Babies Should Be Born With A Mouth Full of Teeth

Seriously, this teething thing is miserable.  I feel so bad for my poor baby.  I can tell he is in pain, but there is nothing I can do for him.  He hates his pacifier now I'm sure because it hurts his gums.  In turn, he won't go to sleep because he doesn't have his pacifier to calm him down.  It just stinks.  I was at my wits end yesterday trying to get him to take a nap.  He would scream every time I held him to cuddle him to sleep.  Plus, if I even got near his mouth with the pacifier, he cried harder and tried to clamp his mouth shut--at the same time.  I finally gave up and said I needed to take a shower, so in his bouncer he went while I took a shower.  He seemed content enough and didn't make much noise while I was in the shower.  When I opened the curtain when I was done, I figured out why...the little one was all tuckered out and fast asleep.

I thought the nap would last a while, but alas, it was only 15 minutes.  He woke up smiling, so I was happy.  That was pretty much how the day went...he refused to nap, so I found ways to make him sleep (yay for car ride!) and he woke up with a smile.  We did get to play for a bit and he laughed and laughed. 

Here is a good tip...don't call Daddy to let him hear baby laugh and leave a voicemail without saying something first.  Matt thought I was crying or dying or something because I didn't say anything and just was making baby laugh.  Well, on speakerphone at a foot away, it didn't sound as much like laughing as in person.  Matt was about to hang up on the voicemail and call when I finally said something and then he focused on hearing the laugh and not trying to figure out if we were both alive.  Lesson learned.

The Red Wings were in town playing the Sharks and we, of course, had tickets.  Colin has already attended 2 games and done great, so we hoped the same would happen last night.  No such luck.  He was fine and happy until he started to get sleepy.  No pacifier, no sleep.  I finally had to go out to the concourse and walk him around.  He passed out fairly quickly, so I thought it would be safe to return to my seat.  It was fine until the dumba*& behind us decided to start taunting the Red Wings' goalie.  So, Jerkface, he can't hear you, but my baby can!  All you did was wake my baby and make him start crying again.  Thankyouverymuch.  You can suck it!  We ended up leaving after the 2nd period.  I know, I took a baby to a hockey game and should expect loud noise.  Hey, he had noise-canceling headphones that do great, but when the guy behind us keeps screaming, they don't work forever.  Headphones only block out so much noise.  Oh, well...the Red Wings lost miserably, so it was better we left early anyway.

So, Little Man is miserable.  His teeth are right under the skin, but not popping out just yet.  I am sure it is torture for him because it sure is for me.  Please, please, please, teeth, just break through the skin!

5 Months today!

Hey...I'm 5 Months!

The last 5 months have gone by so quickly.  I just can't believe that we are already into the holiday season.  Last year I was just hoping and praying that this year we would have our baby home and healthy.  Now, here we are...Colin is a happy, healthy, and perfect little boy!  My days off this week have been awesome!  He has been so happy.  He is definitely feeling better and even though he hates the amoxicillan, he takes it and responds well to it.  I am so happy to have him smiling and not crying all the time.

Buppppp.......

 

For fun today, I decided to plop him in a box I got from woot.  He seemed to really like just chillin in the box, so I let him sit there for a while.  If I could just make it a little softer, I think it would probably be the perfect spot for him. :)

Hey Gorilla, how's it going?

Mom, I'm in my box right now

You put what in your washer?

I cloth diaper.  Yes, that means he poops into cloth that needs to be cleaned.  How do I clean it?  I put it in the washer.  No, I do not rinse it first.  Yes, it comes out clean.  No, my washer is not poopy.  Formula (or breastmilk) poo is completely water soluble.  That means it rinses off completely and just runs out in the water. 

Here is my wash routine:

1. Cold wash/rinse no detergent
2. Hot wash/cold rinse w/ Tiny Bubbles Detergent & Calgon Water softener
3. 2 extra cold rinses

Seriously, they come out clean.  My co-worker is completely disgusted by this.  Why?  I asked what he did when his kids had pooplosions and baby poo got on their clothes (he has 4 boys).  He claims he threw them out.  Then he revised it and said they rinsed them out first.  Whatever...it all goes down the drain.  It isn't disgusting.  Plus, I use bleach in my washer every so often, so I am sure it is all gone.

I hate disposables.  I give them to daycare to use and use them when we go on trips, but otherwise they are not allowed in my house.  I hate their smell, I hate the amount of trash they make, and I hate that they leak so much more often. 

So, I am a cloth diapering mama.  My baby has a big fluffy butt.  I buy cloth diapers, I make cloth diapers.  He looks adorable in his diaper.  I don't mind the laundry even when it does get a little overwhelming.  It is truly one of the best parenting decisions that I think I have made.

On the upside, my co-worker did say that Colin is a really cute baby--Gerber Baby cute.  Yeah, I know.  He is the CUTEST BABY EVER!  Sorry to all the other moms out there, but I know mine is the cutest, you will just have to accept 2nd cutest. :)

Five Month Pictures

5 Months!

Colin's 5 Month pictures overlapped with getting our family Christmas pictures.  I wanted to do them in December, but I need to get Christmas cards done sooner, so I moved them up to November. 

I'm amazed to see how much he really is getting bigger each month.  I see him everyday, so I don't notice it until we put it into perspective.  He sits up more now and the "Squiggle stand-in" looks so much smaller now.  We actually had a difficult time getting him in the right position because he is so much taller and doesn't fit as well into the pillows they have set up.  He can almost sit up on his own, but not quite yet.  I think as soon as he can sit up on his own it will be a little easier.  He does have pretty much the same smile from month to month, though.  He loves to have his mouth open and rarely just gives a little smile.  It really is truly adorable--not that I am biased or anything.

Happy Thanksgiving card

To continue on with our holiday cards for all the fall/winter holidays, I put Colin in a Turkey costume for some Thanksgiving cards.  Both Matt & I busted up laughing as we got him dressed, but he looked so darn cute that it was worth it!  Someday he might not be happy with me for dressing him up as a turkey, but for now he doesn't know the difference and just looks adorable.  Seriously, I think I must be a little bit of an overzealous, crazy mommy, but honestly, I don't care.  Colin may be our only child and I want to do all kinds of fun things with him.  So, he is my little Turkey this month!

Our Family

Christmas!

He really is starting to grow up more.  He laughed at the photographer during the photo shoot, which is a first for him.  He always smiles, but the laughs are new.  The same photographer has done it since 3 months, so he is getting to know Colin.  He commented on how much he is growing and changing.  I think the photographer (Roy) might actually like seeing us every month and not just for the $$. :)  Okay, I might be wrong about that, but we do have fun and he is a nice guy.  I just hope that he is there for next month's photos because he always does such a nice job!  In December I am going to get Colin in all his Christmas gear and do them of him alone.  I am excited for those because I know that he is going to look adorable!  We have some fun ideas for him.

Sharks on the Power Play!

Our first regular season hockey game was on Saturday vs. the Nashville Predators.  After a long week with a sick baby, I wasn't much in the mood, but I hate to miss a good hockey game.  So, we checked baby's temperature before we got ready to leave and all seemed well.  Off we went...

Sharkie Attack!

As we walked into the Pavilion, we saw Sharkie right away.  Cool!  Time for Colin to get his first picture with a shark!  We had to chase him down a little, but we got one.  Sharkie "walked away" with Colin after the picture, which made Matt's heart stop a bit, but he was just joking around for a second.  Colin was returned to Daddy and all was well.  He survived his first shark attack. 

Hockey is Tiring

I was concerned about how he would do during the game since he hadn't been well, but he seemed to do just fine.  He hadn't eaten dinner before we left, so he munched down a few ounces and then watched a bit of the game.  Pretty soon he got sleepy and went down for a nap with Daddy.  He was snuggled up pretty well for a while.  Then Daddy needed a break, so he moved over to Mommy's lap.  I guess I am not as comfy because the napping didn't last as long.  Plus, the guy next to me is pretty loud and even with his headphones on, Colin was jolted by his yelling. 

Colin needed plenty of cuddles and rocking throughout the game to stay asleep, but he did get quite a bit of nap time in.  The loud cheering from all the goals really didn't go over well with him, though.  The Sharks had 3 goals and each one of them caused him to throw his arms out and jolt his head back.  He liked looking around at all our seat neighbors, but I have a feeling sleep would have been more satisfying.

All went well, though, except for the final score.  The Sharks lost in overtime, which was quite a disappointment.  They didn't play too well, so it wasn't a surprise, but it would have been nice to see a win.  I'm hoping our next game is also a Sharks loss--they are playing the Red Wings!  Colin and I (and maybe Matt) will be decked out in our RW jerseys, so we will be cheering for the boys in Red!

Holy Sleep Deprevation, Batman!

This past week has probably been the most trying we have had since the first week Colin came home from the hospital.  Last Tuesday Matt took his temperature and it was 101.5.  We took him to the doctor and Dr. V said he had a little redness in his ear that was possibly an ear infection.  He gave us a prescription for antibiotics, but didn't say it was mandatory, but that he recommended it.  Matt and I both agreed not to give him the antibiotics unless he didn't get better in a couple of days.

We didn't want him far away at night, so Little Man got to sleep in bed with us.  Neither Matt nor I slept great, but we did better than if Little Man were in his crib in the other room.  Little Man really likes cuddles at night, so he sleeps pretty well when snuggled between Mommy & Daddy.


He couldn't go to daycare on Wednesday, so I ended up home with him Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.  I was ready to go back to work on Friday.  A sick baby and a tired mommy are not a good mix.  I needed the break of work.  I felt a bit like a bad mommy, but I was in need of a little baby-free time!  I also was in desperate need of a little sleep, but I would take what I could get.

After feeling really down about my mothering skills on Thursday, I decided I wanted a little fun time with Colin.  We both loves baths, so I got the tub ready and relaxed or a few minutes alone.  Then Matt brought baby boy in and we shared some bubbles.  Colin christened the tub before even getting in by peeing right into the tub in front of Mommy.  No matter, we were going to have fun anyway.

Colin got some hair on his head in the form of bubbles and looked adorable!  He has gotten into splashing, so he went crazy banging on the water.  I'm not sure if it is the water splashing or that he can't get to his feet that interests him, but he loves to do it!

It made me feel a lot better and we bonded as Mommy & son.  It is one of my favorite things to do with him because he always has so much fun.

I have the sweetest baby boy that makes me so happy!  By Friday morning I was feeling a lot better about my skills as a mother.

 Friday night Little Man seemed to be doing fine, but then after he had been in bed for a couple of hours he woke up fussing.  I usually let him go until he really starts crying, but I kept worrying.  Matt finally told me just to go check on him instead of worrying so much.  I went in and picked him up and he cried even more.  So, I changed his diaper and decided to check his temperature at the same time.  It kept going up and up until it was over 103.  A high fever.  So, I had Matt get the Tylenol and I got the antibiotics to get him started on them right away.  I am so grateful that I checked on him and we were able to get his fever down fairly quickly.  He got to share the bed with Mommy & Daddy another night and Mommy & Daddy didn't sleep all that well again.

So, it was a tiresome week.  Little Man didn't feel well, which led Mommy & Daddy to feeling pretty darn cranky & tired.  Now that he is on antibiotics, I hope he gets better quickly and the restful nights come again soon for all of us.

Back to Work

So, I went back to work last week.  After 5 months home, I guess it was time.  I had really hoped to stay home for Colin's first 6 months, but I was encouraged to return so that I didn't lose my job.  Not exactly the way I planned for things to go, but I need to go with the flow.  We need the extra income--at least for now.  I had planned to set up a budget while I was home, but I never found any time.

After the disastrous daycare visit, I wasn't expecting Monday to go very well.   Little Man proved me wrong and was almost perfect.  He was smiling and happy when I left and happy when Daddy picked him up in the afternoon.  He had eaten, taken some short naps, and played well with others.  It made me feel so much better that he was doing well.

What made the week miserable is that both Colin and I caught colds.  It must be the same thing and I am thinking we caught it when we were out shopping last week.  I went to JoAnn's and some rude lady was coughing on everything without covering her mouth.  I tried to get away from her, but to no real avail.  I should have known right then, but what could I do?  Once we were exposed, it was too late.

Colin didn't sleep great most of the week and I was even worse.  At least I am taking the brunt of it.  He is recovering and I seem to be stalled out with a massively stuffy nose.  I'm tired of all the drugs and just want to feel better!

So, I'm a working girl again.  At least it is only 3 days a week.  I can handle it.  I like being with people.  I miss my baby, but it is manageable.  Plus, each day I am at work I look forward to the next when I get to be home with my special little man!