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7 month old self-feeder, 6 year old swimmer

August 2, 2009 · Filed under The girl, advice, the babe

late again, but here is my big baby girl, who turned 7 months old on Thursday:

and last month:

I don’t think she is much bigger, but she sure looks older.

Talking about getting older, the girl has finally learned to swim, without water wings!!! She was making some progress in the shallow end a few weeks ago, and today she just went for it. She was even jumping into the deep end of the pool (with me or her father right there in the water, of course) and then swimming to the shallow end! Sniff, my big girl is growing up. I am so proudof her though!!! Too bad we did not have the camera. She is sure ot get some practice on our little trip next week though, and I`ll get some pictures then!

Like me, her swimming is not the most aesthetically appealing, not much style there, but she stays afloat and has fun and that is what matters!!!

As for Charlotte, not so much is new. She is eating solids now, but does not touch baby-food. It is sorta funny…baby-led weaning was my original plan for Charlotte (basically giving her a bit of whatever age-appropriate foods we are eating, and letting her eat what she can or wants to eat) but then because of her (dairy and soy) allergies, I decided to go the traditional route of starting with pureed foods at 6 months.

Well, she was not a fan and was barely eating anything (which was fine with me, I just kept offering once a day but did not really force or encourage her, just offered it on a spoon at her lips), and then a couple weeks ago she grabbed a french fry and went to town on it!!! Not the best food choice, but it was pretty clear that she preferred feeding herself, and was able to do so. So I started offering her whole foods to finger feed instead, and she loves it. So much easier for me too…no feeding her, just putting food on her try, and eating my own dinner while she (sorta) eats hers.

Now, she does not eat an awful lot…but since she still breast-feeds about 8 times a day and at this age solids are more for practice eating and accepting new foods than for nutrition, no worries.

Some things she likes to eat are rice cakes, pita, avocado, banana, mango, watermelon, broccoli, asparagus, potato, sweet potato, carrots and egg yolk. Since I have a freezer full of purees, I am spreading them on her rice cakes and pitas…and plan to make soup and sauces with them in the fall and also use them as dips when she has the ability to do so. I also sometimes (when we are out and she is eating in the stroller and not with a tray or table) use the mesh feeder for softer foods like banana and avocado.

So, while it is not full on BLW (I do need to keep on eye on what she eats and introduce new things slowly and avoid things with tonnes of different ingredients to catch any intolerances, and I will not give her things I consider wholly inappropriate for a baby this age like cake or chocolate, and I do use the mesh feeder on occassion as well as continuing to spoon feed her applesauce at her pace) it is pretty close and I wholly recommend it!!!

New mom advice

February 4, 2009 · Filed under a day in the life, advice, babywearing, booby juice

These are things I found worked with the girl and seem to be working with Charlotte, so I decided to post for anyone that googles their way here!

1) If your baby is fussy and wont sleep or settle down during the day, GET OUT OF THE HOUSE. I know it is scary to do with a fussy baby…but a lot of fussy babies do better “on the go” than at home. Even my “not too fussy” babies tend to be more content (and nap more) when we are out and about than at home–maybe partly because I am more relaxed when I am just focussing on strolling in the mall or supermarket than when I am looking at the laundry and dirty dishes I cannot get to!!!

2) Wear your baby if they like to be held a lot. Try different carriers or holds (with a sling or wrap) until you find one that works-many newborns (especially bf ones) prefer upright carries to the cradle hold everyone assumes they’ll like. Having one of those “always needs to be held” babies seems so much more managable when you have free hands and your back is not aching all day!

3) If you need to shower and baby is fussing, put them in the car-seat/bouncy seat and bring them in the bathroom with you. At the very least, the screaming wont bug you as much when you are in the shower (I am not a fan of letting my babies cry, but 5 minutes in the shower wont kill them and will make YOU feel so much better). For my babies though…the white noise of the water and steamy room often lulled them to sleep. This is how I usually get Charlotte down for the first nap of the day, around 2 hours after waking when she starts to get fussy. Then I leave her there while I do my stuff. Unfortunately, 2 days a week I have to be out of the house before her nap time and cannot use this trick. But when I can, it is a great one that worked with the girl as well.

4) When your bf baby wants to nurse non-stop, let them. It is frustrating, but the sooner you give into it and stop trying to get it to end by handing them off, or with pacifiers, or bottles, or whatever…the sooner your milk will increase (which is why the babies are doing it, to bring in more milk and prepare for a growth spurt) and it will end. They often sleep better after a growth spurt as well! This is easier said than done…but really is best. Get some DVDs, settle on the bed, and just do it!

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Starting to freak out a little

November 9, 2008 · Filed under The girl, a day in the life, advice, pregnancy 2008

No, not about labour, or even about having a baby to take care of. I am surprisingly unconcerned about these things actually.

I am freaking our about the girl, who will turn 6 in March.

She has been in full time daycare since she was 14 months, and is now in kindergarten Mondays, Wednesdays and alternate Fridays, and daycare the other days. So, she has had her days filled with staff-led activities and peers for the past 4 years! She loves both school and daycare.

She is not easy to occupy on days off and weekends (except with TV and movies, but we don’t like to resort to that) and is used to almost always having someone, the man or I, doing stuff directly with her. We have been encouraging her to play, draw and read on her own more, and she is getting better, somewhat. Not much though! The only way she is really happy on her own for more than about 10 minutes is watching TV! Ugh.

I had decided long ago to pull her out of day-care after I have the baby…we really cannot afford the $600 a month when I am not working (I’ll be off one year), and it has always just seemed to me like if I am going to be a SAHM for any length of time, it should be with all my kids. Anyways, even if I wanted to keep her in daycare, we could not afford it, so it is not an option.

I am looking forward to this extra time with the girl, who is at such a great age now, in so many ways. But I am also now starting to get worried about how I am going to keep her occupied and happy. I have some friends who will be off work when I am, but with much younger kids. I know the girl and I can do some classes and activities…but activities that are appropriate for a 6 year old and I can also deal with an infant at…well…I cannot fill my days with such activities (or afford to).

I am not a homebody at the best of times and get twitchy and irratable when I am at home for long (I was sickish today, and still went to the fruit store just to get out for a few minutes), and I know if we are home a lot, and the girl is bored and whiney a lot, I will go MAD.

Any idea for stuff we can do together on the 2-3 days a week she’ll be home with me?

If I was smart, I woulda waited a few more months, next September she’ll start full days in school!

In other news, I am starting to feel much better. I guess I just needed a day to rest. I have not taken a sick day from work in a few months, and my weekends are always full of errands…so I guess it is no surprise that my body needed a day to spend relaxing.

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Fashion Pet Peeve

July 13, 2008 · Filed under advice, fashion

Pretending that yoga pants are dress pants.

Don’t go there! I know the Yoga pants today are darker and nicer than ever before, and certainly wearable out of the gym or yoga studio…but they are still casual sporty pants THAT ONLY LOOK LIKE DRESSY BLACK PANTS FROM A DISTANCE, meant to be worn with casual sporty accompaniments, whether working out or at the mall.

Shoes: If you are not into running shoes type shoes (and really, I don’t get why anyone that doesnt own at least one pair of sporty shoes would be into sporty pants, but whatever) then yoga pants also work fine (for summer) with casual flip flops. But please, noplatforms, loafers, pumps, dressy boots, strappy sandals or heels of any style with yoga pants. It just looks wrong and I cannot take it.

Tops: T-shirts (long and short sleeve), tank tops, hoodies, and casual sweaters work well with yoga pants. Blouses, business type shirts and dressy tops do not. Don’t do it. You are the only one that thinks your yoga pants are passing for actual dress pants.

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people can be projectile!

April 27, 2008 · Filed under about the blogger, advice, car-seat craziness, health

I have an annoying rule in my car; I do not move the car until everyone is wearing a seat-belt. I mean adults as well as kids. Many times, adults have complained about my rule. They state that they are more comfortable without seat-belts, that they never wear them, that they’ll pay for a ticket, that they’ll be fine, and that they are adults and it is up to them if they want to take the risk.

Well, not quite. Firstly, I don’t want anyone to die in my car, adult or not. If that ever happened, I would never be able to drive again. I am not sure I would be able to live with myself. So someone risking thier life by not wearing a seat-belt in my car is also putting my mental health, and my livelihood (as I cannot do my job without driving) at risk. Secondly, when someone is not wearing a seat-belt it is not only themselves they are putting at risk, but everyone in the car. If they become dislodged from the seat (and in an accident, they will if they are not restrained), they can become projectile; banging around the car injuring or even killing those of us that are in seat-belts, and possibly hitting the driver who could lose control of the car even more as a result.

Here is a video that perfectly displays this concern. Buckle up!