weekends

Posted on November 1, 2010 by mommyinthemidwest

Because of my crazy work schedule, I have the luxury of enjoying 3, almost 4 day weekends every weekend. Or it feels like it anyway. So last Friday I got the chance to take baby Theo on our first solo sort-of-longish trip (almost 3 hours) to visit with a friend. It worked out pretty perfectly. We left during his morning nap time and came home at his bedtime. All my fears about traveling alone with him (by car, less than 3 hours) were alleviated. Anyway, we spent some time with Theo’s “aunt” (translation ~ my BFF of 17+ years) and she took some adorable pictures of my adorable boy that I just had to share.

We started off at a yummy local pizza place. I think Theo was just happy to get out of the car seat!

We went to a park to give him a chance to stretch his chubby legs and take in some fresh air. There were dozens of ducks in the water and he was mesmerized by them.

We couldn’t have asked for a prettier day.

Look at that slobbery smile. It was the first time he was actually big enough to really go in the baby swing. I think he knew it was a momentous occasion. And he LOVED it.

If that’s not a look of pure joy, then I’ve never seen one. Silly face, but definitely joy.

I love this sweet, rare, close-mouthed smile.

I love that he got his daddy’s eyelashes. But what’s a mother supposed to do with hair like this?

We went to Barnes and Noble to relax and waste some time, then stopped at Penn Station for dinner before heading back to our respective homes. I’ve tried to think of some ways that my baby boy could be cuter, but I just haven’t come up with anything yet.

I’m so lucky that he’s such a happy little man. And every time a friend asks to photograph him, I remind myself that I really must get a better camera. He doesn’t mind the photo shoots (this was his 3rd one in October). I hope to add some pictures of his Fall/Halloween shoot very soon!

a not-so-welcome first

Posted on October 27, 2010 by mommyinthemidwest

Baby Theo, 7 1/2 months old, has his first cold. And it’s complete with runny nose, congestion, and clinginess. I guess he isn’t coughing…yet…which is a good thing. Anyway, I also have my first cold in about 2 years. I was hoping pregnancy or motherhood somehow cured me of silly contagious illnesses so that I could be super-mom and not get slowed down by this kind of nonsense, but no. ‘Course not.

Of course I blame myself because I am no longer breastfeeding. Well, technically I am, but baaaaarely. And by barely, I’m talking about once every other day. I’m not pumping at work anymore. And when I do pump or nurse, it’s not that I feel like I need to. At this point, I know that my milk supply is not coming back. The thing is, I don’t really want to give up nursing. Ever since we figured out that Theo was waking up in the night because he was hungry, we have been supplementing with formula. It started out with one bottle a day and less than 2 months later, I am down to nursing him once a day or every other day. And I know he’s not getting much becuse when I do pump, I’m getting like 2-3 ounces. For a whole day (or two). That’s pitiful.

We still like to do it for the bonding time but I’m sure it is coming to an end very, very soon. I guess there are things I could have done to prolong the death of my milk supply, but I wasn’t up for the fight. Fenugreek, mother’s tea, drinking 86 glasses of water a day, etc. I am happy and proud that my baby was exclusively fed breastmilk until 6 months and continues to be fed some breastmilk at nearly 8 months. I just wish I felt like I’d had more control or choice over when it ended. It’s sad, much sadder than I thought it would be.

On the other hand, he gained a little over a pound in a month and is fitting into clothes that are the size he is supposed to be fitting into now. That’s a good thing, right? Over the summer, he was almost 6 months old wearing 0-3 month shorts. Now he’s in most of his 6-9 months stuff, even some of the 6-12 and 12 month shirts. He’s just right.

And he’s cute. And I love him. That is all.

Easy Peezy Fonzareezi

Posted on October 20, 2010 by mommyinthemidwest

I talked here about all of the nicknames that had developed over Theo’s few short months here with us. One in particular has stuck and developed a new life of it’s own. And that name would be:

“Sweet Peezus”

Easy enough to see how that name came from the endearing baby pet name “Sweet Pea,” combined with the common exclamation “Sweet Jesus,” right?

Well, now Sweet Peezus also gets called these names:

Peezus

Peez

Peezy

Sweet Peezus Brown (Sung to the tune of “Sweet Caroline”) and then there’s just…

Peezus Brown (which gets sung to the less popular theme song to “The Cleveland Show”…”my name is Peezus Brown and I’m proud to be…”)

And the newest one, Easy Peezy Fonzareezi

WHAT. IS. THAT?

And where did it come from?

Oh, Peezus. I’m sorry we’ve given you such a terrible nickname. We didn’t mean to, I promise! Maybe it won’t stick (if we’re all lucky).

I Love You, my little Peezus Brown.

~C~