Friday, December 14, 2012
Shooting
I am horrified by the shooting that happened today. So many school shootings and all I can ask myself is why? Is there even a reason? Is there something we are doing wrong as a society or as parents or teachers or leaders? Or is it just simply that there is pure and senseless evil in this world and that is what this was? I think the biggest thing I keep thinking is about the parents of the surviving students who were there. Those children should not have seen what they saw today. It's bad enough when our war vets, many who are only barely over 18, have to see and live through combat situations and death and the horror and pain they have to suffer forever after. But for one so young, just children, to have to live through that? Will these kids ever be the same? How does a parent handle the PTSD that is sure to follow in the coming days and weeks? I think, beyond just the parents of those who were killed, we also need to keep the parents of those who weren't in our prayers. They are going to have to really be there for their children now. Be there to hold them when they wake up from a nightmare or when they become angry or fearful of everything. Be there to shield and protect these little ones from violent images on TV or in video games which may set off violent memories of today. Be there to help them through this. This is not something children should ever have to deal with but they will have to and those parents are in my prayers.
Thursday, December 13, 2012
28 Weeks
God really has a sense of humor. Sitting up there watching me fret and worry about what will happen when my unemployment runs out. All this time and hardly any interviews and the few I've had I haven't gotten the job for. And now, after having to jump through so many hurdles for this job, and a panic attack on the way to my first interview for it, I get a job! And not just a job either. A job that I believe I am well suited for and will allow me to do something useful in the community. A great paying job with great benefits working with awesome people, heros of the town really. I start work Monday morning as a police dipatcher! I am nervous. It's a new job and I do have some doubts about some aspects of it. I'm not great at maps or giving directions so I will have to work on that. I'm not great at handling stress and I know this is a very high stress job so I will have to work on that as well. But I do have a heart for people and for helping those in need. I am a great listener and a fast typer and good at getting information out of upset people. I think with time and practice and training I could be very good at this and learn to really love this job. But most important, we, our family, is going to be OK. I didn't know what would happen once my unemployment ran out. How would we pay our bills? How would we ever move out this place? And now I can dream. Dream of a house of our own for our family and not always having no money in the bank. We should be able to pay off all our debts minus the cars in two years time. We probably won't move for at least 6 months or a year to give us time to save money and pay off debts and to make absolutely sure this job is something that will work out for me.
Justace is getting into everything. He moves where he wants and he grabs what he wants, which usually means any pieces of paper or cardboard the cat has left for him. I'm constantly watching and taking small items away from him that I missed cleaning up. I've set up a chore chart that Josh and I will start using depending on who is working or off that particular day and it includes picking up and vacuuming each room every single day. Oh and he's getting much better about being left on the floor with his toys...that is until I take away a piece of trash he has picked up or focused on and then he erupts into angry tears.
Justace is getting into everything. He moves where he wants and he grabs what he wants, which usually means any pieces of paper or cardboard the cat has left for him. I'm constantly watching and taking small items away from him that I missed cleaning up. I've set up a chore chart that Josh and I will start using depending on who is working or off that particular day and it includes picking up and vacuuming each room every single day. Oh and he's getting much better about being left on the floor with his toys...that is until I take away a piece of trash he has picked up or focused on and then he erupts into angry tears.
Friday, December 7, 2012
Gift-Giving and Mother Link
I love Christmas. I love everything about it. I do love getting gifts and giving them but at the same time gift giving can be such a negative experience. If I know the perfect gift for a loved one that I know he or she will just love then it's a good experience. I want to give that gift to that person. But, the problem comes, when I do not know what to get for someone. It's Christmas and I have to get something and I want to get something that's perfect but I end up looking at completely random items and ideas and going yeah maybe he'd like that? Why is gift giving such a necessity this time of year? I mean sure for the kids it should be but for adults? Why can't we just give if we feel like it and if we have no good ideas not give? Last year I got Josh a gift I thought he'd love but I ordered it online and when it arrived it turned out to be so cheaply made and awful we ended up sending it back. This year I still haven't decided what to get him and the stress is killing me. I want to get him that perfect gift that he will love but what is it? Why can't we simply do the Christmas traditions like decorating the tree together and looking at lights and listening to Christmas music while drinking cocoa and eating cookies? Being together as a family should be more important than finding the perfect present. I like what my parents tried to do in later years and think maybe we will stick to that. Get one present he wants and one present he needs. So, for example, for Justace we could get him a toy and some PJs that actually fit.
Also, I wanted to share something I read online. I read an article, some new research, that shows that sometimes the cells from a baby will travel to a mother's brain while in utero and vice versa. This literally means that a mother has a part of her child in her and the child can have a part of his or her mother inside him or her. I absolutely love this bit of research. You always hear people say I'm in your heart, even after death you carry your loved one with you inside but this literally proves it. I think perhaps it might even help explain why, as mothers, we feel such a strong connection to our children. Because we literally have part of them inside of us and are linked biologically to them even before birth. For example, when I hear Justace cry it tears my heart up. It kills me. When I hear another baby cry my emotions stay in check and I remain mostly calm. If I'm babysitting for someone else and their baby cries the only real emotions I feel for that child is oh no why is he crying? I need to figure out what is wrong and fix it. Whereas if it's my own child I actually feel his pain inside of me and it's harder to stay calm and focused or to ignore it if I know nothing is really wrong.
Also, I wanted to share something I read online. I read an article, some new research, that shows that sometimes the cells from a baby will travel to a mother's brain while in utero and vice versa. This literally means that a mother has a part of her child in her and the child can have a part of his or her mother inside him or her. I absolutely love this bit of research. You always hear people say I'm in your heart, even after death you carry your loved one with you inside but this literally proves it. I think perhaps it might even help explain why, as mothers, we feel such a strong connection to our children. Because we literally have part of them inside of us and are linked biologically to them even before birth. For example, when I hear Justace cry it tears my heart up. It kills me. When I hear another baby cry my emotions stay in check and I remain mostly calm. If I'm babysitting for someone else and their baby cries the only real emotions I feel for that child is oh no why is he crying? I need to figure out what is wrong and fix it. Whereas if it's my own child I actually feel his pain inside of me and it's harder to stay calm and focused or to ignore it if I know nothing is really wrong.
27 Weeks
Honestly, not much to say this week. He's still right on the verge of crawling but not there yet. However he can scoot anywhere he wants to go fairly quickly. He's eating solids and expanding his tastes. He LOVES avacado. Still not sitting. Not sure if he knows his name or not. I think the problem is Josh had started calling him Tubby as a nickname all the time because he loves to eat so much and for a while there he was short and a bit chubby and constantly growing. He's evened out more now but the nickname stuck so if you say Tubby he recognizes that but not as much Justace. So we are trying to stop callin him that and use his name more often. He's really good now at reaching for whatever toys he wants. I can put him down on the floor with a bunch of toys and things and he will roll and scoot his way to what he wants to play with and grab it and of course stick it in his mouth. My mom had given us a bunch of toys a while back that he couldn't play with yet but I just took them all out and he loves them. He still doesn't fully understand how they work but he likes hitting them to make them make noise and stuff. I've started making his bath time longer now. It doesn't take more than a couple minutes to wash him off or even rinse his hair but once that's done I let him stay in for a while and play in the water and with his bath toys. He seems to really like that. I feed him solids 2-3 times a day right now if I can, if we are home during the day. However he's recently decided to reach for the spoon and bowl and food and so makes a huge mess during each feeding. While this is hilarious to watch it's not as fun when feeding time is over and he needs to be cleaned up. I'm debating whether maybe I should just feed him once a day, right before his bath time, so I can just take his dirty self and stick him in the bath. He loves eating but it's just such a huge mess. And besides bottles are still where he gets the majority of his nutrition from.
He still doesn't have any teeth but he's drooling a ton and the doctor said he thought he might have felt one on the top of his gums during his appointment but he wasn't sure. I'm hoping maybe once he gets his first teeth and begins to crawl the fussiness will get better.
He still doesn't have any teeth but he's drooling a ton and the doctor said he thought he might have felt one on the top of his gums during his appointment but he wasn't sure. I'm hoping maybe once he gets his first teeth and begins to crawl the fussiness will get better.
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Santa Clause is Real
Dear Editor--
I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, "If you see it in The Sun, it's so." Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?
- Virginia O'Hanlon, 115 West Ninety-fifth street.
Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except what they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.
Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.
Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.
You may tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.
No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.
Editorial by Francis Pharcellus Church
I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, "If you see it in The Sun, it's so." Please tell me the truth; is there a Santa Claus?
- Virginia O'Hanlon, 115 West Ninety-fifth street.
Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except what they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men's or children's, are little. In this great universe of ours man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect, as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.
Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The eternal light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.
Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas Eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if they did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.
You may tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.
No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.
Editorial by Francis Pharcellus Church
Monday, December 3, 2012
Photo Monday
Thursday, November 29, 2012
26 Weeks
I'm not sure if Justace is developing at the right speed or not. It seems like some milestones he reached so early and then others he's almost 6 months old and still not there yet. He's not sitting up yet. He's not crawling although he seems like he's really trying to. He doesn't respond to his name. He does scoot around the room and he does grab toys by himself now. I can leave him on the floor with toys and he'll take what he wants on his own and play with it. And he talks a ton. He barely lets me get a word in. I figure I'll give it a few more months and see. He should be sitting and crawling and stuff by 8 months for sure right?
I left Justace with Shay and her baby yesterday while Josh and I went out to eat for my birthday. I think it would do Justace a world of good to be around other babies more and learn he's not the only being in the universe. Shay said there was some jealousy issues between the two but I think once or twice a week I'm going to start going over there and hanging out with them. First, because I need more girl friends and I like Shay and second I think it would be good for both babies. Maybe Mackaya will even teach Justace to crawl. I think between hanging out with other babies and library story time and church that is enough activities for him to hopefully be around others. I'm a little afraid of him getting spoiled. Plus, if I get this job like I hope we plan on putting him in daycare which will also help I think.
I left Justace with Shay and her baby yesterday while Josh and I went out to eat for my birthday. I think it would do Justace a world of good to be around other babies more and learn he's not the only being in the universe. Shay said there was some jealousy issues between the two but I think once or twice a week I'm going to start going over there and hanging out with them. First, because I need more girl friends and I like Shay and second I think it would be good for both babies. Maybe Mackaya will even teach Justace to crawl. I think between hanging out with other babies and library story time and church that is enough activities for him to hopefully be around others. I'm a little afraid of him getting spoiled. Plus, if I get this job like I hope we plan on putting him in daycare which will also help I think.
Monday, November 26, 2012
Photo Monday
Thursday, November 22, 2012
25 Weeks
Holy crap! He's not crawling still but boy can he move. He might as well be crawling. I put him down and between rolling and scooting he can pretty much go anywhere he wants to go in the house if I don't watch him, including the kitty litter box! So even though he's not crawling I have to watch him like a hawk every time I put him on the floor.
He's almost 6 months old. I should be a pro by now, Right? Not!!! I still have no idea what I'm doing half the time. I have this dream ideal world in my head that is so not reality. In my dream world we are the perfect little family. In my dream world he's always smiling and cooing and making us laugh and he sleeps through the whole night! In my dream world we spend lots of family time together and take long walks in the evenings after dinner. In my dream world Josh is the most attentive and caring father in the world and still manages to be the best and most attentive husband to me as well.
In the real world however Justace is constantly changing and just when I think I have him down he changes again and I'm back to being clueless and trying to figure out what to do with him and hos to respond. One minute he's laughing and smiling the and next, for seemingly no reason at all, he's in complete meltdown mode and screaming and I have no idea how to make it stop or why he suddently melted. In reality I'm not sure I will ever have a full night of sleep again! In reality the few times we've managed to all get out of the house together I spend much of the time changing diapers or feeding or holding Justace and trying to keep him from going into screaming mode. In reality my husband seems less like a romantic partner and more like nothing more than a room mate whom I argue with from time to time about differences of opinion and who much of the time I don't even have any romantic feelings for anymore.
It's helped me joining this fussy baby Web site where I can connect with other moms in the same situation and talking my own grandmother who also went through this. Not sure why but just knowing I'm not alone and there's nothing wrong with me makes me feel comforted. And I've started working on ways to cope with the stress and the screaming. I've used a combination of listening to the advice of others with ignoring the advice of others and going with my instincts with constantly changing things up. In the moments when I really begin to feel a melt down I've given him to someone else, either his father or a friend, and left to do something away from him.
This week I plan on reading more to him and doing more nursery rhymes and games. He has his doctor's appointment on the 3rd of December although I think that's actually in a couple weeks from now.
I plan on attending library story time and church this week since we missed these due to sickness the past week. Also need to baby proof!!! Till next week everyone have a happy Thanksgiving and I will update again in one week.
He's almost 6 months old. I should be a pro by now, Right? Not!!! I still have no idea what I'm doing half the time. I have this dream ideal world in my head that is so not reality. In my dream world we are the perfect little family. In my dream world he's always smiling and cooing and making us laugh and he sleeps through the whole night! In my dream world we spend lots of family time together and take long walks in the evenings after dinner. In my dream world Josh is the most attentive and caring father in the world and still manages to be the best and most attentive husband to me as well.
In the real world however Justace is constantly changing and just when I think I have him down he changes again and I'm back to being clueless and trying to figure out what to do with him and hos to respond. One minute he's laughing and smiling the and next, for seemingly no reason at all, he's in complete meltdown mode and screaming and I have no idea how to make it stop or why he suddently melted. In reality I'm not sure I will ever have a full night of sleep again! In reality the few times we've managed to all get out of the house together I spend much of the time changing diapers or feeding or holding Justace and trying to keep him from going into screaming mode. In reality my husband seems less like a romantic partner and more like nothing more than a room mate whom I argue with from time to time about differences of opinion and who much of the time I don't even have any romantic feelings for anymore.
It's helped me joining this fussy baby Web site where I can connect with other moms in the same situation and talking my own grandmother who also went through this. Not sure why but just knowing I'm not alone and there's nothing wrong with me makes me feel comforted. And I've started working on ways to cope with the stress and the screaming. I've used a combination of listening to the advice of others with ignoring the advice of others and going with my instincts with constantly changing things up. In the moments when I really begin to feel a melt down I've given him to someone else, either his father or a friend, and left to do something away from him.
This week I plan on reading more to him and doing more nursery rhymes and games. He has his doctor's appointment on the 3rd of December although I think that's actually in a couple weeks from now.
I plan on attending library story time and church this week since we missed these due to sickness the past week. Also need to baby proof!!! Till next week everyone have a happy Thanksgiving and I will update again in one week.
Reasons I Want to Work
Being a stay at home mom for almost 6 months now I have the utmost respect for these women. This has to be the hardest job I've ever done and I have so many difficult and rough days where I go to bed feeling as though I must be the worst mom in the history of the world. Stay at home mothers make so many sacrifices that nobody even notices and get no thanks or attention for. They simply do them, most without thinking twice about all they've given up for this most sacred of jobs.
I know if I ever finally do get a job that will also be difficult and a sacrifice in a whole other kind of way. I will have to give up all the time I've had with my son at home. My career will have to come before my family, or at least I will spend more time there than I will with family like I do now.
1. I will finally get alone time...sort of. I feel as though here at home someone always needs me all the time. I'm lucky if I can manage to go to the bathroom or take a shower. Having a job I will get some time away from my family many days so I can think and hopefully be more grateful and enjoy the precious hours I do get to be with them instead of taking these for granted and or even sometimes hating this time and wishing I had some time for me. I can't wait to be able to enjoy a cup of coffee at work with nobody hollering for my attention, even if only for a few minutes before my shift begins for the day. I can't wait to have a whole hour for lunch that belongs solely to me and nobody else. I'm not even sure what I will do with a whole hour of my own!
2. I crave adult time. I love my son but spending all my days with a 6 month old is making me crazy! I want some time talking to adults and having adult conversations. I feel like I'm reverting back to childhood myself at this point. Having other adult co-workers to discuss things other than children will be a welcome relief back to the world.
3. I love being a mom but I so wish I was someone in life other than just mom. Every single day nonstop without end it's all changing diapers and feeding and changing another diaper and changing clothes and cleaning spit up and doing dishes and feeding again and playing. There's no end to this long list of baby related chores. If I had a job I could have goals and work toward bettering myself and doing good at work.
4. Money! I think is probably the big one. Sometimes I get so down on myself for not helping to support our family financially. I'm not used to staying at home and not earning a paycheck to help with things like groceries and baby formula. In addition to necessities if I could earn some money for us maybe we could do more nice things like going out to eat or seeing more movies together and I wouldn't be relying solely on Josh for money. We would both be equals in that area.
5. Something else to focus on. In order to avoid insanity I need something else in my life to focus on other than just Justace.
6. Teaching Justace to be without mom or dad. He has had his mom there for him every day of his life so far. I think it would do him a great deal of good to learn how to be on his own, either with a babysitter or in daycare with lots of other kids his age. I think part of his problem may be simply that he is spoiled. He's used to always getting attention if he fusses long enough. But if he was in an environment where there were other babies he might learn his needs don't always come first.
I know if I ever finally do get a job that will also be difficult and a sacrifice in a whole other kind of way. I will have to give up all the time I've had with my son at home. My career will have to come before my family, or at least I will spend more time there than I will with family like I do now.
1. I will finally get alone time...sort of. I feel as though here at home someone always needs me all the time. I'm lucky if I can manage to go to the bathroom or take a shower. Having a job I will get some time away from my family many days so I can think and hopefully be more grateful and enjoy the precious hours I do get to be with them instead of taking these for granted and or even sometimes hating this time and wishing I had some time for me. I can't wait to be able to enjoy a cup of coffee at work with nobody hollering for my attention, even if only for a few minutes before my shift begins for the day. I can't wait to have a whole hour for lunch that belongs solely to me and nobody else. I'm not even sure what I will do with a whole hour of my own!
2. I crave adult time. I love my son but spending all my days with a 6 month old is making me crazy! I want some time talking to adults and having adult conversations. I feel like I'm reverting back to childhood myself at this point. Having other adult co-workers to discuss things other than children will be a welcome relief back to the world.
3. I love being a mom but I so wish I was someone in life other than just mom. Every single day nonstop without end it's all changing diapers and feeding and changing another diaper and changing clothes and cleaning spit up and doing dishes and feeding again and playing. There's no end to this long list of baby related chores. If I had a job I could have goals and work toward bettering myself and doing good at work.
4. Money! I think is probably the big one. Sometimes I get so down on myself for not helping to support our family financially. I'm not used to staying at home and not earning a paycheck to help with things like groceries and baby formula. In addition to necessities if I could earn some money for us maybe we could do more nice things like going out to eat or seeing more movies together and I wouldn't be relying solely on Josh for money. We would both be equals in that area.
5. Something else to focus on. In order to avoid insanity I need something else in my life to focus on other than just Justace.
6. Teaching Justace to be without mom or dad. He has had his mom there for him every day of his life so far. I think it would do him a great deal of good to learn how to be on his own, either with a babysitter or in daycare with lots of other kids his age. I think part of his problem may be simply that he is spoiled. He's used to always getting attention if he fusses long enough. But if he was in an environment where there were other babies he might learn his needs don't always come first.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Daddy Woes
I really need to vent about something. Normally I would never say anything negative about Josh because I don't believe it's right to talk about your husband or wife in a negative way to others and also people already automatically assume the worst about him even when it's not true. But I need to vent about something this once. When we brought Justace home from the hospital we started out equal sort of. He actually had more baby experience than I did and was better with Justace than I was at first. I had to ask a lot of questions and be shown how to do alot of things at first like changing diapers and feeding and dressing the baby. In the hospital before we even got to come home he was so amazing and helpful and great. And the first weeks home he was amazing and wonderful and helpful and I've never been more grateful.
But then, after a few months, he returned to work again and I was on my own at home alone with our son. He still wants to help and he still wants to take care of Justace but it's not the same as it was then. I'm home all the time with him. I see everything that happens with him. He doesn't. He's gone much of the time and has to rely on what I tell him. It feels like he's not really a part of things like he was before.
Things have begun to change in the family dynamic. I feel as though I know Justace so much better than Josh does now. Justace is growing up and changing and becoming his own person but because Josh only gets to see him a few hours each day instead of all the time like I do Josh doesn't really know our son like I do. He doesn't know what works to calm him or how much he eats or when he needs to go to sleep.
It's so good Justace gets so much time with his Mommy but I'm afraid he's missing Daddy time. I feel like he desperately needs that alone time with his dad and he's not getting enough of it. He is a good dad but I just guess I really wish he had more time with Justace. Perhaps if I get a job he will be alone more with him and that will be a good thing for both Josh and Justace I hope.
But then, after a few months, he returned to work again and I was on my own at home alone with our son. He still wants to help and he still wants to take care of Justace but it's not the same as it was then. I'm home all the time with him. I see everything that happens with him. He doesn't. He's gone much of the time and has to rely on what I tell him. It feels like he's not really a part of things like he was before.
Things have begun to change in the family dynamic. I feel as though I know Justace so much better than Josh does now. Justace is growing up and changing and becoming his own person but because Josh only gets to see him a few hours each day instead of all the time like I do Josh doesn't really know our son like I do. He doesn't know what works to calm him or how much he eats or when he needs to go to sleep.
It's so good Justace gets so much time with his Mommy but I'm afraid he's missing Daddy time. I feel like he desperately needs that alone time with his dad and he's not getting enough of it. He is a good dad but I just guess I really wish he had more time with Justace. Perhaps if I get a job he will be alone more with him and that will be a good thing for both Josh and Justace I hope.
Thanksgiving
For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food,
For love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.
--Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)
Two days until Thanksgiving...and my Aunt Gina's birthday. (I have to double check but I'm pretty sure it falls on Thanksgiving this year.) I feel somewhat connected to her since we both have Thanksgiving birthdays every 4 years or so. I think that's pretty cool. But anywho... we don't really have anything planned for Thanksgiving. Josh has to work...for the next 7 days straight! I feel bad for him having to work retail for 7 days without a break during the worst time of the whole year. He hasn't decided if we will join our friends Christine and Scott and Logan or Ally and Brett for Thanksgiving. We have invitations from both and I am just grateful we have friends here willing to share this time of year with us.
Remembering back on old Thanksgivings I remember so much yummy food. I remember Dad cooking, something we all looked forward to I think. He was a great cook but he never cooked much since he worked a lot...except on holidays and sometimes on weekends. Those were rare treats. We didn't really have any traditions I can remember other than eating until we were full to bursting, which is a pretty good one I think. I loved all the traditional foods we ate...the turkey all moist and delicious smothered in gravy and the mashed potatoes and green bean casserole. I loved even the rolls with butter on them and the pumpkin pie. I was never a fan of sweet potatoes or cranberries though. I know I know I'm unAmerican.
This time of year, having a baby for the first time, and seperated from all my family and friends back home, I feel a little bit homesick. I am very grateful for the friends we've made here but I do wish Justace could meet his Grandma and Grandpa and Aunt Ashlie. I wish we could all be together just once a year. But it's too hard in these times to get the money for plane tickets and hotels and whatnot so we will just have to make do.
We have our own little family now. Me and Josh and Justace and of course let's not forget Frankie and Bella and Pip. They are family too. And I want to start our own traditions but other than food, I'm really not coming up with any ideas for Thanksgiving for us. As Justace gets bigger I'd like to take a photo of him with the turkey each year to show his growth and whatnot. And I wish his Dad was going to be home with us for Thanksgiving but we need the money he'll make working. Anybody have any ideas for Thanksgiving traditions?
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food,
For love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.
--Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)
Two days until Thanksgiving...and my Aunt Gina's birthday. (I have to double check but I'm pretty sure it falls on Thanksgiving this year.) I feel somewhat connected to her since we both have Thanksgiving birthdays every 4 years or so. I think that's pretty cool. But anywho... we don't really have anything planned for Thanksgiving. Josh has to work...for the next 7 days straight! I feel bad for him having to work retail for 7 days without a break during the worst time of the whole year. He hasn't decided if we will join our friends Christine and Scott and Logan or Ally and Brett for Thanksgiving. We have invitations from both and I am just grateful we have friends here willing to share this time of year with us.
Remembering back on old Thanksgivings I remember so much yummy food. I remember Dad cooking, something we all looked forward to I think. He was a great cook but he never cooked much since he worked a lot...except on holidays and sometimes on weekends. Those were rare treats. We didn't really have any traditions I can remember other than eating until we were full to bursting, which is a pretty good one I think. I loved all the traditional foods we ate...the turkey all moist and delicious smothered in gravy and the mashed potatoes and green bean casserole. I loved even the rolls with butter on them and the pumpkin pie. I was never a fan of sweet potatoes or cranberries though. I know I know I'm unAmerican.
This time of year, having a baby for the first time, and seperated from all my family and friends back home, I feel a little bit homesick. I am very grateful for the friends we've made here but I do wish Justace could meet his Grandma and Grandpa and Aunt Ashlie. I wish we could all be together just once a year. But it's too hard in these times to get the money for plane tickets and hotels and whatnot so we will just have to make do.
We have our own little family now. Me and Josh and Justace and of course let's not forget Frankie and Bella and Pip. They are family too. And I want to start our own traditions but other than food, I'm really not coming up with any ideas for Thanksgiving for us. As Justace gets bigger I'd like to take a photo of him with the turkey each year to show his growth and whatnot. And I wish his Dad was going to be home with us for Thanksgiving but we need the money he'll make working. Anybody have any ideas for Thanksgiving traditions?
Monday, November 19, 2012
Thursday, November 15, 2012
24 Weeks
Took Justace to the doctor and while he does have a cold right now and the doctor thinks he might have a slight case of acid reflux, mostly he's, as the doctor said, "an ornery bear." Basically he's what is known as a high needs baby or a demanding baby. One of the more difficult breeds who will demand and scream and cry until he gets what he wants, which in his case is constantly being held by someone. Doctor said I need to simply leave him to scream when he does that and just check on him every 15 minutes or so. And to prepare ourselves because as he gets older it's only going to get worse. So I have an exhausting and frustrating few years ahead of me. But at least I know nothing is wrong with him and it's just his personality.
I still think he's teething even though he still doesn't have them. I'm hoping once the teeth come in and once he begins crawling maybe he will calm down a little bit.
I really need to take up excercising again. I've been so busy with everything I haven't had the time or the energy. I spend almost the whole day walking around with him or bouncing him up and down so I'm constantly moving but I need to be doing more than just walking. Just haven't figured out how to schedule this into my daily routine without sacrificing sleep time. I wish I had a gym nearby with a baby play area for him. That would be so helpful and great.
Not sure what we will do for thanksgiving this year. Josh is trying to get his parents to stay in which case we will all eat together. If not, Christine has invited us over and we will probably join her. Either way I'm thinking for his first thanksgiving I want to make him some baby thanksgiving food like sweet potatoes and pumpkin and stuff and take a picture of him with the turkey. He still loves feeding time more than anything else besides walking. Our friend Shay gave us a walker which he would like if he wasn't always screaming all the time. He will be interested in it for a good 5 or 10 minutes and then start screaming.
I still think he's teething even though he still doesn't have them. I'm hoping once the teeth come in and once he begins crawling maybe he will calm down a little bit.
I really need to take up excercising again. I've been so busy with everything I haven't had the time or the energy. I spend almost the whole day walking around with him or bouncing him up and down so I'm constantly moving but I need to be doing more than just walking. Just haven't figured out how to schedule this into my daily routine without sacrificing sleep time. I wish I had a gym nearby with a baby play area for him. That would be so helpful and great.
Not sure what we will do for thanksgiving this year. Josh is trying to get his parents to stay in which case we will all eat together. If not, Christine has invited us over and we will probably join her. Either way I'm thinking for his first thanksgiving I want to make him some baby thanksgiving food like sweet potatoes and pumpkin and stuff and take a picture of him with the turkey. He still loves feeding time more than anything else besides walking. Our friend Shay gave us a walker which he would like if he wasn't always screaming all the time. He will be interested in it for a good 5 or 10 minutes and then start screaming.
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
States Succession
I have to rant about this whole temper tantrum all the Republican states are throwing right now over Obama's reelection. You're going to seceede from the United States? Really?! Your team lost and now you're going to pout and throw a temper tantrum over it? What lesson are we teaching our children by acting like children ourselves? How has the government violated our rights? Everyone had the right to vote and the nation voted for Obama. Republican or democrat matters so much less than the fact that we are all American! We may have different opinions on things but that's OK. It's what makes this a great country to live in. Everyone can have their own opinions and voice them loudly. I mean really people? What do you think is going to happen? We are going to have 2 United States? One for republicans and one for democrats? Are times tough right now? Yes, they are. But that's no reason to have a civil war all over again. It's a time to step up and help each other out and stand together united, regardless of our differing opinions. Grow up America! It's time to put childish ways behind us!
Monday, November 12, 2012
Photo Monday
Drama!
After having a complete mental breakdown and headache that felt it might kill me from the inside due to Justace's constant screaming fits and shear exhaustion I have decided that is enough! I can't control my child. He's going to scream if he wants to scream and there is nothing I can do about it. But I can do something about my own response to it and my personal feelings and the exhaustion factor. I can either listen to him scream on little sleep and stressed out or I can listen to him scream while I'm in a better mood and better able to cope with it. So until we can see a doctor and until he grows out of this screaming phase I am focusing on myself. I am going to start paying friends to watch him during the day so I can sleep when I haven't gotten to sleep in 3 days. I am going to focus on keeping myself calm even if it means sticking in his crib to scream and going to take a hot bath while my music blares to drown him out. We are going to the doctor this week and I hope to God he can give us some advice or some medicine or something to help. Also, he's so close to crawling and I'm hoping once he starts to crawl and once his teeth finally come in maybe that will also lessen the screaming fits. In the meantime, I have to do what I can to keep myself sane. I can't funtion or be a good mother if I'm physically and mentally exhausted.
Thursday, November 8, 2012
23 Weeks
Justace talks a ton, as in he makes noises like squeeking noises and razzing, but I'm a tiny bit worried because he doesn't use actual words still. Like no vowels or consonants put together or anything. Shouldn't he be able to do that by now? I talk to him and read to him and sing to him constantly. Maybe he's just a noisemaker and not much a talker?
He still isn't crawling but he's so close to it. He can def move all over the place through a combination of rolling and scooting. So we have to buy a playpen and baby proofing kit like yesterday at this point.
Also he's still waking constantly at night. Some nights he only wakes once which is nice. Other's he wakes every 2 or 3 hours and if I give him a bottle he goes back to sleep. And others it seems like he just doesn't sleep at all. It's been over a month this has been going on. I already took him to the doc once and he checked out perfectly healthy. I've tried every sleep method in every book I've read and articles online. Nothing works and I have no idea what to do. Will this ever stop? I understand he's going to have bad nights now and then but every single night? I'm at a loss and I'm exhausted and I need sleep so badly.
He still isn't crawling but he's so close to it. He can def move all over the place through a combination of rolling and scooting. So we have to buy a playpen and baby proofing kit like yesterday at this point.
Also he's still waking constantly at night. Some nights he only wakes once which is nice. Other's he wakes every 2 or 3 hours and if I give him a bottle he goes back to sleep. And others it seems like he just doesn't sleep at all. It's been over a month this has been going on. I already took him to the doc once and he checked out perfectly healthy. I've tried every sleep method in every book I've read and articles online. Nothing works and I have no idea what to do. Will this ever stop? I understand he's going to have bad nights now and then but every single night? I'm at a loss and I'm exhausted and I need sleep so badly.
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Photo Monday 1 day late
Prepping and Books
A friend of ours has recently gotten very into prepping, preparing for a natural disaster or the end of the world. A lot of people recently have begun to prep for the end of the world due to the whole Mayan calendar and I pretty much thought this was crazy. First of all, nobody knows when or how the world will end. It cannot be predicted as history has shown time and time again. It could end tomorrow or in another million years. Second, if the world was to end what would be the point of all that food you had stored and the bomb shelter you had built. However, natural disasters and perhaps one day even a nuke or something major, could and do happen as we've just seen with Hurricane Sandy. Plus if anything ever does happen all those people who were laughing at the preppers are going to wish they were friends with them then. Kind of like Noah's Ark. They all made fun of the crazy old man until the flood hit and they all died. Anyways so our friend, Jody, has been sending us prepackaged type meals and foods along with books on prepping and how to survive and items for use when there is no power or anything at all to use. She wants to start a blog reviewing items like this and also giving tips and advice on how to prep for whatever. Josh and I will be helping her with this and as soon as she gets the blog all set up and ready to go I will be linking this blog to that one so anyone interested can read it.
I just finished three books I've been working on for a while. I'm reading James Patterson's Women's Murder Club series and just finished the 5th book in the series. I find these books really delight the mind as it tries to unravel the mystery and the twist of events that is sure to occur by the end of each novel. I find I can hardly put them down because I so want to know what is going on and who the bad guy is and why. This one particularly gave me the heebyjeebies about trusting my life to nurses and doctors in hospitals who you never even consider are human just like me and you and yet have the power of life and death over you. You just trust they won't make mistakes and they won't abuse that power.
I also just finished Madame Bovary, a novel about a woman, Emma, who gives in to all the pleasures in life including of the flesh and ends up having several affairs and commiting suicide. I really loved how the author wrote this novel. His words are so beautiful and his descriptions of even minor details so exquisite it feels like you are right there experiencing it all firsthand and evokes emotions in even the tiniest of details in a room. However, I really disliked the main character, Emma. She was such a huge drama queen about everything. And so incredibly selfish and greedy. And she never changed. I kept waiting for her character to change and it never did. And she was brought down by it which I think is probably the point of the story but I dislike stories where you never grow to love the characters in the book or identify with them.
The third book I just finished is Utopia by Thomas More. My only reference I ever had to this book is Danielle quotes from it in the movie Ever After. It's not really a story so much as a detailed description of a "perfect" fictional society that exists in the New World. Its ideas are very communist in nature. Much of it sounds like a very peaceful and very good idea in theory. However, in actuality, I think this kind of society is impossible to achieve. And I think that is what More was trying to get at since the very title means No Man's Land.
I just finished three books I've been working on for a while. I'm reading James Patterson's Women's Murder Club series and just finished the 5th book in the series. I find these books really delight the mind as it tries to unravel the mystery and the twist of events that is sure to occur by the end of each novel. I find I can hardly put them down because I so want to know what is going on and who the bad guy is and why. This one particularly gave me the heebyjeebies about trusting my life to nurses and doctors in hospitals who you never even consider are human just like me and you and yet have the power of life and death over you. You just trust they won't make mistakes and they won't abuse that power.
I also just finished Madame Bovary, a novel about a woman, Emma, who gives in to all the pleasures in life including of the flesh and ends up having several affairs and commiting suicide. I really loved how the author wrote this novel. His words are so beautiful and his descriptions of even minor details so exquisite it feels like you are right there experiencing it all firsthand and evokes emotions in even the tiniest of details in a room. However, I really disliked the main character, Emma. She was such a huge drama queen about everything. And so incredibly selfish and greedy. And she never changed. I kept waiting for her character to change and it never did. And she was brought down by it which I think is probably the point of the story but I dislike stories where you never grow to love the characters in the book or identify with them.
The third book I just finished is Utopia by Thomas More. My only reference I ever had to this book is Danielle quotes from it in the movie Ever After. It's not really a story so much as a detailed description of a "perfect" fictional society that exists in the New World. Its ideas are very communist in nature. Much of it sounds like a very peaceful and very good idea in theory. However, in actuality, I think this kind of society is impossible to achieve. And I think that is what More was trying to get at since the very title means No Man's Land.
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Cat Problems
Our new kitten, Bright Eyes, is adorable and playful but I have so many problems with her I never had with Bella and I don't know what to do to get her to stop. First, she still suckles. She's much too old for that so I'm pretty sure she must have left her mommy before she was very old but how do I get her to stop suckling my shirts and blankets all the time. Second, she's aggressive. Not aggressive mean but aggressive playful. She's too rough and uses her claws and teeth when she plays which is pretty much all the time. Third, we don't have furniture. We have cardboard boxes I keep all our stuff in and she chews them to pieces. It drives me nuts. Can a cat teethe? Or if not, what the heck is going on here? And how can I get her to stop it? If anyone has any advice please let me know.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
22 Weeks
His personality is showing more and more each week. He loves eating and taking walks outside in his stroller and seeing new people and new places. He loves being held and talked to and sung to and just generally being the center of attention at all times. He loves anything soft and cuddly like stuffed animals or blankets. He hates being ignored and although he's getting better at playing on the floor for longer periods of time he still only will be content down there for about 15 minutes before he gets cranky and starts crying. He's definitely a very active baby with tons of energy. He's very outspoken and will let you know if he doesn't like something or if he's even the slightest bit unhappy. He's outgoing and loves meeting new people and getting lots of attention. He hasn't started crawling just yet but he rolls all over the floor and scoots himself back and forward to move. He's definitely probably going to be crawling very soon because he's trying really hard. We are going to buy him a playpen soon so I can corral him in a safe spot while I'm doing dishes or housework and don't have to worry about him getting into unsafe things.
He doesn't sleep through the night and hasn't for about a month now. He wakes up usually twice each night. Wondering just how much longer this phase will last and when I can look forward to him sleeping all night again. I'll admit I'm back to feeling exhausted again all the time. I sleep when he does or try to and drink so much coffee the rest of the time to avoid konking out.
Living out in the country we are too far from Idaho Falls to go to any infant activities or classes for him but I hate having him all alone and cooped up in the house and he hates it too. So we've started going to library story time every Tuesday where we listen to stories with lots of other babies and young children and watch them do crafts and play. We've also started going to church again. The church has a wonderful nursery with cribs and blankets and toys and high chairs and jumpers and so much good stuff for him. I can even sit in there with him and rock him because there is a big window to the sermon and a microphone that goes into the nursery so I can sit in there and listen to the sermon and watch it from the nursery. Last Sunday the children's church leader actually took him to church with her and watched him for me while I sat and watched the sermon which was oh so nice and then I put him down for a nap in the nursery while I ate lunch and chatted with some other moms after the service. After Christmas every Friday they will have baby gym at the library which I plan on taking him to.
His 6 month check up is scheduled for Dec 3 so another month and we will see his new weight and height. He's starting to like games more like peek a boo. And I've just begun doing baby sign language with him. I'm hoping this will help later on with him communicating his needs and wants to me before he's able to talk.
He doesn't sleep through the night and hasn't for about a month now. He wakes up usually twice each night. Wondering just how much longer this phase will last and when I can look forward to him sleeping all night again. I'll admit I'm back to feeling exhausted again all the time. I sleep when he does or try to and drink so much coffee the rest of the time to avoid konking out.
Living out in the country we are too far from Idaho Falls to go to any infant activities or classes for him but I hate having him all alone and cooped up in the house and he hates it too. So we've started going to library story time every Tuesday where we listen to stories with lots of other babies and young children and watch them do crafts and play. We've also started going to church again. The church has a wonderful nursery with cribs and blankets and toys and high chairs and jumpers and so much good stuff for him. I can even sit in there with him and rock him because there is a big window to the sermon and a microphone that goes into the nursery so I can sit in there and listen to the sermon and watch it from the nursery. Last Sunday the children's church leader actually took him to church with her and watched him for me while I sat and watched the sermon which was oh so nice and then I put him down for a nap in the nursery while I ate lunch and chatted with some other moms after the service. After Christmas every Friday they will have baby gym at the library which I plan on taking him to.
His 6 month check up is scheduled for Dec 3 so another month and we will see his new weight and height. He's starting to like games more like peek a boo. And I've just begun doing baby sign language with him. I'm hoping this will help later on with him communicating his needs and wants to me before he's able to talk.
Monday, October 29, 2012
Photo Monday
Thursday, October 25, 2012
21 Weeks
Justace has becoming way more vocal. He still doesn't say any kind of words but his noises have increased a great deal. Sometimes when he's crying it sounds like he's saying mama a little bit. I wanted to teach myself Spanish so I can raise him bilingual and also do sign language with him but I just haven't had much time to devote to teaching myself Spanish yet and I do sign language when I remember to but most of the time I forget. I need to get in the habit of signing when I talk to him.
I've had a lot of help offerred to me from various people since becoming a mom, especially in the beginning. But I think the person who has really helped me out the most is Josh's old school friend Christine. She lives an hour away but between honest mom advice and listening to me complain and worry and answering questions and babysitting so many times I really don't know what I would have done without her help and I'm so grateful for that.
I don't know if Justace will be smart or not but I'm pretty sure he's going to be very active. He already is awake more than he probably should be. He is always moving around and is not content to ever sit still. I think I have a future athlete on my hands.
I've had a lot of help offerred to me from various people since becoming a mom, especially in the beginning. But I think the person who has really helped me out the most is Josh's old school friend Christine. She lives an hour away but between honest mom advice and listening to me complain and worry and answering questions and babysitting so many times I really don't know what I would have done without her help and I'm so grateful for that.
I don't know if Justace will be smart or not but I'm pretty sure he's going to be very active. He already is awake more than he probably should be. He is always moving around and is not content to ever sit still. I think I have a future athlete on my hands.
Monday, October 22, 2012
Photo Monday
Thursday, October 18, 2012
20 Weeks
This may not seem like a big deal but usually with rattles and stuffed animals and other toys I have to hand them to Justace to play with and help him hold them for a while. But this week I had him on the floor while I was cooking dinner and watching him and he dropped his rattle toy. I didn't pick it up at first because I was busy but I watched as he turned around and grabbed it himself to shake some more. So proud he can grab his own toys now when he wants to. He still doesn't usually. If I put him on the floor with toys around him he will usually not grab them unless I give them to him or unless it's a blanket. He grabs blankets a lot and in his crib he always cuddles his stuffed animals to him while sleeping. He doesn't like to play games too much. He only likes to be held or to be walked in his stroller still. But if I have him in his carrier while I cook or do things he likes to try to "help" me by grabbing things and playing with them. Yesterday I made mac and cheese and he got a kick out of the box before I opened it because it rattles with the noodles in it. He just held it with both hands and shook it till I took it away to open it. Then he played with a medal spoon and kept hitting this metal lid I had sitting on the stove top with it. Lots of noise but he had fun with it at least. I still read to him a ton. I usually read him one or two picture books in the morning and he likes to touch them and hold them but I have to be careful he doesn't rip the pages so I usually hand them to him after we finish reading them fully closed since he hasn't yet figured out how to open them and will just mouth the covers for a bit or hold them. But we spend hours everyday just either sitting in his stroller outside or walking around the house with him in his baby carrier while I read him books from my kindle. Right now we are reading all about the history of Halloween and this book even has black and white pictures in it he likes to look at and try to touch.
Because he's not sleeping lately I've forced myself to have some time for me each day despite him being awake. I have 1 hour in the afternoon and 1 in the evening where I just put him his baby carrier facing me so he can't see the TV and I either watch some TV or play some video games or sometimes just surf the internet for a bit. He's ok since he's being held and I get a little bit of downtime. Then each afternoon for 2 hours I put him down for a "nap." Sometimes he sleeps off and on and sometimes he just cries the whole time but either way I just watch him on the baby monitor and let him cry while I do chores around the house. This has been a miracle for me. Gives me 2 hours a day of fun time and 2 hours a day to get things done despite his refusing to sleep lately. Plus if the weather is not horrible I try to take him for a morning walk and an afternoon walk each day which gives us both some fresh air and the walking destresses me a bit when my nerves start to fray from listening to him cry all day.
We are going camping tonight at Teardrop Lake. I'm both nervous and excited about it. Got tons of warm weather gear for us and the baby so we should be OK. We have a really good heater for the tent and I'm bringing the baby carrier to walk around with and the stroller so he can sit with us around the campfire. Plus he has his own little baby sleeping bag that he will sleep in with us tonight. I'm hoping he likes it. He loves going places and he loves being outside so I'm betting he'll take to camping like a little baby pro but we'll see. And it's close enough to home that if anything goes wrong or it just doesn't work out we can always just pack up and head back to the house. Read tons of articles about camping with a baby and they all said as long as you pack properly and keep baby warm it's totally safe and good for him. I'll make sure to take lots of pictures. We are also going to Yellowstone today as well. Hoping we see some buffalo.
So here's a typical day for me and Justace:
7am: Morning bottle and feeding and get him dressed for the day. Then he either plays on the floor or I carry him in the baby carrier while I drink some coffee to wake up and read my e-mails or journal.
8:15am: I put him in his baby swing where he usually cries and throws a fit while I take a shower and get dressed for the day. Sometimes if I'm lucky he'll fall asleep in the swing for a bit.
9:15am: Story time. We pick out a couple picture books and sit on the floor while he practices sitting in my lap and I read him books.
10am: Morning walk and then sit outside in the stroller while I read to him.
11am: Put him in his baby carrier while I have some mommy time.
12pm: Naptime while I do chores around the house and take out dinner.
2:30pm: Afternoon walk and then sit outside and read for a bit.
3:30pm: Another feeding in the high chair and then playtime on the floor or I might hold him while I sing to him if he's fussy and sometimes if he starts making sleepy eyes I may put him down for another short nap in the early evening.
5pm: He plays on the floor or in his crib while I make dinner.
6pm: He's in his swing again usually crying while the adults eat dinner.
6:30pm: Bathtime and get in PJs
7pm: Carry him around until he falls asleep then put him to bed.
10pm: Wake up for his last bottle and then bedtime for both of us.
I also want to start getting him out of the house more so I have a plan. Tuesdays will be library day. Wednesdays or Thursdays we will go to the grocery store and do some shopping. Sundays will be church. And then just anytime we have an opportunity to go somewhere we will. Oh and on Josh's days off if the weather is ok I will take him to the park in the afternoons. Any other ideas for things to do or places to take him? Kind of limited living out here in Ashton since we can't afford to be driving to the Rexburg or Idaho Falls to do things.
Because he's not sleeping lately I've forced myself to have some time for me each day despite him being awake. I have 1 hour in the afternoon and 1 in the evening where I just put him his baby carrier facing me so he can't see the TV and I either watch some TV or play some video games or sometimes just surf the internet for a bit. He's ok since he's being held and I get a little bit of downtime. Then each afternoon for 2 hours I put him down for a "nap." Sometimes he sleeps off and on and sometimes he just cries the whole time but either way I just watch him on the baby monitor and let him cry while I do chores around the house. This has been a miracle for me. Gives me 2 hours a day of fun time and 2 hours a day to get things done despite his refusing to sleep lately. Plus if the weather is not horrible I try to take him for a morning walk and an afternoon walk each day which gives us both some fresh air and the walking destresses me a bit when my nerves start to fray from listening to him cry all day.
We are going camping tonight at Teardrop Lake. I'm both nervous and excited about it. Got tons of warm weather gear for us and the baby so we should be OK. We have a really good heater for the tent and I'm bringing the baby carrier to walk around with and the stroller so he can sit with us around the campfire. Plus he has his own little baby sleeping bag that he will sleep in with us tonight. I'm hoping he likes it. He loves going places and he loves being outside so I'm betting he'll take to camping like a little baby pro but we'll see. And it's close enough to home that if anything goes wrong or it just doesn't work out we can always just pack up and head back to the house. Read tons of articles about camping with a baby and they all said as long as you pack properly and keep baby warm it's totally safe and good for him. I'll make sure to take lots of pictures. We are also going to Yellowstone today as well. Hoping we see some buffalo.
So here's a typical day for me and Justace:
7am: Morning bottle and feeding and get him dressed for the day. Then he either plays on the floor or I carry him in the baby carrier while I drink some coffee to wake up and read my e-mails or journal.
8:15am: I put him in his baby swing where he usually cries and throws a fit while I take a shower and get dressed for the day. Sometimes if I'm lucky he'll fall asleep in the swing for a bit.
9:15am: Story time. We pick out a couple picture books and sit on the floor while he practices sitting in my lap and I read him books.
10am: Morning walk and then sit outside in the stroller while I read to him.
11am: Put him in his baby carrier while I have some mommy time.
12pm: Naptime while I do chores around the house and take out dinner.
2:30pm: Afternoon walk and then sit outside and read for a bit.
3:30pm: Another feeding in the high chair and then playtime on the floor or I might hold him while I sing to him if he's fussy and sometimes if he starts making sleepy eyes I may put him down for another short nap in the early evening.
5pm: He plays on the floor or in his crib while I make dinner.
6pm: He's in his swing again usually crying while the adults eat dinner.
6:30pm: Bathtime and get in PJs
7pm: Carry him around until he falls asleep then put him to bed.
10pm: Wake up for his last bottle and then bedtime for both of us.
I also want to start getting him out of the house more so I have a plan. Tuesdays will be library day. Wednesdays or Thursdays we will go to the grocery store and do some shopping. Sundays will be church. And then just anytime we have an opportunity to go somewhere we will. Oh and on Josh's days off if the weather is ok I will take him to the park in the afternoons. Any other ideas for things to do or places to take him? Kind of limited living out here in Ashton since we can't afford to be driving to the Rexburg or Idaho Falls to do things.
Monday, October 15, 2012
Photo Monday
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