I'm back!!!

It appears I do have some faithful followers because I am getting hate mail that I haven't done a blog post in some time now. Over 2 months to be exact.

Why haven't I have a post....because I am so busy.....being a parent has made me more busy than ever. For real, now that I am at home most days and not in the office I seem to have less and less time for things that I used to have time for.

My days are filled with cooking, cleaning, cooking, cleaning, cooking, cleaning, playing, settling baby for naps, play dates, errands and babysitting a couple children on a part time basis. Aside from all of this, I still have to shower and do laundry and all the other extra things which relate to running a household and family. I have become this woman who can multitask like never before. As great as it is, I can get frustrated and there are days when it doesn't all get done, or showering is the last thing on my list.

We did another session of Mommy Connections and I made some more wonderful friends with adorable children. Funny how sometimes when you have a young child, you feel so alone but at the same time feel as though you have more friends than you can possibly visit and see.

My younger sister Brittany moved here at the end of September. This of course has come with many ups and downs. I feel that sometimes I am too hard on her or that I am too motherly to her. This is a switch that is hard to turn on and off. She is so much younger than I am, and I find it hard to remember what it was like at her age. This maybe is because we are different people and have lived different lives. Similarities there are, but all in all it is very different. She is also going through her own changes and I need to remember this must be a really hard time for her.

Sutton has changed SO much! He went from slithering to crawling. After he could properly crawl he instantly was pulling himself up and cruising. Now he can walk without assistance for several steps. My little boy!!!!!! My baby is becoming a little boy! He can wave 'Hi' and loves to do this. He prefers to point with his middle finger, this of course is quite funny. Teeth are popping out everywhere and the sounds are never ending.

Omg, i can't even finish this post, I am newly obessed with True Blood and Sutton is sleeping so I have to take advantage of this time to watch it uninterrupted!!!!! hahaha

What a Week

Well it's been busy around our house the last week or so. Alana Mum and his Nanny were here from Thursday to Tuesday. It was a great visit. We did he usual mall and dinner. Played 5 Crowns which I love, went the the Farmers Market and went to the Royal Alberta Museum.

Nanny is truly a remarkable woman. She is 81, and she's as sharp as a tac and you can't get anything by her. She is a little slow moving and can't bend all that well, but she is 81. She remembers so much of the past. She was raised in England, married Grandad and his work as a geologist discovering new places where oil was took them to India, Ecuador, and Burma. She has birthed in all these countries and I was so eager to hear about her experiences. Well, I was a little bummed out to hear that she had private healthcare and British doctors. She was never in the woods with a local Indian woman assisting her to give birth in the most natural setting.
She has lived a life we can't even imagine. She was a child during the war and after she didn't experience the depression as others might have. Her father did well, and as a result she wasn't poor. She trained to be a primary school teacher, but soon after married and had babies and when her eldest (Alans dad) was 6 weeks she boarded a plane and left England. This wasn't at all common for those times.
She had servants, cooks, house boys, you name it.
This isn't to say she didn't see the real world. She saw it and she lived it. Her stories are so fascinating, and so well told.
Mum and I sugguested she write a book. She of course says this is something she wouldn't ever do. Why I don't know. Wouldn't you buy that book?
After all of that, they took a big gamble, moved back to England and purchased a hotel. Years later sold it and Grandad passed away a few years ago.
She is still a world traveler though. She has children in Dubai, Australia, and Canada, who she often sees.
She is so strong and so knowledgable, but at the same time so lonely I think. Loosing a husband so unexpectedly must be heartbreaking.

On another note, Sutton is learning so much. He went from slithering to a proper crawl. He can also pull himself up to a standing position. He can wave too. Nanny taught him to clap. He loves to throw a ball and clap and smile afterwards.
Watching him grow, learn and discover is truly amazing.
He has also been sleeping in his crib through the night more times then not. He also goes to be well now, and has both daily naps in his crib. Fantastic. Goodbye swing, you were amazing!

We have started another moms group, so this is great. It is for toddlers, so Sutton is by far the youngest in attendance!

AND I finally got an iPhone. I feel so special. I love having a camera on my phone again! I have an iPad so it was fairly easy to learn. My numbers are all transfered over and I'm uploading apps like I have nothing better to do.

I have also joined yoga, and my local community league! Wow, busy lady I am!

1 Little Monkey Falling Off The Bed!

Dear Lord, it happened. My baby got hurt on my watch. I'm told this is normal and will happen time and time again, but that didn't make me feel any better at the time it happened, or even now.
Sutton was in bed with me, as he normally is in the mornings. After nursing and napping on and off for a couple hours, he decided it was more fun to kick me in the face, repeatedly. This is part of his daily morning routine. I am usually awake at this point singing, laughing, talking, fake sleeping or anything else that comes along.
Today was like normal, then I fell asleep. This is when IT happened... I woke very alert because I heard a thud, then a cry. I flew out of bed and saw my precious little boy, laying on his back on the hard non carpeted bedroom floor. He was wedged between the bed and the side table. I instantly scooped him up while grabbing the phone. I called a friend who thanks to his firefighter education was able to assess Sutton through the phone. No blood, no obvious bump, pupils normal, not sleepy, etc.
I nursed him, he played, ate breakfast. I also held off his nap for almost an hour longer. He is just fine. Thank God.

This now brings some questions, which I've been trying to answer all day, but yet to have a definite answer.
Will Sutton be in our bed with just him and I again?

When he wakes around 230 or so, he comes to bed with me. I would love to nurse him in his room and put him back in his crib, but honestly, I always forget. I'm asleep and practically naked, and just bring him to bed with me. Lately Alan has been getting him and bringing him to our room. Sutton nurses, sleeps and the wakes around 6 or so and nurses on and off for a couple hours. Its usually just after 8 when we wake. SO, what do I do to change this routine?
I will add that Sutton exclusively co-slept with is for almost 8 solid months. He has only been in his crib for about 1 month, for the first half of the night for the most part. My day cannot start at 6am, that wouldn't work for either of us. Plus, sleeping, cuddling and nursing is a part of our day that I truly cherish. I think we both do. Even on the mornings that Alan is home we still do this, and Sutton always wakes Alan up by trying to climb on him.

Do I get a bed rail? Do I make sure I don't fall asleep, as I never have before. Do I make a barrier of some sort? Do I duct tape him to the bed!
I just don't want anything to change, things are perfect as they are, except for today when Sutton fell off the bed.

One thing to add, I went into the bedroom later today, to get dressed....at 2pm.....and saw the little mirror on the bed. He must have seen it, grabbed it, and then went to grab my hairspray, and that's when he fell. I don't know this, but this is what clues the evidence is leading towards.

Why did I fall into a real sleep and not just doze like normal?

Sutton is just fine now and got a little tougher today....or he is not going to be getting straight A's in school, I'm not sure.

Almost 9 months...

The day I got pregnant didn't seem like long ago, and the day I gave birth seemed like yesterday. My little boy is growing so quickly. I am not the same person I was just months ago. I will never be that person again. The person I am now is more real, more patient, more loving, more sympathetic, and more true. Oh, and I am also SO busy.

My baby will be 9 months old in just days. I think about his birth daily, and when I look at his newborn pictures (which I wish were professional), it seems like a lifetime ago and at the same time like yesterday. He has changed so much. I know that every parent feels this as well, but I guess until you experience it yourself it's totally unimaginable.
I spoke to a friend recently and we mentioned how the parent I thought I was going to be is not the parent that I am.  I never thought I would co-sleep, nurse for as long as I have, not believe in CIO, and so many others. I love being Sutton's Mommy, and I think I do a really good job, better than I ever imagined.  Sutton recieves so much love and understanding.  I recognize his cues, and act on them.  I remember his personality and react accordingly.  He is such a sweet precious little boy.  I have never known love like I do now! Throw in the fact that I have an amazing husband who is a great father,  pretty much concludes that my life is perfect!!!

To Work Or Not To Work??

This decision is harder than I ever thought. When I was pregnant I seriously thought I would go back to work, maybe even early. I also thought I would continue with my courses during my year off. Who was I kidding? Clearly because Sutton is my first child, I had no idea what was going to be in store for me. I had no idea that my child would die if I left him for more than an hour,(or so it seems), I had no idea I would feel at peace being home all day with my son. I had no idea I would have to google nursery rhymes and create dances for them. I had no idea I would take my boob out so many times a day. I had no idea that my days of crazy long showers would be over. I really didn't know anything, I still don't know everything, but I do know how much I love my son, and the time we have together.

These little amazing creatures do grow so fast. I still haven't decided what I am going to do. Will I work full time, part time or not at all. Will I go back to the same place if I do go back? When did I become old enough to make such huge decisions.

If I got back to work, full or part time, there is a lot I have to do to help Sutton adjust to another care giver. I need to work on his sleep, nursing, bottles and solid foods, but mostly I have to get Sutton to be okay without me.

Oh dear god, the stress is huge and I'm not really the type of person who gets stressed out. I should maybe go crawl into bed and snuggle that little ball of perfection. After all, our cosleeping nights are going to change. It saddens me, but it's a family decision that Alan and I made, or one which I agreed to. As with everything regarding Sutton, it will be baby led, maybe a modified version, I want Suttin to ease into his own room and crib well. I know this could be very hard, so we will take it slow. We have done this before with short term success, now to try again.

Goodnight!

Yum Yum Yummy!!!!

As I have mentioned in previous posts, I am excited to start Baby Led Weaning.  I love the concept of baby feeding themselves, and of course skipping purees.  I am aware that once he starts eating food it could take a month or two before he actually rips a piece off and swallows it.  I look forward to him learning that food will fill his belly.  He seems to have lost his tongue thrust reflex and is sitting up well, not in his own, but upright enough.  Once he able to sit up we will start whole and large food.

We weren't going to do cereal, as there aren't all that many benefits to it.  The iron theory isn't as accurate as many health professionals say it is.  We are told that babies have lost the iron they are born with when they turn 6 months.  Studies have disproved this theory stating that the only begin to loose it at around 6 months.  I also have a few friends who have tried the commercially produced rice cereal and have had negative reactions to it such as hives and constipation.
Alan wanted to try to oatmeal cereal for babies, so we did. What a joy this has been.  He was a little hesitant at first however, now he lunges in for it.  It is so cute.
Tonight he sat in his highchair at the table and couldn't get enough.  We also gave him a little bit of water with apple juice for flavour.  Funny funny reactions.  I of course want to limit his water intake as I still want breast milk to be his main source of nutrition.  I don't want him to fill up on water, as there is no nourishment or fat in it.  I do want him to enjoy eating, and to help him to be a happy and good eater when he is bigger.

As for Baby Led Weaning, I will be doing a modified version if it.  I am not wanting to wean Sutton from the breast just yet, but I am wanting to introduce him to REAL food, in the form in which adults eat it.  I have been reading Baby Led Weaning by Gill Rapley, and it is fantastic.  So logical.  I look forward to not pureeing foods and spoon feeding.

To contradict myself though, we did do baby cereal where we spoon fed Sutton and let him feed himself as well.

Here are some pictures, which I will cherish forever!!!


                              Alan helping Sutton eat, he was leaning forward to get to it faster!

                         He loved the spoon and trying to get the food off!  Ahhh, such a big boy!

                                            Yum!  He was licking it off his hands!

Water with a smidge of apple juice, it must have been sour!!!  (I found a sippy cup which Sutton will actually drink out of, and he does it by holding it himself.  It is the Tilty Cup.  Hopefully he will drink breastmilk from it, as he is refusing the bottle still and the other sippy cup we have.)

Playing is so much fun!!!!

In the last couple weeks Sutton has been loving his Exersaucer.  I do not like to keep him in for too long as he cannot yet stand on his own, but he LOVES it.  He grabs at everything and pulls the toys, presses the ones to make songs and just flails around.  It is so exciting to see him get so overwhelmed at all the toys and the songs.  After about 10 minutes though he has had enough!  I am using the excersaucer as a tool to help him play on his own.  I love to always play with him, but I feel it is important that he also be able to entertain himself alone or with toys for short periods of time.  His hand eye coordination is also delveloping as is his abilty to reach out and touch things.  This will help when he is ready to start eating solids by baby led weaning.  He is learning cause and effect.  He knows that certain things make certain noise, sometimes it takes him a while to remember or figure it out, but once he does, he doesn't stop! 

My perfect sweet little baby is growing so fast!!!!!

Here is a video of him playing.  I couldn't do it with the camcorder as I do not know how to upload, so I had to use my cell, the quality isn't that great, but of course his cuteness shines through regardless!  He mostly stared at me, but when I am "not looking" he really plays and explores!

Funny Boy!

Sutton is so funny!!!!  He makes me laugh every single day, many times a day!  Watching him learn and grow and discover new things makes me want to have 20 kids to I can watch it for the rest of my life! 

We are on a regular schedule now, and I love that.  It has variances of course, but we are up at the same time every day and his naps are at about the same time, and the same length.  Frees up my day a bit, but I find myself waiting for him to wake up.  I could nap, but I would much rather use his time sleeping as time for me to do what I want.  Which is often just sitting, or being on the computer.

This week, I was changing Sutton, and I let him air out while I was going through his clothes.  I noticed he started to pee.  I covered it with my hand, and thought he was finished, so I grabbed a cloth, he then continued to pee and it went in his eye, nose and ear.  And of course it went all over his arm, leg and bum.  It was so funny.  Then a couple days later, he did #2 while I was changing him again.

Sutton loves naked time, and he uses that time to roll around.  He feels so free and kicks like mad!  Rolling is really his new favourite thing to do.  At play group yesterday, we had a demonstrator there for baby massage and Sutton was too busy rolling around to be masssaged!  haha  He still prefers to stand as much as possible.  He enjoys playing in his back as well.  He is able to roll both ways but prefers to go from back to tummy.  Tummy time is also much more fun now than it used to be.  He no longer has to be bribed with a mirror!  He also gets less frustrated!  Thank god, seeing him struggle was hard, but he was learning at the same time.  He is so strong.  Everyone comments that for 4 months he has incredible strength!

Sutton smiles all the time, and he has a few different smiles.  They are so cute.  My eyes still water when Sutton smiles at Alan.  Sutton has started to laugh a little.  I think he is copying me more than truly laughing, and I can't wait for the day when he laughs a real laugh at something real.

A few days ago I put Sutton in his Exersaucer for the first time since he has been big enough for it.  I put the 1000 batteries in it, and he was so suprised at all the sounds, and motion.  So much to see, listen to and touch.  He just looked at everything with amazment.  He didn't know what to do, it was so overwhelming. 

Sutton and I cook or bake together several times a day.  He watches me do everything, and I explain it all to him while wiping up his constant stream of drool!  He will happily sit in his Bumbo and just watch and look around the kitchen!

Playing with toys is now much more fun.  He can grab things well, and shake them.  He of course loves to put them in his mouth.  He has toys that he prefers over others.  He likes Gus (Sophie The Giraffe), his Kindermusik rattle, his lovey (stuffed giraffe) and the thing we bought in Texas.

We went to the Health Centre the other day and Sutton weighs 12lbs 10oz.  He is 24 inches long.  He is perfectly healthy and is growing at a good rate.  It shocks me that he is double his birth weight now.  I can't believe that he was half the weight he was!  My oh my, do they ever grow quickly.  I made the mistake of blinking, and here he is growing. 

Sutton is the light of my life.  He brings me joy like I have never experienced before.  I love when I am out and people stop me to tell me how cute he is.  He then smiles at them, and his little dimples poke through, and instead of speaking or thanking the person, I agree with them, and stare at Sutton!  hahahaha

Sticking his tongue out while being changed!

Chewing in his lovey!  You can see in his eyes he really is chewing!

He has discovered his thumb.  He mostly chews on it rather than suck it though!

Smiles!!!



Photo Update

It is hard to type with 1 hand, so I will upload pics for now with a breif description!

Enjoy!!!

Enjoying some time with Mom is his Carrier

Daddy giving Sutt-the-Butt a bath.  He loves baths, but didn't in thispicture!

December 22 - Sutton all ready for Alan's Christmas Party, I am still in my pj's.

December 22 - Sutton's first Christmas Party.  This was the very end of the night, and he was partied out and wanted to see his Mimi and Grandad!

January 5 - Enjoying some time on his mat, with a partial smile!!!

January 05 - Sitting in his glider with his giraffe

December 30 - New Car Day!

Janaury 05 - Chillaxin with Kobe!

Auntie Pearly gave him this adorable shirt.  I love the look on his face!

January 04 - Having some Tummy Time!