOY this time, even if Caedmon isn't napping.  I need to relax, revel in these moments, and remember that every child is different, and no matter how difficult the problem, this, too, shall pass.

Because, you know, that's what the books say...

Goodbye, Indee.

Indee passed away on Tuesday.  She was 15.  My mom had taken her to the vet, because Indee hadn't been eating.  Dwindled to a mere 22 lbs, Indee was weak and had trouble standing without shaking.  The vet said it was time, so my mom held Indee in her lap as she took her last breaths.  Before she left us, Indee let out a tiny whimper, as if to say "goodbye".

I'm going to miss my pup.  After all, she was my first love. 

I still remember when we picked her from the litter.  We had chosen her because the breeder had said that she was extra adventurous and brave.  Hm... did he have the right puppy?  Because our little Indee turned out to be prone to car sickness (she threw up in my lap on the drive home), terrified of new experiences (she scampered up every driveway during our early walks, desperately hoping it was home), and skittish at sudden movements (or maybe we had lunged at her one too many times to pick her up and hold her... think Elmira, from Animaniacs).  Still, Indee endured our antics and in true canine fashion, demonstrated her devotion and loyalty to us unconditionally.

Indee was exceedingly sweet.  So much so that she became a favorite amongst the neighborhood children.  One time while I was visiting home from college, the doorbell rang.  I looked at my mom quizzically, as we weren't expecting any visitors, only to have my mother say very nonchalantly as she made her way to the door, "Oh, that must be Indee's friends."  Sure enough, there on our doorstep was a handful of elementary-aged children, leash in hand, asking if Indee could come out and play. 

Indee was also popular with the early morning hikers on Mission Peak, the hiking trail by our house.  My mom and Indee used to hike that trail almost every day, and Indee would run back and forth excitedly, greeting fellow hikers along the way.  All the regulars knew "Indee and her owner".  I think Indee was happiest on that trail. 

We knew Indee was getting old when she started losing interest in her hikes.  Usually jumping up and down when my mom put on her hiking clothes, Indee wouldn't even lift her head.  Some mornings, Indee actually hid when it was time to go, afraid my mom would drag her out.  Indee stayed with us the last two years, during which she grew increasingly weak.  Though overtaken by feebleness in these last days, Indee still made the utmost effort to spend time with us, plodding off her bed to nuzzle and sit with us as we watched TV, or sticking her nose in my face to say "good morning".

I'm going to fondly remember Indee's heart, the grin on her face while running through the hills, and even her stinkiness.  Indee's not suffering anymore; I'm thankful for that.  And I'm thankful that for the last 15 years, I've known the love of my "Golden Retriever/German Shepherd/Collie/Sheltie/Chow Chow mix". 

At the top of Mission Peak, Indee's favorite place. 

to change or not to change...

To change or not to change, that is the question... Caedmon fed really well at 5:30am, then fell promptly back to sleep, and, until he takes another turn in his development and routines, he won't wake again until around 9am.  Ahhh... peaceful bliss.  Except, one whiff of his bottom has just told me that Caedmon has soiled his diaper... so do I change him and wake him, risking the likely chance that he will not fall back asleep?  and thus, beginning the unhappy cycle of no sleep-->overtired, fussy baby-->difficulty falling asleep-->no sleep... Or do I let him sleep, subsequently allowing my son to stew in his own mess?

I have chosen the stew.

an UNhappy 2-months

Caedmon is two months old today, but instead of celebrating, I'm banging my head against the wall out of fatigue, frustration, and distress.  Caedmon's not faring any better himself.  All of a sudden this week, my "easy baby" is no longer sleeping well during his naps.  He wakes up after just 30 minutes, crying.  While I know that it is normal for babies to wake up after their 30-45 minute sleep cycles, Caedmon has been unable to fall back asleep to finish his naps.  No amount of holding or rocking or white noise has helped to even console him, let alone get him to sleep.  This has created one very sleep-deprived little boy who is now super fussy and cranky.

Just when we were falling into a routine... just when I thought we were finally figuring things out... he changes on us.

I don't know what to do with this new baby.  I'm so distraught, as nothing we do seems to help.  I've been reading and diligently implementing strategies from Babywise and Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child, but today, out of desperation, I threw everything I've learned out the window.  It was not eat/wake/sleep, but more like eat/sleep/eat/wake/rock/eat/sleep/rock/wake/eat.  I picked him up when he was crying instead of allowing him to self-soothe.  I kept offering him the breast when I knew he wasn't hungry, in efforts just to have him stop crying.  And in doing so, have I completely torn down all steps of progress toward routine and structure?  Honestly, that wouldn't be so impermissible had I just been able to console him!

In eleven minutes, I'm expecting The Cry... "Caedmon's call", I guess you could say.

Until then, I will lap up the rest of this peace and quiet.  And I'll share these photo taken earlier.  Sigh, just one look at his little face, and I'm restored, at least partially, and enough to press on.  This, too, shall pass, right?