This winter was harsh. More snow more quickly than we’ve experienced in quite some time. At the beginning of the season, I didn’t know such a thing as an “ice dam” even existed… now I’m intimately familiar with the concept.
April 14, 2011
March 22, 2011
March 14, 2011
Strikes Suck, or The Strike That Was Actually ‘Giving Notice’
[Disclaimer: I've been wanting to write this for a few months now... but, well, I have a baby, so I haven't had time to really get my thoughts "on paper". Hence, you're getting the "I've come to terms with it" version rather than the impassioned "Strikes really suck" version.]
On Tuesday, December 28th, Joshua went on strike. A nursing strike.
I almost would have preferred that he had a picket sign and started chanting “Hell No, I won’t go!” over the heart-wrenching rejection (crying, arching/turning/pushing away) that he gave me. No, not rejecting *me*… he rejected my breasts.
March 13, 2011
November 16, 2010
The Milk Maid Returneth
Milk supply. That magical and sometimes elusive key to nurishing and sustaining the life of a little baby. It’s amazing how the body works to create just the right kind of sustinence as a baby grows and changes. I knew from day-one that I wanted to breastfeed Joshua. Not only does it embue him with immune support and the right blend of nutrients, it’s also darned easy (in many ways) and far cheaper than formula.
November 11, 2010
Plays well with others?
About a month and a half ago, Joshua’s little friend, Nolan, came over for a play date. When Nolan and his mom, Colleen, arrived, Joshua was upstairs, not-quite sleeping. He’d started a much-needed nap about a half-hour earlier, had woken up minutes earlier, and I was hoping perhaps he’d get back to sleep. So I answered the door by myself. Colleen brought in Nolan (who’s not so little anymore!), and we commenced to playing. Joshua started making noise, so I went up to get him.
This is to set the stage. My little boy came downstairs a little tired and cranky, and to some people he didn’t see enter his space.
On top of that, he had to share his toys! He was not so sure he liked that at all - particularly one of his favorites, a Pac Man ball-thing from his uncle’s childhood (saved by Grammie). For some reason, Joshua seemed scared or intimidated or somehow upset by this other baby in his space.
Apparently, we need to expose this child to more babies and to practice sharing our toys!
I videoed a short clip of the experience. Unfortunately, I can’t post it on my blog (I’m too cheap to pay the fee). So, I now have a YouTube account. You can see the clip here (Note the pouty lip and the crocodile tear. Poor boy.):
August 27, 2010
The Circle of Life
Normally on a Friday morning, Joshua and I stay home and play and cuddle and while the day away, while James goes to work. Today, however, we were blessed that Daddy didn’t have to get to work quite as early, so the three of us took a walk down the street (about 0.8 of a mile, one way) to a local diner for breakfast. This is something we now typically do on weekends, so it was a treat to do it during the week. After James and I each got an egg-and-cheese-on-a-bagel and a cup of coffee (his big, mine small), we decided to extend our walk by going further down the street to a ball park.
As we entered the property, I noticed a hawk standing on the ground.
July 15, 2010
May 21, 2010
Scary newborn stuff that’s quite normal
I’m writing this with thoughts of my friends Dan and Margo foremost in my mind – they’re due to have a little one probably any time now. (I forget when Margo is technically “due”.) As I was thinking about all the fun, excitement, new-ness, sleepless nights, and new parent apprehensions in front of them, I thought I’d write them a little list of things I didn’t learn about newborns until I had one (and got concerned and asked the pediatrician or had James Google the issue) that I think might be helpful to them… I figured I’d post it here for all to see as well. 
May 14, 2010
Sleepy eyes
A new phenomenon has started. Joshua has started rubbing at his eyes when he’s sleepy. He’s not quite coordinated enough to do the full-fledged fist-rubbing-the-eye thing, but his hands are definitely at his eyes with a kind of sleepy rubbing motion. It’s so darling, and it’s been quite handy to have an external cue to know when the little boy is cranky because he’s tired!
Joshua in his SwaddleMe
About a week ago, we started using a “SwaddleMe” to swaddle Joshua at bedtime. It’s a handy contraption that keeps his arms securely by his sides through the aid of velcro. It keeps him swaddled throughout the night, even for our little escape artist that managed to get his arms and legs free when we used a blanket for swaddling. He looks all cute (and a little funny) with just his head sticking out from his baby burrito.
