As of October 15th, I am officially a freelance writer for Examiner.com as the Broomfield County Baby and Toddler Gear Examiner. No, I don't live in Broomfield County, but that's the best I could do.
So far, I've published 2 articles:
1) http://www.examiner.com/baby-toddler-gear-in-denver/sleep-sacks-and-swaddles-the-prevention-of-sids
2) http://www.examiner.com/baby-toddler-gear-in-denver/enjoy-denver-s-fall-weather-with-baby-and-bundle-me
I like it--it gives me something productive to do (and a sense of accomplishment) without taking up a lot of time. Plus, it's on a topic I know a bit about ;-)
The more traffic I get, the better so if you are interested in checking out my newest article, or have a friend with kids that could use the information, go here: http://www.examiner.com/toys-games-and-gear-in-denver.
Pretty soon, I am able to take on another topic, but until then I'm just going to focus on this.
Enjoy and thanks for your support!!
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Thursday, October 7, 2010
why cloth diapering is not working for me
It's amazing how my attitude on so many topics has shifted since I've had a kid--even since I was pregnant. For example, I always thought I'd get an epidural. No drugs during childbirth? Don't be crazy! But once I was pregnant my desire to do it drug-free grew stronger until I decided that was my preference unless it was a medical necessity to do otherwise. Thankfully, I got what I wanted and had a natural childbirth--and I'd do it again.
Which brings me to today's topic: cloth diapering. At some point during my pregnancy I decided that I wanted to try to cloth diapers. Part of it was environmental, part of it was financial. So after the initial newborn stage, we bought some cloth diapers and tried them out. We didn't like the actual diapers but didn't mind the cloth so we tried another brand. Worked like a charm...and for a while.
We've been CD-ing since Evan was about 4 or 5 months and he's almost 14 months so we've been at it for a while, but sometime last week-ish I decided I was done for a while. Why, you ask? My kid poops about 4-5 times a day. Yes, true story. I do feed him very healthy food but I guess I should lay off all the fiber, huh? Seriously, it's just too much poop to deal with each day. I feel somewhat guilty about the disposables but it's so nice to just take off the diaper and toss it...Maybe I'll get back to it soon, but for now I think I need a break!
Which brings me to today's topic: cloth diapering. At some point during my pregnancy I decided that I wanted to try to cloth diapers. Part of it was environmental, part of it was financial. So after the initial newborn stage, we bought some cloth diapers and tried them out. We didn't like the actual diapers but didn't mind the cloth so we tried another brand. Worked like a charm...and for a while.
We've been CD-ing since Evan was about 4 or 5 months and he's almost 14 months so we've been at it for a while, but sometime last week-ish I decided I was done for a while. Why, you ask? My kid poops about 4-5 times a day. Yes, true story. I do feed him very healthy food but I guess I should lay off all the fiber, huh? Seriously, it's just too much poop to deal with each day. I feel somewhat guilty about the disposables but it's so nice to just take off the diaper and toss it...Maybe I'll get back to it soon, but for now I think I need a break!
Sunday, September 26, 2010
the grass is always greener
When I used to think about being a stay at home mom, I thought I would slip right into that role like a glove. I always daydreamed about a time when I didn't have to work: my house would always be clean, laundry always done, errands always complete. I've been laid off now for 2 years, and am still having a hard time adjusting (see my post from Sept. 7th).
I think it goes without saying that I am thankful for the opportunity to spend so much time with Evan, and that most of the time I really enjoy the time I have to simply watch him play or read him a book. But I have to be honest--I don't think the full-time stay-at-home-mom gig is for me. I'm not saying I want to work 60 hours a week and be away from home all the time. I just need some time each day (or most days) do my own thing. And while I appreciate the times when Shawn encourages me to get away, I've realized I need something more consistent, or in bigger chunks of time. Honestly, a part-time gig would be perfect: I could have my own time but still have plenty of quality time with lil' man.
When I was first laid off, I struggled with the fact that when I woke up in the morning there was nothing to get ready for-my day was for me to do whatever I wanted but I didn't usually know what that was. It was a struggle. Then I got used to it, but I still feel like I am floating in an in-between. I spent so many years getting educated and working on my career that I actually miss work. I miss using my brain for grown-up stuff. And, like right now, I miss being able to work on something without someone whining in my ear or requiring so much attention that I can't focus--wait, I guess sometimes that happens in the working world...
I think the bottom line is that I need some balance. From 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., 7 days a week, it's all about Evan. And although work can be challenging and stressful, I wonder if it's just what I need to curb some of the frustration I feel about being home all the time. The other thing I think about is whether I will ever want to be a SAHM. We always talked about me staying home after #2, but it didn't really work out that way. Now I wonder, will it be different if I have 2 or more? Will work seem like a waste of time? I'm not sure but I think I'd like to find out. I've been at home full time, now I'd like to try having a life outside of my house.
There are some days that I envy Shawn's ability to go into his office and close the door to focus on work even though I know how stressful his job is and how tiring the travel can be. But I am 100% certain that he is envious of me some days since I get to hang out with Evan all day in my jammies and (attempt to) get stuff done around the house. I guess the grass is always greener...
I think it goes without saying that I am thankful for the opportunity to spend so much time with Evan, and that most of the time I really enjoy the time I have to simply watch him play or read him a book. But I have to be honest--I don't think the full-time stay-at-home-mom gig is for me. I'm not saying I want to work 60 hours a week and be away from home all the time. I just need some time each day (or most days) do my own thing. And while I appreciate the times when Shawn encourages me to get away, I've realized I need something more consistent, or in bigger chunks of time. Honestly, a part-time gig would be perfect: I could have my own time but still have plenty of quality time with lil' man.
When I was first laid off, I struggled with the fact that when I woke up in the morning there was nothing to get ready for-my day was for me to do whatever I wanted but I didn't usually know what that was. It was a struggle. Then I got used to it, but I still feel like I am floating in an in-between. I spent so many years getting educated and working on my career that I actually miss work. I miss using my brain for grown-up stuff. And, like right now, I miss being able to work on something without someone whining in my ear or requiring so much attention that I can't focus--wait, I guess sometimes that happens in the working world...
I think the bottom line is that I need some balance. From 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., 7 days a week, it's all about Evan. And although work can be challenging and stressful, I wonder if it's just what I need to curb some of the frustration I feel about being home all the time. The other thing I think about is whether I will ever want to be a SAHM. We always talked about me staying home after #2, but it didn't really work out that way. Now I wonder, will it be different if I have 2 or more? Will work seem like a waste of time? I'm not sure but I think I'd like to find out. I've been at home full time, now I'd like to try having a life outside of my house.
There are some days that I envy Shawn's ability to go into his office and close the door to focus on work even though I know how stressful his job is and how tiring the travel can be. But I am 100% certain that he is envious of me some days since I get to hang out with Evan all day in my jammies and (attempt to) get stuff done around the house. I guess the grass is always greener...
Sunday, September 19, 2010
rough week-part two
Remember when I said Thursday was better? That night it got kind of worrisome. And remember when I said I was 5 weeks pregnant? I woke up in the middle of the night with some major abdominal cramping. I was a little worried but thought maybe it was a result from the emotional couple of days I had. The cramping didn't come back that night or at all on Friday. I had a tiny bit of spotting but nothing major. I called my OB/GYN but she didn't seem concerned at all at this point. I should also mention that I have 2 large cysts on my right ovary, which she had found on 8-24, the same day I found out I was newly pregnant. Shawn had come home Friday night so I got some good hugs from him and told him what happened Thursday night. He still seemed optimistic and encouraged me to be the same, telling me that I had such a healthy first pregnancy and everything was going to be fine. I wanted to believe it so badly but I was feeling a bit nervous.
Saturday night, I went up to bed and suddenly had the pains again. I was writhing around in bed feeling awful. Shawn was trying to do some work in his office and came in to check on me--brought me some ginger ale/tums...I ended up vomiting, but that still didn't make me feel better. After an hour and a half, I finally felt better and was able to fall asleep.
Sunday morning, I was feeling better but my tummy still wasn't 100%. My appetite had been gone for the past couple of days and I was nauseous as well. I felt confident telling Shawn to head to his volleyball tournament since I was generally feeling fine. Around 1130 a.m. I started getting stuff together to take Evan to the park and have a picnic while Shawn finished up volleyball. And then it hit me. It was pain I have never felt before, and I delivered Evan naturally! I was doubled over, I couldn't move, could barely breathe. Nothing I did relieved the pain. I got dizzy, scared. Evan was due to wake up any minute and I couldn't move an inch, let alone go upstairs and pick him up. I picked up the phone and couldn't even text--I speed dialed Shawn and got his voice mail. I was fearing he was in the middle of a game, but I left a message anyway telling him to come home. Thankfully, he got the voicemail and headed straight home.
Evan was still in bed and by the time Shawn got home, the pain subsided enough for me to curl up on the couch. At that point, I had my dr paged and when she called I filled her in. She still didn't seem alarmed--she thought maybe my cyst burst or it was appendicitis. She said that if it was a miscarriage, the only reason to go to the hospital was for pain meds. She offered to see me the next day (Monday) in her office. I was not comfortable with her response but I decided to call the next day and try to get in to see her. I just wanted her to do an ultrasound and see if she could see anything--even if it was too early to see a heartbeat...
Well, I didn't have to wait. Sunday night I went up to bed and that searing pain from earlier in the day came back and I was in unbearable pain. This time, Shawn was right there to see me and immediately decided he was taking me to the ER. We woke up Evan and drove to the ER, me in major pain the entire way.
Based on the results of the blood tests and ultrasounds, the Dr informed me that he was certain I had an ectopic pregnancy and that it burst. He said I had to have surgery within the next few hours. I was suddenly scared and upset. I knew what that could mean--the embryo implanted in my fallopian tube and it burst so would I still be able to have children?? At 330 a.m., I went in for laparoscopic surgery. They removed 500cc of blood from my abdominal area (which is not bad), the remains of the embryo and my right fallopian tube. I was told I can still go on to have completely healthy pregnancies, and the fact that I already have a child helps my chances. My blood count is a bit low, so instead of 6 weeks, I have to wait 2-3 months before we can try to conceive again but I am ok with that. When I do, God willing, get pregnant again, I will be considered high risk which means they will monitor me much more closely in the beginning.
Earlier in the week I was wondering if everything was going to hit me but so far it hasn't.I think it's mostly because I am relieved that Shawn was home to make me go to the ER, that I was no longer in pain and that I was alive! When a tubal pregnancy bursts and there is internal bleeding it could be fatal. I was thankful I hadn't seen the heartbeat yet because I think I would have felt the loss of the pregnancy much more.
Although I can't help but feel a bit frustrated with my OB/GYN for dismissing, twice, my complaint of abdominal pain during early pregnancy. I can't decide if I am going to ditch her or not. I thought highly of her with my first pregnancy, but my first pregnancy was a breeze...The jury is still out on this...
I am still in disbelief that this happened, and still feel sadness when I think about it sometimes, but overall I am just feeling thankful that I am ok and that I can still have children. And as I sit here, resting and recovering nicely, I am still feeling extremely grateful for the amazing support system I have. They all said the right things and stepped up in the ways they needed to. It's because of them that I am not a complete wreck and for that I am eternally grateful!
Saturday night, I went up to bed and suddenly had the pains again. I was writhing around in bed feeling awful. Shawn was trying to do some work in his office and came in to check on me--brought me some ginger ale/tums...I ended up vomiting, but that still didn't make me feel better. After an hour and a half, I finally felt better and was able to fall asleep.
Sunday morning, I was feeling better but my tummy still wasn't 100%. My appetite had been gone for the past couple of days and I was nauseous as well. I felt confident telling Shawn to head to his volleyball tournament since I was generally feeling fine. Around 1130 a.m. I started getting stuff together to take Evan to the park and have a picnic while Shawn finished up volleyball. And then it hit me. It was pain I have never felt before, and I delivered Evan naturally! I was doubled over, I couldn't move, could barely breathe. Nothing I did relieved the pain. I got dizzy, scared. Evan was due to wake up any minute and I couldn't move an inch, let alone go upstairs and pick him up. I picked up the phone and couldn't even text--I speed dialed Shawn and got his voice mail. I was fearing he was in the middle of a game, but I left a message anyway telling him to come home. Thankfully, he got the voicemail and headed straight home.
Evan was still in bed and by the time Shawn got home, the pain subsided enough for me to curl up on the couch. At that point, I had my dr paged and when she called I filled her in. She still didn't seem alarmed--she thought maybe my cyst burst or it was appendicitis. She said that if it was a miscarriage, the only reason to go to the hospital was for pain meds. She offered to see me the next day (Monday) in her office. I was not comfortable with her response but I decided to call the next day and try to get in to see her. I just wanted her to do an ultrasound and see if she could see anything--even if it was too early to see a heartbeat...
Well, I didn't have to wait. Sunday night I went up to bed and that searing pain from earlier in the day came back and I was in unbearable pain. This time, Shawn was right there to see me and immediately decided he was taking me to the ER. We woke up Evan and drove to the ER, me in major pain the entire way.
Based on the results of the blood tests and ultrasounds, the Dr informed me that he was certain I had an ectopic pregnancy and that it burst. He said I had to have surgery within the next few hours. I was suddenly scared and upset. I knew what that could mean--the embryo implanted in my fallopian tube and it burst so would I still be able to have children?? At 330 a.m., I went in for laparoscopic surgery. They removed 500cc of blood from my abdominal area (which is not bad), the remains of the embryo and my right fallopian tube. I was told I can still go on to have completely healthy pregnancies, and the fact that I already have a child helps my chances. My blood count is a bit low, so instead of 6 weeks, I have to wait 2-3 months before we can try to conceive again but I am ok with that. When I do, God willing, get pregnant again, I will be considered high risk which means they will monitor me much more closely in the beginning.
Earlier in the week I was wondering if everything was going to hit me but so far it hasn't.I think it's mostly because I am relieved that Shawn was home to make me go to the ER, that I was no longer in pain and that I was alive! When a tubal pregnancy bursts and there is internal bleeding it could be fatal. I was thankful I hadn't seen the heartbeat yet because I think I would have felt the loss of the pregnancy much more.
Although I can't help but feel a bit frustrated with my OB/GYN for dismissing, twice, my complaint of abdominal pain during early pregnancy. I can't decide if I am going to ditch her or not. I thought highly of her with my first pregnancy, but my first pregnancy was a breeze...The jury is still out on this...
I am still in disbelief that this happened, and still feel sadness when I think about it sometimes, but overall I am just feeling thankful that I am ok and that I can still have children. And as I sit here, resting and recovering nicely, I am still feeling extremely grateful for the amazing support system I have. They all said the right things and stepped up in the ways they needed to. It's because of them that I am not a complete wreck and for that I am eternally grateful!
rough week-part one
I have to do this in 2 parts so it's not so long. There are 2 separate stories so I split them up for easier reading. It gets a little personal, but I am ready to share it so here it goes...
A little over a month ago I noticed my cat, Sophie, limping a bit. We found that it was her front paw/shoulder. We already had an appointment for her to get her teeth cleaned so the vet offered to check her out at the same time. Sophie ended up getting 4 teeth extracted (!), which is what happens when you neglect your pet's teeth for several years, but the vet didn't find anything at all wrong with her shoulder/paw/elbow. A week later, she was still limping pretty badly so I called the vet again and she offered to check her out again, this time resulting in a steroid shot since she still couldn't see/feel anything wrong. Over the weekend, she was getting progressively worse-sleeping more than usual and barely eating or drinking so another call to the vet. This time, she said I'd have to drop her off and they would do an xray and try to see what was happening. Later that day, she was still not doing well--they had to give her an IV because she was dehydrated and she was generally not well. The next day, the news was worse. They took her out to examine her and she collapsed so they had to put her on oxygen. The xray showed that her lungs were either full of fluid or something was wrong with them, possibly pneumonia or even a shattered diaphragm. It was hard for her to tell, but Sophie was in a dire situation. I guess when cats get to that point it's pretty bad. So she told me there was nothing else she could do, but recommended me to a critical care hospital for animals where they could do further diagnostics and see if they could help her. I was a wreck. I rescued her at 4 months old and have had her for 9 years--I was torn up. Long story short, I had a difficult decision to make and imagining her getting poked and prodded and put through more tests made me cry. I called Shawn since he was out of town and, although he was trying hard to find a silver lining, we both knew what had to be done given she was 10 years old and in a perilous situation. I gave the vet the word and on 9-8-10 at 445 p.m., my little kitty was put to sleep.
I am getting teary just recalling this. It was so difficult and even more difficult because I had to deal with this all alone--Shawn was in NYC for work. I was also hitting me hard because I was 5 weeks pregnant and very hormonal. I pretty much cried all afternoon/evening on Wednesday--I fell asleep with tissues in my hand. Thursday was better but still got teary when I would see the empty kitchen chair she liked to sleep on, or the couch cushion she was always curling up on. I was surprised at how much I felt the loss of her, how much it affected me. I felt like I had lost a family member, which, those of you with pets will attest, she was a family member. I know it was for the best, but I really miss her...
...and this was just the beginning of the worst week ever.
A little over a month ago I noticed my cat, Sophie, limping a bit. We found that it was her front paw/shoulder. We already had an appointment for her to get her teeth cleaned so the vet offered to check her out at the same time. Sophie ended up getting 4 teeth extracted (!), which is what happens when you neglect your pet's teeth for several years, but the vet didn't find anything at all wrong with her shoulder/paw/elbow. A week later, she was still limping pretty badly so I called the vet again and she offered to check her out again, this time resulting in a steroid shot since she still couldn't see/feel anything wrong. Over the weekend, she was getting progressively worse-sleeping more than usual and barely eating or drinking so another call to the vet. This time, she said I'd have to drop her off and they would do an xray and try to see what was happening. Later that day, she was still not doing well--they had to give her an IV because she was dehydrated and she was generally not well. The next day, the news was worse. They took her out to examine her and she collapsed so they had to put her on oxygen. The xray showed that her lungs were either full of fluid or something was wrong with them, possibly pneumonia or even a shattered diaphragm. It was hard for her to tell, but Sophie was in a dire situation. I guess when cats get to that point it's pretty bad. So she told me there was nothing else she could do, but recommended me to a critical care hospital for animals where they could do further diagnostics and see if they could help her. I was a wreck. I rescued her at 4 months old and have had her for 9 years--I was torn up. Long story short, I had a difficult decision to make and imagining her getting poked and prodded and put through more tests made me cry. I called Shawn since he was out of town and, although he was trying hard to find a silver lining, we both knew what had to be done given she was 10 years old and in a perilous situation. I gave the vet the word and on 9-8-10 at 445 p.m., my little kitty was put to sleep.
I am getting teary just recalling this. It was so difficult and even more difficult because I had to deal with this all alone--Shawn was in NYC for work. I was also hitting me hard because I was 5 weeks pregnant and very hormonal. I pretty much cried all afternoon/evening on Wednesday--I fell asleep with tissues in my hand. Thursday was better but still got teary when I would see the empty kitchen chair she liked to sleep on, or the couch cushion she was always curling up on. I was surprised at how much I felt the loss of her, how much it affected me. I felt like I had lost a family member, which, those of you with pets will attest, she was a family member. I know it was for the best, but I really miss her...
...and this was just the beginning of the worst week ever.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
maybe I'm not the version of superwoman I thought I was...
Last Thursday, Shawn and Evan took a trip into Chicago. No, nothing is wrong. I had a trip with Evan back in the spring and Shawn wanted to take him to Chicago to visit his grandma who is getting older and more frail. In an effort to save money and because we have 2 flights in 2 months for weddings, I stayed home and had a weekend to myself.
Oh the grand plans I had! I had a list of so many things I was going to accomplish since I was going to be alone in the house. Who did I think I was?? I definitely got a lot of my running around done, which was nice because trying to do all that with a toddler doesn't work. There are naps and meals and diaper changes, and let's not forget they don't like being stuck in a car seat all day. Not to mention the time added to the errands of taking kid out of car seat, into stroller, back into car seat for EVERY trip! A 4 1/2 hour leisurely shopping trip with a friend was exhausting but definitely nice since I didn't feel rushed or had a whiny kid to cut it short.
But who was I kidding? I may have been toddler-free but running around ALL day is not my idea of a good time--it is tiring!! I wanted to enjoy some down time too. I was watching River all day Friday so that limited my "freedom", leaving me with only Saturday and Sunday to myself. I was able to unwind at the end of the day with movies and chilling on the couch. I tried to sleep in but that didn't work so I was still up by 7, which is fine. All in all, I had a nice, productive weekend where I wasn't stuck to a schedule.
I learned a few things though:
Oh the grand plans I had! I had a list of so many things I was going to accomplish since I was going to be alone in the house. Who did I think I was?? I definitely got a lot of my running around done, which was nice because trying to do all that with a toddler doesn't work. There are naps and meals and diaper changes, and let's not forget they don't like being stuck in a car seat all day. Not to mention the time added to the errands of taking kid out of car seat, into stroller, back into car seat for EVERY trip! A 4 1/2 hour leisurely shopping trip with a friend was exhausting but definitely nice since I didn't feel rushed or had a whiny kid to cut it short.
But who was I kidding? I may have been toddler-free but running around ALL day is not my idea of a good time--it is tiring!! I wanted to enjoy some down time too. I was watching River all day Friday so that limited my "freedom", leaving me with only Saturday and Sunday to myself. I was able to unwind at the end of the day with movies and chilling on the couch. I tried to sleep in but that didn't work so I was still up by 7, which is fine. All in all, I had a nice, productive weekend where I wasn't stuck to a schedule.
I learned a few things though:
- Running around is definitely easier without Evan but doable if I need to run only a couple of errands.
- I CAN get housework done while he is napping but I have to be prepared to be interrupted and pick up where I left off later.
- Relax-on-the-couch or shopping time is definitely nicer when you don't have to watch a clock.
So I will stop complaining that I can't get projects done with Evan and admit that I just need to allot more time for them, and I will make sure to take Shawn up on the offer to watch him during his naps and on weekends so I can hit the gym and run errands.
So I can still be Superwoman, but I have to be the version of Superwoman where she has a kid.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
old wives' tales (OWT) vs new wives' tales (NWT)
I am starting to take issue with all these wives' tales. While I appreciate where the original thinking came from, I find that these 'tales' have gotten a bit ridiculous. Now, keep in mind that my family is foreign--meaning that we have all kinds of tales and home remedies. And, maybe, without realizing it I still follow or believe in many of these.
Here are a few that stick out in my mind and I have offered a NWT (new wives' tale):
1) OWT: Never wake a sleeping baby.Yes, if they are a newborn, maybe. I never had much reason to wake up Evan when he was a little baby. If he slept longer than 4 hours I would start to watch the clock since he was nursing and needed the nutrients. But as he got older it started becoming necessity sometimes. Like today--we were out and about and he fell asleep in the car about 5 minutes from home and 20 minutes from lunch. He was so pooped that I put him in his crib when we got home and let him sleep, but at 1240 I decided to wake him up--he didn't have his after nap bottle or any lunch. If I continued to let him sleep he would have missed milk and a meal and his entire schedule would have been so off it would have screwed up his afternoon nap. He is now playing quietly and will go down for his regularly scheduled nap in about 45 minutes.
NWT: It is bad for the baby to miss meals due to off-schedule naps.
2) Cutting a child's hair before the age of 1 is bad luck. I am lucky that I have a great mother in law that I love and respect, so for her I waited until Evan's first birthday to cut his hair. For most kids, this isn't an issue but my kid came out with a full head of hair and it only got longer as time went on. For many months I had to deal with Evan trying to blink hair out of his eyes or try, unsuccessfully, to swipe it out of them. I'm surprised he didn't end up cross-eyed. It started getting a little upsetting watching him be bothered with his long, wispy bangs. So, next kid will get a very small bang trim if needed and I will still give a ceremonious 1st birthday haircut.
NWT: If your child's hair is constantly in his or her eyes, it should be trimmed so as not to affect their vision.
3) Raising your arms above your head while you are pregnant can cause the umbilical cord to wrap around baby's neck. This one is just ridiculous anymore. I was at the grocery store and couldn't reach something on the top shelf--even if I weren't pregnant--so I asked an employee to help me out. As he was getting it for me, I hear "you shouldn't be reaching above your head anyway". "I'm sorry--you don't look at all like my doctor", is what I wish I would have said to her but I just ignored her. There are so many things wrong with this I don't know where to begin. Are you saying a pregnant woman can't wash her own hair? And, have the wonderful ladies that teach prenatal yoga been putting my baby at harm while I am selfishly trying to stay in good shape? Please, woman. Keep your completely ridiculous, and unsolicited, tales to yourself!
NWT: Participating in proper prenatal exercise on a regular basis is very good for both mom and baby, even if that requires your arms to raise above your head.
Sometimes I get sucked in to some superstitions because, like I said, I am still a bit superstitious about some things. But sometimes I will just have to follow my own intuition about what's best for me and my baby.
Here are a few that stick out in my mind and I have offered a NWT (new wives' tale):
1) OWT: Never wake a sleeping baby.Yes, if they are a newborn, maybe. I never had much reason to wake up Evan when he was a little baby. If he slept longer than 4 hours I would start to watch the clock since he was nursing and needed the nutrients. But as he got older it started becoming necessity sometimes. Like today--we were out and about and he fell asleep in the car about 5 minutes from home and 20 minutes from lunch. He was so pooped that I put him in his crib when we got home and let him sleep, but at 1240 I decided to wake him up--he didn't have his after nap bottle or any lunch. If I continued to let him sleep he would have missed milk and a meal and his entire schedule would have been so off it would have screwed up his afternoon nap. He is now playing quietly and will go down for his regularly scheduled nap in about 45 minutes.
NWT: It is bad for the baby to miss meals due to off-schedule naps.
2) Cutting a child's hair before the age of 1 is bad luck. I am lucky that I have a great mother in law that I love and respect, so for her I waited until Evan's first birthday to cut his hair. For most kids, this isn't an issue but my kid came out with a full head of hair and it only got longer as time went on. For many months I had to deal with Evan trying to blink hair out of his eyes or try, unsuccessfully, to swipe it out of them. I'm surprised he didn't end up cross-eyed. It started getting a little upsetting watching him be bothered with his long, wispy bangs. So, next kid will get a very small bang trim if needed and I will still give a ceremonious 1st birthday haircut.
NWT: If your child's hair is constantly in his or her eyes, it should be trimmed so as not to affect their vision.
3) Raising your arms above your head while you are pregnant can cause the umbilical cord to wrap around baby's neck. This one is just ridiculous anymore. I was at the grocery store and couldn't reach something on the top shelf--even if I weren't pregnant--so I asked an employee to help me out. As he was getting it for me, I hear "you shouldn't be reaching above your head anyway". "I'm sorry--you don't look at all like my doctor", is what I wish I would have said to her but I just ignored her. There are so many things wrong with this I don't know where to begin. Are you saying a pregnant woman can't wash her own hair? And, have the wonderful ladies that teach prenatal yoga been putting my baby at harm while I am selfishly trying to stay in good shape? Please, woman. Keep your completely ridiculous, and unsolicited, tales to yourself!
NWT: Participating in proper prenatal exercise on a regular basis is very good for both mom and baby, even if that requires your arms to raise above your head.
Sometimes I get sucked in to some superstitions because, like I said, I am still a bit superstitious about some things. But sometimes I will just have to follow my own intuition about what's best for me and my baby.
Friday, August 27, 2010
never thought I'd utter the words...
I love mornings. I know--it shocked me too! I used to hate mornings--ugh. Then I was forced to get up early once I had Evan...and over the past year, I have seen the beauty of the morning time. The weather is crisp, the mood is serene, and I have just started my day. Don't get me wrong, I still love my evening routine of catching up on shows and reading, and I still have mornings where it takes a while to get the blurry vision-sleep crust out of my eyes, but I have a new appreciation for the morning-time.
I think part of the reason is that I don't get woken up by an annoying alarm. And also that I get to wake up to a smiley baby--even if he is crying until I take him out of his crib.
It's also really nice to realize I have accomplished so many things before lunch (most days, some days I'm just not that motivated).
There is one thing that I don't think I will ever stop enjoying, and that's lazy mornings in bed with hubby and baby!
I think part of the reason is that I don't get woken up by an annoying alarm. And also that I get to wake up to a smiley baby--even if he is crying until I take him out of his crib.
It's also really nice to realize I have accomplished so many things before lunch (most days, some days I'm just not that motivated).
There is one thing that I don't think I will ever stop enjoying, and that's lazy mornings in bed with hubby and baby!
Monday, August 23, 2010
i am firing my housekeeper....wait--I don't have a housekeeper!
I'd love to say I was such a tidy person before I had a baby, but I have to admit that I collected my fair share of clutter around the house. In my defense, I was a tidier before baby but I don't think that counts...
I am not sure why, but I have such a hard time keeping the house as clean as I'd like (and Shawn will wholeheartedly agree!). I'm not sure if it's because it's the largest place I've ever lived (in comparison to the many apartments I've lived in before), or if it's something else. The truth is, a messy house stresses me out. No really, it does! I can't relax and I walk around feeling the stress of the mess (maybe that would have been a good title for this blog).
What I can't wrap my brain around is how I can feel overwhelmed by the state of the house, but don't get that bug to just clean it. In fact, I actually had a bit of an emotional moment last week about it. You know that feeling of just wanting to cry? Not like you are so upset you are crying, but that you are upset and you are looking forward to a good cry. That was me. I just had this general feeling of being stuck in the house because I don't like to disrupt Evan's schedule too much, and being stuck in a house that never seems to stay clean. I just got in a funk.
Luckily, I have an amazing husband that talks things through with me. He admit he is stressed by the state of the house--wait, I need to clarify something real quick: when I talk about 'state of the house', I don't mean gross/dirty. I just mean clutter and the need for a vacuum once-over kind of mess. OK, so back to my ramble..My general complaint was that I could vacuum, sweep, mop and do dishes and by the end of the day it looks like I've done none of those things. Not to mention I feel like I do dishes 100 times a day. I cannot wait for a dishwasher!! It gets disheartening. It's not like it's hard, but it's SO tedious. And then add the guilt of being a stay-at-home mom (that should be able to keep things clean) and let that build--voila! We have a little breakdown.
Now the comment about being stuck in the house is just 'feeling'. When I have things scheduled, I have no problem taking Evan along with me. But when I am at home, thinking about all the steps it takes to go on errands with him, I get overwhelmed and wait until he's napping and Shawn is home. The truth is, I know what I need to do, and how I can get it done. My problem is getting that motivation to actually do it.
And bless my friends who keep telling me that it's OK because I have a baby...I love you guys for it, but he's 1 now and the truth is, there is no reason I can't keep this house reasonably clean. Spotless? No way. But clean--yes. So in talking to Shawn, he felt I really needed to get yoga back into my life. He would work his schedule in any way he could so I could make it to yoga regularly. And then, he started doing a couple of things around the house--not like dishes, which he does at times already, but clean-out sort of stuff.
So, between the amazing effects of regular yoga, a little head start from Shawn, and the determination to get out of this clutter/homebody rut I'm in, the past couple of days have been off to a good start. And on that note, I need to go put away some laundry...
I am not sure why, but I have such a hard time keeping the house as clean as I'd like (and Shawn will wholeheartedly agree!). I'm not sure if it's because it's the largest place I've ever lived (in comparison to the many apartments I've lived in before), or if it's something else. The truth is, a messy house stresses me out. No really, it does! I can't relax and I walk around feeling the stress of the mess (maybe that would have been a good title for this blog).
What I can't wrap my brain around is how I can feel overwhelmed by the state of the house, but don't get that bug to just clean it. In fact, I actually had a bit of an emotional moment last week about it. You know that feeling of just wanting to cry? Not like you are so upset you are crying, but that you are upset and you are looking forward to a good cry. That was me. I just had this general feeling of being stuck in the house because I don't like to disrupt Evan's schedule too much, and being stuck in a house that never seems to stay clean. I just got in a funk.
Luckily, I have an amazing husband that talks things through with me. He admit he is stressed by the state of the house--wait, I need to clarify something real quick: when I talk about 'state of the house', I don't mean gross/dirty. I just mean clutter and the need for a vacuum once-over kind of mess. OK, so back to my ramble..My general complaint was that I could vacuum, sweep, mop and do dishes and by the end of the day it looks like I've done none of those things. Not to mention I feel like I do dishes 100 times a day. I cannot wait for a dishwasher!! It gets disheartening. It's not like it's hard, but it's SO tedious. And then add the guilt of being a stay-at-home mom (that should be able to keep things clean) and let that build--voila! We have a little breakdown.
Now the comment about being stuck in the house is just 'feeling'. When I have things scheduled, I have no problem taking Evan along with me. But when I am at home, thinking about all the steps it takes to go on errands with him, I get overwhelmed and wait until he's napping and Shawn is home. The truth is, I know what I need to do, and how I can get it done. My problem is getting that motivation to actually do it.
And bless my friends who keep telling me that it's OK because I have a baby...I love you guys for it, but he's 1 now and the truth is, there is no reason I can't keep this house reasonably clean. Spotless? No way. But clean--yes. So in talking to Shawn, he felt I really needed to get yoga back into my life. He would work his schedule in any way he could so I could make it to yoga regularly. And then, he started doing a couple of things around the house--not like dishes, which he does at times already, but clean-out sort of stuff.
So, between the amazing effects of regular yoga, a little head start from Shawn, and the determination to get out of this clutter/homebody rut I'm in, the past couple of days have been off to a good start. And on that note, I need to go put away some laundry...
Saturday, August 21, 2010
to eat? or not to eat? there is no question!
As we've journeyed down the road of milestones, we've had some good times and not so good times. But like with all things kids--it goes by quickly, good or bad...
When Evan was just a few days old, my doula came to check in on us and said something to me that has become my mantra as a mother. She said to try to enjoy all the moments, whether they were good or not, because they go by so quickly. "This, too, shall pass". And boy was she right! When Evan finally started sleeping through the night, we went through a phase where he decided to get up and cry at 4 or 5 in the morning. But it passed and we were back to sleeping 'well'. There was a time when he would just snuggle with us in the morning, but once he learned to crawl we couldn't keep him still. Every phase, good or bad, will pass quickly...
Which brings me to our current phase: eat? no thanks! We just started to transition him onto cow's and almond milk (both because almond milk doesn't contain enough of the fat that babies need), and I've been mixing formula into it as well. So I know he is still getting good nutrients. But, geez, this kid is just not interested. He will eat fruit all day, and drink anything I'm drinking, but forget everything else! I know, this is a phase and "this, too, shall pass". This is what I keep telling myself now - he will eventually eat and I will not be sent away for starving my child! I have proof that I try:
That's the remainder of: cheese and bread (usually a winner, but not today), strawberries (which did ok), and oatmeal with bananas and blackberries. Oh yeah, and OJ that was spilled everywhere. I am banking on the belief that when he's hungry, he'll eat, and in the meantime he'll be just fine...
I just let him play for about 10 minutes while I stocked up on some sanity (coffee). Then I took his clothes off and rinsed him off in the bathroom sink. It's bath day, but I'm thinking he'll get that before his afternoon nap...you know, after he makes a mess of himself at lunch. The one I doubt he'll eat.
When Evan was just a few days old, my doula came to check in on us and said something to me that has become my mantra as a mother. She said to try to enjoy all the moments, whether they were good or not, because they go by so quickly. "This, too, shall pass". And boy was she right! When Evan finally started sleeping through the night, we went through a phase where he decided to get up and cry at 4 or 5 in the morning. But it passed and we were back to sleeping 'well'. There was a time when he would just snuggle with us in the morning, but once he learned to crawl we couldn't keep him still. Every phase, good or bad, will pass quickly...
Which brings me to our current phase: eat? no thanks! We just started to transition him onto cow's and almond milk (both because almond milk doesn't contain enough of the fat that babies need), and I've been mixing formula into it as well. So I know he is still getting good nutrients. But, geez, this kid is just not interested. He will eat fruit all day, and drink anything I'm drinking, but forget everything else! I know, this is a phase and "this, too, shall pass". This is what I keep telling myself now - he will eventually eat and I will not be sent away for starving my child! I have proof that I try:
I just let him play for about 10 minutes while I stocked up on some sanity (coffee). Then I took his clothes off and rinsed him off in the bathroom sink. It's bath day, but I'm thinking he'll get that before his afternoon nap...you know, after he makes a mess of himself at lunch. The one I doubt he'll eat.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)