Thursday, October 30, 2008
Four Months Down
Our young Sprout just had his 4 month checkup. He is growing at a very steady rate and all of it done on breast milk. Way to go Mommy. He is now 12 lbs 12 oz and he is 23 inches long. That is an increase in percentile of 5% more than his 2nd month checkup. Way to go Sprout.
He also had his second small round of vaccine shots. He cried a lot after the second shot but Mommy was there to sooth him and to love on him like all mommies do during shot time. Daddies are always the bad guys because we are the ones who have to hold the little ones while they get the shots. I don’t mind so much because I don’t think Sprout really knows what is going on just yet. I also want to take some time to explain our take on an alternative vaccine schedule. This is a personal decision that took months of research and discussion. Please take the time and look at the links to websites below, we think it might help to explain the ongoing debate over vaccines. Here is the alternative vaccine schedule that we are going to use unless something changes or one gets recalled. Hope this can help you. This is a combination of Dr. Miller’s and Dr. Sears’ advice. Plus we ruled out a couple of vaccines that had too many recalls in the earlier versions.
Alternative Vaccine Schedule
3 months - DTaP (all in one)
4 months - Pc, HIB
5 months - DTaP (all in one)
6 months - Pc, HIB
7 months - DTaP (all in one)
8 months - Pc, HIB
9 months - Polio
12 months - Mumps , Polio
15 months - Pc, HIB
18 months - DTaP
2 years - Rubella, Polio
3 years - Measles
4 years - DTaP, Polio
5 years - MMR (all in one)
Research Links to websites
Dr. Miller is a strong backer of the alternative vaccine schedule; he sites many different studies on Vac.
http://www.lewrockwell.com/miller/miller15.html
Here is a website that lists every vaccine ever known to the world. It has info on the ingredients, who made it, and if it has been recall or not. Great Site.
http://www.novaccine.com/specific-vaccines/
Dr. Sears is a great resource for a lot of infant issues. He is a little heavy on the vaccines for my taste.
http://www.askdrsears.com/thevaccinebook/
Here is Kentucky's website that lists all the require vaccine and the exceptions that Kentucky allows. You will need one if you go with an alternative schedule and you want to send your child to preschool.
http://www.909shot.com/state-site/Kentucky.htm
He also had his second small round of vaccine shots. He cried a lot after the second shot but Mommy was there to sooth him and to love on him like all mommies do during shot time. Daddies are always the bad guys because we are the ones who have to hold the little ones while they get the shots. I don’t mind so much because I don’t think Sprout really knows what is going on just yet. I also want to take some time to explain our take on an alternative vaccine schedule. This is a personal decision that took months of research and discussion. Please take the time and look at the links to websites below, we think it might help to explain the ongoing debate over vaccines. Here is the alternative vaccine schedule that we are going to use unless something changes or one gets recalled. Hope this can help you. This is a combination of Dr. Miller’s and Dr. Sears’ advice. Plus we ruled out a couple of vaccines that had too many recalls in the earlier versions.
Alternative Vaccine Schedule
3 months - DTaP (all in one)
4 months - Pc, HIB
5 months - DTaP (all in one)
6 months - Pc, HIB
7 months - DTaP (all in one)
8 months - Pc, HIB
9 months - Polio
12 months - Mumps , Polio
15 months - Pc, HIB
18 months - DTaP
2 years - Rubella, Polio
3 years - Measles
4 years - DTaP, Polio
5 years - MMR (all in one)
Research Links to websites
Dr. Miller is a strong backer of the alternative vaccine schedule; he sites many different studies on Vac.
http://www.lewrockwell.com/miller/miller15.html
Here is a website that lists every vaccine ever known to the world. It has info on the ingredients, who made it, and if it has been recall or not. Great Site.
http://www.novaccine.com/specific-vaccines/
Dr. Sears is a great resource for a lot of infant issues. He is a little heavy on the vaccines for my taste.
http://www.askdrsears.com/thevaccinebook/
Here is Kentucky's website that lists all the require vaccine and the exceptions that Kentucky allows. You will need one if you go with an alternative schedule and you want to send your child to preschool.
http://www.909shot.com/state-site/Kentucky.htm
Friday, October 24, 2008
Roll Over Beethoven
There’s not a lot in the way of routine in my life these days, but Sprout and I do have one daily ritual. About mid morning, I change him out of his jammies, give him a lotion massage, and he has play time in his crib. I don’t know why I change him out of his pajamas except that I feel better if I get dressed for the day, and I figure he does too. We have nighttime pajamas and daytime pajamas at our house. I’d say it’s a baby thing, except that as I write this, I realize the same is true for me. Oh no, I can’t sleep in this, they’re my daytime pajamas. Sheesh. The perils of stay at home parenting. The lotion massage and the play time though, those are important. Sprout suffered with an episode of extremely dry skin about a month ago, and the regular application of lotion is to prevent that from happening again. We switched from Dreft baby detergent to All Free and Clear and switched to using California Baby lotion and soap, and that seemed to solve the problem. If you aren’t familiar with California Baby, I highly recommend it.
But it’s the play time part of our morning routine that is the subject of this post. Sprout was on his tummy, wearing only his diaper, which is his favorite way to play. I had my hands on him, feeling him flail around. I was just thinking about running to get the camera because he was looking particularly cute, but as my picture-taking skills are understandably lacking, I decided against the camera. Most times, I forget how to even turn the blasted thing on. So while I was there with my hand on him, Sprout rolled from tummy to left side, then over onto his back. Just flopped right over like a fish. I was stunned. Just stood blinking for a moment. I hadn’t been working with him on rolling over at all. Then I thought maybe I hallucinated the whole thing, so I put him back on his tummy. Sure enough, he repeated the maneuver. Wow! Then I squealed and clapped and ran to get the phone to call his Daddy, who will no doubt be posting video soon as proof of our son’s genius.
But it’s the play time part of our morning routine that is the subject of this post. Sprout was on his tummy, wearing only his diaper, which is his favorite way to play. I had my hands on him, feeling him flail around. I was just thinking about running to get the camera because he was looking particularly cute, but as my picture-taking skills are understandably lacking, I decided against the camera. Most times, I forget how to even turn the blasted thing on. So while I was there with my hand on him, Sprout rolled from tummy to left side, then over onto his back. Just flopped right over like a fish. I was stunned. Just stood blinking for a moment. I hadn’t been working with him on rolling over at all. Then I thought maybe I hallucinated the whole thing, so I put him back on his tummy. Sure enough, he repeated the maneuver. Wow! Then I squealed and clapped and ran to get the phone to call his Daddy, who will no doubt be posting video soon as proof of our son’s genius.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Oh, The Places You'll Go!
Dear Sprout,
You are four months old today. You are getting so big, so different from the tiny little baby we met four months ago. You are in constant motion these days, arms or legs, and usually both, always moving. You not only grin now, but you laugh, just giggle right out loud. Simple things like your pacifier or Mommy’s shirt collar are no longer enough to keep you entertained. Fortunately, your grandparents are keeping you well supplied with toys. It’s wonderful to watch your curiosity, then amazement at a new toy. You master them so quickly, then move on to the next challenge. I must say, you’re keeping me very busy these days.
My little Sprout, I write these things in this blog because I cannot write them in a baby book. I’ve never been one for sentimentality, but your Aunt Jessica, swears that I’ll regret it if I don’t make a record of this time with you. Someday, maybe when you have your first baby, you might want to look back to compare pictures of you with your baby, or to see what you were doing at what age. Daddy and I have been doing a lot of that. Your Daddy could write in a baby book, but he’s more of a techy person than the pen and paper type. And you’ll find that men aren’t much into scrapbooking. So it’s unconventional, but this blog is our record of your babyhood.
As I write this, you and your Daddy are sitting in a chair together reading Oh, The Places You’ll Go! by Dr. Seuss. I love that book. It makes me a little sad now, thinking of all the places you’ll go. More specifically, it makes me sad to think about how soon you’ll be going places. Daddy and I were just today reminiscing about the days before you came, days when we could spend Sunday afternoons napping, listening to hours and hours of audio books, or in general doing nothing. Now, you dictate our day’s activities, and the only thing we can count on is that whatever we do, we won’t get to do it for long. But someday, someday that will come entirely too soon, you’ll be sixteen years old and you’ll be staying all night with friends, at camp, or be away at college (accepted early because of your undeniable genius.) Then, Daddy and I will reminisce about these days with such a little you, these days when you set the schedule and dictate every plan.
Oh yes, the places you’ll go will be many, and quite possibly far from home, so I’ll cherish these days when your favorite destination is Mommy’s lap and the rooms of our house offer all the exotic locale you desire. I am glad that I am here with you everyday. You maybe aren’t the most patient of travel companions, and there are days when I really need a vacation, but I wouldn’t trade our journey together for anything.
Love,
Mommy
You are four months old today. You are getting so big, so different from the tiny little baby we met four months ago. You are in constant motion these days, arms or legs, and usually both, always moving. You not only grin now, but you laugh, just giggle right out loud. Simple things like your pacifier or Mommy’s shirt collar are no longer enough to keep you entertained. Fortunately, your grandparents are keeping you well supplied with toys. It’s wonderful to watch your curiosity, then amazement at a new toy. You master them so quickly, then move on to the next challenge. I must say, you’re keeping me very busy these days.
My little Sprout, I write these things in this blog because I cannot write them in a baby book. I’ve never been one for sentimentality, but your Aunt Jessica, swears that I’ll regret it if I don’t make a record of this time with you. Someday, maybe when you have your first baby, you might want to look back to compare pictures of you with your baby, or to see what you were doing at what age. Daddy and I have been doing a lot of that. Your Daddy could write in a baby book, but he’s more of a techy person than the pen and paper type. And you’ll find that men aren’t much into scrapbooking. So it’s unconventional, but this blog is our record of your babyhood.
As I write this, you and your Daddy are sitting in a chair together reading Oh, The Places You’ll Go! by Dr. Seuss. I love that book. It makes me a little sad now, thinking of all the places you’ll go. More specifically, it makes me sad to think about how soon you’ll be going places. Daddy and I were just today reminiscing about the days before you came, days when we could spend Sunday afternoons napping, listening to hours and hours of audio books, or in general doing nothing. Now, you dictate our day’s activities, and the only thing we can count on is that whatever we do, we won’t get to do it for long. But someday, someday that will come entirely too soon, you’ll be sixteen years old and you’ll be staying all night with friends, at camp, or be away at college (accepted early because of your undeniable genius.) Then, Daddy and I will reminisce about these days with such a little you, these days when you set the schedule and dictate every plan.
Oh yes, the places you’ll go will be many, and quite possibly far from home, so I’ll cherish these days when your favorite destination is Mommy’s lap and the rooms of our house offer all the exotic locale you desire. I am glad that I am here with you everyday. You maybe aren’t the most patient of travel companions, and there are days when I really need a vacation, but I wouldn’t trade our journey together for anything.
Love,
Mommy
Friday, October 17, 2008
I worry, therefore I am ... crazy
I am, by nature, a worrier. Having a baby has given me a whole world of new things to worry about. Being a blind parent compounds this tendency toward worry. I’m always afraid there’s something I missed, something a sighted person would have noticed immediately. There’s the usual things of course—rashes, spots, turning blue, etc. When Sprout cries inexplicably, I strip him down and run my hands over his skin, checking for lumps, bumps, scratches, scrapes or fever. I don’t think that’s all that crazy. It’s a little obsessive perhaps, but it falls more into the category of “thorough” rather than crazy, I figure. Like most new moms, I worry a lot about SIDS, sudden infant death syndrome. I’m forever going to check on Sprout when he’s in his swing or bouncy seat, making sure his blankie hasn’t somehow gotten pulled over his head. There is nothing in his crib except a tight-fitting crib sheet and a pacifier. I know there’s nothing in there, but I often go back to his crib two or three times during the night to make sure I didn’t drop a burp cloth in there by accident. It’s maybe a little over the top to think that a burp cloth could have it in for my baby, but still, I think we can say I’m just being thorough.
It’s scary, this being a blind parent. Let me tell you what I mean. In the night, I go in Sprout’s room to check on him. He can’t roll over yet, but he’s certainly mobile. He can turn a complete 180 degrees, as well as press himself up against the front rail of his crib. The first night I learned he could do this, I went in to check on him, and put my hand lightly on the place where I had left him. He wasn’t there. It was no more than a split second before my hand found him nearer the front of the crib, facing the opposite direction, but in that split second, my mind concocted all sorts of hazards, ranging from “He has fallen in the floor” to “Gypsies broke in and stole him.” I know. Gypsies? Yes, gypsies. I have a very creative mind when it comes to trauma. But the strangest obsessive thoughts have come this week. Our neighbor’s cat likes to hang out in our back yard. She’s normally a petite little Persian kitty, but she’s pregnant now and is a huge mass of flyaway fur. She spends most evenings on the banister of our deck. The other night, as Michael and I lay in bed, drifting off to sleep, I said, “You made sure the cat isn’t in the house, right?”
There was a long pause, understandable given that we don’t have a cat. “What are you talking about?” he asked.
So I explained that I was afraid the cat might have run in the house when I had the door open letting the dog out, and the cat might get into the crib with Sprout and suffocate him. Michael didn’t have an adequate response for this. He’s used to my brand of worry-induced insanity, but this was a little over the top, even for me. I recognize that. I know it was crazy. But did that stop me from making him get up to check on Sprout? Nope. Did it stop me from making him go through the house looking for the cat—the cat that we don’t have, that has never offered to run in our house? Nope. Did he do it? Yep. He did it because he knew that it was the only way for him to get any sleep.
It’s hard, this parenting gig, what with the gypsies, killer cats and all.
It’s scary, this being a blind parent. Let me tell you what I mean. In the night, I go in Sprout’s room to check on him. He can’t roll over yet, but he’s certainly mobile. He can turn a complete 180 degrees, as well as press himself up against the front rail of his crib. The first night I learned he could do this, I went in to check on him, and put my hand lightly on the place where I had left him. He wasn’t there. It was no more than a split second before my hand found him nearer the front of the crib, facing the opposite direction, but in that split second, my mind concocted all sorts of hazards, ranging from “He has fallen in the floor” to “Gypsies broke in and stole him.” I know. Gypsies? Yes, gypsies. I have a very creative mind when it comes to trauma. But the strangest obsessive thoughts have come this week. Our neighbor’s cat likes to hang out in our back yard. She’s normally a petite little Persian kitty, but she’s pregnant now and is a huge mass of flyaway fur. She spends most evenings on the banister of our deck. The other night, as Michael and I lay in bed, drifting off to sleep, I said, “You made sure the cat isn’t in the house, right?”
There was a long pause, understandable given that we don’t have a cat. “What are you talking about?” he asked.
So I explained that I was afraid the cat might have run in the house when I had the door open letting the dog out, and the cat might get into the crib with Sprout and suffocate him. Michael didn’t have an adequate response for this. He’s used to my brand of worry-induced insanity, but this was a little over the top, even for me. I recognize that. I know it was crazy. But did that stop me from making him get up to check on Sprout? Nope. Did it stop me from making him go through the house looking for the cat—the cat that we don’t have, that has never offered to run in our house? Nope. Did he do it? Yep. He did it because he knew that it was the only way for him to get any sleep.
It’s hard, this parenting gig, what with the gypsies, killer cats and all.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Traveling with Sprout
Sprout is actually very pleasant in the car and in his stroller. The only time he has a problem with the car seat is when he is being put into the seat. After he get calmed down and his baby blak all clean up, it is smooth sailing from that point. Whenever he gets really excited or very wiggly he sometime has a little spit up. Kimberly has now started to put a bib on the little man we he goes on trips.
Other than the loud outburst when we are in line at Starbucks, he maintains a calm, if not sleepy demeanor when we are out and about. This picture was taken just after the little Sprout tried to wrestle off his bib and then he started to suck and chew on the bib. He did that until we got him into the car and he promptly went to sleep. All and all our little Sprout is a pleasure in the car. I am sure that will change when he gets older.
From your Daddy
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Book Review: The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding
Despite its too-quaint, bordering on cheesy title, this was an incredible book. Though Sprout and I are doing just fine in our breastfeeding relationship, I am still insecure. I borrowed this book from the Kentucky Talking Book Library because it sounded like a good how-to book, which it is, and because it was produced by La Leche League International, the foremost authority on breastfeeding. But this book was so much more than a manual for breastfeeding. The edition I read was the 35th Anniversary edition, published in 1991, because that’s the edition my Library had. I suspected much of the information in it was outdated, but what I realized is that breastfeeding hasn’t changed all that much in the last twenty years. Probably not in the last twenty thousand years if you get right down to it. There were certainly a few things that dated the book, like when it referred to a microwave oven as a luxury or stated that an infant carseat was a good idea, but I was able to overlook those, and even find them an amusing aside on how quickly some things change. On my mind at the time of my reading was whether or not I should give Sprout iron supplements, which my pediatrician recommends for all exclusively breastfed babies. The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding said emphatically “no,” even going so far as to say that doing so could lead to intestinal problems related to bacteria growth. I just thought that was a product of the outdated information, but it turns out, it was correct. For more on this topic, read this.
The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding advocates not only breastfeeding, but an entire approach to mothering that has come to be defined as attachment parenting. Though I never ever believed this is how I would parent, I’m finding my parenting philosophy (to the extent that I have one) most closely aligned with attachment parenting. But even if you don’t ascribe to that philosophy, there’s still a lot you can learn and enjoy from this book.
Mothers, whether they work or stay home, are busy. This book has a section on time-saving tips, specific to housekeeping, which I found particularly helpful. Not folding things like socks and underwear was one example. I mean really, does one need wrinkle-free underwear? Here’s another tip that I found especially helpful. It suggested scrubbing the shower right before you intend to take one. Just hop in there in your birthday suit and clean, then take your shower. It really did save time. The book also has a section on nutrition, which I thought was surprisingly good given the book’s publication date, as well as sections on special needs, nursing older babies, and the history of La Leche to name a few.
I am not a member of La Leche League, but this book is making me want to join. I know it would have helped me through those difficult early days, which I previously wrote about here. This book said that La Leche produces many of its materials in Braille and on cassette. I will definitely be looking into membership, and will be checking out more books by La Leche. Even if your child is no longer an infant, there is much in this book to make it worthwhile. I believe there is a 50th Anniversary edition. If it’s anything like the previous edition, which I’m sure it is, then I highly recommend it.
The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding advocates not only breastfeeding, but an entire approach to mothering that has come to be defined as attachment parenting. Though I never ever believed this is how I would parent, I’m finding my parenting philosophy (to the extent that I have one) most closely aligned with attachment parenting. But even if you don’t ascribe to that philosophy, there’s still a lot you can learn and enjoy from this book.
Mothers, whether they work or stay home, are busy. This book has a section on time-saving tips, specific to housekeeping, which I found particularly helpful. Not folding things like socks and underwear was one example. I mean really, does one need wrinkle-free underwear? Here’s another tip that I found especially helpful. It suggested scrubbing the shower right before you intend to take one. Just hop in there in your birthday suit and clean, then take your shower. It really did save time. The book also has a section on nutrition, which I thought was surprisingly good given the book’s publication date, as well as sections on special needs, nursing older babies, and the history of La Leche to name a few.
I am not a member of La Leche League, but this book is making me want to join. I know it would have helped me through those difficult early days, which I previously wrote about here. This book said that La Leche produces many of its materials in Braille and on cassette. I will definitely be looking into membership, and will be checking out more books by La Leche. Even if your child is no longer an infant, there is much in this book to make it worthwhile. I believe there is a 50th Anniversary edition. If it’s anything like the previous edition, which I’m sure it is, then I highly recommend it.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
New World Class Swimmer
...Well maybe world class splasher. Let me explain, Sprout was taking a bath in the big bath tub with his daddy. This was his second time in the big bath tub, the first was with his mommy. We take turns now. He enjoyed his first time in the tub, but was too busy trying to figure out the sensation to have much playtime. The second time he was sitting on my legs while I let him recline and slowly submerge his little legs and bottom while supporting his head above water. That's when he first splashed his legs in the water, and his mother and I started to laugh. You have to know this kid because his legs and feet are in constant motion all the time. He takes after his mother. As he began to figure out the splashing with his arms and legs, he started to make bigger and bigger splashes. That is when he brought his legs up to his chest and brought them down as hard as he could. Half of the bath water came out of the tub and mommy was laughing so hard she was crying. Sprout then preceded to repeat this feat faster and faster until he and I was soaked including mommy. All the time Sprout had a serious look of concentration on his face. If we could convert the splashing to swimming, we might have have a world class swimmer on our hands.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
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