Sorry about the video being sideways. It's the way I was holding my phone so I can't rotate it.
(Oh, and I still can't get the video from the first night to upload).
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Third Time is a Charm!
Today was day three of rice cereal. I was about to give up last night. The first night (Saturday), I think Kai was a bit confused. As I said before, he ate half and spit out half. Last night (Monday), he spit out everything! He then proceeded to spit up anything that did manage to make it into his belly. I told Tyson tonight that I was going to try the oatmeal cereal, but I was going to try to finish off the rice powder that I already had. Luckily I kept at it! Tonight, Kai couldn't get enough!! He absolutely loved it! The only bite that he spit out was right away and I think that is because it was too hot.
Sorry about the video being sideways. It's the way I was holding my phone so I can't rotate it.
(Oh, and I still can't get the video from the first night to upload).
Sorry about the video being sideways. It's the way I was holding my phone so I can't rotate it.
(Oh, and I still can't get the video from the first night to upload).
Monday, September 3, 2012
Cereal, Football, & a Labor-Free Weekend
Wow! What an exciting weekend around here!
On Friday, I got out of school early due to the heat. I picked up Kai from daycare and we met Wendy and Ella at a garage sale. Then we picked up pizza from Papa Murphy's and headed home. Wendy went to pick up Ava from daycare and then the Malcolm girls came over. Kai decided to show off his sitting-up skills for all of us! Tyson and Darren showed up after work and we enjoyed pizza and a Friday night of relaxation!
Saturday marked the start of College Football (well, I actually think games started on Thursday). I got Kai dressed in his gold and black right away. While the boys were watching football, I got busy on making homemade rice cereal.
1/2 c. of rice Dumped into your blender* Blend until you have a powder
Rice powder (refrigerate until ready to use) Boil 1/2 c. of water Mix in 2 tbsp.* powder & WHISK!
Add in your choice of breast milk or formula and voila....baby rice cereal!
* I used the Ninja to grind up the rice into a powder, but it didn't do the job I wanted it to do. I had to switch over to the blender which did a much better job. I'll save the Ninja for when I need to puree fruits and veggies.
* Kai didn't even come close to eating the amount of rice cereal that 1/2 c. of water and 2 tbsp. rice powder made. I think I will try a smaller amount tonight.
After I had the rice ground up into a powder, Kai and I took off for Target and Walmart. We were told we needed to be back for the start of the Iowa game at 2:30. We made it back with 10 minutes to spare! And this is what we rushed back for....
...so Kai could sleep through the first half of the game!
When he woke up, he was ready to cheer the Hawks on to a victory!
After a Hawkeye victory and before bath time and bedtime, Kai got to try his first bite of rice cereal. I'm not really sure what he thought of it. He spit out half and ate half. We'll keep trying.
(video to come at a later date when it isn't taking so long to upload)
On Sunday we made a quick trip to the mall and then to a neighbor's house to grill. We stayed as long as we could but had to leave before the s'mores got started. Kai was getting tired and would not fall asleep. He was asleep before we got home (in the 2 block drive).
Today, we are both spending the last day of our long weekend at home with our favorite little guy.
On Friday, I got out of school early due to the heat. I picked up Kai from daycare and we met Wendy and Ella at a garage sale. Then we picked up pizza from Papa Murphy's and headed home. Wendy went to pick up Ava from daycare and then the Malcolm girls came over. Kai decided to show off his sitting-up skills for all of us! Tyson and Darren showed up after work and we enjoyed pizza and a Friday night of relaxation!
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| Not a very clear picture but I was trying to hurry. Ava freaked when we put Kai next to her! |
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| Then we took him away and she said "Cheese!" and started kissing Ella! |
Saturday marked the start of College Football (well, I actually think games started on Thursday). I got Kai dressed in his gold and black right away. While the boys were watching football, I got busy on making homemade rice cereal.
1/2 c. of rice Dumped into your blender* Blend until you have a powder
Rice powder (refrigerate until ready to use) Boil 1/2 c. of water Mix in 2 tbsp.* powder & WHISK!
Add in your choice of breast milk or formula and voila....baby rice cereal!
* I used the Ninja to grind up the rice into a powder, but it didn't do the job I wanted it to do. I had to switch over to the blender which did a much better job. I'll save the Ninja for when I need to puree fruits and veggies.
* Kai didn't even come close to eating the amount of rice cereal that 1/2 c. of water and 2 tbsp. rice powder made. I think I will try a smaller amount tonight.
After I had the rice ground up into a powder, Kai and I took off for Target and Walmart. We were told we needed to be back for the start of the Iowa game at 2:30. We made it back with 10 minutes to spare! And this is what we rushed back for....
...so Kai could sleep through the first half of the game!
When he woke up, he was ready to cheer the Hawks on to a victory!
After a Hawkeye victory and before bath time and bedtime, Kai got to try his first bite of rice cereal. I'm not really sure what he thought of it. He spit out half and ate half. We'll keep trying.
(video to come at a later date when it isn't taking so long to upload)
On Sunday we made a quick trip to the mall and then to a neighbor's house to grill. We stayed as long as we could but had to leave before the s'mores got started. Kai was getting tired and would not fall asleep. He was asleep before we got home (in the 2 block drive).
Today, we are both spending the last day of our long weekend at home with our favorite little guy.
Sitting
Starting this summer, Kai would try to pull himself up when he was laying on his back, especially if he was laying in the Boppy. At the beginning of August I started having him sit with the Boppy wrapped around him. He usually wouldn't last too long before he was leaning sideways.
On August 21, Kai was able to sit unsupported for all of about 10 seconds. Long enough for me to snap a quick picture, but I had Tyson waiting to catch him when he would start to tip.
As of August 31, Kai can officially sit unsupported for a few minutes on his own. I wouldn't walk out of the room or even away, but he was definitely showing off his new skills on Friday evening!
On August 21, Kai was able to sit unsupported for all of about 10 seconds. Long enough for me to snap a quick picture, but I had Tyson waiting to catch him when he would start to tip.
As of August 31, Kai can officially sit unsupported for a few minutes on his own. I wouldn't walk out of the room or even away, but he was definitely showing off his new skills on Friday evening!
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
WIO
"I was a much better parent before I had kids."
Have you heard that quote before? It's funny really. We all have these dreams about what our lives will be like when we have babies of our own. We judge, criticize, and swear that we will never do that. I think I've done all of that and will probably continue to do more.
Now, you are probably wondering what those three little letters (WIO) stand for, and I will get to that in a minute. I always swore that I would never be rocking my baby to sleep. I wanted my baby to teach himself/herself to fall asleep without my help. I knew I would never nurse my baby to sleep. I was going to follow the Baby Wise schedule which is eat, play, sleep. I always thought that the Cry It Out (CIO) method would be exactly what I would use. It's fine for babies to cry, right?
Then, along came Kai.
In the early, newborn days, Kai would fall asleep anywhere, anytime. Then, he became a little more alert and would need some help falling asleep. Insert rocking chair. I discovered that reading some books and rocking would put Kai right to sleep and then I could transfer him right to his crib. (There goes 'never rocking my baby to sleep'.)
I still follow the Baby Wise, but definitely not to a T. There are days, especially now that daycare has started, when all Kai wants to do after he eats is sleep. A few months ago I would have tried everything to keep him awake. Today, we both napped after he ate.
CIO? Definitely not for me! I've tried it, for all of 30 seconds. I cannot listen to him lie in his bed and cry. It just breaks my heart too much. I keep thinking, "He must need something if he's crying."
So, do you think he has me wrapped around his finger just a little bit?
Well, I will have you know that I now only rock him until he's drowsy. He will fall asleep in his crib alone. There are even nights when I rock and rock and he isn't getting sleepy, so I just lay him down and he'll eventually fall asleep (after chatting away at his mobile).
Here comes the WIO method - Wait It Out. I read this blog where the mother is writing a letter to her daughter and it spoke to me. This is (almost) exactly how I feel about sleep training.
Read it
http://nurshable.com/2012/07/19/the-wio-wait-it-out-method-of-sleep-training/
So yes, even though I am tired and I need sleep, I can wait it out so that Kai doesn't have to cry it out. I secretly think I'll miss our middle-of-the-night cuddle sessions when he no longer needs me then.
Have you heard that quote before? It's funny really. We all have these dreams about what our lives will be like when we have babies of our own. We judge, criticize, and swear that we will never do that. I think I've done all of that and will probably continue to do more.
Now, you are probably wondering what those three little letters (WIO) stand for, and I will get to that in a minute. I always swore that I would never be rocking my baby to sleep. I wanted my baby to teach himself/herself to fall asleep without my help. I knew I would never nurse my baby to sleep. I was going to follow the Baby Wise schedule which is eat, play, sleep. I always thought that the Cry It Out (CIO) method would be exactly what I would use. It's fine for babies to cry, right?
Then, along came Kai.
In the early, newborn days, Kai would fall asleep anywhere, anytime. Then, he became a little more alert and would need some help falling asleep. Insert rocking chair. I discovered that reading some books and rocking would put Kai right to sleep and then I could transfer him right to his crib. (There goes 'never rocking my baby to sleep'.)
I still follow the Baby Wise, but definitely not to a T. There are days, especially now that daycare has started, when all Kai wants to do after he eats is sleep. A few months ago I would have tried everything to keep him awake. Today, we both napped after he ate.
CIO? Definitely not for me! I've tried it, for all of 30 seconds. I cannot listen to him lie in his bed and cry. It just breaks my heart too much. I keep thinking, "He must need something if he's crying."
So, do you think he has me wrapped around his finger just a little bit?
Well, I will have you know that I now only rock him until he's drowsy. He will fall asleep in his crib alone. There are even nights when I rock and rock and he isn't getting sleepy, so I just lay him down and he'll eventually fall asleep (after chatting away at his mobile).
Here comes the WIO method - Wait It Out. I read this blog where the mother is writing a letter to her daughter and it spoke to me. This is (almost) exactly how I feel about sleep training.
Read it
http://nurshable.com/2012/07/19/the-wio-wait-it-out-method-of-sleep-training/
So yes, even though I am tired and I need sleep, I can wait it out so that Kai doesn't have to cry it out. I secretly think I'll miss our middle-of-the-night cuddle sessions when he no longer needs me then.
Dear Kai...
I've been back to work for two full weeks now, meaning you've been in daycare that long as well. You have adjusted unbelievably well, besides the cat-napping and major blow-outs you are having daily! The older kids (especially the girls) just LOVE you! When I arrived to pick you up yesterday and today, you were content in one of their arms. Kamie told me that when the kids get there from school, you get swept away to 'play' with them.
I think about you all day at work. I wonder what you might be doing while I'm giving reading tests. I wonder if you are napping while I'm eating lunch. I especially think about you around 1:00pm everyday, when my lack of sleep starts to set in and I'm yawning through my read aloud. All that I want to be doing is cuddling with you at home. Every Monday morning, I am already wishing for Friday afternoon. I love my job and my class, but nothing is more important than my time with you.
I am excited for this fall and winter. Although we didn't have a busy summer, I still felt like we were always running somewhere (usually to Target when Mommy would get bored). I'm ready for chilly nights and rainy Saturdays where the only thing to do is cuddle inside on the couch. I'm ready for you and your daddy to bond over College Football Saturdays. I'm sure this will forever be a tradition that you two will have. I'm ready for surprise snow days where we can stay in our pajamas all day. I'm ready for your first Christmas and to see your expression when we hang the lights on the tree.
Kai, you are one of the best blessings in my life. I've said this before, but I really cannot remember what life was like without you. You have brought so much joy into our lives, especially in your sweet smile and cute giggle.
Love,
Mommy
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| Trying hard to sit up! |
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| "Whatcha' lookin' at?!" |
I am excited for this fall and winter. Although we didn't have a busy summer, I still felt like we were always running somewhere (usually to Target when Mommy would get bored). I'm ready for chilly nights and rainy Saturdays where the only thing to do is cuddle inside on the couch. I'm ready for you and your daddy to bond over College Football Saturdays. I'm sure this will forever be a tradition that you two will have. I'm ready for surprise snow days where we can stay in our pajamas all day. I'm ready for your first Christmas and to see your expression when we hang the lights on the tree.
Kai, you are one of the best blessings in my life. I've said this before, but I really cannot remember what life was like without you. You have brought so much joy into our lives, especially in your sweet smile and cute giggle.
Love,
Mommy
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Daycare
I've been waiting all week to write this post. I didn't want to jinx myself (and am hoping this doesn't jinx next week).
Kai started daycare on Monday morning when I went back to work. I waited until the last minute to leave and walked into school right at contract time (8:15). Of course I cried the whole way to school. I also rushed out of the building at 3:45 to get him. On Tuesday, we had our Opening Day Ceremony at the Gallagher-Bluedorn beginning at 9am, so again I got to spend a little more time with him in the morning, as well as rushing home again. On Wednesday, I got to go in even later, but Tyson got to pick him up. We had "Meet the Teacher" night. On Thursday our regular drop-off/pick-up schedule began. Tyson does drop-off in the morning around 7:30am and I pick-up by 4:30pm.
Kai is adjusting really well to daycare! He was completely spoiled by all of the "big kids" Monday through Wednesday before they started school. He's eating his bottles great - I wasn't sure how much he would actually eat, so I took my chances with 5oz bottles and he's doing fine with that. However, Kamie (daycare provider) told me today that she thinks he will probably be ready to move to more ounces in a couple weeks. He's a growing boy!! The biggest adjustment are Kai's naps. He's been a cat-napper all week! A ten minute nap here, 30 min there, and if we're lucky, maybe a 40-50 min nap. These will definitely be a work in progress. He's used to napping with mommy, in his swing, in the Boppy, and absolute silence (with maybe the tv as background noise). Now he has other kids that are playing while he should be napping! However, with the little amount of sleep that he's getting during the day, he's still as happy as can be! He is starting to sleep better at night though. His bedtime has also moved up to 8:00! About a month ago, he was going to bed around 9:30-10:00, then a couple weeks ago I moved it up to 9:00-9:15, and now he is exhausted by 8:00!!
I'm so glad that he's being the good baby that I always tell people he is. It makes my day when I pick him up and he flashes me that toothless grin! It makes the whole day worth it.
Kai started daycare on Monday morning when I went back to work. I waited until the last minute to leave and walked into school right at contract time (8:15). Of course I cried the whole way to school. I also rushed out of the building at 3:45 to get him. On Tuesday, we had our Opening Day Ceremony at the Gallagher-Bluedorn beginning at 9am, so again I got to spend a little more time with him in the morning, as well as rushing home again. On Wednesday, I got to go in even later, but Tyson got to pick him up. We had "Meet the Teacher" night. On Thursday our regular drop-off/pick-up schedule began. Tyson does drop-off in the morning around 7:30am and I pick-up by 4:30pm.
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| First day of daycare |
Kai is adjusting really well to daycare! He was completely spoiled by all of the "big kids" Monday through Wednesday before they started school. He's eating his bottles great - I wasn't sure how much he would actually eat, so I took my chances with 5oz bottles and he's doing fine with that. However, Kamie (daycare provider) told me today that she thinks he will probably be ready to move to more ounces in a couple weeks. He's a growing boy!! The biggest adjustment are Kai's naps. He's been a cat-napper all week! A ten minute nap here, 30 min there, and if we're lucky, maybe a 40-50 min nap. These will definitely be a work in progress. He's used to napping with mommy, in his swing, in the Boppy, and absolute silence (with maybe the tv as background noise). Now he has other kids that are playing while he should be napping! However, with the little amount of sleep that he's getting during the day, he's still as happy as can be! He is starting to sleep better at night though. His bedtime has also moved up to 8:00! About a month ago, he was going to bed around 9:30-10:00, then a couple weeks ago I moved it up to 9:00-9:15, and now he is exhausted by 8:00!!
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| Completely exhausted on Monday evening! |
I'm so glad that he's being the good baby that I always tell people he is. It makes my day when I pick him up and he flashes me that toothless grin! It makes the whole day worth it.
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| Proof that we both survived the week and made it to Friday night! |
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Weekend Recap (updated with pictures)
On Saturday, Kai and I met Wendy, Ella, and my mom at the Farmer's Market! It was on my Summer Bucket List and I can officially cross it off! I really wanted to check out the "Mama Made" booth, but was curious as to what other booths would be set up. I bought a yummy peanut butter, M&M, and kale bar at the Mama Made booth. I'm seriously contemplating going back this Saturday just to buy another! I'm thinking someday I may have to hide veggies in treats like this for Kai.
After the farmer's market we headed to Main Street to check out the sidewalk sales. We ended up in Sweet Basil Market and boy, do they have some fun things! I might have to make a trip back soon. They have fun sprinkles and candies and dips and spices! Kai was getting a little cranky so I had to exit quickly to keep the stroller moving so he would take a nap.
After our fun morning, we picked up Tyson at home and then headed to Evansdale for my brother's skateboard tournament. It was so fun to watch the 12 & under age group!! Well, it was fun to watch Josh too. :) He ended up getting 3rd place in his division!
Tyson and I ended up leaving a little early to head to Doughy Joey's for a surprise birthday party for a friend/Tyson's boss (Jason). We left Kai with my mom and dad. The birthday party was fun and Jason was totally surprised!! We ended up coming home close to 10:00. Kai was tucked away in bed already. :)
On Sunday, we woke up to RAIN!! As excited as Tyson was (and probably every other Iowan), I was a little sad. We were supposed to have Kai's 4 month pictures and I was worried about the weather (we had planned to take them outside). After I got out of the shower, I got a text from our photographer about rescheduling. The date is set for next Sunday so let's hope the weather cooperates! It ended up raining all day and perfect for cuddling Kai all day on my last day of summer break.
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| Playing outside with Daddy before the Farmer's Market |
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| Relaxin! |
After our fun morning, we picked up Tyson at home and then headed to Evansdale for my brother's skateboard tournament. It was so fun to watch the 12 & under age group!! Well, it was fun to watch Josh too. :) He ended up getting 3rd place in his division!
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| Uncle Joshy trying to tell Kai all about skateboarding |
On Sunday, we woke up to RAIN!! As excited as Tyson was (and probably every other Iowan), I was a little sad. We were supposed to have Kai's 4 month pictures and I was worried about the weather (we had planned to take them outside). After I got out of the shower, I got a text from our photographer about rescheduling. The date is set for next Sunday so let's hope the weather cooperates! It ended up raining all day and perfect for cuddling Kai all day on my last day of summer break.
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| Perfect rainy day project |
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| He loves it!! |
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