Leon's First Christmas

Leon had a great first Christmas. Except for the one unwanted gift: An ear infection. Seems like a rite of passage for a baby to have an ear infection. Thought we could avoid it since I'm breast feeding but alas the constant daycare cold hasn't helped. He had a temperature of 102.8 on Christmas Eve. The doctor told me to give him Pedialyte, baby Tylenol, and plenty of breast milk. She also said any gains we made (and there were some tiny gains) on sleeping in the crib or through the night were lost and that we should continue co-sleeping until he gets better. At that point, she diagnosed him (over the phone) with a stomach virus but just yesterday we found out the real culprit...an ear infection.

Well back to Christmas, Leon saw many of his maternal cousins and aunts (snow storm caused us not to see many people). He received tons of gifts, including lots of cute hats, two piggy banks, clothes for now and up to 2T! Everything he got he can use and I was happy he received it. I really wanted to announce "no gifts" for Christmas (and birthdays etc). Esp after reading this book that said the average child gets 70 toys a year. But luckily my husband was there to quell the scrooge in me. I supposse everything in moderation is fine. At least for now.

Like a fish!

Leon's loving his new swim class. This week he smiled and kicked his legs. The water does seem a bit cold (they say 80 degrees but we think it's more like 70).

Sleeping Update

Sleep. It's all I think about and apparently it's all everyone else thinks about. When I was pregnant the two questions I got (over and over again) were "What are you having?" and "When are you due?" Now, everyone asks me, "Is he sleeping through the night?" Define, sleeping. The problem never was centered around LJ sleeping. He can sleep for hours. He will wake up momentarily, have a quick snack (without crying or opening his eyes), and go back to sleep. The problem arose when I got tired of being the all night snack car. When I realized that I really missed laying on my back or stomach vice laying on my side in a fetal like position around LJ.

So the transition from the bed to the pack n play, then the bed to the crib began. That has not gone so well. I've tried a little bit of everything (but nothing long enough). Everything seems to involve a bit (or actually a lot) of crying. When I say I tried everything, I mean it. I have even slept on the floor in his room for three days and even slept in his crib with him. Yes, I said, I climbed into his crib.

Still LJ prevails and is sleeping in our bed. That's the only way we all get a full nights sleep. He starts off in his crib and then by 11 pm is in our bed.

We are trying to decide if we are going to let him stay there or try the CIO (cry it out) method.

I think we need a bigger bed.

Pumping Aint Easy

Boy, the worst thing about daycare (ok actually the worst is not being with Leon) is pumping milk and making bottles. To make matters worse I am in training so I am away from my desk and at another location. With training we have two 15 min breaks and one hour long lunch. For a normal person that wants to check email, make a phone call, use the bathroom, and eat, that just about barely enough time. Throw in the need to pump at least 16 ounces of breast milk daily and you have a cluster fudge. There's simply not enough time! I end up having to pump more milk at night and/or in the "Madrugada" (early in the morning) to keep up with my growing boy. But there is some light in the tunnel. I just started using the Medela hands free halter "bra" that holds your pump for you!

This bra is life changing. It doesn't give me more time or take away from the fact that the lactation stall is just the handicap stall with an outlet. But it does allow me to have my hands free while I pump.

Thank you Medela!!!

Give Thanks to Sweet Potatoes

LJ loved his sweet potatoes on Thanksgiving. Making baby food is a little time intensive but is far from hard. I have a freezer full of pureed sweet potato, apple, and acorn squash. Next on the meal plan is peas. The peas are frozen but they are from Whole Foods (also known by dad as Whole Paycheck). I purchased some organic baby food (mainly because I had a coupon that was soon to expire) from the Earth's Best company. I haven't tried it on LJ yet. My plan is to use them when I don't have time to prepare his food. Unfortunately, his day care provides all his food (except the liquid gold that I pump out everyday in the bathroom). They won't allow outside food and they only provide organic milk and organic cereals. But the good news is the are going to start making their own baby food in January!