I'm so lucky!

or blessed either way you call it...I took certain things for granted until today. Yesterday and days before I was dreading going back to work full time and wishing I could just stay with my baby. I know a couple of moms that just quit after their child was born. I always knew I wouldn't be one of the (not that there's anything wrong with it) mom's that can't wait to get back to work and back to "adulthood." I don't miss work, stimulating conversations, meetings, dressing up etc at all. But I am going back to work because I do love my career and I don't want to quit just yet. So after five months with Leon, I'm approaching my deadline to go back to work full time.

Today I went to Leon's Orientation at daycare. This is his real, permanent day care. The other place from last week was just for drop in while I had my three random training days in Oct. His new daycare is on a military base and is very structured and organized. I'm excited about it! They actually have lesson plans and schedules (as scheduled as one can be with infants). The other place just seemed to hold, vibrate or rock the kids all day. Also the new place will be making their own baby food starting in January. Right now they provide all the food (except for course breast milk).

Anyways getting to the point of the posting and picture:

The picture is from our trip to Williamsburg when Leon was six weeks old. Today at the daycare orientation I spoke to another mom who's baby was tiny. I asked her how hold her child was and she said six weeks (and there was another who was probably the same age). She asked me and I said 5 months. Then she said, "Oh did you all just move here?" I said, "No, ...um...we're just starting now." She gave me a look that I'll never forget. Then we had to move on to something else. Six weeks. Six weeks. Wow! So many moms have to go back to work after six weeks. Man, I can't imagine going back to work when Leon was six weeks old! That's before smiles and giggles and before I could do sit down and enjoy breakfast. He was so tiny at six weeks. I was still breastfeeding like 24-7 and not sleeping that much. I can't imagine going to work at that point. How do you pump enough milk at that point? That's tough.

I'm so lucky/blessed that I will have had almost six full months at home with Leon. I would love more but I am happy to have had the experiences that I have had.

I love my BoB

I love my BOB* stroller! Bob has helped me get out of the house and back on the trails and track. Bob gives me courage to take LJ out on DC's mean (i.e cracked sidewalks) streets. In this picture we were about to move LJ from Bob to his car seat** and we joked that he looked like Fat Albert's friend.
*I've never tried any other jogging stroller. Seems to me if I didn't love running on trails then the City Mini would be a better choice. It just looks a little sleeker.
**My only problem is the infant insert for the Bob didn't fit my car seat. So I have to move him in and out from car seat to stroller etc. It really sucks with traveling. For example we wanted to take the BOB to Washington State but that would mean checking car seat, car seat stroller (why lug around seat?), and the Bob.

Leon's First Halloween

Today Leon had a play date and all the babies wore their Halloween costumes. Originally I planned on making him a costume. Then I was going to buy one. Then I realized that my mom had purchased him a fleece bear outfit for the winter which was like a costume. So we wore that. Next year he'll be 18 months (almost) and we will definitely do it up (meaning Halloween will be a bigger deal!).

Now That Stinks!

Jeff and I have had an ongoing discussion about LJ's poop. He thinks I'm just infatuated when I say his poop don't stink. For the first couple of months when he was exclusively breast feeding it was messy, runny, and a bit yucky at times. Colors ranged from yellow to orange to brownish green. But it never stunk. However, now that we have added rice cereal, oatmeal, and bananas (which he actually does not like) his poop is starting to smell a little less nice.

First Day at Daycare

LJ survived his first day at daycare (or rather I survived). I am only working part time this week and we are collocated. He starts full time at the end of Nov.

My Favorite Things: Bobby Pillow

This blog is part of a series that discusses products that I think have made my journey into motherhood easier.

Bobby Pillow
I love my Bobby but not because of the nursing use. I actually hardly use it for nursing. I have however used it for all sorts of other things, including a back wedge (fold it) when I'm nursing lying down. I aslo (like in the picture) use it for LJ's modified tummy time. We have occasionaly propped LJ up in it for a supported seat (however I would not recommend doing it before the child is six months). When we were co-sleeping and LJ moved from sleeping on my chest to across my body, the Bobby was the perfect pillow to support him. I also love that the liner (this one is organic, but we have another that is not) is removable and washable.

LJ's First Taste of Rice Cereal

LJ has started solids! He had his first taste of (brown) rice cereal two days ago. He LOVED it! He had no problems swallowing and even tried to hold the spoon and bowl. He did get messy. So we need to buy more bibs. Good news (hopefully related) he slept for FIVE hours the first night.

is this the face you let cry it out?

After 40 minutess of screamng, painful crying, we stopped our first attempt at crying it out, There's gotta be a better way. His whole head of hair was soaked from crying. He was in the worst state I've ever seen him. I was having a hard time too. My body was hot and I literally felt like I had a fever while I listened to him cry. I know, I've heard that tons of parents, perhaps even millions go thru this. But I don't think I can. I also don't want him sleeping with us when he is waking up and getting ready to catch the bus to school. :) But I believe there's a middle ground!!!

The Gentle Way is Not Working

so far not so good with the transition out of the bed. The first two days I tried putting him in the crib both in a deep sleep and also slightly almost sleep. Both actions produced crying and frustration. Then two other nights I tried pitting him in the Pack and Play (PNP). The first night he slept almost three hours in the PNP with one breast feed session in the middle. Last night he was in and out the PNP all night! He spent 7 (30 some minute) sessions in the crib.

It went like this:
11:00 pm placed in PNP
11:27 pm crying begins
11:32 pm taking out of the PNP
11:36 pm nursed to sleep (or somewhat so...I'm doing the Pantley Gentle Removal...nurse to almost sleep then break seal and pull nipple out)
11:51 pm placed in the PNP
12:29 am crying begins
12:31 am taking out of the PNP
and so on until 5 am when I finally gave up

Tonight our plan is to do a less gentle way. We are going to do our bedtime routine (baby massage, read books, and nurse) and then put him in the crib. Maybe sing a song and rub his belly. Then we are closing the door. Taking the monitor with us in the basement and watching a movie.

I'm getting scared just imaging it! I know he'll probably cry. But we both need more sleep.

Update tomorrow!

My Immortal Child

Ok I admit it I'm a twilight fan.* So on our trip to Washington state we checked out Forks, La Push, and the Quileute lands. Funny thing is Leon looks like an immortal child! I mean he looks ultra white and sometimes translucent. I've also (only to family and close friends) called him Powder (did you see that movie?) and Undercover Brother. He doesn't show up in some of our pictures (even without the flash); he just looks like a clothed glowing white blob.

*side note didn't touch the Twilight books until after Leon was born so nooo I did not choose his middle name after a Twilight character

I saw the first Twilight film when it came out and thought it was cute. Later when I was preggers I realized there were actually books for the Twilight series. But I was reading every baby book that I could get my hands on so no time for Bella. Then after I had LJ and I came to realize that my child has a serious appetite (his daddy calls him a Volosorapter), I had to find things to do. Best thing hands down those first couple of weeks (and now...I'm using it now to type this blog) was my Ipod touch. I downloaded audiobooks to listen to while I nursed and held LJ. I went thru all my favorite Jane Austen books and tried out the Bronte Sisters and then I picked up the Twilight series. Eclipse was the first and so far the last (not the best idea I've had) movie LJ has gone to. He was six weeks old and eating and sleeping most of the time. I figured I would nurse and hold him the whole movie, but I ended up rushing a fussy baby to the bathroom to change an incredibly dirty/messy diaper and then I stood up the rest of the time in the doorway. I didn't get to see the whole screen but I knew what was happening based on the audio.

I saw the picked the new characters for the last part of the series. I'm looking forward to seeing the next set of movies.

Getting Back in Shape! Update

Here's a picture of me at a wedding I went to last weekend. I currently weigh 125 pounds (down from my preg weight of 165). That's only 10 pounds more than I was before I got pregnant. This is probably where I would realistically be if I wasn't competing in fitness when I got pregnant. I keep losing weight but I'm not really toning up. That's my goal. To tone up. I realized this week that I split my abdominal muscles at some point during or after my pregnancy. Some websites say that happens to 1/3 of all pregnant women. I assumed it wouldn't happen to me because the "what to expect" books and websites all made it look like that ONLY happens to women who don't have good control of their ab muscles/don't work out. I had a pretty strong core. Anyways...I'm hoping I can help my abs reattach without surgery. All the running and working out in the world won't help me "look fit" if my abs continue to be split and thus create a pouch. But other than that, things are going well. I feel good (not exhausted, and run down) and my half marathon training is going well. I have less than six weeks to my race!

And Tonight It Begins

I've put this off long enough. And yet, I can think of a million reasons why not to start tonight! I haven't received the nice flannel crib sheets. I don't have a white noise maker. I haven't finished reading the sleep book I was gifted. It's 5:53pm and LJ's just now taking a much needed nap (we woke up late and he didn't really take his morning and early afternoon nap). But tonight is the night we start putting LJ in his crib to sleep. I know it might be tough. I know he will cry. But I'm hoping it moves us closer to where we all want to be (LJ sleeping safely and soundly in his crib and Jeff and I sleeping alone in our bed).

Wish me luck!

Hiking in Washington State

LJ had a great time hiking in Washington. But we did run into a few difficulties...like he seemed happier to be hand carried vs. being in the Ergo Front Carrier (at least by dad)* and the weather in the Washington trails changed drastically from hot to windy to chilly. Needless to say we had sun hats, warm hats, jacket on and off, and we even stripped him down to his diaper once! I had to stop and feed him quite a bit. I think many of those feedings were comfort and related to the weather. I managed to nurse and hike at the same time at some points. Can't wait to get him out on more trails! He loved looking at the trees.

*My one Ergo baby complaint is its not actually built to be worn by a sweaty adult. It doesn't wick away mositure and keep the baby dry. We plan on buying a back carrieer bulit for hiking and use it as soon as LJ is big enough. Ill save the Ergo for city walks as its still hands down more comfortable than the Baby Bjorn.