... so I tried to get it on video. That didn't work too well the first time. What a cheese ball.
But then he did. And you'll see why at the end. Told ya so.
That's right, he won't crawl to his mom, but he'll crawl to the cat.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Friday, June 6, 2008
"Where you lead, I will follow..."
Guess who is crawling? Yup, he's finally gotten it figured out. And, as previously mentioned, this is due to Xander's need to pet Ainsley. She came in and flopped down on the floor. Xander saw her and got up, moved the arms, scootched up the knees and kept on going all the way across the floor. Not very coordinated yet, but he'll work on it.
And when he got to her, Aisnley promptly moved. Xander followed her some more and this time scored a fist full of fur for his efforts. Ainsley then sought the safety of the couch.
Xander also is mastering sitting up. We could set him down in a sitting position, but he would never stay very long because he wants to move and touch. So now he has figured out how to get from his hands and knees to back up onto his rump.
I remember when I was pregnant and my side was all sore and crampy from him kicking me just below the right ribs and I wondered "Is this a sign of how active he'll be?" Yeah. He is even not liking the jumperoo because he can't move as much as he'd like.
In other news, more baby proofing is in order. At least he has good taste in videos.
And when he got to her, Aisnley promptly moved. Xander followed her some more and this time scored a fist full of fur for his efforts. Ainsley then sought the safety of the couch.
Xander also is mastering sitting up. We could set him down in a sitting position, but he would never stay very long because he wants to move and touch. So now he has figured out how to get from his hands and knees to back up onto his rump.
I remember when I was pregnant and my side was all sore and crampy from him kicking me just below the right ribs and I wondered "Is this a sign of how active he'll be?" Yeah. He is even not liking the jumperoo because he can't move as much as he'd like.
In other news, more baby proofing is in order. At least he has good taste in videos.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Two Cats and a Baby
Roughly a year ago we began preparing Ainsley and Min for the bundle of joy that would join us. When we moved into the new house, we made Peanut's room off limit by shutting the door. When we began assembling and arranging furniture, there were mouse traps and rebukes to steer them away. Heck, I've read several places that we should have put up a screen door to the baby's room so that they could see and smell, but wouldn't go in and try to suck his soul out by sitting on him. Yeah, we didn't do the screen door.
For their part, Ainsley and Min have dealt pretty well. There was sniffing and avoidance for the first few months. There was glaring and stalking away the next few months when Xander would cry. Occasionally there would be some turf issues when I had found a cat snuggled into the bassinet. Min maintains this path, but Ainsley is more enlightened.
Ainsley likes Xander. She sits in the glider in his room. When she walks into a room, she'll walk by him and let him pet her. If Xander is in my lap, she will jump up too and rub against him.
Xander loves both of the cats. Wherever he is and whatever he is doing, he will stop and watch when one of them walks by. He leans forward or sideways if he is stuck in the high chair. And despite not crawling, last night he made every effort to move to Ainsley while we hung out on the living room floor. He will talk to them with simple sounds, excited but not quite yelling. He reaches out to 'pet' Ainsley by grabbing whatever he can, be it fur, ear or tail. And Ainsley has had no problem with this at all.
In fact, one day I accidentally closed Ainsley in Xander's room when I put him down for a nap, since she was already sleeping on the floor in there. When I heard him squacking over the monitor an hour later I went up to find Ainsley in the crib letting Xander pet her as she walked around. While I don't encourage it, it was pretty darned cute.
As a side note, Ainsley has easily figured out how to jump over the baby gate I set up to the back room. Min has not and will sit there suffering silently until someone opens it for her.
For their part, Ainsley and Min have dealt pretty well. There was sniffing and avoidance for the first few months. There was glaring and stalking away the next few months when Xander would cry. Occasionally there would be some turf issues when I had found a cat snuggled into the bassinet. Min maintains this path, but Ainsley is more enlightened.
Ainsley likes Xander. She sits in the glider in his room. When she walks into a room, she'll walk by him and let him pet her. If Xander is in my lap, she will jump up too and rub against him.
Xander loves both of the cats. Wherever he is and whatever he is doing, he will stop and watch when one of them walks by. He leans forward or sideways if he is stuck in the high chair. And despite not crawling, last night he made every effort to move to Ainsley while we hung out on the living room floor. He will talk to them with simple sounds, excited but not quite yelling. He reaches out to 'pet' Ainsley by grabbing whatever he can, be it fur, ear or tail. And Ainsley has had no problem with this at all.
In fact, one day I accidentally closed Ainsley in Xander's room when I put him down for a nap, since she was already sleeping on the floor in there. When I heard him squacking over the monitor an hour later I went up to find Ainsley in the crib letting Xander pet her as she walked around. While I don't encourage it, it was pretty darned cute.
As a side note, Ainsley has easily figured out how to jump over the baby gate I set up to the back room. Min has not and will sit there suffering silently until someone opens it for her.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Feed Me
So if you have read Chris's blog or my blog then you know there has been a case of gross rash in our house that is being treated with medication of the steroid variety. Luckily, Xander has not gotten it. But he is still being affected by it because I can't nurse him.
Suddenly, eight months of breastfeeding came to a screeching halt. I know it doesn't make me a bad mom and I've done nothing wrong. But it was just going so well! And to have to abruptly stop is just like a quick punch to the gut.
So here is how it is playing out. Xander was already up to two solids a day. I was going to up it to three, but that hasn't actually happened yet. I kept two sample tins of formula I received in the mail, so I'm covered in that area. I had some frozen milk, but after barely using any I just let the stock deplete. I'd give him a bottle of milk before bed and we ran out of that last night. For my own sanity and to keep up the supply, I am pumping a couple of times a day and then dumping it.
I've got to say I don't like formula. It smells funny and I have to clean bottles. Every day. Xander did not take to it at first but he's better about it now. He knows what the bottle means and grabs for it.
The hardest part has been bedtime. Nursing was part of the routine and apparently a bottle, even if it is milk, does not fit into the routine. So we've had a couple of rough bedtimes. And I'll admit that when he wakes up at 4 am, I'll still nurse him. The medicine should have been mostly pumped and watered down and I'm too tired to get another darned bottle. I'll probably blame every problem he has in the next year on doing this though.
Yesterday I was able to feed Xander homemade pureed peas by mixing them with some cereal and water. He still tried to make raspberries, so sprayed green goo everywhere. One big splat landed on his tray. X saw it and tentatively reached for it. He wrapped his fingers around the spot, slowly closed his hand and raised his hand up to eye level. And looked thoroughly confused as to where the spot went.
Suddenly, eight months of breastfeeding came to a screeching halt. I know it doesn't make me a bad mom and I've done nothing wrong. But it was just going so well! And to have to abruptly stop is just like a quick punch to the gut.
So here is how it is playing out. Xander was already up to two solids a day. I was going to up it to three, but that hasn't actually happened yet. I kept two sample tins of formula I received in the mail, so I'm covered in that area. I had some frozen milk, but after barely using any I just let the stock deplete. I'd give him a bottle of milk before bed and we ran out of that last night. For my own sanity and to keep up the supply, I am pumping a couple of times a day and then dumping it.
I've got to say I don't like formula. It smells funny and I have to clean bottles. Every day. Xander did not take to it at first but he's better about it now. He knows what the bottle means and grabs for it.
The hardest part has been bedtime. Nursing was part of the routine and apparently a bottle, even if it is milk, does not fit into the routine. So we've had a couple of rough bedtimes. And I'll admit that when he wakes up at 4 am, I'll still nurse him. The medicine should have been mostly pumped and watered down and I'm too tired to get another darned bottle. I'll probably blame every problem he has in the next year on doing this though.
Yesterday I was able to feed Xander homemade pureed peas by mixing them with some cereal and water. He still tried to make raspberries, so sprayed green goo everywhere. One big splat landed on his tray. X saw it and tentatively reached for it. He wrapped his fingers around the spot, slowly closed his hand and raised his hand up to eye level. And looked thoroughly confused as to where the spot went.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Pavlov's Mom
What? You'd like to see the yoga positions Xander does?
Cobra
Downward facing dog
I couldn't get the Tabletop pose or Plank because he would see me and roll over to smile.
Xander is conditioning me to get him up out of the crib in the morning or after a nap. His crib is pretty sparse, there is only a blanket, pacifier, aquarium mobile and a frog that hangs in that you pull to play a lullaby. Instead of yelling or crying when he wakes up, Xander will roll around and play. And the only toy in reach is the frog. So in the morning I know it is time to get up if I hear that lullaby going. Or if I'm downstairs I'll suddenly hear it being played over the monitor. And I know if I don't get him soon there will be crying.
The little guy is getting very vocal as well. He will sometimes go on sprees of 'da-da-ada' (like on Mother's Day - thanks for the love, kid). The past few days there are more high pitched squeals that make you want to cover your ears. But the best is when Xander sighs and it turns into a rolling 'r' sound.
Cobra
Downward facing dog
I couldn't get the Tabletop pose or Plank because he would see me and roll over to smile.
Xander is conditioning me to get him up out of the crib in the morning or after a nap. His crib is pretty sparse, there is only a blanket, pacifier, aquarium mobile and a frog that hangs in that you pull to play a lullaby. Instead of yelling or crying when he wakes up, Xander will roll around and play. And the only toy in reach is the frog. So in the morning I know it is time to get up if I hear that lullaby going. Or if I'm downstairs I'll suddenly hear it being played over the monitor. And I know if I don't get him soon there will be crying.
The little guy is getting very vocal as well. He will sometimes go on sprees of 'da-da-ada' (like on Mother's Day - thanks for the love, kid). The past few days there are more high pitched squeals that make you want to cover your ears. But the best is when Xander sighs and it turns into a rolling 'r' sound.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Mmm, tastes like Chicken
So we are slowly advancing on the solid foods front. For a few days Xander declined all solids due to teething and having a cold. When he felt better we started up again but he suddenly hated cereal. Well, no child of mine will hate cereal. It's taken a few tries, but he is downing it like a champ again. I'm also mixing prune puree into it to ease the constipation.
Xander is loving the green veggies. Really, he can't get enough peas. He likes the green beans except for last night when he choked on them. I guess he was trying to eat too fast.
He tried applesauce over the weekend and that did not go over well. He ate it and looked concerned and started hacking and coughing. Something about the cold and the texture he just did not like.
Yesterday Xander tried peach puree for the first time. With every bite he'd lean forward and open his mouth and gobble it. But then he'd get this look of concentration like he was trying to decide if he really liked it or not. Then he'd lean forward again.
I'd like to make some purees myself. I tried with peas, but the food processor I have is a cheap version that came with the blender. It took forever to get it even remotely pureed. Then the peas had such a strong taste that Xander completely refused them. I'm hoping to make potato puree to mix with it in order to tame the flavor.
Xander is working hard to crawl. Or stand up. Mostly he just accomplishes downward facing dog. Then he lays down and gets into cobra. Then he wiggles his head and his legs. Then he laughs and rolls around for a while.
As a side note, Xander has fallen asleep in his jumperoo twice today. It's hard being a baby.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
His daddy is a shark
Ok, where are all of these teeth coming from?? I thought babies got one or two and then waited. He's working on two more teeth on top and you can see where there are two more on top lined up after that.
At least he's not grinding his teeth anymore. That was the most horrible noise ever.
We printed out pictures from vacation a couple of days ago. I showed Xander some of the pictures and he smiled at a few. Then I realized he was smiling at the pictures of himself! So I riffled through and pulled out the close ups of him. I would show him and he would smile. On the pictures where he had a big grin, Xander started laughing. I wish I had gotten video. Being able to laugh at yourself is a good life skill, so I'll chalk that one up to my superior parenting skills.
At least he's not grinding his teeth anymore. That was the most horrible noise ever.
We printed out pictures from vacation a couple of days ago. I showed Xander some of the pictures and he smiled at a few. Then I realized he was smiling at the pictures of himself! So I riffled through and pulled out the close ups of him. I would show him and he would smile. On the pictures where he had a big grin, Xander started laughing. I wish I had gotten video. Being able to laugh at yourself is a good life skill, so I'll chalk that one up to my superior parenting skills.
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