So I let this slide for quite a few days. I don't know what I became so busy with, but apparently everything else took precedence over venting. Such is life!
My new kick: Once A Month Cooking (OAMC) recipes. I found a great site filled with recipes for casseroles and the like that can be cooked and frozen for easy-to-prepare meals all month.
OAMC Recipes
Now to just find the time/budget to buy and cook in bulk!! I like to cook, but usually my dinner prep happens in stages....little man calls!
Today was a fantastic day. I've recently begun to feel a little burnt out as a SAHM. Thinking, "what did I use to do with him? I'm so bored. He's so bored." Today was a normal Saturday, except the temperature reached 52. Woo hoo, tropical weather! But anyway, laundry, recycling, dishes, and writing some recipes got done with very little fussing from the family dictator. He has become so attached to me (and I am not exaggerating, there are few moments he lets me put him down and he almost never lets anyone else hold him) that things are really difficult to get done. Plus he is so big (some of his 12 month clothes are tight) he doesn't really fit in our baby carrier anymore. So I celebrated the time to get all that stuff done. Yay!
In the past two weeks we've had some awesome time with close friends. I hope this continues! It's amazing what a few people can do to lift your spirits when you feel like you're dragging in the mud. Even though I know it's not a quick fix and things will take time. It was great visiting a friend yesterday instead of staying home all day with little to do! :)
Well, this crochet rug is long overdue. If I'm to get it done before spring break I need to kick it into gear. Wish me luck!
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Monday, January 31, 2011
"Love Is A Renewable Resource"
I opened up a pack of encouragement cards today and this was the first one: "Love is a renewable resource." It was good to be reminded how abundant love can be. Even when you think you are running out of patience, you're hurt or angry, or you're just tired of giving and feeling like you aren't getting, love is a choice you make every day. Every time you get out of bed, every time you fight, every time you feel like doing your own thing instead of giving to someone else.
Every morning Alex wakes me up at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 AM, and I finally get out of bed at 7:00 and get him up for the day, I make a choice to either love on him or be tired and grumpy. Sadly I can't say I choose the first option every time, but I make an effort.
Each time Dan and I argue over anything I have to make the choice to love him despite my anger, frustration, insult, or sadness. Again, I don't always make the right choice in these instances.
But if I were to stop making these choices, life would begin to fall apart at the seams. That's where it gets hard: sometimes it takes flat out forcing yourself to say "I love you". When I feel insulted and ready to walk away, I need to end the conversation in as loving a way as possible. When I'm frustrated with Alex crying all day long, I need to remember he needs his mom to love him and isn't doing it to frustrate me.
~*~*~*~
On an entirely different note, I went to a substitute workshop today to learn how to sub in Johnson City. It was four hours long, early in the morning, and it was the longest stretch I had to sit up straight, stay awake, and dress up since way before Alex was born. Aside from the complaints, it was interesting and I got excited about having an excuse to get into a classroom and teach! Hopefully I can show someone that I can do it--maybe scoring myself a position sometime in the near future! We'll see. Tomorrow's adventure: take Alex to get my fingerprinting done, and then shop for a jumperoo for him to have some fun in. Can't wait!
Every morning Alex wakes me up at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 AM, and I finally get out of bed at 7:00 and get him up for the day, I make a choice to either love on him or be tired and grumpy. Sadly I can't say I choose the first option every time, but I make an effort.
Each time Dan and I argue over anything I have to make the choice to love him despite my anger, frustration, insult, or sadness. Again, I don't always make the right choice in these instances.
But if I were to stop making these choices, life would begin to fall apart at the seams. That's where it gets hard: sometimes it takes flat out forcing yourself to say "I love you". When I feel insulted and ready to walk away, I need to end the conversation in as loving a way as possible. When I'm frustrated with Alex crying all day long, I need to remember he needs his mom to love him and isn't doing it to frustrate me.
~*~*~*~
On an entirely different note, I went to a substitute workshop today to learn how to sub in Johnson City. It was four hours long, early in the morning, and it was the longest stretch I had to sit up straight, stay awake, and dress up since way before Alex was born. Aside from the complaints, it was interesting and I got excited about having an excuse to get into a classroom and teach! Hopefully I can show someone that I can do it--maybe scoring myself a position sometime in the near future! We'll see. Tomorrow's adventure: take Alex to get my fingerprinting done, and then shop for a jumperoo for him to have some fun in. Can't wait!
Friday, January 21, 2011
Super Raccoon Mario rug...2/3 of the way done!
Wanted to make sure I included a picture of Kelly's "Christmas" present. Almost there!! I'm totally getting granny squared out, though.
Throw Out Those Parenting Books, Bring On the Experiences!
I can't stand the way I hear information about how babies should act and behave at a certain age, compare my son to it, and panic. No matter what I do, I always compare his daily routine to the info I get in parenting books, on parenting chat sites, and from family members. And on an almost as consistent basis, he never matches up to any of it!
Is that necessarily wrong? I've got to keep telling myself, NO!
At the same time that I hear all these "facts", I also have the voices that finish off these rants with statements like, "but babies are all different." So after you've told me how babies typically sleep through the night by five or six months, but tacked on that every baby is different, I'm now looking at Alex and thinking..."why are you still getting up to nurse every 2-3 hours around the clock?!" Well, I have to keep telling myself that (cue cliche saying now) every baby is different!
It's then good to hear from breastfeeding advocates that BF infants can't necessarily go as long as formula-fed infants because breastmilk is digested so much faster and easier. So, until the day when we officially start solid foods and he is satiated for longer, I just get to enjoy this much time with him close to me. As long as he is healthy and happy, why complain, I suppose?
Just wanted to include this article my sister sent me today. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE70J4U220110120 This is nothing new to BF moms, but I wanted to share a glimmer of hope for us and all the future babies and their mommies.
It really made me sad that only 1 out of every 10 babies is exclusively breastfed until at least 6 months of age. Dan and I knew from the moment we found out we were pregnant that breastfeeding was a choice we wanted to make. Actually, I can't truly remember when I decided that...it seems to always have been what I wanted to do.
Now, Alex is almost 5 months old, we're still breastfeeding while occasionally dabbling with cereal at dinner time, and we're just as happy with our decision as from the start. Trouble is, we live in a time-crunched, life-made-easy world where breastfeeding seems to be the inconvenient route that many mothers turn away from. Not only do most mothers choose to stop breastfeeding after the first few weeks, but I have had personal experience (especially from some pro-formula family members) where I have been made to feel like the outcast.
Just a few things I want to make clear about BF that a lot of people I have come into contact with have been saying:
1. Breastfeeding should not hurt, IF you are doing it right. Lactation consultants and nurses in the hospitals will help you learn to do it right. Just remember, babies are born with the sucking reflex, but they are just as unskilled at BF as you.
2. Breastfeeding is perfectly suited to your child's needs. Don't let your MIL (or someone of the like) who was unable to BF or chose not to tell you that breastmilk is not good enough for your baby. Certainly don't let them tell you you are not enough for your baby (That is all-too infuriating to me). Often they speak out of bitterness or ignorance. You, your baby, and your baby's doctor know best. Breastmilk is so much better for your baby than any formula you can find on the market. Why do you think we were created with the ability to nurse in the first place?
3. Absolutely NO formula comes close to the nutritional value of breastmilk. No matter what you try.
4. Breastfeeding is not hindered by size. ;)
5. Breastfeeding moms can still take birth control, and are far less likely to become pregnant even without the pill! Woo hoo, no periods for a long time! (Why would you want anything different?!)
6. You do not have to be in it alone. You can pump and allow others to bottle feed your baby. Also, there are free clinics and groups all over the country that offer advice, information, and lend an ear to breastfeeding moms who need to talk or figure stuff out. There are plenty of support systems out there!
Most BF advocates promote it by saying its easily accessible, always the right temperature, and perfect for the baby's nutritional needs. But when you whip out your cover-up to feed your baby in public, you get more stares from strangers and family alike, all thinking a variety of things: "oh how strange", "in public? how rude!", "my baby sleeps longer overnight because we formula feed", "why do you bother? It is so much easier to bottle feed with formula." Or my favorite comment so far, "you should at least pump more bottles. That way other people can enjoy feeding the baby and he doesn't need mom anymore." Ouch! I reply with a nice, "I'd be happy to pump once in a while if you'd like to feed him," but on the inside I'm screaming, "go have a kid yourself and feed her all the bottles you want. This is my baby, and I don't even want to let you feed him!" At least in my five months of experience, the ready-to-eat form can come as a hindrance (and even sometimes an embarrassment if I let it), even as much as I and my son enjoy BF.
Over the new year, I was at a family party where people knew I was breastfeeding. They made comments about it, mostly to joke that they shouldn't offer me the alcoholic drinks, but thankfully none of the comments were hurtful or too embarrassing. The worst I got was my BIL yelling about boobs. They seem to respect our choice, but I could tell they thought it was weird. Let's face it, I was the oddball in a formula world. Alex' cousin, who is only four weeks older, was asleep for good after someone had fed him his last bottle of the night. They didn't know what to think or say when I got up to go feed him every few hours. It's hard to be the odd woman out! The best part of the night, when I was feeding him upstairs, one of the family friends came in to lay her 2-year-old down for bed. She was excited to see someone else BF, especially at this particular party where the people had always given her a rough time. She admitted being an extended BF--all the way til the little one was two! Even though I don't plan to BF that long, I couldn't help but be excited that someone else felt the same way I did and wasn't afraid to go against the grain. She is very proud that her daughter never had an ounce of formula. Kudos to her!
All this aside, it is a personal choice, and you should stick by what you have decided. I know several people who chose to breastfeed. I also know several people who either chose to formula feed because BF just couldn't fit their lifestyle, and some who couldn't breastfeed because of medical issues. Whatever your choice may be, don't let others put you down or make you feel bad for your decision. You are acting out of love and doing what you feel is best for you and your baby!
http://www.llli.org/
http://www.naba-breastfeeding.org/
http://www.breastfeeding.com/
Is that necessarily wrong? I've got to keep telling myself, NO!
At the same time that I hear all these "facts", I also have the voices that finish off these rants with statements like, "but babies are all different." So after you've told me how babies typically sleep through the night by five or six months, but tacked on that every baby is different, I'm now looking at Alex and thinking..."why are you still getting up to nurse every 2-3 hours around the clock?!" Well, I have to keep telling myself that (cue cliche saying now) every baby is different!
It's then good to hear from breastfeeding advocates that BF infants can't necessarily go as long as formula-fed infants because breastmilk is digested so much faster and easier. So, until the day when we officially start solid foods and he is satiated for longer, I just get to enjoy this much time with him close to me. As long as he is healthy and happy, why complain, I suppose?
Just wanted to include this article my sister sent me today. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE70J4U220110120 This is nothing new to BF moms, but I wanted to share a glimmer of hope for us and all the future babies and their mommies.
It really made me sad that only 1 out of every 10 babies is exclusively breastfed until at least 6 months of age. Dan and I knew from the moment we found out we were pregnant that breastfeeding was a choice we wanted to make. Actually, I can't truly remember when I decided that...it seems to always have been what I wanted to do.
Now, Alex is almost 5 months old, we're still breastfeeding while occasionally dabbling with cereal at dinner time, and we're just as happy with our decision as from the start. Trouble is, we live in a time-crunched, life-made-easy world where breastfeeding seems to be the inconvenient route that many mothers turn away from. Not only do most mothers choose to stop breastfeeding after the first few weeks, but I have had personal experience (especially from some pro-formula family members) where I have been made to feel like the outcast.
Just a few things I want to make clear about BF that a lot of people I have come into contact with have been saying:
1. Breastfeeding should not hurt, IF you are doing it right. Lactation consultants and nurses in the hospitals will help you learn to do it right. Just remember, babies are born with the sucking reflex, but they are just as unskilled at BF as you.
2. Breastfeeding is perfectly suited to your child's needs. Don't let your MIL (or someone of the like) who was unable to BF or chose not to tell you that breastmilk is not good enough for your baby. Certainly don't let them tell you you are not enough for your baby (That is all-too infuriating to me). Often they speak out of bitterness or ignorance. You, your baby, and your baby's doctor know best. Breastmilk is so much better for your baby than any formula you can find on the market. Why do you think we were created with the ability to nurse in the first place?
3. Absolutely NO formula comes close to the nutritional value of breastmilk. No matter what you try.
4. Breastfeeding is not hindered by size. ;)
5. Breastfeeding moms can still take birth control, and are far less likely to become pregnant even without the pill! Woo hoo, no periods for a long time! (Why would you want anything different?!)
6. You do not have to be in it alone. You can pump and allow others to bottle feed your baby. Also, there are free clinics and groups all over the country that offer advice, information, and lend an ear to breastfeeding moms who need to talk or figure stuff out. There are plenty of support systems out there!
Most BF advocates promote it by saying its easily accessible, always the right temperature, and perfect for the baby's nutritional needs. But when you whip out your cover-up to feed your baby in public, you get more stares from strangers and family alike, all thinking a variety of things: "oh how strange", "in public? how rude!", "my baby sleeps longer overnight because we formula feed", "why do you bother? It is so much easier to bottle feed with formula." Or my favorite comment so far, "you should at least pump more bottles. That way other people can enjoy feeding the baby and he doesn't need mom anymore." Ouch! I reply with a nice, "I'd be happy to pump once in a while if you'd like to feed him," but on the inside I'm screaming, "go have a kid yourself and feed her all the bottles you want. This is my baby, and I don't even want to let you feed him!" At least in my five months of experience, the ready-to-eat form can come as a hindrance (and even sometimes an embarrassment if I let it), even as much as I and my son enjoy BF.
Over the new year, I was at a family party where people knew I was breastfeeding. They made comments about it, mostly to joke that they shouldn't offer me the alcoholic drinks, but thankfully none of the comments were hurtful or too embarrassing. The worst I got was my BIL yelling about boobs. They seem to respect our choice, but I could tell they thought it was weird. Let's face it, I was the oddball in a formula world. Alex' cousin, who is only four weeks older, was asleep for good after someone had fed him his last bottle of the night. They didn't know what to think or say when I got up to go feed him every few hours. It's hard to be the odd woman out! The best part of the night, when I was feeding him upstairs, one of the family friends came in to lay her 2-year-old down for bed. She was excited to see someone else BF, especially at this particular party where the people had always given her a rough time. She admitted being an extended BF--all the way til the little one was two! Even though I don't plan to BF that long, I couldn't help but be excited that someone else felt the same way I did and wasn't afraid to go against the grain. She is very proud that her daughter never had an ounce of formula. Kudos to her!
All this aside, it is a personal choice, and you should stick by what you have decided. I know several people who chose to breastfeed. I also know several people who either chose to formula feed because BF just couldn't fit their lifestyle, and some who couldn't breastfeed because of medical issues. Whatever your choice may be, don't let others put you down or make you feel bad for your decision. You are acting out of love and doing what you feel is best for you and your baby!
http://www.llli.org/
http://www.naba-breastfeeding.org/
http://www.breastfeeding.com/
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
On Your Mark, Get Set, Accelerate!
This is my first blog post. I'm trying to decide whether or not I enjoy posting stuff about myself online for all eyes to see. Kind of narcissistic, but good to get it all off my chest I guess. I don't have much of interest to talk about, but at least I'm keeping myself busy during my "mommy time".
I'm excited--Alex has developed a routine all on his own. He is up at 7, takes three naps during the day at regular times, and we put him to bed around 7:30/8:00 right after a bath. Though some days he's ready for bed at 5:00. Mommy's not such a big fan because that means he's up and ready at 5:00am.
We're still working on some things, like getting him to sleep longer stretches at night. He still likes to get up and eat every two or three hours, something I've grown really used to. The first two weeks I was wired: excited to have my brand-new baby home with us, excited to meet his needs every two hours on the dot. The next few weeks his colic was hellish, I started to need the mid-morning naps I took alongside him, and he was still up every two hours on the dot, only now he screamed before, during, and after each time he ate. After about 8 weeks I was officially exhausted...both from the long nighttime feedings and the screaming. Around 12 weeks we could see some light at the end of the tunnel, I had stopped eating any dairy and he was actually proving to be somewhat sociable and, dare I say, happy! Now at 4 1/2 months he laughs, smiles, coos, and talks to us on a regular basis. We love it!
I started a crochet project that I intended to be my little sister's Christmas present. But with the little guy, things didn't get done as fast as I would have liked them to. Instead, its almost the end of January and I'm just now about 2/3 of the way done. But it is looking pretty awesome if I do say so myself! It'll be a 7'x7' Super Raccoon Mario rug. :) By the time I'm done with this, I'll be burnt out on granny squares and Alex will be working on crawling...no more leaving my projects around the living room!
I'm still in the process of looking for a job. I love being home with Alex, but I'm itching to get some teaching experience. Unfortunately, the world is all about having the right connections, not just the right skills. Though they certainly get the job done once you secure it. :P Some day! Until then, I'm trying to be the best mommy I can while I'm home with him!! Being unemployed has allowed me to see a lot of his firsts, which is a huge blessing.
Well, rather than use all my "mommy time" up blogging, that'll be it for now. Until next time, life is speeding up every moment of the day and flying right by. I hope to learn to enjoy it more while I am living it out! :)
I'm excited--Alex has developed a routine all on his own. He is up at 7, takes three naps during the day at regular times, and we put him to bed around 7:30/8:00 right after a bath. Though some days he's ready for bed at 5:00. Mommy's not such a big fan because that means he's up and ready at 5:00am.
We're still working on some things, like getting him to sleep longer stretches at night. He still likes to get up and eat every two or three hours, something I've grown really used to. The first two weeks I was wired: excited to have my brand-new baby home with us, excited to meet his needs every two hours on the dot. The next few weeks his colic was hellish, I started to need the mid-morning naps I took alongside him, and he was still up every two hours on the dot, only now he screamed before, during, and after each time he ate. After about 8 weeks I was officially exhausted...both from the long nighttime feedings and the screaming. Around 12 weeks we could see some light at the end of the tunnel, I had stopped eating any dairy and he was actually proving to be somewhat sociable and, dare I say, happy! Now at 4 1/2 months he laughs, smiles, coos, and talks to us on a regular basis. We love it!
I started a crochet project that I intended to be my little sister's Christmas present. But with the little guy, things didn't get done as fast as I would have liked them to. Instead, its almost the end of January and I'm just now about 2/3 of the way done. But it is looking pretty awesome if I do say so myself! It'll be a 7'x7' Super Raccoon Mario rug. :) By the time I'm done with this, I'll be burnt out on granny squares and Alex will be working on crawling...no more leaving my projects around the living room!
I'm still in the process of looking for a job. I love being home with Alex, but I'm itching to get some teaching experience. Unfortunately, the world is all about having the right connections, not just the right skills. Though they certainly get the job done once you secure it. :P Some day! Until then, I'm trying to be the best mommy I can while I'm home with him!! Being unemployed has allowed me to see a lot of his firsts, which is a huge blessing.
Well, rather than use all my "mommy time" up blogging, that'll be it for now. Until next time, life is speeding up every moment of the day and flying right by. I hope to learn to enjoy it more while I am living it out! :)
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