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

I was so excited to spend the day sewing in the house by myself. I wanted to make a couple more wool soakers. One I am selling on etsy for an already interested buyer. I thought Joe would be working and Lincoln would be at school for a few hours while I got some work done. Well, Lincoln's "cold" is getting worse and Joe didn't have any work today. So instead of sewing I am taking care of my sick baby in a house not so alone. I am reminded how selfless a mother has to be because her wants take second place to her baby's needs.

So Lincoln started outgrowing his newborn swaddles. His legs were bent in the bottom part so I decided to research when we should stop swaddling him. Dr. Sears said 3-4 months is a good time to stop. He said that babies in other cultures are swaddled a lot longer and end up with ball and joint problems. Lincoln was 3-months old that day so I suggested we try to ween him that night. We had a sleep sack ready that I purchased at reBlossom. I was going to give it to him for Christmas (and I am still going to wrap it up). Joe was pumping Lincoln up that night as he was dressing him telling him how awesome he is going to sleep in his new sleep sack. Joe even posed him for a "3-month old picture". I typically put Lincoln to bed each night. I laid him down like I normally do and gave him his pacifier and turned on his lullabies, the humidifier, the monitor, and night light. I don't even have to rock him. Instead of his eyes blinking slowly shut as they normally do in his swad...

I put wool soakers on my cloth diapering registry, but we didn't receive it. They cost $28-$45 at the two cloth diapering stores here in Athens. The purpose of a wool soaker is to worn at night over the cloth diaper and it absorbs the urine to avoid changing a diaper in the middle of the night or prevent leakage.  Since I didn't want to pay even $28 for a wool soaker, I decided to look up patterns online. I searched "sweater wool soaker pattern". The first one I tried was located here . The first one I made was too small so I had to go up a size. The pattern I used was a triangle cut out of paper with 16" sides. It fit him perfectly and I like the way it turned out. I found this one on a blog. I cut out the appropriate pieces for Lincoln's size based on his measurements. I made him the medium. Joe went to a few thrift stores while I was working to look for sweaters. He bought three and I ended up keeping one sweater for myself to wear. This is how the s...

Baby: Little Lincoln is 3-months old. His teachers at school said he is reaching already which has shocked them. They placed him in the exersaucer so he could reach for the toys on there. He grips pretty well and loves putting EVERYTHING in his mouth. Lincoln sits with us at the table in his BUMBO while we eat dinner. He's so joyful and really is a good baby. Joe and I spending the evening with him just lying around on his playmat as a family while he kicks and grabs. We have a bedtime routine- bath, feeding, story, bed. I miss him so much while I work and can't wait to pick him up after school. Mommy: This week, I started shedding hair again. During the pregnancy, I never shedded, but as I was washing it this week, I felt it tangled on my fingers. I also hadn't had a menstrual cycle for a year. My period returned last night. I'm glad it is back, but it is taking some getting used to. I use cloth pads that I purchsed on etsy which makes my per...

This photo is titled "pure joy". I feel strong emotion when I see this photo. I envy her and can't help be reminded of how I missed out on the birthing experience I longed. One day I hope to forgive myself for the choice I made that altered my birth plan. It is a decision that I can never get back and which ultimately effects future pregnancies now. I can't help to think that I missed my chance to experience this "joy".

So our little boy is teething. I heard it could be a while before the teeth actually pop through the gums. I saw wool teethers on etsy for $9. I said I can make that so I did. It took me about an hour to make this three ring interlocked one. I just have to felt it now which is the fun part. I made him a practice one and he does like gnawing on it. I've also heard that chamomile tea helps with inflammation so I can soak the teether in that instead of water before placing it in the refrigerator. after felting before felting

Traditions add layers of texture to your life which last not just during the holidays, but throughout the entire year. ( http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/12/09/family-traditions-what-children-really-want-for-christmas/ ) Now that we have a "family", we are going to start our own traditions. They are a combination from my childhood, some Joe and I started while dating/married, and now new ones for our family. 1) Decorate for Christmas the first weekend in December 2) Distribute a Christmas photo card and newsletter (Hayes Tribune) every year around the beginning of December 3) Buy each member a new ornament every year 4) Joe and I watch 'The Holiday' 5) Eat Christmas Eve dinner at Charles & Kelly's house 6) Eat breakfast casserole on Christmas morning 7) Eat lunch and have gift exchange on Christmas Day at my Grandma's house 8) Make Christmas cookies for the mail carrier Other traditions I'd like to incorporate: http://halife.com/family...

"Santa Claus, that jolly, rotund bringer of presents, is a controversial Christmas tradition for mothers and fathers. Though he is clearly a character from folklore, many parents go through great lengths to keep alive their child’s belief in Santa Claus. Instead of taking credit for the expense and effort of producing gifts for their children, parents lead children to believe that their toys are a result of a Christmas Eve visit from Santa. The character of Santa Claus, as he is depicted today, is derived from two very old legends: Saint Nicholas, a bishop who gave generous gifts to the poor and was considered to be the patron saint of sailors and children and Father Christmas, who was considered to be the spirit of good cheer." http://www.allaboutparenting.org/christmas-traditions.htm Joe and I decided that we are not going to tell Lincoln that there is a Santa Claus. He will be one of those kids in his class that is knows a secret that nobody else knows. Joe and I were ...

So I returned to work on November 8 so that meant my responsibility of feeding my child continued. You are supposed to pump at work as often as your child eats while you are separated. I looked at my schedule to see what would be possible. The best I could do is pump three times at school. I nurse him around 6:00am at the house and then take him to school. After breakfast duty, I pump at 7:45. During my lunch break, I pump at 11:00 and then after school is over at 2:30pm. I leave school around 3:30pm to get him from school. He has usually already eaten by the time I get there so I do not get to nurse him. I have had the opportunity once to take him upstairs to feed him myself. I usually pump about 12 ounces at work which is enough for four 3 oz. bottles to feed him the following day. I prefer feeding him freshly pumped milk in case there are antibodies in the milk that need to fight off sickness. If I do not get 12 ounces at work, I have opportunities to pump at home th...

When we were home for Thanksgiving, Lincoln had a fussy spell before bedtime. Joe, Mom, and I tried to console him. Nobody was successful. My mom noticed he was rubbing his lower gums with his tongue. I felt them and they were bumpy. I rubbed a little Orajel on them that my mom had for Macy. He fell asleep and I started thinking about how grown up he is. I felt like we were experiencing one of those "milestones" as parents and it was our job to keep him safe and comfortable. The next day I did a search for natural ways of managing this teething thing. I found several articles with natural remedies. 1) Your finger 2) A wooden teether (which I had already purchased) 3) A celery stalk 4) Frozen washcloth (freeze a corner in water or chamomile tea) 5) Hyland's Teething Tablets (homeopathic medicine) 6) Clove oil mixed with olive oil 7) Amber Teething Necklaces Since the first crying spell in the evening before bedtime, it has started happening more regularly now. ...