Infant yoga & massage.

So my friend, Jasmin, is in training to become a Doula and a few weeks ago she attended an infant yoga & massage seminar. Well lucky for me, I got to be her guinea pig for the class she is going to start! She started out with a warm up of kids songs where I wiggled Boston around, and moved his hands to follow the motions (like head, shoulders, knees and toes). The first time, last week, he would do everything but the toes part, he didn't want to bed down so far. But yesterday he did it all and had no problem with the bending! After the warm up, she went into a series of yoga poses. She explained what each pose was for (aiding in digestion, lengthening the spine) and he was fine with all of those. His favorite part by far was the massage. Apparently, he LOVES getting his feet rubbed! I found that hilarious, he had a huge grin on his face. When I got all the way up to the face, every time I tried to bring my hands down he would grab them both and shove them in his mouth. Yesterday when I turned him over onto his stomach to do his back, he almost fell asleep! Guess it was pretty relaxing :)

Well, that's nice to know.

So my husbands unit got a deployment order... completely out of the blue. They are leaving in ONE month. It's not even their unit going, but that unit doesn't have enough soldiers so they are taking his battery as well. They aren't going anywhere dangerous, so I'm not worried... it just sucks. He was suppose to go to school for MP, and he's going to miss the most important year of Boston's life. Anddd that means we won't be leaving Fort Sill which sucks pretty bad. I decided that I'll be staying here instead of moving back to Connecticut during it because really we can't afford it. And moving is too much of a hastle especially across country with a 5 month old and 3 animals. That would NOT be fun.

He may get 1 week of leave this month, if so we will be flying up to Indiana to stay with his mom. His grandma still hasn't met Boston, or any of his aunts. So that will be, fun, I guess. As long as I get to go to a zoo I won't complain and the flight is short lol. In October I'll be flying home to Connecticut for two weeks. It will be my moms 50th birthday, and I will probably have Boston's birthday there a few weeks early. It's going to be very hungry caterpillar themed!

Tell Me Thursday [Jobs!]

What was your first real job? (like, you paid taxes and everything)- The first job I had, was working at Stop & Shop (a grocery store) as a cashier. They also had a Dunkin Donuts inside so they stuck me over there a lot since I hated the front end and wanted to be in the Bake Shop but I wasn't yet 18. I worked there for almost a year. And it sucked. Big time. 

What was your favorite job? What job did you hate the most? - My favorite job was my last nanny position in Texas before we were forced to move to Oklahoma (army). The kids were 12 and 7, so I had a lot of driving responsibilities and homework help and they could really have conversations with me (I usually work with 1-3 year olds). The family was GREAT and we really became family to one another. We were all very sad when I had to leave. We still talk on Facebook :) The job I hated most was working at Toys R Us, which I did for a whole THREE weeks. It was incredibly boring, very slow, and I had to try to sell their damn credit card to everyone. I didn't sign up to be a cashier to be doing SALES which I will always suck at because I just don't care. 

What is your dream job? - If I could find a job that combined nursing, the zoo, and baking cupcakes... then that is my dream job. But, I'm going to school for Psychiatric Nursing, and if I could just skip anatomy I know I will love it! It will probably be awhile until I get my degree though due to the baby and the fact that I'll probably be pregnant again in the near future. 

Are you currently working? - I'm a stay at home mom to my 4 1/2 month old son at the moment. I have no desire to work in Oklahoma, where I will probably pay more for childcare than my job will pay. When I first got here I nannied for twin 5 year old boys a few times a week which was fun. They started kindergarten though in the fall so they don't really need me now!

What job should everyone try at least once? - I'm not really sure. But one word of advice I have is that even if you hate your job, do not quit after a few weeks unless you have another job lined up. 

Play At Home Mom LLC: Water Play for Infants

Play At Home Mom LLC: Water Play for Infants: It's never to early to start water play with your infant.  

Water play is great for your child's physical, mental, and social-emotional growth and there is no right or wrong way to play.  

Here are few things that we have been enjoying with my youngest. 

(Click the link to see a great post for water play with infants!)

New 3.5 hours schedule.

So we've been trying out a new schedule for the past two weeks, and it's been established nicely. He was ready to move on to a 3.5 hour schedule, I was waking him from every nap with the 3 hour schedule.

4.5 month, 3.5 hour schedule
8am - wake, eat play
930am - 1130am nap
1130am WEP
1pm - 3pm nap
3pm WEP
430pm - 6pm nap
6pm WEP
7pm bath
730 nurse & bed

I made the last adjustment just yesterday. We were feeding at 6pm, then putting to bed at 730 (with no nursing) and doing a dream feed at 930. I hate the dream feed. Once I put him to bed I don't want to have to feed him again or wake him up, so last night I tried nursing him a little bit when I put him to bed and he slept until 230, same as when I feed him at 930. So I'll be skipping that from now on! He is eating once during the night, hopefully he will start pushing that forward farther in the coming weeks.

Mommy Talk Tuesday! {Potty Training!}

This week's topic was selected randomly from your topic suggestions via random.org! The topic is Potty Training!!  

As mother's, potty training is something we all have to face! It can really be a tough milestone to achieve! Give us your thoughts on potty training! Have you potty trained your little one? When did you start? How did it go? What was the hardest part of potty training?  Also, give any tips you have for those who haven't potty trained yet! 

If you haven't potty trained yet,tell us what you questions and concerns you have about future potty training! Those of us who have potty trained might be able to help ease some of those fears and answer some of those questions you have.

I have a little bit of experience with potty training, even though I only have a 4.5 month old. I've been a full time nanny since I was 17 (about 5 years) and in Los Angeles I took care of twin 3 1/2 year old boys. Well, one of them was sort of potty trained (he would have a lot of accidents but still knew what he was suppose to be doing), and the other one just did NOT care at all. So that's probably my biggest fear when it comes time to potty train. That Boston just won't care (if he's as laid back then as he is now, I can see this happening) and I'll still be trying to train him at age 4 or something! I really like schedules, lists, planning things, and I know this does not always work out well for children! They need to do things at their own pace, and if you push them when they aren't ready it can completely backfire and produce the exact opposite of the desired outcome. So I'm going to have to learn to be patient, and wait it out and see how it goes. Luckily, this won't be any time soon!

Meal Planning Monday (yes I know it's Tuesday).

Joining in a Monday Meal Planning Monday link up. The original post can be found clicking the button above. I am using HowDoesSheDoIt.com to plan out my menu for the week. You can find tons of recipes, then add them to your meal planner and it automatically makes a shopping list for you of all the ingredients you will need for the week! 
MondayFour Cheese Baked ZitiTuesdayCheesy Chicken and Veggie MacWednesdayChicken and Cheese EnchiladasThursdayBreakfast for Dinner: Pancakes & SausageFridayChicken, Broccoli, & Garlic White Pizza
I am keeping last weeks recipes about the same, because last week we got really busy and I didn't get a chance to make most of the things I had planned! So this week I'm already on track, also going to make banana nut bread today!

Teething = HELL.

So apparently, teething is the worst thing on the face of the earth. Almost nothing makes my baby cry. He is very calm and laid back about pretty much anything. He will whine/cry when he gets hungry or over tired, but that's about it. Well, not so now that he is getting two teeth in on the bottom. He was FREAKING out yesterday. The night before he woke up at 10, 12, 2, 3, 5 then finally 815. Usually he wakes up at 2 or 3, that's it. And of course, it was after a night that we had people over and stayed up super late. Needless to say, I felt like death yesterday. So last night I was cooking dinner and he wakes up after only 30 minutes of a nap, screaming. Of course, it's also the one night that my husband decided to go look at some stupid gun with his friend instead of coming straight home after work.

So I'm trying to cook four cheese baked ziti, while holding a screaming infant. It wasn't pretty. I gave him tylenol, teething tablets, put his baltic amber teething necklace on that just came yesterday in the mail, shoved a frozen wash cloth into his mouth... still crying. Luckily my husband came home and I fed him and he was able to get the food out of the oven when the timer went off. He was okay the rest of the night and luckily slept from 730-230 at which time I fed him again and gave him some more tylenol and teething tablets, then back to sleep until 715. He's much happier today! But usually he doesn't get angry until later, so we'll see how he is tonight. You can tell he's MUCH happier today from the picture :)

In other news, yesterday we had a play date at our friend, Missy's, house. We usually all go to the mall play area on Mondays, but it is spring break so we decided that probably wasn't a good idea. So we had everyone bring a healthy snack and went to her house. The kids all had a lot of fun, and I brought a bunch of cloth diapers for my friend Anita to try out. I think so far I've already gotten 3 more people into cloth diapering, maybe more! Our new alva diapers came the other day, but I'll post that in a separate post later on. Tonight I'm going to a group of babywearing mom's and hopefully learning how to use my wrap on my back, because I SUCK. I can't even get him on my back to start the whole thing off, so hopefully I figure it out later. A lot of other ladies want to try out my wrap as well, but I'll also save that for another post as I just realized I haven't posted about babywearing OR cloth diapering yet! Tomorrow my friend who is training to become a Doula is using Boston as her test subject for baby yoga and baby massage. It's going to be so much fun!

5 reasons why every parent should consider using cloth diapers.

This blog post was taken from Half Pint's Boutique Blog.

FIVE REASONS WHY EVERY PARENT SHOULD CONSIDER USING CLOTH DIAPERS29 Feb 2012

First of all, I would like to say the purpose of this post is not to offend anyone who does not use cloth diapers, but rather educate people about the benefits of cloth. I know cloth diapers may not be for everyone and we all must make decisions that are best for our families. I just hope to share some information about how beneficial cloth diapers can be. Many people today do not even realize that they are an option. 

When I talk about using cloth diapers most people look at me like I’ve lost my mind. However, the world of cloth diapering is very different from what it used to be. Here are 5 reasons why every parent should at least consider using cloth diapers.

1. Chemical Exposure

Today we are exposed to so many chemicals in our daily lives. Some of them we have little control over, but diapers are a place where our babies are being exposed to chemicals and we can take control over it.
Many people use disposable diapers without giving any thought as to what is actually in the diapers. Unfortunately, most disposable diapers contain harmful chemicals. The first chemical that is present in disposable diapers is Dioxin.Dioxin is found in diapers due to the bleaching process that the paper in disposable diapers goes through. Dioxin is a carcinogenic chemical, listed by the EPA as the most toxic of all cancer-linked chemicals.  It is banned in most countries, but not the U.S. Disposable diapers contain Tributyl-tin (TBT), this pollutant has been known to cause hormonal problems in humans. The last chemical that is present in disposable diapers is sodium polyacrylate, a type of super absorbent polymer (SAP). This is the chemical that turns liquid into a gel inside the diaper. This substance improves the environment for toxin-producing bacteria. Unfortunately chemical exposure has become part of our daily lives, but perhaps we should consider limiting our children’s’ chemical exposure as much as we can control.

      2. Environmental Impact
We are always hearing about how to “go green” and make changes to help our environment. However, many people don’t even think about the impact that disposable diapers have on our environment. According to the Real Diaper Association (RDA), “It is estimated that 27.4 billion disposable diapers are consumed every year in the U.S. The instructions on a disposable diaper package advice that all fecal matter should be deposited in the toilet before discarding, yet less than one half of one percent of all waste from single-use diapers goes into the sewage system. Over 92% of all single-use diapers end up in a landfill. In 1988, nearly $300 million dollars were spent annually just to discard disposable diapers, whereas cotton diapers are reused 50 to 200 times before being turned into rags. No one knows how long it takes for a disposable diaper to decompose, but it is estimated to be about 250-500 years, long after your children, grandchildren and great, great, great grandchildren will be gone. Disposable diapers are the third largest single consumer item in landfills, and represent about 4% of solid waste.  In a house with a child in diapers, disposables make up 50% of household waste. Disposable diapers generate sixty times more solid waste and use twenty times more raw materials, like crude oil and wood pulp. The manufacture and use of disposable diapers amounts to 2.3 times more water wasted than cloth. Over 300 pounds of wood, 50 pounds of petroleum feedstocks and 20 pounds of chlorine are used to produce disposable diapers for one baby EACH YEAR.”

         3. Financial Savings
Cloth diapers are not only better for your baby’s health, better for the environment, but can also save you money. The RDA said it best,“We estimate that each baby will need about 6,000 diapers during the first two years of life.  The following estimates are based on prices in San Francisco, California
Disposables .  For these calculations, let's assume that a family needs about  60 diapers a week.  In the San Francisco Bay area, disposable diapers cost roughly 23¢ per store-brand diaper and 28¢ for name-brand.  This averages to 25.5¢ per diaper.  Thus the average child will cost about $1,600 to diaper for two years in disposable diapers, or about $66 a month.
Diaper Services .  Subscribing to a diaper services costs between $13 and $17 each week depending on how many diapers a family decides to order.  Let's assume the family spends roughly $15 a week for 60 diapers a week.  This equals $780 annually and averages to $65 a month.  Over the course of two years, the family will spend about $1500 per baby, roughly the same cost as disposables, depending on what type of covers are purchased and what type of wipes are used.  If one adds in the cost of disposable wipes for either diapering system, the costs increase.
Cloth Diapers.   For cloth diapering, each family will probably need about 6 dozen diapers.  The cost of cloth diapering can vary considerably, from as low as $300 for a basic set-up of prefolds and covers, to $1000 or more for organic cotton fitted diapers and wool covers.  Despite this large price range, it should be possible to buy a generous mix of prefolds and diaper covers for about $300, most of which will probably last for two children.  This means the cost of cloth diapering is about one tenth the cost of disposables, and you can spend even less by using found objects (old towels & T-shirts).
National Costs.  According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there were about 19 million children under four in 2000.  We could probably assume that there are about 9.5 million children under two and therefore in diapers at any one time.  Based on previous studies, we estimate that 5-10% of babies wear cloth diapers at least part time.  We will average these figures to 7.5% of babies in cloth diapers and 92.5% in disposables.  This means that about 8.8 million babies in the U.S. are using 27.4 billion disposable diapers every year^. Based on these calculations, if we multiply the 8.8 million babies in disposable diapers by an average cost of $800 a year, we find that Americans spend about 7 billion dollars on disposable diapers every year.  If every one of those families switched to home-laundered cloth prefold diapers, they would save more than $6 billion¹⁴, enough to feed about 2.5 million American children for an entire year.  Coincidentally, the 2002 U.S. Census reveals that 2.3 million children under 6 live in poverty.
Tax Savings.   In some specific circumstances, when cloth diapers have been prescribed for the treatment of a disease, tax savings may be available through the use of flexible spending accounts and medical expense deductions. This could represent a 10% - 35% savings on the cost of diapers depending on the family's tax rate. “
The bottom line, cloth diapers can save you money!!

       4. Baby’s Comfort
Disposable diapers are made of paper and plastic. However, you can find cloth diapers in a variety of fabrics such as: organic cotton, bamboo, hemp, microfleece, and suedecloth. Some prefer natural fibers versus synthetic, but all of these fabrics are soft against babies skin. There also seems to be a lower incidence of rash in cloth-diapered babies. Without the chemicals of disposables present, and a good wash routine, most cloth diapering families do not have issues with diaper rash. As parents, we all want our children to be comfortable, cloth diapers can provide soft fabric against what is most precious to you-your baby!
       5. Adorable!Now, this reason may not be as important as the others, but you just can’t help but find the fluffy butt of cloth-diapered babies absolutely adorable. No longer are cloth diapers white squares with plastic pants. You can find cloth diapers in many different fabrics, as well many different printsand colors. Just be careful, once you get started it can be very addicting.

I hope this blog post has challenged you to consider cloth diapers as an option. Every cloth-diapering parent has a story and a reason why they chose to put aside the convenience of disposable diapers and use modern cloth diapers. Hopefully some of these reasons listed above have made you think about cloth diapers as an option. Now, I challenge you to think about reasons why you shouldn’t use them? What is more important to you? Is there a good reason not to use them? Those are just a few questions to consider.  I will also be blogging about myths and misconceptions of cloth diapers in the upcoming weeks. If you have any questions about cloth diapers please feel free to contact us using our website (www.halfpintsbaby.com). I am always more than happy to answer questions, or direct to where you can find the information you may be looking for.  Until then, be blessed!
~Tara

Mythbusters - Cloth Diaper edition.

This blog post was taken from Half Pint's Blog Boutique.

MYTHBUSTERS-CLOTH DIAPER EDITION!Yesterday
 
Cloth Diapering Myths Debunked!
 
Okay, we’ve all heard them. “You’re doing what? Cloth diapers, why would you use those? Isn’t it gross?” Those are just a few of the comments I get when I tell people that I use cloth. I decided to do a little myth busting and put some rumors to rest. Here are six of the most common myths I hear and why they are simply just that, myths.
 
Myth #1- I don’t have time!
 
Okay, who really has time for any laundry? The truth is I do one extra load of laundry every other day. It maybe adds 10 minutes to that particular day. It’s really not a time issue at all. We all have to make time to wash our clothes, washing diapers really doesn’t take a lot of extra time.  We can manage to find an extra 30 minutes to watch a ridiculous reality show, but not an extra ten to toss a few diapers in the washer. Depending on what type of cloth diapers you purchase, you may have to take some time to prepare them to be used after they are dry. For example, a pocket diaper needs to have an insert stuffed inside before it can be used. I always do this when my diapers come out of the dryer, that way at diaper changing time I can simply grab and go. I actually find sitting down with a pile of diapers to be folded and stuffed therapeutic. I usually do it after my little one is in bed, and it’s part of my relaxing evening time. Although, if you don’t have extra time to do that you can simply purchase diapers that are considered All-in-One diapers, meaning they are all one piece, just like a disposable. So, if time is an excuse reconsider your thinking because it really doesn’t take a lot of time and you can purchase diapers that don’t require any preparation.
 
Myth #2-Cloth diapers are unsanitary.
 
I’ve gotten some crazy, or disgusted looks when I tell people we use cloth diapers. “Isn’t that gross?” “You wash them yourself?” are just a few of comments I get on a regular basis.  The truth is whether you use cloth or disposables you are going to have to deal with your child’s poop at some point.  Cloth diapers don’t really require you to do anything repulsive. If your child is exclusively breastfed you can simply take the diaper off, toss it in a pail, and toss it in the washer without doing anything extra. Breastfed babies’ poop happens to be water-soluble (just another benefit to breastfeeding). The washing machine cleans and disinfects with no extra work. Once your baby begins eating solids, or if they are on formula you will have to dump the solids prior to putting them in the washing machine. If you read the label on disposable diapers this is supposed to be done even with disposables. All solids should be dumped. There are even these convenient diaper sprayers that attach to your toilet and allow you to spray anything right into the toilet. It’s so easy and convenient, and no more work than you should be doing for disposables.
 
Myth #3- Cloth diapers are complicated.
 
Cloth diapering can definitely be overwhelming at first, just because you may not have anyone to talk to about how to get started and the world of cloth diapering has really changed and there are SO MANY options. When I first started I was surprised at the variety and definitely overwhelmed. Luckily, there happens to be a HUGE supportive online community for cloth diapering. There are so many helpful blogs and websites that are run by incredibly helpful moms. I got started by following a blog and it really helped me figure things out. There are even more resources available since I started. Cloth diapers themselves are really no more complicated than disposables. There are some cloth diapering “systems” that are a little more complicated, but if simplicity is important to you there are plenty of simple options available.
 
Myth #4 Cloth diapers are so expensive!
 
So, this myth is partially true. There are some expensive cloth diapers out there. However, you do not have to choose to use them if you are interested in saving money. Most cloth diapering families that use cloth end up saving approximately $1,200 dollars a year. This could be more or less depending on what type of diapers you choose to go with. Even if you end up going with some diapers that are a little pricier, you will still be saving money in the long run. Many cloth diapers are made to fit babies from the newborn (about 9lbs) stage until they are potty trained. There are also many options that are made to fit smaller babies. The truth is cloth diapers will save you money in the long run, how much money simply depends on the types you chose to use.
 
Myth #5- Daycare won’t allow cloth diapers.
 
There may be some daycares out there that may not allow them, but the truth is more and more daycares are jumping on board once they see what modern cloth diapers are like. You can expect that they won’t wash them for you, but it’s really no different to them to throw a disposable in the trash or throw your cloth diaper in a wet bag.  If you chose a simple cloth diaper for them to use, there is no extra work involved at all. You just simply have to ask and show them exactly what modern cloth looks like. So, if your daycare won’t allow them and you really want to use cloth, it may be worth some time to show them what the diapers are like, and if they still say no you could always look for a different daycare.
 
Myth #6 I won’t be able to use cloth diapers unless I’m at home.
 
This one is so wrong! There is no difference in using cloth at home or when you are out. You simply placed the used diaper in a wetbag. These bags are designed for diapers. They seal, preventing any smells, liquids, or solids from escaping. If you don’t like the idea of carrying around whole dirty diapers there are many other options available. There are many cloth diapers on the market today that can be used with disposable inserts. These can simply be thrown away and replaced when you change a diaper. There are also flushable liners that can be used to “catch” a mess. These are simply flushed right down the toilet. Cloth diapering on the go is very possible, and quite simple.
 
When I first started cloth diapering I expected it to be a lot of work, but it was something I felt strongly about, so I knew it would be worth it. Honestly, it’s so much easier than even I expected! I cloth diaper 24/7 whether I’m at home or out and about and I don’t find it to be an inconvenience at all. I hope some of these myths have been busted for you! If you or someone you know is considering cloth, but don’t know where to begin please DO NOT hesitate to contact me. I have tons of resources I can share and I love doing it! Happy Diapering!
 
Be Blessed,
Tara

1 to 6 months milestone chart.

Child's Age	Mastered Skills (most kids can do)	Emerging Skills (half of kids can do)	Advanced Skills (a few kids can do)
1 month	Lifts head when lying on tummy Responds to sound Stares at faces	Follows objects briefly with eyes Vocalizes: oohs and aahs Can see black-and-white patterns	Smiles, laughs Holds head at 45-degree angle
2 months	Vocalizes: gurgles and coos Follows objects across field of vision Notices his hands Holds head up for short periods	Smiles, laughs Holds head at 45-degree angle Makes smoother movements	Holds head steady Can bear weight on legs Lifts head and shoulders when lying on tummy (mini-pushup)
3 months	Recognizes your face and scent Holds head steady Visually tracks moving objects	Squeals, gurgles, coos Blows bubbles Recognizes your voice Does mini-pushup	Rolls over, from tummy to back Turns toward loud sounds Can bring hands together, bats at toys
4 months	Smiles, laughs Can bear weight on legs Coos when you talk to him	Can grasp a toy Rolls over, from tummy to back	Imitates sounds: "baba," "dada" Cuts first tooth May be ready for solid foods
5 months	Distinguishes between bold colors Plays with his hands and feet	Recognizes own name Turns toward new sounds Rolls over in both directions	Sits momentarily without support Mouths objects Separation anxiety may begin
6 months	Turns toward sounds and voices Imitates sounds Rolls over in both directions	Is ready for solid foods Sits without support Mouths objects Passes objects from hand to hand	Lunges forward or starts crawling Jabbers or combines syllables Drags objects toward himself

I really like how this milestone chart from BabyCenter is set up. I like looking in the "advanced" column and seeing that Boston can do most or all of those things for the month :) He is 4 1/2 months right now, or 3 1/2 months by adjusted age. For 3 months he can do everything in all columns except roll over, which is under the advanced column (he has done it once a few weeks ago, but apparently that was enough for him lol). For 4 months he does everything in the first column, and grasping toys in the second column. He is soon to be cutting first tooth! And I think they should update the solids info since babies really shouldn't be eating solid food until 6 months, but I've given him a few spoonfuls of applesauce to keep him happy if we go eat at a buffet, and he sure does love it!


Looking at the 5 months columns, I'm not sure how you would tell you baby is distinguishing between colors... not like I can read his mind! He does play with his hands, not his feet yet. I think he's too chubby to get to his feet. 

Baby Merlin's Magic Sleepsuit.

This post is part of the "Weekend Blog Hop," from 7 Kids & Counting

Well, over a month ago Boston decided to get so massive that he would no longer fit into his Miracle Blanket. I decided to order Baby Merlin's Magic Sleepsuit, since it goes up to 9 months. I got the 6-9 month suit even though he was only a little over 3 months, because again, he is massive. Well it worked right away! I mean it's not "magic" unless maybe you didn't have a good sleeper before, but I do. He falls asleep very quickly and stays asleep through his whole nap, and the same amount at night as he was.

Well now I'm wanting to get him out of it. I thought everyone had said around 4 months is when you stop swaddling because the startle reflex is gone. Well, maybe it's because he was a month early... but he certainly isn't ready! I can get him to fall asleep fine without it, but he wakes up 45 minutes into his 2 hour naps and freaks out until I either get him up, or put the sleepsuit back on. At which time he promptly falls right back asleep until I wake him from the nap at 2 hours.

The website says when you are weaning, to layer up the pajamas to get the same effect, then slowly take layers away. If only he slept in pajamas, or wore clothes ever. Very rarely is he wearing anything but a onesie unless it's cold and we are going outside! So I guess my little weaning adventure is ending as soon as it began. I'll try again in a month. Anyone have any good tips for weaning? It's hard finding tips for this because normally people suggest, "swaddle with one arm out first." Well that's not possible in a zip up suit!

Teeth, already?!

Yup. My 4 1/2 month old is teething. And not just that teething, where it goes on for 4 months until they get the first tooth. I can SEE two teeth on the bottom under the gums, and can feel one of them as of today. Isn't it a little early for teeth?! I was hoping I'd get a few more teeth-less months before he starts chomping on my nipples as he occasionally likes to do.

Here are 5 Signs Your Baby is Teething from Dr. Sears:

FIVE SIGNS YOUR BABY IS TEETHING

• Bulging gums – you can actually see the outline of the teeth as they are bulging inside the gums. The middle bottom teeth are usually the first place this happens.
• Drooling – it will seem like someone left a "drool faucet" on inside your baby's mouth.
• Fussing – baby often will become cranky and more difficult to console.
• Night waking – most babies sleep fairly well between one and four months of age, but now the honeymoon is over! Beginning around four months of age, baby may start waking up much more frequently at night.
• Biting – baby will start chewing on everything he can get his hands, or gums, on – his fingers, your fingers, toys, and especially the breast.

 Well, I can see the teeth underneath. He is drooling like CRAZY. He isn't very fussy, but more so than NEVER being fussy like usual. He is not waking more during the night, that's the only sign he does not have. And Biting. Yes. I think I'm going to look at him one day and he's just going to have consumed both his hands. Gnaws at them all day long, and if he can get ahold of my fingers those get gnawed to death too. He also has a low grade fever of about 99.5.

FOUR TEETHING SYMPTOMS THAT ARE HARMLESS

There are several symptoms most babies exhibit during teething. DON'T WORRY. These are only temporary.

• Drool rash – your baby may get a red, raised rash on the face, lips, chin, neck, and chest. Gently wash with warm water and pat dry. A lanolin ointment is a good treatment.
• Diarrhea – this is generally mild and does not require any special treatment.
• Cough – the abundance of saliva often drips down baby's throat and can cause coughing or gagging.
• Fever– baby may experience low-grade fevers less than 101. If your baby has a fever higher than this, click on fever for more info.

I was told to buy Hyland's Baby Teething Tablets to help. Also to get an amber teething necklace, which I had planned to buy but didn't realize I'd need one so early! I'm going to order it today. Or right now, from Inspired by Finn. Some other suggestions were freezing a pacifier (he doesn't take a pacifier, so nope!), freezing a washcloth, which is a good idea, I tried to give it to him but he made a face at me so I'll try again later. One thing I found sounded really cool! You pump a little breastmilk and put it in a bottle nipple, then stick a pacifier in and it makes a "momsicle" haha I think I'll try that later on just because it's funny.

Kellymom also has a good article about teething here. Including what to do about biting while breastfeeding, sore nipples, and if your baby refused to nurse due to pain.

Mommy Talk Tuesday!{ Birth Stories! Was it everything you expected?!} 

 Welcome to the very first week of Mommy Talk Tuesday! If you missed my introduction to the idea, every Tuesday myself and Abbey from Life as a Lake are going to be posting a topic that has something to do with being a mother and discuss it! If you are a blogger you can write a blog post about the topic and link up with us, and even if you're not a blogger you can join in the fun and share your opinion by leaving a comment! This week's topic is Birth Stories: Was it Everything you Expected? Feel free to share your birth story and let us know if it was everything you expected it to be? Did it all go as planned? If not, what went wrong, or just different? Was it better or easier than you expected? What would you do different next time? And if you are an expecting first time mom, tell us how you HOPE your labor and delivery process will go?!

You can find my birth story here.

 

2 month picture bomb!

These are pretty old, but my photographer friend just sent me the link from when we had gone home to visit for Christmas and she came to do a shoot of Boston. He was 7 weeks in these pictures. He looks so small!! He's 19 weeks now.

Base preference updated.

So I posted a few days ago the bases we are most likely to get stationed at, and in bold were the ones I would be okay going to. Well I did some reasearch yesterday on all the bases. Stuff to do nearby, how the on post houses look/space, schools for me to go to near by, and my list has DRASTICALLY changed! For one, Alaska is now my top pick! Luckily only the top 3 matter and my husband and I have the same top 3 (just in a different order). I originally thought I wouldn't want Ft Bliss near my top either, but it's right in El Paso with SO much to do and the housing is nice as well. So our top three are Fort Richardson, Alaska, Fort Bragg, North Carolina (only 12 hours from family), and Fort Bliss, Texas. I didn't bother numbering Fort Carson because that's everyone's top choice and we will never get it! I wish we could just pick, but I hope we at least get one of the top 3 choices. Not like we will know anytime soon. But today he gets his class date I think!

Schofield Baracks, Hawaii

Germany

5. Fort Lewis, Washington

3. Fort Bragg, North Carolina

4. Fort Hood, Texas

1. Fort Richardson, Alaska

Fort Wainwright, Alaska 

7. Fort Drum, New York

Fort Polk, Louisiana

2. Fort Bliss, Texas

Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri (the only base worse than Fort Sill)

Fort Carson, Colorado

6. Fort Cambell, Kentucky

Meal Planning Monday.

Joining in a Monday Meal Planning Monday link up. The original post can be found clicking the button above. I am using HowDoesSheDoIt.com to plan out my menu for the week. You can find tons of recipes, then add them to your meal planner and it automatically makes a shopping list for you of all the ingredients you will need for the week! 
MondayBeef Stroganoff Hamburger HelperTuesdayCheesy Chicken and Veggie MacWednesdayChicken and Cheese EnchiladasCornThursdayFour Cheese Baked ZitiAsparagusFridayChicken, Broccoli, & Garlic White Pizza

Weightloss.

Start weight: 193

Current weight: 155

Goal weight: 124

So when I got pregnant, I was pretty damn skinny. Definitely underweight. Normal weight for a 5'5 female is around 125lbs. Well, I was 104-108. I've had an eating disorder since I was 13, and the past few years my body hasn't been getting much food. So when I got pregnant and started eating a little more, my body decided to hang on to EVERY calorie I put in my mouth. Well that was fun. I gained 85 lbs during my pregnancy without even overeating. Now that takes some real talent.

Anyway, apparently, I cannot lose weight while breastfeeding, which is pretty lame. The first week after I gave birth, I went from 193 to 163. The following 8 lbs have come off VERY slowly since then. I still have 31 lbs to go and I'm giving myself until Boston is 9 months old to lose it. So that gives me a little less than 5 months. Now that it's warmer out I can start walking the 3 mile track with him which will help. Also going to start doing some yoga at home. I can't really go to the fitness classes because I don't feel like paying for a babysitter.

A few before photos to keep me motivated :) I think I was about 10 weeks pregnant in the picture with the white shirt. I'll update the ticker each Sunday and do a little update of my diet & exercise for the week. I'm not worrying much about the diet, I don't overeat. Just going to buy some healthier foods and make sure I don't eat too much of bad things.

Post suggestions?

Does anyone have any topics they'd like me to post about. I'm open to just about anything! Even if you just have a personal question for me :)

Goodbye, Oklahoma!... well, at some point.

So my husband has been trying to re-class (change his Army job) to something for awhile now. Everything he wanted kept getting shut down or no longer available. Since he joined the Army in 2007 he has always wanted to be an MP (Military Police). Well he was just told yesterday that he got a spot! He and I are so excited. This means we get to leave Fort Sill eventually which is awesome. The training is 10 weeks long, and he is trying to get a class date for August, which means we would probably be moving to a new base around November. He will be getting his class date on monday.

When he re-enlisted in November 2010, he was only able to choose between two jobs so he was forced into his current job which is MLRS. This is a field artillery job that deals with rockets. He was originally field artillery dealing with cannons which he liked somewhat better, but I know he will be very happy with his new choice! I'm hoping he will get into an even earlier class, but I doubt that's very likely. Summer classes are all usually full of high schoolers who have just enlisted.

MP's can get stationed ANYWHERE, but the places below are our most likely choices. By choices, I mean places we might go, not like we actually get to pick lol

Schofield Baracks, Hawaii

Germany

Fort Lewis, Washington

Fort Bragg, North Carolina

Fort Hood, Texas

Fort Richardson and Fort Wainwright, Alaska 

Fort Drum, New York

Fort Polk, Louisiana

Fort Bliss, Texas

Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri (the only base worse than Fort Sill)

Fort Carson, Colorado

Fort Cambell, Kentucky

I have no desire to move to Hawaii and be poor, and I heard Germany is no longer an accompaniment tour so I wouldn't be able to go. I also wouldn't want to go to Missouri or Louisiana but I'd like any of the other places! We were at Fort Hood before here, definitely wouldn't mind moving back there especially since it's only 5 hours so it would be easy to look for houses. 

More on Baby-Led Weaning.

Here are some more tips from "Baby-Led Weaning."

Tips

• As far as possible, aim to eat the same food as your baby, with your baby.
• Allow your baby plenty of time to explore the food and decide what she wants to do with it.
• Talk to your baby about the food she is exploring.
• Resist the temptation to help your baby eat more than she really needs.
• Allow your baby to handle food as much as possible to help her develop her skills.
• Share your baby's enjoyment as she makes discoveries but remember that there's no need to direct her learning by praising or scolding her. 

The Secrets of Successful BLW

• Think of mealtimes as playtimes in the beginning.
• Keep giving milk feedings on demand.
• Don't expect your baby to eat much food at first.
• Try to eat with your baby and include her in meals whenever possible.
• Expect some mess!

Six things you SHOULD do

1. Ensure that your baby is supported in an upright position while she is experimenting with food.
2. Start by offering foods that are easy to pick up.
3. Offer a variety of foods.
4. Continue to offer your baby breast milk or formula as you did before.
5. Discuss the introduction of solids with your pediatrician.
6. Explain who BLW works to anyone caring for your baby.

Six things you SHOULDN'T do

1. Don't offer your baby foods that aren't good for her.
2. Don't offer your baby solid food when she is hungry for milk.
3. Don't hurry your baby or distract her while she is handling food.
4. Don't put food into your baby's mouth for her.
5. Don't try to persuade your baby to eat more than she wants.
6. NEVER leave your baby alone with food. 

Baby Led Weaning The first week of solids

Baby-led weaning.

I can't talk firsthand on this subject, since Boston is only 4 months old. But the more I read about it, the more I realize this is how EVERY baby should learn how to eat. Considering Boston was a month early, I may decide to start him on solids at 7 months instead of 6, but we will see how it goes when that time comes. Until then I don't mind giving him and apple slice now and then to start exploring. It's pretty damn cute!

The American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends that babies not start solids until at least 6 months of age, and that breastfeeding be the main source of nutrition for infants under one year of age. This recommendation was only changed a few weeks ago, previously the recommendation was to start solids between 4-6 months of age. Up until 6 months of age, the digestive system is not fully mature. It is not able to handle solid foods, which is why in the past people offer "puree" foods at that point. They are basically force feeding because they think this is what they should be doing. In reality, eating under the age of 1 is basically for practice, and of very little nutritional need. How is your child going to practice eating, if they are sucking puree off a spoon?

What is Baby-Led Weaning? (From this article)

What is Baby Led Weaning?

So what exactly is Baby Led Weaning as relates to solid food introduction?  In short, Baby Led Weaning (BLW) is skipping thin and runny purées and not feeding your baby with a spoon.

Baby Led Weaning means offering your baby (age appropriate) foods that are soft-cooked and cut or mashed into small easily manageable pieces. You may choose to offer your baby a large hunk of apple that she can easily hold and gnaw on or a bowl full of soft cooked mashed apples; the choice is yours. The foods are then given to your baby to eat without being pureed and without being spoonfed. You do the cooking, the dicing or mashing and the offering of the foods and your baby does the rest.  It is important to note that your baby should be in control of what he is eating and you should never actually feed him by putting the foods into his mouth!

As with breastfeeding on demand, Baby Led Weaning is a method of introducing solid foods that leaves it up to your baby to decide what, when and how much to eat.  While not necessarily a "hands off" approach, Baby Led Weaning does advocate allowing your baby to make all food choices for him or herself.

Tips for getting started (from "Baby-Led Weaning")

• Offer your baby solids when she's not hungry - breast milk of formula is still her main source of nourishment.
• Keep the focus on playing and experimenting.
• Let your baby join in your mealtimes (and snacktimes) whenever possible.
• Make sure your baby is upright and safe in a high chair or on your lap.

Some signs of readiness, and FALSE signs of readiness:

*Sitting up with little or no support
*Reaching out to grab things and taking them to their mouth quickly and accurately
*Gnawing on toys and making chewing movements
*Starting to put food in their mouth ….if given the opportunity

Here are some FALSE signs of readiness that do not determine if your child is ready for solids; 

*Waking at night
*Weight gain slowing slightly
*Watching their parents eat
*Making lip-smacking noises
*Not going straight to sleep after milk feeds
*Small baby*Big baby

It's raining, it's pouring.

Oh, god. I just found this photo on tumblr and it's just so perfect you don't even understand. I mean first of all, if you don't like Craig Owens, you don't have a soul, and I will not be your friend. Ever. But more importantly, Boston loves D.R.U.G.S. The band, idiots, I don't give my 4 month old drugs. I played it loudly when he was in my stomach, and he would dance in there. Now I sing it to him and he smiles and smiles. Yep, my baby is a badass. I mean his initials are BMF after all.

But yeah, besides that today is pretty crappy out. It's been 75 for about 3 days and sunny, and today it's pouring and 50. This is not so fun when you have two crazy dogs that need to go outside and then come back inside and cover the entire house in mud. Had to put them back in their kennel to let them dry off a bit, they are groaning at me right now. 

Trying a new schedule out with Boston today. Although it's probably a stupid idea/time to do it with daylight savings coming up, which will throw everything off by an hour. But yeah, he starting to want to go 3.5 hours before eating again instead of 3 so I'm going to do a little combo. Instead of 730/1030/130/430/7, today I'll be giving 7/1030/2/530/8 a shot. I don't know if it'll work out though, I like his bed time being at 730 so might completely change my mind, we'll see what happens. 

Matt (my husband) is coming home today instead of tomorrow. Guess I should go make a copy of the house key that I've been putting off until the last minute. I hate going in Home Depot or Lowes, it's annoying and out of my way. AND IT'S RAINING. Just no.