Here is where we are in our diaper free world. We have made some great progress. Jaxon's signals have changed so much from when we first started our journey. He now gets quite fussy and audible when he needs to pee or poo. He will get very squirmy when being held and not be consolable if he is playing on the floor by himself. It is so nice to understand almost all of his cries and fussiness. I can meet his needs so much quicker which increases our relationship exponentially.
I don't like to focus on catches and misses, but he has been doing exceptionally well the past couple of weeks. We had a rough few weeks during his and my sicknesses. Needless to say, we weren't communicating very well. As he started to get better, our communication picked right back up. He has not had a poo diaper (minus one because I didn't get out of bed in time) in about 2 weeks!! I still probably miss about 30% of his pees. Sometimes those misses are a small tinkle before he makes it to the bathroom.
A few funny things that have happened include:
I wouldn't consider this incident a true "miss", but we didn't quite hit the toilet. He woke up one morning and was quite squirmy. I got him undressed and headed for the bathroom. We got just inside the bathroom door and started to position for the toilet seat when he poo'd all over the bathroom floor. Mind you, he was in my arms...so this was quite a distance from the floor. Yeah, we had high velocity splatter! I don't think I was quick enough on the draw for him that morning.
Another thing is his noticeable excitement for pooing. I make a "psss" noise when he pees and say "poo" when he poos. He has a little grunt for poo, waits for me to say "poo" then smiles and laughs at what he has done. It is really cute and I can't help but laugh.
Our journey is good! We have some upcoming new things like more teething and creeping and crawling have commenced! We will see what new excitement this brings!
Monday, March 21, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
My Little Joey
My first topic of choice is babywearing. Babywearing is the practice of wearing or carrying a child in sling, wrap or other form of carrier. It is a practice that has been done for centuries in cultures around the globe, but has really only become popular in our society more recently. Advocates such as Dr. Sears have brought the practice into everyday living here in America. It is widely popular among attachment parenting folks.
I love babywearing. We started early with traditional babywearing known as kangaroo care. It is named this after, well, kangaroos or marsupials. The little joeys are born "premature", and rely on being carried in their mother's pouch for care and survival.
We continue to babywear with wraps and soft structure carriers. I prefer wraps for the versatility that they provide. Don prefers the soft structure carrier so that he looks more "manly". My next plan is to get a mei tai, though. It promotes an amazing amount of bonding. You can read much more about babywearing here or here. You can also learn how to use many of the wraps here.
Some of the great benefits that I have personally found include: increased breastfeeding on demand, freedom of having both hands to get tasks accomplished, less crying and irritability because I am able to answer needs quicker, ease of communication between Jaxon and I (especially helpful with EC), more mobility and less fret of stairs that comes with having a stroller, increased socialization of Jaxon because he is face to face with everything that I do, strengthened core muscles without having to stress about tummy time, and a good way to keep warm!!
Don't take my word for it. I encourage anyone to spend some time babywearing. I think you will quickly be sold!
What are your babywearing experiences? What are you favorite carrier or wraps? Any pictures?
Friday, March 11, 2011
Point of a Blog
So there are thousands of blogs out on the internet now. There is a blog for just about anything that you can think of. If you want to read something that you are pro, that you are con, that you care nothing about, that slightly interests you or that you feel passionately about...it is out there.
That being said, I am adding to the mix. I am adding to the mix mostly for my own benefit. It gives me something to do. It gives me a place to put my crazy thoughts. If people read it, that is great. If people choose not to read it, that is also fine. This is a virtual public diary. No old book underneath my mattress, no lock and key...just a public site to air my dirty laundry. So I am sort of defining my blog right now (although the definition is subject to change).
I have written about an abundance of things between this blog and our old blog site (that I closed a while back). I have written family updates, my thoughts on parenting, random thoughts about public event and so on.
I have a few blogs that I want to write. These blogs will definitely define my parenting style even more so. My point is not to offend or even tell anyone how to parent (which I really hope you wouldn't listen to me). My point is to talk about some of the things that work for us, why they work, how we do them, and why I like them. I truly welcome feedback, questions and thoughts from anyone whether they be for or against the topic at hand. That being said, I don't appreciate maliciousness (from anyone). I know everyone has a thought on parenting, and we should all be open to listening.
After having many conversations with our pediatrician, fellow colleagues, friends, other mothers and even relatives...I have determined that I am a countercultural mama. I am okay with that definition. There are people far more crunchy than I and people far more mainstream than I. I don't think you are wrong in what you do, hoping that you are doing the best that you can with what you know and what is working for your family. That is all I am trying to do.
All of that being said, my post will be of a more crunchy and natural nature. Some of you may agree, disagree or not give a hoot. The only thing I ask is that it not turn into a malicious debate between anyone!! I do not intent to offend people with my thinking; but it may happen because I can't please all. So stand by (all my crazy "fans" {a very small amount of people, I'm sure}) for upcoming posts that are now clogging my head...
That being said, I am adding to the mix. I am adding to the mix mostly for my own benefit. It gives me something to do. It gives me a place to put my crazy thoughts. If people read it, that is great. If people choose not to read it, that is also fine. This is a virtual public diary. No old book underneath my mattress, no lock and key...just a public site to air my dirty laundry. So I am sort of defining my blog right now (although the definition is subject to change).
I have written about an abundance of things between this blog and our old blog site (that I closed a while back). I have written family updates, my thoughts on parenting, random thoughts about public event and so on.
I have a few blogs that I want to write. These blogs will definitely define my parenting style even more so. My point is not to offend or even tell anyone how to parent (which I really hope you wouldn't listen to me). My point is to talk about some of the things that work for us, why they work, how we do them, and why I like them. I truly welcome feedback, questions and thoughts from anyone whether they be for or against the topic at hand. That being said, I don't appreciate maliciousness (from anyone). I know everyone has a thought on parenting, and we should all be open to listening.
After having many conversations with our pediatrician, fellow colleagues, friends, other mothers and even relatives...I have determined that I am a countercultural mama. I am okay with that definition. There are people far more crunchy than I and people far more mainstream than I. I don't think you are wrong in what you do, hoping that you are doing the best that you can with what you know and what is working for your family. That is all I am trying to do.
All of that being said, my post will be of a more crunchy and natural nature. Some of you may agree, disagree or not give a hoot. The only thing I ask is that it not turn into a malicious debate between anyone!! I do not intent to offend people with my thinking; but it may happen because I can't please all. So stand by (all my crazy "fans" {a very small amount of people, I'm sure}) for upcoming posts that are now clogging my head...
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Have You Got It...Have You Got The Fever
Now I am sure that there are many, many Bieber crazed girls out there that are now very disappointed to find out he has a girlfriend. Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez have officially "come out" with their "relationship." This is such a sad moment for his fans who were really hoping that they would be THE ONE!!
Okay, so I don't really have the Bieber Fever as that would be quite creepy, seeing that he is 17. I do remember having another kind of crazy crush when I was much, much younger. It was for New Kids on the Block. Yeah, some of you remember this time. The late 80's and early 90's brought about the NKOTB boy band craze! I have a class picture from school in which I am wearing a NKOTB sweater with the letters written in neon colors! I had tapes and posters and even framed portraits! Yeah, I was in love!!!
That crush got greatly destroyed when NKOTB performed in Time Square for New Year's Eve with Backstreet Boys this past year. So sad.
So NKOTB moved on and I never married Joey, Jordan, Jon, Danny or even Donnie. Oh well!
So what was your big crush growing up?
Okay, so I don't really have the Bieber Fever as that would be quite creepy, seeing that he is 17. I do remember having another kind of crazy crush when I was much, much younger. It was for New Kids on the Block. Yeah, some of you remember this time. The late 80's and early 90's brought about the NKOTB boy band craze! I have a class picture from school in which I am wearing a NKOTB sweater with the letters written in neon colors! I had tapes and posters and even framed portraits! Yeah, I was in love!!!
That crush got greatly destroyed when NKOTB performed in Time Square for New Year's Eve with Backstreet Boys this past year. So sad.
So NKOTB moved on and I never married Joey, Jordan, Jon, Danny or even Donnie. Oh well!
So what was your big crush growing up?
Sunday, February 27, 2011
To Vaccinate or Not: That is the Question
Tuesday's decision by the Supreme Court in the case Bruesewitz v. Wyeth has caused quite a stir among many parents pro and con vaccines. The current federal law states that vaccine makers cannot be sued for "side effects that were unavoidable even though the vaccine was properly prepared and was accompanied by proper directions and warnings." The court voted 6 to 2 in favor of the vaccine maker. Read the specifics of this case here.
Whatever your take on vaccines may be, the fact that the maker cannot be held liable in lawsuits is crazy. I personally do not agree with a mass immunization schedule that is currently promoted by the CDC and AAP. This doesn't make sense to me because not every kid is alike and not every family history is the same. Our country currently allows for this type of thinking, but with more rulings like the one above, this may soon be taken away. The CDC and AAP both desire mandatory vaccinating of the American population. I am not sure that I desire my child's health to be left in the hands of the government and the CDC who all have their hands in the same piggy bank as the vaccine manufacturers.
You may not agree with me on this fact, and that is all good. If you just aren't sure which direction to go, do the research for yourself. Here is a great blog "blueprinting" both sides. Her blog does slightly lean to one side, but it does cover both arguments. Do your research and be educated about your child's health. You have way more invested in your child than the American government does. You have his or her best interest in mind.
Whatever your take on vaccines may be, the fact that the maker cannot be held liable in lawsuits is crazy. I personally do not agree with a mass immunization schedule that is currently promoted by the CDC and AAP. This doesn't make sense to me because not every kid is alike and not every family history is the same. Our country currently allows for this type of thinking, but with more rulings like the one above, this may soon be taken away. The CDC and AAP both desire mandatory vaccinating of the American population. I am not sure that I desire my child's health to be left in the hands of the government and the CDC who all have their hands in the same piggy bank as the vaccine manufacturers.
You may not agree with me on this fact, and that is all good. If you just aren't sure which direction to go, do the research for yourself. Here is a great blog "blueprinting" both sides. Her blog does slightly lean to one side, but it does cover both arguments. Do your research and be educated about your child's health. You have way more invested in your child than the American government does. You have his or her best interest in mind.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
On the Job Training
This has been a week of firsts in a lot of ways for me. It has been a wonderful week and it has been a ROUGH week!
Parenting is on the job training. You don't get a trial run at it (like many other things in life). No matter what parenting philosophy or lack of philosophy that you follow, no matter how many books you did or did not read, and no matter how much good or bad of a job you think you are doing rearing your children...there is always room for improvement. Sometimes that learning process is through happy times and sometimes it comes about by mistakes.
For my learning curve this week, I learned that just because Jaxon performs well for national television on Monday morning doesn't mean he is going to remain in that same jovial mood for the entire week. Maybe I should have the GMA crew here more often. They seemed to put him in a trance.
I learned that even when mama is sick, Jaxon still wants to be entertained 24/7 (during the awake hours which don't always coincide with mine).
I learned that he somehow senses that I am sick and starts to give me true cuddles along with reaching for me to "pep" me up for the upcoming playtime.
I learned that once he starts learning a new task, he doesn't want to give up until it's conquered (ie: crawling and sitting) for anything that I may have in mind!
I learned that because of the last above said statement, you don't place and undiapered child on your lap until you are really ready to pay attention to his potty signals because he has been holding his potty trying to master his new skills.
I learned that mommy better be ready when increasing diaper free time and decreasing misses!
But most importantly, I learned that even though I am sick and thought that I wanted a "break"; I really didn't. I thought I wanted Don to take him and comfort/play with him while I sat on the couch and rested. Instead, I really just sat there watching him and waiting for him to come back to mommy to eat so I could snuggle. It's true...I'm a sucker for his cute little chubby cheeks and big "I'm happy and full" grin that I get when he eats now!
It's a tough job, but somebody's gotta do it!!
Parenting is on the job training. You don't get a trial run at it (like many other things in life). No matter what parenting philosophy or lack of philosophy that you follow, no matter how many books you did or did not read, and no matter how much good or bad of a job you think you are doing rearing your children...there is always room for improvement. Sometimes that learning process is through happy times and sometimes it comes about by mistakes.
For my learning curve this week, I learned that just because Jaxon performs well for national television on Monday morning doesn't mean he is going to remain in that same jovial mood for the entire week. Maybe I should have the GMA crew here more often. They seemed to put him in a trance.
I learned that even when mama is sick, Jaxon still wants to be entertained 24/7 (during the awake hours which don't always coincide with mine).
I learned that he somehow senses that I am sick and starts to give me true cuddles along with reaching for me to "pep" me up for the upcoming playtime.
I learned that once he starts learning a new task, he doesn't want to give up until it's conquered (ie: crawling and sitting) for anything that I may have in mind!
I learned that because of the last above said statement, you don't place and undiapered child on your lap until you are really ready to pay attention to his potty signals because he has been holding his potty trying to master his new skills.
I learned that mommy better be ready when increasing diaper free time and decreasing misses!
But most importantly, I learned that even though I am sick and thought that I wanted a "break"; I really didn't. I thought I wanted Don to take him and comfort/play with him while I sat on the couch and rested. Instead, I really just sat there watching him and waiting for him to come back to mommy to eat so I could snuggle. It's true...I'm a sucker for his cute little chubby cheeks and big "I'm happy and full" grin that I get when he eats now!
It's a tough job, but somebody's gotta do it!!
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