Lifelines

I honestly don’t even know what to say here. Check this out:

Am browsing blogs tonight, hitting up Google Blog Search for interesting and healthy things to grind up for my new eater of slop.

And I come across this blog that states that babies do not have ptyalin, the enzyme used to break down starchy stuffs until 18 months of age. She further goes on to say that babies who ingest starches before this time get all mucoused-up because they can’t metabolize it…thus the runny noses and such.

I sat back in my chair and thought for a second. This can’t be right. Can it? She does not quote any medical journals or anything in her post. So I (you know what I’m going to say…) google “ptyalin, babies”. And sure enough. She is correct. There seems to be a bit of flexibility with the age of the child (perhaps not necessarily a firm 18 months) but most of what I’ve read seems to favor the arrival of the enzyme with the arrival of teeth. As in more than the front. It’s suggested that babies don’t have the enzyme to properly handle starch until they have teeth because this is when nature expected them to be EATING starches! Makes sense, no?

What’s problematic with this is 1) my God, rice cereal…a stripped down carbohydrate (can you say STARCH?)essentially…is and has been recommended and Baby’s First Food since…well, since a long-ass time.

And my number two reason for finding this a little wack-a-doo would be this:

Two nights ago, I mixed Creux’s banana with a few tablespoons of brown rice cereal. I did it again last night and tonight. Yesterday he woke up with a runny nose, faucet-like even. Today was worse… still runny nose and now his eye is clogged with gunk and is bloodshot in the corner.

No one in this house is sick. None of the other kids. Not me or Charlie.

Coincidence? Maybe, but I doubt it. And how many “colds”, ear infections, tummy-aches might actually be linked to this missing enzyme/pediatrician-recommended first food combination? Wouldn’t it really make more sense anyway to feed our babies natural foods first since well, since that’s what nature provides and that’s how we’re intended to eat?

I’m going back to feeding him just fruits and veggies until later. We’d been wanting to wait anyway until all these lucious, juicy fruits are in season and we’ve just got a few more weeks to go. And now I’ve really got a reason to wait.

I really had no idea how much I would love babywearing. No clue.
And I did try it, even waaaaay back with Chas (and to prove just how durable those little Baby Bjorn carriers are…the one we’ve used religiously with Creux was bought for Chas…11 years ago!).

But I didn’t like it then. And I really didn’t like it with Rhyse. I was all about that stupid Peg Perego stroller (which I hated more than the Bjorn but it cost so much, I had no choice but to use it. And use it. And use it. And the bucket seat we have for babies is STILL part of that set though I refuse to use the stroller anymore. I’ve suffered long enough). Greer came along and while I wanted to use a sling, I was simply over-whelmed at all my choices (padded? non-padded? ring-sling? what type of ring, metal? which fabric…what I really like or what is practical?). I spent hours researching them, hours turned into months. Suddenly she could sit up alone and I bought a cute stroller instead, regretfully.

Then came Creux. Being that Greer and Creux are only 26 months apart, I had no choice but to wear him, I absolutely needed my hands free. It was the only logical thing to do, since I wasn’t using that horrible stroller (and yes, I know others have Peg Perego’s and love them…however, I am not them) and the stroller I bought for Greer is not compatible with the infant bucket seat.

I ordered a sling from a company called Zolowear (I’ve recently seen these at Whole Foods!) and we used this during Creux’s infancy. Though it was a bit complicated for an amateur slinger, it came with a DVD and with Charlie’s help… we figured it out. I loved that it was adjustable, Charlie used it as much as I did, and it was very portable AND perfect for a newborn to lounge in. What I didn’t like was that if Charlie wore it, I spent 25 minutes freezing my ass off in a parking lot trying to adjust and re-adjust it back to my size. Some people get this easily. I found myself too distracted by the cold (it was winter during the time I used it) and my other children darting around parking lots while waiting for me to properly sling the baby. I’ve seen other mommies with these ring-style slings and it seems like second-nature when you get the hang of it. I just haven’t gotten there yet with it. (But am wanting to try again, for sure.) And while it was wonderful for the newborn stage, I hadn’t updated my DVD watching to figure out how to sling a sitter-upper. :)

Anyway, for the sake of quick assembly, I broke out my Baby Bjorn. By this time, Creux had good head control and really enjoyed riding around facing outward. And more importantly, I had him in it within 45 seconds. And it became our favorite mode of transportation together.

Now though, he’s a biiiiig boy. Approaching the mid-twenty pound range, the Bjorn is killing my shoulders and back. He’s so heavy, his weight pulling down and I simply can not wear him dangling from the front of me any longer.

Enter Puj. Pronounced “pudge”. I found this last night while poking around the internet. And I think I may have found my next new carrier. (I’ve also come to realize that there may not be just *one* sling that I need. In order to keep babywearing, I need to try others and find what suits me best for the time/stage/type of activity I’ll be wearing him for.)

I love this simple style. I love that it’s advertised as an “errands” sling. Upfront, I’m told if I’m going on a hike, this ain’t the sling for the job. And what I’m looking for is lightweight (hello, summer!) and easy to get in place. Fast. Something I can take to the playground, the library, the farmer’s market. I loved the video (though believe that the woman who stars in it is also the woman who designed it so naturally she would have that thing on in 15 seconds).

And I’ve looked at double strollers and I’m not ruling anything out just yet. I need to drag a stroller along on most occasions anyway to tote my crap. I can’t wear my 24-pound baby, sporadically carry my 24-pound toddler, and constantly have my 24-pound diaper bag dangling off my shoulder. I can do a lot of things but I’m all done attempting to do these together. And lately, Greer wants to ride or be carried. If I wear Creux, I can accommodate her. If I put Creux in the stroller, I can not.

Welcome to Meltdown City, population three.

At the end of the day though, it’s this: I really love wearing Creux. I really love being so close together, whispering in his ear, pointing out things as we pass by. And it also allows me to be in close contact with Greer…I have a hand free to hold. Also, it keeps him safe. Safe from gumming up handles of shopping carts, safe from a crazy brother zooming him around a playground on two wheels, safe from strangers who like to get in close and touch, touch, touch. (I noticed a huge difference in the amount of people who would invade my personal space in order to squish my baby’s chubby cheeks. They at least seemed to study my approachability before moving in on him. Sometimes I allowed it, sometimes I didn’t. Sweet old ladies are sweet. Preschoolers who’ve just wiped their noses with their fingers are still sweet but are Mommy Blocked. My hands would curl into Creux’s so as to be unavailable for them to hold.)

So I’m giving Puj a shot. I still have my Zolo if it doesn’t work out (Ang, Bjorn will be arriving shortly) and there always this one, too. I found it right about the time I decided to order the Puj. Naturally!

I don’t buy books, ever, because I:

A.) Have an incredible library two minutes from my house that offers pick-up AND drop-off service…meaning I can order online and drive through for everything else. I don’t know what I pay for this service in the form of taxes but whatever it is, it’s worth every darn penny.

B.) C.) D.)… I don’t want the book clutter in my house. I don’t want to buy when I can borrow. I feel like I’ve helped save a tree. I read a lot and it would cost a fortune to keep up with my interests. I could keep going but you get the idea.

BUT, if I did buy a book…I would buy this one.

It’s called “Green Chic…Saving The Earth In Style” by Christie Matheson and in two days, I have nearly read the entire 200 pages in my stolen free moments. Definitely, it’s about making changes, going “green”, filled with interesting bits of information. But the author’s delivery of this information has really hooked me, made me want to read more (I’ve read tons of dry, boring “change your lightbulbs” greening books. And she does mention that. But she’s funny, she’s very, very funny).

Her biting sense of humor inter-mixed with some really wonderful ideas for living more eco-friendly-ish have motivated me to blog about this book while my house falls to pieces around me as my children capitalize on my being busy. ;)

And what I love so much about this book is how she combines what could be really bland (though important) information with a wise-crack that makes me laugh. And she is not telling me to take the contents of my polluted house to Goodwill (never would she suggest the trash, you know) and buy everything new and wonderfully green. She’s not telling me to dump my makeup, quit coloring my hair, or that I’m going straight to hell for using paper towels (I’m all for using cloth towels mostly but jeez…some messes just call for paper towels. Sorry, but it’s the truth over here).

She’s just asking me, the reader, to re-consider the things I do and buy: (and these are a few small changes I’m willing to make)

To wash my clothes in cold water. Yes, even the whites and the really dirties.
To buy fair-trade, shade-grown, organic coffee
To buy organic wine
To re-try compact fluorescent light-bulbs (and she does this by agreeing that these are not all created equal…I tried them once and my house was not cozy and warmly-lit. It was bright. And blue. I’m all for saving energy, it’s a win-win but damn it, I want a soft glow at night. For this she recommends a wattage of 11 to 13 and a “Kelvin temp” of under 3,000. If you want to know what Kelvin temp is, you’ll have to buy this book yourself. ;))
To invest in some pretty every-day cloth table napkins. Disposables are ugly, anyway.
To do all this with a sense of humor and pride. I’m not overwhelmed, I’m inspired.

Anyway, check this book out. It’s not for Mommies only, there’s not even a baby section. It’s for anyone who wants to make little changes and to feel good about them, no matter how big or small. And damn, she’s funny. Trust me.

You wouldn’t know it from all these photos of her grinning from ear to ear but Greer is actually very, very shy. Unless she knows you, and knows you well, she typically won’t respond when you speak to her, choosing instead to move a few steps closer to me. Here at home, she’s anything BUT shy and quiet however, I tend to forget that out in public people don’t see her as the rambuntious toddler/preschooler that we know and love. She stays close, she does not wander (unless accompanied by her brothers), she’s happy to sit with me and be held.

And you’ve seen the dance photos I took, where she’s hamming it up for the camera and boy am I so glad I have those! Because today, the professional ones came back and out of probably 20 shots, guess how many of her smiling? Uh, that would be zero. :) (And she told me this! In the parking lot on the way home from the photo shoot I said, “Did you smile big for the camera?” and she said “No. I did not smile for that man.” Haha!) Not that it matters at all…Greer, if I do say so myself, is a beautiful pouter. Some of my favorite shots of her have been when she’s unsmiling into the camera, just calmly staring. So I forewent the five-photo-matted frame (we never put those frames up anyway, I prefer to use my own) and went for an amazing close-up shot of her that the photographer had snapped. Frankly, she’s gorgeous. (Ok, so I’m shamelessly bragging…it’s my blog, I’m allowed. ;))

What happened today came to a surprise to even me, however. She has a recital coming up, and I know, I KNOW, she will not get on that big stage. I don’t care at all, we’ll have fun beforehand getting her ready, making a big deal of it. But I thought I’d be really smart and invite Charlie and my mom to her “Parent View Day” this morning, where we are allowed into her classroom to watch her class perform (normally we aren’t allowed in…we watch from a two-way mirror outside the classroom). I figured in her comfort zone, she would dance with her friends and we could take video and photos in a less chaotic state, plus I just assumed she’d dance away like she always does in there.

But nope. She clearly felt uncomfortable with all the extra attention. She stood like a statue, ignoring the teachers, staring into my eyes from afar with a “why are you doing this to me?” expression on her face. Occasionally her penetrating gaze would travel over to Charlie and then to my mom…never did she even crack a smile. I tried my best to quietly encourage her, then I ignored her…thinking maybe it’d take the pressure off. After about 10-15 minutes, we left the room. I thought perhaps she’d come around if she couldn’t see us and we could still watch her from the window. And sure enough! Literally the second we walked out the door and over to the window…she came alive. She was dancing around, jumping and bouncing with all the other girls. Charlie was trying to take video through the glass and I told him to go back inside since she was now participating. He and I sneaked back in to try again and she just wilted into the corner. Charlie left, not to return, and my mom popped in to say goodbye and give her a hug…she had to return to work and as soon as she shut the door behind her, Greer burst into tears. I think she felt bad.

And I felt awful for her. Clearly, she felt uncomfortable with all the extra eyes and I hate that it ruined her fun class time for her. And I didn’t want her to feel bad either. But I also wanted her proud family to see what I see, how sweet and charming she is, how tiny and graceful out there twirling around. I was happy that both Charlie and my mom came…I do think it meant a lot to Greer to have them there.

We didn’t make a fuss about it, just acknowledged that fact that she must’ve felt strange with all of us in there, she agreed in her giggly way. As soon as class was over, she was back to her normal chatty, happy self.

Oh well! So no cute pictures or video from today. Well, almost none. Above is a photo that we probably took illegally (ha) as it was hanging up in the hallway and it perfectly sums up this year’s class full of wacky two-year-olds. Greer’s the beauty on the far right end…sweetly bored with all the nonsense and drama that is photo day. ;)

The crib sucks.

He hates it. I think he was just messing with me that first night.

He did so well, napped there and all (well, for a day)…then it was just one big spiral downhill. The naps ceased as he grew enraged at my attempts to carefully deposit him into his crib, he would go from passed out and drooling in my arms to wide-ass awake and PISSED within one second of hitting that unfamiliar bed.

I tried a few things…rubbing his back, picking him up and rocking him, trying to put him to sleep again before re-trying the crib deposit. To which I received the same lovely “HELL, NO!” response from him, only at ear-shattering decibals the second time around.

Screw that. He’s back in my bed.

Funny though, how he just knows what he wants. He’ll be howling in outrage, I’ll walk the 10 steps from his room to mine…there’s definitely a different feel instantly between our rooms…his is just not cozy yet. It’s not painted, it’s not organized, there’s a crib and dresser and a guest bed all just crammed in there. (We’re in the process of getting started on it but it’s slow-going. We have oodles on our To-Do Lists. It’s never-freaking-ending.)

But yet, when you walk into our bedroom (by “our”, I now mean mine, Charlie’s and Creux’s ;)) everything changes. The temperature, the feel, the smell, the energy. And he instantly relaxes. He quiets, he hugs onto me as I take him to the bed, head resting on my shoulder…he knows that I’ve understood him and am going to make it better for him. I’m able to lay him right down, he snuggles into his rightful spot in the middle, eyes close…he’s off to sleep.

And my motivation for moving him was not and is not that I want him out of our bed and into his own. It has nothing to do with the notion of “it’s time for him to learn some independence”. I don’t buy into that at all, I don’t really see the problem with an infant BEING dependent. If he needs help falling asleep, so what? I think it’s much better for him to express his opinion, (he definitely has one), and to know that I hear him, understand his anxiety, and will help him make a change. I truly doubt independence is won or lost over a crib issue. (And if so, well, my kids are screwed anyway and will be living at home until they are 30. Which is fine, so long as they just empty the dishwasher without having to be hounded and stop balling up their wet, nasty creeking or sweaty soccer socks into a ball for me to have to stick my hand into in order to launder it because then I have grit under my nails which just bugs the shit out of me…)

Back to my point here. My issue is safety and when I’m not able to be in bed with him or when he isn’t asleep when I lay him down…we’ll continue to try the crib. And maybe once we get his room done, we’ll all feel better about it. Though I have a sneaking suspicion that we all just aren’t totally ready to separate. We really love sharing our bed with our babies, I absolutely would not trade a night of the time we’ve had in order to have moved him earlier, before he really had a preference. Because honestly, I don’t know when that time is anyway. Our babies have always had a preference, even back with Chas…he refused to sleep in his crib upon arriving home from the hospital, we slept in our couches for the first two months just to get some rest, took turns snuggling with him in our arms. Rhyse was much the same way. By the time I was pregnant with Greer, we sold our bassinet in a garage sale and just embraced the fact that we all sleep better together.

For now, I am being extra vigilant when he is napping in my bed. The second I hear a peep, we’re all climbing into bed with him to say hello, me and his crazy siblings. I do not leave him to play alone upon waking and between you and I :) I’ve been putting the Littles down for naps at the same time and I’ve been joining Creux for a delicious afternoon siesta. It keeps him safe and me sane all at the same time!

Eventually, we’ll make the transition…at least for a few months while he learns about depth perception. ;)

Here’s Creux starring in his big fake-out “I love my crib” moment.

I said I wouldn’t do it. But I thought maybe I needed a double stroller, maybe a sit-and-stand kind, after my Innis Woods day so I went back to Babies R Us.

Here’s a terrific dental catastrophy waiting to happen.

This horrible ass-busting contraption is called the Rip-Stik, a weird little modified skate-board that Chas spent the evening trying to learn how to ride (and it comes with a DVD even, to show you more interesting and incredible ways to wrap yourself around someone’s mailbox). I think he finally got the hang of it but I don’t really know. I couldn’t watch after the first 15 minutes that he was on it. Charlie was out with him for a bit and apparently HE was on it too. So I should be thanking my lucky stars that we aren’t sitting in Urgent-Care with his knee-cap dangling precariously from his leg.

Instead, I’m insisting Chas wear a helmet and considering making him wear a mouth-piece. Or maybe I should just wrap him from head-to-toe in toilet paper.

Am missing the days when a tub of bubbles and a big wand would keep him busy and happy (AND SAFE).

“My Two Front Teeth!”

Today was a big day in our home! We have offically re-arranged the family seating order at our table to welcome Creux, who joined us for lunch this afternoon.

And a banana proved itself to truly be the World’s Most Perfect Food. I mashed it into yummy sludge, broke out my new Boon bowl and feeding set, (loved it, loved it, loved it!) and changed our little guy’s world. ;)

He totally dug it and was so ready! Didn’t spit out a bite, gobbled down half a banana’s worth of mush.

Creux now sits clipped to the head of the family table, between Mama and Daddy. Greer has moved next to me, in Rhyse’s old spot. Rhyse has taken Chas’s beside Charlie. And Chas now sits opposite Creux, the oldest and youngest boys at the ends of the table.

A big deal in these parts. ;)

Should I jinx the entire state of Ohio and comment on how unbelievably amazing this gorgeous weather is?

Well, but it is! And it’s really allowing us to get out and enjoy it!

We spent an educationally fun morning out at Innis Woods Gardens with one of our homeschooling groups doing a pond study (really just another hooky day masquarading as a learning opportunity, haha).

Surely they learned a thing or two, saw some pond critters, yada, yada, but it was just a beautiful day to spend out among flowers and friends.

Once again with Jenny’s gang, we met up early (9:30 is a cringe-inducing start time for us) and though it was chilly, it was definitely sunny. The kids had been split up into groups…so Rhyse and Colin were together, Chas and Adrienne together. The boys went first, Jenny and I and our assortment of Littles tagged along…rather miserably at first (Greer was cold, Greer was tired, Greer was hungry, Greer was NOT WALKING…mental note and quick call to Charlie about securing a double stroller/sit and stand/what-the-hell-ever ASAP) but as the temperature rose, so did her mood.

Chas and Adrienne pulled the pre-teen maneuver of wanting to wander around parent-less…so they did. (Just so you don’t go getting any funny ideas, these two are buddies. Period. :) Then they pulled the other pre-teen maneuver of not wanting to participate in their own class. Which was veto-ed by Mamas. (I didn’t go through the morning scramble for Chas to NOT learn about the damn life-cycle of some frogs or something school-y like that). Nice try though and I definitely could appreciate the effort given by both of them. (Though I think Adrienne worked it much better.)

A quick break for lunch (not as quick as we would have liked since Jenny and I were busted by Grounds Control for picnicking in a non-picnic area and had to move ourselves, our crap, and eight kids across the parking lot to the “patio” area which took more time and energy than either of us wanted to give at the moment…but we did it, reluctantly) and then Chas and Adrienne left for their class and we really just hung out.

And despite the grumbling, everyone really had a good time…so good that it was continued back here at my house, with Colin and Adrienne joining us for an afternoon of play and monitored creeking (”DO NOT get in the mud, go around that bend, or lose any items of clothing!” ;)) while the Littles napped and I puttered around the house when I should have actually been cleaning it. (C’est la vie…oui?)

Some highlights from our day:

Colin and Rhyse holding hands (!!) while walking along. Tooooo sweet. They are truly the best of friends these days.

William shared his organic O’s with Creux who didn’t fully eat a single one but killed a good 30 minutes trying to grab ahold of them.

Emma and Greer being giggly-girls together. They started out just beeping each others noses, moved to some jiggles under the chin, then had a full-on tickle-fest. Nothing is better than little squeals of delight to end a day of fun!

Oh, and sorry about the jinx… ;)