I never knew that a Cheerio was something you could bite until Daniel showed me how. Now that he has 5 teeth, he really likes to bite them in half and each each half on its own. After this video I decided that he is ready to have Goldfish, too.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
Pictures
Daniel is as busy as ever. He has many highs and lows throughout the day. I think he must be teething. He is up to five teeth. One just appeared the other day on the bottom. I think more are soon to follow. He laughs all the time, and will move around the house exploring everything on the way. One of his favorite games is diving into Mom. He climbs up to a standing position, raises his arms above his head, and squeals and falls into me. Then he just laughs. I hope he does not decide to do this while I'm not around. Faceplants aren't fun.
Look at that tongue!
Happy baby!
This is his serious look, but I thought he looked so cute in the onsie and red socks.
What a face!Breastfeeding Update
I've had a couple questions about what it is like to breastfeed an older baby, so here's my story as of late.
Breastfeeding has been going fine for me all along, but as Daniel got older, I never really had an over abundance of milk. Sometime in November, I noticed a drop in my milk supply, so I started pumping extra and drinking the Mother's Milk Tea. That seemed to work fairly well for about a month. After Christmas I realized that I just wasn't producing enough. We decided to try to introduce formula. Daniel really hated it at first. We had to mix it with breastmilk for the first few weeks, so we started with 1/4 formula, moved to 1/2 formula, and so on. A week or so after he was taking to the formula, I started tapering off on the pumping. Let me tell you being home with the baby, making him bottles, and still pumping is a lot of work. I was scared that if all the sudden he started getting 100% breastmilk, he would stop liking the formula. I probably shouldn't have worried about that. One interesting thing was that I started producing more just when I had resigned myself that we were going to start tapering off. I suspect that most of this was caused by hormones because my period returned in the midst of all this. I'm still nursing Daniel twice a day once in the morning and once in the evening, and he gets bottles of formula and frozen breastmilk during the day.
He eats tons of solid food now, three big meals each day, and lots of finger foods. I've also been trying to introduce the cup. So far he only likes the beginner sippy cup with the soft nipple (nuk brand).
I'm fine with this whole weaning thing now, but at first it was very stressful. I've worked so hard to keep up with him, and I just wasn't cutting it. I feel like I'm and expert at pumping in handicap stalls and makeshift private locations. I must say that the construction trailer at a wastewater plant was the worst. Talk about a time where it would be nice to be able to levitate things. Thankfully it was not one of my clumsier days.
Yesterday I actually left my pump in my car while I was at work. It was so nice to not have to carry it around. I would say that it was all worth it. It was great to have so much quiet time with Daniel although he was quite the squirmer and would do windmill arms sometimes. Nothing like beating your mother while she feeds you. Also, it really helped me get my body back. I'm finally back to a reasonable weight. I actually weigh less than when I found out I was pregnant! I've been doing WeightWatchers again, and I'm really liking it. I need a little accountability. My body is finally starting to feel like my own again. It's nice.
Breastfeeding has been going fine for me all along, but as Daniel got older, I never really had an over abundance of milk. Sometime in November, I noticed a drop in my milk supply, so I started pumping extra and drinking the Mother's Milk Tea. That seemed to work fairly well for about a month. After Christmas I realized that I just wasn't producing enough. We decided to try to introduce formula. Daniel really hated it at first. We had to mix it with breastmilk for the first few weeks, so we started with 1/4 formula, moved to 1/2 formula, and so on. A week or so after he was taking to the formula, I started tapering off on the pumping. Let me tell you being home with the baby, making him bottles, and still pumping is a lot of work. I was scared that if all the sudden he started getting 100% breastmilk, he would stop liking the formula. I probably shouldn't have worried about that. One interesting thing was that I started producing more just when I had resigned myself that we were going to start tapering off. I suspect that most of this was caused by hormones because my period returned in the midst of all this. I'm still nursing Daniel twice a day once in the morning and once in the evening, and he gets bottles of formula and frozen breastmilk during the day.
He eats tons of solid food now, three big meals each day, and lots of finger foods. I've also been trying to introduce the cup. So far he only likes the beginner sippy cup with the soft nipple (nuk brand).
I'm fine with this whole weaning thing now, but at first it was very stressful. I've worked so hard to keep up with him, and I just wasn't cutting it. I feel like I'm and expert at pumping in handicap stalls and makeshift private locations. I must say that the construction trailer at a wastewater plant was the worst. Talk about a time where it would be nice to be able to levitate things. Thankfully it was not one of my clumsier days.
Yesterday I actually left my pump in my car while I was at work. It was so nice to not have to carry it around. I would say that it was all worth it. It was great to have so much quiet time with Daniel although he was quite the squirmer and would do windmill arms sometimes. Nothing like beating your mother while she feeds you. Also, it really helped me get my body back. I'm finally back to a reasonable weight. I actually weigh less than when I found out I was pregnant! I've been doing WeightWatchers again, and I'm really liking it. I need a little accountability. My body is finally starting to feel like my own again. It's nice.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Flushing
Matt and I are seriously playing around with the idea of selling our house and moving into something a little bigger. Mostly motivated by the fact that we want to stay in Madison, we want four bedrooms and two full baths, and it is a good time to buy. We had our realtor over last weekend to develop our to-do list. I can't really get into that much because it makes me have a mini panic attack. So we were in the master bath and Daniel finally had a chance to do something that I would imagine that he's been wanting to do for a while. He was close enough to the toilet to give it a good flush. He was extremely proud of this accomplishment and proceeded to flush it another 10 or more times. I'll have to pay even closer attention to keeping the bathrooms closed. I can only imagine what happens when he figures out that he can flush stuff down the toilet. Pray for me when that day comes. Child locks and dishwasher doors are two more things that he has mastered this week.
I know that a picture of our proud boy would be an excellent addition to this post, but that would require that I stage a photo shoot. I'm not sure that encouraging this development is a good thing.
I know that a picture of our proud boy would be an excellent addition to this post, but that would require that I stage a photo shoot. I'm not sure that encouraging this development is a good thing.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Weekend Alone
I started this last weekend, sorry it is a little late. Daniel and I were home alone Friday - Monday. It was a little lonley and quite a bit of work, but in a few ways it was easier. I did so many things that I wouldn't have if Matt were around. I used the extra time to rearrange furniture and have the carpets cleaned. Ok, don't get your carpets cleaned when you have to do all the work yourself. It's not as easy as letting someone in the door and writing a check. I had to move everything except the major pieces of furniture to the basement or upstairs. Daniel got to spend a little extra time in the ExerSaucer.
I think he is on the brink of a few new things. He was a little grumpy a few days this week. I think it stems from his most recent development of standing on his own. He loves to do it, but somehow that accomplishment has made him forget that he has any sense of balance even while sitting. Head bumps all the time. Learning new things must be challenging for the little ones.
Here are a few recent pics.
Banging toys is a favorite activity.
Daniel loves the little mouse in the picture. He carries it around all the time...
... in his mouth. Sometimes it is St.Bernard like.
Mealtimes can get messy. Broccoli is not a favorite.
Here I come!
I think he is on the brink of a few new things. He was a little grumpy a few days this week. I think it stems from his most recent development of standing on his own. He loves to do it, but somehow that accomplishment has made him forget that he has any sense of balance even while sitting. Head bumps all the time. Learning new things must be challenging for the little ones.
Here are a few recent pics.
Banging toys is a favorite activity.
Daniel loves the little mouse in the picture. He carries it around all the time...
... in his mouth. Sometimes it is St.Bernard like.
Mealtimes can get messy. Broccoli is not a favorite.
Here I come! Friday, January 16, 2009
It's really winter now
Matt is headed to NYC this weekend where it is going to be around 20 degrees F. My response was, "That's not too bad." This morning when I woke up, our thermometer said it was -17! By 8 am it had warmed up to 0 degrees. I don't think we will be leaving the house today.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
A Baby's Laughter
Matt and I find ourselves doing anything that makes Daniel laugh repeatedly. Listening to him laugh is one of the most joyful noises in our life.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
9 Months Old
Daniel had his 9-month checkup last week. He is doing great. I really love our doctor because she is thoughtful and kind and really low key. I think a high-strung doctor could make me a little crazier than I already am. That would be trouble.
All the sudden Daniel seems very big and grown up (in a way) to me. Maybe this is brought on by the fact that he can entertain himself with his toys without putting himself in danger for a few minutes. It really is amazing how quickly they develop into a little person. He is quite curious and always on the go. Some of his favorite acts of mischief include:
All the sudden Daniel seems very big and grown up (in a way) to me. Maybe this is brought on by the fact that he can entertain himself with his toys without putting himself in danger for a few minutes. It really is amazing how quickly they develop into a little person. He is quite curious and always on the go. Some of his favorite acts of mischief include:
- Grabbing the salad dressing from the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. Who knew that babies love Balsamic Vinigrette? Either that or he is hungry all the time and sees the bottle and thinks food.
- Any electrical outlet or electrical cord.
- Cabinets and all the stuff in them. I'm amazed and terrified at what he can lift. Our pots are heavy for me to lift sometimes.
- He enjoys devouring books and papers(literally). I'm starting to wonder if something is missing from his diet.
Tonight before he went to bed, he was having a little quiet playtime, and I noticed that he seemed to be getting a bit frusterated. He was playing with his shopping cart and really wanted to hold two of the food items, green peas and yellow cookies for those of you in the know on the Fisher Price shopping cart, in one hand. He would hold one of them, then use his other hand to help him grab the other one with one finger. I'm thinking that he wanted to do this because he still needs one hand to maintain balance and mobility up and down but really wanted to have two toys with him. Anyway, call me dense, but I never thought of holding two things as an acquired skill. Clearly it is. He was so proud when he got both in one hand. Then he put the red strawberries in his hand as well. He was super excited until his system overloaded and he fell on the shopping cart. Three things in one hand, standing, and celebrating are a bit too much for Daniel and led to a few of tears. Soon after this accomplishment he went to bed.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
A New Level of Mobility
Daniel is trying his hardest to wear Matt and I out. We had just mastered the crawling and pulling up level of babyproofing and were feeling fairly comfortable (big mistake) when all the sudden Daniel pulled out a few new tricks. He can now reach up to the top of our tall tables, open cabinets and drawers, and climb stairs. Stair climbing has proven to be a great way to pass the time. It works as a great distraction if I need to make a phone call. Don't worry, I still follow him all the way up.
One really great thing about his increased mobility is that he is napping more, too. I really need that time to rest and regroup. I'll try to get a video or two of some of Daniel's latest adventures.
One really great thing about his increased mobility is that he is napping more, too. I really need that time to rest and regroup. I'll try to get a video or two of some of Daniel's latest adventures.
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