Finding Equipoise

Words to live by...

I don't have much to say today, but I've been doing a lot of thinking and evaluating lately.  Then I read today's post on Polly Poppin's blog.  I really needed to hear what she had to say and it got me thinking that maybe others do too.  So, go.  Read.  Think.  Listen.  Do.

Zoe's first bug

Poor Zoe is sick with her first cold.  It's so hard to see such a tiny person cough and be all stuffy.  She's had this cold for a few days but this morning she woke up and sounded all muffled because she was so congested.  Her cough sounded wet instead of the dry cough she'd been having and then she threw up twice from gagging on her phlegm.  Concerned, I decided to take her to the doctor.  Thank heavens everything is fine...just something she has to get over...but I sometimes find myself wondering what I paid a co-pay for.  Peace of mind is a good thing...but I hope as I become better at this Mom thing I'll be able to give myself peace of mind instead of paying for it.  In the end, it's worth a co-pay to make sure everything is ok rather than worrying, or worse, not going and something actually being wrong.  So, today I stayed home with Zoe for the second time this week and tried not to think about what it would do to my budget.  Wouldn't you know, besides a little more fussing than usual and a lot longer naps, she's actually pretty happy when she's sick with a cold.  I seriously love this child. 

P.S. I know I've been a picture slacker lately...my excuse is that I'm not feeling well either, I just moved and am still working on that, and well I just haven't had a lot of time.  Things will settle eventually and I will go back to posting weekly pictures, I promise.

Hello again internets!

It's so nice to be back.  After a week we still have some stuff left at the apartment, some cleaning to do, and some things to unpack, but I am in heaven.  Zoe's naps are better, she's sleeping ten hours at night, and she's already become comfortable here...not as hard of a change as I thought...just a couple days of unsettled fussing.  We are loving the space, being out of the city, and having a place to call our own.  The only downside has been paying for all the installations/deposits and the commute.  Other than that, we're having a blast.  More to come when I am all moved in!

We're Moving!

Tomorrow actually.  So, we're not going to have internet for a couple weeks as we have to wait for them to come install it.  I'll miss you terribly, but stay tuned for pictures and stories of this new adventure!

4 Months

Dear Zoe,

A few days ago you turned 4 months old.  As always I can't believe how fast the time goes.  I've been astonished at how much you've grown and changed this month.  The beginning of the month marked the start of a routine for you.  After a few months of you eating and sleeping sporadically, coming to pick you up and you bawling because you're so tired/ hungry, I decided something needed to change.  Grandma D bought us a book called, "On Becoming Babywise."  This book changed our lives.  By following their parent-directed, flexible routine, you became an entirely new child.  We also switched your bottles to a higher flow nipple and your eating habits improved dramatically.  You and all the people who care for you have enjoyed your new happy temperament and the ability to feel more in control.  I was surprised how fast you took to the new routine and how quickly you adapted and changed. 

Not only did we change these two things, we also moved you to your own room.  Grandma N came up for a week and helped us make all these changes while you were in your own home for a week to make things easier on you.  Plus, Mom and Dad felt better leaving you in your own room with Grandma N sleeping near you those first few nights.  The adjustment was seamless...almost as if you didn't notice.  I guess having your naps in there during the weeks leading up to the change helped.  Grandma N also did one truly amazing thing while she was here...she got you to take a binky!  You won't understand this until you're a Mom one day, but the ability to give you that to calm yourself in a bind, or until I can get your bottle made, or in stressful situations, has been a major help to me.  You are still picky and will only take it in these situations, but that works for me because I like to see your smiles and let you talk without a binky constantly in your mouth...plus I don't want it to become a major security item.  It is cute when you fall asleep on the floor with it though.

You have learned to do a lot of things this month.  You can roll from your tummy to your back.  You don't really like being on your tummy.  About a week ago I put you down with some toys for tummy time and within a couple minutes you rolled over.  You'd been trying to do this for weeks and we were so proud of you when you did, though it scared you a bit.  You still don't do it a lot, but every once in a while you will...of course never when I have a camera handy.  Here are a few attempts at capturing this:

   

   

While you don't always roll over, lately you've been rolling to your side or scooting to reach a toy.  I love to watch you figure out how to reach and grab something you want.  This is a lesson well learned for your future. 

You are very influenced by your environment.  When you get stressed you let me know.  However, you are starting to learn that sometimes crying just doesn't help the situation.  You let us leave you with a sitter successfully while we went to a haunted house.  You've had two Sundays now where you don't freak out at family dinner.  You've made peace with the car seat- which is good since we're taking our first long car trip the end of this month.  You amazed me by letting me take you to work on Halloween and being so good while I got in 5 hours of work.

The best new development this month is your laugh.  We will sit for hours and make silly faces, surprise you, play-scare you, or do whatever it takes to make you laugh.  No matter our mood, your sweet laugh is infectious.  Last week you reacted to being tickled by laughing- instead of just squirming- and now we can't get enough.  You have also found your voice and will babble for hours or have small conversations with people.  You still love to hear people talk, you're starting to be a little leery of strangers, but if they talk to you they'll usually win a smile. 

We love you.  We love to watch you learn and grow.  We hope to continue to give you plenty of opportunity to explore the world around you.  I know you'll continue to amaze me.

Love,

Mama