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!

Wonder Week

Wonder Week =  I wonder where my happy baby went this week??

Wonder Week = the three C's... Crying, Clinging, Crankiness

Wonder Week = Declan wondered all week why his perspective of the world was changing so harshly.

I needed something to explain his drastic change and this is the best reasoning I could find...  http://www.thewonderweeks.com/

We did still get some smiles and giggles but they were fewer and farther in between.  But our favorite moment was finishing up some laundry and Declan started to get fussy... Dad was just about to hang up his belts so he was jokingly "threatening" with a belt snap... well this is what Declan thought of that:

Belt Inducing Giggle Fit

Thankfully, wonder week is over  (and it was really just about 5 days but it felt like two weeks)  Declan seems back to his normal self and his semi-predictable routine.  But it gave me a deeper appreciation for fussy babies and their parents/caregivers!

You're 4 Months Today!!

 4 MONTHS OLD!

Dearest Declan!

I am back to work with my student kids and you are Giggling and Grinning away at daycare with Jessica!  I miss you everyday but LOVE EVERY moment home with you ten times more!!  You are getting more and more independent and growing up every minute.... look at you holding your bottle!  (This wasn't posed at all... we swear ;) )

We had a blast in Jackson, MN celebrating Andie and Jesse's wedding with you so handsome in your suit.  This is the only nap you got and then you watched the dj's lights til almost 1030 when Dad said it was past your bedtime and he took your back to the hotel so I could keep dancing the night away!

















Dad brought you to school just this last Friday for our Homecoming Activity Night!  You were a trooper and though a little overstimulated with faces and noise a couple times you did so well and all my students complimented your cuteness and your name!  You slept thru dinner with all the ladies but woke up to play a bit at Carol's before we had a sleepover there!

Age: 4 months

Weight: ??  We better weigh you soon cuz Dr's isn't until 23rd...   I'm guessing you have doubled in weight though... 17 lbs!          ACTUAL:  15lb 7oz  38%

Length:  Guessing 26"  ACTUAL:  25 3/4"    59%
Head:  Guessing  16"    ACTUAL:  16 3/4"   64%
Feats/Mobility:  You enjoy tummy time for about 5-10 minutes and then you get mad and can't flip back over.  You are sitting up quite well in your Bumbo, and are starting to love your excersaucer more.  You like that for about 5-10 minutes too and then get upset but the other day you played it in for almost 20 minutes!

Likes:  Num Nums! (Dad kisses your neck and you have a giggly fit everytime)  Your changing table is a favorite smiley place of yours too as you just love being naked!
Dislikes:  You have had a little cold, growth spurt and possible tooth coming out and have been a little more fussy so just being sick and growing you dislike and we feel bad too! 

I hope you'll think these things one day about me! Hahaha! Kid President MOM=WOW


I love you through and through,

Mom

When I Grow Up...

I love hearing my 5th graders answer this question... I have 3 future pro athletes, 1 future firefighter, 1 engineer, 1 artist, 2 farmers, 2 vets, 1 student who is going to go to college at St. Catherine's, meet her husband and get married and have twins named Declan and Jordan all before she graduates and is a doctor.  At least that is what her Work On Writing Notebook said.  I'm trying to talk her out of the expensive undergrad college and marrying too young, but we'll see...  I have wondered lots this year what Declan will be when he grows up (which isn't really going to happen though... I've already shed some tears packing the 3 month clothes..)

However dream-filled and wonderful their wishes are, I know most of them will change their mind ten times and probably not become what they wanted to be in 5th grade... I was a rarity... Ever since 3rd and 4th grade with my inspiring teachers, Mrs. Freeman and Mrs. Mattson, I knew I wanted to be a teacher and I never wavered from that want.  To this day I can't imagine being anything else.  I am very blessed that I love my job, the challenges and the joys and the variety that come with it each day and each year.  I love being surrounded by youth that I feel like I haven't totally grown up!

Not knowing my path has never been the case for me, but my beautiful, younger sister has wandered on her path finding her way a little longer than me (but a lot less longer than others ;) and even many who never find it or go for it ).   I am so proud that she is finding her way and has discovered the road she needs to take.

Please consider reading Britta's Story, and helping her make her dream come true!  And by helping her, you will help yourself become a little healthier when she returns! Check out what is in it for you!

So are you doing what you thought you'd be doing when you were in 5th grade?  What do you want to be when you "grow up"?  It is never too late!

A sad and joyful date.

September 26th.

It isn't a birthday or wedding or holiday, but it is a date I remember every year.  And even a few years ago when I almost didn't realize it was the 26th, my first college roommate and sweet friend Nicole faithfully sends me a "thinking/praying for you" card. (I got it a day early yesterday :) )  Three years ago that card helped me remember (and feel guilty I hadn't remembered myself...)  but every year, it still brings a rush a tears to my eyes  remembering my dad passing from his cancer my sophomore year of college.  

I was home in Chisago but was not at my Aunt Judy's house where he was staying when he passed.  The night before, we knew it would be soon and I said my goodnights and love yous, knowing it may be the last. I still stand by my feelings that the ONLY positives to cancer is you have time to prepare and say goodbye because too many other tragedies in people's lives around me have not been granted that time.

This year was no different, and I'm tearing up as I type this in my classroom modeling Work on Writing to my students,  but I also have such happy tears thinking of this date last fall.

It was last September 26th we knew we were going to become parents.  I was soo excited, happy, scared and nervous.  Andy was trying to nap for his shift work, but I had to wake and tell him.  The rush of emotions of knowing you have made a life and that your life is about to change is indescribable and like nothing I have ever felt.

And maybe I was crazy as it was risky taking a pregnancy test last year on this date in case it was negative, but I knew in my body and soul I was pregnant two days earlier.  I made myself wait to give the upcoming date a positive, full-circle-of-life meaning.  A date I can later have conversations with Declan about his Grandpa Gregg.   It was in the moments and memories with my dad that I learned to love golf, all board games but especially cribbage, and bowling.  I know Andy and I will try and pass these loves to Declan too and create our own family memories!

I am also more emotional and sadder wishing my dad was here to have met Declan and have seen me being a mom.  I get to tell Declan about him, but now I just have to believe my dad is able to look down and see us and is proud.   And someday, may we all meet again.

My Ideal Week

So from my UnWired Challenges blog from a couple weeks back I was to create an Ideal Week calendar.  I created it for my "back to work" schedule and now that it has been over two weeks (well 3 weeks...) I am to reevaluate it and see how realistic it was!  Overall I am doing ok... working out is the only thing that has stopped :(  regularly this last week...  I truly WANT to give it my all and have a NEED and valid reasoning to justify a tummy tuck if i need one after my next c-section in two-three years down the road, but it is HARD to make time when I just want to be with Declan every minute when I get home...   I know this will be a battle I'll continue to just have to DO.  How do working mom's with small kids (well... any mom's really!)  find time to exercise!!???

My Ideal / ACTUAL Week:

5:00 Wake Up, Nurse Declan and get him ready for daycare before he falls back asleep, Eat Breakfast, Exercise 10 Minutes  (I was perfect the first week... 2nd week just 3 days... this last week with daycare drop off added in... I didn't exercise once in the morning), Shower, Wear Makeup (15/17 days... not bad ;) ).

6:30 Leave for Daycare and Work

7:10-7:30 Check Emails/Respond/ Organize for day, make copies for next couple days, etc.

7:30-7:45 Pump   ( About to eliminate my morning pump I hope as Declan is sleeping until 6-6:30 so think I will just feed him later and pump just at lunch and prep!)

7:45-8:00 Greet students, organize room, etc.

8-11:40 Teach

11:40-12:15 Pump and hopefully get to teachers’ lounge for lunch  (SO HAPPY THIS IS HAPPENING... though I inhale my lunch in 15 minutes, I am happy to be out of my room and my "laundry closet" and see work friends)

12:15-2:00 Teach

2:00-2:10 Check Emails/Respond

2:10-3:30  Prep/Pump/End of Day… Be SOOO productive in planning and grading NOTHING comes home  (Stuff has come home... but not much... so far I'm doing ok)

3:30-4:00  Drive home/unwind/ call a family member or friend

4:00- Pickup from daycare if Andy couldn’t/Nurse Declan or Pump if he just ate...

4:15 Exercise 15 minutes (did surprisingly well... took two-three days off in first two weeks, but need to up the ante and use our Insanity DVD's soon... Just Dance Wii and self yoga/planks isn't matching my endurance and cardio needs anymore.  I did Insanity Fit test last sunday tht 15th... was so sore for three days and discouraged with being out of shape... I just haven't done it again.  I will this morning though!!)

4:30- Start dinner/ Play with Declan

5:30- Dinner/watch tv show or talk if no walk possible

6:00-6:45  Pack lunches, clean up kitchen, pick out clothes and clean somewhere else in house….  (I've been about 50/50... but have had live in amazing sitters for most weeks.  But kitchen is staying clean and that is the big one for me) 

                Monday- Last Load of Laundry

                Tuesday-Vacuum

                Wednesday- Clean bathrooms/Dust

                Thursday- Vacuum

                Friday- Clear kitchen table/Sort mail/pay bills

                Weekends:  Meal Plan/Grocery Shop/Clean “mountains”/Start Laundry/Yardwork/Vacuum

6:45-7:15 Nurse Declan-  Bath Tues/Thursdays/Saturday   (two days a week is acceptable in my new opinion... Wed and Sat...) , pjs, etc.

7:15- Walk with Andy, Croix and Declan

8:00- Read with Declan/watch tv show with Andy/read/relax/bath, etc.  Elminated Some nights because he has been in bed by 8-8:30!!  

8:30-9:00 Nurse /Declan’s Bedtime  

School work/tv/computer/finish cleaning/packing for next day...

9:30 10:00/11:00ish  My bedtime/read

It's just hair!

That is what I had to tell myself for the past month in prep for finally cutting my hair short short like I have wanted to try for 3 years.  I kept making valid excuses of pictures, and weddings and more pictures but I finally just said, "It's just hair... just try it... It will grow back... It's just hair."   Andy was in support of it even though two friends were scared for me and told me not to do it.  

Sitting in the chair, I seriously had nervous butterflies like I hadn't had in a long time!     

But these first three days with it... I like it.  I was worried I wouldn't be able to do it like my hair stylist the night she cut it, but I've figured it out and it is easy and fast.  I definitely am no longer a "blond" and think I will put some lighter (and maybe some red??) highlights in it when I get it trimmed in probably just 3 weeks!  

I love how blunt my 5th graders are, especially the boys.  All the girls say they like it but a few boys said they liked it long, that it is like his Grandma's hair, but a couple guys said I look better and younger... Perfect.  So now it may be a mom haircut... but I'm thinking hot mama!