One hurdle down, now on to the next. (Repeat a bajillion times until, well, forever.)

We did it. We started B on solids.

Thank you all so much for all your great input. You seriously all rock. (Did I really just use the term "you rock"?) Yes, yes I did and you do. There isn't a better way to put it. All you bloggy friends are so awesome.

So after much consideration, and reading your comments, we decided to start B on rice cereal. I went to the store and bought some veggies but I think I'm going to hold off for a week or two on those. Because B has only ever had breast milk in his little belly, I thought the rice cereal would be the best next step for us. And it was.

He loves it. He totally loves it and took to the spoon better than I thought. He also got more to the back of his mouth to swallow than I thought. It was so cute and fun to watch him reach for it. I am definitely glad we started. He was ready. Also I think it is helping his sleep considering I was only up with him once last night in a 12 hour stretch.

Poop situation: We started Sunday night. Monday morning he had 2 big poops. (Probably not the cereal yet.) Today, no poops as of yet. So it's technically been over a day without a poop. I will keep you all filled in on the poop situation. I'm sure the next poop will be nice and new smelling. I'm just hoping it doesn't take 4 days to get here.

The next hurdle: Sleep training WITHOUT being swaddled. I guess when they stop making swaddle blankets big enough for your kid, it's time for him to start sleeping spread eagle. THIS SUCKS. But it needs to be learned. Could you imagine me unswaddling my 10 year old every morning so he can get ready for school?

Yesterday we started sleep training just for naps. He doesn't get it. He thinks if his arms are out, it's time to play. 90 minutes of crying, trying to roll over, getting his legs stuck outside the crib, rolling back over, trying to paci, crying and crying some more, he slept for 15 minutes. The next nap he took in the car seat because we were out and about and his third nap I caved and swaddled.

So today we try again. 30 minutes of crying, rolling over, getting both legs stuck outside the crib while an arm is stuck under him he spits up and lays his face in it, strip the bed, new sheets, paci, rolling over some more (did not learn his lesson) crying and rolling over some more, me rolling him back, paci, and more crying he slept for 20 minutes. He is down again unswaddled and we are going on a half hour here. I'm impressed.

Oh yeah and just to jazz things up a bit, our video monitor BROKE last night. Yup, at 2am. Perfect. Beautiful. Luckily it still has audio, but the video is kaput. While waiting on a replacement, (Yes, Summer is sending us a replacement asap therefore so far I like this company) I am flying blind here folks.

Wish us luck.

Tiffany

Should I? Or shouldn't I?

Bradley is 5 months old.

Holy bleepin bleepity bleep.

How the bleep did this happen?

Where the bleep did the time go?

Ok so he is 5 months old and has gone from being my amazing sleeper from 10pm to 6am, to waking up three. bleeping. times. a. night.

This needs to change.

I think we might start him on rice cereal tonight.

Thoughts? Suggestions? Info? Please!

I know I would be starting him a whole month earlier than I had planned, wanted to, and that is recommended. That is the only reason I have such reservation. But all in all, I think he is ready. Actually I think he is so ready that I'm starting to feel bad if I don't give it too him. Nursing is going great and I haven't wanted to add anything to our schedule. Well maybe I just want to keep him an infant forever. But I can't. And he is pretty much shouting from the roof tops that he is ready.

For one, he just cut his first tooth!! I know, I can't believe it either. This morning hubs and I felt and it was totally out through the gums. Oh. My. Gosh.

Second, he has total head control and can sit up (assisted) like a little champ. I know he will be able to hold his head up and straight enough to swallow/eat.

Third, he is TOTALLY interested in what we are eating. He can be in the middle of active play and as soon as I put something in my mouth to stops, still as a statue, and watches me chew. It is hilarious. But also it is making me feel guilty that he's not eating anything yet. I think he totally wants to.

If we do this I am just so afraid and hope his little GI tract is ready for this. I've heard of babies getting horrible tummy pain and constipation. I don't wish that for him. Also, I just can't believe it won't just be him and my boobs anymore. It will be him, my boobs, spoons, cereal, and the bottle of left over breast milk I am going to use to make the cereal with. Whoa. And they said three's a crowd...

Anyone have any pointers on starting cereal? Anyone have any pointers on how to stop your kid from growing up so quickly? Anything will help!

Tiffany

A Few More Lessons

I have learned:

- If I need my baby to wake up, all I must do is make myself a meal. As soon as I sit down to eat it, he awakes, like magic. (At least he is helping me take off the baby weight!)

- The nature behind a blowout occurring depends solely on the position of the buttock during the dumpage, not the size of the load.

- It is IMPOSSIBLE to fold a fitted sheet. Even if it is crib size.

- The worst question you could ask me when I get back into bed AFTER I have crawled out of bed in the middle of the night to change a poopy diaper, re-swaddle, feed, and soothe a crying baby back to sleep is, "How is he?" What? Now? How is he now? You ask me how he is now? Well now he is perfectly fine! 30 minutes ago is a different story. How convenient that you would like to know how he is now. (I say with love)

- There is no feeling in the world that compares to the deepest love I have for this precious boy of mine!

"Here dogs, you can play too!" Kisses are wet!

Always smiling, and here laughing.

In Love

Melt my heart!

Tiffany

A Mom Staying At Home

That's what I am.

I am a Mom staying at home. I'm not a stay at home Mom.

Let me explain: I am a real estate agent and therefore, I get the luxury of staying at home to raise our son. I do not however consider myself a stay at home mom because I am technically a "full time" Realtor. So basically I am a mom, staying at home, but I'm on-call 24-7 to poopy diapers, hungry bellies, property calls, showing requests, tired cries, bored cries, active dogs, client concerns, price reductions, cost negotiations, dirty laundry and an occasional closing (a.k.a. payday).

Therefore, until we have no money concerns (cue hysterical laughter) I do get to stay at home, but I have to drop everything and run like a chicken with my head cut off every single time the phone rings or an email pops up. (Thank the good Lord for Blackberry's)

Hence my guilt about today. B had a rough day and I am to blame. Tears. We went to the grocery and he did great. In fact he loves it because there are so many colors and things to look at. Well I pushed my luck in the carseat when we got home. He was so content and about to take a nap I thought I would just leave him in the carseat, transfer him to the stroller, grab the dogs and go for a walk. You know that whole 2 birds 1 stone thing. Or is it a bird in the hand? Oh whatever. So instead of falling asleep, B decided he would throw a tantrum instead. Perfect. I had to walk 3/4 of the block home with a crying baby. Uhg. Finally we get home and I swaddle him and lay him down for a nap. Ahhh, all is good in the world. Until the phone rings. Problems. I had to run out to one of my listings and change out a sign within the next 40 minutes. More problems. The sign doesn't fit in my trunk and I had to tie my trunk down with rope. Uh, never done that before. Hubs? Where are you? Oh yeah, making the real money. Even more problems. I had to do it. (close your eyes) I HAD TO WAKE A SLEEPING BABY! (cringe) Poor guy. Back in the carseat B went, right where he came from, screaming. So down the road I went with a pissed off baby, a trunk swinging by it's hinges, and me clinching my hands on the wheel just hoping the trunk stays down and my baby stays....well...doesn't stay pissed.

All turned out fine in the end. Fine for everyone except for me and my guilt. I feel so bad for having to disrupt him. I know this will be the first of many...but still I feel shitty for doing that to him. I feel shitty for playing with him then in a split second when my phone rings having to lay him down and run to the other room to ruffle through some paperwork. .....Hum...maybe that's how he learned to roll so quickly??

Tiffany

Somebody Loves Swimming

I think I'm coming down with something.

And it's called appetite. Yes, I think I'm sick with an appetite.

Just a couple of weeks ago I was finally feeling "good". Back in my pre-preggo jeans, well more like 'stuffed' back into them. But hey, they were on and I was feeling good. Then last week, I feel ill to an appetite. I don't know what's going on but I am starving all the time. I am eating like I was eating when I was pregnant. Just this constant hunger and hole that needs to be filled. Needless to say, I'm not feeling so hot anymore.

I know I'm still breastfeeding (thank you extra calorie burn) and it probably has something to do with the fact that my milk is changing to fit my baby's needs. (I am so amazed how the body works like that. Hell, I am still so amazed that milk is coming out of my boobs and it has been doing that for almost 5 months.) Whatever the reason it's remarkable how significant it is.

Side note since I'm talking about food: Over the weekend we took B out to a restaurant for the first time. Since we had gift cards we went to the Olive Garden. Holy hell was it crowded. I never knew that it was such the hot spot. I think it must have something to do with the unlimited bread sticks. If I ever open a business, food related or otherwise, I will post a big sign up front that reads, "FREE CARBOHYDRATES." I believe that's the key to keep any small business in America afloat.

Tiffany

You've been in this world less than 5 months; How can you be bored?

Yes, that's right, my kid is bored. (I think)

Teethers- seen, chewed, done.

Rattles - They all taste the same, the all sound the same, moving on.

Exersaucer - Amazing...wait...ok done looking at it.

Play mat - I'm not dumb mom, same animals, different position.

Nursery, Master bedroom, Other bedrooms, Office, Living room, Dining room, Kitchen, Basement - done, Done, DONE!

I mean come on!!! You've been in the world less than 5 months, how can you be bored with anything???? Ok well, the only thing he isn't bored with are light up sing songy toys but that means I need to be right there making them sing every 20 seconds. Well, the good news here is that he hasn't seem to gotten bored at looking at my face. That's promising.

BREAKING NEWS!!!!!!!!!! I just looked down and Bradley is on his belly. I put him down on his back!!! Wahoo way to go B!!! Wait, have to go pick him up, he just got bored.

Tiffany