Monday, November 30, 2009

Operation Lose the Boob

Yep. It's official. We are weaning Grant. He is having a pretty big week. Not only is he teething (and now has 5 full teeth with 2 on the way), today he took his first unassisted step and is learning how to fall asleep by himself. For real this time.

We had Grant's 10 month appointment. He is 24 pounds and has only grown an inch in height. No surprise the doctor was over the moon with how healthy and good he is doing. He is just growing up. But she did say that now that we were ready to wean it may help with the sleeping (or lack there of) during the night. She again reiterated that he still associated being nursed AND falling asleep. So I have to break the connection.

So today he got no nursing for either nap and now I just nursed him, but put him to bed wide awake and mad as hell. She then told me to let him go for 15 minutes. Then go in and give him a snuggle and leave again. Then again in 10,etc. So when I was sure that he was done nursing and was on his way I put him down. He screamed like crazy for the entire 15 minutes (ok, I only made him wait 10. Progress comes in steps....) I rocked him for exactly 2 minutes (enough time to be sure I had gotten all the burps, damn acid reflux) then kissed him and put him back down. He screamed again for 3 minutes and is now sleeping. I am afraid to put Aid in there for fear he will wake up. But he did it. At least as I write this.

I am so proud of him. But it's so bitter sweet. I am so unbelievably done with the physical part of mothering a baby. I am lucky that it all went so relatively well and uncomplicated (aside from the bad back issues), but I am ready to be done and know this will help the back out as well. But on the other hand....Grant may very well be my last baby and that makes me sad. Sadder then I may want to admit.

I know I went through this all with Aid. And what I learned then is that Grant will need me in other ways. But letting go of these ways...well it tugs at the heart.

My baby is growing up. And I must not only let him, but I must help him.

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Happy Thanksigivng After All

I have gone back and forth on whether or not to post any Happy Thanksgiving sentiment. I can't seem to write or say anything that doesn't sound cliche. Or like what I said last year.

My girlfriend Kelly wrote something in her blog that stopped me. She said that Thanksgiving is one day that is more about being thankful for what you have instead of focusing on what you don't. And she is right. And it's something I easily forget.

If I am being brutally honest with myself, I am always wanting....I don't know... I want new cupboards that will actually look clean. I want a new kitchen floor that I don't have to mop two times a day. I want new carpet that is not so covered with stains it no longer looks clean even when cleaned. I want a finished basement. I want to lose more weight faster then I am. I want my parents to come visit more then they can. I want one more day with my Grandma. I want Bob to be more romantic. I want Aid to be potty trained. I want Grant to sleep through the night.

I could go on and on and on.

So when Kelly wrote this it really hit me. Because I do have so much to be grateful for. We went to Bob's cousins' for Thanksgiving. When we got home we all snuggled into bed and Aid sighed,"I am so glad to be home." It doesn't matter that there are things I wish I could afford to fix in this house. Because we have more then a house. We have a home. A safe spot for all of us. Filled with everything a family is filled with. Arguing, compromising, working, growing, laughing, playing, and loving. Are we perfect? Nope. Not even close. But at the end of the day, this home is filled with love.

That's what I am most thankful for.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

My Father's Hands

My father has strong hands. They are big and firm and have always worked hard. I have always felt like my father could do anything with those hands. He could fix anything, protect me from anything, take care of anything. (And trust me I have asked.)

My grandfather has the same hands. You can see how they have served him well. And if you listen to him tell his stories, you understand that he is incredibly proud of things he has built with those hands. He tells you about the buildings he has helped put together in some way all around town (Portland) in just about every conversation you have with him. I'm kind of impressed how often he is able to fit it in.

Grant has inherited these hands. I noticed the moment he was born. They are strong. And he uses them well. My girlfriend commented the other day that he had strong little paws. And while I laughed because we call Grant, "The Beast", I also felt my heart warm.

Because he has my grandfather and father's hands. He has no idea how lucky he is.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Well Wonders Never Cease

It has happened! I don't know if it will happen again. So I am taking the opportunity to document the momentous occasion!

We have officially used our Elmo potty (in the way it was supposed to be used) for the first time! And oddly enough we had fantastic aim. Granted there was a stream that hit me before we stopped it (!!) ran to the potty, sat down and finished!

That was a pretty stellar performance considering we have never practiced. No accident on the way there? Stopped and held it before sitting back down? Asking for a book? Asking for a treat?

I suspect that Aid has been paying very close attention to all of our conversations and lessons in this area. He just didn't want to. Where does he get this stubborn streak?? (insert appropriate joke here)

Way to go little man! I am so proud of you. You have always been like this. From the day you were born you took the world in (from my lap) deciding whether or not something was worth doing. It has always had to be on your terms. I kind of knew (despite my grumblings and pleas for advice) that you would do it when you were good and ready.

Now, please keep doing it....

Sunday, November 22, 2009

DADDY

Grant's first official word is....daddy! There is no mistaking. It is not a coincidental dadada in Bob's direction. It is D-A-D-D-Y!

Really?? Ok, fine. I'm proud of you.

I'll be even prouder when you say mommy.

Saturday, November 21, 2009

WWF

I have worked very hard to curb Aid's tackling/wrestling of other children. While it is fun to watch him and Bob (and now Grant) go at it, it does not transfer well to unsuspecting children on the playground. We have lots of conversations before we go anywhere about tackling and how even if someone wants to play chase...it doesn't need to end in a tackle.

This poor little boy is 5 years old. In all fairness he started the tackling game first and did seem to be truly enjoying it. He just had no idea who he was dealing with and the monster he unleashed.



But what a take down right? I was impressed and mortified all at the same time.

Date Swap

Me and Bob have been alternating Sundays with Frank and Bridgit (my brother and sister in law) for dates! If it's our turn for a date, they come over here and watch the boys for 3 hours, and vice versa. And I cannot tell you how much I have come to look forward to these Sundays. When you are in baby mode it is so easy to lose sight of the importance of couple time. It's also been a good form of birth control. While we love our nieces and would always always be there for them if they ever needed us to be...4 children is A LOT of work and we are dead by the end of those 3 hours. But it's worth every last second.





Kind of Impressed



As I was cleaning I noticed this.

Friday, November 20, 2009

Close Calls

I did not have to really baby proof things with Aid. He was completely uninterested in anything beyond being held for long periods of time. He was quite content with taking the world in sitting on your lap. He still is.

Grant, however... Grant is already on the move and is not at all content with a slow lifestyle. He is on the go. He crawls, walks (with the walker and scaling furniture) and pulls himself up and down on everything. And he is very interested in stairs. Everything.

So out came the baby gates. They are truly all I ever needed with Aid. With Grant every time I turn around he has pointed out some other baby proofing improvement that needs to be made. So out have come the chord protectors, I have moved furniture to hide the chords (which kills me because they are now blocking the vents but I have decided that energy efficiency will have to take a back seat to safety at the moment) I had to order an expensive furnace gate, I have to go buy more outlet covers, I have added the cupboard locks. I think I have done it all.

Yesterday I thought that I locked the baby gate. It is pressure mounted so if it is not balanced and locked just so it is not secure. I hate this gate. Grant was standing at the top of the stairs yelling at Leo, which is now his favorite pass time. Then Aid came upstairs. He pulled open the gate and I heard it slide from the wall. I whipped around the corner (I was in the bathroom) and grabbed Grant's ankle as he was headed down. Now, we have carpeted split stairs. So I tried to tell myself that if I hadn't caught him he probably would have stopped at the first level and been terribly upset but probably not permanently hurt.

But my heart stopped. This little boy keeps me on my toes. I cannot for a moment let my guard down because that is the very moment he will just go for it. I am fairly sure it will forever be my job to make sure that with all of the jumps he will take, I will have to give him the space to make them...but stay close enough to grab him before he hurts himself.

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Just Like Daddy

We went to visit Bob at his school (kids not there). He immediately had a blast with Bob's teaching assistant and was soon sprinting around the building happily screaming. Grant was flirting with all the girls.

We went into Bob's classroom. Aid ran up and sat at Bob's desk. "Look! I teaching!" He said as he pounded away at the keyboard.

He saw Bob's coffee cup.

"I need coffee to teach."

What do they say? The apple doesn't fall far from the tree?

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Uhh......



This looks adorable. And frightening. I walked in one time to find Aid putting Grant in a headlock and dragging him through the room. I freaked. Grant was giggling.

Good grief.

Friday, November 6, 2009

Grant Grows Up

I just cannot believe how fast this is all going. Grant just keeps growing up on me. He wants to be like his big brother and nothing is going to stop him.


We stand now. For long periods of time.


We crawl. Bob calls him Slappy McSlappy.


We get out of the stroller at the zoo....and are pissed when we have to get back in cause we can't actually walk...yet.


Don't let the monster out!

Oh Grant. You are still my baby. Aid made us a family. You have completed that family. I love you so very much.

The Gift That Keeps On Giving




Some may say I am crazy to put a water table in my kitchen. But it was a genius move. I'm telling you.

Thanks Mom.

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Thanks Aid....

Bob hard boiled some eggs. They were sitting in a bowl in the sink cooling. I came back into the kitchen at some point and they were gone.

Aid came upstairs holding his back pack.

Aid: "Mama, I got something in here for you!"

He proudly showed me his back pack. Yep. The hard boiled eggs were in his bag. Amazingly only one kind of chipped open.

3 year olds are so helpful!

Halloween

Aid went as a pirate. Kind of. Grant was going to go as a skeleton and wore his onsie once before it shrunk and we could not get it back on him. So he wore monster pajamas. Aid seemed excited to carve pumpkins and then refused to so me and Bob did. I could only get Aid to walk up one side of our block and down the other.So he only got like 10 little pieces of candy....he carries them around with him and doesn't even really want to eat them. We were asleep by 9.

Seems the traditions continues. We kind of hate Halloween.





(The nice smiley face pumpkin is mine.)

We tried. We all tried.