Taylor- 4 Months

Filed Under Being a Mom, Four Months Old- Taylor, Sleep | 1 Comment

Fuzzman Wuzzman,

I love you so much. You are the best little boy in the whole world. Your crazy crying stage has ended and it is so fun to see the happy, easy-going baby you are becoming. You are content to sit on laps and watch the kids run circles around you. You have a huge gummy grin and bright blue eyes. Your hair has gotten a lot lighter since you were born and now is somewhere between dark blond and light brown. It’s coming in thicker in the front now but it’s still thin and soft enough that I can nuzzle my cheek against your head.

You aren’t a fan of sleeping on your own. In fact, you still sleep with mommy every night. I’ve made my peace with it and I enjoy having you close by- most of the time. You are my little snuggler, my little Fuzzle Wuzz. I know someday you will need to learn to sleep in your own bed, but I just don’t have it in me to let you cry alone in the dark. Oh and I should also mention that you HATE riding in the van after dark. You scream the entire ride. We are wondering if you hate the dark so much since you spent the first week of your life in blindingly bright NICU lights.

At your four month checkup, your doctor was very pleased with your growth. You moved from below the 5th percentile to 25% in weight (13 lbs 15 oz- if I had fed you before your checkup you would have broken the 14 lb mark!) and 10% in height- I think 23 1/2 inches but I need to double check. We talked about your milestones and at that point you were not grabbing and holding objects but now you are. You’ve developed so much just within the past week! You have great head and neck control, and during tummy time you can push up really high. She said you are a strong little guy! Since you are not showing a real interest in “people food” and you seem completely satisfied with nursing every few hours, we are going to hold off until closer to six months before introducing baby food.

Just wanted to include a few pictures from the past few weeks. I love you love you love you.

Mommy

(Yes I know this is HUGE on him but we were excited about the World Cup!)

My brain is drained

Filed Under Diapers/Potty, Difficult Stuff, Into Everything, Sleep, Slinging, Three Years Old, Two Months- Taylor | 2 Comments

I feel like I need to tell you why I haven’t really been blogging– just posting pictures with a few captions here and there. It’s because when I finally get to sit down, I usually don’t have both hands free. And I get sick of typing with one hand. My brain is tired, but I’ve been getting enough sleep. (Shocking, right? I really have though). My brain is tired because of what happens during my awake hours.

I have a very feisty three-year-old who flat out refuses to go potty. We actually attempted potty training last week, as recommended by our pediatrician. It basically resulted in my child peeing everywhere but the toilet, mostly on purpose, throwing wet undies, and telling me she was NOT going to go potty. In her words, “It’s just for other girls.” Can we say strong willed? We have also had a few incidents involving spitting, kicking, squeezing her brother’s face, and just general disobedience. Oh, and let’s not forget that she dumped the entire thing of fish food into the aquarium, clogging the filter and requiring and emergency evacuation from the tank. Because I had nothing better to do that afternoon. When we were at the store she grabbed a barcode scanner and tried to play “store lady.” She has also recently climbed onto the countertop and played with the dish soap and colored with a sharpie, as pictured here.

Taylor likes to be held all.the.time… he is starting to like other people besides just me, so that is refreshing. Although I’m still his favorite (and I secretly hope I always am!) but he is just a much needier baby than Bailey was. He wants constant comforting and bouncing and eye contact. Until last week he was almost inconsolable unless he was nursing. We finally figured out that he was actually uncomfortable and not just being a pain. Yes it took me nine weeks to realize that, and yes I feel guilty. So he started on Mylanta last week and it has made a world of difference. He still wants to be held but at least he is pleasant while being held and not screaming or fussing. But basically I have a constant companion. He nurses anywhere from every two to three hours during the day, but more like every hour in the evening. He’s cute though, isn’t he?

A few days ago it was SO bad though. Bailey was screaming, he was screaming, the house was trashed… I sat down in the kitchen and cried and called my mom. She came and rescued me and it was wonderful- but sometimes I feel like I am not cut out to be a mom. I just honestly suck at it sometimes. I love my kids like crazy but between the two of them it’s just exhausting emotionally.

At night, he sleeps with me so I have no idea how often he nurses. Honestly, we go to bed and get up eight hours later. Sometime during the night I know that he eats, and we flip over so he can eat on the other side as well. I know sometimes he goes longer than others because sometimes I leak and other times I don’t. But I think it’s all subconscious for both of us- it’s just like an instinct. I know that sometimes I feel his feet starting to move next to me and then I snuggle up next to him so he can eat and then we are both back asleep before I know it. Eight weeks ago, this was making me crazy. I had never planned to co sleep. But we get such good sleep, and I can function normally during the day. Someday I will worry about getting him into his own bed. (Yes, he does sleep there on occasion for an hour or so). It’s amazing how I am such a different mother with him, because he is such a different child.

All this to say, when I have my hands free, it is probably my only free half hour in a 24 hour period. Or Jonathon is holding Taylor so I can get something ready to ship, or I am making dinner. Taylor likes the Baby Bjorn but it’s not practical to have him in there all day. The sling makes me crazy after a while. But this is our life for now. I’m happy, just drained and so blogging is last on my list if it involves thinking.

Pre-birthday

Filed Under Bailey's Birthday, Clothes, Hair, One Month- Taylor, Sleep | 1 Comment

The day before Bailey’s birthday… also known as tax day… she rocked these red boots.

And this bow is from my friend Beth. Isn’t it cute? It coordinates with a shirt that Taylor is working on growing into

Her brother didn’t want to be left out. Actually, Mommy didn’t want him to be left out.

And here is my last picture of her as a two year old, taken at about 11:30 p.m. I had to kiss her one last time before she turned three! Silly, I know, but it’s crazy to see my baby growing up so fast. When I can pull my thoughts together about that, there will be a long third birthday post.

My sweet angel girl is three.

Confession Time

Filed Under Being a Mom, One Month- Taylor, Sleep | 2 Comments

I have to tell you why I haven’t had time to update lately. This baby? He’s SO needy. Not just normal newborn needy (or at least not like Bailey was as a newborn). He cannot cope with being put down. He doesn’t like to be held by anyone but me. Or my mom if he’s in a good mood. He will not sleep anywhere but in bed with me. He was sleeping in the swing but that’s a thing of the past. If I put him down when he’s not completely content or sound asleep he screams until he starts shaking. People ask “Is he a good baby?” Of course he’s good. Babies cannot be BAD- they don’t know how to misbehave. But I would definitely describe him as needy. I love him so much, though.

The distraught look on his face is because I put him down to take a picture… oh the injustice…

Three Weeks Old

Filed Under Being a Mom, Big Sister, NICU, Newborn- Taylor, Sleep, Two and a half years old | 1 Comment

I can’t believe my little guy is three weeks old already. It seems like he has been home forever, but it has only been two weeks. It also seemed like our hospital/NICU stay was a lifetime ago. I will never forget those days, but they are not in the forefront of my mind anymore. I don’t lean close to make sure he’s breathing quite as often as I used to.

Taylor is such a good baby. He just likes to be held ALL THE TIME. Some people say to quit “spoiling” him, but honestly he has no idea what spoiled means. He is not “manipulating” me. He wants to be loved and to feel secure. I am not going to deny my child of that. He has been through a lot. Maybe I appreciate him more because of what we went through. Maybe I am making up for all the snuggles we couldn’t have during the first week. Yes, I do get tired of holding him. But I will not just let him scream as he sits by himself in a bouncy seat. His little chin quivers and he wails and then when he finds me back with his eyes, and he hears my voice, he calms down. It’s nice to be able to make someone so happy with just my presence.

We are having a rough time with sleeping. He does not like to lay flat in his own bed, alone, to sleep. He sleeps in three places: His swing (thanks again Kelli!), his bouncy seat, or in bed next to me. I am not a huge fan of cosleeping, honestly. I would rather not have someone nipping at me and rooting around all night. But if it means that I can actually be somewhat relaxing and somewhat resting, it’s worth it. Unfortunately, Jonathon is sleeping in the living room in the meantime because he is afraid of smushing the baby.

Bailey is still doing MOSTLY very well with him. She does have her jealous/mean moments though. For example, she figured out that she can push his bouncy seat down, and it will pop back up and make his head flop around. Lovely. I have been trying to give her extra grace and extra love, but she has also been having a lot of time outs because there are certain lines that we won’t let her cross. Overall, though, she really loves him and wants to constantly hug and kiss on him. The biggest problem is usually that she won’t leave him alone!

Tuesday Toot- Should I Even be Proud?

Filed Under Are you kidding me?, Diapers/Potty, Second Pregnancy, Sleep, Tuesday Toot, Two and a half years old | 3 Comments

So I’m supposed to talk about an accomplishment, something I’m proud of, etc.

Should I mention that I functioned all day on just three hours of sleep (thank you horrible gas pains, I thought I was in labor! I have honestly never felt anything quite like this. Jonathon finally went to the store at 2 a.m. to get me Gas-X.)

Or that I cleaned poop out of Bailey’s bed this morning? After listening to her yell “Mom! Come in here! You hear me? I need you to come in!” I thought she just woke up early and told her to go back to sleep. So I finally sent Jonathon in and he’s like “Help! There’s poop!” So I go in and she says, “Look at all the poops in my bed! There’s poops in my own bed!” And those little turdlets were all lined up and arranged. Nice.

Or should I tell you that I worked doing childcare this morning at church and I wish that my old co-teacher was still in my room with me? Long morning.

Or maybe I should just tell you that Bailey and I both got to take a three hour nap this afternoon

Allergy Meds

Filed Under Allergies, Complaining, Sleep, Two Years Old | 3 Comments

Bailey started on Cl@ritin last night after a visit to the pediatrician. We have had quite a few sleepless nights and crabby days (both of us) lately. Jonathon suggested that I sleep more at night… Um, so do I just let her cough and cry because obviously I am getting up to take care of her and not just play minesweeper on the computer at 2 a.m.

Anyway I have been tired lately and busy trying to get ready for the cruise. I hope to get some pictures uploaded soon from a wedding last weekend.

Video- no more crib!

Filed Under Sleep, Twenty-three Months, Video | 1 Comment

Just realized that I hadn’t shared this video of Bailey. It was during the saga of moving her into her big girl bed, about a month ago. Here we had taken apart the crib and she was supposed to be sleeping on just a mattress for the first time. You can see how much energy she has- that is about average for her if that gives you any idea of what I do all day long!

Oh and sorry that it’s sideways. I took it on my regular camera instead of the video camera and I couldn’t figure out how to rotate the file so you’ll just have to turn your head!

Bailey’s Big Girl Bed

Filed Under Milestones, Sleep, Twenty-three Months | 1 Comment

Oh I did not think I would be saying this any time soon. Bailey climbed out of her bed. I know, she’s almost two… but she used to LOVE her crib and never tried to get out. My girl is growing up! On Friday 4/10 at naptime she climbed out of her crib. She said, “Beelay fall. Crying.” Once Jonathon put her back in she was fine and slept there but then got out at the end of nap and knocked on her door to be let out.

Well, Friday night she wanted NOTHING to do with her crib and kept getting out so I had Jonathon take it apart. Thinking she would just sleep on the mattress on the floor. Then she cried and asked him to fix her crib, and completely freaked out over it. So he put the crib back together and took the front off so that it was like a toddler bed. After crying for a few minutes she went to sleep on her rug. Then Saturday at nap same thing, and I moved her onto the mattress on her floor. Saturday night same thing. Sunday she slept on the wooden part of the crib, the flat board the mattress rests on. Sunday night she willingly slept on the mattress. Monday nap she slept SITTING UP next to her crib with her head resting on the wooden part, for over an hour!

On Monday night we brought the toddler Dora bed home from my parents house to use. She got in it willingly and I sat next to her until she was pretty drowsy. I think she was just unsure about it and wanted some comfort with me there. Then today at nap she asked me to rock her and fell right asleep so I put her down. She is really doing pretty well in her bed so I think it’s just a matter of her getting used to falling asleep in it on a regular basis now.

Her crib is packed up in the storage room One more step toward being a big girl.

I hate snow, I really do

Filed Under Play, Sick, Sleep, Twenty-One Months | 1 Comment

Seriously, I hate being stuck at home because of snow. But I also hate driving in snow/ice. I don’t know which is worse. So I am sitting here being grouchy about it. Jonathon is going to be home from work tomorrow so at least I will have company. I need to sit and list some things on eBay too so hopefully he will give me some free time.

In the meantime, I will share some pictures of my child. She’s currently obsessed with playing in the bathroom. I wish she would use that obsession to learn how to go potty, but that’s not the case. Just playing, playing, playing.

Oh and a little follow up on B’s cough- it got really bad on Saturday night and I brought her in to sleep with us. She was coughing in her sleep but it was keeping me awake, so I thought it might help if she could sleep with her head propped up against me. She did much better and it was kind of nice and snuggly to have her in bed with us. She even put her arm around my neck for a while. Apparently she also kicked Jonathon a lot because somehow she ended up with her feet by his face. I asked if we could have her sleep with us again the next night. He said that she could sleep in bed with me but that he would sleep downstairs. So, she is back in her own bed. We didn’t go to church on Sunday morning. I was so worn out from a long day Saturday and then being up off and on with her during the night.

My friend Jen (who is a chiropractor) adjusted us both on Sunday night. Bailey has coughed ONCE since then. Could it be possible that getting adjusted is like the new miracle drug? We have been Benadryl free, coughing free since then.

Longest Nap Ever

Filed Under Seventeen Months, Sleep | 4 Comments

Bailey slept today from 1:15 to about 4:45. I know some of you have kids who do that regularly, but Bailey has always been a good night sleeper and crappy napper. It was amazing to have a THREE HOUR BREAK this afternoon!

So Sweepy

Filed Under Sixteen Months, Sleep | 2 Comments

Thanks to Bailey, who woke up SEVEN times during the night last night, and four the night before. The first time, we fell for it. She sounded panicked and wanted to rock. Then we realized that every time she turned over she wanted us to come back in and rock her back to sleep. Not gonna happen. I hate letting her cry but there is NO WAY we are falling into this trap. I also think her teeth are bugging her but she has had Tylenol. Please cross your fingers that she sleeps better tonight!

Ni-Night Muffie

Filed Under Fifteen Months, Sleep | 2 Comments

Every night/nap before we put Bailey to bed we sing the “Ni-night Muffie Song”

Ni night, Muffie
Ni night, Muffie
Ni night, Muffie
It’s time to go to sleep.

Crappy Napper

Filed Under Baby Gear, Sleep, Ten Months | 7 Comments

20 minutes this morning, 40 this afternoon. If I try to buckle her into her bouncy seat in front of a Baby Einstein video for a few more minutes of peace, this is what happens: