If you're going to San Francisco...

Our visit with Tante Teresa was really wonderful! She got to spend mornings and evenings with us, and pretty much all day on Friday. She even woke up with Joseph on Friday morning and let this mama sleep! Brownie points for her!

Joseph and I did lots of touring around town - We bought a city pass and saw the California Academy of Sciences, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art,

the Aquarium by the Bay,

the Exploratorium,




and we even went on a boat cruise in the bay. Super fun.


The weather turned out to be awesome


It only rained on Friday for a while, and while Teresa and I got completely soaked, Joseph stayed warm and dry in the Baby Hawk.


Joseph enjoyed riding the trolly up the hill, the street cars, and even the buses around town (though I will not encourage him to ride the San Fran buses once he is old enough to recognize marijuana, since it's apparently where they sell the majority of it!)


The only downside has been his sleeping - which is completely messed up! In fact, he woke up from bedtime and is now chilling with us while I'm writing this. Oh well - a small price to pay for a great time!

Look at his tiny disposable clad backside - Too cute!

Milestone update!

Joseph pulled up to his feet yesterday! He was in the cosleeper (it's set up as a playpen now, and I put him in there while I shower). I turned around after getting dressed and there he was - peeking over the top! Of course he was making a grab for the curtains.

He's keeping us on our toes!

California Dreamin'

Joseph and I are heading to San Francisco tomorrow! It's an unplanned - and unexpected - trip, but we couldn't resist when Tante Teresa told us that she was flying in from Tokyo for work! She's not put off by the idea of Joseph being awake at 3am with the time change (maybe they'll be on the same schedule since she's flying backwards in time!) and we're so excited to see her. We'll fly back on Saturday.

While Teresa is off working hard, Joseph and I are going to hit the museums, boat tours, and trolleys. It should be a great visit! The only downfall is that it's supposed to rain the whole time. We won't let a little rain spoil our visit, though!

I'll try to update while we're gone!

Feeding an Infant

So, I finally had a bit of a revelation regarding Joseph's food intake. I had been so concerned about it, but really, he nurses so much still that it really doesn't matter what he eats for solids, so long as he gets some iron in. And that's covered by his vitamin.

In that vein, I decided to stop making purees. About the same time (well, a little before) Joseph stopped gagging on solids. Timing is everything, people! I'm learning that you can't make a kid do anything ahead of their own schedule.

He's really enjoying feeding himself now, and wants to hold the spoon all the time. We regularly have two in rotation these days, and I let him self-feed whatever I can.

We've been branching out some in the food department. I can't remember where I left off on here, but he eats a wide variety of stuff now. In the last couple of days he's had cheerios, yogurt, banana, clementine (a whole one!), hummus on crackers, cheese, mixed veggies, salmon with balsamic blueberry reduction, polenta with spaghetti sauce and parmesan, and grilled chicken. I'm trying to give him more of the foods that I make for T.J. and myself. It seems to be working pretty well! He had some of my gumbo and red beans and rice - he loves to eat from Mama's plate! Everything tastes better that way, I guess.

We're still focusing on organic food where we can for all of us.

Without sounding like a know-it-all, here's my take away from feeding Joseph:

1) A child will let you know if he's hungry
2) Babies take a long time to self feed, be patient
3) Don't fret too much about how much and what they eat (see #1)
4) Keep nursing on demand!

Of course, now that I've got it all figured out he's turning ONE in a couple of weeks. Then I'll have to figure toddlers out!

Video Link - Just another day

Here's a video from this afternoon. I'd say this is typical playtime lately - especially pushing the exercise ball around!

Enjoy!

Mardi Gras: Baby Style

We had so much fun!

Tackled!


Joseph's impressed by standing skilz


Look, Joseph - your bear is like my vest!


Lots of moms and babies!


The King!


Taking off his shirt for beads


His buddy (they were born a day apart!)


All the babies topless for beads


How'd you get the furry vest?

You can't take it with you

My nipple, that is. Joseph has begun pulling away to go to sleep at night, but sometimes he isn't done nursing. Somehow he thinks that my breast will just go-go gadget while he rolls over onto his belly. Not happening, my little nursling. Not happening.

Amazingly, this is not as painful as it sounds. This is actually mostly a "sleep success" post, as he's beginning to go to sleep "on his own" periodically. By that I mean, while T.J. or I lie next to him patting his back to sooth him.

The end of the beginning, perhaps? Time will tell.

Mardi Gras Aftermath

I'll post more later, but I just had to put this up ASAP.

Looks like it was a good party!

FO: Christmas Socking!

This is pretty much my most favorite thing I've ever made! So beautiful! Knitters, here is the pattern. I'm planning to do 2 or 3 more before Christmas (hence why I started so early). I'll use the same colors for all of them, but mix up the patterns. Then I'll stitch names into the red part at the top.

Snow!

We got a bit of snow yesterday - then it all froze into one big sheet of ice today, so we're sitting at home waiting for it to melt some. Here are some photos:



Before the snow hit, Joseph and I went to mom's group for a "ball pit" play date. Joseph loved it!

"When" happened today

You know, the whole "it's not IF he falls off the couch, but when"?

Well, he fell off the couch today - sitting right next to me! I rarely put him up there but he'd just woken from his nap. He cried much less than most of his other accidents, so it must not have fazed him too much!

At least it's out of the way, right?

Joseph is 11 months old!

How did this happen?!? (do I ask that every month?)

It's amazing. I can't believe he'll be one in a month. Truly. Doesn't he just look like a little man already!

Watching the Superbowl with Daddy

FO: soaker for Joseph

I finished these when we were in Pittsburgh... can't believe I forgot to show them off! It's a wool diaper cover. Not too bad - a quick knit for sure, and only a slight mess up on the legs.

Our Day in Pictures

First, Joseph discovered toilet paper for the first time.

Then he read the paper

Chased after the camera

Ate blueberries

Which necessitated a bath, after which he ran away from his diaper

The End

Post Partum Depression

I'd been debating whether to post about this, as it is obviously very personal in nature. However, I think it's more important to talk about it as something that is relatively "normal" (1 in 10 moms, I think). So here is my story about it.

I was fine at the beginning - and for several months. However, as time went on, T.J. started traveling more, and I slept less and less, I started to get down. In August when friends asked me how it was to be a mom and I replied "Eh.... it's ok I guess" I started to wonder if my reaction was normal. I chalked it up to a baby who cried in the car and lack of sleep. By October, I was really concerned at my lack of motivation around the house, and my inability to muster the energy to play with Joseph. I felt that by the time his needs were met, I was too tired to really give him my all. This was when I was wearing him for 3 to 4 hours a day for naps in addition to when we were out. And of course he's never been a great sleeper and nurses a LOT at night. I was all touched out.

As December rolled around, I'd pretty much reached the end of my rope. Not in an "I'm going to hurt myself or my baby" way, but in an "I'm a crappy mom who doesn't even like to hang out with her kid" way. So I decided to go see a psychiatrist. I called them and they got me in about 2 days later - on Christmas eve.

I saw a nurse and we talked for about an hour. I cried lots, but it felt good to talk to someone about all the stress I've been under (real or in my head). I started taking Zoloft and started to feel better almost immediately (can we say placebo effect? It takes 3-6 weeks to kick in). Now that I'm 6 weeks into the meds, I can say that I'm feeling a REAL difference. I get down to play with Joseph lots, tell him I love him all the time, and just get moments where I'm overwhelmed by how GREAT he is. Funnily enough, I even think he's cuter now!

So, if you are feeling down, and even if you think it's "just" lack of sleep or temporary stress, get checked out. Both of those things can mess with the chemicals in your brain, causing PPD. Also, it's not unusual for it to take many months to onset. I really don't think I had PPD any earlier than about when Joseph was 7 or 8 months old.

Babywearing - High Back Carry with Mei Tai

I wish I'd have discovered this earlier! It's pretty neat - you tie the mei tai (BabyHawk) up high on your chest, and then the baby is high enough to see over your shoulder. It is definitely more wearing on you than having the weight on your hips, but not too bad. It gives you good posture, to boot!

Joseph really enjoyed it - we went for a little walk outside and then he "helped" me sweep and vacuum. We were both ready for him to get down after about 45 minutes, I think. I had it tied pretty tight, and it was a bit constricting on my diaphram - just like being pregnant again. Ha!

I'm wondering if people use this carry for a heavier child? Joseph is probably about 16 - 16.5lbs right now, so I wonder if most people can even get much use from this carry (old enough baby but light enough for comfort)? Would love any comments on that!

Jumping out of His Pants!

Last week Joseph was moving around so much he literally crawled out of his pants - the longies Tante Teresa made him! Too funny!Here they are later on in action:

Birth Predictions Updated

I found this post that I did a year ago about birth predictions. Since I never came back to it until now, I thought I'd go ahead and complete it!

EDD: March 6, 2009
I predict the baby will be born: March 17, 2009
Actual birth date: March 9, 2009

I predict my labor will last: 22 hours
It actually lasted: 41 hours

U/S showed a (if you had one): Surprise!
I predict the baby will be a: Boy
The baby is a: BOY

I predict the babies weight and length will be: 7lb 6oz, 21 inches
Actual weight and length: 8lb 2oz, 22 inches

Any extra predictions you'd like to make: DomerBaby will probably be bald... and I think we'll have a hard (but not excruciatingly so) and successful home birth!
Joseph had a head full of hair! Labor was hard (excruciating is a good adjective, actually) but it was incredibly successful.

I can now appreciate just how lucky we were to have a home birth. I would most certainly ended up with a pitocin, an epidural, and a c-section at the hospital.

One Year Ago on DomerBaby

January 16 - 31

• Knitting project to skip - the birthing doll. Yikes.
• From the birth kit - showing my lack of artistry once again.
• Stretch marks - I can't believe it took that long! They are undetectable now, though! Woot!
• Knitting updates - a scarf for me and bell bottoms for DomerBaby
• Another Midwives are Awesome Post - a cool article
• Yoga Baby - and a belly pic
• Casual stroll = Strenuous exercise - lazy bones
  
• DomerBaby Update - State of the Fetus Address
• Aches and Pains - what a whiner! ;)
• Seconds, Minutes, and Hours - counting down
• Are you having a baby? - nesting makes T.J. nervous
• New Belly Picture - Cute!
• 35w Prenatal
  
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