Saturday, October 31

What's that smell?

Thursday, Parker and I stayed home all day after a long week of running around. I was wearing my 'mom uniform' (that's what Doug calls it) which consists of Doug's v-neck white t-shirts and yoga pants and spent most of the morning cleaning house. Clearly I was juggling this act in between feedings, diaper changes and dodging throw-up. You see, my son loves to gorge himself. He does little in moderation... and I'll be honest, I don't know who he got it from. (Wink!!!!)

Because of his love to gorge, it often means when he burps his inner dam breaks loose and out it all comes. Thursday was one of those days. Since we weren't going anywhere, I just wiped myself off and kept right on moving.

Hours later as I was taking out the trash, I smelled something really sour. I got on my hands and knees and looked for garbage that had escaped the 'receptacle' and had decided to plant roots, but I didn't really find anything. As I was washing the dishes I thought, man something really stinks. Is there mold on the plates... what is it. Just as quickly as I could finish my thought I wiped my face on my sleeve and found it...

I was the one that was sour, rotten, molding and growing roots! I had been smelling myself, well really the work of Parker. Oh, the luxurious life of a mother. I ended my day of scent experimentation with sporting the pee I earned while testing to see how much pee a bare cloth diaper could hold without a cover. The answer, 1 round.

Tuesday, October 27

Sewing Again... take 2!

Got an itch and this time I'm running with it.

I have had this crazy sewing machine since the days of Iowa. I got it out in December and played around as much as I could with out the manual but then put it away, dreaming about what I could make rather than actually doing it. Three times since then I've said I'm going to order the manual but haven't yet. Worst part is I can't figure out how to load the bobbin...

Either way, since having Parker I've decided I want to make things for him. Making girls clothes would be ideal, but since that would mean I'm dressing my son in drag I've opted for slippers and blankets and such.

A new craze right now are those crazy leather slippers right, for $28 or more... and they fit for what 4 weeks?!!! Well, I found a pattern for free on the internet and decided I was going to make my own pair. (Please note that I have nothing against those adorable leather booties... I would own several if I could afford them!)

This weekend when I was putting out winter clothes I made a pile for Good Will and a pile for craft projects. So I made Parker a pair of booties out of a skirt I will NEVER fit in again, a jacket that Doug won't wear any more and scraps from curtains that I hemmed. I did buy fleece to line a blanket I'm working on and had some left over, so I lined them with fleece so they are extra warm. Not sure my overly hot blooded, hot tempered child needs them lined... but they are any ways!

Here is the finished product... what do you think?

Thursday, October 22

Praise to the 'shitty' days!



Parker boy has developed a new poop habit. One that spells relief every 4-7 days. At first we were a little afraid but after some research and speaking with some professionals all reports said it can be normal for a breast feed baby. I believe I said before that he was 'all boy' when it came to this bodily function in that he has never pooped after every feeding. He prefers one gigantic explosion a day. However, that all stopped this month and we are currently experiencing what I call 'the drought.'. Do I love the fact that he's more gas than show, no... but I also have to trust his body.

Don't get me wrong we are visiting Dad at the office and his atlas is holding like a champ. We have gotten some cranial sacral massages, both produced poop the next day! And Saturday we are visiting a chiro that has a Pediatrics Diplomat degree. Not just because he isn't pooping, more because his little muscles and body seem to be holding onto some birth trauma all along his left side which is probably the culprit in the poop crisis!

I personally am trying to drink as much water as I can, which is easy if I'm at home but if we are out and about the water bottle is always the one thing I forget! At least it's just the water bottle. I'm also taking a pro biotic when I remember...

Anyways, he pooped Thursday when we were at post-natal yoga, and we hadn't done any intervention yet that week. Friday was a hard day, he screamed most of it! He later got another massage and a kick a** chiro adjustment and went pooped again on Saturday. I am hoping we are on the up swing?!

I guess my point in sharing is that it can be hard at times to trust our babies body and even our own intuition. We are quick to rule certain situations as problems and want them taken care of as quickly as possible. Ask yourself instead, what the reason or cause for the situation might be. Do you need to intervene, will it correct it's self or does it need just a little guidance? When I was reading up on 'poop patterns of nursing babies' I found lots of indication that while it is very normal, it's not as heard of today because we intervene after a 3 day drought. In some countries breast feed babies can go 1 month... can you imagine the smell of their gas after one month?! Parker's already smells like a grown mans' whose been eating bratwurst with sauerkraut and baked beans!


2 months... he's 2 months!

So I've been working on 'Maxwell Chronicles,' a newsletter of Parker's life. I want to put them together in a book for him to laugh at someday, but in the meantime someone should be laughing... so here it is! Click on the title of todays post, '2 months... he's 2 months' to enjoy!

Sunday, October 18

Life lessons... take 1



When I became a parent, I thought that I would stay young, hip and cool. I envisioned myself still doing and liking all the same things I liked before I gave birth... and for the most part I still do. It's just that things are a little different now. Meaning, if I go out with the girls to have a good time, I know in the back of my mind that my state of being the next day is important because I have a child that needs me. If I'm in a wedding (because I just was on Saturday) even though Doug is there and I pumped... I'm not dancing like crazy and drinking with my friends, I'm standing off to the side dancing mildly crazy and holding my child who happens to be so happy because he is wrapped on his mama's chest.

All I'm saying is that things are different now. They're not bad, or horrific, they are just different.

But you now what... I'm different too. I'm stronger and more confident. I'm a kick ass mom, who is loving it! I have an amazing child, that I cherish spending every day with because I don't know what God has in store for his future. I do know that I have big plans for his future. And each day I aid in his growth and development and honor his little being for he too has an opion of what he likes and dislikes. I can't wait until we can dream together and he can verbalize his ideas and dreams to me even more clearly!!!

p.s., I think I'm succeeding at staying young, hip and cool...

Tuesday, October 13

He's all Endel folks!

Sunday after walking in the woods for hours we decided we wanted ice cream! There is an amazing family owned, home-made, joint right down the road from us, so we like to find every excuse we can to go get a scoop. 1 scoop... don't judge me!

Parker being an Endel and all, we thought it was time for him to start choosing his own ice cream flavor. Doug asked him what he wanted and we felt like he wanted chocolate, so when we got to the counter Doug placed his order, then I placed my order... and asked for chocolate!

You thought I was going to say we ordered Parker his own scoop, didn't you! Not yet, not quite yet, but very soon I'm afraid!

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Monday, October 12

I cherish these times...

I love when Dad comes home from work in the evening. I love that he gets to see Parker. I love watching him talk to him and seeing the smile on both of their faces! It's also nice to know that it's not just the two of us, but now the three of us.

I love the weekends even more! With Doug home we dream up adventures for the three of us. Whether it's going on a walk, hiking for hours, or getting ice cream... we do it together, as a family!

This weekend we did all of the above. The weather was gorgeous. The perfect combination of fall breeze and summer sun. Parker slept through most of the adventures, but we all had fun just being together.


Chillin with Mama

Natural born tree-hugger!

Tummy time with Dad


Sunday, October 11

If ever the day...


If ever the day happens that there is no longer room in the freezer for ice cold beer, we might have a problem! I fear the day I open the door and the little plastic (BPA free... don't freak out) bottles with yellow caps start falling out onto my feet. Regardless, I am saying it first here... there will always be room in my freezer for you sweet, cold, refreshing beer!

Thursday, October 8

Hip Moms Accessorize...with puke!

Parker drenched me today. I caught most of it on my shoulder and thought that was it. A girl friend told me I had some on the back of my sweater, I cleaned it off and went on with my day.

HOURS later, I noticed on the back of my skinnies... I had a GIGANTIC SMEAR OF PUKE!

All I could do was wipe it off and laugh... 'Hip moms accessorize with puke', right?!

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A Child's Joy... is CONTAGIOUS!

That is it... he has to stop growing. Although somehow, each new stage seems better than the last!

Wednesday, October 7

Children's books that change your child

af·fir·ma·tion

Pronunciation: \ˌa-fər-ˈmā-shən\

Function: noun

1 a : the act of affirming b : something affirmed : a positive assertion

Merriam-Wesbster

As adults we strongly believe in the power of affirmations. I wonder if we would need them so badly as adults if we would have heard them as young children... even little babes. When I was still pregnant I knew early on that I wanted to use every moment I could to positively affirm my son. Not because I thought he was ultra special (event tho I do) but because I believe in the power of positive words, packed full of strength and guidance.  I am currently using music and children's books to do this. Here are some of my favorites!

While I still enjoy reading to Parker ">Boom-Chicka-Boom-Boom and Where The Wild Things Are, the following books are truly amazing gifts to share with any child, young or old!

Marianne Richmond is an amazing author. One of her books that I love is Hooray for You- A Celebration of You-ness! Here is simply one line from the book. 'For quite a long time the world saved a place. Millions were born, yet non filled your space...' How about that being said to you every day!

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Dr. Wayne Dyer also has some AMAZING books! Please someone rock me everyday and read them to me!!! Unstoppable Me- 10 Ways to Soar Through Life & Incredible You! 10 Ways To Let Your Greatness Shine Through.

Max Lucado's Wemmicks series has four books in it (also a DVD series) with my favorite one being, You Are Special.

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The Twelve Gifts of Birth, by Charlene Costanzo. 'The third gift is Courage. May you speak and act with confidence and use courage to follow your own path."

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I would love to hear what some of your favorite  children's books are!

Tuesday, October 6

All droughts come to an end!

The joys of having a child, similar to those of a pet... only somehow more intense. I can remember when Pons was a puppy one day he would wake up with a horrible limp or cough and the next day it would be gone. No trace of evidence ever remained... usually just a bill!

A baby poses the same types of dilemma. Should I act upon it, or is it 'this too shall pass' type of thing. Today, Parker began his 4th day without pooping. Let me start by telling you that this kid is all boy. He has a short temper like a boy (what... he didn't get it from me!!!) he sweats like a boy, burps like a boy and poops like a boy. He has never pooped after every feeding. Rather, he prefers three hard grunts and whole body crunches to fill his cloth diaper inside and out with a river of poo' lying in the liner.

So, when he stopped pooping I became a little worried. I don't even think I realized he hadn't until day 2. On the eve of day 3 I began to do some research to see if this was a serious problem and if I should be doing something to help stimulate things!  To me, it seemed crazy that a breast feed baby, with liquid poop could become constipated, so I was staying pretty calm about things. It also helped that he didn't seem uncomfortable at all. I did some research and it seemed ok that he hadn't gone, that breast feed babies can go weeks without, sometimes. Day 4 began with lots of grunting and gas most of the morning and at 4pm he pooped! It wasn't the blow out that I thought it might be but I was happy with the product.

Dad got home around 6:30 and I ran to the store. He called me shortly after and I thought what could it be... He asked me, 'Is this a joke?' Parker had filled his pants and then some. And he had saved it for Dad!

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