Thursday, January 22, 2009

We've finally found a loser....and one small victory for mom

well, i didn't get a chance to take a photo of Chewie venturing into the world of pureed broccoli, mainly due to the choking, gagging, screaming, spitting and crying that came along with it.

Broccoli = No go.

Well, we'll try again at supper and see how we do... i tellsya, for a kid who will quite happily eat my hair by the handful, he sure has opinions about broccoli.

Also, the night before last i finally reached that point of frustration with the whole getting up at 1am, and then 4 am and then 7am garbage. I realized, as i made my way across the hall: "I am sick of this!" and so, last night B-rad and i made the decision to let Chewie cry. It sucked. But, it wasn't as bad as i thought it would be. It's not like he's not used to crying out in his crib. Hell, that's how i put him down for a nap every time! So, he fussed and cried, and just as B-rad and i were deciding whether or not to give in and go get him, he stopped. and it was quiet.

we did it. and he really only cried for 15-20 minutes tops. i thought that i'd have to go through it all over again at 4am, but while i was waking from terrible nightmares all night, my little baby slept like an angel until 7, which is his normal wakeup time.

With this tiny victory, i worry about tonight... it seems i'm never blessed with two victories in a row. wish me luck.

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Thank the Gods for Grandmas

Nights with a cranky teething baby has really shown me that I am thankful for:

  • My mother, who lives 25 minutes away
  • My husband who recognized that his wife needed some support
  • My husband who called my mother Saturday morning when he had to go out to his parents acreage to help build the house
  • My mother, who without batting an eye, came into the city to spend the day with me and Chewie.
  • My mother, who never commented on the lack of general housekeeping when she arrived
  • My mother, who rolled up her sleeves and cleaned my house with a baby on her hip so i could just put my head down on the couch and rest.
When B-rad told me he was going to call my mom to come in and hang out with me, i began to protest and he said: "This is why we moved back home, isn't it? for the family support? if you can't ask for help now, when can you?" He's a wise man, that B-rad

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Peas Please

Oh, the joys of solid food!

I'm quite impressed the way you've taken to your veggies. You get excited about the food, and you are so impatient, grabbing my hand and pulling the spoon to your mouth. Yay for Food!!




Tuesday, January 13, 2009

sigh.

nights like tonight are hard.

I took Chewie for his six month vaccinations this morning, bright and early. It just kept going down hill from there. First of all, i had to wake him up to take him to the clinic... and you're NOT SUPPOSED TO WAKE A SLEEPING BABY! especially when he had a particularly rough night. he probably would have slept another hour or two, if not for his appointment.

But, i got him up, got him all bundly snug in his car seat, and ventured out to discover that it had snowed a good 10 cm or more over night and the roads were STUPID.

We got to the clinic even before the nurse did.

His initial reaction was good, as far as baby reactions go. He cried for a few seconds, and then got distracted by something.

We went home, he had a snooze, and then all hell broke loose. From noon onwards, he became the super clingy baby, and absolutely refused to be put down for any reason. He was feeling feverish and i'm sure he was feeling pretty shitty, so i let it slide.

All day he's been like this, poor little guy, and teething to top it all off nicely.

i just want to wrap him in a cloud of cuddles and make it all go away for him.

But that's not how tonight is going to play out.

This is Bedtime version 5 right now. Dad is in there rocking him back and forth singing "The Wall" to him. Hopefully it sticks, at least for a few hours.

Tomorrow will be better.

Monday, January 12, 2009

Sweet Potato Pie!! (without the Pie)

Today Chewie got his first taste of solid (well, somewhat solid) food.... Sweet Potato Puree made at home by yours truly. pssst... the secret ingredament is Love. ;)


Mmm, this looks tasty mom!


It IS! It IS tasty!!


I love Sweet Potatoes.

Monday, January 5, 2009

Six Months

Dear Chewie,

Has it been six months already? Hard to believe that only half a year ago you were making your way into the world - whether we were ready for you or not.

I'm happy to report that you are progressing along quite nicely in line with your corrected age, which is 4 months. Some new discoveries this month include being able to grasp your toys in your hands, but also to be able to hold on to them and bring them to your mouth! And there is no shortage of toys around this place, but even so, your favourite toy is a soft red barn that crinkles when you hold it. You love to make sounds, another discovery this month is the AMOUNT of noise you can make!

Not just crying, but cooing, and blowing bubbles, and babbling, and you've been working on the sound "oo". Boo, Oo, Doo, Pooo. You have also discovered the sounds you can make by scratching the surfaces around you, your change table, or mom's sheets. And you enjoy slamming your hand down on the table when you sit in our laps. So adorable, like you're calling to order some kind of Baby Meeting.


Another fun activity in our house these days is Peek a Boo. You've recently figured out how much fun it is. At first, I tried to play Peek a Boo with you, but you didn't really care for it, until i made YOU the peeker. Once i started covering you with the blanket, you thought it was pretty funny, and just in the last week or so you've been able to transfer peek a boo from you to those around you. Just watching your face change from confusion when we disappear to pure delight when we come back is priceless.

You haven't quite made it all the way over - as far as rolling, although your Grandma M says you rolled over for her i haven't seen it. You come very close, and it's only a matter of time. The stronger you get, the more you try sitting up, and you are getting better at tummy time and will last almost five minutes on your belly before screaming. Good for you.



Your first Christmas came and went relatively quietly. This is mostly because of the surgery i had to have my gallbladder removed - so we were pretty lowkey, which is probably best. There was about a week of long days, interrupted naptimes, bedtime schedule thrown out completely, and with the teething on top of that (still no teeth), some very unhappy moments. But along with those unhappy moments were the smiles that made it all worth while.

You are becoming more and more aware of the environment around you. With longer, more regular naps, you have more periods of being awake.

I just can't even express how much i love you, little man. You have changed my life completely, for the better. Whoever said that having a baby is like watching your heart walk around outside your body had it spot on.

Yes, i am more exhausted than i have ever been, i haven't had a good night sleep in half a year, the laundry is constantly backed up, i haven't seen my bedroom floor in ages, i constantly smell like baby puke, i haven't worn clean clothes in six months... but it's all been worth it.

Love you Forever,
Mamma
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