Monday, December 29, 2008

The weaning process

I have started the weaning process with Ben. I'm proud I have made it this far in the breastfeeding process and have given my little guy a great start in life.While in Omaha, we began giving Ben two bottles a day. I'm to the point I'm only pumping once a day at work.

I told myself months ago that after the Omaha trip, I'd stop breastfeeding. As my Aunt Nancy said, it has been the best way to bond with my baby. I thought I wouldn't have a problem with letting go but I am. Maybe I'm not ready for my baby to grow up? Right now, he's only nursing before bed and in the morning. The other issue I'm having is
how to bottle feed a baby. It just doesn't feel comfortable to me sometimes and sometimes I am not fast enough and Ben is screaming his
head off.

Oh the joys of breastfeeding.

Sunday, December 28, 2008

Happy 7 months, a little late


Husker baby
Originally uploaded by Shanlee
Benjamin,
You turned 7 months old the day before Christmas Eve. You celebrated this day in Omaha, Nebraska hanging out with your cousins, aunt, uncles, grandpas, grandmas, great grandma, great aunts and uncles. You have a big Bohemian Polish family who just loved you to pieces.

You were an angel of a baby on both days we spent traveling. Everyone on all six planes (yes, 3 planes each way) comments on your happy good nature. I am truly a lucky mother. You sat quietly on your dad's lap playing and napping. We did a lot of running around in Omaha and you were a trooper and did a lot of car seat sleeping. You were passed around and kissed and hugged and even thrown in the air by your Uncle Casey.

While you were in Omaha, you developed a cold but you wouldn't let that get you down.

In the past month, you have began really enjoying your solids. Your favorite food is pears and you go crazy or Mum Mums. You also started pulling yourself up and you're doing the Polish Crawl (going backwards). Any day, you'll be heading forward. You will sit up on your own for a while and then topple over but it is getting better each day.

We're still on "Tooth Watch 2008." Nothing yet but my guess is they are coming because you're drooling all over everything.

OH and on Christmas Day you looked right at me and said "mama." What a treat.

I love you, little buddy.

Momma

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Happy 7 months

Benjamin,
Today you have turned 7 months old. I can't write much because we're visiting all of your Polish relatives in the land of corn. I'm not surprised that you are doing so well with all the hauling around and visiting. Thank you for being a good spirited baby.

This photo is of you and your Grandpa Casey. He bought you that hat you're wearing to match his. His hat is actually seal and beaver while yours is leather and sheep wool.

Off to visit some more folks. A complete post about your 6th month is soon to come.

Love,
Momma

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Longing for sleep

I think Benjamin's sleep time has went from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. At 7 p.m., he's wide awake playing. I lay down and nurse him but he just won't go to sleep. Then he screams when we put him in the crib so I cuddle with him until he falls asleep. We cried it out in October and I sense we'll have to do it again. He was sleeping a long time at night but now that has gone away and he fights sleep when he wakes up at 2 a.m. I'm longing for sleep once more.

His gums are bothering him. They are red but there is nothing popping through. I long for that tooth to pop through. Every morning, "where is your tooth?"

He's growing so fast yet his sleep is all over the place. I long for when I can stay awake until at least 11 p.m. and I'm not cranky at work.

But -- I love that little guy! Who wouldn't? He's so darn cute esp when he reaches out for me when his daddy has him. It just melts my heart and makes the sleepless nights bearable for another day.

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Snow angels!


Snow angels!
Originally uploaded by Shanlee
Benjamin got his first taste of snow (my guess is in two years, he'll be whizzing down Mt. Bachelor). We helped him make a snow angel in our front yard. I think he was mostly annoyed that he was cold and wasn't too thrilled.

By this time last year, Brian had shoveled the driveway several times. I'm glad that our warm snap has ended because that means our local tourism economy will get the boost it needs.

Friday, December 12, 2008

What joy! What personality!

Someone told me last night at an event that 6-7 months is when you really see your child's personality. Ben is definitely aware of the world. He spends his day rolling around the floor, giggling at the dog and going crazy for solid foods. Lately, his favorite thing is the Rudolph the Rednose Reindeer his grandma bought him for Christmas or his monkey (The Dude). I thought I had this mom thing down months ago but it's easy to figure out what he wants. Lately, he wants the drops in his mouth that sooth his teeth. He'll be fussy and when I whip to bottle, he gets quiet and opens his mouth. He is not fond of sitting up. He last a whole 30 seconds and topples over.

Ben's sleep is better. It was going pretty good for a while and when he started solids and teething he started waking up every two hours it seemed. Most of the time if I snuggled with him, he'd fall asleep. Other times, he needed a diaper change but lately he's been sleeping 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. He is more than capable of falling asleep on his own. Most of the time, he goes in the crib, rolls around and then falls asleep with in a half hour. He doesn't cry and I think he secretly enjoys his time to himself.

This month, we're thinking about goals for 2009. More about that in the upcoming weeks. Until then, I will watch the snow fall and enjoy the lights from our Christmas tree and feel blessed that I have such a beautiful baby boy.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Learning how to feed yourself


He sure likes prunes
Originally uploaded by Shanlee
Ben is doing great on solids (the ones out of the jars, not the ones I make). When finished with his food, I clean the spoon and let him try to clean himself. Good thing this is usually before his bath! He gets pretty messy. His new thing is trying to feed himself rice husks. He goes crazy when he see me opening the package.

Who knew learning to eat was so much fun!?!

Friday, December 5, 2008

Prince Needy Pants


Sleepy needy baby
Originally uploaded by Shanlee
Since Benjamin has started teething, he's been a bit of a snuggler. If I don't get him down for his nap in time, he expects to fall asleep on my shoulder or be held like a baby (yes, I know he's a baby). He still is pretty attached to his pacifier as well. On Tuesday night, Wednesday morning -- he slept 10 hours! I woke up at 3 a.m. and ran in to see if he was ok. He was and sound asleep. At 5 a.m. he woke up ate a little bit and took the rest of his sleep cycle sleeping on his belly between his dad and I. I knew better than to think this was going to be a regular occurrence as last night he woke up at 12:30 a.m. and then 2:30 a.m. and then wouldn't go back to sleep until I caved at 4:30 a.m. and brought him into bed with us. Working on 4 hours of sleep was rough but since I was really busy, the day went fast and was pretty painless. Some have suggested just feeding him rice cereal at night and just give him veggies in the morning.

I just want to say, his clinginess is quite cute and I know this stage won't last so I don't really mind sitting on the couch at 2:45 a.m. holding my baby in my arms. I tried to convince Brian of this but he kept snoring.