follow-up to the "waning about weaning" post

For those of you that may have commented earlier on my post waning about weaning (when did you stop breastfeeding?) I wanted to encourage you to visit again and read all of the comments that have since come in. There is a gold mine of experience and wisdom there among the feedback.

And for those who have asked, I also wanted to give a quick update with regards to where we're up to in the mommy's milk verses cow's milk dilemma.

I've decided to continue to nurse Levi first thing in the morning and at bed time for the time being, but during the day he's now drinking cow's milk.

One day a few weeks back I just tried giving him diluted cow's milk in a sippy instead of nursing him when he woke up from his nap... and he hasn't asked for mommy's milk during the day since! We were really lucky to have a smooth and easy transition when I introduced cow's milk (which reassured me he was ready).

He loves his sippy cup milk... and he still loves his mommy's milk to start and finish the day, so it's working out great for us! I love the freedom of not nursing during the days, it's not seemed to effect my supply for the other feedings (which I was a bit concerned about), he's still getting the benefits of breast milk for the time being, and I continue have my brief (very brief) moments of stillness with him in my arms that would otherwise be impossible to get with my busy little go-er!

I feel like it's a win-win-win-win. Yup, an all around win.

The other factor in my equation is that I'm not keen on breastfeeding two babies at once. For moms who choose to nurse a toddler and an infant at the same time - good for you! I think that's great if that's your thing. Personally I think it's just too much for me as I already struggle to keep the pounds on as is. (Breastfeeding has caused me to revert back to my 16-year old body size which is underweight for my height and quite honestly makes me feel waify* and unhealthy!) I know the body is an amazing and adaptable thing, but I already feel stretched to my capacity just nursing one child. I don't want to attempt two, thankyouverymuch.

So... this is where we're up to and I'm very pleased with our arrangement for the time being. It's a balance that's working really well for all of us, and I feel it will lend itself to a natural progression of weaning the last two feeds when Levi and I are both ready.

Dear friends, thanks to each one of you who took the time to comment on the original "waning about weaning" post last month. You gave some great food for thought - on a lot of levels. I'm so grateful.

love,

* Waify - pretty sure I just made that word up. But you get it... right? ;)

P.S. We're camping at the moment, so if I don't respond to comments and emails right away... that's why. No phones or internet for me!

regression and progression: the plight of a toddler

For the last several weeks, Levi has stopped saying mama and dada. He’s also stopped giving kisses, save for the very rare instance.

Oh, the torture! 

As a mom, all I want is to hear Levi call me mama when he’s trying to get my attention. (It sounds so much sweeter than whining!) And of course I desperately want my good morning kisses and pre-nap and bedtime kisses back. (Not to mention the impromptu ones that come in between.)

But alas, Levi’s lips are sealed.

On the other hand, last weekend he went from taking 4-5 steps at a time (which he’s been doing for what feels like ages now) to walking across the room. It was an over-night change. And of course in just a matter of days he’s also discovered he can walk all over the house, carry his toys around, and even play chase… all on his feet. Big boy. 

{And I swear he had an attempt at running this morning. Really? Really? Yikes people... This is for real.}

I was starting to wonder if his “no speak, no kiss” phenomena was linked to his developmental leap toward walking when I came across this:

Be aware that right around 12 months is when many children are learning to walk AND talk. These are huge skills, and each one can suck up all of your toddler’s physical and emotional energy for a while and lead to some weird behavior (aka toddler regression). For instance, it’s not at all uncommon for a toddler who’s been adding a word a day to his vocabulary to suddenly cease talking as he masters the art of putting one foot in front of the other. When you’re tackling the big milestones, it’s hard to multitask — toddlers can become so focused on the new skill they’re mastering (or just about to master) that their other abilities often waver a bit. (Source: What to Expect.)

So there you go, an explanation that makes perfect sense. (Sort-of?!)

Isn’t it strange to think that sometimes a perceived step backward is leading to an even bigger step forward? (I could get all deep and philosophical here, but just this once… I’m gonna skip it.)

Oh, the plight of a toddler. The tug between regression and progression.

Their little brains and bodies go on overload and they unconsciously regulate… as if to say, “One thing at a time mama; one thing at a time.”

I could take that advice for myself every once-and-a-while: One thing at a time Adriel; one thing at a time.

Dear friends, have you noticed regression and progression being linked in your child’s development? Was it alarming for you or were you able to recognize it?

progressing… mostly,

An update: After posting this... I got three kisses tonight. Heaven. *grin*

adriel booker | the mommyhood memos | 2010 
do not reproduce without written permission

oh teething, we will conquer you! or not. but we will try.

We have now successfully made it through seven rounds of teething from the time Levi was four months old… and we have five teeth to show for it.

How does that work, you ask?

Two starts (with an edge poking through and everything) that proceeded to move back up and disappear… only to again come in (to stay) later. For one of those, it came in a week later… For the other, it came through two months down the road after two separate agonizing weeks of drama.

Can we all say “frustrating” together now???

Word.

But now with a few rounds under our belt, I’m a little less intimidated by the teething process… and a little more able to roll with the punches.

Have we mastered it? By no means.

But we can (usually) see it coming now.

The only problem, with my little guy at least, is that it looks a bit different each time. But with some careful observation (and many a prayer under my breath) I’m proud to say that I'm learning the ropes.

It seems with Levi’s bottom teeth – they come in without much pomp and circumstance: maybe a few fussy days and a little interrupted sleep.

And then there’s the top teeth: runny nose and cold, fever, crying at the drop of a hat, too many night wakings to count, loss of appetite, Crankiness with a capital “C”, unusual daytime sleep patterns… and the list goes on. And on.

For whatever reason, it seems Levi’s top teeth cause a lot more drama than the bottom ones. And those rounds of teething are the doozies. The latest for example:

{Poor little bubba. Not only was he miserable… But mama insisted on taking photos of the misery too. What can I say? I was learning how to use our new camera. And for the record, he's better now. I'm not posting about current misery... These photos are from last month.}

As difficult as teething is for everybody, of course I'm so glad that Levi is developing normally - teething and all. (Let's not forget to count our blessings here folks.) 

And now, some of the things I’ve found that help with teething:

1. The perfect teether. I know, sounds like a given, right? But we have this one little blue fish… and I’m telling you, it’s magic. Levi can happily chew on that thing a billion times longer than anything else that could possibly hold his attention at this age. LOVE the fish. (Who knew that $4.95 would equal $1M when it comes to finding the perfect teether?!) If you experiment and offer a few options, then you're bound to find the winner for your little chomper.

2. A cold (frozen) washcloth. Take a clean washcloth, roll it in a tube, tie the ends together, dampen it, and freeze. I guess it’s the combination of the cloth and cold that does the trick.

3. A clean, peeled carrot. It needs to be a big enough carrot so that they can’t bite little pieces off (chocking hazard)… But give bubs a cold carrot to chomp on--and presto--some good, natural relief right there folks. The yummy carrot flavor is a nice little bonus and helps keep bubs interested a bit longer.

4. Mesh feeders with frozen fruit. Levi loves holding and chewing on those little mesh feeders filled with fruit. I pop one in the freezer until it’s semi-frozen and then let him chomp away. (I use it in the highchair – it’s messsssssy! But oh so fun.)

5. Pain reliever drops. I know, duh. (What does mommy want when she has a headache? And why would it be any different for a hurting baby?!) Using a small dose of infant pain reliever does wonders. As long as you follow your doctor’s orders, the instructions on the box, and your mother’s instinct, infant pain reliever will be your friend and help you get through those few long nights. Even better, it will help your precious baby get through those long nights. Let's not forget they they suffer even more than we do.

Dear friends, this list is by no means exhaustive. That would be boring. And pretentious. I’m just listing some of my top tricks so that you can fill in the blanks. What has helped you and your little ones get through teething?

set on conquering,

adriel booker | the mommyhood memos | 2010 
do not reproduce without written permission

how is it?

Wasn’t it just yesterday that my sweet little boy couldn’t even hold his head up on his own or roll himself over?

So how is it that today he is riding a bicycle?

And nearly walking on his own?

And playing the drums?

And jumping waves?

And taking long strolls on the beach?

And wrestling with daddy?

And crash-tackling cousin Jackson?

And taking rides on my shoulders?

And waving bye-bye?

And sitting on big boy swings?

And getting cuter and cuter... and more hilarious by the day?

Dear friends, what is your child doing lately that surprises you?

loving it all,

adriel booker | the mommyhood memos | 2010 
do not reproduce without written permission

these are a few (more) of my favorite things

It’s been a while since I’ve done a favorite things post… But there are so many notably precious things happening lately that I thought I really must…

So, my dear sweet boy, here are some of my favorite things about you at nine(ish) months old.

1.            The way your eyes light up and you wave your arms and squeal with delight whenever you see your daddy. {IveNeverSeenAKidLoveTheirDaddySoMuchAndILoveIt.}

2.            That sometimes during story time you now “read” to me and show me the pictures… and you always turn the pages. {MyCleverMonkey.}

3.            The way you immediately start clapping whenever I ask you, “Would you like to sing a song?” {CutestWayToAnswerAQuestionEver.}

4.            Watching you go crazy as soon as you see any person under the age of ten that you can potentially play with. {SlowDownSonYoureStillMamasBaby.}

5.            Your little voice “singing” along with mine… anytime, but I especially love it at bedtime when we sing the “sleepy song”. {HeresToManyMoreSongsMyDarlingTinyTenor.}

6.            Kisses. Millions of kisses! You pulling my face toward yours and planting big, slobbery, open-mouthers right on my smacker… as well as all over my cheeks and chin and nose and everywhere you can possibly land. And it’s never just one… but four, seven, sometimes twelve. {SlobbersNeverBeenSoSweetAndICantGetEnough.}

7.            Your little "Mowgli crawl” (Jungle Book) on hands and feet when your knees are slowing you down. {YouJustCantWaitToGetOnThoseFeetForGood.}

8.            The fact that anything new captures your imagination. {NeverThoughtAPlasticHangerCouldBeSoFun.}

9.            Your attention to details! Today you studied a flat, dark brow mole on my leg… trying to scrape and rub it off. Everything tiny has become fascinating. {YoureHelpingMeNoticeTheSmallThings.}

10.        The thrill you get on the swings as you throw your head back, close your eyes, and scream in delight as you hold on for dear life. {CanIPushYourSwingForever?}

11.        Watching your little tummy grow by the day. {LoveThatPooBearPooch.}

12.        The way you fearlessly throw yourself into the water and delight in the ocean and the pool and anything to do with water. {ThoughYourFearlessnessDoesScareMeALittle.}

13.        The sounds of “mama” and “dada”… {BeStillMyBeatingHeart!}

14.        Being an eye-witness to your transformation from being a crawler to a walker. {ICantKeepYouOffYourFeetEvenThoughIDesperatelyWantTo}

15.        That little gap between your two front teeth. {ImTotallyInLoveAndHopeItSticksAroundAWhile.}

16.        Watching you dance—bouncing up and down and waving your arms high—whenever you hear live music or the stereo. {ThisBabysGotRhythm}

17.        Laughing at the Cheerios stuck all over your face and chest anytime you eat them. {IsThereSomethingOnMyFace?YouAsk.}

18.        Catching a glimpse of you in the rear-view mirror as you start to clap whenever the stereo gets turned on. {MyMiniMusicLover.}

19.        Playing hide and seek and hearing you squeal with delight when you find me. {SoMuchFunAndSoDarnCute.}

20.        The discovery that you understand more and more words every day. {DevelopingInLeapsAndBounds.}

21.        That proud grin on your face and twinkle in your eye that you get when you’re walking along the table or the couch or with somebody holding your hand. {YesSweetieMommysSoProudOfYou.}

22.        Your little head burying into my chest and your arms wrapping around my shoulders and neck when we sing the “sleepy song” before bedtime. {UnlockingNewPartsOfMyHeart.}

23.        Tiny hands getting coordinated enough to touch gently… and yet usually too excited to do anything but slap and bang and wave with glee. {LoveTheFeelOfYourPatOnMyLegWhenYouWantUp.}

24.        Those cheeks… especially when you are storing an entire three-quarters of a banana in there. {JustWhenIDidntThinkThoseCheeksCouldGetCuterTheyDid.}

25.        Kisses? Did I already mention the kisses? {ShhhDontTellDaddyButILoveItThatIGetMoreKissesThanHimAtTheMoment.}

  

Dear friends, it’s a gushing-about-my-gorgeous-son-and-recording-the-preciousness kind of day. How about you? What’s your favorite thing about your child’s current age?

recording and remembering,

I decided to jump back on the bandwagon. 
Would you care to vote for the Memos?



 Have you registered your blog here yet?

adriel booker | the mommyhood memos | 2010 
do not reproduce without written permission

introducing baby sign language

Guest post by Misty Weaver, editor of www.babysignlanguage.com

Baby sign language is a way of teaching your baby to communicate by way of special hand gestures. It’s fun, it’s free, and best of all it really works! Based on ASL (American Sign Language), baby sign language it is a simplified version for babies and young children. You can start to sign with your baby from birth – or sooner. Many moms learn the basic signs while baby is still in the womb, so they're ready to go. The important things with baby sign language are to be consistent, have fun, repeat the signs as often as you can, and have a lot of patience.

How To Start With Baby Sign Language

It’s best to start with signs that you can introduce on a daily basis. Signs like Mommy, Daddy, Milk and More are great for beginners. More is often the first sign a baby learns! Signs that represent something which exciting or interesting to your baby will be easier for him or her to learn. Begin with these starter signs then build up your repertoire to include other objects, ideas and emotions. 

How To Sign To Your Baby

Practice the signs beforehand so you feel confident and clear about what you are doing. You need to make the sign every time you say the relevant word to your baby. Say the word that goes with the sign clearly, with good eye contact, while pointing to the thing or person you are describing. It’s important to repeat the sign as often as possible. Be sure to sign when your baby is alert and not tired. 

Make It Fun

Baby sign language can be an important part of communication for parents and babies, but it works best when you make it fun. Don’t take signing too seriously. Sign as part of your everyday routine and enjoy it! If you’re not having fun you’re doing it wrong. Baby will only pick up the signs and want to use them if he or she sees that you are enjoying signing too. 

Be Patient

Don’t expect too much from your baby – or yourself – too soon. Your baby is unlikely to be signing for milk if only four months old and you’ve been signing together for a week! Research by Dr. Joseph Garcia, one of the founders of Baby Sign Language, found that a typical baby who starts learning signs at seven months old needs about two months of repetition and exposure to a sign to start using it.

Basic Starter Signs To Get You Going

• To sign Mommy extend and spread apart your fingers. With your pinkie facing forward, tap your thumb on your chin. This is the sign for Mommy.
• To sign Daddy, extend and spread out your five fingers on your strong hand. Tap your hand on your forehead. Done right you will look like a turkey.
• The sign for Milk is a lot like milking a cow, but without the vertical motion – you are just squeezing the udder. Take both hands, make them into a fist, relax, and repeat.
• For More, flatten out your hands then bring your thumbs under to make an O shape. Then, bring your hands together and separate them repeatedly. Baby will often simplify "more" by clapping their fists together.  

Note: You can find Misty at Baby Sign Language.com and on Facebook.

Dear friends, don't you love that the sign for "Daddy" looks like a turkey?! {grin} We started using a few signs with Levi around 6.5 months old... He definitely understands what we're saying, but has yet to sign back. (He's now 8.5 months.) And you? What is your experience? Have you used baby sign language? Considered introducing it?


love communicating with my baby,

Have you registered your blog here yet?

adriel booker | the mommyhood memos | 2010 
do not reproduce without written permission