I figured out how to get Olivia to open her mouth. (This didn't work before, but it worked this morning) Just put the food on my finger and have her eat it off that. She actually opens wide for my finger...of course then she chomps down on my finger and those two bottom teeth don't feel so hot. I am excited that it worked (finally), but now I am concerned that I have nailpolish on and I may poison her. Well, lesson learned. Now I just need to find something to protect my finger from being gauged by the baby teeth and we're golden.
I also found that she eats Gerber baby food. Not with enthusiasm, but I was able to get it all in her mouth (on her bib/face/hands/the chair). I now know what defeat and excitement feel like when experienced in unison.
Also, the whole solid food thing is throwing off her eating schedule. She's too full to have a bottle before she goes to sleep, so she's starving at 11pm. (Just when I fall asleep) Then at 1am. Ugh, it's like I have a newborn all over again. We're going to have to play with this solid food eating schedule. Now I understand why the book I have recommends feedings at breakfast and lunch.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Nerve-ana
I had one of those "aha" moments just now and I am a little pissed. But, before I rant and rave, I need to speak glowingly of the progress and regress we've made with Olivia. Olivia has been starting to say "dada" (More like "dadadadadadadadada"). I know, in reality, she's just discovered how to make new sounds come out of her mouth and is running with it..but I can't help feel a little neglected. Those three months of maternity leave, all of that breastfeeding, pumping, loving her, playing with her...obsessing over her multilingualism and she starts by giving homage to her dada. I mean, I love him, but I think I deserve some props here. Isn't nirvana the enlightenment attained by the loss of one's self...one's ego? Well, I have no ego left and I am a little pissed about it (probably negates the enlightened end of things doesn't it?) so I have acheived nerve-ana.
Of course, I am ecstatic that she is attaining all of these baby milestones. I am sure I will get over the "rejection", but why else do we blog if not to rant?
Like I have said before, we have started solids. Olivia is embracing solids with the gusto of a vegetarian at Mortons...that is to say, not at all. Apparently she can't say "mama" but she can purse her lips in refusal of the baby food I so lovingly made for her. Where does she learn to purse her lips at 6 months? Don't I get a couple of years before that form of rejection?!
Of course, I am panicking. Am I going to be the first mom that can't ween her baby on to solids? I have not heard about this being a problem for anyone! So, in between rejections, I turn to google for hope and help. Luckily, I find that I am not alone. Unfortunately, most of the responses are: "Try finger foods, my baby went straight to finger foods and loves it!". Well, Olivia is having none of that either. I am almost beginning to wonder if I should have foregone my pediatrician's recommendation to wait until 6 months and just started her on solids when my gut told me she was ready...when she was still malleable and joyfully accepting new things. Now, I see a hint of food and stranger danger. I fear I waited too long. How does one know when to listen to their gut and when to listen to the professional. He has his own kids after all, he wouldn't be saying this to torture me. (Would he?)
So this is where I get pissed. Why is it that I have to Google to find out that there are other mothers who have my issues? It seems, and maybe I notice it a lot more lately, that none of my mommy girlfriends tell me about the problems they have with their babies/pregnancy/birth until I experience it for myself? So, maybe I am the only one who's baby is rejecting solids..but what about the other stuff. Why is it that we, and, yes, I am putting myself in that category (but not on the same level) speak about the highs AND the lows of babies. Even if I never experience the same issues, at least I am mentally and maybe physically prepared. I didn't get that memo to just brag and never bitch....unless asked. Ask not tell not. This ain't the army, this is motherhood for crying out loud. This is our children...OUR sanity...our future. I am not judging you for not being perfect...I am thanking you for the head's up.
Well, thank goodness for my friend, Kata, who put breast pads in my cart when we were shopping for baby stuff while I was pregnant. "you'll need these." (and not waiting for me to call her up complaining how I leaked all over my favorite top, for example.) No pregnancy book tells you to stock up on breast pads before you give birth... we need our friends to prepare us for the un-sexy side of motherhood. I feel like I did and am doing a significant amount of reading during and after pregnancy and there are still big gaps in reality vs literary-land. I need you, my friends..'fess up!!!
The reason I am so flipping mad about this is that I am reading "Bad Mother" by Ayelet Waldman. In her first chapter she chides us woman for being mum about the bad side of motherhood...and it got me thinking about how much I am finding out about motherhood from my friends by complaining and then they say "oh yeah, that happened to me."
I also just had a realization that this goes all the way back to trying to get pregnant. WHY did I find out that it is actually NOT easy to get pregnant for some women after finding it difficult myself? Why are these women hidden away in the Internet or in late-night support groups (like the yoga for fertility group I attended.) Granted, I was overreacting a little, but panicking because this was uncharted territory in my world of "you'll get pregnant if he looks at you funny without a condom." Why am I finding out when I am in the throws of trying to get pregnant/pregnancy/mommyhood that there are people I know who've been through it all and didn't want to talk about it... I mean, unless you are doing something dangerous or illegal, there is no shame in imperfection! The one thing I hate more than football is Monday morning quarterbacking.
Okay, now I feel better. I am going to go play with my perfect daughter.
Of course, I am ecstatic that she is attaining all of these baby milestones. I am sure I will get over the "rejection", but why else do we blog if not to rant?
Like I have said before, we have started solids. Olivia is embracing solids with the gusto of a vegetarian at Mortons...that is to say, not at all. Apparently she can't say "mama" but she can purse her lips in refusal of the baby food I so lovingly made for her. Where does she learn to purse her lips at 6 months? Don't I get a couple of years before that form of rejection?!
Of course, I am panicking. Am I going to be the first mom that can't ween her baby on to solids? I have not heard about this being a problem for anyone! So, in between rejections, I turn to google for hope and help. Luckily, I find that I am not alone. Unfortunately, most of the responses are: "Try finger foods, my baby went straight to finger foods and loves it!". Well, Olivia is having none of that either. I am almost beginning to wonder if I should have foregone my pediatrician's recommendation to wait until 6 months and just started her on solids when my gut told me she was ready...when she was still malleable and joyfully accepting new things. Now, I see a hint of food and stranger danger. I fear I waited too long. How does one know when to listen to their gut and when to listen to the professional. He has his own kids after all, he wouldn't be saying this to torture me. (Would he?)
So this is where I get pissed. Why is it that I have to Google to find out that there are other mothers who have my issues? It seems, and maybe I notice it a lot more lately, that none of my mommy girlfriends tell me about the problems they have with their babies/pregnancy/birth until I experience it for myself? So, maybe I am the only one who's baby is rejecting solids..but what about the other stuff. Why is it that we, and, yes, I am putting myself in that category (but not on the same level) speak about the highs AND the lows of babies. Even if I never experience the same issues, at least I am mentally and maybe physically prepared. I didn't get that memo to just brag and never bitch....unless asked. Ask not tell not. This ain't the army, this is motherhood for crying out loud. This is our children...OUR sanity...our future. I am not judging you for not being perfect...I am thanking you for the head's up.
Well, thank goodness for my friend, Kata, who put breast pads in my cart when we were shopping for baby stuff while I was pregnant. "you'll need these." (and not waiting for me to call her up complaining how I leaked all over my favorite top, for example.) No pregnancy book tells you to stock up on breast pads before you give birth... we need our friends to prepare us for the un-sexy side of motherhood. I feel like I did and am doing a significant amount of reading during and after pregnancy and there are still big gaps in reality vs literary-land. I need you, my friends..'fess up!!!
The reason I am so flipping mad about this is that I am reading "Bad Mother" by Ayelet Waldman. In her first chapter she chides us woman for being mum about the bad side of motherhood...and it got me thinking about how much I am finding out about motherhood from my friends by complaining and then they say "oh yeah, that happened to me."
I also just had a realization that this goes all the way back to trying to get pregnant. WHY did I find out that it is actually NOT easy to get pregnant for some women after finding it difficult myself? Why are these women hidden away in the Internet or in late-night support groups (like the yoga for fertility group I attended.) Granted, I was overreacting a little, but panicking because this was uncharted territory in my world of "you'll get pregnant if he looks at you funny without a condom." Why am I finding out when I am in the throws of trying to get pregnant/pregnancy/mommyhood that there are people I know who've been through it all and didn't want to talk about it... I mean, unless you are doing something dangerous or illegal, there is no shame in imperfection! The one thing I hate more than football is Monday morning quarterbacking.
Okay, now I feel better. I am going to go play with my perfect daughter.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
You are now free to crawl about the cabin
Olivia celebrated her .5 years of life two days ago. I can’t believe how far we’ve come (and how far we have to go). Tonight I plan on starting her on solid foods…at least trying anyway. John and I thought about starting yesterday, but since we were all a bit frazzled from our first family vacation via airplane, we quickly decided not to throw another life altering scenario into the mix.
“I am not traveling with a baby for a LONG time!” Exclaimed John yesterday after many defeated attempts to put Olivia down for a nap. Everyone’s day had been thrown completely off by an early AM flight back home. All in all, it went pretty well, compared to the screamfest it could have been. But we had bottles and pacifiers a-ready to pop into Olivia’s mouth on the first signs of pain. That said, even with all of the distractions we could provide ourselves with, we forgot our human sized prophylactics to protect us from the cesspool that is a plane. All three of us have colds now. This, after Olivia and I had just recovered from our last cold. Nothing like feeling like you have been hit by a truck to make you ready to handle a 6 month old who won’t nap. Luckily, she went to bed last night without a hitch and pretty much slept through until 7am. She needs her beauty sleep for the evening of solid foods ahead. That’s a topic for my next blog…as I am sure it will be interesting. She better not be a picky eater….after all she was birthed from me, a food-o-phile.
As I mentioned, we just took our first family trip to visit my awesome friend, Beth and her husband. We had a long weekend jam packed with a BBQ tour of Texas. It was a real test for John, O and my ability to throw schedule to the wind and just enjoy our vacation. For the most part, it went well. I managed to not have to pump in a random parking lot or strange bathroom, as I feared. Olivia did seem to lose her appetite while we were there (perhaps bbq breastmilk isn’t the best combo in the world…), but otherwise seemed to be doing fine. I was worried that all of this gloating I have been doing about what a wonderful baby she is would be proven false when exposed to the world stage, but Olivia took it all in stride like a pro….until we returned home and all of this change caught up with all of us.
I have been thinking, of late, how much I would like to have another baby. After all, it’s supposed to be easier (to deliver) the second time around. And then, there are moments like yesterday when you just can’t stop spinning as there is so much to get done and you have to drop it all to make sure Olivia is safe and happy. This, I am afraid, is what it’s like to have two children. You just don’t have enough time, energy and brainpower to keep your house quasi-inhabitable and not make your baby feel abandoned, consequently screwing her up for life when you are running on fumes from lack of sleep and the onset of cold #2. I don’t know how anybody does it. And then there’s that women on TLC who is on baby 19…. I think it’s in everyone’s best interest to just make sure Olivia makes it to toddlerhood before I gamble on another baby.
(ONE WEEK LATER)
Olivia has now been on “solids” for one week. I can’t believe how simple it is to make baby food. I love it. Of course, it’s completely uncreative (water+fruit/veggie), but there is something about making it myself that I love. But, there is a catch. Because I made the food, I get totally offended that Olivia has not immediately taken to gobbling it up. In fact, it took her a week to even eat most everything. I get a lot of winces (sour faces) at the first bite. I know this is totally new for her, but I can’t help but take it personally. I had this image in my mind of Olivia opening her mouth in delight, awaiting the next bite of food. The reality is, I get a lot of pursed lips, hands blocking her face, spitting out food all over her bib…I think the bib gets more food than she does! And this whole rumor that once they start solids they sleep through the night is a total farce. (In O’s case, anyway) She has now take to waking up at 4am, hungry for a bottle. I mean, she feeds and goes right back to bed, but now I am awake and I only have an hour left to get some shuteye before I start my day. (Because 4am does not a functional person make).
Olivia is also crawling up a storm. I recently went to Buy Buy Baby to stock up on babyproofing paraphanalia. It’s almost comical the wall of paranoia that is all the gadgets you could buy to babyproof your home. One doesn’t know where to begin or stop! So, I grabbed a combo pack and a few outlet covers to get started. The baby gate is next…but at least we can use pillows until I figure out what is best for our house.
“I am not traveling with a baby for a LONG time!” Exclaimed John yesterday after many defeated attempts to put Olivia down for a nap. Everyone’s day had been thrown completely off by an early AM flight back home. All in all, it went pretty well, compared to the screamfest it could have been. But we had bottles and pacifiers a-ready to pop into Olivia’s mouth on the first signs of pain. That said, even with all of the distractions we could provide ourselves with, we forgot our human sized prophylactics to protect us from the cesspool that is a plane. All three of us have colds now. This, after Olivia and I had just recovered from our last cold. Nothing like feeling like you have been hit by a truck to make you ready to handle a 6 month old who won’t nap. Luckily, she went to bed last night without a hitch and pretty much slept through until 7am. She needs her beauty sleep for the evening of solid foods ahead. That’s a topic for my next blog…as I am sure it will be interesting. She better not be a picky eater….after all she was birthed from me, a food-o-phile.
As I mentioned, we just took our first family trip to visit my awesome friend, Beth and her husband. We had a long weekend jam packed with a BBQ tour of Texas. It was a real test for John, O and my ability to throw schedule to the wind and just enjoy our vacation. For the most part, it went well. I managed to not have to pump in a random parking lot or strange bathroom, as I feared. Olivia did seem to lose her appetite while we were there (perhaps bbq breastmilk isn’t the best combo in the world…), but otherwise seemed to be doing fine. I was worried that all of this gloating I have been doing about what a wonderful baby she is would be proven false when exposed to the world stage, but Olivia took it all in stride like a pro….until we returned home and all of this change caught up with all of us.
I have been thinking, of late, how much I would like to have another baby. After all, it’s supposed to be easier (to deliver) the second time around. And then, there are moments like yesterday when you just can’t stop spinning as there is so much to get done and you have to drop it all to make sure Olivia is safe and happy. This, I am afraid, is what it’s like to have two children. You just don’t have enough time, energy and brainpower to keep your house quasi-inhabitable and not make your baby feel abandoned, consequently screwing her up for life when you are running on fumes from lack of sleep and the onset of cold #2. I don’t know how anybody does it. And then there’s that women on TLC who is on baby 19…. I think it’s in everyone’s best interest to just make sure Olivia makes it to toddlerhood before I gamble on another baby.
(ONE WEEK LATER)Olivia has now been on “solids” for one week. I can’t believe how simple it is to make baby food. I love it. Of course, it’s completely uncreative (water+fruit/veggie), but there is something about making it myself that I love. But, there is a catch. Because I made the food, I get totally offended that Olivia has not immediately taken to gobbling it up. In fact, it took her a week to even eat most everything. I get a lot of winces (sour faces) at the first bite. I know this is totally new for her, but I can’t help but take it personally. I had this image in my mind of Olivia opening her mouth in delight, awaiting the next bite of food. The reality is, I get a lot of pursed lips, hands blocking her face, spitting out food all over her bib…I think the bib gets more food than she does! And this whole rumor that once they start solids they sleep through the night is a total farce. (In O’s case, anyway) She has now take to waking up at 4am, hungry for a bottle. I mean, she feeds and goes right back to bed, but now I am awake and I only have an hour left to get some shuteye before I start my day. (Because 4am does not a functional person make).
Olivia is also crawling up a storm. I recently went to Buy Buy Baby to stock up on babyproofing paraphanalia. It’s almost comical the wall of paranoia that is all the gadgets you could buy to babyproof your home. One doesn’t know where to begin or stop! So, I grabbed a combo pack and a few outlet covers to get started. The baby gate is next…but at least we can use pillows until I figure out what is best for our house.
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