Just Take Her Out To Take Her Out!

I have heard this or a form of it several times now.

I never thought I'd be writing this blog.  Before motherhood, I was like 'OMG I am NOT gonna be one of those mothers who stays home all the time and is afraid of the world."  And though I am not the extreme of that, I do get comments and 'advice' from others on not getting out enough.  First of all, you can not really say what you would do, because, as all momma's say, 'Every baby is different."  And this is true.  Cora is a wonderful baby.  But she is not perfect.  She has her days, her weeks, her fussy moments, her now teething moments, reflux and her naps that are SO unpredictable.  And right before she falls asleep she WEEPS because, like her mama, she hates going to sleep.  Sometimes I wish I could weep and just stay awake all day and night as well.  So, her animalistic weeping in public may send child services my way.  I'd like to avoid that as much as I can.

I do take her out.  And it isn't always easy.  Sometimes it is.  But I look at it as if I don't HAVE to go out (for an event or just because I am going stir crazy in the house), then why push it, this is a few months of our lives?  We go to family events mostly, and other events when obligated.  But to me, going to Target with the baby just to go to Target with the baby isn't my schtick.  I think it's great for those who want to, but me and Target have a very special relationship.  I enter Target and my heart immediately jumps with joy and I know I will be spending the, at least, next hour there...rushing through the grocery aisle, then slowly perusing the clearance end caps and home decor aisles with a skip in my step.  That step is gonna turn into a run if I have lil bean with me.  Target is for times the hubs is home and mama wants to run wild like a bull toward a red flag.  I still have my girl wine nights, too.  These are both times I greatly treasure.  And although I love my bean with all my heart, I don't want her to taint my relaxed Target time.  Or wine night for that matter.  GO NIGHT NIGHT! MAMA WANTS TO ESCAPE!

Restaurants are another joyous occasion, that until she can sit and play with her food and shoot it across the table, I would like to do sporadically.  Once in a while to catch up with a friend during the day, break up the day, sure.  But if it is too far, mama says no like it is drugs.  Or if she is having a fussy day...Eh, not in the cards.  Maybe I will get judged for it.  The beauty of it is, she is our baby and Mike and I get to make these decisions, nobody else.  I am not sure if there are kind words for people who want to tell me how to raise my child.  So I won't say any.  And that it is best for her to get out more and be around germs (do you KNOW you are talking to a germophobe?!).  I know she will grow up social like her mama (she talks more than I do!), she will get sick the same as other kids and neither of us will probably even remember these first few months.  Luckily my husband and I have similar beliefs/parenting skills so far :)  

Being a part of community websites, both specifically for moms, and just in general, you realize EVERYYYONE has something to say when it comes to parenting.  And that is what makes us all different and the world go round.  Luckily I have a lot of parent friends that were/are like me, and their kids are juuust fine.  These early months go by so fast, if the worst thing I do is spend more alone quality time at home with my bean, I will take it.

Smearing anti bac on my hands after opening the mail,

(Lil bean, please don't pick up mama's germ fears!!)

Bumpless Baby Mama

HOLY GRIPE WATER!

So, when Cora was around 5 weeks she went through what I call "Demon Baby Week."  There is a whole book and website on these weeks of a baby's life called, "The Wonder Weeks", which is pretty informative and generally accurate.  I keep a chart on my fridge that shows these weeks so when fire starts shooting out of Cora's eyes I can look up at it and be comforted that she is merely going through either physical growth spurts or mental growth spurts.  These come with extra neediness, crying that makes you think they have fire ants in their pants, and usually excessive eating.  You are instructed to hold the lil demon baby more, feed them more and of course, through my research, gripe watering the crap out of her.  Gripe Water, for those who don't know, is a natural remedy for babies w colic, gas, etc.  I think it has a tranquilizer in it and nobody is telling us.

I originally got it thinking maybe she had some gas.  And ya know, I have no idea what it is this time...the last week she has been on and off insane.  Quite bipolar, actually.  It fluctuates from sheer joy like Christmas morning to me right before my period, when my own demon eyes shoot fire.  Two nights ago I said, YA KNOW, let's give this ol Gripe Water another go.  Within 5 minutes of feeding the flip floppy, anxiety ridden child of mine, she was relaxed, staring at her hands as if she had taken a few hits from a bong, and passed out.  Light shone upon her from Heaven and I laid on the couch and wished Gripe Water could work on me like that.  Hmm, maybe I will try it.

Last night, lil screecher was up to her frets again.  I ran over to my favorite little syringe and shot that baby full of gripey goodness.  Again, within minutes, down like a hypnotized audience member.  Today was the most glorious of all.  Sidenote, you CAN give this to your baby every 6 hours, but I don't want to do it unless really needed, which is usually at night.  But this morning, sugar baby wanted SO badly to go to sleep.  You know, when are crying with their puffy lil red eyes closed, desperately fighting, but we all know they wanna go be in la la land just like mama.  I ran over to ol faithful, filled it up with the special juice and....by the time I finished emptying that deliciousness into her mouth, she was fast asleep.

Some of you may look up to a president, an inventor, a great business man, or maybe even Oprah.  I look up to the creator of Gripe Water.  Wherever you are, know you are my hero.  You have made both baby and mama look like this.

Miss Independant

Been a while!

I thought about just ending my blog at the adoption, but quite  a few people have been asking where it is and when I said I was probably just going to end it there, the response was not great.  Now that she is a little more predictable and I am getting more sleep, I will start it up again!  I also have another project in the works so time is limited.  If you know me, you know I dabble in many pots.  My A.D.D. takes over and I usually go between anything from painting, to guitar lessons, to photography, to blogging, to dance, to crafting, to...

Now that Cora is 3 months, she is VERY observant, active and...how do we put this...emotional!  I know that is most babies, but the last week her frustration with life is skyrocketing!  Don't get me wrong!  90% of the day she is an angel baby!  But there are these moments when I can not help but laugh at her.  They all are under the same category of wanting to be independent too soon.  As Captain Mama Bootcamp, I of course do tummy time/exercise time, and this has been great until this past week.  Now she has decided she really would like to sit up.  GREAT!  Progress!  At least she is interested in scooting around!  Unforuntaely, not so great for Cora.  She weeps.  She pulls her hands forward, pulls her head up and tries desperately to sit up, all the while weeping as if she is me not being able to reach my donut.  She looks at me like, "WHY is this happening mom!!!??"  So I hold her up in the sitting position, as she lets her last weeps out before I distract her with something else...like her monkey friends.

These monkey friends are the lil guys that twirl around above her swing.  I never understood their relationship.  She would sometimes smile at them, and often weep, tears running down her face, I thought from staring at them too long.  No, I think now, I know what it is.  Now that she can move her arms with direction/purpose, she is reaching up at them...yep...weeping.  I think she wants to grab them.  Eat them?  Who knows, but she wants them!  So, what does a mama do?  I took them down off the mobile and gave them to her, thinking I was so smart..."HERE YOU GOOOO!"  She batted poor lil curious george wanna be away and wept, looking at me like I was just adding to her problem.  Fine, lil bean, try and get up there yourself.  Good luck!

Yesterday and today both mark more exciting "get the hell off me and let me do it myself" moments.  Last night I thought maybe she was overtired or it was just a one off.  But then it happened twice again today.  I had her at tummy time/play mat and gave her her toy/teether.  It is Sophie the lil baby giraffe that is 'au natural' so all the mamas love it.  And all the hippest babies, do too, of course.

Including lil bean hipster.  So much that when she was trying to direct her into her mouth and couldn't, she wept so loudly I was surprised my neighbors did not call child services thinking there was 'an incident'.  I tried to help guide it for her, and THAT WAS IT! She and enough of my helping, pushed my hand away and lil Kelly Clarkson (Miss Independent, get it?! ) cried so hard she shook.  I picked her up, holding back my laughter and fear of the drama queen (my mom said I'd get one like me!) and bopped her around til she calmed down.  I put all toys back in the basket and stared at her... "Well what do you want to do?"  She smiled up at me as if nothing had happened and said a simple, "GoooooooOOOoohhhh."  We both laughed for different reasons, and turned on Jewel's Lullaby CD (what other lullaby CD would I have!?), I rocked her and I shook my head at her as she fell asleep, and I held on a little tighter, knowing my baby already wants to do things on her own.  

Lil Bean, you are growing up too fast and you are only 3 months!
Bumpless Baby Mama