New Toys

At least, new to Michelle. I bought this at the second hand kids store about 2 months ago but it was quite clear when we tried it the first time that Michelle needed a little more core strength and leg length to have fun with it. Now that she is sitting on her own, I brought the exersaucer in from the garage and wouldn't you know it, it fits and she LOVES it!


An update on the sleep situation. It seems that part of the problem with getting Michelle to sleep in her crib at night is that we both find sleeping in the same bed mutually enjoyable. I mean, I would rather have my boobs back for myself, sprawl out and not worry about pillows or covers accidentally smothering my baby. But cuddling with my little girl is like a drug! Every night, I say 'This is the night. I am NOT bringing her to bed. Tonight is the night that she will sleep in her crib!" And every night, I cave in to her desires and bring her to bed for first rate snuggles. The thing is, she DOES sleep in her crib...during the day. GREAT naps. She is a bonified Daytime crib sleeper. Which only confirms my suspicions that I AM COMPLETELY to blame. I have created the nighttime boob monster and I am the one that has to fix it. I am also the one that needs to decide if it is something that needs to be fixed.

Welcome 2010...and a little about poop

Here we are in another year. 2009 was a remarkable year. I would imagine every parent holds dear the year they became a parent. We are hoping that 2010 will bring us back to Salt Lake where closer family and a more laid back lifestyle will bring more balance into our lives.

They warn you about 2 things regarding your baby's poop when you start solids: one, it will start smelling bad. Two, your baby may have even less frequent bowel movements. We noticed the the remarkable new odor almost immediately starting solids last week. But the pooping frequency got me worried. Even though ALL my baby books say "Constipation is not defined by frequency but by hard stool that is difficult to pass. Many breastfed babies especially may only have a bowel movement every few days." But of course, since the poop hiatus seemed to coincide with the introduction of rice cereal, I began to worry after day five. So Wednesday we gave Michelle 1 oz of prune juice in her bottle. And she liked it! The look on her face initially was priceless trying to make sense of this new flavor but then she grabbed that bottle all by herself and stuffed it in her mouth. No results that night so she got another oz in the morning. And BINGO! Blowout. Six days. Really Michelle? Six days? Must you make mommy worry like that? I am just grateful we didn't have to resort to the dreaded glycerine suppository. We backed off on the rice cereal this week but I think we will start it again, but slower, in smaller quantities. Easy does it for these little tummies!

The Sleep Situation

I know it can happen. I have seen it. She will sleep in her crib at night again. I remember when Michelle would not nap consistently, but would than sleep 8 hours straight at night. Then she started napping consistently AND sleeping decently at night, though not usually for 8 hour stretches. Then came the Christmas cookie weekend at auntie Tammy's where the routine totally went to shit and the first 2 night home were hell getting her back to the routine. Now take a whole week in unfamiliar surroundings with a crappy sleep routine and NOW come home and see how you like it. I don't like it. Michelle doesn't like it. 2 nights down. It will get better. It will get better. It will get better...