22 Weeks

Your Daddy is all about "the handsome guys in the mirror." It usually solves any problem you may be having.


I am not so sure how our housekeeper feels about the hand prints and drool on the mirror, but it makes me smile to watch the handsome duo make monkey shines.


Just as you explore everything with your mouth, our faces are no exception. You pull our faces to yours and grab on to our noses and chins and try to put them in your mouth. You give a squeal if we get a kiss on your neck instead.


You are spending more and more time awake at night babbling away. You have even been practicing these screams and squeals in your sleep. I'll think you are upset but when I check on you I realize you are still asleep, just practicing those sounds.

The pig in the plastic ball is a huge source of frustration for you.
You spin that ball over and over trying to get that pig out.

You are making all kinds of noises this week, adding the bahbah to your repertoire. It is so funny to watch you examine our lips as we make noises. You concentrate and try to imitate the sounds.


I am glad you've had this week with your Daddy. It's been good for the two of you. I wish we had more time when I came home from work before bed time to spend together.

I love this little surf board jumper. Your Daddy says it looks like a dress.

You get your point across pretty well. I can read your gestures and noises beyond the whiney tired or hungry cry. My favorite is your arching your back and trying to push yourself up if I pass you when you're lying down...Pick me up! you're telling me.



Next week is a big week for you, and I think it will be one of your last in the cosleeper next to our bed. We're preparing for some transitions over the next few weeks. It should be interesting.

Mid Week Progress Report

I know everyone is curious about what days have been like on Bordeaux Street with The Mama at work and The Daddy in charge, left with 10+ pages of instructions.

First, a bit about The Mama:

• She loves working.
• It was a great feeling to walk out of the house with her briefcase and coffee rather than her diaper bag.
• Hated the breast pump in the other hand. Pumping is no fun.
  
• Thinks we'd be instituting the cry it out, School of Hard Knocks method, at night if she had to get up and work every day.
• Working out would greatly improve her days, but with Freddie still waking during the night, she hasn't figured out how to make that happen before work.
• Text messages from the boys make her smile.
• Is not fond of tag team parenting. We get to share dinner as a family but then I take over for the night shift so Charlie can work.
  
• Seeing Bug's smile when she walks in the door is the best part of the day.
• Thinks finding "contract" work would be an ideal set up for working, providing income, productivity outside the home, and flexibility.
• Would rather be home than at work.
• Is so thankful to have a Bug and a Daddy to come home to.
  

Bug:

• Has been taking the bottle without issue.
• Doesn't seem to be bothered by my absence during the day, but does everything to propel himself in my direction with his big cheesy grin when we make eye contact in the afternoons.
• Is eating his solids.
• Didn't sleep a wink Monday night. He and Mama started Tuesday at 3:30 am.
• Slept from 6.30 pm until 1.30 am, nursed, and slept until 6.30 am last night. He knew Mama needed to catch up on sleep.
  
• Gets a work out from The Daddy every day during floor time.
• Is sitting better than ever.
• Has been working on his sounds...Mmmmmamamama, Bababa, and a throaty, grunting squeal.
• Makes big boy poops.
  
• Changes so much from day to day.

Buggie and Daddy doing floor time.

The Daddy:

• Didn't make it out of his pajamas on Monday and professed he needed a shower because he felt "gross" when The Mama got home.
• Has made dinner every day.
• Used the phrases "new appreciation" and "eye opening" when describing the past three days.
• Realizes that the "moment he walks in the door after work until Freddie goes to sleep" he wants to be with his boy. He didn't realize how much he needed to work on developing a relationship with Freddie and how much Freddie actually changes from day to day. He also didn't realize how desperately The Mama needed a break after being with Freddie all day.
• Learned as trite as it sounds, he wants to be a part of these everyday moments that will make Freddie who he is.
  
• This is my favorite: has set up the tripod with the video camera to record "home movies." We have nearly 60 minutes of videoed bottle feeding and floor time.
  
• Will most likely try to check the tripod placement to ensure he doesn't get 60 minutes of video with the Bug's face out of the frame.
  
• Puts in 6-8 hours of work after dinner.
• Would recommend all dads put in back to back days with their children, sans outside assistance.
• Remains stressed about getting his work completed in time.
  
• Is very much appreciated by his wife and baby boy.
  

Instructions for the babysitter, literally

I'm working this week, Monday through Friday, 9-5. I have a training for the part time job I'll be holding on to this year. After I typed up the instructions for the babysitter, also known as The Daddy, I thought it'd be nice to archive them here.

Here it goes...

Below is an estimate of what my day usually looks like, along with some notes to help you plan your own day.

8-10 am

• Walk in the park
• Nap while walking
• Notes: I will nurse for the last time around 8am, and try to leave the house by 8.30 each morning. Bring along a toy or two if you take the stroller. He'll sleep for at least one lap.
  

10.00

• Floor time
• Nurse
• Notes: He is usually happy to finally be unstrapped and out of the stroller and will happily roll around on the floor so I can fix myself a quick bite to eat. Sometimes he likes to see me so I put him in the swing or exersaucer while I eat so we can “chat”. If he is hungry I may feed him and then do my own eating. Just depends on this mood.
  

11.00

• Solids
• Notes: I usually try an entire container of food with some cereal at this point. He likes it warmed. 8 seconds in micro is plenty. Stir and test with fingers for hot spots. May actually be too warm. You may want to add a few little spoonfuls of prunes depending on the poop status for the day/week. Sometime scarfs it and sometimes he is not interested at all. When he is not interested I usually find it is because he is tired, so if that is the case I usually try again with solids after a nap. This might be tricky for you because he should be offered breastmilk first and the solids after he’s indicated he’s had enough milk. So just play solids by ear, but try to offer them twice a day.
  

Noonish

• Nap
• Notes: This has been somewhere between 1-2 hours lately, but he'll typically wake up 30 minutes into the nap but can usually be soothed back to sleep with a few pats on the bottom.

1-2ish

• Nurse

3-5ish

• Sometimes a little nap happens.
• Floor time: try some tummy time, practicing sitting, sing songs. peek a boo with the lamb, look at books, or go upstairs and lie on the rug with the "gym"
  
• Solids again
• Run errands or go to the pool
  
• Notes: I turn the TV on during this floor play because I am going batty by this point in the day. He sometimes will try to look at it but if you are engaging him, he is more interested in you than the TV. For his solids warm up what he didn't finish or if he ate everything in the morning I usually open a new baby food package and use half of it with a little cereal. It can be a good time of the day to be out and about because it is tough to be in the house all day and you can distract him with an outing.
  

5ish

• Nurse
• Cook dinner
• Notes: This is where the day gets really interesting because he is cranky and you're trying to get dinner done! Good luck with that. I should be home around this time so I can nurse when I get home rather than you giving him a bottle if you think he can wait for me. I've planned the meals for the week, as noted on the calender, and all ingredients should be ready to go. Again, if you can't manage this I understand! Not everyone is as efficient as The Mama.
  

Other Notes:

Diapers:

• Spray diapers out in the toilet before dropping in the wet bag. This is only really necessary if the poop is plentiful or solid. Yuck, I know.
• Plan on washing diapers twice this week, preferably Monday and Friday. Empty the bag into the wash and toss it in. Wash on hot, with extra rinse on. Use 1/4 amount of detergent you'd use for a regular load. Make sure liners are unsnapped before tossing in dryer. Please stuff the liners into the diapers after they dry.

Solids:

• Don't forget the bib. You can also strip him of his clothes before feeding to make clean up even easier.
• Burp cloths stocked in the drawer of the island to use as wipe up rags.
• If you choose a green veggie for a solid, you may want to dip each spoonful in applesauce. He's not liking the greens too much.
• Feel free to try the barley cereal or the oatmeal.
• If he hasn't eaten much all day, I sometimes resort to turning on the TV during the evening feeding. I hate to admit it, but it's true. Just like you are I could eat and entire bag of Doritos in front of the tube, Freddie will zone out and eat every stinkin bite of food you offer him. I realize this isn't one of those tips you'll read in the parenting magazines but I hardly believe I am the first to think of it. Besides, watching Judge Judy while scraping pears off his chin after a day of craziness helps.
  

Miscellaneous:

• Please record times and ounces consumed for bottles. I'll prep the bottles at night for you if you run the dishwasher. Remember, the nipples need a wipe with the little brush.
• Try to throw in a few baths for the Bug.
• He likes raspberries on his tummy and the bottom of his feet.
• Keep the gate to Bug's room closed to prevent the dogs from cuddling up on his rug. Also be sure to block off their entrance to the floor play area when you leave to prevent BooDog from making off with Bug's sock monkey or new squeaking crab. He's been eying the crab.
• Bug loves to water the ferns. He likes to stick his hand in the spraying water. Please try to water them each day if you think about it.
• Thursday is picture day! Don't forget. The camera is in the side pocket of my diaper bag. Take some pictures this week.
• Try the gym if you like. You can make childcare reservations right before leaving the house. I think technically they are supposed to charge you if you reserve and don't show, so I like to make them as I am leaving since I know I will be there.
  

And remember, these are only suggestions. I know you will find your own way. This is just what's worked for Mama and Bug. Daddy and Bug will figure things out for themselves I am sure. And if I find you two and the dogs alive when I get home, I'll consider the day a success! I look forward to hearing the adventures and learning something new about our boy.

Brownies Unpudged

I doubled the recipe and cooked it in a 13x9 pan for 40 minutes.

With Jessica in town I was sure to get a low cal recipe, complete with Weight Watchers point information. This one is courtesy of Hungry Girl.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups canned pure pumpkin
• 1 box Betty Crocker Fudge Brownies Mix (the 18.3-oz. Family Size box)
• 2 tbsp. Better 'n Peanut Butter, room temperature

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Combine pumpkin with the brownie mix in a large bowl; stir until smooth (do not add anything else).
3. Spray a small baking pan (8" X 8" work best - no larger!) with nonstick cooking spray and pour in the mixture.
4. Spoon 2 tbsp. of Better ‘n Peanut Butter (room temperature) on top and use a knife to swirl peanut butter around.
5. Cook for approximately 35 minutes.
6. The batter will remain very thick and fudgey, and it should look undercooked.
7. Remove from oven.
8. Cover with aluminum foil and let cool in fridge for a couple of hours.
9. Cut into 36 squares and serve.
   

Cutting 36 brownies out of an 8x8 pan makes for an awfully tiny brownie. Doing so means each brownie has 63 calories and 1 gram of fat or counts as 1 point if you're doing Weight Watchers.


Charlie's response after biting into one: "Does this have vegetables in it?" followed by, "What about tofu?" And finally, "You can eat that whole pan yourself."

Yes, they are that good. If you are dieting I imagine they'd do something for a sweets craving, but maybe not much. It's a little rubbery, spongy sweet something. That's it.

While I am not sure I'll be making these brownies again any time soon, I am happy to have discovered Better 'n Peanut Butter. I found it at Whole Foods. While it certainly is not better than peanut butter, with 85% less fat, it is a great substitute when baking or maybe even on a pb&j sandwich every once in a while.

Lovin'

Freddie and Jessica

• A bottle of wine each night
• Extended bed time
• Longer walks
• Chatting, chatting, chatting
• Catching up
• Sharing clothes
• Exchanging recipes
• Poolside lunch
• Advice
• Affirming decisions
• Work out tips
• Pep talks
• Extra hands
• Planning the next visit
  

21 Weeks

Well, my Bug, you're up to the same ol' tricks...working on rolling over and working on sleeping.


You're eating more and more, up to about 5 oz a day with a few tablespoons of rice cereal. We've mixed in a tad bit of prunes to help move things along for you and that's done the trick. You like your food warmed and your water iced.


I've noticed on our walks that you've begun to turn your attention up, looking into the trees and at the sky. You still really enjoy walking in the carrier and facing the world, smiling at everyone and watching all that we pass. I hum in your ear and we "talk" back and forth.


You love playing patty cake and peek a boo. You continue to enjoy your johnny jump up and we've recently gotten you an exersaucer. You like the exersaucer for a few minutes but you quickly become frustrated because the attached toys don't do exactly what you want them to do, i.e. move to your mouth.


This week you went to the childcare center at the gym but lasted about 30 minutes before they called me to come for you. You were sobbing pitifully. Even when I held you it took at while for you to catch your breath. Talk about making me feel bad...you were just so sad and missing me.

On to week 22!

Afternoon Chat

This went on and on and on, but I present you with a few seconds. Just because they are cute.

20 Weeks

This morning you rolled from your tummy to your back when no one was looking! I can’t believe I missed it. One minute you are on your belly in the cosleeper looking all around and the next you are rolling around on your back holding onto your feet. You got into a rolling position today when we visited Papi, but you just couldn’t do it again.

You are eating about 3 oz of baby food and 3-5 tablespoons rice cereal split between breakfast and dinner. You’re on to peaches, but bananas seem to be your favorite so far.


Your babbling includes lots of “mmmmmmm mamma mama.” Of course this makes me turn to mush inside. Your daddy was kicking me in bed this morning each time you said it. We’d exchange looks and just smile.

Giving it a shot, but more concerned with trying to" stand" than "talk"

Still not sleeping for longer than 3 hours at a time. I have been keeping detailed notes but can’t seem to derive any correlations. Sigh. I like problems with solutions and this doesn’t seem to be one of those.


You’re sitting unassisted for longer now, using your hands in front of you to help balance. You really want to stand. You like to stiffen up and push those feet down as a signal to help push you up.

I am really just teasing when I say I want you to be a mama’s boy. You don’t have to lose it when I leave the room or when I am not the face that shows up to console you at night. I’m certainly attached to you but I am surprised that you are so attached to me. I think I see hours spent in the childcare center at the gym in your future to help acclimate you to being without me.



Your Papi sent me an email this week..Freddie is starting to look more like a little boy than a baby. Oh my. He's right.

BBQ Shrimp

With Rouse's having sizable, local shrimps (pronounce it swimps ;-) ) for only $3.49 a pound, we've been eating more shrimp. These are nice size guys, 10 count I think....that is 8-10 shrimp constitute one pound.

Tonight I made BBQ shrimp, quite possibly the easiest shrimp dish I make, courtesy of River Road Brand spice packets. I follow the instructions on the spice packet pretty closely but add a few extra touches, which I am sure you can pick out from the list below. I am also a fan of the read beans spice packet, using only it and an onion to season my beans. It makes me happy to know I can order it online when we eventually leave New Orleans.

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds large shrimp, with shell and head on
• 2 sticks butter
• 1 lemon, quartered
• 3 tablespoons Worcestershire (pour a glugg, glugg, gluug...don't measure)
• 1 BBQ shrimp seasoning packet
• 1 spalsh of out of your beer (tonight it was Abita Amber)

Directions:

1. Melt butter in a shallow baking dish
2. Add spices, Worcestershire, and beer
3. Place shrimp in a single layer in dish
4. Squeeze the juice of the lemon over shrimp, toss the rind on top
   
5. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until shrimp are pink

Yummy and easy. Serve it with some french bread to sop up the spicey butter sauce and a large green salad.

The weekend was...

I had just unsnapped it to take it off.
A better photo to come I'm sure.

• Babes in swimsuits
• Grapes
• iPhone in the washer
• 5 star Apple customer service
• Neighbor introductions
• Family walks
• Turkey bacon
• Fuzzy bathmats
• Pizza in our neighborhood
• Ice cream cones
• Bananas for the first time
• Lunch at the pool
• Morning snuggles
• Round the clock Freddie feeding
  

Chocolate eclair

I came across this recipe on a blog, and located a few similar recipes. I like it because it reminds me of one of my favorites, banana pudding with vanilla wafers. Different flavor, but same idea. It is easy, no bake, and low fat ingredients can be used. Best of all, Charlie doesn't like pudding so I get the entire pan to myself.

Ingredients:

• Graham crackers
• 2 (3 oz.) packages of vanilla instant pudding
• 3 cups milk
• 1 (8 oz.) container of frozen whipped topping, thawed
• 1 (16 oz.) can of prepared chocolate frosting

Directions:

1. Line the bottom of a 9 x 13 inch pan with graham crackers.
2. In a bowl, combine pudding mix and milk. Stir well (mixture will become very thick).
3. Stir whipped topping into pudding mixture.
4. Spread half of pudding mixture over graham cracker layer.
5. Top with another layer of graham crackers, and then the remaining pudding.
6. Top all with a final layer of graham crackers.
7. Frost with chocolate frosting.**Microwave frosting and stir so it is thin. Then pour 1/2 of the frosting over the top.**
   
8. Refrigerate until serving.
9. It is best when made 24 hours before serving.

Note on frosting: It occurred to me when I was trying to spread the frosting over the unset pudding that microwaving it may make things a little easier, and sure enough when I went back and read the reviews there were a few who offered just that suggestion. Also, using only half a can of frosting is recommended or the frosting overpowers the light dessert.

Friday was..

• Floor play
  
• Napping
• Pulled pork sammies, corn pudding, green salad
  
• Home brewed iced mocha, complete with a straw
• Shower in the new bathroom
• Rolling over
• Giggles
  
• Caching up on emails
• Homemade popsicles
  
• 5 mile walk
• Saints gear
• Washing diapers
  
• Writing letters

Thirty Five

Family portrait, take 23...of nearly 40 takes!

Poor kid. The flash just confuses him.

Today's my birthday.

And despite great expectations that I live it up and celebrate, it is the big 3-5 after all, we stayed in. Even better than staying in on your 35th birthday...we had tacos for dinner .... that I prepared. Leftover tacos. With stale shells. Ordinarily that might be enough to send a 35 year old woman over the edge on her special day, but I am really too tired to notice or even appreciate a fine dining experience.

We talked about this time last year. I had spent the day on the couch wondering if that little UmBabay was really there with a beating heart. (Oddly enough, we had spent Charlie's birthday last year in the ER waiting for a blood test to confirm pregnancy and call off the IVF scheduled in a few weeks.) Seeing our Bug was how I began the 35th year of my life. Wow. What a difference a year makes.

Happy birthday to me.

19 Weeks

Still in your pjs. I cannot get good pictures of you, sugar. That flash just throws you off. I'm sorry.

Well, you've had two full nights sleep over the past seven nights. It is better than we've seen in a while, so I'll take it. I do wish you'd sleep. I am feeling pretty rough these days, getting in bed with you at 7:00 pm, waking every 2-3 hours to nurse, and starting the day between 4-5 am. People ask if you are hungry when you get up...who knows if you aren't. When you fuss at night I feed you because it is the quickest way to get us both back to sleep. You eat like you're starved, so I assume that's what it is. Maybe I should try to soothe you other ways first. Perhaps that will break the night waking cycle. Who knows.


You are perfecting your form for rolling over, especially from the belly. You haven't been spending much time doing push ups and dropping. You're now manipulating your legs to get you on top of your arm and then push, push, push with your legs in an attempt to get over. Keep working on it. Almost got it.

I hope my hips don't look this big all the time. But Bug is always looking this
happy when we go for our walks...smiling at everyone we pass.

You're loving the solids. We're alternating rice cereal and applesauce, and you love both. You scream if I don't get another spoonful to your mouth quickly enough. You're going to be feeding yourself before long, I can just see it.


The cup has also entered your life. The silicone spout is great to chew on, like everything else. You get a few drops from it in your mouth and will give a few sucks now and then, especially if the water is cold.


This week at the pool you let me put you belly down and you kick-kicked your legs like you knew what you were doing. Loved it! And you will also mimic my splashing the water. You are so much fun.


Your daddy says you're happiest when one of is holding you and you are able to see the other. He's got that right. I like when your eyes lock on your daddy and you follow him around the room just waiting for him to look at you and and to make "eyes."


I am so excited to spend the next year with you. Honestly I don't have any hang ups or fears about someone else watching you during the day or not being a good mama heading to work. I just really want to spend time together. It's exhausting at times, but it is really so much fun. I knew I wanted to be a mom and have a family, but I am really surprised at how much I smile and giggle when we're together.

Happy 19 weeks, Bug!

Bathing Beauties

My guys. I don't know who's more excited to take a bath in the new tub, Bug or Charlie. They sure looked cute in there.

Fettuccine Alfredo

I usually do this with leftover grilled chicken, since we seem to have that on hand all the time, but lately Rouse's, the local supermarket, has been having fresh Louisiana shrimp for about $4 a pound. Can't beat that.

This is Charlie's favorite. The measurements are an estimate, all depending on how big of a batch I make and how much of each ingredient I have in the refrigerator. I always use spinach noodles because somehow that makes it seem healthier.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb fettucine
• 1/2 cup butter
• 3-4 cloves garlic or more, chopped
• 1 cup cream or half and half
• 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 1/2 chicken breast or 1 lb shrimp

Directions:

• Melt butter in skillet
• Add garlic and saute until lightly brown
• Add shrimp or chicken and saute for a few minutes, until shrimp are pink
• Remove chicken or shrimp and set aside
• Add cream to skillet and simmer
• Simmer until combined with butter, about 10 minutes
• Add paremsan, stirring until combined
• Add shrimp or chicken
• Toss with cooked fettucine noodles

Yum! We've been having this with grilled squash or a salad.

Back to it?

He slept. After a rocky start he finally slept for 9 straight hours, 8-4. He nursed at 4am and slept until 7.

I have no idea what, if anything, is different.

It is all a mystery.

Nap

Can you see him in there? I can't take my eyes off
him as I try to nap on the couch each day.

We're back to day one on night time sleeping. It's only coming in 2-3 hour stretches. What I had thought was a growth spurt is dragging on for quite some time.

I've tried the cereal and that didn't work. He's been put down on his tummy and that didn't work. I've restricted naps and that didn't work. I've increased naps and that didn't work.

He's going down in the evening without a problem, between 6:30-7:30 just as always. He's napping just the same. The only difference I've noticed in him is his nursing habits. He's not eating the same.

He's been considerably fussy during nursing, pulling away, arching his back. He's also been burping more during nursing as well.

Of course my grandmother thinks this is all related to me leaving him to work for a few days, giving him the bottle, and his being certain he gets enough time on the boob. No, she isn't a secret agent for the hard core lactation consultants at the hospital, but she is of a different era. I don't even want to think about what she'd say if he were in day care full time. But she has given me some sound advice that spans every generation of mothering: if he's doing it, he needs it...and it won't last forever.

I just hope this isn't an indication that my milk supply is inadequate forcing him to feed at night or that he's having reflux making it uncomfortable to nurse. I'm watching him, noting nursing times in a log, and hoping this passes soon.

For now I'll look at this as an excuse to keep him next to me in our room a little longer, reason to nurse him more frequently, and a reminder that I can give him what he needs.

18 Weeks

Likes:

• Kisses on your toes
• Patty cake
• Peek-a-boo
  
• Your Whoozit
• Your green froggie
• Getting your diaper changed
• Doggies by Sandra Boynton
• Watering the plants
• Forward facing in the baby bjorn
• Johnny jump up
• Daddy's voice
• Papi's silly faces
• Anything that you can put in your mouth to chew on
• Pool time
• Baths

Dislikes:

• Tummy time
• Sleeping and now you'll only do it in 2-3 hour increments
  
• Attempts to remove toe cheese
  
• Sitting, especially in the Bumbo
• Poops, you save up so it's only once a day lately which scares me

Vocabulary:

• High pitched squeel/scream = I need to burp, now!
• Sweet sigh
• Whiney cry, but rarely full blow scream
• Giggle
• Ooooooohhhh
• AhAhAhAh
• Lots of others that I can't even phonetically spell!

Working on:

• Sitting on the floor and using your hands in front to balance
• Rolling, back to front and front to back
• Push ups on your tummy
• Pulling up from sitting to standing by holding our hands
• Blowing spit bubbles
• Watching Mama's mouth and wondering if you can make the same noises
• Bottle sucking, getting easier with the Daddy

Lovin'

• Cousins
• Louisiana shrimp
• Baby videos
• Daddy on duty
• Lunches with Papi
• Pool water fresh
• Mini clif bars in the middle of the night
• Limeade
• Cold air conditioning
• Watered ferns
• Afternoon thunderstorms