I dunno about that. But I do know that I am missing my boys like crazy right about now! This week my brother-in-law who lives across the country is back visiting, so my husband took the week off from work to hang out with family since no one has seen him in a few years. SO, because he was home, he also took Joshua back to New Hampshire with him for the week. (Boo for me!) Though, I know it is only fair since I have him with me most of the time for the time being.
I have to say though. It was sort of a nice break to not need to wonder about day care, or babysitters for a bit. I ended up working a fair amount of overtime, which is always good for the paycheck. Got to see some friends and catch up over wine. All-in-all, not so bad. I'm thankful to have a busy job and great friends and family down here to keep me occupied and same when my baby is gone for a week!
I'm sure as he gets older, I won't be so sad when he's gone, and people may not be so quick to want to borrow him haha (especially when he's not the only one anymore someday!)
I also can't believe that in three short days Joshua will be turning 19 months old. Where did that year and a half go?! I feel like I missed something! I promise, next week I am going to make a valiant effort to take some new photos and upload them to all of the usual spots. I am also sincerely hoping that my life settles down somewhat in the near future, and my whole family can be in the same place (and state) at the same time for more than two days in a row! Which will also mean that I can blog more, take more photos, and get back to freelancing, and maybe remembering things for more than three seconds at a time!
Please excuse my rambling blog tonight, just wanted to do a quick catch up on life! And share these two cell phone pictures of my boy being silly at the fair. :) I can't wait to bring him to the Big-E!
I am constantly battling with myself over food. Constantly. I wouldn't say that I am SUPER unhealthy, but I am certainly not the most healthy person I know, by a long-shot.
For awhile though, I've been working out at the gym with an amazing trainer, and going to some of the group classes she attends with a lot of other ladies who are all in to-die-for shape. And I've decided, it's stupid for me to work out so much, if I'm not going to make an honest effort to really take that next step, and make that life change towards healthier eating. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a junk food junkie now or anything, but I do enjoy a nice burger and fries every now and again. But I have a tendency to get lazy. And I'm sure it sounds stupid to some people, but by the time I'm done making food for everyone else in my house, and feeding and tending to the animals, and working, I could care less about what I'm eating. And half of the time, I'll make a great dinner for everyone else, and I'm so sick of looking at it by the time I am done I'd rather not eat, or eat ice cream for dinner, than eat what I've made. Maybe it's because I know if I eat it, that's one more plate I'll need to wash . . . who knows. Whatever the reason, I am stopping it now. Mark my words. From now on, I am going to attempt to make as many homemade snacks and meals as possible (and actually eat them). Probably I will need to plan a day to go to the grocery store, and a day following that to be a baking/prepping day. I am hoping that if I take out the stress, and negativeness of doing all of this on a daily basis, I will be more likely to enjoy it, and stick to the routine.
I think part of the problem is, My brain hasn't caught up to my current life. It is still in college (which was pretty long ago....sadly), where I walked everywhere, played softball for the college team, and was on my feet so much I hardy had time to eat! Fast forward to now, I sit at a desk at work, play with a one-year-old, my workouts have to work around the rest of my day instead of my day revolving around a workout. I never had to think about food before!
Another motivation, which I sort of mentioned in an earlier post, is, of course, Joshua. He is growing, and eating more of the things we eat. He learns new things every day and mimics our every move. I want him to grow up with good associations to healthy eating. Have it be a part of who he is, and part of what he wants to eat. And that won't work if I am not doing the same things as he is. Even now, if we are both eating, he wants what is on our plate, not his. He wants to eat if we are eating. I want to be able to share my plate with him and not feel guilty because of what is ON my plate.
So, that said, this is the first new recipe I found that I am going to try. We eat a fair amount of granola bars. So I'm going to make my own. Sounds easy enough, and probably cheaper than the boxed brands . . . I'll update with how they come out once I make it to the grocery store for supplies.
Wish me luck! And, if you see me eating garbage, or wanting to eat garbage, please slap my wrist, or hand me an apple or something. Thanks! :)
(this is from the blog posted in the link above... yummy, right!?)
Apparently we have entered toddler land. A few weeks ago. No one ever told me, or asked me if this was OK! Somehow, I just came to this realization as I was reading articles about what to feed a one year-old. I've been having a mini-panic attack ever since Joshua's one-year check-up because his doctor told me that he doesn't need formula anymore, to work him off the bottles and just give him cow's milk in a sippy cup, and that he doesn't need to eat the purees anymore, he can eat whatever we are eating now (with the exception of the high-allergen foods he has to wait until he is two to try.) Yikes!
Now, it's easy when they are just drinking formula, and eating jars of baby food. You know they are getting the right amount, they aren't hungry, and it's generally good for them. NOW all of the sudden, I need to re-examine MY eating habits, and lifestyle so I can be sure we are teaching Joshua good food habits from an early age. I don't consider myself Terribly unhealthy, but I certainly could do a lot better. Especially lately. I've been so busy, I usually make supper, but I don't eat it, I end up eating a PB&J at 10 pm when I realize I haven't eaten all day long. Now I am going to need to make sure I am feeding a small person AND my husband AND myself, wholesome, nutritions foods in good variety... all the time! And how much do I feed him?! I know they say babies (toddlers) won't overeat unless you force them, they stop when they are not hungry and all, but for as long as I've known Joshua... I am pretty sure he has never, not been hungry. I mean, this kid will eat me out of house and home before he is two if I let him I think! Yikes!
Yesterday Joshua had cow's milk for the first time. I gave him 4 oz. with his snack, eliminating one of the 2 bottles he was still taking. He drank it like he's been drinking it his whole life. Not even a funny face, a flinch... nothing. Which is a good thing, don't get me wrong. After I gave it to him I watched him, and his skin, like a hawk until it was time for him to eat again. He did great with that one, no hives, no funky reactions. But, later in the day, I gave him milk again, with his supper, and he broke out in hives (sigh). I am hoping it was just a matter of too much, too soon with the milk. So I think I will stick to one time a day for now, and give him baby yogurt and cheeses to fill in the missing dairy, he has not have a problem with either of those things. but no matter the issue, there is no feeling worse, than watching your baby break out in hives, especially when you don't know exactly why it is happening. He never seems bothered by the hives, just turns all red and looks itchy. Poor little man.
So that is that. Guess I'd better go make a shopping list and head to the grocery store so the kid and I will have more than ramen noodles to eat this week!
On a side note. Joshua is beginning to walk! He has taken steps without holding on to anything the past couple days, but no more than a few steps at a time. I'll keep you posted.
On another side note. Joshua is getting too tall. He can reach the top of the kitchen table at the edges. Note to self: Do not leave bowls of snacks on the edge of the kitchen table any more, or this will be the end result.
I have entered my little model into yet another contest! :) But this time, he NEEDS your help! Rebecca Deaton Photography is running a contest on her facebook page to win a free photography package of your choice. All you have to do is enter your fave photo or your little one on her wall and get the most votes!
Everyone can vote once. Just click HERE and 'like' her page on facebook, and find Joshua's photo on the wall there (below) and click "like" on his photo to cast your vote!
Joshua really wants a family photo shoot, we don't have any good shots of all of us! :) Thanks for voting!
Joshua and I took and lunch trip today to see my friend Katie and her new little man, Ethan. Ethan was born on February 11th and is absolutely adorable! I was holding him, and it was hard to remember when Joshua was that little now! Both boys were over 8lbs when they were born, and just about the same length too. So Joshua WAS that little. It just feels so long ago now!
Joshua had fun playing with some of Ethan's toys. Ethan was very nice and let him share :) Ethan also bought Joshua a birthday present! Now he has a couple new books and a new toy, and we was very excited about it (and the box it came in, of course!)
So here are some pictures of little Ethan. We can't wait until he is a little bigger and they can play together!
I know I already posted these on facebook, so for you readers who I am also friends with there, I am sorry for the repeat. But I figured I should get them on here too so everything is in one place for when he gets bigger and wants to see this stuff (if that even happens!)
So here they are. My little (almost) walking boy. He doesn't go without the dino yet, but MAN is he fast with it! And the other is his newest trick, whispering. He only does it for a second but it's still really funny, and cute.
Yesterday Joshua and I took a roadtrip to visit some of my good friends, and Joshua's newest friend, Nicholas (who is adorable, and tiny still!) A little while ago I met Rebecca Deaton of Rebecca Deaton photography, at my friend's baby shower. She is an AMAZING photographer and was nice enough to set up a makeshift studio in the house and do Joshua's (almost) one year photo shoot! I wanted to get some professional photos done to put in his photo book that is being printed as we speak. (I had a coupon to get a free one through Kodak which was about to expire... so maybe I procrastinated a bit. Big deal.)
I wanted to find him a "I'm 1" hat, or something like that, but then I realized that he probably would not keep it on his head anyways.
With Joshua's first birthday approaching, and my work load increasing between my full-time job and freelance, I have been playing with the idea of enrolling Joshua in day care part-time. I have ready things like, children who go to day care, develop social and language skills faster than children who do not. But on the other hand, I also know that children who go to day care get sick a lot more often than children who don't.
I was browsing around online at lunch time, just to see what there was locally. Generally, I think most day care facilities prices are ridiculous for most people in this bad economy. But, I did stumble upon a place right in Exeter, where my office is, that offers part-time and per-day day care rates. It would be $50 per day or $225 a week once Joshua turns one next month. I don't really like the idea of day care for a few reasons, like I said before, kids get sick more often when they go to day care, also it's very expensive and we don't have much as it is. But I can't help wondering if he might benefit some from going one day a week. When I am at home with him I am juggling working, him, and all of the other household chores. If he went in one day a week, it would normalize my schedule some, in that I wouldn't have to stay up till all hours of the night to finish a days work when he goes to bed and things finally settle down. And maybe it would help him develop and learn things that a trained teacher/provider can teach more easily that I can, and shouldn't I give him every advantage that I can?
I may fill in the form for more information and the schedule an interview. Can't hurt anyways. I still need to talk to the man of the house about this one. I have a feeling it won't be received well, but we'll see! Any ideas or thought are day care are more than welcome! I'm curious how other people feel about this topic.
I can not believe how fast this past year has gone! And I can only imagine what this next year has in store! Last year we rung in the new year quietly here at home as I was full of baby and about ready to pop and could not stay awake to save my life. This year, however, we celebrated with the Manchester Monarchs and the Great Baby Race!
The great baby race is something that the Monarchs do every year at their annual new years eve hockey game (who knew!) It was a crawling race, the babies would be disqualified for standing or walking/running. Oh, and a special thanks to Michelle, who pointed us to the WMUR link and sign up form for this, we never would have known about it otherwise!
So, needless to say, Joshua got in! There were seven other little ones "racing" for prizes. Top three finishers got great prizes from Tiny Totland which is down in the mills in Manchester. There was a solid wood toy box, a Wooden rocking horse, and a wooden rocking chair. And the winners got their pick in the order they placed.
Joshua was in surprisingly good spirits since he hadn't napped well during the day. I was half expecting a mental breakdown for one of many reasons. 1. We were sitting down for a long period of time (for a ten month old), 2. It was very loud in there, 3. There were strobe lights at times, 4. Mascot, 5. The game start time was 7pm, the race was between the first two periods, and his bedtime is usually between 7:30 and 8. But we brought a lot of snacks for him and his sippy cup (I swear all the kid does is eat some days!) and he did well! He only whimpered a couple of times, not even a real cry.
The Race:
So we met up with the other parents and babies at the predetermined meeting spot at the twelve minute mark of the first period and headed down to a room to wait to be brought out onto the ice. We were given the rules, and all the babies were given little kid sized Monarchs jerseys with their "lane number" on the back. Joshua was number 3.
They let us out onto the ice and introduced all of the babies in order on the jumbo-tron and we all lined up. One parent was on one end of the carpet with the little ones in arm, and the other parents was at the other end with their baby's favorite toy, snack, or whatever they wanted to bring to try to get that baby to crawl at maximum speed to the them.
On the "GO!," Joshua took off with only one other baby in front of him, he was doing good! Then, he spotted the baby ahead of him (who was 17 months-old by the way . . . 'nuff said *ahem* cheaters *ahem* (I kid) ) so Joshua started crawling across the mat diagonally after him. And of course, right in the middle of the mat was a little piece of dirt, or a twig, something, and Joshua spotted it and decided he should taste it, luckily one of the staff heard me shouting to get it away from him and took it away before I had to. He was not pleased with that and proceeded to sit in the middle of the mat and cry for a few seconds on his knees.
Because it was so loud in there, he couldn't hear me shouting, and was too distracted with everything else to be able to pick me out across the mat. One of the other sets of parents had brought a shiny silver ball with a bell in it for their baby (who was not crawling at all.) So they tried rolling the ball back and forth to catch his eye, and it caught Joshua's instead. Once he saw it go across he went after it and eventually saw me and his puff snacks and came crawl-running over for a second place win!
He picked himself out the toy box, he already had one of each of the prizes, but the toy box we figured would be handy because we could keep one in the living room where we are most of the time while the other stays in his bedroom.
After the game:
A bunch of the other people who came to cheer Joshua on came back to our house after for Chinese and drinks while counting down to the new year. Totally off topic, BUT, I got the best fortune EVER... and I quote, "Good clothes open many doors. Go Shopping." I think it's my favorite of all time!
So all-in-all we had a very exciting and fun night and were very happy to share it with some of our favorite people! Below I posted a you tube video someone (no one we know) took of the baby race... Joshua's the one who sits in the middle. Of course. and some photos people took for us. Enjoy! And happy new year everyone, bring it on 2011!
Now, I don't think any parent enjoys listening to their little human crying. So we do many things, from funny faces, to singing horribly, to giving pacifiers to calm them (and us.)
This week, since I am home from work all week, we decided to wean our little human off of his pacifier. He only really used one when he would sleep, or on long car rides anyways before. But among the many things we were told, and the jubilee of advice we were given, we were told by many that getting rid of the pacifier before he turns one is the way to go.
I think part of the reason is because of the fact that babies younger than one don't really remember things once they can't see them anymore, objects anyhow. I've had friends tell me this, and our pediatrician as well so we figured we'd give it a go.
The first day he cried for awhile before he could settle himself down to sleep. But on the second day he took his naps no problem, and we still have him one with a cut off tip (another thing we were told to try) and he went right to sleep then too.
However, last night, he fell asleep without it, but then woke up a couple hours later screaming and could not settle back down unless he was being held (after hours) we decided to give him the tipless paci for the night time. I know people say to let them "Cry it out" so we have been trying. But Joshua has never been the kind of kid who has been able to calm himself down easily without help so I am trying to figure out how long we are supposed to let him cry, or if he is even really ready to be rid of the pacifier completely. As I write, he his screaming in his crib, refusing to take a nap, even though he is clearly exhausted. As much as I hate to hear him wailing and crying so hard he is coughing . . . part of me thinks, if I let it go, after a couple days, he will have forgotten all about the pacifier and found a new way to comfort himself back to sleep again (I hope)
Once of the things I heard somewhere is that pacifiers are more for the parents than the babies, because babies will eventually find other ways to fall asleep, and sooth themselves. But, there is not much that can sooth a parent when their little one is wailing and there is nothing really wrong, and nothing you can really do to make it better besides giving them that little piece of plastic.
What's a mother to do? I think I am going to be strong and let him cry. He DID fall asleep yesterday without, so I know it's possible.
What advice do you other parents have with pacifiers? And letting kids cry it out? When did you start letting them wail and not running in to save them at night?
The quiet time between wails is getting longer now, Perhaps he'll be asleep soon . . . time to get some coffee!
Hi! I'm Anna, Joshua is my first little one. He is growing like a weed and is constant trouble now that he is mobile! I'm a busy gal, between working full-time, freelance work, blogging, and chasing a baby, I don't have much free time, but I wouldn't have it any other way.
