Holy Crap!

Could I have taken any longer to write a new post?!?!?!

Sorry about that, but it's a long story... so, I broke my computer, so to go on the good ol' interweb I have had to go to the library... which actually isn't that bad, I love the library, except days like today where there must be like 4 different daycamps here, and a million screaming kids!... but that's besides the point.

Speaking on screaming kids in the library, mine isn't one of them! He's happy just to chew on my library card and watch all the other kids embarrass their parents... I love my little boy!

Speaking of H., he's growing so fast! Not growing so much as learning, and figuring out things (at his 6 month check up a few weeks ago he was 15.5lbs, and 27.75 inches long, putting him in the 10th percentile for weight and the 95th for height!)... he is experimenting with crawling, has all but mastered rolling over, both ways, and has moved on to banging things on other things to make all sorts of noises!

On my birthday a few days ago, he crawled! He was a week shy of 7 months and was wiggling on my bed while we had a morning snuggle, and got up on his hands and knees, and shimmyed a good 6inches forward! Since then, he's only gone backwards, but it's another step forwars!

As for work... well, it's not really work... more getting out of the house and talking to other moms (and sometimes grandmas) about my little guy, what works for us and what doesn't, and getting to see cute little(r) babies! I love it! At the end of the day I'm missing H., but I know he's always happy to see me!

So, nothing too new on this front, given the long wait, but I promise to be more regular in my posts!

Bad Moments...

So, the other day, I had an "I'm a bad mom" moment...

I didn't breastfeed. Well, I did. I tried. For weeks! And when that wasn't working and H. was losing too much weight, I pumped. And when that stopped being a viable option for feeding my son, I switched to formula.

I figured, with the stress of a newborn, and being a young, single mother, I couldn't deal with the stress of breastfeeding issues. And I wanted my son to be healthy. And now he is, but at times, especially when I'm talking to a mom who is still breastfeeding, I get some pangs of regret and I wish I had tried harder... but in hindsight, about 90% percent of the time, I feel like I made the right decision.

I wanted what every other mom wanted... a strong, healthy baby. And now H. is just that!

It wasn't an "I did something wrong" moment, more of an "I stopped doing something right for good reasons, but still regret it sometimes" moment.

I hope I'm not the only ones who get these...

Nothing New

Yup, nothing new... oh, except for MY NEW JOB!

So, I love working at baby boutiques, the ones thatsell cloth diapers and slings and carriers! Love them! The other day I was browsing the website of one, and decided to send in my resume and see if they were hiring... well, they were.

I had an interwiew on Friday morning, and thelady interviewing me (my new boss!) said she'd let me know, whether I got it or not, by theend of the weekend.

Well, Saturday night, I happened to have my email open, and one from her popped up. I wasn't feeling overly confident, but lo and behold, I got it!

I have to go to a baby wearing and cloth diaper workshop (my two favourite things!) just to get myself familiarized with all the products that they carry.

For now, it's part-time, but in the next few months 2 ladies are leaving for mat. leave, so then I'll have full-time. Which is good... it gives me time to learn things without being overwhelmed for 40 hours a week, and it also gives H. and I time to get used to being away from each other.

Speaking of H., my mom will watch him, until I can find something else!

But man, am I excited!

Tough Decisions

Yesterday was my moms birthday, and as I mentioned, we were having a dinner for her with all my siblings. This means I got to see my sister, who recently found out she was expecting, so I could chat with her about mommyhood (my favourite subject!).

Last week she had her IPS testing (outlined here) done, and we were talking about it. When I was offered it, I refused, and actually switched doctors because the one I was seeing was very adamant that he could not give me proper care without having it done.

My sister said if the tests came back with a 1 in 1 chance her baby would have Downs Syndrome, or any other genetic disorder, she would abort, claiming it would change her life too much (can you tell she's a first time parent?). I didn't want to be faced with that decision. I'm not judging her, or anyone, it is their choice... I just felt for me, being in one of the low-risk groups (young, healthy, no history of such in my family) and knowing that my life would change drastically after delivery anyways, opted not to do it... and I find myself explaining my choice more and more... for test thats optional, not demanded, more and more low-risk women are having it done. I'm not judging, but I just find it fascinating.

Knowing I'm pretty easy-going and can roll with the punches, I was sure I would be able to handle (as well as any other parent) a high-needs child. Knowing I was very low-risk, and having an intuition that everything was ok, I really dug in my heels and refused that test.

It makes me wonder about all the choices women have to make when they are expecting, finding out terrible news, and having to decide how to proceed, or if to do so. The toughness of pregnancy goes beyond the changing body and goes way into the change in mindset.

When you look at it, pregnancy is way more challenging than it seems.

Avoiding Chores

Yup, that's right, I'm avoiding chores. I hate them. Partially because we just moved and everything is a huge mess anyways, cleaning seems pointless... and, well, they're chores and no one wants to do them.

I spent the morning out and about. It's my moms birthday today, so I had to go to brunch with her (and some of my) church friends this morning, and then I had errands to run to get ready for birthdya supper tonight, which my sister and I are hosting... hence all the chores.

And it's not going too well. I mushed up my finger in between two pots in the dishwasher, then burnt the cake, and then spilled a whole bunch of the batter from cake number two down the front of my pants.

Altogether not one of my most chef-worthy kitchen attempts, but I'm working on it.

So, in lieu of messing anything else up, I'm sitting in my chair trying not to get frustrated. Working so far.

Best part about all this is, H. slept right through it (I couldn't post something without mentioning him at least once!)

All Quiet on the Home Front

Not every post can be exciting, brimming with news.

H. is back up to 10 hours of sleep at night. Eating around 7 or so, he usually is asleep by 8pm. And lately we haven't had any night-time wake ups. Awake at 6am (must work on that) and happy, as usual.

Unpacking is going. Not overly fast, but going. The kitchen is done, save for two half boxes.

And the Great Solids Adventure, featuring H., has been going along amazingly. Squash was great, and a few days ago we tried strawberries. And they went as well as the squash. MY kitchen is mad at me thought, for attempting my own baby food puree. I also made some other foods to freeze, while I was already messy... there is currently a very happy looking row of strawberry, peas, squash, and cauliflower purees on my freezer door. I'm very much looking forward to trying those out! I'm having so much fun with solids, and I think H. is too.

And, finally, H. rolled over! Both ways! Back to tummy yesterday morning, and then tummy to back yesterday afternoon! My little man is getting to be a big man! Sad but exciting!

And that's all. As I said, all quiet on the home front!

Sleep Update

So, as I said yesterday, H. and I were having problems sleeping... well, H. was, but I can't sleep if he isn't.

To update... Las night was the first night in a week that H. didn't end up in my bed at some point last night. He did wake up at 3:30 for his soother, and was awake at 6:15, but it was still the best sleep I've had since we've moved.

Baby steps. We'll get back to a full 12 hours with no wake ups. I'm sure of it.