wrestling already.
oh great.Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Genes
Silas came over on Friday and Jett and I admired his hair.
Then Ellie stopped by to show off her teeth.
After they left Jett looked at me and asked
just what I had handed down to him,
if it wasn't my ability to grow hair or teeth.
if it wasn't my ability to grow hair or teeth.
I told him I passed down my unattached earlobes,but he was unimpressed.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Growing Out of Baby Yoga
Grandma H was here last weekend, and oh, the fun we had. We took Grandma to baby yoga, Jett's favorite place to show off. Baby yoga is awesome. There's not a lot of yoga involved, but we do get out the yoga mats, which is kind of a challenge actually, rolling out the yoga mat while holding on to your baby.
Anyway, lately Jett has been a hit at yoga. I think it's because he is so active. And cute. And he's got a name that all the moms remember. When we walk in the door most of the other moms and babies are sitting on their mats, in two long rows against each wall. (We're usually one of the last ones to arrive - I swear everyone else lives within walking distance of the place, and they all look so relaxed walking up with their strollers while I drive around the block looking for a place to park). So Jett and I walk down that center aisle to the front of the room and all along the way the moms are whispering to their babies, "Hi Jett!" "There's Jett!" "Wave to Jett!"
Most of the babies there are pretty darn cute and content to play along. Jett on the other hand not only follows directions, he improves on the directions. When he is supposed to sit on my knee, he sits and bounces like he's on a bucking bronco. When he is supposed to lay on his back, he lays on his back-and then his stomach-and then his back-and then his stomach. He does not sit still in yoga. And he's loud - so much squealing and giggling. And he's social. When the baby on the mat next to us turns and looks at him, Jett scoots over and tries to give her a kiss. Oh he is a little star.
So we go to yoga with Grandma and I'm excited for this because Jett is such a hit and he seems to love the class, and I love the class, and despite all the extra attention he gets, we spend the entire hour mostly just wrapped up in each other, and I want my mom to share in that too.
Except what happened is that in one week, Jett grew out of yoga. He kept scooting off the mat, or playing with the electrical sockets (which were covered), and sucking on my water bottle. He seemed a bit bored by the games and the songs. My mom and I spent most of the hour scooping him up and putting him back on the mat. How does he grow out of baby yoga in one week?
Thankfully there were still lots of opportunities to snuggle.
Anyway, lately Jett has been a hit at yoga. I think it's because he is so active. And cute. And he's got a name that all the moms remember. When we walk in the door most of the other moms and babies are sitting on their mats, in two long rows against each wall. (We're usually one of the last ones to arrive - I swear everyone else lives within walking distance of the place, and they all look so relaxed walking up with their strollers while I drive around the block looking for a place to park). So Jett and I walk down that center aisle to the front of the room and all along the way the moms are whispering to their babies, "Hi Jett!" "There's Jett!" "Wave to Jett!"
Most of the babies there are pretty darn cute and content to play along. Jett on the other hand not only follows directions, he improves on the directions. When he is supposed to sit on my knee, he sits and bounces like he's on a bucking bronco. When he is supposed to lay on his back, he lays on his back-and then his stomach-and then his back-and then his stomach. He does not sit still in yoga. And he's loud - so much squealing and giggling. And he's social. When the baby on the mat next to us turns and looks at him, Jett scoots over and tries to give her a kiss. Oh he is a little star.
So we go to yoga with Grandma and I'm excited for this because Jett is such a hit and he seems to love the class, and I love the class, and despite all the extra attention he gets, we spend the entire hour mostly just wrapped up in each other, and I want my mom to share in that too.
Except what happened is that in one week, Jett grew out of yoga. He kept scooting off the mat, or playing with the electrical sockets (which were covered), and sucking on my water bottle. He seemed a bit bored by the games and the songs. My mom and I spent most of the hour scooping him up and putting him back on the mat. How does he grow out of baby yoga in one week?
Thankfully there were still lots of opportunities to snuggle.Monday, February 12, 2007
Eight Months
Dear Jett,
Happy Birthday, buddy! Today you turn eight months old. And how did you celebrate? You slept through the night. You fell asleep without crying. You wore big-boy pajamas. You ate your first stage 2 baby food (mixed cereal), and you ate carrots for the first time. It's been a big day.
And a big month. You're mobile! You know how to eat three good meals a day - and sometimes you do. You know how to sleep through the night - and sometimes you do that too. You like to sit on the windowsill and look down at the street below. You can pull over a box of toys and pick out the one that you want, and you can pick out a particular book from the shelf. (I'm not convinced that you are actually looking for a particular book, but you're a good little faker). You love the book Moo Baa La La La and I really think you imitated me making the cow sound and the sheep sound once. You haven't done it since, but it's ingrained in my memory; it was so funny.
You said "mama" this month, and I think you know what it means. When someone asks you where mama is, sometimes, often times, you look right at me. Or for me. It's thrilling.
We found the ticklish places in your back this month. And on your side, and on your belly (but we already knew about that one). You giggle like no one has giggled before and we have to restrain ourselves and limit our tickling because we don't want to wear you out. But we could listen to your giggling forever.
Oh, and that itsby bitsy spider? You can't get enough of him. But that little piggy who cried wee wee wee all the way to Megan and Owen's is the most hilarious little piggy on the planet. You also noticed your dragon this month. He was the first thing that we bought for you, before you were even born. Thanks for thinking it's so nifty.
You haven't slept in our bed in forever and I miss you, so sweet, laying next to us. But this weekend you and I napped in the bed, and when you woke up, well, you were completely charming. Cheek all rosy, sporting a waffle-print from my sleeve, neck kind of sweaty from resting on my arm, hair sticking up (yes, you have enough hair for bed-head!). You lifted your head up and looked around so drowsy, with those heavy eyes, we were in our own little sweet sleepy world until you caught a glimpse of the alarm clock. The alarm clock! Black! Shiny! With red numbers! And a cord! It's ELECTRONIC! I LOVE IT I LOVE IT I LOVE IT! I WANT IT I WANT IT! I WANT TO EAT IT! You've never woken up so fast in your life.
Actually, you are usually slow to wake up. Kind of groggy in the morning. Just a little grumpy. But that's ok, because you spend the rest of the day charming the pants off everyone, you little charmer.
You're eight months old and you're more fun every single day. Happy Birthday, Jett. We love you.
Happy Birthday, buddy! Today you turn eight months old. And how did you celebrate? You slept through the night. You fell asleep without crying. You wore big-boy pajamas. You ate your first stage 2 baby food (mixed cereal), and you ate carrots for the first time. It's been a big day.
And a big month. You're mobile! You know how to eat three good meals a day - and sometimes you do. You know how to sleep through the night - and sometimes you do that too. You like to sit on the windowsill and look down at the street below. You can pull over a box of toys and pick out the one that you want, and you can pick out a particular book from the shelf. (I'm not convinced that you are actually looking for a particular book, but you're a good little faker). You love the book Moo Baa La La La and I really think you imitated me making the cow sound and the sheep sound once. You haven't done it since, but it's ingrained in my memory; it was so funny.
You said "mama" this month, and I think you know what it means. When someone asks you where mama is, sometimes, often times, you look right at me. Or for me. It's thrilling.
We found the ticklish places in your back this month. And on your side, and on your belly (but we already knew about that one). You giggle like no one has giggled before and we have to restrain ourselves and limit our tickling because we don't want to wear you out. But we could listen to your giggling forever.
Oh, and that itsby bitsy spider? You can't get enough of him. But that little piggy who cried wee wee wee all the way to Megan and Owen's is the most hilarious little piggy on the planet. You also noticed your dragon this month. He was the first thing that we bought for you, before you were even born. Thanks for thinking it's so nifty.
You haven't slept in our bed in forever and I miss you, so sweet, laying next to us. But this weekend you and I napped in the bed, and when you woke up, well, you were completely charming. Cheek all rosy, sporting a waffle-print from my sleeve, neck kind of sweaty from resting on my arm, hair sticking up (yes, you have enough hair for bed-head!). You lifted your head up and looked around so drowsy, with those heavy eyes, we were in our own little sweet sleepy world until you caught a glimpse of the alarm clock. The alarm clock! Black! Shiny! With red numbers! And a cord! It's ELECTRONIC! I LOVE IT I LOVE IT I LOVE IT! I WANT IT I WANT IT! I WANT TO EAT IT! You've never woken up so fast in your life.
Actually, you are usually slow to wake up. Kind of groggy in the morning. Just a little grumpy. But that's ok, because you spend the rest of the day charming the pants off everyone, you little charmer.
You're eight months old and you're more fun every single day. Happy Birthday, Jett. We love you.
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Toys
Oooh, shiny. Oooh, metal. Oooh, something that could pinch my fingers. (It hasn't). Must have it. Must taste everything metal in the house. That door stop sticking out from the wall, behind the door? Get ready. You're next.
Puppy
Is it bad if my baby reminds me of a puppy?
He has this little indoor "pool" and he has started to try to lap up the water with his tongue. Except the water is trapped in plastic, but he just keeps bobbing his little face against the plastic, until his little tongue marks are all over it.
He's scooting everywhere now. He pushes up on his hands and knees and rocks back and forth, but when he wants to go somewhere, he swims across the floor, with his little butt in the air. Sometimes he almost swims right out of his pants.
When he wants me to pick him up, he'll scoot across the floor to where ever I am and lay at my feet, bouncing on his belly, with his arms and legs waving in the air. He'll look up at me and just wait there, bouncing, until I bend down and scoop him up. If he was a puppy, his little tail would be wagging.
He has this little indoor "pool" and he has started to try to lap up the water with his tongue. Except the water is trapped in plastic, but he just keeps bobbing his little face against the plastic, until his little tongue marks are all over it.
He's scooting everywhere now. He pushes up on his hands and knees and rocks back and forth, but when he wants to go somewhere, he swims across the floor, with his little butt in the air. Sometimes he almost swims right out of his pants.
When he wants me to pick him up, he'll scoot across the floor to where ever I am and lay at my feet, bouncing on his belly, with his arms and legs waving in the air. He'll look up at me and just wait there, bouncing, until I bend down and scoop him up. If he was a puppy, his little tail would be wagging.
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Again with the sleeping
i·ro·ny [ahy-ruh-nee]
an outcome of events contrary to what was, or might have been, expected.
It would be ironic if after Jett learned to sleep through the night, he caught a cold which plugged up his nose and wouldn't allow him to sleep through the night. It would be ironic if after bragging about Jett's ability to sleep through the night, we were back to middle of the night and wee-hour of the morning nursings.
That would be ironic, and I live in an ironic world.
an outcome of events contrary to what was, or might have been, expected.
It would be ironic if after Jett learned to sleep through the night, he caught a cold which plugged up his nose and wouldn't allow him to sleep through the night. It would be ironic if after bragging about Jett's ability to sleep through the night, we were back to middle of the night and wee-hour of the morning nursings.
That would be ironic, and I live in an ironic world.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Yeah. What She Said.
Yes, we're still talking about sleep.
Did I mention that he barely cried during the whole sleep strategy adventure? Yes, we used the dreaded Ferber method and he barely cried. His longest bout was 15 minutes. His others were 5 minutes, 90 seconds, and 3 seconds. That was it.
I have spent months hearing moms talk about the horrible Ferber method of getting your baby to sleep. They had me convinced that it was the worst thing you could do to your child, and that I would be in tears by the end of it. (Give me another week without sleeping, and then I'd be in tears). But Jett was ready; we had very little crying. After reading the entire book, it's even a theory that I can support. So quit with the drama, Ferber-haters.
My baby is fast asleep and after a few more nights, I'll be functioning like a real human being again. A real human being who sleeps.
Did I mention that he barely cried during the whole sleep strategy adventure? Yes, we used the dreaded Ferber method and he barely cried. His longest bout was 15 minutes. His others were 5 minutes, 90 seconds, and 3 seconds. That was it.
I have spent months hearing moms talk about the horrible Ferber method of getting your baby to sleep. They had me convinced that it was the worst thing you could do to your child, and that I would be in tears by the end of it. (Give me another week without sleeping, and then I'd be in tears). But Jett was ready; we had very little crying. After reading the entire book, it's even a theory that I can support. So quit with the drama, Ferber-haters.
My baby is fast asleep and after a few more nights, I'll be functioning like a real human being again. A real human being who sleeps.
Monday, January 29, 2007
Sleep, Glorious Sleep!
Another night of good sleeping. In fact, Jett slept through the night for the first time in 7 1/2 months.
I'm trying not to sound smug, but as you can see, Jett is very advanced. He's obviously spent the last 7 1/2 months staying up at night reading the sleep books. He probably had them hiding under his crib mattress.
We love this kid! He's always giving us bragging rights.
I'm trying not to sound smug, but as you can see, Jett is very advanced. He's obviously spent the last 7 1/2 months staying up at night reading the sleep books. He probably had them hiding under his crib mattress.
We love this kid! He's always giving us bragging rights.
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Maybe We Should Have Tried This Sooner (the books, not the wine)
This is the wine
sipped by the mom
who read the books
sipped by the mom
who read the books
that laid the plan
which convinced the dad
who settled the baby
which convinced the dad
who settled the baby
who laid in the crib
and fell asleep
on his own.
and fell asleep
on his own.
Two nights in a row.
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Bath
I'm sorry it's been so long since the last post. We'll have a lot more to talk about by the end of this weekend, because we are trying a sleep strategy with Jett, and you know how much I like to talk about sleep. We started our strategy last night, and it's too early to tell if it's working or not. I'm sure it isn't consuming your thoughts the way it's consuming mine, but I'll share all the minute details at the end of the weekend.
In the meantime, here is a picture of yesterday's bath. Happy weekend!
In the meantime, here is a picture of yesterday's bath. Happy weekend!
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
One Year Later
We have this photo from Jett's ultrasound. He's just a one-dimensional, black and white little peanut with his thumb in his mouth. I remember that we watched him kicking me on the ultrasound screen, but I couldn't feel it, he was that tiny. That was just 365 days ago.
Exactly one year ago today.
Friday, January 12, 2007
Seven Months
Today Jett turned seven months old.
At seven months, you are out of the smallest clothes. He's outgrown his socks (size 0 - 6 months), outgrown his white onesies (3 - 6 months) and most of his pants, which are now too short.
In the last month or so Jett has learned how to sit up by himself with only the occasional toppling over. He can lean front and to the side, while he's sitting, to reach a toy. He now cries when we take his favorite toy away (his favorite toy is the tv remote first, and our cell phones second). But we can still fool him by throwing a blanket over them - he thinks they've disappeared and quits looking.
Jett has also started eating solid food and so far his favorite is bananas. We usually let him play with his food, and his spoon, and the bowl. Today at baby yoga I found last night's bananas in Jett's little neck folds. Oops. Did I mention that all of his bibs are in the clothes hamper, so he's been eating bibless the last couple of days? It's a mess, but it can't be helped, bib or no bib, so we just let him make a mess. Tomorrow he starts on the acorn squash, which should be easier to find in his neck folds, since it's bright orange.
Oh, Jett's hair. Some days it looks blonde, some days it looks brown, and some days it even looks reddish. So we haven't figured out the color, but he is getting more of it - so much so that sometimes his hair is messy and needs to be patted down. I know those of you who saw him last week won't believe me, but he seems to have had a growth spurt on his head this week.
Another milestone is his move to his crib. Unfortunately this was followed by an exhausting habit of waking up every 2 hours and wanting to nurse. But it's his birthday, so we won't dwell on the difficulties of a seven month old who doesn't sleep through the night.
Most of all, Jett loves to bounce. He bounces in the exersaucer, bounces on my knee, in my arms, on the floor, in the car seat - anywhere he can pump his arms, pump his legs, and move his butt up and down is a good place for him. And when you turn the music on - look out. He's a bouncing machine.
He's our bouncing machine and we love him. Happy birthday, Jett.
At seven months, you are out of the smallest clothes. He's outgrown his socks (size 0 - 6 months), outgrown his white onesies (3 - 6 months) and most of his pants, which are now too short.
In the last month or so Jett has learned how to sit up by himself with only the occasional toppling over. He can lean front and to the side, while he's sitting, to reach a toy. He now cries when we take his favorite toy away (his favorite toy is the tv remote first, and our cell phones second). But we can still fool him by throwing a blanket over them - he thinks they've disappeared and quits looking.
Jett has also started eating solid food and so far his favorite is bananas. We usually let him play with his food, and his spoon, and the bowl. Today at baby yoga I found last night's bananas in Jett's little neck folds. Oops. Did I mention that all of his bibs are in the clothes hamper, so he's been eating bibless the last couple of days? It's a mess, but it can't be helped, bib or no bib, so we just let him make a mess. Tomorrow he starts on the acorn squash, which should be easier to find in his neck folds, since it's bright orange.
Oh, Jett's hair. Some days it looks blonde, some days it looks brown, and some days it even looks reddish. So we haven't figured out the color, but he is getting more of it - so much so that sometimes his hair is messy and needs to be patted down. I know those of you who saw him last week won't believe me, but he seems to have had a growth spurt on his head this week.
Another milestone is his move to his crib. Unfortunately this was followed by an exhausting habit of waking up every 2 hours and wanting to nurse. But it's his birthday, so we won't dwell on the difficulties of a seven month old who doesn't sleep through the night.
Most of all, Jett loves to bounce. He bounces in the exersaucer, bounces on my knee, in my arms, on the floor, in the car seat - anywhere he can pump his arms, pump his legs, and move his butt up and down is a good place for him. And when you turn the music on - look out. He's a bouncing machine.
He's our bouncing machine and we love him. Happy birthday, Jett.
Sunday, January 07, 2007
The Crib
Jett's full-time in the crib these days. We even had the guts to take down the co-sleeper today and put it into our storage area (i.e. the least crowded corner of our bedroom). So far whenever I crawl in to bed I miss Jett and the sound of his sleeping, and the knowing that in a few short hours he'd be laying right next to me, snuggled up against me with his sweet little breath on my cheek. But then I pick up my book and turn on the lamp next to my bed, and Charlie and I talk above a whisper, and I realize that there's something to be said for Jett sleeping in his own room.
After the first few nights of this, I even put away the monitor that lets us spy on Jett with our ears. We just don't need it. Maybe it's because our condo is so small, but I swear I could hear him sigh from down the block if I had to. Sometimes Charlie and I wake up to Jett's noises, and one of us rushes to his room, sure that he's been awake and crying for hours, only to find that his pacifier is still in his mouth, his eyes are still shut, his head is barely off the mattress, and we probably woke up to his inhale that came before this, the quietest cry in the world, because he is basically still asleep.
Asleep. Jett is, so I should be too. Good night.
After the first few nights of this, I even put away the monitor that lets us spy on Jett with our ears. We just don't need it. Maybe it's because our condo is so small, but I swear I could hear him sigh from down the block if I had to. Sometimes Charlie and I wake up to Jett's noises, and one of us rushes to his room, sure that he's been awake and crying for hours, only to find that his pacifier is still in his mouth, his eyes are still shut, his head is barely off the mattress, and we probably woke up to his inhale that came before this, the quietest cry in the world, because he is basically still asleep.
Asleep. Jett is, so I should be too. Good night.
Thursday, January 04, 2007
Happy New Year
Obviously Charlie was a very good boy this year - check out what Santa left in his stocking.
It's difficult to say what Jett's favorite present is. The toy train? The building blocks? His own toes? No matter. We had a fabulous holiday. I hope you all did too.
Happy New Year.
It's difficult to say what Jett's favorite present is. The toy train? The building blocks? His own toes? No matter. We had a fabulous holiday. I hope you all did too.
Happy New Year.
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
I'm the Grinch
or
Why Jett Won't Be Sitting on Santa's Lap
Because I am in Super Mom Mode. Because kids hate it. Because malls take advantage. Because it's not about my entertainment. But mostly because he's just too young to ask.
Why Jett Won't Be Sitting on Santa's Lap
Because I am in Super Mom Mode. Because kids hate it. Because malls take advantage. Because it's not about my entertainment. But mostly because he's just too young to ask.
Strategic Thinking
We're working on a lot of things over here at the Johnson household. Lots of things. Lots of Jett related things. Lots of Jett related things related to sleep. Like how to sleep more. And where to sleep. And how to fall asleep. When to fall asleep. How to stay asleep. You get the idea.
So we've been working on all of these strategies that are unspoken, that change by the minute, that work against each other, that we can't even remember the next day. No wonder none of us are sleeping.
But that's changed. Because at dinner on Sunday, Charlie and I planned a sleep strategy. We wrote it down and stuck it on the fridge. And - I know this is hard to believe, but it's true - Jett read it.
Seriously. Sunday night he did all his sleeping in his cosleeper, right where he is supposed to. Monday night, ditto. Tuesday night, ditto. (So far). I'm telling you, the kid can read.
Just to be clear, it's not that Jett is sleeping through the night (he isn't). It's that for the last two days he's falling asleep the way we want him to, when we want him to, and where we want him to.
Is tonight the night we sleep for longer than 2 hours at a stretch? I doubt it. But we're getting there.
Special note to Charlie: When Jett wakes up for the third time in the night do not suggest that I take us back to square one and bring him in to bed with us so I can get to sleep. Three o'clock in the morning is not a fair time to tempt me with uninterupted sleep. We're sticking to the strategy.
So we've been working on all of these strategies that are unspoken, that change by the minute, that work against each other, that we can't even remember the next day. No wonder none of us are sleeping.
But that's changed. Because at dinner on Sunday, Charlie and I planned a sleep strategy. We wrote it down and stuck it on the fridge. And - I know this is hard to believe, but it's true - Jett read it.
Seriously. Sunday night he did all his sleeping in his cosleeper, right where he is supposed to. Monday night, ditto. Tuesday night, ditto. (So far). I'm telling you, the kid can read.
Just to be clear, it's not that Jett is sleeping through the night (he isn't). It's that for the last two days he's falling asleep the way we want him to, when we want him to, and where we want him to.
Is tonight the night we sleep for longer than 2 hours at a stretch? I doubt it. But we're getting there.
Special note to Charlie: When Jett wakes up for the third time in the night do not suggest that I take us back to square one and bring him in to bed with us so I can get to sleep. Three o'clock in the morning is not a fair time to tempt me with uninterupted sleep. We're sticking to the strategy.
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Birthday Dinner
The baby book says that it takes a few tries before the baby learns how to eat from a spoon. The book says the baby will push the cereal out of his mouth with his tongue. It says he might wrinkle up his nose and not like it. Book schmook.
Today Jett turned six months old so we prepared a special dinner for him - his first taste of rice cereal. His first taste of any solid - ok, mushy - food. To Charlie and me it was a big milestone. I had to get his special silver baby spoon down from the closet shelf. When I put it away up there a few months ago I couldn't even imagine ever needing it. But here we are. Jett is six months old.
Charlie pretended to eat the cereal first and Jett was completely entranced. We sat down on the floor, Jett in Charlie's lap. I held the spoon up to Jett's face so he could see it, and that's all he needed. He leaned forward, open up his little mouth, stuck out his little pink tongue and lapped up that rice cereal like he had been eating it all his life. Way to go, Jett!
Today Jett turned six months old so we prepared a special dinner for him - his first taste of rice cereal. His first taste of any solid - ok, mushy - food. To Charlie and me it was a big milestone. I had to get his special silver baby spoon down from the closet shelf. When I put it away up there a few months ago I couldn't even imagine ever needing it. But here we are. Jett is six months old.
Charlie pretended to eat the cereal first and Jett was completely entranced. We sat down on the floor, Jett in Charlie's lap. I held the spoon up to Jett's face so he could see it, and that's all he needed. He leaned forward, open up his little mouth, stuck out his little pink tongue and lapped up that rice cereal like he had been eating it all his life. Way to go, Jett!
Six Months
Today Jett is six months old. He can almost sit unassisted. He laughs at our jokes. He reaches for me, which is completely endearing. He watches me when I leave the room, and turns his head to look for me when I walk away. He still sleeps in until 9am on the weekends, and he is the most agreeable baby Charlie and I have ever met. He still makes it look like we know what we're doing, even when we're doing it wrong. And wow, do we do a lot of things wrong.
Thankfully, we've done a few things right. At least they're right for us. Personally I'm patting myself on the back for getting through six months of breastfeeding. It's not easy and it takes time and it requires about 4 hands and it means pumping if you're going to leave the house for 8 or 10 hours at a time, and it means hauling that big bulky pump back and forth to work, on and off the bus, but we did it, and we're mighty proud of it thank you very much. And yes, I'm still patting myself on the back.
I've spent the last two months counting ounces of milk in my head every day, trying to predict how much I have in the freezer versus how much Jett is going to drink tomorrow versus how much I can pump this afternoon, coupled with when am I going to get home and how long is the ice pack going to stay cold and how am I going to carry this all home plus the laptop and all my work, and thankgod I get on the bus at the first stop because at least I'm guaranteed a seat, and please please don't let Jett refuse the bottle even though we put infant decongestant drops in the bottle and they tasted awful and now he won't even let us put the bottle in his line of vision, but he has to take it because tomorrow is Monday and I have to go back to work just to pump another bottle for him that he might not take, and now it's 5:15 on Monday and I didn't pump as much as I wanted to, but I'm just going home to nurse him anyway, but maybe he's drinking a bottle right now, which means he won't want to nurse for another two hours so maybe I should stay at work just to pump, but why stay at work to pump if I could be home nursing him, except what if he's not hungry when I get home, then I should have stayed to pump, and how many ounces are still in the freezer?
It's not that supplementing with formula is out of the question, it's just that I set a goal and was determined to reach it. Just like that first marathon I ran and that first house I built. Now I'm a runner, a home builder, and a breastfeeder. Can I have a medal?
Not just yet. They say it takes a village to raise a child? Well it takes a village to breastfeed one too. I've thought a lot about it, and if you want to work outside the house and exclusively breastfeed your child for six months (which is the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended amount of time) you need the following:
1. The desire to breastfeed (obviously).
2. An agreeable baby.
3. Time with your baby to figure it out.
4. A friend who has done it before who can help you figure it out.
5. Someone to hold the blanket the first 20 times you try to feed your baby in public, and the ability to stop being embarrassed about nursing your baby in public (or you will never be able to leave the house).
6. The ability to get over needing a blanket to nurse your baby in public.
7. Someone to get you everything you need while you're sitting on the couch nursing the baby. Everything you need is a glass of water, the cordless phone, your cell phone, the tv remote, a magazine, the book you were reading, the camera, a pen and paper, a pillow, another pillow, a sweater, someone to help you put the sweater on because you're holding the baby (duh), socks, someone to put the socks on your feet (you're still holding the baby), a burp cloth, a blanket for the baby, someone to turn the lamp on, except it puts a glare on the tv, so someone to turn the lamp off, a sandwich, someone to make dinner while you nurse the baby, and a refill on your water.
8. $200 for an electric pump.
9. A pumping-friendly work environment.
10. A fridge to store the milk.
11. A freezer to keep the icepack cold.
12. The ability to carry the pump to and from work or a husband to carry the pump to the bus stop for you even when you make him late for work.
13. An encouraging friend, husband, or partner.
14. The ability to wake up and go back to sleep multiple times in the night while remaining functional during the day.
15. A running calculator in your mind of how many ounces you need to pump today, for your baby to drink tomorrow.
Is it no wonder why only 30% of mothers are still breastfeeding their babies after six months? (Now don't go quoting me - I've looked, but I can't find the magazine where I read that number. It might be wrong. But I think it's right).
So give Charlie a medal. Give Jett a medal. Give my doula a medal. Give my workplace a medal. And then give me a lapel pin.
Tonight we've got 12 ounces of milk in the fridge and seven in the freezer. That's about three more ounces than Jett is going to drink tomorrow and those extra three ounces won't last long. I see a bit of formula in our future.
But I'm not dwelling on it. We made it to six months. Six fabulous, happy, grateful months.
We love you, Jett. Happy Birthday.
Thankfully, we've done a few things right. At least they're right for us. Personally I'm patting myself on the back for getting through six months of breastfeeding. It's not easy and it takes time and it requires about 4 hands and it means pumping if you're going to leave the house for 8 or 10 hours at a time, and it means hauling that big bulky pump back and forth to work, on and off the bus, but we did it, and we're mighty proud of it thank you very much. And yes, I'm still patting myself on the back.
I've spent the last two months counting ounces of milk in my head every day, trying to predict how much I have in the freezer versus how much Jett is going to drink tomorrow versus how much I can pump this afternoon, coupled with when am I going to get home and how long is the ice pack going to stay cold and how am I going to carry this all home plus the laptop and all my work, and thankgod I get on the bus at the first stop because at least I'm guaranteed a seat, and please please don't let Jett refuse the bottle even though we put infant decongestant drops in the bottle and they tasted awful and now he won't even let us put the bottle in his line of vision, but he has to take it because tomorrow is Monday and I have to go back to work just to pump another bottle for him that he might not take, and now it's 5:15 on Monday and I didn't pump as much as I wanted to, but I'm just going home to nurse him anyway, but maybe he's drinking a bottle right now, which means he won't want to nurse for another two hours so maybe I should stay at work just to pump, but why stay at work to pump if I could be home nursing him, except what if he's not hungry when I get home, then I should have stayed to pump, and how many ounces are still in the freezer?
It's not that supplementing with formula is out of the question, it's just that I set a goal and was determined to reach it. Just like that first marathon I ran and that first house I built. Now I'm a runner, a home builder, and a breastfeeder. Can I have a medal?
Not just yet. They say it takes a village to raise a child? Well it takes a village to breastfeed one too. I've thought a lot about it, and if you want to work outside the house and exclusively breastfeed your child for six months (which is the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended amount of time) you need the following:
1. The desire to breastfeed (obviously).
2. An agreeable baby.
3. Time with your baby to figure it out.
4. A friend who has done it before who can help you figure it out.
5. Someone to hold the blanket the first 20 times you try to feed your baby in public, and the ability to stop being embarrassed about nursing your baby in public (or you will never be able to leave the house).
6. The ability to get over needing a blanket to nurse your baby in public.
7. Someone to get you everything you need while you're sitting on the couch nursing the baby. Everything you need is a glass of water, the cordless phone, your cell phone, the tv remote, a magazine, the book you were reading, the camera, a pen and paper, a pillow, another pillow, a sweater, someone to help you put the sweater on because you're holding the baby (duh), socks, someone to put the socks on your feet (you're still holding the baby), a burp cloth, a blanket for the baby, someone to turn the lamp on, except it puts a glare on the tv, so someone to turn the lamp off, a sandwich, someone to make dinner while you nurse the baby, and a refill on your water.
8. $200 for an electric pump.
9. A pumping-friendly work environment.
10. A fridge to store the milk.
11. A freezer to keep the icepack cold.
12. The ability to carry the pump to and from work or a husband to carry the pump to the bus stop for you even when you make him late for work.
13. An encouraging friend, husband, or partner.
14. The ability to wake up and go back to sleep multiple times in the night while remaining functional during the day.
15. A running calculator in your mind of how many ounces you need to pump today, for your baby to drink tomorrow.
Is it no wonder why only 30% of mothers are still breastfeeding their babies after six months? (Now don't go quoting me - I've looked, but I can't find the magazine where I read that number. It might be wrong. But I think it's right).
So give Charlie a medal. Give Jett a medal. Give my doula a medal. Give my workplace a medal. And then give me a lapel pin.
Tonight we've got 12 ounces of milk in the fridge and seven in the freezer. That's about three more ounces than Jett is going to drink tomorrow and those extra three ounces won't last long. I see a bit of formula in our future.
But I'm not dwelling on it. We made it to six months. Six fabulous, happy, grateful months.
We love you, Jett. Happy Birthday.
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