How Much Does Your Baby Weigh?

My scale broke two weeks before I hit the 40 week mark. I'm still bummed I didn't know exactly how much I weighed through my pregnancy, but I was very happy with my weight gain (yes, I said it!) up to that point so I tried not to be fussed.

Nearly four months later and we still have not fixed that scale.

So how do we know how much our boy weighs between doctors' visits? The produce section at the grocery store. Pop him on like a sack o' potatoes while the other mommies smirk as they walk by.

Yeah. We're ghetto like that.

Growth. Spurt.

Growing is good. Growing in spurts = not so good.

What is the point of growth spurt? I hated them when I was growing. And I still hate them now that I'm growing you, my little boy.

I hear some kids just grow steadily. No spurting. I'd like to know where we were supposed to sign up for that option. I'm quite sure you would strongly prefer this option as well.

For the record though, I thought growth spurts were supposed to make you tired? I swear sometimes I look at you and wonder, "How in the world are you not asleep!?"

You have rubbed your eyes red, yawned long enough to swallow a fly or two, and yelped those pathetic, grizzly cries over and over but your poor little thing... sleep just will not come. When I look at you, I remember the childhood feeling of those achy joints - a dull, annoying pain that just won't go away - and wonder if you feel the same but with no words to tell Mama where to rub.

All you want to do is eat. But Mama's milk just can't come fast enough. I feel so sad that I can't seem to give you enough of what you need but I know that if you suck long enough more will come. Its the way God made us to work in a team. Its tiring sometimes. But I like being on the team with you. And when you don't feel well, there is no better place you'd rather be.

And so the training, the routine, the principles, they all go out the window so I can give you that little bit of extra comfort until finally, your ravished little tummy is satisifed enough to drop into a deep sleep.

I let you stay next to me instead of in your cot and even though the last little while felt so exhausting, in the moment, looking at you sleeping there, I know we made it! And I know we'll make it next time.

I love you little boy!! Grow good. Love, mommy.

Book Review: On Becoming Baby Wise

When my husband & I found out we were having a baby, how we would raise this child became a popular topic of conversation.

We knew a number of our friends who had read the book "On Becoming Baby Wise" by Gary Ezzo and Robert Buckham. We had a lot of respect for the way they parent and the way their children are behaved so we decided to have a go.One of the things that really stuck out to me about this book is that it strongly emphasizes the importance of the marriage part of a family. (Now, please understand I know there are circumstances where this is not possible, but I'm talking about a family where there are a married mom and dad. Sometimes we forget the importance of that relationship when we start adding kids into the mix!) This has always been significant to me, especially because I remember how important it was to my parents and how blessed I felt growing up in a house where my mommy and daddy loved and respected each other.

The other thing this book does is really empower the parents to be that - parents! This day in age, lots of kids tend to run their households. This book helps parents understand what it means to love and care for their children and help them develop into awesome adults.

I learned so much reading these principals and a lot of them we have incorporated into the way we care for our little boy.

One of the really controversial things about the book is that it advocates "Crying It Out." I don't really want to go there in this post because there are plenty of arguments both ways for this, but what I do want to point out is that it would be a shame to throw away all the very good tips this book has just because you don't believe in "Crying It Out."

I gained a lot of knowledge and insight into newborn sleeping patterns, how to feed, and the importance of learning MY baby and not just relying on a system or schedule.

I will say that one con for me was that while the book did encourage parents to learn their baby's cues, for me, it didn't help me know HOW to do that. While I really WANTED to get to know my baby and what he was trying to tell me, I didn't feel very equipped to do that.

In addition to a LOT of trial and error (which SEEMS against the book in theory, but really is all part of learning to be a new mommy or daddy, which the book advocates), I also found some other helpful resources in other books. Mostly, though, it has just taken time.

Of course, I'm constantly reminded that a mere three months into this parenting journey there are lots of other challenges ahead, I am really grateful for where we are at in our family. If you're looking for a good resource for your newborn or infant, I'd definitely encourage you to have a look. We are looking forward to reading more of the Babywise series to see what other tips may be offered for our little man!

Here's hoping for some more time to read,

Asking for Help

I'm definitely an independent person. I always have been. I spent a lot of time alone growing up. I was always keen to travel and take adventures. I'm not necessarily a risk taker... I just like to be able to handle things on my own.

That's my approach to motherhood a lot of times too. I know that I have the capacity to do what I need to do to take care of my little boy. I want to be assured of that.

At the same time, while I'm very confident in that, I've also decided that I really like to hear other peoples' experiences. I like to hear their ideas and what worked for them. I know that their choice may not work for me because their child, family and circumstances are different from mine, but I often find I get some great tips hearing from other mums.

Today I took a big step. I went and saw a lactation consultant. I went with this mentality: "I am fully capable of taking care of my son. He is healthy and he is thriving and that is good. BUT, there might be something more I can learn. There might be a way that I could do this better."

Thanks to the Australian government (Hey you Americans, the right national health care MIGHT not be as bad as you think... I'm just sayin'...), I was able to see a lactation consultant at an Infant and Parent Management Service totally free. The nurse I saw was very sweet. I took my son at a time when I was sure he'd be ready to eat and we just chatted.

Do you know what I learned today? My gut was right. He IS healthy and thriving.

• I said: He generally only eats for around 10 minutes at a time.
• She said: He is a very efficient eater. (She could hear him chugging away!)
  

• I said: He still takes feeds during the night... sometimes 2-3 times!
• She said: Is he always this active? (Yes.) Because he is always on the go, he needs more calories than babies who are content to just sit quietly.

Am I disappointed I went? No. I thought that these might be the answers I'd get. But I am really proud of myself for asking for help. For understanding that there MIGHT be a better way but there also MIGHT NOT for now. I am happy that I was open to the possibility and even happier that - as exhausted as I am - my boy and I are doing just fine!

From one vulnerable mum to another,

The Wall.

I hit the wall today. Okay, maybe not THE wall. There are so many walls to hit in motherhood, aren't there? And then somehow we keep going again!

I didn't mind today's wall so much. The emotional wall, now that is a spooky wall to hit! Today I hit the physical wall. I just got to the point where I didn't think I could physically keep my eyes open anymore.

So I grabbed baby boy and even though he wasn't tired, we rested together on my bed. Him, babbling away to the lines on our wood-paneled ceiling and me, content to smell dried up spit up as I nuzzled into his cozy neck rolls.

Is it possible to be THIS tired and yet THIS fulfilled all at once? Ah, motherhood.

Is there anything better than a laughing baby?

I don't think there is anything better than a laughing baby. Aside from Hamish and Andy, there is not a lot that can make me laugh out loud... but a laughing baby? Now, that is the exception.

I've always love the sound of a laughing baby, but I don't think there's anything that could've prepared me for the sound of my own little boy laughing.

Weeks and weeks ago, I didn't even recognise his laugh. There were these tiny girgles as he smiled but slowly but surely the gurgles started to get longer until one day I thought to myself, "Wow! He has been laughing!"

These days, my little man is FULL of laughs and I feel like the funniest person of the world. Isn't it fun to make people laugh!? And especially so you own little one!?

We have had lots of giggle session lately (admittedly, some of them when I'm supposed to be setting the tone for bed time... I'm a sucker, I know!). I finally captured one on video and just had to share because I know that a good baby laugh is always guaranteed to brighten my day.

I hope this one brightens yours!