WW: Mama and Cub

too soon

This little girl left the world too early yesterday.  The only comfort in these moments is that she is now pain free and in a much better place. 

Hug your babies and loved ones closer tonight, and send some of that energy out to Paxten's family.

Bless you, sweet girl!

walking

Now, I'm all for following the child.  We breastfeed on demand, we do not let him cry it out at night, we pick him up and cuddle and respond.  We are committed to not being parents who rush their child or excessively praise him for completing tasks that are developmentally appropriate.  No "good job!" for rolling over.  No "good job!" for learning to crawl.  No "good job!" for learning how to feed himself.  Only "Yes, you're doing it!" or, "You should be proud of yourself!"  Nit-picky?  Probably.  How we're going to continue to parent?  Hell yes.

Here's the dilemma.  WALKING.

J has been pulling himself up to standing since he was nearly 6 months old.  We assumed that he'd not only be walking by 9 months but running!  Well assumptions are just that - ready to be debunked.  Here we are at 10 months and he cruises like a maniac and can stand unassisted when he is distracted.  But walking?  Nope, not yet.

But, man, this boy can bite it!  He can be happily cruising along furniture all lackadaisical.  Then he will remember that he's standing on his own two feet and BAM!  He's not only hit the floor, but his face hit everything on the way down.  2 shiners, my friend, has our child donned in the last 10 months of life.

So no, we will not rush his development.  We will not excessively praise him for things that naturally unfold.

But learning to walk?  In a coordinated fashion?  Sans black eye?  Letting Mama sigh with relief?

GOOD JOB, J!

GOOD JOB, GOOD JOB, GOOD JOB!

the time we spent $200 on toys

Sometime ago, I discussed the environment we prepare for J.  Based on Montessori principles, we want to provide organized, beautiful toys made from organic material depicting the real world. Unfortunately, this is not always easy to execute.

So much junk is marketed for children.  Without knowing any different, families purchase these cheap, unappealing toys because they are educational!  And fun!  With lights and music!  Our nanny, all with good intention, gave J the ugliest, most hideous piece of plastic that blares inaudible counting and letters.  He wasn't interested in it, to be honest, and it's shoved deep inside our closet.  

If you are anything like me, you frequent many online toy companies to see what is out there.  The affordable toys?  Crap.  The beautiful, handmade, gorgeous toys?  Yeah, no way can we buy those.  As a general rule, I avoid Toys&BabiesAreUhs.  A multitude of useless material is thrown into the face of parents without any purpose or need.  However, upon perusing the toy section online of this company, I found animal figurines made by the company Schleich:

OH. EM. GEE.  While they are plastic (sigh) they are beautiful and well-constructed.  What a great way for J to play, learn language, and be immersed in reality!  I wanted to buy them all but these, too, are expensive and T forced me to stop filling the cart at around $200.  

When the first of the animals arrived, I gave it to J.  Slowly, a huge grin emerged on his face and, using his pointer finger, he touched the nose of the animal.  Clearly, he approves.  He now crawls all around the house carrying one in his hand.  

Lastly?  They're patriotic!  I mean, c'mon.  Look!  A bald eagle!  Perched on the back of a golden retriever!  USA!  USA!  USA!  ( Okay, obviously I did that.  They're not really attached nor do they come together.  I'm just looking for shits and giggles. )

What toys are you comfortable purchasing and giving to your child?

Any amazing finds you wish to share with us all?

These opinions are solely my own and I have not been compensated by any brand or company.  However, I am not above that.  If you want to compensate me for an AMAZING review - let's talk!  :)

10 annoyances with a 10 month old

Oh no, no, no!  

You cannot look annoyed, little boy, for I'm about to list all of the ways that 

YOU annoy ME!

1.  When J is desperate for food, he cries out.  This escalates and I, holding his food just mere inches from his hand, wait until he's finished throwing his fit.  Much, much later, he calms and I hand him the food.  He then throws it on the floor.

2.  4am means it's time to crawl all over Mama while blowing raspberries and yanking hair.

3.  J has a piercing scream, with desperate and hysterical sobs.  Translation: "Pick me up!  Pick me up!  PICK. ME. UP!!!!!!!!"

4.  I pick up said child and he cries out, once more.  Translation: "Put me down!  Put me down!  PUT. ME. DOWN!!!!!!!!"

5. Repeat #3 and #4.  And repeat it again.

6.  Docile baby, playing calmly, crapping his pants.  Gently place him on his back for a diaper change and he immediately needs an exorcism.  While standing on the crown of his head, he barks, screeches, and cries.  All before a wipe gets near him... 

7.  Chewing and nursing.  Together.

8.  Upon cleaning the living room before bed - one book is placed on the shelf by me, 6 pulled off by J.

9.  Smiles and belly laughs for Papa.  Tears and separation anxiety for Mama.

10.  "Graduating" from the spit-up stage, until Mama is out the door for a ridiculously important meeting and is finally looking professional.  "E, you have something?  On your shoulder?"

Blue-eyed Baby

One of the great joys of pregnancy comes through in the daydreams.  What will our child look like?  Will he have your nose and my ears?  Will he smile like his grandmother or have long toes like his grandfather?

Despite the daydreaming and our knowledge of family dominant traits ("Everyone on our side of the family has a dimple in their left cheek!"), the child rarely looks anything like one could have ever imagined.

Case in point: J.
Eyes - T and I have starkly brown eyes.  J has eyes the blue only seen in the sky on a late-autumn evening.

Hair color - T and I have brown hair.  Mine is a bit lighter and T's hair is quite dark.  J has blonde hair!  (Although, in J's defense, so did T when he was an infant).
Hair texture - All right, clearly this was going to go one way or another.  But I have very thick, fine hair.  T's hair is curly and more textured.  J?  Downy soft and curly.  SWOON.  I am shocked and thankful.  I die over it.

Basically, J is nothing I imagined but everything that makes him a part of us.  And this, my friends, is so incredible.

Were you surprised with the traits that your baby inherited?  
Do you have more than one child? Do they look similar or nothing alike? 
Do tell!

Sleeping Habits @ 10 months

A while back I talked about "STTN" and how it seems to be such a status of excellent childrearing when a baby does this for the first time.  In fact, the earlier he/she sleeps through the night, the better a parent you are!

J is not sleeping through the night.  Unless you consider going back to sleep immediately after nursing or cuddling STTN.  I don't know what I call it other than fine with us!  He goes to bed around 6:30p and wakes around 11p-12a.  Almost always, a gentle back rub or a quick cuddle will pacify him.  He then awakes around 3a and will not go back to sleep without nursing.  He is then up for the day at 6a.

Our interesting living arrangements, with a shared bedroom, make some of our nighttime routines (ahem!) and schedules a little strange.  J goes to sleep on his own bed and joins us in ours anywhere between 2a-4a.  We almost always wake up together.  Being that J is approaching his first birthday and, frankly, getting big enough to be irritating as he kicks, moves, cuddles, talks and yanks hair throughout his slumber, it's about time.  We're slowly trying to encourage him to return to his bed after he awakens.  This is getting easier the more consistent we are.  It's hard, however, to quietly climb into our bed without making too much noise to awaken him ourselves.  This too, needs to change.  (TIME TO MOVE!!!!)

Choosing to put him down on a floor bed gives him a lot of freedom which we absolutely adore.  When he wakes up from his naps, he climbs out of his bed and makes his way to the living room where we are.  Nothing is better than hearing your little man and his hands slapping on the hardwood as he crawls down the hallway.  Then, just as he peeks his head around the corner, he flashes a big, groggy, dopey grin that just slays me!  But nighttime - keeping him in his bed for the duration is something we are still working on.  Perhaps when he realizes he doesn't need to nurse, things will improve.

For now?  We're rested.  We're happy.  HE's happy.  And we're making the right decisions in raising a joyful, inquisitive, secure, and loved little boy.

 "Mama!  I have some important work going on with this TV remote.  

Do not distract me!"

It all

I have not been around lately due to some unforeseen family and life changes.  Blogging fell to the wayside (sorry 'bout it!) but I hope to pick up where I left off...and then some.

• I quit my job.
• We fired our nanny.
• Our student debt to income ratio is...terrifying.  Job changes do not help.
• As of March 1, I am a SAHM(ish).  I always wanted this.
• I am a SAHM.  Who wants to make a (happy hour) playdate? 
• My "baby" is 10 months old.  Double digits accompanied by SO. MUCH. PERSONALITY!

I missed you all.  I hope to reengage in this blogosphere dialogue soon!  Do not fret, I'll photo dump soon.