Sickies.

(First of all, thank you so much for your tips and advice on my previous post. It is truly comforting to read that I'm not alone in this parenting adventure--so reassuring! Thanks again for taking the time to write things out. I appreciate you!)

Well, me and my Birdie buddy are sick. At the same time. This is not a good set-up.

You see, we are both whiney, both tired, both grumpy, both needy.

(My poor husband...!)

I truly think there should be some sort of rule or clause or addendum to the Parenting Manual that states (roughly): "At no point shall the Mother and the Baby be sick at coinciding times." Sounds like a good rule to me. Oh, if only it existed.

In other news, it looks like our area is about to be hit with quite a bit of snow and ice. I guess this is an(other) excuse to stay in our PJ's all day long!

Hm.

This post of void of purpose (you know, other than the whining...), so I shall end it now.

Here's hoping for health and lots of snuggles in the snowy days to come!

:)

Help Me: The Weaning Edition.

So.

Weaning.

No idea.

Okay so, my little one is about 11 months old (SOB!), and my milk supply has gone down a bit in the past couple of weeks for a few reasons (sickness [her and me], she's just not nursing as much as she gets older, etc.). My original nursing goal was six months, and I've so enjoyed this phase of her little life...kinda sad to see it end, but I think it is time. At her doctor's appointment this week, the pediatrician suggested I start thinking about weaning to my supply of pumped breast milk and then on to whole milk over the next few weeks. No biggie, right?

Wrong.

This kid. Oh, this kid.

You see, my little laid-back, easy-going, sweet-tempered child is ANTI-BOTTLE. With a passion. Hates it. She will take a sippy cup with ease...but not if it has breast milk in it. Just watered down juice.

So, here are my ponderings:

--What do I do?

Okay, go.

Just kidding.

Kind of.

Here are my real ponderings:

--What tricks/techniques/methods did you use for weaning from breast to sippy cup? (We are just skipping the bottle. No point now.)

--Is it better in your opinion to quit nursing cold turkey, or did you gradually phase it out? I mean, she's only nursing three times a day at this point, so I don't have far to go...but is cold turkey better in the long run? I wouldn't mind nursing her in the mornings for a few more months as I really enjoy that time together, but if that inhibits other things, then maybe not?

--What types of sippy cups do you love/hate?

--Anything else I should know?????

So, there you have it. I have no idea what I'm doing with this next phase, and I'm going to be brave and put it out there for the world (i.e. a handful of lovely and ever-so-devoted readers) to see! Any positive, helpful advice would be much appreciated!

(Where would I be as a parent without the Internet?!? Seriously.)

;)

A Day in the Life: Juice Hands.

We've been working on the ol' sippy cup for a few months now, and while E can't quite get the right angle all by herself, she loves to drink her "juice" (1 part juice to 5 parts water) throughout the day. She'll crawl right up to us with the cup in one hand, and she'll thrust it up to us with a look of expectancy. She is a girl who knows what she wants.

Love that.

Anyway, each time we hold the juice cup for her and tip it back far enough for her to get a drink, she does the funniest thing with her chubby little hands. She holds them open with fingers slightly askew right up by her chest, and then they freeze there until she's finished drinking. Every time. We've started calling this her "Juice Hands," and I can't help but laugh each time her little hands contort and then freeze in this pose.

Juice hands.

Love this kid.

Blogs to Blog About.

I'll be the first to admit that I probably spend too much time reading blogs, when I should be cleaning my baseboards covered in dust, mending holes in my husbands clothing, working out, and/or shaving my increasingly hairy legs (TMI?).

So...I'll drag you down with me! ;)

Here are a few you might like:

-Nickel Lane: This is a blog started by two lovely ladies that just happen to be my talented and gorgeous sisters-in-law. They showcase artists and designers who are "advancing responsible, sustainable creativity in the marketplace." See...

Emily and Rachel are both extremely gifted artists and are aspiring entrepreneurs who are interested in art, design, and creativity in many forms.

A snippet from their blog:

There are consumers and there are curators: consumers buy what everyone else wants; curators collect the things they genuinely love. Consumers aren't interested in origins or processes; curators are fascinated by them.

Click here to find out how to follow them on Facebook/Twitter and to see some of the very cool sustainable art, textiles, projects, fashion, sculptures and jewelry they have found. And...you might catch a glimpse of some of their original work if you look closely! :)

-Ohdeedoh: This is a division of Apartment Therapy's website, and it is focused on children's rooms, decor, furniture, arts and crafts, and products. The pictures of children's nurseries from around the world are very sweet and inspiring, and they present many great ideas for arts and crafts projects with your kids. Very mod. Very whimsical. Very cool. A sampling:

-ihategreenbeans: Okay, guilty pleasure alert. I've watched (ashamedly...but only kinda) The Bachelor/Bachelorette series since college with no end in sight, and one of my very favorite things about watching the show is reading Lincee Ray's hilarious recaps on her ihategreenbeans website! She is Southern, witty, hilarious, and she tells it like it is. I laugh out loud several times while reading each week's recap, and, even though I know I should be reading something more cerebral like my book club's selection of Where Good Ideas Come From by Steven Johnson...I just can't help myself! ;)

There you have it.

Any blogs that you love?

Last First.

Today, my husband begins his last semester of classwork in pharmacy school. It is his last first-day-of-class. EVER.

(And angels from Heaven burst out singing the "Hallelujah Chorus"...loudly.)

It has been a long road for him and for our little family, and we are on the downhill slope. I must tell you, it feels nice.

My husband is a hard worker; he is diligent; he is dadgum smart. He has been in school since he was 5, and, even though we've never had a marriage where he is able to be home every single night, we have little to complain about--we do so much together, and that is because he makes the time, the effort, and the decision that our marriage should be this way.

My husband has figured out how to get a good portion of his studies done while still at school (between classes or during a lecture that isn't quite so important), so that he can spend a lot of time with his two girls at home. He never puts school first, and yet he always makes excellent grades. Like crazy-good grades. For things that my brain can not even comprehend. Somehow, he attends pharmacy school full-time, works at a pharmacy part-time to support us, and is still 100% invested in our family.

He is the best man that I know.

This picture was taken at his White Coat Ceremony at the start of pharmacy school:

And today...

...today was the last first day.

He couldn't be more ready.

And I couldn't be more proud.

:)

A Day in the Life: First Snow!

Birdie experienced the first snow of her little lifetime recently...

(Not exactly sure why Mom just plopped her down into this cold, wet stuff.)

(She liked grabbing handfuls of snow and then clapping them together.)

(Impressive splits, Baby. Could ballet be in your future...?!)

(Snow is funny, Mom.)

:)

My Favorite Clutter.

I used to follow the advice given on many an HGTV decorating show to keep one's fridge front clean, neat, and free of clutter.

Welp...

I'm a rule breaker.

What can I say.

Really, this is my favorite type of clutter, and it happens only during the holiday season. I absolutely love leaving up the picture Christmas cards that we receive for months and months. It is nice to see the smiling faces of many of our closest friends and family each time we go to the fridge for a healthy snack of carrots or apples...(ahem, Puppy Chow). And the semi-annoying farm animals fridge toy...beloved by my daughter. Totally worth it.

Anyway.

In which camp do you fall?

Clean, clutter-free, sleek fridge front?

Mounds of magnets, piles of pictures, and loads of lists fridge front?

For some reason, this interests me.

Indulge me, if you would be so kind.

;)

A Day in the Life: Joy, Bundled.

My ever-growing bundle of joy,

all bundled up to go outside to see her first snow...

(She laughs at my jokes. Love her.)

(New trick: if I say "touch," her little right index finger will pop out, ready to touch finger tips at any given moment. She loves doing this. Finally caught it on camera.)

(E and her slightly reluctant buddy, Milly.)

(Is it time for SNOW yet, Mom?!?)

First touch/taste/sight of snow coming soon.

:)

Guest Blogger: Mabel.

We've got a tiny, sicky baby girl around these parts who is requiring a lot of snuggling time from Mommy:

So, while my computer chair was vacant, a new blogger took my place:

Apparently, Mabel wants in on the action, so, while I am busy wiping E's snotty nose, holding her in a steamy bathroom to fight the croup, and getting in ample amounts of cuddling, my scrappy little Mabel will have to fill in for me:

I'm guessing she has a lot to get off of her chest, what with being "replaced" by a baby and all...

;)

10 Months: A Letter.

Dear Birdie Girl,

You are 10 months old today. Precious growing girl. What a whirlwind month this has been! You've experienced a lot of firsts, so let's get going!

Growth:

-You are 30 inches long (95th percentile), and you weigh 21 pounds (70th percentile).

-Your sweet strawberry continues to turn more and more white on top.

-First two teeth: Front, bottom! Didn't really show too many signs of teething other than kind of chewing on your fingers every now and then. Just when I thought I was going to have to order baby dentures...! ;)

Eating:

-You nurse 3-4 times a day, usually at breakfast, lunch and dinner.

-You eat three meals a day, and I made your food much thicker this time around. You are eating lots of food combinations, and some of your favorite foods are: apples with vanilla and oats, bananas and blueberries with oats, peas, organic yogurt of any flavor, granola/cereal bars, yogurt melts, and cereal puffs. You are NOT a fan of: green beans, detectable chicken mixed with any food, avocado, pasta, or some orange veggies.

-Baby, you do NOT take a bottle at all, so we are continually practicing with your sippy cup. I mix 1 part juice with 3 parts water to cut down on sugar, and you are getting pretty good at this skill. You still don't have it down pat, but you're getting there.

-You really enjoy feeding yourself, and if you pick up a piece of food with your left hand, you'll usually switch to your right hand before popping it in your mouth.

-Sharing is your new favorite thing to do while eating. You like to offer up your grubby cereal puffs or yogurt melts for Mommy to "eat"...I usually just fake eat the offered item and send it back your way. Thanks for sharing, Baby!

Sleeping:

-As always, you love to go to bed early. You're usually ready to turn in at around 6 or 6:30pm, and you wake up at around 6:45am every day. I'm jealous of your solid 12 hours of sleep each night!

-Luckily, you have moved away from those pesky 20 minute naps. These days, you take a morning nap around 9am for about an hour, an early-afternoon nap at around 12:30 for about 45 minutes, and then a late-afternoon nap at around 4 for about 45 minutes. I'm thinking those two afternoon naps are trying to merge together into one, so we'll see.

-If you wake up early from a nap, you are content to just roll around in your crib, play with Bunny, pull off your socks, examine behind each bumper, etc. You and I both value alone time. ;)

Playing:

-Poop Stance: This is gross, but you have developed a regular "stance" for your bowel movements. If you are sitting on your bottom, you roll over onto one knee, lift your hips off the ground, and hunker down for a few minutes. You are not to be bothered while in Poop Stance. ;)

-Kisses: You've really started giving kisses this month. You'll lean in (usually with your gummy mouth wide open), and you'll give us a kiss. So sweet.

-Clap, Clap, Clap: You love to clap, and you do it on command almost every time. If someone or something makes you happy, you show your appreciation with clapping. If I hold out one open palm, you will even use one of your chubby little hands to clap 'with' me. :)

-Words: You can say Dada, Mama (every once and awhile), Juice (sounds like 'deuce'), and the first part of 'Uh Oh'...your voice is precious. Plus, we caught the first "MOM" on video! Remind me to show you sometime, Love.

-Balancing on knees: You have yet to pull up to your feet all the way, you do like to balance on your knees/shins to play. You are so tiny.

-Point/Touch: If I hold out my index finger and say "Touch", you will stick out your right index finger and touch the tip of my finger. So SWEET! You love to point now. Your fingers are so chubby and little.

-You like to try and pluck my entire eyebrow off of my face. Ouch!

-Waving Bye-Bye: You can wave now! You hold your wrist still, palm open, and then you curl your fingers and thumb ever so slightly. I love this.

-Facial Expressions: You are getting so animated! Our favorite expression is when you think something or someone is so surprising or amazing, and you will raise your eyebrows up sooo high, open your eyes very wide, and your little mouth is shaped in a perfect oval to express your amazement! You look at us over and over like, "Guys, can you you BELIEVE this?!"

-Words that you can associate with objects: Mama, Dada, juice, cups (measuring cups--your favorite toys!), milkies, paci.

-Commands that you understand: Don't touch, kisses, clap-clap, jumpies (you bounce up and down), touch (touch finger tip to mine), bye-bye, go get your juice.

-Dancing: If you are excited about music from a toy or on the radio, you will dance one of two ways. You'll either get up on your knees and bounce up and down with your eyes and mouth open wide, or you'll sit with your legs out in front, bouncing them up and down as you clap. So cute!

Events:

-You have croup this month, baby, and it is so very sad. Your little voice is so raspy, you are wheezing as you try to breathe, and you have a pitiful cough. So hard to watch you go through sicknesses.

-Trip to Branson: We went to Branson and Silver Dollar City to see their Christmas spectacular, and you were such a trooper all bundled up in your stroller. It was a lovely trip with your Grandmama and Aunt Caitlin.

-First Christmas: We celebrated Christmas in OKC with Mommy's family the week before Christmas, and then we spent Christmas day with Daddy's family. Everyone was so excited to see you on your first Christmas, and you made quite the haul, Baby! You have a very kind and generous family, E. We are blessed.

-First New Years: Not too eventful of a holiday for you, seeing as you wanted to go to bed around 6:15pm...woo. ;)

Birdie, you are my little buddy. You follow me around all day long, and I just love our time together at home. We snuggle and sing and read and talk. Every day, you become more and more of a tiny little lady, and we thrill to watch you and experience you daily. It hurts my heart how much I want to protect you and guard you, and we pray for you every time we think of you...which is often. :)

You are my favorite.

I'll love you forever and like you for always,

Mommy

Product Review: The Snacks Edition.

Just when I think I've got this parenting thing figured out, a wrench gets thrown into things. The aforementioned wrench is usually nothing big and makes me realize yet again that I can't control EVERYTHING. So...I guess it is a good wrench? ;)

Anyway.

I've entered into a whole new realm of child-feeding that involves snacking. Not lots of snacking, mind you, but snacking, nonetheless. (I, like, commas, apparently). Just when I got things into a working routine of nursing and pureed baby food, now we need to start working towards more solid food and snacking (i.e. learning to feed herself). Here we go!

So, I shall share with you some of the products that have been a hit in our home recently. Let me know what your kiddos like. I'm always up for trying something new!

HappyBaby Organic Puffs:

My kiddo loves the banana flavored puffs, and, although they are tad pricier than the Gerber brand, the package is a lot bigger. Thus, more puffs. Plus, E seems to get a better grip on these round puffs as opposed to the star-shaped ones from Gerber. I mean, don't get me wrong. She'll slam back a few fistfuls of the Gerber puffs in any given moment, but these HappyBaby kind seem to be a bit more fat-baby-hand friendly. :)

Hot Kid's Baby Mum-Mums:

My family refers to these as E's 'surf board' snacks. They are basically baby rice cakes, and they come in individually wrapped packages of two. My good friend showed me these, and we have never looked back! They are handy to keep in your bag for shopping excursions, and they really are low-mess. When E gets to the end of one of her 'surf boards,' I usually take the tiny stump away, as she tends to shove the entire thing into her mouth instead of bite off little bits. She's an overachiever. Or she's starving because she's growing like a weed. Either/or.

Gerber's Yogurt Melts:

These little lovelies are E's dessert. :) She would gladly eat an entire package (or three) in one sitting if I'd let her. They dissolve pretty quickly in her mouth, but they stay solid long enough for her to practice chewing. With her one tooth. ;)

Earth's Best Organic Yogurt Rice Crisp Bars:

This snack is making a comeback after being shunned for a couple of months. Maybe it was too crunchy too early? Who knows. These are a little chewy for a gal with only one tiny tip of a tooth to speak of, so I break off little bites for her for now. Takes a while to gum these suckers down, but when we're out and about and I need her to be distracted while I am doing something highly important like deciding between toilet paper brands...these are a lifesaver.

Well, there's some of Birdie's favorite snacks. Any other awesome products out there that my snaggle-toothed child should know about?!

;)