Friday, April 26, 2013

{this moment} smiles


A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.


Inspired by SouleMama.

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Sprout is Four Months Old!

Today Sprout is four months old!


Look at this sunshine baby!

-Sprout continues to be an overall happy and easy going baby.  I think we're getting pretty good at reading her tired cues, and we try to be respectful of them, putting her down when she asks.  Really, we're all happier this way.

-She will still fall asleep in the Ergo when we're out and about if the hood is up, but she is getting to the point where she doesn't want to miss anything.  This is also starting to cause some difficulty nursing when we're out.  She gets very distracted wanting to look around rather than eat until her tummy is nice and full.

-Her schedule hasn't changed much over the past month.  She usually wakes up around 6:30/7:00am and naps for about 45 minutes every 1.5-2 hours.  We put her to be around 7:30/8:00pm, but she wakes up every 2 or 3 hours overnight and nurses.  It's tiring and I totally get jealous when people talk about their similarly-aged-children sleeping 4 or 5 hours or even through the night (inconceivable!) but at least I know what to expect.

-We've tried to give her a pacifier (two different kinds) to see if that would help her cycle for longer sleep times, but she won't take them.  She ends up chewing on them or just pushing them out of her mouth with her tongue.


-She also won't take a bottle, but we're trying to give one to her more often (well, Jen is) in the hopes that she'll get the hang of it.  I've started pumping some evenings to build up a stored milk supply.


-She is very obviously thriving.  She weighed in at 16.3lbs and is 25.4in.  Top percentiles again.

-She is now in 3-6m tops and 6m pants (cloth diaper bum!).  There are some exceptions since baby clothing sizing is terribly inconsistent  but overall these sizes seem to be working.  Disposable diapers are size 3.

-Her looks haven't changed much.  Her hair is growing in more, so the hawk is not always as noticeable.  Her hair colour is a dark auburny-brown.  Her eyes are still light and look bluish but may go green.  It's hard to tell.  Her skin is pale, but she has nice rosy cheeks.

-And oh those cheeks!  They are so lovely and round.  Especially when she smiles.  And she is full of smiles for people talking to her and being silly with her.  She loves it when we "run" her legs, give her kisses on her neck, sing to her (The Grand Old Duke of York is a new favourite), or hold her up and shake her.

-Her dislikes are pretty limited, but loud noises and her brother falling on top of her seem to top the list.

-We've been going to a city run music class on Monday afternoons which she seems to be enjoying.  I think she likes the songs and she seems pretty intrigued by the other babies.  There's no class in May though, so we're going to start a different program and see how it goes.

-Most days that the weather has been nice I've been taking her for a walk in the morning.  I usually strap her into the Ergo and off we go for a half hour or an hour.  Sometimes we see if my sister and her son want to come along.  Sometimes we pop by my aunt's and visit with her and my Nana.  But a most of the time the two of us just walk around the neighbourhood chatting about the things we see.

-I try to get us out at least one other day a week.  Often we just run errands, but it's nice when we see friends.  I know it's really more for me that Sprout at this point, but that's okay.  I need some stimulation too.

-She likes to look at herself in the mirror on her playmat and grabs for the toys that hang from it.  She also holds the O-ball and tries to get it into her mouth.  She's not terribly interested in many toys.

- She still can't quite roll over, but gets onto her side pretty consistently.  She is increasingly tolerant of tummy time, perhaps even enjoying it on occasion.  Her head control is getting better and better.

-We're okay to start trying her on food at any point now, but are holding off because she doesn't seem to have the tongue control down yet.

In other words she's doing all the usual four month old stuff.  Even though we've been through it before, it is still such a joy and a wonder to see her grow, interact, and learn new things everyday!

Friday, April 19, 2013

{this moment} puddles

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.


Inspired by SouleMama.

Note: I typically don't edit my photos apart from the occasional crop --what do you guys think?  Does it look good or do you think it would be better if I had left it alone?


Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Vulnerability

Despite the title, this was meant to be an optimistic post.  I was truly touched by everyone who reached out after my post about post partum depression.  It wasn't something that was easy for me to share, but doing so made me feel a little lighter.  A little less sad. 

Just after posting it I saw this TED Talk.  It resonated.  I felt even further convinced that sharing had been the right thing to do and that I was on my way to feeling okay again. 

But I don't think it's going to be that easy.  This weekend was bad.  It should have been a lovely weekend.  We had lots of wonderful things going on.  But it seemed like everything I did I f*ed up.  My best friend was visiting.  But even with her here, most of the time I still felt like we were hundreds of miles apart.  Like there was nothing I had to say that she would be interested in. 

The Bean has become a major procrastinator around bedtime and we've been trying to be more firm, but last night when he was calling out to us, I went into his room and rocked him.  I needed to feel his arms around me and his head heavy on my shoulder.  I needed it more than he did, even though he was the one asking to be rocked.  I'm so thankful for these children, because though I've felt overwhelmed recently, they anchor me.  They remind me to focus on this moment.  I find reassurance in their unsolicited "I love you Mamas" and milky smiles. 

The apartment is a mess.  There are multiple loads of laundry that need to be done.  If I don't make it a priority, I am going to be behind on my course.  So, I should probably get to all that.  I just wanted to update quickly to say thank you.  I've been quieter than usual lately, and probably will be for a little while yet, but I'm reading along and will try to check in every once in a while still (with more than photos).

One final note: I didn't get the Kindergarten position I interviewed for.  No word from the other schools either.  There are few more postings I will apply for, but I'm feeling pretty discouraged. 

Friday, April 12, 2013

{this moment} best friend and baby

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.



Inspired by SouleMama.

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Easter (Photo Heavy)

This is a long overdue post.  I intended on writing about our trip/holiday right after we got back, but I've started an online course and it seems nap times have been consumed by reading and writing for it.  But I miss this space so I'm trying to figure out a way to work it in too.   

Easter in PA was lovely, as I expected it to be.  The drive there was a little rough.  We left at The Bean's bedtime, hoping that he would sleep in the car, as he's done in the past.  Well, Sprout slept pretty much the whole way (with breaks so I could nurse her) but The Bean, on the other hand,  was up until after 10pm (close to three hours past his bedtime/our departure).  It was fine for the first little bit, but when he got tired and was asking me to take him out of his car seat, rock him, and eventually settling for me holding his hand, well, let's just say it was draining.  Of course, every time he did start to drop off, Sprout would begin making noise.  One of the times this happened, he said, "I know, Sprout.  I know."  I about died.  Even with that sweet moment, I'll push for a daytime departure next time.  (The drive home was MUCH easier.)  

He slept in on Friday morning and woke up excited to spend time with his Grandma and Grandpa.  Even though we live far from them we Skype with them every weekend and it makes a HUGE difference to The Bean's comfort level with them.  

Grandpa took him out the porch to swing, but that quickly turned into a walk to the pond out back.   (I followed them with the camera.)


I tease Jen about growing up in the country, while she firmly argues that it is a suburb.  Either way, it is so different from being in the city and I'm glad The Bean and Sprout will grow up having this place to visit.  There is something special about being away from the noise and lights.  About being able to go out and walk and be in nature.  It is a special place.  When growing up we spent time up north every summer and fall.  Even though that was much more "the country," where Jen is probably closer to the truth calling where her parents live the suburbs, it has a similar feeling to me.   



The Bean loved the geese at the pond, so Grandma had to take him back to feed them.  They went for a walk through along the wooded path and across the little stream.





Of course, Sprout was not forgotten.  She got a lot of hugs and snuggles from Grandpa and Grandma.  She also got to meet a bunch of friends and extended family for the first time, including her great-grandparents.  Everyone was pretty smitten with her.  (And everyone commented on how big she is!)  






Seeing as it was Easter, we did some Easter-related stuff.  This is the first year that The Bean has really understood what is going on in terms of holidays and it was a lot of fun to see him get excited about things.  On Saturday afternoon we coloured eggs with him.  They were supposed to be tye dye, but the tye dye didn't really work so they were just coloured eggs that he drew on with a marker.




The Easter Bunny came and hid the eggs that night.  The Bean had such fun finding them in the morning and was very excited about his Easter basket.  I would have been too!  Seriously, I think the Easter bunny has stepped up his game since I was kid.  The littles were spoiled with clothes, books, and lots of chocolate for The Bean.  (Mama and Mommy got some got some chocolate from the Easter Bunny too.  Mmm.)





It was a really nice weekend away and a lovely way to spend the holiday.  I hope that we're able to continue some of the traditions we are beginning next year and in the years to come.


Speaking of traditions, both The Bean and Sprout have bunny toys that they were given by friends shortly after their births.  I've taken a photo of The Bean with his every Easter, I'm hoping to do the same for Sprout.




I know this is extremely belated, but I hope everyone also enjoyed their holidays and is looking forward to the warmer months.  After another snowfall today, I know I am.

Friday, April 5, 2013

{this moment} geese!

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.


Inspired by SouleMama.