So, here we are. One step forward, and two steps back.
NCS doesn't really like to speak so much anymore; instead, he signs. He signs "milk," "more," "please," "thank you," "all done," "eat," "ball," "baby," "bird," and "water." He only verbalizes "Mama," "Dada," "Braaaa" (meaning Meow), "Mmmmmmm" (meaning Moooooo), and he makes a sound for monkey and pig (a grunting-type clearing of the throat). He has recently started singing, a.k.a. yelling at the top of his lungs during a song.
He is a sweetheart. He stops in the middle of menial tasks just to kiss his mommy. He blows kisses to almost everyone he leaves. He shakes almost every hand in greeting. He asks "please," and he says "thank you," though he must be reminded.
We had a playdate today with his BFF, JFK, whose first name is Jackson. During their visit, NCS was calling JFK in the sing-song voice that the Mommies use... "Jack-son." I had him repeat it many, many times today. He even got super excited tonight during his bath when I asked him to call JFK. He thought JFK was here to visit, and he was even trying to jump out of the tub to go find him, squealing with excitement!
I am still struggling with weaning. It brings such comfort to NCS, it destroys to me to think of depriving him of that. I am marginally concerned about the nutritional aspects of weaning, but I'm sure that he would eat more food if he needed to. I'm not so sure that he would drink more fluids from a cup. Time will tell.
Friday, December 28, 2007
Friday, October 26, 2007
16 months
The last time I blogged about the state of the little man that is NCS was 11 months ago. I can't believe how fast time flies. I read recently that "time is every mother's enemy," how true that is. I want to cry just thinking about it.
NCS is growing and learning like crazy. He is such a wonderful, sweet, even polite little boy, it melts me. Of course, he has developed a habit of hitting his Mommy (Where did that come from?!?) that I am trying to nip in the bud, though I don't know if I'm going about it correctly. One thing I have removed from his repertoire is giving High Fives. Instead, we have taught him to shake hands, and when he shakes his Mommy's hand, he kisses it afterwards. Ha!
He still isn't speaking so much. He says "Mama," "Dada," "Braaaa," (meaning 'Meow'), he pants like a puppy when you ask him what a puppy says, says "Mmmmmmmm..." when you ask him what a cow says, and I think he tried to say ball yesterday, sounding like "ba..." What he absolutely, positively does say, hundreds of times a day is "hmmm?" Maybe that's just his way of verbalizing whatever it is he's thinking, and I'm sure it sounds like "milk" or "please" or "bath" to him, but he just sounds very inquisitive to us.
Over the last week or so, he has really gotten the hang of sleeping all night. I am so absolutely happy about this, I just want to dance around like a crazy person. It's so funny how the human -- or mother's -- brain works. I can barely remember what it felt like to not sleep.
Oh, and we have entered the beginning phase of weaning. Yikes.
NCS is growing and learning like crazy. He is such a wonderful, sweet, even polite little boy, it melts me. Of course, he has developed a habit of hitting his Mommy (Where did that come from?!?) that I am trying to nip in the bud, though I don't know if I'm going about it correctly. One thing I have removed from his repertoire is giving High Fives. Instead, we have taught him to shake hands, and when he shakes his Mommy's hand, he kisses it afterwards. Ha!
He still isn't speaking so much. He says "Mama," "Dada," "Braaaa," (meaning 'Meow'), he pants like a puppy when you ask him what a puppy says, says "Mmmmmmmm..." when you ask him what a cow says, and I think he tried to say ball yesterday, sounding like "ba..." What he absolutely, positively does say, hundreds of times a day is "hmmm?" Maybe that's just his way of verbalizing whatever it is he's thinking, and I'm sure it sounds like "milk" or "please" or "bath" to him, but he just sounds very inquisitive to us.
Over the last week or so, he has really gotten the hang of sleeping all night. I am so absolutely happy about this, I just want to dance around like a crazy person. It's so funny how the human -- or mother's -- brain works. I can barely remember what it felt like to not sleep.
Oh, and we have entered the beginning phase of weaning. Yikes.
Music Together
NCS and I are taking a music class, called Music Together.
Anytime he hears music, he has to stop and dance. He'll just be walking through the room and hear something in the background, maybe the music to a commercial, and just stops to dance. He started doing this a few months ago, when he was a little less coordinated. At that time, if he felt that he really needed to devote all of his energy to the dance, he sat down so he wouldn't fall down mid-groove.
Since he seems to be so happy when dancing, I went in search of a music class for us to participate in. The only thing that I could readily find online was Gymboree, as they offer a music class for children. I was then referred to Music Together by another Mommy. I called both of the program centers to speak to the teacher, and I must say that I was blown away by the enthusiasm of Miss Beth, the Music Together instructor.
We scheduled trial sessions for both programs, just to try them each out.
Without being too negative, I will just say that the Gymboree center closest to our home did not have their stuff together. It was their first music class in a while, and it really showed. The instructor couldn't carry a tune in a bucket, bless her heart, and for a music class, there was a lot of uncomfortable silences. I certainly hope that their program improves.
Our first day in Music Together, NCS wasn't too terribly interested in the class activities. I'm sure he was happy to hear that Miss Beth could actually sing, but first on his mind was simply exploring his new surroundings and testing its boundaries. (Actually, he did that at both classes.) He really only wanted OUT. But the music was nice, and the other children were having fun.
I was a little worried that my child never seemed to want to participate in any sort of organized activities, and I could clearly see for the first time how strong-willed he really is. It appears that I have a free thinker on my hands... yikes!
So today was our second class, and it was amazing for me to see the difference in his comfort level. He didn't stay in the circle of children the entire time, but he certainly checked it out. He didn't linger around the outer periphery of the room this time, he ventured a little closer in towards the center of the room, but he was dancing and jumping and laughing from where he stood. Several times, he went to sit in Miss Beth's lap and gave her hugs. What a sweet boy!
There is a little girl in his class named Samantha that he really likes. They gravitate towards each other, heading off into a corner to play and just blowing off the Mommies. He even gave her his Teva to chew on, learning to share already.
Anytime he hears music, he has to stop and dance. He'll just be walking through the room and hear something in the background, maybe the music to a commercial, and just stops to dance. He started doing this a few months ago, when he was a little less coordinated. At that time, if he felt that he really needed to devote all of his energy to the dance, he sat down so he wouldn't fall down mid-groove.
Since he seems to be so happy when dancing, I went in search of a music class for us to participate in. The only thing that I could readily find online was Gymboree, as they offer a music class for children. I was then referred to Music Together by another Mommy. I called both of the program centers to speak to the teacher, and I must say that I was blown away by the enthusiasm of Miss Beth, the Music Together instructor.
We scheduled trial sessions for both programs, just to try them each out.
Without being too negative, I will just say that the Gymboree center closest to our home did not have their stuff together. It was their first music class in a while, and it really showed. The instructor couldn't carry a tune in a bucket, bless her heart, and for a music class, there was a lot of uncomfortable silences. I certainly hope that their program improves.
Our first day in Music Together, NCS wasn't too terribly interested in the class activities. I'm sure he was happy to hear that Miss Beth could actually sing, but first on his mind was simply exploring his new surroundings and testing its boundaries. (Actually, he did that at both classes.) He really only wanted OUT. But the music was nice, and the other children were having fun.
I was a little worried that my child never seemed to want to participate in any sort of organized activities, and I could clearly see for the first time how strong-willed he really is. It appears that I have a free thinker on my hands... yikes!
So today was our second class, and it was amazing for me to see the difference in his comfort level. He didn't stay in the circle of children the entire time, but he certainly checked it out. He didn't linger around the outer periphery of the room this time, he ventured a little closer in towards the center of the room, but he was dancing and jumping and laughing from where he stood. Several times, he went to sit in Miss Beth's lap and gave her hugs. What a sweet boy!
There is a little girl in his class named Samantha that he really likes. They gravitate towards each other, heading off into a corner to play and just blowing off the Mommies. He even gave her his Teva to chew on, learning to share already.
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Mommy Wars?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20121799/site/newsweek/?gt1=10252
I guess I knew that this was a cultural phenomenon. It has definitely affected me and my fellow Mommies, but I hadn't really given it much thought. I have had to disassociate myself from a Toxic Mommy or two.
I'll expound later.
NCS is crying for a nap.
I guess I knew that this was a cultural phenomenon. It has definitely affected me and my fellow Mommies, but I hadn't really given it much thought. I have had to disassociate myself from a Toxic Mommy or two.
I'll expound later.
NCS is crying for a nap.
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Naps
NCS is taking a nap. Nothing sensational, but he hates to nap.
He's developing by leaps and bounds, especially in the arena of sleep. Last week, he kind of began sleeping through the night. I say "kind of" because I guess it's all in how you define "through the night." I have read that when talking about a baby, "through the night" means five or more consecutive hours. To me, "through the night" means from the time Mommy goes to sleep until the time Mommy wakes up.
I have been nursing him to sleep around 8ish, letting him sleep in our bed until 11ish, then putting him in his pack & play, which is in our room. He may whimper a few times during the night, and I respond by turning on his womb-sound-making teddy bear. He then wakes up (crying) around 5ish, and I nurse him in my bed. We then go back to sleep until 7ish. Not too shabby, I think.
Last night didn't exactly follow that pattern, but I think that he is definitely making progress.
With these new sleeping skills that he's developing, I had expected to be more rested at this point. I am still waking up every hour or two during the night, in anticipation of him needing me. Well, it seems that he doesn't.
I am planning a trip to California later this month. This is a big part of my motivation to get him to sleep without nursing all night. He's going to stay home with his Daddy, and I want their solo time to pass happily and uneventfully.
He's developing by leaps and bounds, especially in the arena of sleep. Last week, he kind of began sleeping through the night. I say "kind of" because I guess it's all in how you define "through the night." I have read that when talking about a baby, "through the night" means five or more consecutive hours. To me, "through the night" means from the time Mommy goes to sleep until the time Mommy wakes up.
I have been nursing him to sleep around 8ish, letting him sleep in our bed until 11ish, then putting him in his pack & play, which is in our room. He may whimper a few times during the night, and I respond by turning on his womb-sound-making teddy bear. He then wakes up (crying) around 5ish, and I nurse him in my bed. We then go back to sleep until 7ish. Not too shabby, I think.
Last night didn't exactly follow that pattern, but I think that he is definitely making progress.
With these new sleeping skills that he's developing, I had expected to be more rested at this point. I am still waking up every hour or two during the night, in anticipation of him needing me. Well, it seems that he doesn't.
I am planning a trip to California later this month. This is a big part of my motivation to get him to sleep without nursing all night. He's going to stay home with his Daddy, and I want their solo time to pass happily and uneventfully.
Monday, April 2, 2007
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Walking
JS called the house soon after leaving for work this morning to tell us that the Estate Sale building around the corner was "going off." Going off like Resort VIP at four in the morning, going off. I had to check it out. We've lived around the corner from this place for five months, and I'd never been to one of their sales. So I packed up NCS in the Jeep not-for-jogging stroller, armed myself with JS's checkbook, and hit the road.
This place was packed. It was a beautiful morning, and it seemed that most of Palm Beach was taking advantage of this prime shopping weather. We weren't able to shop as we would have liked, because the not-for-jogging stroller is huge. We didn't want to run over someone's Manolo Blahniks or whack a Chippendale something or other.
These Palm Beachers are quite spiffy'd up early in the morning, a la Paris Hilton. I felt extra scraggly, in my workout clothes. You know, that used to be me. I used to love to get up early on a Saturday, put on real clothes (not Mommy clothes), and go out into the world. I'd go get coffee first, too. It's funny how little things like going out for Starbucks become much more difficult when you've got a little guy to haul around with you.
Anyway, we set off toward the intercoastal. It was windy, and he fell asleep. I'm trying to do this "Couch to 5k" thing, so we walked and ran, even with the not-for-jogging stroller. The rear axle bounces if I run too fast, so I just use that as my Speedometer.
It's taken me two days to write this. There was a point to all of this, eloquent I'm sure, but I forgot it.
Ciao.
This place was packed. It was a beautiful morning, and it seemed that most of Palm Beach was taking advantage of this prime shopping weather. We weren't able to shop as we would have liked, because the not-for-jogging stroller is huge. We didn't want to run over someone's Manolo Blahniks or whack a Chippendale something or other.
These Palm Beachers are quite spiffy'd up early in the morning, a la Paris Hilton. I felt extra scraggly, in my workout clothes. You know, that used to be me. I used to love to get up early on a Saturday, put on real clothes (not Mommy clothes), and go out into the world. I'd go get coffee first, too. It's funny how little things like going out for Starbucks become much more difficult when you've got a little guy to haul around with you.
Anyway, we set off toward the intercoastal. It was windy, and he fell asleep. I'm trying to do this "Couch to 5k" thing, so we walked and ran, even with the not-for-jogging stroller. The rear axle bounces if I run too fast, so I just use that as my Speedometer.
It's taken me two days to write this. There was a point to all of this, eloquent I'm sure, but I forgot it.
Ciao.
Monday, March 19, 2007
First Post
I just created this blog. Will I be able to read it on the black background? (Any posts that are dated before today are copied archives.)
This will be short, because NCS is sleeping. He's in his swing, where I place him so he can "go fishing." There are fish above his head that revolve while music plays. He is now large enough to reach a fish if he really tries. If he "catches" one, he prevents it from rotating, and there is an awful cranking noise. It kind of sounds like a fishing reel that has caught a fish.
So.. welcome.
This will be short, because NCS is sleeping. He's in his swing, where I place him so he can "go fishing." There are fish above his head that revolve while music plays. He is now large enough to reach a fish if he really tries. If he "catches" one, he prevents it from rotating, and there is an awful cranking noise. It kind of sounds like a fishing reel that has caught a fish.
So.. welcome.
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
Five Bites
NCS took 5 bites of his food!!!! After months of trying to feed him and being met with clamped-shut jaws, NCS has decided to give dinner a shot. He took 3 bites of pears and 2 bites of squash.
I was so completely happy, I can't even describe it.
Whew!!
I was so completely happy, I can't even describe it.
Whew!!
Monday, February 5, 2007
No Nappin' NCS
I am actually pretty frustrated. I am frustrated about the whole NotGonnaEat thing, and I'm also frustrated about the NotGonnaSleep or NotGonnaSleepWithoutABoob thing.
NCS is now affectionately called "No Nappin' Nicholas" because he will go down for a 10 minute or so nap and wake up totally refreshed. I don't get upset about it at the time because he isn't upset or cranky when he wakes up, but cumulatively, it's really starting to wear on me. And if he sleeps in his crib, you can go ahead and cut the estimated nap duration in half. This kid just LOVES our bed.
I have joined a group on Yahoo of mothers who are trying to get their kids to sleep without crying. I just can't let him cry. I do not agree with the Cry It Out (CIO) school of thinking. How could I let him lie in his bed and wonder why his mommy has stopped coming to him? I can't imagine how scary that is to a baby. It actually breaks my heart. The thing about this group is that it revolves around a book, one I have not bought. I don't know what some of the things are that they are talking about, so I guess I'll just have to break down and buy yet another book that I won't have time to read because my kid won't take a nap in order for me to try to fix his No Nappin' problem. Ironic? See how I am slowly losing my mind?
And now on top of the No Nappin' issue, you know there is the NotGonnaEat problem. It's really funny to see him turn his head around in the high chair, like he's morphing into an owl. Then you can just see the wheels turning inside, calculating how long I'm going to stand in front of him with the spoon loaded with sweet potatoes. He's trying to figure out his odds on being able to wait me out. If I can convince or decieve him into facing me, there is almost zero chance that he's going to open his mouth. If I am able to somehow shove food into his little mouth, I can promise you he's not going to swallow it. At this point in the feeding, I am wondering why we're even going through the motions. He ain't going to eat. So I put some food on his tray and let him play with it. Maybe if he licks some of the food off of his fingers, he'll make the connection that this is the stuff that his Crazy Mommy is trying to feed him? Maybe if I let him put his hands inside the bowl he won't be afraid of its contents? So I let him do both, and he eventually forms a crust over the top half of his body made out of whatever it is I am trying to feed him.
He doesn't care if he gets dirty. Well, he doesn't care because he's just a baby, but he also knows that bath time is next. This kid LOVES to get naked. Just a few seconds after I lift him out of his high chair, he starts squealing and squawking and freaking out because he's so happy. And then I forget that I was even frustrated in the first place.
Of course, after bath time, he nurses for like an hour. Hey, I thought he wasn't hungry?
NCS is now affectionately called "No Nappin' Nicholas" because he will go down for a 10 minute or so nap and wake up totally refreshed. I don't get upset about it at the time because he isn't upset or cranky when he wakes up, but cumulatively, it's really starting to wear on me. And if he sleeps in his crib, you can go ahead and cut the estimated nap duration in half. This kid just LOVES our bed.
I have joined a group on Yahoo of mothers who are trying to get their kids to sleep without crying. I just can't let him cry. I do not agree with the Cry It Out (CIO) school of thinking. How could I let him lie in his bed and wonder why his mommy has stopped coming to him? I can't imagine how scary that is to a baby. It actually breaks my heart. The thing about this group is that it revolves around a book, one I have not bought. I don't know what some of the things are that they are talking about, so I guess I'll just have to break down and buy yet another book that I won't have time to read because my kid won't take a nap in order for me to try to fix his No Nappin' problem. Ironic? See how I am slowly losing my mind?
And now on top of the No Nappin' issue, you know there is the NotGonnaEat problem. It's really funny to see him turn his head around in the high chair, like he's morphing into an owl. Then you can just see the wheels turning inside, calculating how long I'm going to stand in front of him with the spoon loaded with sweet potatoes. He's trying to figure out his odds on being able to wait me out. If I can convince or decieve him into facing me, there is almost zero chance that he's going to open his mouth. If I am able to somehow shove food into his little mouth, I can promise you he's not going to swallow it. At this point in the feeding, I am wondering why we're even going through the motions. He ain't going to eat. So I put some food on his tray and let him play with it. Maybe if he licks some of the food off of his fingers, he'll make the connection that this is the stuff that his Crazy Mommy is trying to feed him? Maybe if I let him put his hands inside the bowl he won't be afraid of its contents? So I let him do both, and he eventually forms a crust over the top half of his body made out of whatever it is I am trying to feed him.
He doesn't care if he gets dirty. Well, he doesn't care because he's just a baby, but he also knows that bath time is next. This kid LOVES to get naked. Just a few seconds after I lift him out of his high chair, he starts squealing and squawking and freaking out because he's so happy. And then I forget that I was even frustrated in the first place.
Of course, after bath time, he nurses for like an hour. Hey, I thought he wasn't hungry?
Solids
It's official: My child hates solid food. He never wants to eat. He turns his head around and tries to wait me out. If I can get some into his mouth, he just holds it there and tries not to swallow it.
I'm backing off of him, and I'll let him eat when he's ready. I'll keep trying to "introduce" foods to him, but I honestly feel like I'm wasting food.
He does like playing with the toys that are snapped onto his high chair. That's fun for him.
Since I've been backing off the solids, we're reverting back to the breastmilk poop, which is really a plus.
I'm backing off of him, and I'll let him eat when he's ready. I'll keep trying to "introduce" foods to him, but I honestly feel like I'm wasting food.
He does like playing with the toys that are snapped onto his high chair. That's fun for him.
Since I've been backing off the solids, we're reverting back to the breastmilk poop, which is really a plus.
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