News + Baby Post-Vacation Sleep Help?

Yesterday, we had our big anatomy ultrasound.  Baby cooperated nicely (despite being super wiggly) and let us know that it's a GIRL!

I'm still a little in shock - I can't quite believe it.  I think Dan and I both expected it to be another boy, but we're super excited for her and for those two little ones to teach and love one another.  Yay!

On another subject, I need help.  We got back from a 2.5-week trip to New Zealand and Australia late Monday night, and Nat's sleep has been, frankly, miserable since.  Well, it's not even really the sleep.  It's the refusal to be by himself.

You see, we were spoiled.  I'm not exaggerating when I say that he was sleeping 8 hours at night by a month old, and 12+ by 2 months.  Ever since dropping his morning nap around 13 months, he's slept, with just a couple of little hiccups, 11-12 hours at night and 2-3 hours during the day.  For his naps, I would turn on his sound machine, hold him for a minute or two while singing one song, and put him down in his crib completely awake.  He'd drift off to sleep all on his own.  In the rare instance when he really wasn't tired (or after he awoke from his nap), he'd play happily in his crib, chatting or singing to himself.  In addition to this, he'd regularly play for upwards of an hour by himself, just reading books or playing with toys or doing whatever.

I fully acknowledge that we got totally lucky and that this was through NO amazing parenting feat.  I'm even more convinced of that now as all of that has gone down the tubes the last few days.  Now, when we're with him, he's still perfectly happy and giggly and playful.  But during the day, he insists on being held for much of the time.  He falls asleep fine when we're with him, but wakes up when we leave the room, or freaks out and screams bloody murder if we leave him awake in his crib.  I put him down about 45 minutes ago (when he was clearly really tired) and he's been crying since (I went in once to comfort him and explain that I would be in the living room and he could come out after he'd had his nap).

I'm fairly certain this has to do with some sort of post-vacation separation anxiety.  He was with both of us pretty much 24/7 for nearly 3 weeks, and slept in the same room as us.  If he woke up at night, we immediately picked him up and brought him to bed with us for fear of waking up any hosts or neighbors.  And now, he's clearly used to that and is terrified of being by himself in his room.

So, HELP!  All you experienced moms, please tell me what to do!  Do I just let him cry for forever and hope he figures it out?  Do I rock him to sleep for a few more days to let him adjust?  Do I just pray like crazy that he remembers his good sleeping habits (I think that one's a definite)?

A little news

See here. :)

Posing

I've been doing another outfit challenge (check it out on the style blog over here!) so Dan's been graciously taking pictures for me. And someone else often likes to pop in, too.

Crockpot Help?

I want to love the crockpot. I NEED to love the crockpot, now that we have afternoon church this year (blah) and Dan typically has meetings after and I'm exhausted after wrangling kids for the past 2 hours (nursery).

This is where I need your help.

You see, I used to have the (erroneous) impression that the crockpot was only made for meat/weird & unidentifiable ingredients (e.g., cream of anything soup), but I now recognize that neither of those has to be the case. But I haven't really found even ONE recipe that I can count on to be amazing. We tried this soup last night, and meh...I wasn't blown away. Dan really liked it, but I feel like the whole point of a slow cooker meal is that the flavors meld beautifully and the flavor deepens and this was a little bland, I thought. (Granted, I only used half the amount of butter, but still.)

So...anyone have any phenomenal, veggie-friendly crockpot recipes?

So...anyone

15 Months

(Editorial note: Shockingly, I actually wrote this post on Nat's actual 15-month birthday. I kept meaning to upload pictures - which I still haven't done - but decided to go ahead and post this anyway. Maybe pictures will come soon.)

Dearest Meine Tiny,
Happy 1.25 years!

This month was your first Christmas in which you could actually participate. And boy, let me tell you, it was such a joy for all of us. I had no idea how much fun it would be to wake up with you on Christmas morning and watch you open presents. Your dad and I thought you'd be fascinated by all the bags and wrapping paper. And don't get me wrong, you liked them. But it wasn't until you realized there was STUFF INSIDE that you really got excited. It was pretty much the cutest thing ever to watch you stick your little arm all the way to the bottom of your stocking and pull out a little bowtie and suspenders.

This month has also been filled with travel. We went up to New York to spend time with family in between Christmas and New Year's, and then traveled out to Utah for a wedding. It was so fun watching you bond with your dad's side of the family, who you don't get to see quite as often. I love watching you light up when you see them on Skype now, and it was adorable seeing how attached you got to all of them.

It's been fun teaching you more about yourself and your world this month. You now point to your nose and occasionally your mouth when asked, and have learned a few animal/vehicle sounds. Your first and my very favorite is "hoo" for what the owl says. You make this adorable little "O" with your mouth and pause for a second and then blow out a little "hoo." It is pretty much the cutest thing I've ever seen.

You've also started distinguishing between different animals (previously, everything was "dog"). The main one you've started liking to name is "duck," which has the unfortunate characteristic of sounding quite similar to "dog," but we're learning to tell them apart along with you. Speaking of dogs, you still adore them. You met your cousins' dog in Utah, and you could not stop saying "DA!!" and pointing frantically for about 15 minutes straight.

You also finally decided to join the world of the walking this month. You had been practicing with a couple of steps here and there. Finally, one day, you just decided to start walking. You hadn't taken more than 4-5 steps in a row before that, but in a matter of about 24 hours, you were exclusively walking. You've clearly been ready for a while, so I'm glad you finally decided to go for it.

Something else magical has happened in the last month or so. You've started to cuddle. Trust me, no one was more surprised than I was the first time it happened. I was holding you and you put your head down on my shoulder for a minute and gave me a little snuggle. I almost died, it was so wonderful. You see, from day one, you've been busy and independent and not at all into cuddling. From the time you could hold your head up until about a month ago, I don't think you had once put your head down on me - you were always too busy looking around. So you can imagine my shock and delight when you continued to do this. You now frequently crawl up to me and give me a hug and rest your head down on me. Let's just say that it is the best. thing. ever.

Along with the hugs, you've learned to pat our backs. I think you like when we pat your back when we hold you, so you started doing it back. Your dad commented on how you run a lot deeper than we usually realize - you have this very sweet and understanding empathy about you, and you realized that it feels good and wanted to share it back.

You finally got a (real) haircut this month. The situation was starting to get dire, so when we were in Salt Lake, we went to the barber shop where your dad started going when he was tiny, and you got a nice trim. You HATED the experience until you got a lollipop and I held you and then all was well with the world.

Your personality just keeps getting sweeter and funnier. You love to sneak behind furniture and play peek-a-boo with anyone who sees you, and you love pulling up our shirts when we're sitting down and giggling like mad.

In all of it, you continue to be so cheerful and happy - it really does amaze us. You are a constant sweetheart, rarely getting upset, never throwing tantrums, and always lifting those around you. You are a joy and a light, my Nat, and I'm ever grateful for you.

love,
mama

All Hail the Baby Carrier

We got to go to Utah this past week for a friend's wedding. We had two flights each way, and we debated whether to take the whole carseat/stroller contraption. Grandma and Grandpa already have a carseat out there, so we didn't need it on the other end. The major consideration was Nat napping in the carseat - he basically never falls asleep in our arms (too much going on), so we thought it might be helpful for the plane ride. But then we decided that he's still small enough that maybe we could just have him nap on the floor.

And that's exactly what he did.

I stuck him in the Moby wrap and we went on our merry way. On the way out, we got him all cozy in his swaddle with his paci, laid the Moby on the floor of the empty middle seat (thank goodness) and he snoozed away on both flights. The way back was another story with the napping, but wasn't anything the carseat would've fixed.

It's been a while since I've used the Moby consistently - I feel like we drive or stroll most places nowadays. But I used it all through Africa and LOVED it (made nursing while touring so so much easier) and I renewed my love of it this week. It was so nice to not have a ton of stuff even though we had a baby, and to not have to look for elevators, etc.

The only thing is I feel like Nat's getting a little tall for the Moby - the back part doesn't come up quite as high as I'd like or fit as tightly near the top. Any suggestions? I'm seriously considering an Ergo or something of the sort but they're a little pricey. Actually, I really want a Boba 3G, so if anyone from Boba is reading this and wants to send me one, that would be swell. :)

End ode to baby carriers. Trip pictures coming soon.

(Belated) 14 Months

Dear little Nat,
This month has been so full of travel that I haven't even had a chance to post about it until the next one is halfway through. Just know that it's because you're having fun that you didn't have a timely post, not in spite of it.The first trip of the month was to Philadelphia for our half-marathon. It was so much fun to visit our city and you loved getting to hang out with both sets of grandparents. The next weekend, you got to enjoy your very first Thanksgiving dinner this year! Last year, you were a little small to try anything, but this year, you had your pick of all kinds of deliciousness. Let's just say that you like food almost as much as your dad and I do.(Despite all the fat we keep trying to pile on you, you remain skinny as ever. This aids you greatly in removing certain articles of clothing, much to my chagrin.)Thanksgiving also afforded you the opportunity to spend lots of time with your paternal relatives. You loved having your grandparents and aunts and uncles and cousin around, and developed an absolute adoration for your grandpa. Every time you saw him, you would crawl right over and want to be held. It was the sweetest thing.
The next trip was when we went on a cruise in the Caribbean with your maternal grandparents. We all had a blast! The weather was perfect and warm and dry and the ports were beautiful. You absolutely LOVED playing in the water and sand and on the fun playgrounds. You kept crawling around in the sand (and not eating it!) and just running it through your little fingers. It was so fun to watch you discover new things. (I, of course, praised the warm weather for letting me see your little bare baby legs again.)
You continue to chatter up a storm. You are seriously the most talkative baby I've ever met. People are constantly commenting on how you are being really chatty, and I inform them that that is perfectly normal for you - you are always blabbing. In the midst of your jibber jabber, you have a repertoire of about 10 words that you use fairly consistently. This is incredibly helpful for helping us to know what you want ("baba" means you want your sippy). You love pointing out things you recognize in real like and in books (especially dogs and balls). The funniest part of your chatter is that you use a huge variety of sounds and inflections that you string together and put into "phrases." It totally sounds like you are having a full conversation in some other language!All of this chatter must be what you've been focusing on instead of walking, which you are STILL not doing. Early in December, you started standing on your own fairly regularly, and then just last week, you took a few steps on your own. But that.is.all. You've been cruising for literally over 6 months and yet you show zero interest in really wanting to walk on your own. I guess crawling is just faster for now...

Your nursing has gone down significantly this month. A few weeks after you turned a year old, I decided to try to just do 4 times a day (morning, before each nap, and at night) and see how you reacted. I really did not want to force you to wean, and was hoping you would let us know when you were ready. Despite never taking a bottle, you had transitioned to a sippy really easily, so I decided to give it a shot, and you were totally fine with it. A few weeks later, I decided to try to put you down for your naps without nursing. I was prepared for some fussing, but you drifted right off to sleep as usual. This made me SO happy that you were just ready and had started communicating that to me, and that it didn't need to be a big ordeal. Success!You got to meet Santa at our church Christmas party early in December and you...were displeased. Let's just say that you had some beef to raise with Santa. It was very sad. And also very very funny.

Oh, my tiny. You just keep getting more and more fun each day. I absolutely LOVE the stage you are in right now. I had so much fun traveling with you - you are the perfect little travel buddy. You adjust easily, sleep well, and smile like crazy at new people. You have this way of lighting up those around you, especially me.

I've told you before how consistently happy and cheerful you've been, and that's still the case - a friend of mine recently commented how it seems you are always just waiting to be entertained and looking for any excuse to smile. I love how that personality has gotten even more salient, and how our personalities, together, work so well. You help others make friends, you bring peace, and you just help me be better. Lately, you've become not just my angel son, but also my little friend, and I love you all the more for it.

love,
mama

13 and a bit months

Dear Nat Nat,
This month, your monthiversary fell the day before your dad and I ran a half-marathon. Can you believe it?? 26.2 miles in your honor. You're a lucky pup.

We had a great time in our beloved Philadelphia for the occasion. You absolutely loved seeing our friends with whom we stayed and totally bonded with their kids. You also had a blast hanging out with BOTH sets of grandparents, who came in for the occasion. You were in heaven!

Thanksgiving also fell a few days later, and you again got to spend the occasion with both sets of grandparents. You evidently have a thing for your grandpas, because you would just cling to them like none other. Especially since you don't get to see them very often, we were happy to see you immediately bond with your paternal grandpa - you seriously loved going "flying," eating together, and reading books together. That didn't cause you to lose any love for Ajja (maternal grandpa), though - you had a blast playing hide and seek with him and you both could not get enough giggles in.

You've gotten to experiment with a few fun new foods this month. Last month, at your birthday, party, you got your own delicious little cake. You were a little overwhelmed by everyone watching you, though, as they would gasp every time you tried to make a move toward it. So you hardly touched it there, and just nervously looked around at everyone until we picked you up. It was quite funny and sad all at the same time. But I gave you your cake again a few days later and you absolutely devoured it. You could not seem to get over how fun it was to stick your hands in it and just stroke the little owl. You thought it was so funny, and were mesmerized by all the chocolate on your fingers and in your mouth. You continue to harbor a special affinity for Thai and Indian food (especially mango lassis, no surprise).

This month, you've really loved going down the slide. You absolutely adore climbing the stairs up (not really sure when you figured that out, as we don't have stairs in our place), turning yourself around, and going down feet-first on your stomach. Such a big boy! Your expression at the bottom of the slide just melts my heart.

We had a really fun Halloween. You had a blast trick-or-treating with some little friends. The first time someone held out a basket to you to choose a candy, you sort of reached tentatively, and then stopped and looked up at them, like, "Um, really? Can I actually grab something?" After that, though, you totally could not get enough of it. You also always seemed to manage to choose the good candies - chocolate. Smart boy!

You continue to love to use your hands this month. While you have been clapping and giving high fives for quite some time now, you've recently rediscovered how fun it is. You received a cute little stacking ring set for your birthday, and you LOVE putting the rings back on the stick, and get so pleased and start clapping for yourself each time you get one on. It is SO adorable. You also continue to be best friends with your little stuffed doggies - you seriously love those little guys. You also love using your cute little hands to pull wash out of the washing machine and handing it to me to put in the dryer. We both love the teamwork!

You still have pretty much zero interest in walking. Seriously, pup - you've been cruising for close to 5 months now, and can easily stand on your own when you're not paying attention, but have not even attempted to take one single step. Really, it would just be nice for when we go outside so you don't scrape your knees on the concrete. Let's work on it, k?

Your vocabulary, on the other hand, has increased quite a bit this month. You say probably close to 10 words now, although it's sometimes confusing discerning exactly what you mean you use the same sound for multiple things. Do you mean dad or dog or that when you say "da"? Still, you're beginning to increase your clarity and add new sounds to your babbling repertoire. You've also gotten quite skilled at following simple directions, such as going and getting something and bringing it to me, which will be helpful when I want a snack.

Your personality continues to be so so fun and sweet and happy. I adore your constant giggles and chatter. Our friendship has really developed this month, and I love sharing interests and hobbies with you.

Last week was almost magical in getting to spend so much time with family. I could see you just light up with all of them around, and it was so fun to see you bond with each of them. One day, we all went to the temple together, and I can't really describe the feeling I had with all of us being there together. I can't wait for the day that you can be in there with us, too, knowing that we'll be together forever.

love,
mama

Stopped Dead in My Tracks

Did you fleece-lined leggings exist?

I'm...blown away. This changes everything.

(ETA: They're sold out! SOB!)

New Style Blog!

I started one.  A week's worth of outfits are up, and then I won't bore all of who really just care about chubby baby cheeks with style pictures.  Check it out over here!

Halloween

If this isn't the cutest baby cow you've ever seen, well, then I might be a little concerned that you have no heart.




(Gah! The tail!)


(Cow friends at the church Halloween party.)

(Farmers. They supply the produce, we supply the milk. Bartering is good.)

GF

Girlfriend, that is, not gluten-free.

1 Year

Dear tiniest,
Oh boy oh boy, where has the year gone, sweet one? How is it possible that you are one whole year old? How is it possible that you've been here for that long, and how is it possible that it hasn't been longer? This year has been a weird dichotomy of feeling like we've never lived without you and being astonished that the short time we've had you has gone by so fast.

This month, you've become especially committed (clingy) in your relationships. You've become very attached to certain people in your life - your dad and me, of course, are number one (thankyouverymuch). You still light up when your dad comes home from work, and follow him around like a little shadow for the rest of the night. You also had lots of fun with your Aunt Priya before she moved to Spain, at which point you missed her terribly and got super excited when you saw her on the computer screen.

You've always been close with my mom and with your dad's parents (via Skype), but the surprise best friend has been my dad, your ajja. Suffice it to say, you are mildly obsessed with him. Any time we are around him, you flat-out refuse to have anyone else even hold you (including ME!). You will cheerfully skip naps and playing and investigating all the things just to be with him. The other day, he spent the day at our place, and you were on cloud nine until he finally had to leave and had to hand you back to us, at which point you burst into very very sad tears. I've never seen you do that with anyone before. The best part of it all is that he is equally obsessed with you and literally lights up with joy any time he sees you or even hears your name. It makes me happier than I can say to see your little friendship growing.

Your communication skills have gotten quite proficient and specific this month. You now not only indicate that you want to eat, but point out specific foods that you want (alternating gestures toward salad and yogurt or by pointing to the yellow box of Cheerios on the counter). You regularly say "da" and "ma," and I've been trying to teach you a few other words - such as "more" and "ball." You obviously recognize others (notably, "airplane"), and follow easy directions (such as getting and bringing over a book, or putting food in your mouth).

Your appetite continues to astonish us. You eat so. much. food. You easily down a whole avocado in one sitting, or a huge piece of pizza. You adore cheese and apples and curry and beans and mango lassi, and rarely refuse food, except for perhaps pecan nut thins, which is probably for the best since we realized you're allergic to them. You had a pecan cracker recently, after which you developed a rash all over your face. Quite scary on our end. You didn't swell at all, though, nor did you have trouble breathing, thank goodness. Since you didn't have those symptoms, we didn't give you any medicine, and the hives went away within the hour. I'm really hoping you'll outgrow this allergy since neither your Dad nor I have any allergies, and you're not allergic to peanuts and mostly because pecans are rather delicious and I'd hate for you to have to miss out on them. You also had a brief (although it didn't feel so at the time) biting-while-nursing spell this month. Holy moly. That was a rough few days.

You continue to have a profound interest in household items, especially CUPS. Any time you see a cup, you frantically leap across the room until you can grab it and drink from it (if by drink you mean spill all over yourself, which I do). You also adore the washing machine, both watching it run and reaching into it when it's off. You've also started to take an interest in climbing - both onto the couch/bed, as well as the bookshelf. You've gotten pretty good at backing off, although sometimes you'll still start to pitch yourself headfirst to get to some interesting thing on the ground.

You got to go on your first bike ride this month. We got you a little tiny bike helmet, that you loathed while your dad put it on, but found to be the funniest thing ever once it was secured. You couldn't stop giggling at the heaviness on your head and the image in the mirror. Other interests continue to include books - you love reading them with us and paging through them on your own, carefully separating pages to make sure you don't miss any important plot developments.

Your love for animals has expanded to include cats this month, when you met your first one. You were seriously obsessed with this poor animal, and kept grabbing her fur and patting her face and whiskers. It's a wonder she didn't attack you back. You spent a solid 30 minutes either playing with her or staring at her on the chair and trying to lure her back. You were beside yourself with her movements and softness and grabbableness.

My little son, how much you have changed and learned and grown this year. Of course it's amazing to me how much you've changed and developed, and how you've developed into a smart and sweet and handsome little boy. What is more remarkable to me, though, is how much you've stayed the same. Your personality has been so consistent. From the beginning, you've been so smiley and vibrant. Your preferences are strong, and you are an excellent communicator (interestingly, as your baby blessing said). You have a way of lighting up others' lives, most especially mine.

It took a long time for me to be honest enough with myself to admit that it took me a few days to feel that fiery maternal attachment everyone hails. While I knew I loved you, for a few days, I felt a little lost and not like myself. I didn't know if I would be trapped or overburdened or incompetent. But then. Then 12 months happened, and I find myself filled with a love and protective desire more overpowering than I ever thought possible. I find myself thinking of you for more seconds than exist in a day, and smiling at the thought of it all. Your dad and I often laugh at the percentage of our time spent while you are sleeping or otherwise not with us that we talk about/look at pictures of/remember stories of you, and then continue doing it because we just cannot get enough. That maternal love that everyone talks about? Well, let's just say that it pales in comparison to what I feel for you.

You have, on occasion, stopped to look at the rings I wear on my left hand, the rings your dad gave me. They sparkle and they are pretty, but to me they are more than jewelry. They are symbols that your dad and I are together for eternity. Now when I look at them, they still sparkle, and I still remember - but I remember not just him, but both of you, both of my boys. I remember that we, as a family, will be together forever. Now when I look at them, they don't just stand for two - they mean three.

Happy first birthday, my sweet son.

love,
mama

Outfits Lately, Take 2

(Everything's cuter with these two.)

(With and without jacket, graciously lent by sister.)

Outfits Lately

Since the end of the 21DC, I've been trying to continue putting effort and thought into my outfits each day. I've been pretty good about documenting it, and by pretty good I mean I have dan take terribly lit photos right before I throw on a t-shirt and sports bra to go running. I'm fairly certain almost-sweaty underpinnings qualify as pretty good in my book, don't they in yours?
? (Houndstooth and lace - I've been meaning to try this.)

(Why yes, that would be a phenomenal and pretty briefcase that I thrifted for $10, not to rub it in, I'm sure you recently found a perfect and feminine briefcase purse, too.)

Tied Up

I liked this outfit from the other day enough to have Dan take a the-baby's-in-bed-and-it's-too-dark-to-shoot-outside-so-I-guess-we'll-use-use-flash-inside photo. I aim to please.

Tiny Eats

Is there anything cuter than a baby eating? I think not.



He was practically frantic anytime I got up to cut another slice. A child after my own heart.

(And my gratingly saccharine voice? You're welcome.)

Recent Books

Do you go through phases? Yellow phases, productive phases, avocado-eating phases (if by phase I mean always)? Right now, I'm in a book-reading phases, or as much as I can be with an almost 1-year old and a job and training, which is actually really not that much at all, now that I think about it. But still. It's sadly way more than than I was reading earlier in the year, which is good enough for me.

Some recents:

I really really loved this book. It is some of the better fiction I've read in a while (which, judging by my previous comment, may not be saying all that much). The book is the journal of Sarah Prine, and chronicles her life starting when she's about 18 years old in the wild west. The love story (of course there is a love story - do you know me at all?) is so sweet, but not saccharine.

Sarah epitomizes everything I love in a heroine - she's smart but not snooty, tough but loving, strong but vulnerable, and oh so real. I loved some of her entries when she was about to get married to the love of her life because she goes back and forth between being completely smitten and confident in her love, and being annoyed and unsure. She's headstrong and that sometimes makes things slip off her tongue in ways they shouldn't, but that just endeared her to me all the more.

SPOILER!
For those of you who have read it, the only issue I had with this book was near the end. Although I sobbed like a baby through the last 20 pages, it was just a little too predictable and a little too easy. Jack's death just seemed too obvious and contrived to me, even though I felt like my heart was braking when it actually happened.

The one other issue was that it was SUPER slow for the first 100 pages or so (lots of bam bam, shoot 'em up sort of action that was not my cup of tea), so I had a tough time getting into it. But once I did, hoo boy, I could not stop.

The next was this biography of Gordon B. Hinckley, who was the prophet and president of the Mormon Church until a few years ago. I've always loved President Hinckley, and have always felt a special affinity towards him. After reading this book, it was all the more clear to me how he had a way that made everyone feel close to him. Dan and I read this together, and we were simultaneously amazed by his work ethic coupled with a focus on what is most important.

Much as I love President Hinckley, though, this wasn't my favorite so far as biographies go. While Sheri Dew is a great writer, I don't think she's the best storyteller. She did an excellent job of chronicling his life, but it felt fairly repetitive at times (yes, I understand that he did a ridiculous amount of travel and that he was very tired EVERY time but that he continued on despite his fatigue EVERY time. thank you.), while not providing nearly enough detail in others (it mentions that the Family Proclamation was announced while he was President, but how did it come about? what were President Hinckley's feelings on the 2nd official declaration and the months and years leading up to it?).

I read the biography of Spencer W. Kimball, another prophet, several years ago, and I thought it did a much better job of helping the reader understand the progression of his thoughts and feelings and relationships. Instead, this one felt more like a "journal" than a "diary" (Went to Asia. Called as apostle. Spent long hours at the office. Spoke at many many firesides.). While I got to know what he did, I didn't feel like I really got to know him all that much more than before.


Anyone have any really excellent books they've read lately and would like to recommend?