On the Bookshelf: Books for Valentine's Day

So, it's been a long, long time since I did an "On the Bookshelf" post, and I intended on posting this last weekend, you know, before Valentine's Day, but I suppose it doesn't matter much as we all love our little ones year-round, not just on February 14th. 

Won't You Be My Kissaroo? by Joanne Ryder
This book was a birthday gift from a friend.  It talks about the different kisses that can be given through the day.  We like giving The Bean lots of kisses when we read it to him.  

You Are My Sunshine by Caroline Jayne Church  
Illustrations accompany the lyrics to the song.  I often sing You Are My Sunshine to The Bean, so I kind of like this one for that reason.  My big complaint about this illustrator (she also illustrated the following two books) is that almost all her drawings are of Caucasian children.  There's one black child in this book, but if it weren't for the hair, it'd be hard to tell.   

How Do I Love You? by Marion Dane Bauer
I really like this book.  It features vibrant illustrations of a little girl and goes through a list of similes comparing various things to how the reader loves their baby.  The last line reads, "I love all that you will be, and everything you are."  Very sweet.     

I Love You Through and Through by Bernadette Rossetti-Shustak 
Another cutesy book saying all the things the reader loves about their baby.  This one features a little boy.  Kinda' nice for us mamas with boys.  

Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney
I've heard people say how much they hate this book because Big Nutbrown Hare seems to have to one-up Little Nutbrown Hare each time Little says how much he loves Big, but I still think it's cute.  I also like that it features male characters.  When my dear friend had a baby boy via surrogate, this was one of the few books I found NOT featuring a mother with their baby.   

I Love You by Karma Wilson
This book tells babies about all the things the reader loves about them.   Unlike the books illustrated by Caroline Jayne Church, this book clearly features babies of different ethnicities.  I like that. 

Hugaboo, I Love You by Hans Wilhelm
At a year old, The Bean is a little young for this book since the pages are thin and easily rip-able.  We haven't read it too many times.  Each page has a fold out of a different animal giving their baby a hug.   

Peekaboo Kisses by Barney Saltzberg
This book was a gift from a friend.  It was one of her daughter's favourite books when she was small.  It's cute.  Each page has a fold out "peek a boo" featuring a touch-and-feel animal.  The last page has a mirror and reads, "Peekabook, I see... YOU!"  My biggest complaint is that almost each touch-and-feel page is faux fur and  I prefer it when the pages have different textures.  Still a cute book though.

What are the favourite love/Valentine's Day books in your home?  

What Makes a Baby

Maybe some of you have seen this already, but I hadn't.  There's a guy working on a book called What Makes a Baby.  



It looks like he's received the backing he needs.  I can't wait to get a copy to add to our home library!

{this moment}

Wordless Wednesday: My Sister's Baby Shower

 

 

  

BFN

Two home tests and an early period make it pretty obvious that our first TTC#2 attempt was not successful.  With everything that's been going on work-wise and the stress I've been under we've decided to take a break this cycle and so I can try to get a bit more settled emotionally before trying again, hopefully in March.  I'm disappointed, but I'm not surprised. 

Thirteen Months Old!

The Bean is thirteen months old!

-He is starting to walk.  It started off as I imagine it usually does, just a step here and a step there, but has now turned into five or more steps in a row with a clear intent of getting somewhere.  When he falls he usually gives up and crawls, but not always.

-He continues to be a good eater.  Crackers and hummus are a big hit.  As are mini-bagels.  To be honest, he seems to enjoy most things that are starchy or sweet, but he also eats good dose of veggies and yogurts and other things too.  He seems to be over his aversion to meat and usually gets it about two times a week now. 

-His bottom teeth beside his incisors did come in (first the left one, then the right) but he is still working on the eye teeth.  Really his gums are just a lumpy bumpy mess right now.  I'm doubtful that teething will ever end.  He hasn't been nearly as fussy as he was when the first few were coming through though, so that's a bonus. 

-The babbling is incessant.  Well, not really incessant, but there's definitely a lot of it.  It's super-cute when he chatters away on our drive home from his daycare.  Jen and I also swear that he's said a few words clear as day, but only once.  For example, "treat" when I was holding up a treat trying to get him to walk over to me and "mommy" when we were out and he saw Jen.  It's freaky.

-He loves, loves, LOVES his RadioFlyer tricycle.  We push him around the apartment in it and have taken it outside once.  I have a feeling it'll get a lot of mileage this spring and summer.

-He's become quite the little fishy.  It seems he's becoming increasingly comfortable in swim class.  It's true that he's always loved the water, but he'll now "float" on his back and "swim" underwater for increasing amounts of time, coming up with a big smile.

-He loves people, but is also happy to play on his own.  He's been keeping himself very busy cooking up a storm with his pots and pans and working on putting things in and out of various boxes and baskets. 

-He is still very happy at daycare.  Everyone there seems to love him.  The provider tells us almost daily that he is such a good baby.   We're so happy we found this place.  He is all smiles when we pick him up at the end of the day and and reaches for his provider when we are leaving. 

-He's mostly in his 12 month clothes now.  Pants are 6-12 months still, but tops are mostly 12.  I don't think I'll ever fully understand baby sizing as there are still the odd 3 month (!) tops in the mix.  Bizarre.

It feels less and less like we have a baby and more and more like we have a toddler these days.  It's wonderful to witness his emerging personality.  We really couldn't love this little guy any more than we do!

{this moment} Baking

Wordless Wednesday: New Ride

 

Photo Challenge 2012

After getting my new camera at the beginning of the month, I decided I'd give Insert Metaphor and An Offering of Love's 2012 Photography Project a try. 

January's theme was "you /self-portraits /home".  I didn't take any photos of myself, but I did walk around our place, trying to capture some of the things that make it feel like "home" to me... small treasures, books, art, warm light, cozy places. 

Enjoy!

 

 

What I didn't blog about

So, what I didn't blog about last week is that on Sunday we did my first IUI attempt.  After getting the Very Bad News, we spent Friday and Saturday thinking hard about whether to go ahead with the insemination or not, but ultimately decided to try.  We agreed that if we decided to put things on hold because of my layoff we could end up  waiting a long time for it to be the "right" time again.  While the situation could be better, we will manage.  In some ways, getting pregnant now (or soon) could be better than putting it off in terms of my work situation.

I've been wavering back and forth between thinking that the insemination worked and thinking that there's no way it could have worked with the stress that I've been under.  (On Tuesday my body literally started shaking when some of my co-workers were talking to me about the situation.)  Even though we're trying to watch our spending now more than ever, I think I will pick up a pregnancy test when I go out grocery shopping and try to wait until Wednesday (10 days post-insemination) to take it.  Please keep your fingers crossed for us that we have a tough and sticky little baby in there.