July 02
So we have been annoyed with our bedroom closet. Let me explain why. The rental house we were in before had a walk-in closet big enough (and I am not kidding here) to be another room. It had a ton of shelves and was big enough to fit not one, but two chest of drawers in. So when we moved we had all this stuff and no where to really put it (well, neatly anyway...) So yesterday we were in Lowe's and we were looking at closet organizers. We found one we liked and brought it home. Now, mind you, we didn't really measure the closet before we left...we weren't really in Lowe's to buy a closet organizer, but the lights we went to buy were not up to our standards....ANYWAY, we get home and get Elijah down to sleep and realize that our closet is the wrong size, BUT we make it work none the less. We hang these tracks and then from there these shelving tracks are supposed to hang and then you can cut the shelves to fit where ever you want. We got the first tracks hung and then called it a night. Today we two shelve hung. We put our clothes back in with just these two shelves and everything already fits. We can't really figure it out. I mean we did some purging while we were doing all this, but not THAT much. So anyway, it was a happy surprise. I think that now we will add some other shelves, but only for storage of linens (we don't have a linen closet either...sigh...)
So that's what we've done this weekend. For some reason I am beat. I have been tired all weekend long. I know I have a kid and everything, but I am sleepier than usual. It has gotten really hot lately, so that may be a factor.
Oh!!! Our next door neighbors had their baby. He was a month early, but she was having signs of preecampsia so they induced. The baby was 7 pounds 3ounces ( a month early!!!) and 19 1/2 inches long. They came home today. I went over to look at him as they took him out of the car, he's soooo tiny! I mean Elijah was little, but he was over a pound heavier than this little guy. They have to take him into the doc tomorrow because of possible jaundice(though he looks fine to me...but I'm not a doc... and I also compare all jaundice babies to mine and Elijah WAS JAUNDICE!)
Elijah wouldn't for the life of me take a good nap today and was very crabby (though I didn't put on his crabby t-shirt...) I finally gave up. Jerry took over so I could take a nap but I could hear the little guy being a crank, so I didn't really sleep. I got up and came into feed him at 7 and he was so sleepy that after nursing for 5-ish minutes he feel asleep and feel off the boob. Normally he falls asleep and 20 minutes later I'm trying to pry him off without waking him up...poor guy. Our rule is no naps after 6, but I think we'll just call this bedtime tonight. I hope this isn't starting a trend. He usually takes an hour nap in the morning and then at least a 2 hour nap in the afternoon. I need the down time to rest myself and usually lie down with him or at least use that time to chill for a bit.
Last Thursday after our High Society Ladies gathering, Laura's sister's family stopped by on their way up the outer banks. Kristen and Robert and their 2 year old Garrett. Garrett is such a cutie!!! And sooooo smart!!! They are really cool parents and so laid back. Garrett was sleepy, but a real sweet heart. Kristen held Elijah, who promptly feel asleep! It was good to see them and chat with them even though it was a very brief visit.
On Friday, I realized I hadn't been out of the house except to do grocery shopping on Tuesday, and I was getting a little stir crazy, so Jerry came and picked me up for a lunch date. It was so nice to get out of the house. I just hadn't realized it I guess. I mean we go on walks in the morning, but just around the neighborhood. I should try to get out and walk else where, but by the time I got the car loaded it would be way too hot!
My friend Tracey is getting married tomorrow! I hope that her wedding is everything she has dreamed. I'm sure it will be. I really like the guy she is marrying and I am sure they will be very happy!
Okay, I must eat something soon...my blood sugar feels low...sigh....
July 06
So my goal is to cut down on the amount of TV I am watching. I mean there is nothing on anyway. I must say that I refuse to give up "So You Think You Can Dance." I love that show! But that's really it. We only have 20 channels so there is no temptation to watch other crap on extended cable.
That being said, I just finished re-reading
Audrey Niffenegger's The Time Traveler's Wife. This book ranks as one of my favorites, if not my favorite. Her writing is almost poetic. The love story is so happy, sad, hilarious, miserable, so many things that makes up true love. It's the kind of book that you really don't want to end. I must say that there were a few chapters I skipped because I knew I would cry my eyes out and there was a strong possibility I wouldn't be able to stop. I think some people didn't like it because of the improbability of the whole thing and some tried too hard to understand the dates and what not. It is about a time traveler, but Niffenegger does a great job of providing the reader with dates and the ages of the characters to help keep track of everything. Even if she hadn't done this, I believe the story would still be an incredible one.
Elijah is eating away. He has had rice (didn't like this one, we'll try again later), bananas (a favorite), pears, and peaches. It's interesting, if I mix anything with breast milk, he spits it out. If I mix it with water he's fine. (we're making our own baby food by the way....) He drinks about an ounce of water from a sippy cup at our little meal time. He's about to cut a tooth. I can feel it when he nurses and I can see it under his gums. He is a drooling fiend!!!!! And right now he's being a grouch because he needs a nap....so I'm off to take care of that....
July 09
Soooo, I was supposed to go to an interview on Friday for tutoring position. On Thursday night I freaked out about it and Jerry told me to cancel. It was very obvious I am not ready to go back to work. Jerry told me we didn't need the money, he thought I just wanted to get out of the house. So I called and canceled. I felt sort of good about this, so I think it was the right thing to do. So Saturday morning I got up mowed the back lawn. The weather here was unseasonably cool (only 83!) so it went fast and wasn't too hard. Then we went into town to the library and to lunch. Jerry got a bunch of books to read and I got Babyville because Clare said it was funny, so I am excited to read it. We got Elijah some books too. I don't know if I have mentioned it, but we are teaching Elijah basic sign language. Things like: food, more, drink, milk...Studies have shown that babies can communicate in sign before they can talk. Cora let us borrow a book on it and my parents lent me their workbook from when they took a sign language course and I checked out some books at the library as well. All very exciting. It's pretty cool I think. After the library, we went to Roly Poly for lunch...yummy! Then home for a nap and then to Rachel and Erin's for a super yummy dinner! Cora and Bill were there too with their little one. She is soooo active! Elijah just sat there and watched her run around, like he was taking mental notes on how to walk and run! It was really cool! We sacked out pretty much by the time we got home.
Today I plan on getting out into our drainage ditches with the weed wacker and then cooling it...oh yeah and maybe some grocery shopping as my folks are coming this Tuesday and maybe they'd like something to eat? We have some more cleaning to do, but not too much. We are selling our brass bed and moving stuff around, so the garage is packed with tuff to get rid of. I have got to get busy and list this stuff on the yard sale web site. I hope that it sells. I haven't had too much luck there...sigh...
Okay, I hear my boy becoming restless...I swear we have more recent pics of him, I just haven't downloaded them from the camera yet....sigh....
July 11
So I woke up this morning with the back side of my neck swollen and my ear hurting like all get out (what a weird saying...) I woke up Jerry and told him I was going to the doctor's office. Sure enough I have an ear infection. What's that about? I haven't had an ear infection since I was a kid. Even growing up I never even got swimmers ear and now at 30 I get an ear infection.
So now I'm all freaked out because Elijah has been pulling on his ear, which I just thought was teething because he has no fever and isn't "acting" sick...sigh...Stupid ears.... At least the put me on an antibiotic and gave me some ear drops. I will be the first to say that I hate antibiotics. I think they are over prescribed but the medical profession...but right now I will gladly take ANYTHING that will stop this pain!!!! (well, and won't hurt my baby.) SO that was the excitement for the morning.
Yesterday, my friend Rachel called us and we went and walked the loop at the beach.
It was so nice. Afterwards we found some shade at the park to feed and change the wee ones and then went for pizza!!!! After pizza we walked around this store called Once Upon a Child. It's a consignment shop that I find to be over priced, but every once and a while you find a really good deal. Yesterday was one of those days. We found a little music thingy that was perfectly in tune for 2.50. I wouldn't have bought it if I hadn't found cash in my wallet ( I almost never carry cash...) But Elijah really likes it and since it's in tune it doesn't grate on my nerves when he bangs on it. It only plays for notes, but it is a perfect scale and when he hits two or more at the same time the notes are harmonic, so it sounds nice. There was another one there, but the notes weren't in tune or something. So I really like this one! After we left there we hung out a Rachel's for the afternoon and then came home. The rest of the day was pretty uneventful.
This morning, before we went to the doc's I checked my e-mail and three of my items I listed on the yard sale thing had sold! So that's nice. It'll be nice to have a little play money (or whatever...) One lady is picking up two items today and then tomorrow we'll get rid of another one. No one has made an offer on the bed yet, but I hope they do soon. I really want it out of my house!
Tomorrow we are going to get our pics made. My parents will be here in this afternoon so they are going with us and then Rachel and Erin are meeting us over at the studio to get some pics as well. I hope the kids are chill with the whole thing. Hopefully, we'll get to go out to eat afterward. That would be nice.
In October Rachel, Erin, Jerry and I are all going to stay at my parents house for a week for vacation. I think it will be lots of fun! It's also going to be homecoming at Warren Wilson, so we'll play a little over there. I want to get a backpack carrier before then so that we can hike in the woods with our little ones. I think it would be lots of fun! I hope the leaves will be changing by then.
I guess I better get busy cleaning up before mom and dad get here! It is HOT HOT HOT here today!!!!!
July 13
I can't believe it! Our boy is six months today! Somedays it goes so slow, but for the most part, it is flying by. Elijah's new thing is scooting on his butt. It's so funny. We'll put something out of reach and he'll scoot his little self right over to it.
Yesterday we went to have pics made. We took my parents and met Rachel and Erin over at the studio. It was lots of fun. Jerry's co-worker gave us a gift certificate and this place makes you use the whole thing at once, so we got lots of pics. Afterwards we went for dinner and ice cream. The kids did GREAT! And I was really impressed with the photographer and the pictures turned out really well. We like this place because you get your pictures within 20 minutes.
My ear infection is still really bothersome. It hurts! But I think it is getting better. I went to my gyno today for a six month post natal/annual. She's dropping OB to have more time with her kid and husband. I totally understand, but I'm really bummed. She is the only all female practice in town. So she recommended a mid-wife for our next pregnancy...though she did say that she might start doing OB again in a couple of years...we'll see. Anyway, I'm 3 pounds under my pre-pregnancy weight! That's exciting! And I got a clean bill of health...always good to hear. (Also not pregnant...small blessing! I mean we'd be okay, but I really am not ready to be pregnant again...didn't really think we were, but you know it's always nice to be sure!)
Okay, the little 6 month old (or big) is really sleepy and fighting the sleep (hence grouchy!) so I'm off to help Jerry! ( a note about the pics... They are all digital images, in the studio they could zoom in and crop and everything. it was really cool. the photographer used a handheld SLR digital camera so he could move around us. Then you get to look at them on the screen and he edited them right there. We got to bring home a CD with all the pics, but not edited. Really a neat place!)
July 16
I spent yesterday and most of today in bed. My ear is killing me!!!! How do kids deal with this? Today it's just gross. All kinds of stuff coming out of it.... I hope that means it's getting better. I tried to sleep last night. Jerry took Elijah all night (except to eat of course) but my ear was killing me. The numbing drops are doing nothing! I did manage to take a long nap yesterday. But today I just cuddled with Elijah on the bed and read. I have q-tips with me all the time to get the grossness before it leaks out (sorry TMI.)
The good news is our riding lawn mower got fixed. I can't remember if I wrote that or not, but since I mowed our lawn last weekend, it doesn't need mowing yet. I'm just happy that it'll take less time to mow it now.
I had planned on doing some shopping this weekend (I did get a new pair of sneakers...Reeboks on sale for 27 dollars!!! They're purple and gray!) but that's been put on hold for a bit.
Tomorrow I'm canceling my dentist appointment because I can barely open my mouth wide enough to get a spoon in with food, much less a drill. I'll have to reschedule!
Jerry just asked if I wanted to get out of the house and I think that would be fabulous....anything to get my mind of my
!@#$%$%^ ear!!!!!!!!
July 18
Sunday night was a turning point for the ear crisis. Something popped and I was able to sleep and what not...i also realized the wonder that is the cotton ball. I stuffed some of that in my ear to catch the drips and it was much better (and probably more cost effective) than q-tips. I finished my anti biotic yesterday and have been taking low doses of ibuprofen to help with the swelling. This morning I realized I didn't have to let my raisin bran sit and become mushy before eating it, so that's a big plus too. My dentist was very kind and let me reschedule for next Monday.
This morning, after a walk, I filled up Elijah's itty-bitty swimming pool and let him play in the water for a bit. This was a first and he really wasn't so sure about it, but as the air got hotter, he seemed to enjoy it. He figured out how to get his hat off and that was probably more fun for him. I kept misting him with the mister on the hose, but he was not all about that at all! It felt good to me...IT'S HOT!!! I talked with my folks this morning and Elijah feel asleep while I was on the phone with them. True to form though it's only a 30-45 minute morning nap. That's okay, though. It makes him happier and he slept well last night. He's sitting in the pompazan right now blowing raspberries at me, but is getting impatient, so I am off to care for him!
So Elijah has been rather cranky the past few days. He's been boycotting naps and only sleeping an hour at a time in his crib (yeah he has ended up in bed with us the past two nights, because I do not do the running to the other end of the house hourly thing...) And today we could actually see the top of a tooth! Jerry and I both agree that if having to spend a few nights in bed with mom and dad is the worst of the teething, then that's all right with us.
Tomorrow we go for our six month check up. We have questions to ask the doc and are excited to see who wins the pool on his weight. I say 24, Jerry says 19.5, my dad said 25, my mom said 30...we'll see. I hate that he's getting shots, but I'm sure he'll be fine.
Megan comments on the size of the baby pool...it's pretty funny I agree, but for now I think it's the perfect size! Plus it was one dollar at The Dollar Tree, so ya know, you get what you pay for and stuff.
Claire recommended the book Babyville on her blog, so I went and borrowed it from the library. I must say that it was a good light read, but there was a point in there where the character Sam stressed me out a bit. She went a little haywire and I was going to throw the book, but the problem resolved itself in a way that I found acceptable. So I was okay with it. It is always interesting to me to read books written by Brits. They seem to do things SOOO differently and while I understand this was a work of fiction, I have to wonder how much of the baby care in there is non-fiction. For example, they seemed just fine putting their babies on formula and feeding them at 3 months! I would have never thought that about the British at all, but maybe I am wrong. Anyway, a good light read. Thanks for the referral Claire!
Speaking of things that are different in other countries... I was reading in
Mothering Magazine about the lack of mother's breast feeding upon leaving the hospital in the US. Many blame the hospitals selling out to formula companies. And while I agree that it is rather annoying to be sent home with sample formula even though you have marked that you exclusively breast feeding...I simply don't believe that this is the only reason that women don't breast feed. Anyway, there was a letter to the editor from a Canadian stating that maybe it wasn't the hospitals so much as it was the country. In Canada all women are given one year PAID maternity leave. 98% of women leave the hospital there breast feeding. At six months 59% are still breastfeeding exclusively. The rate in America (though I am not sure of the exact numbers at hand) are much lower. However, many women here must re-enter the work place sometimes within a month of giving birth. I mean there are, of course, so many other reasons, but I do believe that it would help if no one had to worry about money and job stability...(the men in Canada are given 6 months paid paternity leave!)
Anyway, there is my rant on breastfeeding for the week...
I hope that everyone is having a fab-o week. Think of us tomorrow at 9 (EST) as we take the little guy to get his shots!
July 20
My mom just informed me that she said that Elijah would weigh 25 pounds...who knows what dad said...so you know....pregnancy brain I guess. Mom also wanted a pic of the tooth....well....that would be rather difficult since it's on the bottom and Elijah likes to keep his tongue over his bottom gum (thank goodness!!!!) It took Jerry all evening to just get a glimpse...but soon enough it will be visible in his smile...Sorry mom...but soon!
Okay, off to bed for me...
July 21
Elijah is a healthy 21.2 pounds, 26 1/2 inches tall (though i think the nurse mis-measured) and has a head circ of 44 cm. For weight he is in the 95%, height , he's in the 50%, and head circ, he's in the 75%...not that that really means anything. Our doc said that he looked like a one year old. The doc was also impressed that Elijah was sitting on his own, could drink out of a sippy cup without much help and was a good eater. He addressed our concerns of Elijah still eating every three hours at night and the doc mentioned to "cry it out method" and I looked at him and said that I couldn't do it, but we would try some other ways to get him to sleep a little longer (as opposed to comfort nursing.) It's really not bothersome to me, but I don't want to make weaning in six months-ish traumatic (Claire any insight here?) He also addressed our concerns about Elijah seemingly trying to rip his private areas off. I have been caught between a rock and a hard place with this one. I want to promote self exploration and feeling free with himself, but I was worried he might hurt himself. Our doc assured us that he wasn't hurting himself, that he couldn't pull it off, and that this is completely normal. There were some other issues also addressed and I felt that everything was covered well. I really like this doctor. Even though I simply cannot do the "Cry it out" thing, he seemed understanding. Jerry and I are working on some alternatives for this problem and I am sure we will figure it out. (Thank goodness for supportive husbands!
)
Anyway Elijah is perfectly healthy. He's growing well (obviously) and though he was getting tired and hungry, did really well with his shots (only two this time!) He doesn't have to go back until he's a year old! It seems so long, but today I realized that this time next year, he'll be 1 1/2 years old!!!!!! I can't believe it...wow! So far Elijah has had no fever from the shots (we don't dose with Tylenol unless he has a fever. I feel that sometimes kids may have a reaction to the Tylenol as opposed to the shots. ) He's been a bit grouchy, but he slept for a bit this afternoon on my chest while we watched FRIENDS season 9 (Jerry ordered Season 9 and 10 as a surprise!!!!!! Now our set is complete!!!! I LOVE FRIENDS!!!!!!!!!!) So now I'm doing diaper laundry and Jerry is trying to get a grumpy Elijah to sleep.
That's the update for now!
July 24
While I really really really dislike the dentist, I must say that this visit was okay....for the dentist. I had to have a section of tooth number 30 drilled off and the decay removed and then the tooth rebuilt. Sound difficult huh? The whole process from numbing gel to leaving the building took about an hour. Now I have had my share of filling. I must say that my dentist did not hurt me at all. I didn't even feel the pinch of the needle. The most pain I have is my jaw hurting from being pulled and what not...
So my tooth is fixed. With any luck I won't have to have another one fixed ever...or at least for a really long time. Though I think this is only my third filling and actually it was on an already filled tooth.(my opinion... they didn't get all the decay last time...but who knows...) I have had a root canal on a front tooth, but that was from getting hit in the head with a soccer ball in high school and really has nothing to do with dental hygiene or lack thereof.
We went to Rachel and Erin's for a cook out yesterday. Man they know lots of people...of course, most of the people there were family. Still....ANYWAY, Bill did the grilling and it was very yummy! Cora made yummy tater salad and I fried some okra (very southern style.) All this was for a friend of Rachel's brother who is visiting from Germany and really wanted to experience the South. I think he'll get a good taste for sure. It was really fun. Elijah boycotted naps again yesterday and I was really worried that he would not be a happy boy last night, but he was great! This teething thing is really bothering him. He has a hard time sleeping and poop guy has a horrible drool rash around his mouth.
I must take a moment to thank my mother for ordering us diaper liners! As a cloth diaper user, they are now my favorite things! Since Elijah has started solid food, other things have become more solid...EWWWWW! The diaper liners are great. I just put them on top of his diaper and when he poops, the liner just gets flushed down the toilet and while the diaper itself is still soiled, it is not as bad as it very well could be. So if you are a cloth diaper user out there, I strongly recommend these for when the solids start!
Okay, Jerry is trying to put Elijah down and it sounds like he's not going down without a fight...I'm off to help and then to bed (or maybe a few episodes of Friends first...we'll see....I'm pretty beat....)
July 27
Napping
(a poem for Elijah)
we lie tummy to tummy
with your head snuggled between my breasts
you ear pressed close to listen to the secrets my heart
might divulge
your arms and legs fall to the sides like a
…big cat, koala bear, tree frog…
like a little boy
you are so little
your lips start to suckle
and I wonder what you dream
is it milk
a thumb
that you are looking for
i trace the shape of your toes
your fingers
your feet
your nose
your back
you smile that sweet smile that stops my heart
you are such a perfect being
i want to protect you forever
but I know one day you’ll
…fall, get sick, get mad, hate me, leave…
but no matter what
i’ll be there for you
kissing the booboos
hugging you through fevers
trying not to shout back when you are mad
trying not to cry when you yell you hate me
waiting for your return
always supporting you
always loving you
but for now
i am content to lie here with you on my tummy
and
nap…
so I'll start another folder then! I'm so excited about vacation! I just can't wait to not have to worry about the house for a week! Okay, my boy's getting cranky! Off to play with him for a bit...what a hard life I lead!