If you're a bird, I'm a bird

A book I thoroughly enjoyed reading was The Firstborn Advantage by Dr. Kevin Leman. Well, we know Lincoln is a firstborn, but Joe and I talk about what kind he will be. There are two types of firstborns- controlling and compliant. I am a controlling firstborn raised by two controlling firstborns. Joe is a compliant firstborn raised by two compliant firstborns. So at least Lincoln has balance when it comes to his parents. =)

Joe took Lincoln on November 14 at 2:00pm for his wellness check at Miriam Blum's office. He weighed 11 pounds 9 ounces and was 22 inches long (10th percentile). The pediatrician was impressed with his head control during a sit-up and "push-up" (tummy time). He followed the pediatrician around the room and was very alert. She said he is advanced for his age and most babies can't do what he did until 3 months. He received 3 vaccines and 1 oral vaccine in his thighs. Joe said it was heartbreaking to watch and it took a while to comfort him. He slept for a few hours and then became fussy and had a temperature of 99.5. He cried like he has never done before and you could just tell her was miserable and sore. Once he fell asleep, he was fine. Even the early morning feeding was fine. The next morning, all smiles and his normal self. I hate what vaccines are, a small dose of a illness so your body builds immunity to them. Quite radical and I can see why parents opt not to ...

I can for the first time call myself a "working mom".  I took Lincoln to school on the first day. I cried a little the night before questioning if we'd chosen the right childcare facilty. I wondered if his needs would be met. I couldn't fathom being away from him for so long. It was tough dropping him off. I teared up on my way back to the car. Once I got to school, it was so busy and full of "welcome backs" that I didn't have a whole lot of time to think about the reality of the situation. I did call at 10:00am to check on him and then at the end of the day after school. I couldn't get to the school fast enough to pick him up. He smiled when he saw me which melted my heart. He is cared for by four women, Ms. KoKo, Ms. Bear, Ms. Tina, and Ms. Shannon. All black women. Two are regulars and two are floaters. Joe and I have visited with all of them when we drop him off or pick him up. I feel like we already have a relationship with them. I just fini...

Carpal Tunnel has haunted me in the past. Anytime I do repetitious things my hands go numb. It bothers me the most when I sleep. I get it in both wrists. There is a brace I wear to prevent movement and it pushes on my wrists to take off pressure. In 2007, when I was an ice cream maker for Bruster's Ice Cream and Yogurt, I lifted 5 gallon buckets and spun them the same way everyday. I had to elevate my wrists and ice them while I slept. When Joe and I moved into our house, I got carpal tunnel from...CLEANING. When I started knitting regularly a couple years ago, my wrists acted up. Since I haven't knitted since January, it started bothering me again this week. Also, I figure the way I hold Lincoln the same way and burp him everyday probably is considered a repetitious motion as well.  Some people get carpal tunnel from using a computer mouse. I hope it doesn't last long.

So I knew I didn't want to be a stay-at-home mom. I know why some woman choose to though. I return to work on Tuesday, November 8th (Election Day). I sort of like my job. If I loved my job, then it wouldn't be as hard going back to work. I deal with students who come from poverty and have little social skills and face a multitude of learning disabilities that make teaching difficult.  I dread certain periods of the day because I know certain individuals will be in my class and I would prefer not teaching them. I have to remind myself often that if I can teach here, I can teach anywhere. I also remind myself that I only have to complete this school year. Simple. They make my life unpleasant. On top of that, I have a beautiful little boy that I birthed and fell in love with him the moment I laid eyes on him. I carried him in my womb for 9 months and I breast feed him 8 times a day. He is my 7-week-old son that I have spent a whole lot of time...

So we were told by three people to watch The Happiest Baby on the Block DVD- our dear friend, Liz (who doesn't have children), one of Joe's friends that has a little boy, and our pediatrician. Instead of purchasing a copy, I found it at the library so Joe and I popped it in that night. Lincoln had been having crying fits, just in the evenings. We had people tell us it was colic, gas, or the "bewitching hour." As the DVD was on, Lincoln started crying so Joe immediately starting doing what the guy said. Lincoln stopped crying immediately and Joe laid him down in his crib. We continued watching the entire DVD without interruption. So The Happiest Baby on the Block is made up of the 5 S's. 1) Swaddle 2) Side-lying 3) Shushing 4) Sucking 5) Swinging They said there should be a 6th S, Sleeping, because once you do these things, babies start sleeping longer and so do you! It is true, Lincoln started sleeping 4 hours at a time through the night after we st...