A healthy breakfast

Before becoming a mother to a little boy, I naively thought that little people meant little meals. How much can a 1 year old eat anyway, right? Turns out they can put away quite a bit. I think David eats just as much as me now. And I'm eating for 2! This is a little example of what he will eat for breakfast. Mind you this is only 1 meal of the day. He'll do 2 more like this and probably 1-2 much smaller snacks.


















This is: 5 mini (2") pancakes, 1 scrambled egg and about half a peach. He washed it all down with about 6oz of milk. He ate every bite. Wow. For a little person - a baby - this seems like a lot to me, but he really likes his food. Is this normal?? It seems that all his little friends eat less than this. Maybe not. But is seems like it.

I think I feel a growth spurt coming on! You can't put away food like this and not gain a little.

Hitting updates

I think the hitting phase is over for now. I'm sure we'll return to it somewhere along the way as he grows older and once again wants to challenge me, but for now it has past. I really believe that this time it was brought on by not feeling well due to teething. He cut 4 molars in 4 weeks and was miserable. The hitting phase lasted for about 2 weeks in the middle of that and then when the teeth appeared, it disappeared instantly. We haven't had troubles since. There are still a few toys he doesn't get to play with though. We don't want to provide temptations. :)

I think the quick onslaught of teeth is also to blame for the delay in walking. I have heard (and our pediatrician confirmed) that when babies are this young they can only focus on 1 or 2 new tasks or developments at once. He took his first steps and attempts at walking 2 months ago and then when he started cutting teeth all attempts quit. He wouldn't even try if we made him. We thought it sort of strange at the time, but we are now understanding it a bit more. In the meantime it was very frustrating to hear that he "is such a late bloomer" and "is really slow at learning this walking thing". Every child learns differently and at a different pace. I have never compared him to other children developmentally and wish other people wouldn't either. He is not stupid. He is not slow. In fact, he is right on track with the average first steps and walking age of 12 - 18 months. I am not worried about him and neither is his doctor.

In the last 5 days since his last molar made it's grand entrance, we've seen our little punkin doodle become a different boy. He doesn't become fussy for no reason, he doesn't hit and he smiles and laughs more than we've seen in weeks. He's even made huge progress in the walking department. This morning he took 3 unprompted steps away from the coffee table to get his library book. I have never seen a bigger or more proud smile on his face.

To anyone who has had contact with the fussy and difficult David in the last month (especially those who had the misfortune of babysitting), I am sorry! :) But things are looking up and the happy and giggly David is back. To everyone who offered hitting advice, thank you. We did survive. Your support meant just as much as your advice.

Hey, Mom! What's this?

David discovered the pots and pans cupboard this morning. I was in the kitchen making muffins and coffee for breakfast before church. He followed me in there and started exploring. He didn't care so much for the pots, but the pans were cracking him up. I wish I had gotten a video to capture his laugh! It was so funny! He had a great time. :)

Thought of the day:

When my mood swings, duck!


Last time I was pregnant I could not have been more even-keeled and laid back if I tried. I was the definition of cool, calm and collected. I am, by nature, an emotional person. I cry. I laugh. I get angry. Sometimes I do them all in one day, but being pregnant last time really evened me out. David jokes that it was the best 9 months of his life. Ha ha. Very funny.

I was hoping for a repeat of that this time around...but nope! My poor husband just looks at me now and says (very cautiously): "I don't really know what to do with you right now." And to be completely honest, I don't really have any advice for him. I don't know what I'd do with me either! If I had to deal with me right now, I'd go crazy. I feel for him. He's really in a tough spot. One minute I'm laughing at the dinner table and the next I'm crying in my mashed potatoes. When he tries to comfort me, I lash out in anger that I didn't know I had. Where in the world is this all coming from and when will it be over???

If you think of him in the upcoming weeks, pray for my poor husband. He really needs it!

hitting troubles.....advice??

How do you get a 13 month old to quit hitting?

Here's the problem: He hits with toys like little plastic hammers and those things. He also hits with his hands. His target is never the same. It could be Mom, Dad, Grandpa or his little defenseless best friend. We don't allow him to do it so we are always correcting him. This seems to only spur it on. He likes the attention he gets so it tends to only make the problem worse. He gets so into it that it will actually hurt - and that's on me! I can't imagine what his poor little friends are feeling. :(

Here's what we've tried: He never gets away with it. Everytime we see him do it, we try to stop it. Like I already said, it doesn't help. We have held his little hands until he calms down, we've talked to him, I've given him time outs (which I don't agree with, but I was desperate and he was hurting me) I've even tried lightly smacking his hands. Nothing seems to work. He laughs at us. He really thinks it's hilarious to see us get frustrated. Nothing seems to phase him. Everything is funny. I don't know where to go from here.

What do I do?!?!? Any advice is appreciated!

Some me time

I love my boy. I really do, but at the risk of sounding like a terrible mom I will also say that I love to get out of the house and leave him behind!

Being a mom is the greatest and I really wouldn't trade it for the world, but everybody needs a break now and then. No one can run full steam ahead all the time. You have to take a minute to get away from "everyday life" every now and then. You have to relax. You have to take a deep breath. You'll never survive another week of fingers in the toilets, toys on the floor and cottage cheese in the hair if you don't. Wait a minute, is that just me? In any case I was really beginning to need such a day when my dear friend, Cerissa, stepped up to the plate and suggested lunch and a movie....with NO kids! Leave 'em home with the hubbies, we're headed out! The clouds parted, the angels started singing and I, for a moment, saw a little glimpse of Heaven. "Hallelujah, Hallelujah!"

I must admit, I had a moment of fear, worry and anxiety take over ("But without a one year old clinging to my legs, climbing into my lap and trying to steal my lunch, won't I be bored?"). But the intriguing thought of a hot meal had me agreeing in no time ("you mean, there are some meals that are meant to be eaten warm?"). I have to say that not having to fight a toddler for your lunch is a pretty good feeling. And sitting through a whole 98 minute movie without pausing to refill a juice cup or change an oozy poop filled diaper...ah, that is priceless. I tried my best not to get too used to it though. Mere hours later I was back in the real world and being "Mom" again, but it is nice to have a reminder now and then that I am more than just "David's Mom".

Thanks Cerissa!!!

Pulling through

I think David's fever might have finally broken. I was gone all afternoon today having some much needed girl bonding time, but from what David tells me, little D's fever just went away. All of a sudden. Just like that. As quickly as it came it disappeared.

He took a nap this afternoon and wasn't feeling the best when he got up. David gave him more Motrin and let him go about playing (which in and of itself is huge - he hasn't done that since Thursday). He checked on him a while later and his fever was just gone. He finally felt cool to the touch and didn't seem to be bothered by it anymore. He was still playing when I got home 3 hours later. I was shocked....happy, but shocked. His fever lasted 3 days and topped out at 104.2 degrees. Wowza. I was worried there for a bit. :( He had no other symptoms. Just that crazy fever. What the heck?!?!

This is from this morning when he still had a 102 fever and was feeling crappy. David had just gotten home from work and was a bit on the tired side so he was more than happy to cuddle for a bit while I got a shower. This is what I found when I got out. :)

There's nothing worse....

....than when your baby's sick. I should know...it's been a rough week here.

He is finally fully weaned. He hasn't nursed since Sunday morning. But now he's sick. I don't really know what it is (and apparently neither does the doctor). He has cut 2 molars in the last 2 weeks and is now working on a 3rd. He's been running a very low grade fever for days because of this. Yesterday around noon, his temp started climbing and by 5pm it was up to 102.5 degrees. I called the urgent care/ after hours line for his pediatrician. I was told to give him a bath and moer Motrin and keep him comfy overnight. The nurse I talked to was concerned about an ear infection so I had to take him in early this morning. He is fine. No infections, no problems. She said it was probably a virus and would take care of itself over the weekend. If he still has a fever on Monday I am headed back to the doctor's with him. We have a kinda busy weekend planned and I was hoping to leave him with a sitter a few times so I really hope he perks out of this funk. I don't think I could leave him if he doesn't.....

On a positive note, the Lord has really been looking out for me this week and has given the strength and energy to handle everything that little David has thrown at me. PTL! This has been a big blessing. I have not taken a nap all week and I still have energy! Wow. I have also been dealing with much less morning sickness this whole week. Again, I say thank you Lord for helping me get through. I am never alone!

An eventful night

So I just turned my back for a second. I went to the other room to use the bathroom and when I got back this is what I found. Apparently, when you are cutting molars and not getting enough milk everyday this is what happens.

Having troubles

So this weaning thing is going terribly. David is so cranky and clingy and fussy. I'm about to lose my mind! No, seriously! Somethings gotta give here soon! He is not sleeping well at all. He gets up 2-4 times a night now and cries and begs for milk. I try to nurse him, but it's just not working. It's not what he wants. He usually goes back to bed pretty well because he's so tired, but not with out really frustrating me first.

I have been lucky enough to snag a few naps in the last couple of days. My hubby is being so awesome! I'm so blessed. But anyway, during my naps little David just plays with David and reads books, practices walking, plays catch you know all the happy, normal, calm baby stuff. They have a great time and David always tells me about how he gets little David giggling and stuff. And then I get up and all hmm hmm breaks loose and I am met with a screaming banshee. What the heck?!? How did we go from "out of sight, out of mind" to "give me milk or I will die" in 2 seconds flat? It really wears me out. Some days I just don't think I have the energy to handle it. I have been trying to not encourage the fussing and such, but he makes it difficult. Most of my day is spent with him clinging to my legs, looking up at me and crying.

We have come a long way in this whole process, but I don't know how much longer it will last and you know what they say - it's always the darkest before the dawn......

Just....so....tired!

I am starting to feel more and more pregnant by the day. Everything seems to be intensifying. Everything either stinks or smells wonderful, no in between. I am exhausted all the time (I take advantage of David's naps big time!), I'm running to the bathroom nonstop and I'm eating like it's going out of style. I have a touch of morning sickness (very mild - it could be a LOT worse)setting in so I have to keep a small amount of food in my belly at all times. If I have to go with an empty stomach, I feel sick, but if I eat too much I feel sick then too! What a dilemma!

Little David has been noticing some side effects of the pregnancy too. I am still nursing him 4-5 times per day right now. My changing hormones have affected my milk supply and he's not getting what he's used to. Trying to wean a little boy who is not quite ready to wean is proving to be difficult at best! He has been cranky at times and a bit hard to deal with. My doctors and his seem to think this will pass quickly and for my peace of mind I am choosing to believe them! He has finally started to drink from a sippy cup and now that he is past one year old he can drink cows' milk. He has taken that transition very well and seems to enjoy his real milk very much. That has been a true blessing for me. Today he only nursed twice during the day...we'll see what overnight brings us.

One of the worst parts is my sleepiness. It seems to hit in waves. All of a sudden in the middle of cooking dinner or grocery shopping or something I just get hit with a strong urge to fall over and just sleep right there on the floor. Sometimes it is all too tempting. I have noticed that a similar thing has been happening to my son. I'll put him in his crib for a nap and he'll just be sitting there playing and doing his best to avoid sleep when WHAM! it hits. It feels good to know that I am not alone.


This is from just a few days ago. He woke up with fur imprints in his face: