Sweet Potatoes!

We have moved on from rice cereal and oatmeal- to sweet potatoes!

A story of sweet potatoes in pictures

TREPIDATION: you really expect me to eat this orange stuff?



CONSIDERATION: wait a minute


APPRECIATION: these are pretty yummy!


AFFIRMATION: sweet potatoes are bib-licking good!


In other news- B and I are keeping busy in this cold weather going to lots of mommy groups. It is a lot of fun to dress him in real outfits- on the days we stay home he stays pretty low key in pjs or sweats and a onesie.

Low Key days at home:

Babylegs- basically leg warmers, they have adorable ones for little girls, boys ones are all right. These are great b/c you don't have to do much for diaper changes!



Chilling in my PJ's in my duck tub. The duck tub has yet to be used as a tub. Instead it has become a land ship for him to sit in; if he tips over while sitting- the edges catch him, it is great.




Apparently- the tub is exhausting as well


NICE DAYS OUT :) Wearing his big boy outfits.

nothing makes this kid laugh more than Ming :)


I love his spiky hair.



Sitting in his cool chair from Nana & Grandpa


Seriously, how cute is this baby and outfit!




The only problem with putting Brooks in chairs, is he wants to reach forward for things like the camera

Sleep Training

Sleep Training: two words that mean such different things to everyone who attempts to do 'sleep training'. There are so many methods out there, it is hard to choose one. I think most parents who decide to sleep train end up taking bits and pieces of multiple methods and doing what they think is best for their little one.

Brooks has been waking 3-6 times a night for about a month. I switched his sheets to flannel sheets, and that helped a lot- since doing so, it has consistently been about 3 times a night. I have nursed him each time, but he was never really eating. After he stayed at my parents we learned he was eating about 2 oz each time. That is 6 oz total a night- so one full feeding spread over 3 times. With this knowledge and the slow loss of my sanity, we decided to sleep train. I have no problem getting up once to feed him- if the kid is hungry, we will take care of him, it is the snack instead of meal thing that was going on that was an issue.

Pre- sleep training a typical night was going to sleep around 6:45-7 and then feeding around 11, 1:30, 4:30. Also- he did not go down if he was awake, he would need to be rocked from feeding or fall asleep at the breast. Bedtime has not really changed.


So- here is how it has gone

Thurs: Night 1
woke at 10:30. Did cry it out, 1st interval 20 mins. Did not end up going in until 12 b/c of quiet/cry cycles.
After I went in he was in worse shape. Did one more check at 12:20. At 12:40 I fed him (I figured instead of going cold turkey from 3 to 1 feedings, eliminating the 1st one would help) He slept until 4:30ish. Fed him, slept until 8 (cried out once or twice around 6:30 but didn't wake)

Fri: Night 2
Woke at 11. Did cry it out, he cried, a lot (not as much on and off as the night before where he would be quiet for 5 or 10 mins at a time- tonight was lucky if he was quiet 30 seconds). B fell asleep immed after 2nd soothing session at 12:30. I had picked him up, shushed him, gave him paci & lovey. He slept until 5am. Fed him at 5, put him down drowsy, slept until 7:30. Heard him cry out around 2:30 but he didn't wake fully. YAY!!! 1 feeding :)

Sat: Night 3
He woke at 10:30. Cried for 3 mins, quiet for 5, then on and off again. Finally went in at 11:30. Picked up, shushed, paci, and quiet. Cried out at 11:36- but otherwise out. Woke crying at 3:30. Gave him 5 minutes, went in- nursed him. Put him down eyes open. He babbled and called out for about 10 mins, then asleep. Woke at 7:10 for the day crying :(

Sun: Night 4
Woke at 2! Was great- didn't cry, was just randomly crying out or babbling. Then the dog came upstairs at 2:18 and he must have heard creaking because immed the waterworks started. Every time I was ready to go soothe he would get quiet. Then would whimper, quiet, whimper. (but he was never quiet for minutes, just about 30 s- 1 min) I didn't go in for 40 mins. I felt horrible b/c it had been so long, but he seemed so close and I felt like going in would work him up all over again. When I went in, picked up soothed him, laid him down- he started crying, gave paci, and he went to sleep. I heard a few coos 5 mins after the fact, and 5 mins after that, but he didnt get up (does that mean paci fell out). Waited another 10 mins, went to bed, about 2 mins after that he started crying, but I could tell he was asleep and moaning. It was on and off again for about 5 minutes. He fell back asleep, and about 20 mins later woke and cried. I fed him b/c it was almost 4 at this point, and I didn't think that negated the whole crying jig. I just assumed he woke again b/c he was hungry. After feeding, I put him down drowsy with no paci, he fell asleep. Woke for the day around 7:15

** After all this I decided to try it for a nap- put him down drowsy with his paci. He spit the paci out, cooed, babbled, whimpered, babbled for about 10 mins, then must have fallen asleep b/c all has been quiet for about 20 minutes. I really want to get a video monitor :)

So- that is how it is going.

Questions if you feel like answering
1) Do you think we are making progress? I feel like it is, and yet it is still a 1.5-2hr adventure each night.
2) Do you think I am training him to rely on the paci to fall asleep (I think he is spitting it out since he cries out at times after being given it, and that really it calms him down after a long crying jig. It just makes me wonder b.c the ferber method calls for no paci. It also calls for no picking up- but hey, I know he will soothe much better if I hold him. If this doesn't work then we can do some more extremes later)

Oatmeal... not a fan

B's first overnight

So we did it, we went away for a night and left B with my parents. For Christmas, I gave Eric tickets to the NHL's Winter Classic hockey game. Each year they turn a baseball field into an outdoor rink, and 2 NHL teams play hockey. This year was special because my Philadelphia born and raised husband, is actually a diehard Red Sox & Boston Bruins fan, and the Bruins were playing in Fenway Park. And of course who were they playing, the Philadelphia Flyers.


I was really nervous about leaving B. I don't know why, it is not like I think my parents couldn't handle him- of course they could- but I just was freaking out. No one knows my baby like me you know? To prepare- I had 3 pages of typed instructions with details on breastmilk and it's rules, daily schedule, nap routines, sleep routines, tips & tricks, and the works. Really I could have got away with a lot less- but let's forgive a first time mom leaving her baby for the first time- of course I was obsessive and trying to tell them everything.

We spent New Year's Eve with my parents- It was nice. We went into the hot tub with a glass (ok bottle) of wine. My Dad made a shellfish platter that he served with champagne at 11:30, and we watched the ball drop and Dick Clark miscount. We hit the sack immediately because our train to Boston left at 6:20 am and the station is 20 minutes away, plus it was snowing.

So anyway- We got up, I nursed B, and we left. I called at 6:40 (just to make sure my dad made it home ok from dropping us off cough cough). I think after that I called 5 more times that day (not great, not bad).

Brooks did fantastic at my parents- and I actually am happy we did it just to get a log of how much he was eating since he was taking bottles. They had no problems with him- he didn't freak out not nursing at night. He didn't sleep through, but he was not difficult. I think he had a ton of fun, and I think my parents and brother had a great time with him. I know that coming home to a happy, smiling baby helped ease my fears of leaving him. Prior to this I had only been away from him max of 6 hrs, and not since August.

The part that SUCKED about going away was pumping. I actually pumped in the bathroom of Fenway Park and a few times on the amtrak train. GROSS I know, but hey, what was I to do- I couldn't go 6 hrs, was worried about what a day away from the boy would do to my supply, so I was pretty religious. I also wanted to sleep- so didn't pump in the middle of the night until 5:30 am. I was impressed, in 28 hrs I pumped 44 oz! WOWZA.

The hockey game was really cool- talk about a once in a lifetime experience. We had a blast. The game was good- Eric is a Bruins fan and they won in overtime after tying it up in the last 2 minutes, so for him it could not have been more perfect. It wasn't even that cold out. We went out for drinks afterwards with an old high school friend of Eric's who lives in the Boston area and went to the game (not with us). I got a little tipsy-drunk for the first time in ages. It was fun (b/c I wasn't plastered, just happy!). We saw Dennis Leary in the hotel lobby before the game, and ran into Kiefer Sutherland at the elevators after drinks (I almost asked him to take a picture of Eric and I, I didn't even realize who he was at first LOL). We then went out to dinner just the two of us, and then called it a night. We went to bed at about 10pm, which is a little sad, but it was a long day and I LOVED IT.

Going home the next day was easy- and Brooks' reaction to seeing us made my heart melt. It almost made being away from him worth it. He was so happy. He was screeching louder than normal and smiling and cuddling, and wow... it just was special.

Besides our night away- other news is we began feeding Brooks food! He is just having cereal and oatmeal now, but I picked up a bunch of jars of baby food and we are going to start feeding him once a day. Once he is used to it, in a month probably, we will up it to 2 meals a day (cereal & fruit or veggie each meal).

Soooo pictures
First time having Rice Cereal:






New Years Eve- party like a rockstar!!!



Here is a closeup- if you look carefully you can see the whites of his two front teeth coming up the front of his gums. Also- can you please tell my husband he is nuts and our kids eyes are blue? He thinks they are hazel- but my eyes are the exact same way. Blue with a weird yellowish ring around the pupil.



And- The Winter Classic- us in Boston.

Merry Christmas

I am finally getting around to my Christmas post, and it is after New Years! The New Years post will be up tomorrow (I have to upload pics tonight)

Christmas was fantastic- I think B-man really enjoyed himself and he was definitely spoiled by family. He got lots of good stuff (the busy ball popper, scout the dog, the leap frog table, stackers, blocks, tray toys, sippy cups, clothes, 1st christmas commemorative stuff, etc). And he had a blast!

I wish I took more pictures of him- I didn't get too many, there was just so much going on between taking care of him and participating in the festivities. He went to bed at his normal time and Eric stayed home with him while I went to church with the family, and then on Christmas morning he partied from about 6-7 then slept until 8:30 when we all got up and went downstairs to see Santa.

Christmas Eve-
the best and worst thing about digital photography is you get to take tons of pics, then it is impossible to choose :) Isn't the Christmas sweater my mom bought him adorable!

naughty or nice? you tell me!


so excited for Christmas!



WHAT?!?! Santa's coming here!!!

With stuff for me??

That's awesome!



I love this boy!





Christmas day-
Santa came!!!




Brooks spent much of his day in a box playing with presents- he loved the box so much we put it aside to be used when my parents babysat him a week later :) It is actually great because he is pretty good at sitting, goes 10-15 minutes at a time, then suddenly will topple and the box prevents that.





We had a lot of fun with my parents, brother, sister, and brother-in-law. I have no pictures of everyone though! Like I said, Christmas is an event in my house so there really wasn't time. We did get a nice family shot of us though.


As you can see- he was dressed nice. I don't know why Eric took his sweater off and unbuttoned his shirt a la 'Jersey Shore'. Brooks looks confused about this look as well :)

The last part of the festivities was visiting with the extended family- including my cousin's baby Brycen, who is 6 days younger than Brooks.


No- Brycen is not that much bigger than Brooks


Brooks got to try his cousin Brycen's walker- if you look at this picture you can tell he was thinking "why the heck doesn't this thing bounce". He is a bit used to the jumperoo


He decided it wasn't so bad that it didn't bounce, although he only got it moving backwards.


As you can see- they were having a lot of fun together, until someone got punched in the face :)

THREE VIDEOS!

First off- MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!! I hope everyone had a fantastic holiday- I know we did. This is not going to be my Christmas post. I am going to get some pics of gifts and such before posting. I will say we had a wonderful holiday- but it was super busy so I did not take nearly as many pictures as I meant to.

But oh well- that is for another post- this post is all about videos

VIDEO 1- BATHTIME Belly laughs.



VIDEO 2: Helping Mommy wrap- who needs Christmas gifts if we can just play with metallic tissue paper.




VIDEO 3- getting better at my jumperoo!