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BABY LED WEANING
SLEEPING THROUGH THE NIGHT WITHOUT TEARS
BUDGETING ORGANIC
CLEANING WITHOUT CHEMICALS
in the words of a 2 year old...
These days Max says so much it's hard to keep up with these posts. The biggest change over the last couple of months is that he now say things that are completelty his own ideas based on what he experiences or remembers.
So now we're the ones learning from what he says, not the other way around. When a toddler says something to you, it's a peek into their mind and personality. It lets you know what they are picking up from the world around them and the ideas they are getting from what you've been saying. It's also just hilarious most of the time.
On the serious side:
We were reading one of his old books about big and small things. There was a picture of a big and small boat sailing near each other and he pointed and said "Sometimes big boats help people".
Now here I have to make an embarrassing admission. We watched Cast Away with him over the holidays. He actually sat and watched the whole thing quietly like a grown up. This sentence had me falling out of my seat because it was the first time he made a clear reference to a concept we'd never discussed. Plus watching him watch the movie I was wondering what he was learning from it and I loved the fact that he drew a positive message from it.
The same day we were reading Monica Sheehan's book "Love is You & Me". There is a page that says Don't ever give up hope because you never know what tomorrow will bring. A few pages later there's a picture of a group of children and animals and he pointed to a dog who looked sad and said "Don't ever give up hope!" I knew that he was able to understand the value concepts presented in his books but this was a heart-melting confirmation.
On the funny side:
I love the dentist! I love it! (As if I wasn't already in love with this child. He's truly after mama's heart.)
I love the toilet! I love it! (He is not potty trained by the way. When I went on bedrest we decided to ease off the training until the baby is here)
Sometimes when you say something he doesn't want to hear he waves his hand and says "Whatever, blah blah blah, mama." and waves his hand. This one had me going oh no! do I really do that? because the mister certainly doesn't and he has to be getting it from somewhere.
"Stop talking, mama." (Doesn't need much explanation. Part of me wants to say something about not interrupting, but the thing is he's usually right.)
baby growin' [+ breastfeeding] food...
Aside from a few minutes of heartburn once a week, I've never had any of the usual discomforts, complications or gained more or less than the recommended weight during either of my pregnancies. I believe owe 90% of this to my diet. Like everyone I have my personal struggles, but one thing that's always been easy for me (high school excepted) is eating a healthy diet complete with variety, tons of fruits, veggies, grains, nuts and water and always 80-90% organic, and free of preservatives, caffeine, and most packaged/processed foods.
I think any woman who is pre-baby, TTC, pregnant or postpartum can feel amazing, achieve an ideal weight and weather any transition beautifully just from eating right and being active. So during the last week I started snapping pictures of what I ate before it disappeared. Below is what I eat in a typical day while pregnant or nursing. When I'm not pregnant/nursing I eat the same, only at dinner I skip the seconds I pile on to make sure I gain enough/make enough milk.
Breakfast Part I [fresh-baked by someone else whole grain toast w/butter or cheese]:
Breakfast Part II [2 boiled eggs & a smoothie w/2-4 different fruits, yogurt & water]:
Mid-Morning Snacks [grapefruit, chopped fruit w/yogurt, nuts & cinnamon]:
Lunch [cooked sprouted lentils w/quinoa, lemon sea salt & olive oil]:
Afternoon Snacks [dried fruit & nuts w/no preservatives, red cabbage with homemade dressing]:
Dinner [pasta with garbanzo beans, zucchini, parmesan and Salmon fillet]:
Dessert [homemade whole wheat oatmeal raisin cookies]:
Water: [I drink 80 oz of water during the day & another 8-16 oz in the middle of the night]
grapefruits and water [33 weeks]...
There's nothing like a patient man, a loving toddler, a bunch of colorful leggings and of course a grapefruit and about 12 glasses of water a day to beat the bedrest blues. Some days are really tough. Really tough. But we're getting through it somehow. My doctor says that around 36 weeks I can get off the couch and resume most normal activities. I try to keep my spirits up by plotting all of the organizing and (gentle) exercise I will pack in to those glorious 21 days, assuming baby does not debut early.
Week: 33
Baby: Baby is extremely strong and active and seems to get more aware of our activities by the day. We've finally decided on both a boy and a girl name. I think.
Boy or girl: Still don't know and won't until D-day. The mister says boy and I say girl but sometimes I do find myself thinking boy?
Currently craving: Still craving grapefruits and now water like there's no tomorrow. I easily drink 12 glasses a day. I've developed a strong aversion to meat, which includes the smell of it cooking, so we are temporary vegetarians again.
Weight: 146 lbs (that's 30lbs and I'm hoping for at least 5 more)
Birthing Preparation: I've begun this Hypnobirthing Home Study program as well as 2 other mediation series (including one that I used for Max's birth). I do them right before bed and sometimes when Max is napping. The trick seems to be not just visualizing and relaxing, but truly learning to release your muscles from head to toe and detach from all of your fear-based thoughts and emotions. Easier said than done!
Sleep grade: A- Really no complaints there except for the occasional difficulty falling asleep. This comes from thinking too much but luckily the meditations I do at bedtime are helping that.
Symptoms: None except for some lingering morning sickness, but compared to the 1st trimester it's nothing to complain about.
Wardrobe situation: Still wearing all non-maternity clothes. Leggings, tunic tanks, the mister's shirts and oversized sweaters. When I go out to Dr appointments I wear an a-line coat with uggs or wellies depending on the weather.
looking back...
The mister took this during week 32 of my pregnancy with Max. It was part of a series that for me captures that facing the unknown feeling that's so central to a first time pregnancy. How will life change? Who will this new person be? Will I die? No seriously, I felt so in awe of the fact that I was bringing a new life into the world that it felt completely impossible that I would live through the process.
Having Max around makes the second round easier because he is this constant, loving, effervescent reminder of how beautiful the transition is. When I look back at pictures like this it feels odd to think I was such a different person then. In a way, eventhough I'm working so much harder these days to keep it all together, life feels so much easier now. Not to say that motherhood is a big butter cream frosting covered piece of cake, but it's something like that...
stay baby stay...
Things have been quiet around here, well at least on the blog I should say. At home, between the pregnant lady and the 2 year old, things are far from quiet.
On Tuesday we had an ultrasound that revealed what I'd hoped: my cervix has stayed the same length 2.9cm. Yay! I began to think this was a normal pregnancy. I began to think I could do things like linger in Whole Foods for half an hour on the way home from the appointment, perhaps help cook dinner, eat in sitting partially upright, and even give in to some of my overwhelming nesting urges. I'd already tackled the kitchen cabinets (right down to dusting the fire extinguisher in the back of the cabinet under the sink) and I was simply aching to to the closets.
But on Wednesday, my regular OB check (thank God he does manual checks routinely) revealed that the baby has dropped down into labor position and my cervix is ripening (aka getting ready to dilate). Boo. Cue tears and manic preparation for baby's arrival, all while lying inverted on the couch of course.
This would be fantastic if I were 37 weeks but I'm 31. The upside is that while we are far from full term or from the safety zone, we are in a safe-er zone. The down side is that I'm pretty much freaked out now. While many women have stories of the baby dropping early and still carrying to term, dropping is also synonymous with eminent labor.
The good part is it's given me a good kick to get going on new baby prep, which is of course comforting and fun. I'd felt certain that I had 8 weeks left to prepare and so I'd basically done nothing but think about what to do. Something about 2nd time mommyhood makes you think you've got it all covered, but in reality there are new insurance forms to complete, miniature diapers to buy and hospital bags to pack, not to mention hypnobirthing methods to brush up on. I downloaded and began this hypnobirthing home study series by Penny Albertella.
Other than that we can just pray, relax, continue to prepare, and wait. And hopefully my body will keep this little one baking for another 6-8 weeks!
montessori at home: lacing beads...
Here is another one of the home-Montessori exercise we've been working on. Max enjoys creating his own string of beads and showing them off, and I enjoy watching him concentrate intently on getting the lace into each hole. You can start by practicing stringing the beads, and later advance to sequence modeling, wherein you create a sequence of beads and ask the child to create the same sequence on his own string.
This is a simple activity to make yourself (although it does take a bit of patience to paint the beads). There are many inexpensive sets, such as this one, that you can buy, but I enjoy choosing my own colors and letting Max watch the creation process, which I think encourages his own interest in and understanding about creating things. Make sure to choose beads that are 1" in diameter or larger. This makes it easier for your little one to handle them and easier for you to clean them up if the tray tips over!
MONTESSORI TUTORIAL: LACING BEADS
The aim of lacing beads is to build your child's concentration, manual dexterity and sequencing skills by teaching them to lace beads onto a string. You can buy a set like this or make your own.
WHAT YOU'LL NEED
1) 25 or so 1" or larger wooden beads (like these)
2) A small tray (like this)
3) 2 or more round shoe or boot laces around 24" L
4) Non-toxic paints such as Americana craft paints in 5 colors
5) Modge Podge
HOW TO MAKE IT
STEP 1: Paint an assortment of wooden beads in solid colors.
STEP 2: Wait until beads are dry to the touch, before finishing each with a coat of Modge Podge.
STEP 3: Allow to dry overnight or longer before placing them in a tray or basket and introducing them to your little one using the Montessori Lesson Presentation method.
Remember to keep this activity out of reach when you are not watching your little one closely! The strings and beads can be a choking or strangulation hazard for younger children.
[Photos and tutorial by bonbon mini]
