Zombies & Keg Stands

OK, I'll try to keep this quick. I gave the whole "sleep training" thing 4 - 5 days. (That is 4 TO 5 days, not 45 days) It may be GREAT for some people, some parents, some babies, some families. But it does not fit into our family. And this is why...

* I was a ZOMBIE. Zombie. I could not function and barely even left my house. My entire life, I have not been a great sleeper. I'm a night owl. "Mommy Becky" doesn't get a whole lot of uninterrupted sleep as it is, but waking up with Jude every hour or two and spending up to an hour putting him back to sleep was turning me into a Zombie. And it's just not worth it.

* I lost track of my parenting philosophy. Every book that I pick up has a different theory about parenting and babies. Since the experts can't even agree on the "right" or "best" way to raise a child, Miles and I just have to do what feels right to us. That is the best that we can do. And that is wonderful. I just need to stay on the path of mindfulness, awareness, intuition, and appreciating all of these beautiful, sweet, sweet baby moments that do not last long. (As opposed to driving myself crazy and turning into a ZOMBIE)

I could go on and on and on about this. But I don't want to bore you & I have other things I need to do at the moment.


On to something amusing - Jude has recently begun doing what I can only describe as keg stands when he breastfeeds. He is content to sit across my lap and nurse the traditional way for a while, but then he twists his body around and is literally standing on his feet, head upside down, still latched on, and still nursing.




who wouldn't want to sleep next to me?!



Poor baby. :(



Well, night 2 was incredibly rough. I would say it was a disaster - but looking back it was only two really tough hours. Funny how it seems SO much longer in the middle of the night when you are awakened each time you doze off! I almost threw in the towel around 3:30 AM but then I heard my sweet husband's voice, "Do you want me to try rocking him?"


His two top teeth are "officially in" because I can feel them BOTH with my fingers! He is so cute and rubs them with his tongue, back and forth.
Oh baby, I'm so sorry you are in pain. :( Hopefully it will be worth it when mommy lets you eat yummy new foods with those chompers! I made him "Baby's First Chicken Casserole" yesterday - chicken, leeks, carrots, parsnips & potatoes... yum! He wolfed down quite a big helping! So, I guess he's a meat eater now!
Jude, I love you so and we can get through this together. Thanks for being the best baby ever.




Got my meat hat on! Bring on the meat!






Mom Musing #2

Have you ever tried to change the diaper of a Cirque du Soleil artist?

Just imagine for a moment....

One of those gymnasts who seem inhumanly strong and can seemingly levitate their bodies, supporting their weight on just one pinky finger. This is the predicament I found myself in this morning.
Jude had a GREAT poop! (I'm sorry, but Moms are obsessed with poop) It was soft and squishy, instead of a hard rabbit pellet poop. It had a wonderful consistancy, not too wet. AND you could see the different colors of the different foods he's been eating! Those are my favorite poops.
It was the perfect texture to just wedge itself up the entire length of his buttcrack! Now you see my predicament. As Jude bends his torso over so that he can hold on to the ledge of his changing table with his arms, he would usually love to turn his entire body over and crawl away! Or at least sit up - come on, mom, this laying down position is of no use to a busy baby boy.
Meanwhile I am trying desperately not to smear feces all over the changing table or his body, so I am keeping ahold of his feet as he lengthens his body out and twists his entire body to the side - levitating everything below his arms. Engaging his buttcheeks, abs, and leg muscles to keep his entire body stiff. I am wiping blindly, hoping that I am getting all of the poop out and away.

Your future looks bright, Jude.
You just might be headed there with poop in your crack.



I'm too busy for this nonsense!



Mom Musing #1

I meant to start blogging the other day when this actually happened. So many funny little things occur when you are a mom.

I have a simple "mom friendly" beauty routine. Because I usually have about 3 minutes to complete it. I put a little lotion on my face, some goop in my hair, and maybe a little make-up if Megan has left some behind at my house. (It just looks better when it's my sister's make-up, instead of mine.)

So, the other day I put on my face lotion. Then I walked over to the other bathroom and put some goop on my fingertips to work through my hair. I rubbed my hands together to get both of them all goopy. And I ran them both down the sides of my face. And I just stood there, staring at myself in the mirror with a stupid little smirk on my face, realizing what I'd just done.

It seemed like something only an overtired mom would do.
As if my life hasn't become sticky enough. :)



Hey Megan - u left ur make-up at my house. :)



Hey!

Woah - time flies when you aren't blogging!
Thought I'd give it another go.
I DO have a new quest,
but I probably won't blog about it regularly.
The issue is too emotionally charged for me.
And there's too many varying opinions and theories out there.
My new quest is trying to do my OWN version of "sleep training" our baby.
Basically, Phase 1 is that I'm trying to keep him in his crib all night and not in our big bed.
Because lately I find myself wrestling with him in the middle of the night as he tries to crawl away.
And I don't sleep.
And I'm afraid he's going to jump off the bed.
He is fearless.
So, last night he DID sleep in his crib! ALL NIGHT!
That's the first time that's happened.
It only took me an hour to put him there and 3 nighttime feedings.
I am tired, but I did sleep in 2 hour increments, just like him.
Probably more sleep than I have been getting.
I am calling it a success for night one!

I'm going to give it 45 nights.