Like a Fresh Coat of Virtual Paint

As those of you who don't read this blog on an RSS feed may have noticed, I made some changes to the blog last night. I figured since I write in it fairly frequently, I might as well spruce it up. And so, I finally got around to fashioning a header in GIMP. I also added some pages (currently only "About Us" is active) and made a button for this blog that you can steal on the right sidebar. It's nothing fancy, but it's perhaps better than the button for my pregnancy blog that I made just using Picasa.

Don't worry; I don't have plans on plaguing you with ads any time soon, but I do like that it gives the blog a more polished look, even if it's still just for family and friends. And it's also a guarantee that you'll see Ethan's smiling face no matter what post you're reading!

Chase the Baby!

Ethan's really got this walking thing down now. He's walking at least 75% of the time. About a week ago, he stood up without pulling up a couple of times, but he seems to have forgotten how he did it so we're still waiting on that skill before he's walking 100% of the time. But he just goes and goes and goes, pulling up on the nearest wall whenever he tumbles. He's circumnavigated the downstairs of our house without stopping, which is a decent distance for his little legs. He usually has a toy in each hand, waving them in the air and occasionally banging them together with glee. He's an extraordinarily happy baby.

"Chase the baby!" is Ethan's favorite new game. All day long, he wants to run around the house while I chase after him. Sometimes I walk, sometimes I crawl, sometimes I growl. Whatever it takes to send him into fits of laughter. Here are a couple of videos for your amusement:

For the love of breastfeeding

Yes, this is a post solely about breastfeeding, so anyone who doesn't want to hear about it (i.e. my brothers), why don't ya skip this one? Or keep reading and you may learn something!

My nursing relationship with Ethan has been quite a journey, as all breastfeeding relationships are, really. In the beginning, it was painful and anxiety-ridden. For a while, it was just another thing on a long list of baby to-dos. Things I just HAD to do in order to take care of him but that I didn't necessarily enjoy doing. And now? Well, now time spent nursing is my favorite part of the day. Ethan hasn't yet figured out how to sign for milk, but he comes running whenever I sign it to him. And he has his ways of letting me know when he wants to nurse (namely, pulling my shirt down and fussing if I don't immediately unclip the nursing tank... subtle, isn't he?) Lately, he's been wanting to nurse every hour or two, which several months ago would have driven me crazy, but now I wouldn't have it any other way. This is in part because nursing is no longer an hour-long marathon. Instead, he crawls into my lap in the midst of playing, gets his fill, and flips off again, back to his toys. He often even brings a toy with him, never stopping his play during his cuddle with mom. Consequently, most breastfeeding occurs on the floor for minimal play-disruption. As I type this, he's just abandoned messing with his daddy's computer for a quick nursing session after utilizing his oh-so-subtle move. And after just 2 minutes, he's off again, exploring his world. In the mornings, I still get a long cuddle as he nurses for 20-30 minutes right after waking. It's the longest time all day that he's awake and relatively still, and we sit and rock in the silence of his nursery. And it's divine.

When I think about weaning, I actually feel depressed and anxious. I can't imagine not getting to nurse my baby. I have several friends who chose to wean at 6 months for various reasons, and I just think about all that I would have missed. If I stopped nursing then, I never would have gotten to see him stand up while nursing, never losing the breast while he bounced and crawled around my lap. And most women in the US seem to wean at a year, but just think of what all I would miss then! So when do I plan to wean? Whenever Ethan decides he doesn't want to nurse anymore. Even if that means I'm nursing a 5-year-old. Yes, really. I never thought I would feel that way. In fact, when I learned my mother-in-law breastfed my brother-in-law until he was three, I thought she was a bit nuts (sorry, Susan!) But now I get it. And I just hope and pray my supply will keep up for as long as Ethan wants to nurse. ((And I really hope I will have the supply to tandem nurse if that becomes our situation because that couldn't be good for sibling rivalry to wean Ethan so his little brother/sister can have all of mommy's milk.))

Speaking of weaning, the goal had been to wean Ethan off of formula supplements by around 10 months. Well, we didn't make it. In fact, we're not even close. But we did manage to reduce his supplements by 10 oz/day, so that's something at least. Whether that's from increased solids or increased milk supply, I'm not sure. I don't know whether the $100/month in medicinal supplements I'm taking to increase my supply are doing anything at all. I'll admit I finally dropped all pumpings except my evening one and instead I'm just offering Ethan to nurse more often throughout the day. It just got to be too hard to keep up with him now that he's walking. Sometimes I still feel like a failure or like I'm not doing enough to increase my supply. Sometimes I just feel hopeless no matter how hard I work at it. But at least he's getting as much as I can make him, even if it means he has to have some formula, too.

And I've learned from all the bumps this journey has taken. For starters, I made some mistakes early on that definitely could have had lasting effects on my supply. When we were still trying to figure out what was going on with Ethan's weight gain, the lactation consultant thought I might have oversupply since Ethan was having more than adequate diapers but still wasn't gaining. As a result, for a couple of weeks I did block feedings, nursing only on one side so that he could get more of the fatty hindmilk. And that couldn't have been good for my supply. I also would have been more vigilant about pumping early on and doing everything I could to increase supply. I just didn't realize how important it would be, and, as I said above, I still saw breastfeeding as just another thing I had to do. But I can't change the mistakes I made. And now I know better for next time. And in the meantime, I still have an awesome nursing relationship with my son, which I wouldn't trade for anything!

I know many women choose not to breastfeed, are unable to breastfeed, or choose to wean early on, but if you are able, give it a fair shake. It certainly hasn't been easy for me, but I've kept at it, and I'm so glad I did. It's a bond like nothing else in this world.

Homemade Baby Food

As I've mentioned previously, almost all of Ethan's baby food is homemade (the only exception is puffs), and the majority of it is organic, with much of it being local as well, coming from our CSA. While this has gotten me eyerolls from many people (including my husband), it is important to me that Ethan eats organic as much as possible for at least the first year because I just don't see the point in feeding my child stuff with pesticides, hormones, etc. in it. His daddy is fond of sneaking him Fla-Vor-Ice and Cool Whip, but there's not much I can do to stop him at this point so hopefully the good stuff Ethan eats will cancel that out!

So is making homemade baby food as easy as store-bought? No, but it's definitely more fun and tastes better! Plus, the cost savings are enough to make the time spent worth it. I'm a big believer in "don't feed your kid something you wouldn't eat yourself" so I taste every food and combination before giving it to Ethan. That includes the store-bought organic baby food he ate while in Atlanta, and let me tell you, after tasting it, I wasn't that thrilled to be feeding it to Ethan, nor was Ethan that thrilled to be eating it. How does the addition of ascorbic acid make apples and pears so very bitter? And the organics had less stuff added to them than conventional baby food! Anyway, suffice it to say that homemade baby food is better than store-bought in expense, peace-of-mind, and flavor, even if not in convenience.

So how do you get started? It's quite easy! For basic mashed foods (like bananas and avocados), just mash it up with a fork and you're good to go. For other purees though, you'll need a few things first (You can buy gadgets like the Beaba Babycook that do all the work in one machine, but they're fairly expensive, and since we already had all the tools we needed on hand, I don't mind the extra steps):

- Saucepan and steamer basket with lid
- Skillet with lid
- Oven
- Food Processor/Blender/Food Mill
- Ice cube trays (choose ones with a silicone bottom to make the less-hard-freezing varieties easier to get out)
- Saran wrap (to cover the ice cube trays)

Most fruits and vegetables can be steamed by boiling an inch of water in the saucepan, placing the fruit/veggies in the steamer basket on top with the lid on, and steaming until tender. For some vegetables (like green beans), boiling is better so you bring an inch of water to boil in the skillet, put in the veggies, put the lid on, and boil until tender. Likewise, ground meats will require the use of a skillet and some olive oil. Finally, the oven is useful for roasting vegetables like potatoes, sweet potatoes, and other root vegetables.

I've always used our food processor to puree, but I believe you can also use a blender or food mill. Depending on the fruit or vegetable, you may need to add additional water to get a smooth puree (this is where the recipe resources below come in handy). This is another benefit to making baby food at home because you can puree it to a texture your baby can handle, allowing you to leave it chunkier as baby gets older (Ethan was not a fan of how watery the commercial baby foods were).

Cereals are made using many of the same tools. For rice cereal for example, you just place brown rice in a blender and pulse until it turns into powder. Then add the rice powder to boiling water, and it magically turns into cereal! (For the exact ratios, check out one of the recipe resources below.)

Once you have made your puree, you can store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days or divide it into ice cube trays to be frozen for up to three months. Once the purees have frozen in the trays, you can put them into labelled freezer bags for easier storage.

Here is a step-by-step picture tutorial for making summer squash baby food:


You can find instructions with cooking times and recipe ideas in many places, but my favorite book is Cooking for Baby and my favorite website is http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com.

Did you know you can even make yogurt? After buying Stonyfield Farms YoBaby for several weeks, I decided to switch to Stonyfield Farms plain whole milk yogurt and mix my purees in. Then I discovered how easy it is to make my own yogurt, and I haven't bought any for Ethan in months. Here's a step-by-step:

1) Heat oven to 100 degrees. If your oven won't go that low, set it to the lowest setting and then open the door and fan the hot air out for a bit. Turn off oven.
2) In a large casserole container, mix 3 Tbsp. whole milk yogurt with 1/2 gallon whole milk. Make sure you stir them well because it won't work if you don't.

((Once my yogurt supply gets low, I transfer it to an empty Stonyfield container for easier storage than the casserole dish))

3) Place container in oven and close the door. Turn on the oven light and allow to sit overnight.


4) The following morning, pour off any liquid on the top and enjoy your homemade yogurt!

We've made four batches so far, and I don't foresee buying whole milk yogurt again.

So there you have it! Homemade baby food is well within anyone's reach, and your baby will thank you! And you can rest easy knowing exactly what is going into your child's food.

First Shoes!

Since Ethan is doing pretty well with this whole walking thing, we decided to go to Stride Rite today to have him fitted for his first pair of shoes so he can safely explore the outdoors. He took after his daddy's chubby baby feet, landing him in a navy sneaker in size 4W.

As you can see, he already looks older in them, especially when paired with his haircut! Once he finished his water, it was time to try them out:

"These things make walking harder! I have to hold onto Mommy's hands"

"OK, I guess I can push my train in them, too, but I'm NOT walking in them!"

We went outside to give them a true test, since he's so far refused to do much walking in the grass barefoot (and since that's the entire reason we got shoes!):

"I would much rather just sit down and explore, Mommy!"

"What the heck is this stuff, anyway?"

Finally, we convinced him to give walking in the shoes on the grass a try:

SUCCESS!

The Trials of Table Foods

Ethan is not doing well with starting table foods. Maybe it's because he just loves his purees. Maybe it's because of his ultra-sensitive gag reflex. Regardless of the reason, most attempts at getting him to eat finger foods have failed.

Sometime after he turned 8 months, I decided to try him on some chunks of food he'd already eaten and loved. I started with bananas. I diced some banana up into tiny pieces and convinced him to try one. He gagged so much that he vomited three times. After that, I was scared off for about a week before deciding to try puffs. The first couple of attempts led to more gagging, so we gave it a rest for a couple of weeks. Magically, he then seemed to "get" puffs and hasn't had any trouble ever since. I held off for a while on trying any other bits of finger foods because I feared making him vomit again and him losing all the calories he just drank.

I asked the pediatrician for suggestions at his 9-month appointment. We tried whole grain bread. Between the gagging and the refusal to eat it, I think he got down just a couple of pieces after multiple attempts at different sittings, toasted and plain. I tried bits of peaches and plums, but he wouldn't even let me get those near his mouth, much less pick them up for himself. One night during dinner, I offered him a piece of roasted potato. Once I finally convinced him to try it, he actually seemed to like it! We've had luck on a couple of other occasions with roasted potatoes, so I began to think maybe he was getting this table food thing after all.

The other morning, I made him scrambled egg yolks, since that's sort of in between table foods and a puree. He wasn't sure what to think of the toddler fork I fed him off of, but he seemed to do OK with the actual eggs. He only ate about half of it, but there wasn't any gagging. Finally! He seems ready! I excitedly got blueberries at the Farmers' Market this morning and sliced them in half just to be sure they weren't too big. And he absolutely refused to have anything to do with them. When he finally opened his mouth to let me slip one in, he made a face, chewed once or twice, and then began gagging. Thankfully, he didn't vomit up anything but the blueberry, but it was hardly a success. After that, nothing I did could make him have any interest in the rest of them. I even tried putting puffs on his tray amidst the blueberry halves, but that only resulted in a game of "Find the Puff!"

I'm at a loss. I know he'll eat them when he's ready, but I wish I could find something that would appeal to him as much as puffs do. Any suggestions?

Walking Update

Ethan is definitely on the move with his walking. He's walking from place to place about 25% of the time. I think he would walk full time if he could figure out how to get back up without needing to pull up on something after he falls. He turns like a pro, even 180 degrees, and he's working on speeding up, though he doesn't handle the turns as gracefully then. After a play date with his 17-month-old friend Addie the other day, he's even more determined to walk full-time. As soon as she left, he started walking from the coffee table in the front room all the way to the stairs, which is quite an impressive distance! While that's still his favorite trek to make (mostly because he likes climbing that first step and shaking the baby gate), he also amuses us by just bouncing from place to place like a pinball.

Here's a video of him walking around the office/playroom loft this morning:

Babywearing 101: Choosing a carrier

Anyone who has perused this blog knows that babywearing is something that's very important to me. In fact, along with breastfeeding it's probably the most important parenting choice for me. I've already detailed the reasons why in this post, but I want to provide an informational post for those looking for more information or (dare I hope) who would like to begin babywearing themselves. And so, I'm writing this post as an introduction to babywearing, detailing some basic information on common carriers. Also in the works will be a post on babywearing resources for those who want to learn even more and possibly a post on different types of carries in each of the carriers.

Let's begin with a basic word on carriers. No matter what type you choose, it is CRUCIALLY important that your carrier places the baby in a seated position. Commonly available carriers like the Baby Bjorn and the Snuggli are what are known in the babywearing world as "crotch danglers." Carriers or poorly-done-wrap-jobs that do not place the baby in a seated position are not only uncomfortable for both mom and baby, but they can also do permanent damage to your baby's spine! For more information on this, check out this article. Thankfully, there are many carriers on the market now that provide the proper positioning for your baby. It's just up to you to do the research, and unfortunately many parents are completely unaware of the danger. Now, on to the most commonly available types:

Wraps:
Stretchy - These wraps are fantastic for newborns, being both snuggly for baby and forgiving for a novice wrapper. Stretchy wraps are essentially long pieces of knit material, usually jersey cotton, wrapped and tied around the wearer and baby in various carries. These wraps mimic the environment of the womb and are quite comfortable for the wearer. They are also conducive to breastfeeding and offer some variety in the types of carries you do. However, stretchy wraps cannot be used for back carries, and, even though some instruction guides provide directions, should not be used for hip or forward-facing carries. (The exception to this rule is the Wrapsody Bali Stretchy Wrap which supposedly can be used for back carries, though I haven't tried it personally). For more information on why forward carries should be avoided, see the note at the end of this post. They are supposed to last up to 35 lbs, but most wearers become uncomfortable using a stretchy wrap once their child reaches around 15 lbs. Some of the most popular brands are the Moby Wrap, the Wrapsody Bali Wrap, and the Sleepy Wrap.

Moby Wrap in Black (Pocket Wrap Cross Carry)

Woven - These are the workhorse of the carrier world, in my opinion, and if I could only have one carrier, I'd choose a woven wrap, hands down! The variety of carries is seemingly endless with plenty of variations to suit all wearer's preferences. These can be used safely for front carries, back carries, and hip carries. While they are still cuddly for a newborn, they will last well into the toddler stage, with most wraps supporting up to around 40 lbs. They come in various lengths, materials, and styles. Most wearers can use a size 6 as their basic wrap, though larger wearers may want a size 7. Then, once you've become addicted, most wearers drop down two sizes for a mid-length wrap for carries that require less fabric. The only downside to woven wraps is that it does require a bit of a learning curve, even if you're graduating from a stretchy wrap since wovens are less forgiving of a sub-par wrap job. However, you're unlikely to find a more supportive and versatile carrier! Some of the most popular brands include Storchenwiege, Didymos, Neobulle, Girasol, and Vatanai, though BBSlen, Amazonas, and Dolcino are also great options.

Amazonas Classic Carry Sling 5.1m in Laguna (Double Hammock carry)

Sling:
Ring sling - When I first thought about babywearing, well before we were even married, I always figured I'd just get a ring sling, or even just make one. Yet somehow this was my most recent purchase! And now that I have it, I definitely get the ring sling love. Ring slings are essentially a long piece of fabric threaded through metal rings that can be used to adjust the size of the sling. As a result, sizing is less important, and the ring sling will grow with your child. They are very portable, easily being thrown into a diaper bag. Ring slings are also great for breastfeeding, especially in the cradle hold. Since I began using a ring sling with an older baby instead of a newborn, I have only used the hip hold, and I have found it very supportive and great for short trips. I've heard they are also great for toddlers who want to get up and down frequently. However, since all of the weight is supported on one shoulder, they have the potential to not be as comfortable as a two-shouldered carrier for long-term wearing. I chose to get a "slingified wrap," which is essentially a woven wrap cut down and made into a sling, and it is extremely supportive and wonderful! Some of the most popular brands include Sleeping Baby Productions, Sakura Bloom, and Comfy Joey.

Sleeping Baby Productions BBSlen Slingified Wrap Ring Sling in Passionfruit (hip carry)

Pouch - I have not actually tried out a pouch, but they share many similarities with ring slings with one important difference: they are not adjustable so sizing is extremely important for a comfortable carry. However, since there is no excess fabric, these are the most compact carriers out there. Some popular brands include Comfy Joey and Hotslings.

Soft-Structured Carriers:
When many people think of baby carriers, these are what come to mind. Popularized by brands such as the Baby Bjorn and Snuggli, soft-structured carriers (aka buckle carriers) are easy to use and are great options for older babies and toddlers. While many of them can be used by a younger baby and even a newborn, you lose some of the snuggly quality of the other carrier types. The soft-structured carrier is my go-to for out-and-about because it's easy to just grab it out of the car, snap it on, put Ethan in, and go. In fact, I store mine in the trunk of my car because I rarely use it at home or around the neighborhood. Most of the good soft-structured carriers (see the note at the beginning about why brands like the Bjorn and Snuggli are to be avoided) can be used for both front, hip, and back carries, allowing for some variety. However, there is not much room for variation in these basic carries so it's important to find a SSC that works for you and your baby. Some popular brands include ERGObaby, Beco, Boba, and Kinderpack.

ERGObaby Baby Carrier in Camel (back carry)

Mei Tai:
These Asian-style carriers combine the best of wraps and soft-structured carriers. Made up of a square piece of fabric with a strap at each of the four corners, these carriers allow a more customizable fit than a SSC without the "hassle" of wrapping. They are almost as soft and cuddly for a newborn as a wrap and are much more comfortable for the wearer to sit down in than a SSC. They can be used through the toddler years and are very supportive. Because they require less of a learning curve than a wrap, many wearers choose mei tais for back carries. In fact, if I'm looking for a quick back carry, I've gotten to the point that I pick up my mei tai before my woven, at least until I purchase my mid-length wrap. Many brands allow you to choose the fabric and strap colors, allowing for customized options, and there is some variety in whether the straps and/or waist is padded or if the carrier has a headrest or hood. You can even add on pockets and toy rings! These carriers are also a good option for a DIY version. Some popular brands include Babyhawk, Mei Tai Baby, and Ocah.

BabyHawk Mei Tai with Espresso straps and Orchid Fantasy Cream fabric showing (high back carry tied in front)

A word on forward-facing:
Some wraps include instructions for a forward-facing carry and some carriers advertise forward carries as a possibility (like the Beco Gemini and the Lillebaby Everywear), but most reputable babywearing manufacturers and advocates will tell you to avoid forward-facing carries at all times. Forward carries are not recommended for several reasons. First of all, it does not put the baby in as supportive a position as when facing inward. There is nothing supporting their spines since the spine is placed in an arched rather than rounded position, and it also puts additional stress on the wearer's back. Plus, it is really hard to achieve correct leg positioning in a forward carry, particularly in a wrap. Secondly, it does not allow your child any respite from her/his surroundings. Many parents choose the forward-facing carry because it allows the child to see what's going on. However, the child has nowhere to hide if the surroundings become overwhelming, nor can the child look to his/her parent to gauge emotion. Back carries are far preferable to this end because a child can still see all around, but if s/he needs to feel safe, s/he can just snuggle into dad/mom's shoulder and shut out the sensory overload. Furthermore, many children become accustomed to facing out and will then refuse to be carried facing inward, even though it's really better for them. Those just getting started babywearing can avoid this unnecessary stress and do what's best for their baby by wearing them facing inward from the start!


Any questions? What else would you like to know about babywearing? Let me know in the comments!

Ten Months

Dear Ethan,

I feel like this month has gone by faster than any of the others. But it's been so full of firsts and milestones! This past month saw your first time on a plane, your first haircut, and your first steps. You even ate more types of foods for the first time than any other month! You've gotten 4 new teeth. And my how you've grown! You're definitely in 12-month clothes now, even though I still try to squeeze you into a few of my 9-month favorites.

You're still sleeping like a champ with no sign of the nine-month sleep regression I'd feared. Most days you're down to only 2 naps, though if you have a shorter second nap you sometimes still want a third, and you're even sleeping in the crib for one of those naps most days. This is important because once Mommy goes back to school again, she'll be leaving during your afternoon nap so she can't wear you for that one anymore. Speaking of which, we finally found someone to play with you while I'm in class this fall, which is a huge relief for everyone!

You are learning so quickly these days. Putting things in and out and opening and closing and turning on and off. You put things away and throw your toys with such zeal it makes onlookers laugh. And your babbles still warm your mommy and daddy's hearts. I can't wait until your first definite word (and please make sure it comes before Mommy starts back in class!)

This next month will be the last full month Mommy gets to stay home exclusively with you, and it will be full of laughter, play dates, and cuddles. I cannot believe how quickly this first year is flying by, so let's just savor every moment.

Love,
Mommy

Mommy Must Haves: The Middle Months

(My apologies for the belatedness of this post! First I was waiting for pictures, and then our internet was down, so I'm just now getting it posted!)

This post is a continuation of the series on my must-have baby gear for the first year. The Middle Months covers months 4-8. You can read part one, The Early Months, here.

Must Haves:

1) Woven wrap (specifically an Amazonas Classic Carry Sling 5.1m in Laguna)

I continued to use the Moby wrap exclusively until Ethan was about six months old when he just became too heavy for a stretchy wrap. They can technically be used up to 35 lbs, but it's just not as supportive anymore. After doing some research, I discovered my love of wrapping could go on with a woven wrap! It is the same idea as the Moby, but it's made out of a specially woven material, making it extremely supportive for larger babies while still being cuddly enough for a newborn. Plus, woven wraps can be used for side and back carries that are unsafe to do with a stretchy wrap. I'll save more of my woven-love for an upcoming post on babywearing, but my Amazonas carries on the legacy of the Moby for the #1 spot.

2) ERGObaby baby carrier
Seriously? Two baby carriers in the first two slots? A-yup! Again, I'll save most of my explanation and adoration of the Ergo for a babywearing post, but the Ergo has been great for short trips out and about. While I still always wrap at home, if I'm just going in to the store or am somewhere where wrapping is less desirable, I can just plop him in the Ergo and go on my way. I received my Ergo for Christmas from my in-laws, but Ethan was still too little for it. I tried it starting at 4 months, and Ethan hated it at first! I did some research and tried sticking a receiving blanket under his butt, which seemed to help, and by 5.5 months, he was just fine in it. He still definitely prefers being wrapped, but you can't beat the ease of a soft-structured carrier.
(Disclaimer: This picture was taken with Ethan at almost 10 months, but I didn't have any pictures from earlier)

3) Fisher-Price Laugh & Learn Jumperoo

As seen in this post, Ethan loves his Jumperoo, and we loved having a safe place for him to play while we did short tasks. We limited the amount of time he spent in it, of course, per recommendations, but I think he could happily play in it for at least a half hour at that age. Right around eight months, he started rebelling against it some because he wanted the freedom to crawl around, but he still loves playing with all the toys from the outside as he cruises around. And I have all of the little songs memorized. Not sure if that's a good or a bad thing!

4) Graco Pack-n-Play

Once Ethan became mobile, containment became key for those times we just couldn't hold or watch him as carefully as needed. Most often, he goes in the Pack-n-Play while I'm washing bottles or fixing lunch or dinner. He has his walker in there to climb on, as well as several of his favorite toys, and while it's no substitute for Mommy and Daddy, he usually doesn't mind it too much for short periods of time. On our side, though, it's been a life saver as it keeps my little mischief out of trouble!

5) Fisher-Price Space Saver High Chair
For the first few weeks that Ethan was eating solids, I fed him while he sat in my lap. This had the potential to get very messy, but since he could already climb out of the Bumbo seat, this was the safest way. I didn't want to get a huge high chair because they are bulky and just look bad (and the ones that look nice are too expensive!), so this high chair was perfect for us! It straps onto almost any chair but functions just like a full-sized high chair, complete with removable tray and cover. Plus, when Ethan is older, it will convert into a booster seat. As an added bonus, the color works well with the walls in the kitchen and dining room, so it blends into our decor even better!

We also liked:

1) Boon Grass Countertop Drying Rack
I cannot tell you how much I made fun of this product for a very long time. It just looked stupid! I remember laughing when I saw my cousin registered for it. Who would put that on their counter??? This girl, apparently. For several months after we started supplementing, I dried bottles and parts on paper towels on the counter. It did the job, but it looked pretty crappy. So finally I gave in to our need of a drying rack of some kind. I researched and researched and imagine my surprise when every place I looked recommended the Boon drying rack. I contemplated getting the Dr. Brown's drying rack anyway just to save face, but I couldn't argue with the comparisons. I wish we'd had this since the first time we used bottles because it holds so much and looks so much better than paper towels. I even recommend it to friends! The only reason this is on the Middle Months instead of the Early Months is because I took so long to give in to it, but I'm not looking back now!

2) Bumbo Baby Seat

The Bumbo was a great item and would have earned a higher place on this list if Ethan hadn't figured out how to get out of it quicker than most babies. Once he could hold his spine straight but before he could sit up stably by himself, the Bumbo allowed him to be upright without one of us holding him. Plus, again before he could climb out of it, it kept him out of trouble while I washed bottles or did laundry or even while we ate meals. There are big warnings all over the Bumbo about not putting it on a raised surface, but I'll admit it ended up on the counter or dining room table quite often, though never without us standing right by him. We started using it right around four months so he was sitting independently just two weeks later, but we still got a few more weeks use out of it before he began climbing out (and of course the first time he climbed out, he was on the counter... so maybe that warning should be heeded after all). We also received the tray that goes with it, but we didn't get as much use out of that. So even though we didn't get to use the Bumbo for as long as most parents, it still was a big help during that in between time.

Learning Opposites

Ethan adores his train walker, and an additional fun feature is the seat that opens and closes. We've been working on the difference between open and closed for a while, but yesterday I added the difference between in and out with one of his megablocks. He took to it wonderfully, and one of his new favorite activities is opening the seat, putting the block in, closing the seat, opening the seat, taking the block out, closing the seat, repeat. It's so cute and shows just what a smartie he is!

I caught a bit of it on video this morning:

First Steps?

In continuing his momentous week, Ethan may have started walking today. I say "may have" because I'm still not sure it counts, and crawling is definitely still his default mode of transit, but he definitely took steps.

Around lunchtime, just before his afternoon nap, I always offer him to nurse again. We're usually sitting on the ground playing, so I sign for milk and he usually comes happily crawling into my lap. Today was no different, and after he'd had his fill, I stood him up to work on standing unassisted. His train walker caught his eye, and before I knew it, he took 3-4 steps and grabbed hold of it before taking off. And yes, I was so surprised I'm not even sure how many steps he took! I extracted him from the train and stood him up again to try to get a repeat performance, but he just got down and crawled to it. So I offered him to nurse again, he did, and then I stood him back up. Once again, he took 3 steps to reach the train!

We tried to recreate the scenario this evening and get some video, but Ethan didn't want to cooperate. However, here's some of the video so you can see a shaky step or two.



What do you think? Does this count as his first steps or does he need to be walking longer distances before it really counts?

First Haircut

As mentioned in the last post, Ethan received his first haircut on our trip! My brothers and father have gotten their hair cut at Tommy's ever since we moved to that neighborhood when I was 4, and he'd been asking to cut Ethan's hair for months. Since Ethan's hair was constantly in his eyes and looking quite shaggy, I finally relented. Overall, it went pretty well, and he certainly is cute with his new look. We also ran into an elementary school teacher of mine who had taken her grandson to get a haircut, so it was an extra fun adventure. Without further ado, here's the photographic evidence:

Playing with Grandmama's camera case and oblivious to what Tommy's about to do

Starting to catch on and not happy about it!

Standing up makes everything much better!

And if you're really invested in seeing how Ethan's first haircut went:

Before:

After:

Atlanta Adventures

We're back! We spent a week down in Atlanta visiting family, and it was a wonderful and eventful time! First of all, this trip was Ethan's first plane ride. He did wonderfully, much to my relief! My new mei-tai carrier arrived just in time, and I managed to get him to sleep for his nap at the gate before boarding, so I hoped he would just sleep the majority of the flight.

Unfortunately, about halfway through boarding, the rather large man sitting in front of us plopped into his seat with a thud that woke Ethan from his slumber, and I was unable to get him back to sleep. Thankfully, he awoke happy, and between nursing, a banana, and a pocket watch, he ate and played the rest of the flight with no crying.

He definitely was feeling the effects of both the trip and only having a 30-minute nap, though, and he was pretty fussy all through dinner with my parents and oldest brother. My parents have gone all out in equipping their "nursery," formerly my youngest brother's room, but that night was his first time sleeping in there because at Christmas, he slept in my room. After about 15 minutes of fussing that first night, he drifted off to sleep, and we had no problems any of the other nights. In fact, he slept in until almost 8 AM on several occasions, which is unheard of at home!

Thursday was a day for Mommy and Daddy so while Ethan was under the watchful eyes of his grandparents, we went to see a movie (in the theater!), had lunch out, did some shopping, and went to our favorite Atlanta restaurant for dinner. It was a lovely belated anniversary celebration. And while Ethan burst into tears as soon as we left, he had so much fun playing with Grandmama and Grandpapa that he hardly missed us:




Friday we spent some time at home with my parents before all heading up to spend time with Ethan's other grandparents, his Aunt Martha, his Uncle Alex, and their respective significant others. Ethan's grandma keeps another baby several days a week, and she had eyes on his puffs! At one point, she stole the container from him and handed him a book in exchange! What a smartie!

Saturday we headed down to meet Ethan's maternal great-grandmothers for lunch and went back to one of their houses for play time afterwards. Ethan got to play with the same toys his mommy played with years ago and enjoyed spending time with his great-grandmothers, his Uncle Madison, and his Uncle William and his girlfriend Andrea.

On Sunday my high school friend Leah came over to meet Ethan and catch up since we hadn't seen one another in almost 2 years (sorry for the cut-off picture).

That afternoon, we went out shopping with Grandmama, and we concluded the day with dinner with both sets of grandparents, Uncle Madison, and Aunt Martha and her boyfriend. Ethan entertained them all with his love for yogurt.

For the Fourth, we headed to a big gathering of Ethan's paternal relatives, many of whom had yet to meet Ethan since we missed that Christmas celebration. Even though Ethan and I spent a couple of hours of it (including lunch) in a back room while Ethan ate and napped, it was great to see everyone and show Ethan off.



Our last day in town was another momentous occasion as Ethan received his first haircut! That will receive a post of its own since there is video of the whole proceedings, in addition to numerous pictures. We had a final lunch with Grandmama, Grandpapa, Uncle William, and Andrea before heading back to the airport to fly home. I didn't even attempt a nap this time, so Ethan stayed occupied with nursing, yogurt, and lots and lots of puffs!


It was so great to see everyone, and Ethan certainly loved all of the attention. He is getting closer to walking every day, standing pretty well unassisted. He also developed the new skill of cleaning up his toys. I'm pretty sure he thinks it's a game, but every night we were there, he put up his blocks before bed:




Thanks to everyone who made our trip such a delight!