Poor Baby!

Abram caught a little stomach bug and has been feeling under the weather. This is his first real illness (other than the million colds he has had). I feel so bad for him! I found out he wasn't feeling well on Tuesday when I went to get him from his nap and he had thrown up in his crib. I will tell you, I have never felt as much mom guilt as I did finding out that he had thrown up and I didn't know. He had crawled to the other side of the crib so he didn't have to lay by his throw up. After I got him cleaned up he threw up one more time and made little coughing and groaning noises. So sad! He is feeling better now but still isn't back to himself yet.

Excuses

I like my new job a lot. One complication I have run into is late cancellations...meaning that I am calling from outside the house because no one is there. Or at times they do call me an hour or so before said appointment. Here are some highlights of the excuses I have heard:

-Our whole house has head lice (ok, that works for me)
-We all have the stomach flu and temps over 100 (you didn't know this a few hours ago??)
-I am in detention and have to stay after school
-People are coming over later (and...)
-I am too busy (really? when has that excuse ever worked...)

And my all time fav.
-We are moving...right now (As I show up at the door)

Baby Steps

We spent Thanksgiving with Barry's family in Winona this year. Abram decided to show off and walk a few steps on Thanksgiving evening. He had been experimenting with one or two steps at a time over the last week. His first long trek was four steps towards me! The next evening he walked about 7 feet before toppling over. Since then he has been practicing a few steps at a time. It is so cute to watch...but also very sad to think that my little baby is growing up!

Over the last week Abram had his first Thanksgiving dinner (he could not get enough!), learned to climb stairs, and started turning up the stereo and bouncing to the music (except when he would turn it up too loud...then he would scoot away crying).

We hope everyone had as great of a Thanksgiving as we did!

First Words

"Being Naughty"

Ah, the time of developing words is nearing soon. Abram makes lots of sounds and occasionally makes some words accidently. This morning Barry, Abram, and I were cuddling and Abram said, something that starts with a B and rhymes with witch! I asked him what he said and he repeated it, and again when Barry asked him but that time he added in an "r" sound. We were laughing so hard, until he said sh*t, then uncontrollable laughter ensued. Apparently the syllables Abram decides to string together will all be naughty words. Good thing he can't make the "ffff" sound!

Twins

My neighbor has been having his house resided. Aside from the constant hammering and sawing on my deck (yes, they overflow all there material and workspace on our property), I looked out the widow this morning to what I thought was a mirror. "geez" I thought "the sun must be really bright to be reflecting our siding off the house next door". To my horror I discovered that the neighbors had chosen to reside in exactly our siding. So alike is this siding that I would bet money that it is the same brand and color number. If I see dark brown shutters go up I am gonna throw down.
I can see it now..."can't wait to see you! To get to my house drive here and here. I am the tan house with brown shutters...right next to the tan house with brown shutters..."

Test

I read this sign today and it made me laugh.

"I don't skinny dip, I chunky dunk"

Denied

A few weeks ago I heard about a baby storytime at our local library that happens on Saturday mornings. Today was the first Saturday we had free to go. So Abram and I packed up in the stroller and walked over. When we get there we find out that the storytime is downstairs. We also find the elevator broken. So, I ask politely where I can leave the stroller so that we can take the stairs. I was told that I could not leave the stroller anywhere. I was so mad! Either fix the elevator or let me leave the stroller upstairs so that we can walk down. That has got to break some accessibility laws doesn't it!?! What if it was a person who was handicapped? Would they be turned away as well? I am considering boycotting the library. Although they probably wouldn't care anyways. Grrr.

9 Month Well Check

Abram went to the doctor today for his 9 month well check. He is doing well. His weight came in at the 45% which is really good for him (he was at the 10th % when he was one month old). He must have just had a growth spurt because his height was all the way up to the 95%. Overall, he is doing well and is hitting his milestones on time.

Finally!

Our fears that Abram somehow missed the development of teeth during the gestation process have been proven false. Gummy McGumster has cut his first tooth! We can feel the little spiky thing and see a bit of it. It took 9 long months but alas the time has come. I will miss that gummy grin...

Tagged

Here are the rules:
1.Post the rules on your blog
2.Write 6 random things about yourself
3.Tag 6 people at the end of your post
4.If you are tagged, just do it, and pass the tag along!

1. I am so completely excited to participate in the hood ceremony at my commencement this weekend. I have dreamed about this for years and can't believe that I am finally here. When I picked up my cap and gown and they took the hood for the ceremony I choked up a bit.

2. Abram and I are currently trying to become multilingual. We spent last month learning French, which was easy for me since that was my language in highschool. We are on to Mandarin Chinese now. I am not catching on at all...but they have these catchy songs that I can remember the syllables to so I go around singing something and not really knowing what I am saying. It is all in hopes that early exposure will allow Abram to learn languages easier later in life.

3. If I could have any job in the world (and not have to worry about dying) I would be in the CIA. If I could have any artistic skill in the world it would be a toss up between cake decorating and photography.

4. I can not stand roof shingles that are old and curl up on the edges. If a whole roof is covered with them it actually makes me want to throw up. I feel like throwing up a little just thinking about it.

5. I know a secret that the rest of my family doesn't know yet.

6. When I was very young I wanted to be a boy. I actually thought I was a boy for a while because all the neighborhood kids were boys and that's who I played with all the time. I remember when I was about 4 asking my dad if I could play outside without my shirt on like everyone else.

I am tagging: Mom, Brandy, Bill, Jenny, Erin, and Rachel (although you have an excuse for not responding Rach :)

I'm coming to get 'cha!

Favorites

Abram is having a hard time with his teeth (acquiring them that is). Therefore, he is uber crabby baby and doesn't sleep well. During these times that he wears on my patience I think on my favorites about him:

1. Looking back at him in the car seat and seeing only the top of his head and the tips of his toes.

2. Watching him twist himself into a standing position in his crib while half asleep with his head nodding off to the side while his body stands him up.

3. Listening to him whisper babble to himself while he plays with his toys.

4. Laughing with him while he gets tickled and gives big belly laughs.

5. Seeing him look back at me to make sure I am still there and watching him explore.

6. Admiring his ability to get his sock off and in his mouth while in any position.

7. Gazing at him while he sleeps soundly in his crib...and sometimes with his little butt pushed up in the air.

8. Snuggling with him at night before he goes to sleep.

I really could go on forever so I will just stop there.

Children's songs

Abram and I usually spend part of our day playing with toys in the living room and listening to children's songs while we play. My mom gave us a CD set with 150 children's songs on it. I have fun listening to songs from my childhood that I had forgotten. I also have heard some politically correct word changes (ring around the rosie is no more). I have also heard some songs that make me say..."What?!?" Like the one that merrily sings,

Don't throw your junk in my backyard, my backyard, my backyard. Don't throw your junk in my backyard, my backyard's full.

then in the same song sings

Fish and chips and vinegar, vinegar, vinegar. Fish and chips and vinegar, vinegar (something something).

Could they really not find anything else to sing about? But my all time favorite goes a little something like this (hear upbeat clap hand and stomp foot type of rhythm):

I know a wienie man, he owns a wienie stand. He sells everything from hotdogs on down. One day I'll change his life, I'll be his wienie wife. Hotdog, I love that wienie ma-an.

I asked Barry tonight how someone could have possibly come up with those songs. He replied with one word, "drugs".

Stuck!

For the past few weeks Abram has been perfecting his skills at sitting up and standing up. This usually works out pretty well for him as he likes to control his environment. However, it does not work so well when he sits or stands in his crib...and...well...gets stuck. He cries until we come in and lay him back down again. Poor kid, doesn't know how to lay down.

And I am done

I just turned in my last requirements for graduation. I am off to take a nap while Abram is sleeping. I am so excited. And so tired.

Donna Martin Graduates!

For some reason I have this chant in my head as I finish my portfolio. Maybe it's because all I can think about is graduation. Maybe it's because some form of 90210 is coming back on this fall. In any case...
Donna Martin Graduates! Donna Martin Graduates! Donna Martin Graduates!...

He Stands

Abram pulled himself up to standing in his crib today! It was so funny to watch him. He struggled with it at first and was so proud of himself when he reached standing. Guess it's time to lower the crib mattress. I have been delaying that since when I put him to bed I lean in close to him and "shhhh" him for awhile. Now I won't be able to do that. Sniff Sniff. However, he has become a good cuddler when he is tired so I can replace my close time there. I will post a pic of him standing but in the spirit of getting my portfolio done...I'm out.

Somatoform Disorder

Yes, I am back to diagnosing myself. However, I did not use my DSM for this one so bare with me. For the past couple days I have been really dizzy. I explained it to my dad and he described it as Vertigo. But really, I have nothing wrong with me. I have analyzed if I have glaucoma, a migraine, a blood clot, high blood pressure, diabetes, and a hernia (why not). I realized I have none of these things. I have stress that I am not acknowledging from finishing my degree. I have been pretending like it isn't stressing me out so my body decided to show me that it really is. I realized this after Barry was asking me questions about my project and with each question I felt like throwing up a little more each time. So, here is to acknowledging my stress, getting rid of Vertigo, and finishing my portfolio (insert urge to puke here). Ugh, I guess if I wind up in the hospital I was wrong with my diagnosis.

Almost...

My portfolio is coming along really well! I hope to turn it in on Monday. Trying to stay focused is hard though. My mom and husband are a tremendous help!

A Whole New World

I recently joined facebook and have found that it is a whole new world that I wasn't previously aware of. I am amazed by how many people I know who have facebook accounts. People from college, people from church, and people from my internship. Crazy fun.

Abram is lunging at the keyboard like it's an oasis in the desert. Here is what he writes:

opop;uuttf5555555555555555555f wddswq

Abram and I are off to Rochester to visit Vicki and the boys, then Bill and Rachel and hopefully the girls, then to Albert Lea for a few days. My goal is to get my papers done with the extra time I will have when grandpa and grandma enjoy spending time with their second youngest grandchild. Wish me success!

The Love of Sleep

What Abram looks like when we put him to sleep

What Abram looks like when we check on him

Abram has joined his parents in a love of sleep. He went down for his nap about two hours ago and is still snoozing away. Last night he slept for 8 hours straight. This is not a new occurrence so I am marking it up as officially, regularly "sleeping through the night". Yeah for sleep!

Making baby food

Today was not my first attempt at making Abram's food but it was my most extensive attempt. We rarely buy store packaged baby food and tend to go day by day with what we make for Bram. Today I thought I would get a bunch stored up in the freezer.

On the menu:
Acorn Squash
Butternut Squash
Sweet Potatoes
Peas
Carrots

I started with boiling the water to steam the peas and carrots. No problems there. While they were steaming I halved the squash and scooped out the seeds. Down the disposal and I was off to peel the...oh wait...the disposal seems to be jammed up a little. Let me use an oh so safe technique and put my hand down there (after it was off of course) to see what is stuck. Hmmm, lots of seeds. I will pick some out. Run water, try again. This time water is not draining and disposal is making a funny noise. Erg.

Leave it and on to blending up the peas and carrots. No problem...good old blender we got at our wedding works great...only 3 years old been used a handful of times because to be honest, I don't make very much stuff in the kitchen.

Sweet potatoes are peeled and put in boiling water. Squash is in the oven!

Abram wakes up from his nap, gets fresh peas and carrots!

Start blending sweet potatoes...going well...needs more water....needs lots more water...blender seems to be mad at me...finishes blending potatoes.

Abram very crabby needs lot of attention. Break from cooking to attend to him.

Abram back to his nap. Squash scooped out and put in the blender. Almost done all I have to do is blen...wait, maybe it's not plugged in...nope. I bet I need to press that reset button like I do sometimes when I am blowdrying my hair...nope. Button push, button push, nothing. Blender seems to be making funny humming noise. Blender does nothing but mock me with it's container full of my baby's squash. R.I.P. wedding gift blender that has been used a handful of times.

I think the cost of a new blender and garbage disposal is going to seriously offset my savings from homemade baby food!

Hey Angie...

- So when is the next time you have to go to class?

- Umm, I think that would be never.

That's right folks, I finished my last class this weekend! I have sugar plums of PhD's dancing in my head but they can just keep dancing for the the next 10 years.

I will let you know when I get my projects turned in and have my official graduation date!!

Moving On Up

Abram is getting so big! He amazes us every day with his new abilities. Just thought I would post some updated pictures for your viewing pleasure.

Disappointed

I found out today that while I was not asked to stay on at my internship site the other intern was. This news has left me feeling extremely incompetent and very unsure of myself in my chosen career. I have not received any feedback as to why I was not chosen to stay on. I want to ask but yet don't. It feels very vulnerable to know that you were not the selected person and there were probably discussions about why to or not to hire someone. It feels very vulnerable to write this and share with the world (ok the dozen or so people who read this) that I wasn't good enough. There have been many tears of hurt and confusion shed today. Please be praying with me for peace and job opportunities.

6 Months Old

Abram had his 6th month appointment today. It went well but we did start him on an antibiotic because of his persistent cold, possible pink eye, and the presence of another ear infection. But this should take care of it all, hopefully! He is a growing boy and weighed in at 16lb 13oz which is in the 40% (good job Abram!!) and he is 27 inches long staying in the 75% for height.

Abram now is sitting like a champ and has even been practicing standing at the coffee table! He is a connoisseur of many foods with avocado and sweet potatoes being a staple. Most foods have been mashed but he has tried very small chunks of banana. He basically eats everything we try, even when he makes funny faces and we assume he doesn't like the taste. We are very grateful for that since he has been trying to work his way up the weight chart.

Abram recently has added the syllables "dadadada" into his babbling. I guess that's ok since he has been saying "angie" for awhile.

We have roll over workshops because he is still trying to master the skill of rolling. I think as soon as he learns that he can use the technique to get places he will be more motivated. For now he just cries until we move him.

And He Sleeps

I awoke on Sunday morning to the sounds of a little hungry boy. He was ravenously hungry because the last time he ate was 8 hours before!!! Yeah for Abram on his first sleep through the night. Boy were we ready for this milestone! He was waking up every three hours on Sunday night but last night had a six hour stretch. I think we are through the worst. I see many sleep filled nights in our future. Abram is also working on putting himself to sleep. Some nights he wants us right there with him until he is dreamland, other nights it seems like he wants us out of there in order to go to sleep.

And...I can't believe I didn't post about this sooner but...Abram also is sitting up on his own for short periods of time. He was "propping up" (thanks to Scott and Gia-hue for this funny term) but is now able to correct himself when he starts to lean to the sides. He still has some ways to go before I plop him down on the carpet alone but we are getting there. It seemed like one day he couldn't sit by himself and then all the sudden he was sitting. Time is going by so fast...

And it starts again

The date was July 5th 2008, the time: 11:14 a.m. CST, the declaration: We will run! Barry, Vicki, Dave, and I are committing ourselves to another race. This time, we will all run, we say! The last attempt at this was over a year ago and it was unsuccessful. But today we are hopeful that team "Are We There Yet?" makes it over the finish line of the Medtronic TC 10 Mile. Wish us luck or if you are up for it join the team! We register for the lottery July 7th, we are registering as a team so we will all be in or all out.

Please Stop By

In the last few months I have been feeling kind of restless in our house. While it was the perfect size for Barry and I when we were first married we are outgrowing it quickly with the addition of Abram. There seems to never be enough space: to store things, for Abram's toys, to walk... However, while thinking of all the things I could do with another 1000 or so sq feet I was convicted by the thought that we don't keep our small house picked up, how would we do it with a big house?!?

That's when I found www.flylady.net It is a fabulous website that helps Barry and I set up a routine to keep our surroundings company ready. (the thing that brought me to the site was the term CHAOS or Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome). It starts slow and goes from there. The last week on the "plan" has been fun and overwhelming. It's amazing how much mess can be made by two adults and a 5 month old. But we take it day by day. I have flynet to encourage me when I am feeling like I do the same things constantly throughout the day!

So, if you are in the neighborhood, please stop by. We will be ready for you!

The Pacifier Please

Barry and I do a lot of sleepy parenting in the middle of the night. One of Barry's main tasks is to put Abram back to bed with his pacifier after he is done eating. This is what led to our current scenario:

In the middle of the night I woke up to my husband gently patting my face. When I inquired as to what, exactly, he was doing he mumbled, "oh, I thought you were baby". We both returned to sleep and forgot about it. During one of my cotherapy sessions today I suddenly remembered the event and tried very hard not to smile during the session. Turns out Barry was attempting to find my mouth (hence the patting) and insert the pacifier assumingly so I would sleep. I can't imagine what I would have done if he was successful and I woke up with a pacifier in my mouth!

He's on a roll

Then...

Now...

That's right Abram has perfected the roll over from tummy to back. He and Barry were playing on the floor yesterday when Abram demonstrated his new ability. Ever since then we can't keep the kid on his belly. He just flips right over...I guess I expected this since he hates tummy time so much! I was at class when Abram decided to show Barry his skills so I missed it but got to watch this morning. I feel like we are on the verge of all kinds of exciting new skills for Abram. I am also feeling a little nostalgic for the little tiny baby he was, just looking up at us with his "cabbage patch doll" impressions!

On the school front, I just finished a huge project and presented it to my class yesterday. It feels so great to be done with it. Now I just have to take Research and Assessment and complete a portfolio with samples of the work I have done over the two years along with summaries of how I have progressed with each section. Look for an invite to a graduation fiesta in Aug/Sept!!

One Positive About a Baby Who Doesn't Sleep

It definitely helps to be able to survive on little sleep when papers are due! I would scold myself on procrastinating but really, I tried hard to get bits of the paper done along the way. It's just hard and unpredictable with a baby.

A therapy tidbit for you: there is a theory that procrastination is a way to avoid relationships. Hmmm, I think the only relationship I am avoiding is with my pillow.

Back to work!

Almost Finished

I am working on my Clinical Competency Evaluation right now while my wonderful mother is here watching Abram. I have a draft that needs to be sent out tonight and I present the paper along with video of a therapy session next Wednesday. Did you know that APA style writing allows only one space between sentences. Every paper I have ever written I have double spaced between sentences. So, I am spending much of my writing time backspacing to delete the double space.

I can't believe that I am nearing the end of my master's program. I have class this weekend then only one course and preparing my portfolio left. It's exciting and scary to be this close to finished. I now feel a lot of responsibility towards getting a good paying job to repay my husbands hard work over the last two years!

Ok, I better get back to work and utilize this time while I have a babysitter.

Group Projects

I would like to mention that I really dislike group projects. I tend to partner up with people who "are so excited and want to finish the project sooner rather than later!!". Can you guess what happens over the course of the project being due?

Luckily I have only had two group projects in the last few courses.

A Spoon and a Cup

These are two new things that were introduced into Bram's world this weekend. Bram got his first few sips of water from a sippy cup on Saturday. He wasn't quite sure what to do with the cup but has the hang of it today! He even grabs the handles to control the cup himself. Our hope is that by 6 months he will be able to drink his milk through the cup rather than have bottles (with assistance of course).

In a moment of desparation and sleep deprevation we decided to try feeding Bram some rice cereal. I was happy that we found a 100% organic whole grain variety and we gave it a try. It was a really fun and funny experience. Abram did not sleep any better with the 1/2 tablespoon of cereal he digested but we found out he really loves eating.

It is amazing at how fast time goes by. Right now Bram is sitting in a johnny jump up bouncing away holding his little stuffed frog (pictured in the last post). He is a funny guy!

Sweet Dreams

Bram loves to stand and try to move on his own (he is no where near this but he thinks he is!)

Bram trying to show me he is a big boy now and can sleep in his room alone!

Abram just went to sleep in his very own room. This is his first adventure sleeping overnight in his room. He has taken a few naps in there to get used to the environment. He really does like his room so I don't think he minds being in there...I am another story however. I was trying to wait until he slept longer stretches before we moved him over but I don't think that is ever going to happen and he is growing out of his bassinet. So, every couple hours I will be making the trek across the hallway to feed him. I am sure he will end up in his bassinet later in the evening but at least it's a step!

Date Night!

My mom is up visiting for a few days and wanted to watch Abram so Barry and I could have an evening out. It was our very first date night since he was born so we jumped at the opportunity! We tucked Bram into bed around 7:30 and left for sushi at Koyi in Minneapolis. Bram usually sleeps for about 3 to 4 hours on his first stretch so we were pretty sure we would be back before he even woke up. So, we ate some great sushi and then walked around downtown people watching for a while. We arrived back home around 10:30 thinking Abram would be starting to wake up for some milk. Turns out he just went to sleep about 20 minutes before...he woke up at 8:00 and stayed up the whole time we were gone! Apparently he knows it's party time when grandma's on duty!! But he was a good boy and he and grandma had fun playing. Barry and I also had a great night out. Although we did keep commenting on how it was strange to not have Abram with us.

Baby Well Check

Hmmm...I wonder what I am supposed to do with this?

Eat it? ...nope.

Ah ha! Read it!

Abram had his 4 month well check today. He is doing well! He weighed in at 13lb 3oz which is about the 25% so he is still a little peanut but is healthy and happy. He is now 25.5 inches tall which is 75%.

When you bring your child in for the well baby check they have you fill out a form that says "tell me about your child" with a block of space for free writing. I excitedly filled in all of Abram's feats knowing that he would be the most brilliant of 4 month olds the doctor has seen. I then flipped the paper over to check off the milestones they have preprinted for the months. Yep, everything I had written on the front was covered in the three and four month milestones on the back. So, he is right on track and I am like every mom in the world who thinks no one could be as advanced as her child. To be fair he did have 2 of the 5 month milestones down as well.

I have decided that I really like our doctor. She is very supportive and gives us the information we need. She is on board with our delayed vaccination schedule and told me about how she also cloth diapered her children back in the 80's.

My First Mother's Day

Today we celebrated my first Mother's Day. It was a good day even though I spent most of it in class. Barry and Abram started Mother's day yesterday evening since I had to be at class today. I came home to some pretty flowers and two homemade cards from the boys. I have had two wonderful dinners made for me and got to enjoy breakfast in bed before class today. Barry did a great job making me feel special!

Today is also the first Mother's day without my grandma. Periodically throughout the day I would think of memories of grandma. I know she would have loved Abram (especially because she loved Barry so much and Bram looks like a little Barry). I was also sad to think about my mom without a mother to celebrate with today.

To my mom, Thank you for being a wonderful mother and teaching me how to be a good mom to Abram!

The Baby

You can't really see it in the picture but we spent about 15 minutes today blowing the "spit bubbles" pictured above.

Just sitting up playing with my toys like a big boy!

It has come to my attention that I call Abram "the baby" or "baby" quite a lot. That really doesn't seem fair to him because he definitely has his own personality and is not just a baby.

Here are some of the things I have learned about my son:

-He loves when people are silly and will laugh out loud to silliness

-He will "talk" to you, especially after daycare when he is on the changing table. He expects empathy and understanding during these talks.

-He is active and alert to new things

-He is not a cuddler. I realized this when he was sick over the last two weeks. At one point he laid his head on my shoulder while I was holding him. It was then that I realized that he hasn't really ever done that. I cherished those two minutes with his head on my shoulder.

-He is STUBBORN. I think Barry and I could both win awards with our stubbornness so I don't know why Abram being stubborn was a surprise to me!

Abram amazes me every day with the new things that he learns. I am going to try very hard to help him develop his identity and stop using the generic term "baby".

Happy May Day

When I was little my mom and I would make May day baskets and fill them with candy to bring to our neighbors. May day baskets were given in secret so I would sneak up to the door, leave the basket on the doorstep, ring the bell, and run and hide so they wouldn't see me. I tend to forget about this memory until I realize that it is May day again and remember the tradition. I wonder if that is something I could start with my own children or if people would be too suspicious of a basket of candy anonymously left on their doorstep. I suppose it would depend on where I live...

It is also my nephew Caleb's birthday today! Happy 6th birthday Caleb!!!

At Play

This is the Abram puppet show...he didn't move much but it was funny! The first of many piggyback rides!

He loves his caterpillar!

We have been able to enjoy more play time with Abram as he gets older. It's hard to believe he is 3 months old already! What a cutie!

Friends!

Abram met some new friends and I was able to reconnect with some old Capella friends when we all got together last Thursday. It was great to be able to talk with other moms who are going through the joys and trials of new babies! I am looking forward to seeing them again soon!!

Trust Your Intuition

We have spent the last few days in a quite an uproar and learned this-trust your intuition.
Baby started daycare last week (he goes Monday's, Friday's, and every other Wednesday). On Monday I called to check on him and the daycare person I spoke to told me he was hungry and I didn't provide enough milk so she fed him WATER. I hung up the phone and after crying and composing myself I canceled the rest of my day and went to pick up Abram. The daycare people told me that I am not feeding him enough and he should be getting 6oz every TWO hours. So, I spent that evening and the next day talking with a La Leche leader, a lactation consultant, an RN at the clinic, and Abram's pediatrician. What I found out was that Abram is growing fine and has actually moved up to the next weight bracket (25%)! The daycare people just need to learn more about what soothes Abram besides milk. Abram returned to daycare for a half day today along with a doctors note about his proper milk consumption. He had a good day.

I want to be angry at the daycare but really they were just looking out for Abram and they really thought that he needed more food. We are adjusting his eating a little because I am still feeding him about 10 times a day and the doctor says that he is ready to move up in oz per feeding and eat less times per day. I also started taking Fenugreek to ensure that my milk production is where it needs to be. There are times when I am stressed about how I am going to pump out enough milk for Abram to have at daycare. There are also times when I feed Abram that he is crying and fussy when done. So, hopefully we have solved all the issues and won't have any more drama in the next few days!

Does it count?

Abram just rolled over from tummy to back! It was pretty much an accident due to his activity center being on the bed...he pushed up with his left hand and because of the softness of the bed flopped right over onto his back! I know it doesn't really count but I am still pretty excited :)

Hoorah!

Tonight is my very last shift at Teen Challenge!! I really enjoyed the last year working there, but am so very glad to be able to reclaim my weekends! (of course I have class next weekend but still, I will sleep and wake with the rest of the midwest!)

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back?

That is what my life feels like right now. Sunday and Monday night our little guy slept for a little over 6 hour stretches! However, today and yesterday he is back to not sleeping very long at night and wanting to be held all day again. My arms and my spirit are tired.

Random Act of Kindness

Baby and I were putzing around today when I heard some scraping outside. Our neighbors came over and shoveled out all our walks and driveway! It's great to live in an area where people are kind to each other.

Wait, what time is it?

Abram went to sleep last night at 10:30 after a good nightcap. The next time I heard from him was...3:30!!! That is 5, count 'em, 5 hours of sleep! I haven't had 5 hours of sleep in months. I am not counting my chickens yet but it is nice to be able to think straight. Now, if only the snow would suddenly disappear....

What a night...

Abram says, "I need sleep!"

Abram and I are having a bit of trouble the last couple days. Barry and I have been reading the Baby Whisperer book and preparing to get Abram on a routine and sleeping on his own. After 2 weeks with the book we have begun the process. Let me tell you, baby and I are a little tired of each other right now! We set up a going to sleep routine that starts when Bram starts to get sleepy. Right now it's taking between 20 to 40 minutes to get him to sleep. Then he will sleep on his own for somewhere between 5 minutes to 30 minutes. While yesterday was a hard day we stuck to it the whole day and last night Abram slept in his very own bassinet for the first time through the night! (he didn't sleep through the night but was returned to his bassinet after each feeding) Either Barry or I was awake most of the night however, trying to get Bram to sleep. So, today we are all a bit on the crabby side. Even though I am tired I am hopeful that this will work and Abram will be able to sleep without being held or being right next to someone while he sleeps. Wish us luck!!

Our Little String Bean

Abram had his two month wellness check today. Wow, does time fly! I feel like we were just bringing him home from the hospital. Looks like our baby takes after his daddy and is long and lean. He is 24inches long which is 90th percentile but only 10lb 3oz which is 15th percentile. We have to work on chunking him up a bit!! Only one more inch until he is out of his infant car seat. Hopefully that doesn't happen before he is three months.

My Poor Husband

Apparently he has been growing a beard for the last two weeks. It didn't come to my attention until a friend commented on it. Maybe one day Abram will stop crying long enough for me to pay attention to the details again...

Official Notice: Nursing Strike Over, Poop Strike On

Ah, it is nice to be able to feed my son again! Our time was stressful but it is over...there are still some remnants but for the most part we are in good shape. That you so very much for the advice posted. I tried it all and it got us through to this point. I really can't thank those of you who posted enough!!!

Now, Abram is apparently on to a poop strike. Back to the drawing board for advice I suppose :) I know that around 6 weeks babies can become so efficient with eating that they only poop 1 time a week but...that doesn't stop me from worrying. Any advice mommies?

A Call For Help From Nursing Moms

CAUTION: If you are male or uncomfortable with anatomy used for Nursing you may want to skip this post :)

Ok, so here is the deal. Bram and I have never had an easy time with nursing. He had trouble latching in the beginning. However, up until recently we have always been successful in getting a good full feeding done. Last weekend I had to leave Bram for about 3 hours at a time to attend class (I was luckily able to come home at lunch and nurse him). I was worried about nipple confusion with the bottle and breastfeeding but he did wonderfully. He didn't have a problem taking the bottle and didn't have a problem returning to breastfeeding. This past Thursday I came down with the stomach flu. I was too sick to nurse so Barry feed him some milk I had been storing in the fridge and I pumped when I could. As my temp went up my milk supply went down and I was barely pumping an ounce from both sides during one session. We ended up only needing to supplement with formula twice before I was feeling better and getting back on a regular pumping/nursing schedule. So, here is the big problem...after 1 and a half days of bottles my baby won't breastfeed anymore. I can sometimes trick him into it for a little while but mostly when I try he screams and pulls away and looks at me like I killed his dog. We stopped giving him anything with an artificial nipple for a little while (bottle, pacifier) but soon realized the kid was starving and we had to let him eat somehow. With the help of a dropper to start him off I was able to get him to latch a couple times. Currently he will latch on to only one side and eat with much coaxing for about 15 minutes before screaming. Last feeding after having him latched (while sucking and making swallowing sounds) he ate 2 oz of a bottle as well. This leads me to believe he was not getting much. I have been pumping and my milk supply is going back up but is at least at 2 oz a feeding. Any help or advice on getting my milk supply back up and getting Abram to latch again without terrorizing him would be so greatly appreciated!

Happy Birthday Barry!

Barry turned 31 today! Currently Dad and son are taking a birthday nap before Abram gets up for the night...

30 Pounds?

That is how much weight I have lost in the three weeks since I delivered Abram! So, 8lbs of baby, let's say 3lbs of placenta...that leaves 19lbs of water??? I knew I was retaining water (and there are the bags of water the baby lived in as well) but that seems like a lot. As much as 30lbs sounds I still am not close to my prebaby weight. I realize I don't need to be there three weeks after delivery, but just saying I have a ways to go before fitting into that bridesmaid dress for my brother's wedding in July!

Our little Chunky Monkey

Bram, Age: 2 Weeks

Abram did a great job gaining weight his first two weeks of life. He left the hospital at 7lb 5oz and at his appointment on Tuesday weighed in at 8lb 5oz! He is a good little eater!! Bram seems to have a bit of colic and has his crying jags, but we love him so much that we think he's cute even when he's crying. We just throw on the vacuum cleaner and it calms him down really quickly. Maybe he will like to vacuum when he gets older?

And the Winner is...

Brandy with a phenomenal guess that was just 5 minutes off baby's birth time!! He weighed in at 7lb 15 oz. More details to follow!

Ultrasound pics

Here are some pictures from our 41 Week Ultrasound as well as some past pics, Isn't he a cutie!
Our Baby's profile...looks like he is going to have some chubby cheeks!

The fuzzy while lines are the baby's hair! He definitely has a lot of it but since we don't know the angle this picture is at, he either has a cap of hair or the male patterned baldness hair that is above the ears and wraps around the back of the head! Let's hope for the cap!!

Baby likes to show off his feet....

Baby's big foot at 41 Weeks!

Baby's foot at 20 Weeks

Baby's foot at 17 weeks.

A Guessing Game

We had a long doctor's appointment today and learned that baby is not making any moves towards being born. We have an induction date scheduled for the latest they will let me go, January 21st. We are hoping and praying baby decides to be born before then as Pitocin doesn't have the best reputation. I am tired, I am crabby...feel sorry for Barry.

To make this time a little more interesting I have decided to start a poll. My original guess was that baby would be born on the 15th...looks like there isn't much chance of that happening. When do you think baby will be born? Post a comment with your guess between today and the 21st, if you want to add a time of day and weight go right ahead! Let's see who gets the closest!!

Sigh...

I think we may have offended our baby in some way and he is retaliating by not being born. As much as I love not being able to sleep, constant heartburn, the inability to move/walk/stand without pain, and just feeling overall miserable I really wish my child would decide to be born.

Class is over for the weekend. There is officially nothing else to wait for!

Ho Hum

Well, I have had a couple irregular contractions but other than that there is nothing else going on. I decided not to go to my practicum today because of the random contractions (and I feel like something resemling a whale). I have class all weekend so that should help pass the time...

Doctor's Appointment

I guess I am just feeling confused. I am upset because I am not progressing very much and I am upset because my doctor said that she won't let me go past January 22nd (two weeks from my due date). Apparently I want to both have my baby and not have my baby. Chalk it up to hormones I guess. I am basically worried that I won't go on my own and have to be induced which is going to complicate the process quite a bit. If you feel like praying for baby to come on his own before the 22nd I would appreciate it.

Good-Bye Due Date

Well, here we are bidding the due date good-bye. Good-bye due date. We had high hopes for you. But, we will move on...in hopes that tomorrow brings more contractions than today.

Which was zero by the way. Baby didn't even consider making today his birthday. Oh well. Many thanks to my friend Mandy for helping me get through the day a little quicker with a trip to Jamba Juice. Barry and I also went on the hospital tour again so we could get used to the labor and delivery area a little more. Now, we wait.

I have a dr. appt. tomorrow morning so I will post any updates after that.

Hello Due Date!

It is with great anticipation that we start this day! If our baby is anything like me he will decide to arrive on the 8th day of the month he is due, which is his due date, as it was mine in September of 77. My mom tells me that when she went into labor on her due date she thought, "no, this can't be it, no one has their baby on their due date!" Yet that was the day I was born. Come on little boy, follow in your mom's footsteps!! We are ready to meet you!!!

Baby's Room

Baby's room is now completely ready for him after my mom and I worked on it for a few days this week. I wish I could post pictures with my camera but we are still missing the cord that we need to do that. All the bedding is washed and on the crib and bassinet. We made and hung some pictures on the wall as well as a couple shelves, the quilt that we made, and a little music box that I had in my room growing up. I like to sit in his room and think about what it will be like when he is here!

We think baby is going to take his time getting here though. I am starting to efface (about 50%) and just barely starting to dilate. We (along with the dr.) think he will arrive after the 15th. Even though this was what I was originally planning for I am still feeling impatient! At the same time i am glad baby is taking his own time and developing as he needs to. The Dr. asked me if I wanted my membranes stripped at my appt yesterday. Even though I know I will not do that, it did sound tempting at the time... Never fear, I will not rush baby.

My mom was up here from New Year's day until yesterday helping us clean and get everything ready. We got so much done while she was here! I would like to nominate her as the Best Mom in the World!!