PJ DAYS!!

I think it was this funny YouTube video sensation Christmas Jammies "card" that had "inspired" me.  (And by inspired I mean made me ok justifying not showering and staying in my PJ's all day on Christmas...)

    

And all the cute Christmas Jammies Declan got... so..

Christmas Day= PJ DAY!

New Year's Day= PJ DAY!

Saturday= PJ DAY!

Monday Governor-Called-off-School-for-Cold= PJ DAY!

hmmm.. This could be a dangerous trend I am getting into.  But really I think it is for the better because:

• It is way more comfortable getting down on the floor playing with Declan than jeans/work dress clothes.
• Makes me creative making meals and cleaning out the freezer/fridge/pantry with food we should use instead of running out for what we are craving at the store or fast food.
• I feel less guilty relaxing and reading than if I was dressed and should be cleaning or doing projects.  (However, I did get my photo collage wall done Saturday and Christmas decorations are coming down today... I actually did less housework Sunday when I was showered/dress, but football will do that to you...)

But truly, back to full work weeks and reality is here tomorrow, but maybe, just maybe I should dedicate and schedule 1 day a month (maybe two days a month??) as PJ Day in the Thrall House!  For guilt free, play-filled, books and blankets, shower-less days!  

Crying It Out

Go ahead.. Judge me.  I judged me.  I judged my selfishness for wanting sleep.  While putting in my ear plugs and staring at our video monitor for 10-30 minutes for 8 different times these last few nights, I felt like the worst mom in the world.  But here's the story... a success story with some tears along the way.

Declan had started waking 1-3 (and two nights even 4 times a night) since about 5 months old.  And when I knew it was hunger, I didn't mind.  But it soon became 2-3 times a night where he was waking up and only "nursing" would calm him and put him back to sleep.  (Warning... TMI coming for some of you)  I say "nursing" because 90% of the time he wasn't actually eating but just hanging out on the boob... He weaned himself from a pacifier, which is nice in every way except for  my chapped nipples, my kinked neck/back and light sleeping nights with him nursing next to me in bed. 

So after Christmas vacation traveling all over and being off schedule and practically co-sleeping half the nights with me (which I swore I would never do... Never say never as a parent!) I googled all sorts of sleep training/tricks driving home and decided to stick with BabyWise/Ferber/Crying it out/ methods.  With the trick that a bottle of formula would help him be fuller and he'd for sure eat enough before nursing him at bedtime so I knew he wouldn't be hungry.  I know my supply can be low at night.

Dec 30th, like clockwork, 11:00, 2 & 4, Declan woke up.  And Declan cried.  With me or Andy going in after 5-10 minutes if scream crying to shhhhhh him and tell him "it's sleepy time. we love you. shhhhhh"  He was always back asleep within 10-25 minutes this night.  Whew... we did it.  His naps were good on the 31st.

Dec 31st, the times changed a littler later 11:30, 2:30, 4:30... the crying was longer and harder.. I was ready to nurse him after almost 35 minutes, but had had some champagne so couldn't, and now I'm glad we didn't.  I read lots that the 2nd night was always the worse.  His naps were awesome again. 

Jan 1st he only whimpered at 2:30 for less than 10 minutes and 4:30 for less than 5 with his eyes closed.  

I was going to give myself til tonight of crying bouts before I threw in the towel BUT for the last three nights, he has been sleeping from 8/8:30 to 5/6 for food and then til 730/8.

We did it.  I was hoping we wouldn't have to, but I truly believe it was for the best for us and doesn't make me a terrible mom, though I'm sure others disagree.    Declan has never taken better naps (which he lays down for without his 5 minutes of crying) and has been the happiest, well rested boy I have had in a month.  I thought he was in a wonder week or reaching anxiety about people leaving the room over break, but now I think he was just sleep deprived.  And now he's not, so 3ish (spread out over 3 nights) terrible hours of whimpers, pouts and all out cries worked for us.  

Hope I didn't jinx myself by blogging about this... Here's to a 4th night of restful sleep (where hopefully I won't wake at 11, 2, 4 wondering if Declan is about to!) 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

Our holidays were spent 3 days in Chisago, a week in Racine and 2 days back at home over New Years.  Holidays really are more special with kids!  I know Declan isn't going to remember this Christmas, but we will and we will tell him all about it thru pictures and stories!

A fun picture video summary is HERE documenting some favorite moments if you want to just watch that and not read on ;)    (I believe you need a gmail acct/google chrome to be logged in to view it... can't get it to YouTube...)  He also giggled everytime we wagged a santa hat poof ball in his face!

Decorating was more fun wrapping Declan in lights, hanging the Declan by chimney with care, and creating a live Elf on the Shelf!

We were asked back in November to be Mary, Joseph and Jesus in our Live Nativity and I was very excited (a bit more than Andy but he was willing to please us :) )   It was a very surreal night not just seeing Declan being Jesus, but remembering the reason for the season,

 Kinda slacked on getting family photos of everyone... Oh well... We will get lots on our Spring Break trip to Myrtle Beach with both sides.

 Timmy made us a Prime Rib Christmas Eve dinner!  Delish!

Bailey LOVES Declan and anything that he touches.  She was very motherly and protective!

New Years was a combination of us feeling "old", lame and cheap not getting a sitter and going out vs. feeling just perfect as the three of us!  We had a fire, a nice dinner together, and watched a movie and a half til the ball dropped and then it was BEDTIME!

My Wise Baby

He is so smart.  Baby's are all so wise soaking in their new world  I'm biased, I know.  But he knows HIS people.  He loves his puppy.  He knows crying/screeching/laughing gets him full attention.  

I do stand by the fact my Declan slept till at least 5 am from 10 weeks old until he was about 5 months old... Babywise worked/will work well for us.  And then he got a cold... and then he was teething...and then I had my period and was in low supply (sorry if TMI... read someone else's non-baby blog ;) )... SWEET, HE SLEPT THRU THE NIGHT FOR TWO NIGHTS... and then he had a growth spurt... and then he was teething again.... SWEET, FOR ONE NIGHT HE SLEPT THRU THE NIGHT... and now a cold/maybe teething/maybe growth spurt.  

Did I mention he has no actual teeth?  I know they go up and down, and trust me I would like to nurse a long time and would prefer he has no teeth, but I can't use that excuse for justifying anymore until they are here.

But I did buy an Amber Teething necklace.  Maybe it doesn't truly release enough succinic acid and it is all placebo, but I'd rather that then guess and dose him with too much Tylenol and numbing gels.    If anything, his day naps have been much more consistent and longer since buying that.  (shhhh... don't tell anyone he may sleep with it on.. it's under his onesies...)

But last night made me cry... literally at 1:00am I was crying... I didn't know WHY Declan was crying.  He was crying for an hour and a half straight. He wouldn't eat, didn't need a diaper,wasn't happy being carried, playing with me or Andy... It was painful .  Finally he slept.  And then at 2:00 am he was awake again for 40 minutes. 

So.. do I let him cry it out if he wakes again? AAAHHH.. IDK... if he just needs to eat/comfort for 5/10 minutes, I don't mind.  That is easier than the pain of last night (which I wasn't trying to let him cry.. I tried to quite/feed at the first midnight whimper, but he wasn't having it and that probably overly woke him up and started the fun)

We'll see what tonight brings... Wish me luck.  

Dearest Declan... You're 6 months today!

Dearest Declan!

Happy Unbirthday!  Time has never gone faster since becoming your mom.  You are really growing into a boy with a personality who knows what he likes, which is lots of things!

About a month ago we started giving you solid foods!  You are feeding yourself everything and we aren't just giving you pureed mush!  You have had cucumbers, carrots, squash, sweet potatoes (you LOVED those on Thanksgiving), beans, peas, broccoli, avocados, oatmeal fingers, cheese, noodles, tomatoes, potatoes, bananas, pears, applesauce... and probably other things... You still don't necessarliy swallow a ton, but you love to gnaw and chew on it all.  Your dog Croix loves it too and has to be in his kennel during meal time but likes to clean up your highchair after meal time!

We are in the middle of your first holiday season!  Halloween you were a Tiger and we visited some friends.  Cameron was an elephant and Noah was a Pumpkin!

We had a great, relaxing Thanksgiving break at Grandma Connie's with the meal being at great Aunt Brenda's!  You loved the sweet potatoes!!

You had your first St. Nick's day and got an adorable person bag, perfect shoe puppy booties, and a snowman making kit!  And now we are just getting ready for Christmas at both grandparent's homes! Dad has had a lot of fun decorating you for Christmas!


The Declan was Hung by the Chimney with care!!


You started using two Christmas presents already.. your amber teething necklace and blue foam playmats for our dining room!  On Wed. Dec 18th, you will be Baby Jesus in our churches live nativity and we'll be Mary and Joseph.   I am very excited for your first acting roll!

This last week Grandma Sue and Grandpa Tim (for couple days) were here to hang out with you!  They had a lot of fun seeing how much you have grown since your baptism!  We did some shopping with Grandma and went to one of our favorite college restaurants that bears grandma's name... Psycho Suzi's!  And then we got to spend some time with your friend Malorie who was born on November 10th!  She is a sweet pea!

Age: 6 months    (Dr. Appt. Fri. 13th!) 

Weight:  Guessing.. 19 lb   Way off again: 16 lbs 8 oz 27%

Length: 27 inches          26 1/2"  40%  
Head:  17 inches           17 1/8" 52%
Feats/Mobility:  You are sitting, almost, on your own!  But we have you practice still in your sittin' box!  All the toys at your reach and no topples.  You are using a spoon pretty well by your self and like to eat of both sides of it.  You ROLL everywhere and the scooting is starting... You rolled right into the fire place edge the other day while I was doing dishes and I felt terrible when I heard your pain cry :( 

Likes:  All dogs... You are always smiling at them.  Eating.  WHOOSH!!  You favorite word... check out this video WHOOSH!   You love taking glasses, mugs, cups from Dad and me. You love to chew on the glass but have enjoyed sipping some water too.  You still like books... but now you like to eat them and hold them yourself.
Dislikes:  Getting put in your carseat.  Getting clothes taken off or put on...especially sleeves.  Your nook... you have really had no want for your pacifier lately, which is fine by me... but in church this morning you used it for a bit and I was amazed.  And last, Dad and Mom making you be both a Packer and a Viking fan. 

I love you through and through,

Mom

30 Days of Gratefulness

Maybe this isn't true, and it probably isn't humble of me to just say it... but I think I am a pretty grateful person... and I think I do at least a decent job of letting the people I am most grateful for know I appreciate them. And if I don't... let me say this first.. I'm grateful for any of you that are taking 5 minutes out of your day to read this because you must care for me at some level past or present.

So to make the 30 days of gratefulness challenge a challenge for me, I am going to be looking for the different/less frequent/not the general clique things I would have said in the past... Of course that is right after I'm done saying I am thankful for these "general clique things" that will be off limits the next 30 days...

My family... I love them all for their craziness... my mom's side... my dad's side... my inlaws.. my step-dad's side.... my husband and son and Croix, Fuzzy, Bouncer...

My friends... I couldn't begin to imagine better friends from the past in high school and college, the best Hutch friends who are there for us as family and seriously the most hilarious, hardworking, caring coworkers EVER.   Sorry... all your coworkers suck in comparison to mine.  Mine RULE. End of Story. 'Nuff said.

My job... I am tired everyday BUT I feel loved and appreciated by my students, coworkers and boss, no day is the same, and teaching reading and history are just plain old fun for me.

So now to mini stories or quick one-liners of 30 days of keeping my eyes open to the rare gratefulness gems.

Nov 1: My Old Reliable Car...  I had to tell myself three times before 7:00 am... today is going to be a great day... today is going to be a great day... today is going to be a great day..   Friday's are tough... This Friday before daylight savings time, which is usually my favorite weekend of the year, I was especially dreading with Declan's schedule getting messed up...  I was also preparing for the exhausting exploratory 1st quarter reward afternoon.  But all this to say what my mind was racing with when I quickly became thankful that my old car can be "broken into" easily... I locked my keys in my car at school this morning... But my principal and Officer Derek saved the day (and Andy an hour in the car bringing me the extra set of keys).  So thank you 1999 Forester for being easily jimmied.

Nov 2: Cards... I love boardgames and card games.  Tonight was filled with a favorite pasttime of 500 that jumped me right back to middle school learning the game with my second summer home in middle school/early high school... The Grabau's.  I lived for meals, water-skiing, and 500 at their house.  I swear it took me 10 times to learn to play the game but they were always patient about it and let me keep trying!

Nov 3: Grocery stores.. Though this is one of my least favorite tasks, I have decided I like it a lot better than hunting and gardening for my own food.  So thank you farmers too!

Nov 4:  Teacher Workdays... I always have a massive to-do list that only gets 1/2 way accomplished, but at least it gets accomplished!  I feel ahead (for the week ;) ) and rejuvenated!

Nov 5: Daylight Savings time did not affect Declan's schedule much at all as I was so worried about.

Nov 6: Garbage Pickup Monday and Leaf Pickup Tuesdays!   Well it snowed but I am glad we got our lawn clean and the Hutch vacuum sucker upper picked up our leaves BEFORE the snow!  Yippee!

Nov 7: My district's building referendum passed!!!  HLWW get a new middle school big enough and much safer with economical operating systems!  So excited for my new classroom and move in 2015!  EVERY VOTE COUNTED so I'm thankful for all 864 people that voted yes because the levy passed by just 20 votes!! Wahhoooooo!!!

Nov 8: AMLE conference... I attended the Middle Level Educators conference in MPLS the last two days with my principal and some coworkers and I love being rejuvenated and filled with some new ideas to share with my coworkers and students!

Nov 9: HOT Baths... I hadn't taken a bath since Declan was born... I'm not sure why but maybe due to the fact I took 2-3 cool oatmeal baths a day when I had hives my last few weeks of pregnancy.  Either way, it was relaxing and I plan to do it much more often!

Nov 10:  God and my church... He restores me. His love endures forever.  He reminds me to forgive.  He reminds me my life isn't mine and my love isn't mine to keep selfishly.   And on December 18th, Declan will be baby Jesus while Andy and I are Joseph and Mary at the live nativity!!!  Mark you calendars and come for our 6:30 pm service!

Nov 11: Veterans. Our freedom is not free and I am thankful I am reminded of this often as a social teacher and can help students begin to understand that.

Nov 12: Jess our Giggly and Grins Daycare Provider!  I love that I trust and genuinely like who my baby spends his day with and that she is willing to care for other's children.  It is a special job and takes amazing people to watch the young ones!  I would be afraid... Give me 30 middles schools.. easy peasy... Give me 8 under the age of 4... aaahhhh!!!!    Plus it was her "baby's" First Birthday today (on the neatest date of the year.. 11-12-13... I like patterns and numbers too but can't quite say I'm thankful for them.) and I was reminded again how fast this year will fly and my baby will grow!!!

Nov 13: GOLF IN MID-NOVEMBER with my boys!  It was 50 degrees out, Declan was fed but needed a nap so we rushed out to golf with the stroller. We golfed more holes with the moon then the sun, but we made it!

Nov 14:  Massages with Michelle... Oh I love my massages!  I got one a month while pregnant but now that extra money goes towards daycare but am thankful for a trade from my 31 closeout sale so this massage was enjoyed!!  Message her on facebook today if you need one!

Nov 15: COUPONS...  My friend's blog, Adventures of M.D., told me about this great free giveaway coupon book. I am a pretty good couponer but would always love more.  Though sometimes they make me buy things I maybe wouldn't I put the food and items to use!  Vote for her blog while you are there with the Top Mommy Blog emblem in the corner please!

Nov 16: The 12 Step Program.   Keeping this one simple.

Nov 17:  Declan's friends... I know I said my friends were off limits, but I am just gonna say I'm thankful that Declan has so many baby friends around his age that we got to see this week/weekend, some that were just born (Yeah Malorie Moon!!) and more news of more babies on the way!!  Can't wait for May and June!!  We'll have lots of babies to visit this summer!!!

Nov 18: Monday's... Margie, if you are reading this... I'm TOTALLY stealing yours for the day!  It put me in a better mood reading yours and thinking of it as a fresh week, fresh start, instead of 5 days til I see my boy all day... And the random hugs from some 5th graders didn't hurt today either!

Nov 19:  Electricity....  I dislike laundry, but man I would really hate washing clothes by a river and hanging them up to dry...  I dislike pumping, but I love being able to work and nurse and provide for Declan...  And I really just like lights... I felt accomplished  making my home brighter today by finding 7 bulbs that needed to be changed...  (and when I realized how "proud" I felt for getting to Menards, picking up a fixed jogging stroller, making dinner, changing light bulbs, installing new toilet handle, washing bottles, etc...  I laughed and had that "i know I am a mom" moment).. but really.. I like living in the modern world we live in and am grateful for that.

Nov 20:  Warm November weather... today was the last day for awhile it sounds like so went on a nice walk with Croix and Declan!

Nov 21:  Volleyball...   Even though my team loses a lot... I feel stress free playing and enjoy the night out and the sport even more than I used too.

Nov 22:  Changing Tables in public bathrooms... Declan really needed one Friday night when we were out to dinner with Andie!

Nov 23:  ROSES...  Andy remember our 10 year dating anniversary and made our house beautiful and my heart happy!

Nov 24:  Sunday Morning Breakfasts... I love weekend breakfasts of eggs, hashbrowns, pancakes, BACON!!  Declan ate (smushed and chewed on) a mini Mickey Mouse Pancake and it was cute!  He loves the homemade applesauce too!

Nov 25: Dr. Seuss & Picture books... My students have enjoyed rereading Dr. Seuss last week for prosody and I love reading to Declan and watching him kick in happiness and talk back at the book... (and now starting to grab and eat the books...) but he really does love them

Nov 26: Ice Cream...  Even on the coldest of days it is so yummy.

Nov 27: Debit/Credit Cards... not to get in debt or spend money you don't have.. but for the ease of electronically paying things over the phone/stores/internet

Nov 28: Traditions and Holidays... Just being with family and relaxing and eating and relaxing some more is so wonderful.

Nov 29:  Stores that didn't open yesterday and Shopping today... Online....  I didn't like it one bit that Thurs. was becoming the new Black friday.   People can't pass up a good deal being the consumeristic/materialistic country we have become so they will leave dinners and family early.

Nov 30: Hot Tubs... My muscles felt amazing and I slept like a little baby.

It was a fabulous November and Thanksgiving Holiday, and I know the Christmas holiday will be just as wonderful... 3 fast, crazy busy weeks of school and then MANY days straight with Declan!!

Is Baby Led Weaning for us?

I had NEVER heard of giving your baby solid, whole foods before rice cereal and veggie, fruit and meat purees. And then I became a mom with great momma friends.  "Their stomachs aren't ready.... They'll choke!  But I am excited to make my own baby food in squeeze packets... "  were all the questions and thoughts that filled my mind when my friend Molly told me about this!

 I did some further reading and research of this Baby-Led Weaning (BLW.. aka, baby self feeding) and as you can see by the following pictures I am getting excited to do this with Declan.  His excitement is a little masked by the new tastes.  He pretty much has only enjoyed milk, plastic, clothes, and fingers until now.  But he has added cucumbers, carrots, broccoli, avocados, pasta, green beans, bananas and a fry from daddy against my will.  

A lot of the books say start around 6 months but if they are showing interest in grabbing at your plate/food, let them try a little earlier.  So I have.  True,  Declan grabs at everything and puts everything in his mouth so I just figured why not let him start putting what he is supposed to in his mouth?  But the premise of BLW appeals to me.  They learn to chew before they swallow and they monitor how much they need to eat instead of shoving "chart tablespoon" amounts of purees down their throats when they really are getting what they need from nursing until they are 8-12 months old. 

In some blogs I have read, people jokingly refer to the baby-self feeding as the Lazy-Mom Feeding method too.  This is right up my alley because one thing I love about nursing is how "lazy" I can be with less bottles, packing formula/bottles when out, etc.    All the "eating" (aka shoving food at his face and throwing on the floor for Croix)  done so far has taken no extra time or money as they were just from our meals.  

But I am also a little excited to feed him and in case this doesn't take off in the next few months and daycare has to start making sure he is eating proteins, etc... I wanted to get some purees made this weekend. Carrots and squash are ready and applesauce will be next!   I enjoyed doing it but I'm not going to be heartbroken if BLW takes off and Declan gives them to his friends.  The packets are in the freezer and easy to thaw and take and go! 

Not counting the squeeze machine, these packets are .34 cents a piece and I paid 3 dollars for the carrots and squash at the farmers market I used.  But it took an hour and half from prep to clean up for 15 packets so will my time be worth it??      It was enjoyable to me and I know I'll get faster and do much bigger batches so I think yes.. Plus, I'll do some canning and ice cube trays, etc too... but we'll see.

In the web world I have found there are some very hardcore Baby-Led Weaning mommas out there, but pretty much everything with me and parenting, I like a guide but I am flexible and need to have some wiggle room or it would stress me out.  So technically Declan will probably fall under the Traditional Weaning with the mix of purees and finger foods but the following link explains the difference.  

BLW vs. Traditional Weaning

Stay tuned... I'm sure I'll blog more about the solid food adventure!  Advice, thoughts and comments welcome!