Moving to the big room

Baby boy had a terrific Tuesday. He really enjoyed playing in the Big Room, he loved going down the slide and looking at the "big" fish tank. In the class room he played blocks and cars with Max and listened to a few stories with the rest of his friends. :)

I'd planned to take 2 weeks off before giving birth to my first child.  I had some things left to do to get ready and this time would be perfect.  Some colleagues and I went out for lunch on Thursday - to a place where they have a favorite mango chicken dish that I was so looking forward to eating.  Later that afternoon I didn't feel well.  Figured the lunch wasn't sitting right with me and kept on with the day.  That evening my husband and I went to order rugs for our sunroom and the baby's room.  As we placed the order, I still felt like lunch was not agreeing with me.  This was odd all these hours later, but I am not a stranger to an upset stomach, so I pressed on. 

 

The most unusual point in retrospect was that when we got home, I skipped dinner and went to lie down.  I had my husband take a photo of me standing sideways, feeling like the belly had taken on a pretty substantial profile, and needed noting. But then went to bed.  In retrospect, it all makes sense, but at the time, who knew?  It was our first.  We'd never been through this before now, and boy was I tired.

 

Then I proceeded to wake up every few hours and then probably a couple hours at a time to go to the bathroom.  It seemed somewhat reasonable - this baby had been waking me up for months now.  But this time I really didn't have to do anything and would go back to bed.  As the night progressed closer to morning, I started to think something may be up, but didn't want to head to the hospital in the middle of the night, so kept taking 2-3 hour "naps".

In the morning I called the doctor - the pain had been worse than anything before - aching pain. When there, she checked me out and said "meet you at the hospital, you're having a baby." So off we went, not knowing what to expect, or carrying anything like a bag. We didn't even have a camera. And at the rate I was progressing, we were lucky my hubby had time to get to the gift shop to purchase a disposable camera.  

Baby boy did a puzzle.

Daycare reported baby boy enjoyed putting together a puzzle with sea animals on it...great job! :)

Bedtime

As I sit in the rocking chair, pretending to be asleep so my 14 month old will stop pacing the crib, playing with binkies, doing the downward facing dog and just go to sleep, I think, "how did I get here AGAIN?!" I knew my daughter's situation - I nursed her. She fell asleep on me. So I "ferberized" her and things were "good" for a while. And then we went to Australia for 2 1/2 weeks, sleeping as a family on a mattress at my friends house. It was so fun...until we came home, and the "family sleep" situation lasted for another year!!! She of course eventually moved to her new room in preparation for baby brother, and sleeps in her big-girl bed (though likes someone to lay with her when she's falling asleep). But moved on none the less.

With my little guy, he's been SOOO good sleeping. Since he was born, I'd nurse him, swaddle him, lay him in his bassinet and he'd lay there peacefully and fall asleep, probably by the time my daughter and I brushed teeth. It was heaven. It was just out of pure necessity - I had to put my daughter to bed and most nights I was home alone with them.

Now, after baby boy turned 1, still doing well with bedtime...we go away to Cape May for a long Memorial Day weekend. I wonder how he'll do in the pack-n-play. Well, he was wonderful still. I fed him his bottle, rocked a little with a song, just like home, and he laid in his playpen bed awake, and cuddled his giraffe blankie and fell asleep. I now think the ocean air had something to do with this. Because we get home and probably within 2 nights, he's impossible.

Now he's also started walking - a few steps and more steady balancing, climbing...breaking away. So he's now also getting a little 'needy' - reverting a bit as he reaches further out. Absolutely normal.

So as I sit in the chair, pretending to be asleep, with one eye slightly open so I can see the antics, I also think, "This too shall pass." And how lucky am I to view his twinkling toes as he enjoys the feel of the sheets under his legs, pressing the binky exploring how flexible it is, rolling around with his giraffe blankie....pure JOY!

Baby boy walked on his own today!

So my little boy took his first steps on his own today. It was so nice to see. He's been walking holding on to things and you can see he's thinking...'hmm, i can do this...or maybe i'll just crawl. It's faster and easier." and then he slowly lowers himself down to crawl to the "far away" place. But today he was standing at the gate, walked along the wall to the attic door way corner, and then took about 4 steps into the middle of the hallway on his way to Katherine's doorway. It was great! It won't be long that he'll be running up and down the hall between the bathroom and his room in the morning. And then he'll be chasing his big sister at daycare. And then I'll be totally exhausted trying to keep up! Oh dear. It's the beginning of the end. :)

It's been a while since something has moved me to actually post - but my latest is the soda tax debate in NY, Philly and Washington as part of the national health care reform proposals. Being so interested in healthy living and eating, you'd think I'd be in favor. But I enjoy a Coke now and then - the real Coke - not diet. And that is because of the real sugar. I'm fully aware of the calories and sugar and carbs I'm ingesting and that is why I choose to only drink it rarely - really - like 1-2 cans a week if that!

Why should I be taxed on a rare treat because I have control and knowledge, because the majority of the country can't control themselves? Why, when I'm out for lunch, should my Coke cost more?

More than what you ask...well, my real outrage is that it's going to cost more than a diet Coke! The aspartame-containing beverage that is no healthier for people, just fewer calories - thanks to a man made chemical known to cause brain tumors!

http://curezone.com/forums/fm.asp?i=1626493

I'm all for healthy living and eating, but it starts with education - awareness of the damages and risk, and knowledge that in moderation natural foods regardless of sugar contents are OK.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/19/business/economy/19leonhardt.html?scp=1&sq=%22soda%20tax%22&st=cse

Daycare said my little boy babe crawled today! Yeah!