Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Forward, march!

Milo can face forward in his Baby Bjorn. Now he can see there's more to the world than Mommy's chest.


Granted, not a whole lot more, as my chest (and what he gets from it) is still his main objective in life.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Baby's first Wranglers

Milo's Great-Aunt D visited this past weekend. As I've mentioned before, she is very special to me. And now, she'll be very special to Milo. In fact, I have asked her if it's OK if we call her "Gramma D." I think my mom would have liked that.

Milo loves his "Gramma D"

Well, Gramma D, being the super generous woman she is, took really good care of us during her visit. Now only did she bring gifts, she took me shopping (ala "What Not To Wear"), took us all out to dinner and even babysat for an evening so the S.O. and I could go out for sushi.

Among the gifts she brought was a pair of baby Wranglers. They're a bit big for Milo but we just had to get pictures.


Ride 'em, cowboy!

She also brought Milo a menagerie of critters.

Hippos and duckies and bunnies! Oh my!

And last, but far from least, she gave me a rocker that my grandparents gave her when she was a teen, along with a teddy bear and cross-stitch my mom made for her.


Milo may never get to meet his grandma in person, but he will certainly know her, thanks to the love she spread. Years ago, I wrote an overly sentimental poem that for all its cheesiness still rings true to me.

It ends like this:
Love grew in the garden
Among the vines and flowers
Love sat among us quietly
While we talked away the hours
Magic came and magic went
was passed down to the daughter
Now love grows in my mother's house
And flows again like water

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Don't go breaking my heart

Milo went for his two-month checkup this morning. He's actually 9 1/2 weeks old now but his doctor was on vacation last week, so we had to put it off a little while.

The nurse's measurements confirmed our beliefs that our little man is growing like a weed. At 12 pounds 15 ounces, he falls in the 80th percentile and at 23 1/4 inches, he's in the 64th percentile for height. So, he's slowed down a little in the height department and picked up the pace in the weight department.

The hard part of his appointment was the series of vaccinations he received. Those of you who are parents know how hard it is to see your child in pain. Poor little Milo was perfectly content, holding Mommy's finger, while Daddy rubbed his head. After the first needle pricked him, he just sort of looked around for a second. Then the pain reached his little brain, and he set off a wail to break your heart.

It's heartbreaking to hear him cry, but vaccines are so important. Yes, I'm sure there are those who disagree on that subject, but I won't be swayed. He will get all his vaccinations.

As a result, I have spent a good part of the day soothing my fussy boy.


Not even his bad-ass Iron Man band aid could completely mollify him.


In fact, he's giving Daddy a hard time right now. Time for me to swoop in and save the day. Suck on that, Iron Man!

Monday, June 20, 2011

First Father's Day

The S.O. celebrated his first Father's Day yesterday by hanging out with his son.

Aren't they adorable?

But if you want to know what Milo really thinks, check out his pacifier.

Obviously.


Friday, June 17, 2011

True confessions?

I recently took a survey for a parent magazine/Web site. Part of the survey was "true mommy confessions." Among the list of horrible things I could confess to was watching TV while breastfeeding (using a computer or smart phone while breastfeeding was also there).

So, yes, I must confess to watching TV while breastfeeding. A lot. Milo is nursing practically every two hours. All. Day. Long. Am I really supposed to spend all that time gazing lovingly at my child? True true confession: I spend a lot of time gazing lovingly at my child, but I cannot spend all my waking hours doing that.

"But why not, Mommy?"

I've tried reading while breastfeeding, but it's not all that easy to hang on to a sometimes squirmy 2-month-old and a book -- and turn pages.

I've tried listening to audio books. That works OK most of the time, until I start to fall asleep. Audio books are great when I'm doing chores or exercising. But they can be too soothing when just sitting still.

What am I supposed to do during Milo's feedings? Contemplate what a wonderful mother I am for breastfeeding? Bask in the glow of my womanhood? Fret over all the other things I'm not getting done, like completing the nursery, working out, fixing dinner? How much time can I spend thinking about those things? (Even when not breastfeeding, I have a hard time thinking about those things for very long.)

So, I confess. And if watching "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" or "Clean House" on Netflix while I breastfeed makes me a bad mother -- you know, as opposed to a mother who neglects or abuses her child -- so be it.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Two months old

Dear Milo,

This past month has been just as exciting and exhausting as the previous month. It's also been filled with lots of laughter and smiles.


And a few tears.


In fact, although it breaks my heart when you cry, it was exciting to see actual tears in your eyes for the first time. (I'm sure it will be less and less exciting as time passes.)

You're changing constantly. You've already outgrown some of your 0-3 month onesies and are started to wear some 3-6 month clothes. I knew things would happen quickly but I'm still amazed.

Among the recent changes, you've discovered that your hands are quite chewable.


We're keeping your mittens off more and more because you do chew on your hands and because you're not flailing around so much and scratching yourself. You have more control over your limbs. You're pushing with your legs. I know you won't be standing for a while, but you sure seem to be giving it the old college try.


You grab my fingers and hold on more often now and you really pay attention to rattles and other toys we shake at you. 

We have been taking walks together almost daily. Some days you love it. Some days -- especially windy days -- you grunt and fuss for most of the walk and don't seem to thrilled with being confined to your Baby Bjorn. However, you don't allow me much time for other exercise at the moment, so I'm doing what I can to try to get back in shape. I know when you start crawling and walking, I will need to be fit to keep up.
 
You're sleeping a little longer during the night -- at least for the first part of the night -- but less during the day, when you demand more attention from both me and Daddy. And you're eating almost every two hours from sunrise to bedtime. I have to tell you, kid, you're wearing me out. Still, I wouldn't trade this time for anything. 

I find myself staring at you while you sleep and sometimes I wonder if I'm dreaming. I am amazed that I made you. I often stop Daddy, point to you and say, "We did that."


We don't see your doctor until next week, so I don't know exactly how much you've grown, but I'm sure it's a lot. You're my little weed.

And your smile is infectious.


I love you more and more with each passing day. You're crying more tears -- as you seem to be ever hungry -- but I'm crying fewer and fewer as I settle into the exhausting, exhilarating and mind-bogglingly joyful job of motherhood. You are my sunshine, Milo. I love you.

Love,
Mommy

Monday, June 13, 2011

Wake up, Daddy

Milo woke up his daddy this morning with snuggles.

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

And we're back

Please forgive the recent radio silence from Chez Milo. My laptop had to go into the shop. It's home now, with a nice new case, new keyboard, etc. Only the insides are still the same.

To catch you up:

Milo and I took our first outing without Daddy today. We went to the Mac Superstore to collect the laptop, then to Whole Foods to pick up some groceries. Milo was great. I was stressed out over nothing. The boy mostly slept. I had some concerns about getting the car seat in and out of my Honda Element, but it was fine -- easy peasy.


On a less than happy note, I have been struggling with some -- ahem -- breast issues, including clogs ducts. Yes, it's icky and quite painful. It seems I don't get to skip feedings (and have Daddy give Milo a bottle) unless I pump. It's not really serious, according to the doctor, unless I start to run a fever and display other flu-like symptoms. It's just icky.

I had my six-week appointment, and the doctor told me I could start exercising again. So far, I've been walking (with Milo strapped on in his Baby Bjorn) and doing some push-ups and planks -- nothing very strenuous. But I'll get there.

Milo has nearly outgrown his 0-3 month onesies and is wearing some 3-month clothes already at just over 7 weeks old. Our very unscientific method of weighing him at home (weighing Daddy alone, then with Milo in his arms) reveals that our little man is somewhere around 12 pounds. Can that really be right?

Wearing a 3-month onesie and looking adorable.
We've been busy, but I promise to try to post more often -- and more interesting material soon.