Divide & Conquer

Most evenings - after dinner - Chad and I go our separate ways.  I take care of Charlotte, while he takes on the bigger challenge of getting Natalie ready for bed.  Some evenings I really miss that time with Natalie, but mostly I cherish this one-on-one time with Charlotte.  Tonight happened to be bath night (we do this every other night for the sake of sensitive skin), which prolongs the process but also gives me even more reasons to love my share of the Divide & Conquer  ...

1. It's calm and quiet - no screaming or whining or questioning.
2. My second born gets my full attention, which is hard to come by during the hustle and bustle of our day.
3. My little baby - all 11.5 pounds of her - is so adorable in all her naked glory!
4. Infant splashing is fun and cute - even when water gets all over the mirror! 



5. Did I mention it's calm and quiet?
6. Putting lotion, a diaper, and then pajamas on a toddler involves a chase scene. That's definitely not the case with CJV - at least not yet!
7. I don't have to answer any questions.
8. That fresh from the tub smell!  Well, I get that from Natalie, too ... but it's just different on a baby ... mainly because she puts up with my sniffing. 
9. Which book we read and which song I sing ... yep, those are both MY choice :)
10. I am finished and typing this blog post while Chad is still upstairs reading a second book and answering a bunch of questions!  The trade-off of which is that Charlotte and I will get even more "alone" time in the middle of the night and in the early morning.  Now we're even!

Swinging to New Heights!

Yes, I did end up with mulch on my back and in my hair ... 

but it was so worth it!

Rice Cereal TMI

While I know this may be Too Much Information for some of you, I figure most of you are moms and you can stomach a little talk of the number 2 ... or lack thereof.

Introduction to rice cereal went so well last week.  Charlotte was opening wide and enthusiastically eating!  In fact, my normally laid back baby let me know loud and clear how she feels about her rice cereal.  As I brought the bowl toward her high chair, she kicked her little feet and squealed with delight. When I realized it was still just a little too hot, I took a few steps away - with the bowl still in my hand - and Charlotte started to cry complete with a pouty lip and all.  I had never seen her do that before, and I couldn't help but smile at her ability to communicate :)

Well, it must've been foreshadowing because that rice cereal caused a lot more crying.  Not the cute kind of crying.  The kind that lets you know your baby is in pain ... and it just about breaks your heart.  Apparently all that rice cereal did a number on Charlotte's digestive system, which kept her from doing a number.  Wednesday night she had a tough time sleeping and woke up actually crying (very unusual) several times.  After an hour of consoling her, Chad brought her downstairs to hang out in her bouncer chair for a while.  She was somewhat productive - and finally went to sleep.  

Saturday afternoon we had a repeat performance of the fussies, and it was clear that she was in pain.  She would bear down and get red in the face and then just wail.  After forty minutes, a dose of Mylicon, and some leg bicycling, I was beside myself.  I called my mom.  I called my sister.  I called the doctor.  While I was on the phone, poor Charlotte passed out from the exhaustion of it all.  The doctor calmed me down, assured me that "this too shall pass," and suggested that we stop rice cereal for at least a week.  Charlotte had several more bouts of tummy aches until finally Sunday morning the diaper was filled, and my happy baby returned.

I am frustrated because I hate to see Charlotte in pain.  Clearly her digestive system is not quite ready for the next step. But also because I thought rice cereal - the start of solids - was going to help with her very slow weight gain.  When I weighed her last night - one week since her 6-month check-up - I was disappointed to find out that she weighs exactly the same.  She hasn't gained an ounce in a week.  Does that seem right?!  At one point she was up 4 ounces, but now she's back at 11 pounds 5 ounces.  I will talk to the doctor again tomorrow and come up with a plan to re-introduce solids.  I also need to tell her that I was mixing the rice cereal with formula (not breastmilk because I hate the thought of pumping) because maybe that has something to do with the constipation.

At least my baby girl is back on the poop-wagon ... for  now :)

Handling a Playdate Bully

Thought I'd try something new here at MommyBrain.  Mainly because I like new, shiny things ... but also because I find myself pondering some of life's big questions ... often through internal dialogue that rather closely resembles "crazy-mumbling-to-myself."  Makes me wonder if my lips are moving during those conversations?  Am I the only mama talking to myself?  Please tell me I am not alone! Anyway, sometimes there are these trivial quandaries that pop into my head and I can't help but wonder ... What do YOU, fellow mamas, fellow bloggers, friends near and far, SAY?  What's your opinion?  How do you handle this situation or that predicament?  Or even, what could I have done differently?  If the question/situation inspires you, please leave a comment :)

How do you handle a playdate bully? Okay, so this week's question happens to be a predicament I haven't encountered to a major extent.  For the most part, the playdates we attend - and we do attend plenty of them -  are pretty tame ... only minimal pushing or occasional toy snatching.  However, I was at a playdate earlier this week, and this was the topic of conversation.  A mom feeling like her son was being bullied.   The mom of the bully was not appropriately responsive to the problem.  The bully was warned by the other mom that if he kicked her son one more time, the playdate would be over.  The kicking occurred again and the mom and her son left.  When she recounted this story to me, she asked, "How do you handle a playdate bully?"   It's such a good question!  Of course, this problem is exasperated by the fact that the moms are friends.  What does a situation like this do to a friendship?

I think she did the right thing.  I believe in advocating for my child in this situation ... even at the expense of a mommy friendship.  Keeping my little ones safe is my number one priority, and I am not okay with the idea of my child being kicked and hit or pushed and shoved ... beyond what I would deem "normal" physical contact with kids her own age. I'll be the first to admit that Natalie is guilty of pushing and toy snatching.  I make it a point to react to her misbehavior because it is not okay or kind to push and snatch.  While we haven't encountered an actual bully, I have been in the situation when pushing and snatching is all but ignored.  That is frustrating enough.  It is a tough conversation to have with a fellow mom; to point out that her child, her pride-and-joy is doing something "wrong" ... and even worse that she is not doing her job by ignoring it.  I  mean, can you imagine?!  I am not really one for conflict, which makes it even more difficult.  But ultimately, I go back to the fact that I want and need to keep my child safe.  How do you do that tactfully?  How do you do that and still maintain mommy friendships and your spot on the playdate circuit?

I am really stuck on this one ... actually, as I look back at what I've written, I notice it's now two questions:  What is the best way to handle bad behavior that goes unnoticed by the parent?  How do you handle a playdate bully?

So ... what do YOU say?

Please leave a comment ... or link up if you feel strongly enough to blog about it.

Snapshot: Favorites

Natalie is just about one month shy of 3 years old ... insert disbelief and sniffles here! Today while we made rainbow rice and played stickers and did puzzles, I asked her about her Favorite things and kept a piece of paper handy to record her answers.

1. Color: "Red," pronounced with an extra syllable so it sounds like ray-ed.
2. Sesame Street Character: "Elmo ... cuz Elmo is ray-ed, mommy!"
3. Book: "All of dem," said with a big smile :)  Her all-time favorite is an anthology of Little Critter stories, and her current bedtime must-have is a huge book of fairy tales.
4. Letters: "M, O, and P."  Hmmmm ... guessing she has no idea what that spells ...  nobody likes to mop, right?!
   
5. Number: "Two.  Dat's how many I am, mommy!"
   
6. Treasure: "Rocks!"  Anytime we are outdoors, Natalie collects treasures - mainly rocks, leaves, and sticks. In the house, she collects "stuff or fings" and carries something around in each hand most of the day.  I am so intrigued by this phase.
   
7. Snack(s): "Yogurt Melts, Teddy Grahams, and peanut butter crackers from Trader Joes."
8. Movie: "Da DI-no-saur moo-bee," referring to Ice Age 3, which her friend Emmett introduced her to and her Aunt Missy gave her ... without the case, as NHV likes to remind me.
9. Princess: "Cinderella."  Natalie is fairly new to the whole Disney princess obsession, but princesses are definitely a favorite thing right now.  Yesterday she was Sleeping Beauty.  Today Cinderella gets a turn.
10. Place to Go: Cee-Cee's House
11. Store: "Target!"  Why? "Cuz we go to the baby aisle when we are at Tar-get."
12. Restaurant: "Chipotle!"  Natalie gobbles up the guacamole with a spoon!
13. Song to Sing: "Da A-B-C song!"
14. Song to Listen to: "Caspar Babypants!" Yes, we like anything sung by Caspar Babypants!
15. Thing to do at the park: "Swing, but we half-ta wait our turn, right mommy?"

Notes to my Girls

Dear Natalie,

I don't know what is causing you to be far grumpier than usual - or than you need to be - these past three days.  I have grown so accustomed to your easy-going, rarely whining, sweet ways.  This new found grumpiness and difficulty listening to me the first time and resistance to just about every play option I suggest ... well, it's all taking its toll on me.  And I know you're entitled to have an off day now and then, but really I think three days in a row is enough.  I don't like the impatient mommy I've become.  I don't like the tone of voice I used with you this evening.  I'll try harder.  Please shake off those grumpies, and let's have a good day!

Love you,

Mommy

Dear Charlotte,

You crack me up!  I love the new "skill" you spent all day showing off!  Your little tongue poking out through your perfect lips.  That determined look on your face.  The shower of spittles and finally that funny noise. What I love most of all is the look of complete satisfaction you get when you make me laugh!  Oh, sweet baby, somehow today you knew exactly what I needed!  And I agree with your reaction to your sister's grumpiness ... pffffft, in deed ;)

Now please gain a few ounces this week!

Love you,

Mommy

 

Rice Cereal 101

There's really nothing to it!  

Insert baby in high chair - newly bestowed upon her by big sister.

Struggle with the "easy pour spout" opening on the cereal box.

Pour small amount of precious (liquid gold) breastmilk into bowl.

Add in some rice flakes and stir (don't shake).

Grab a really big bib and a tiny little spoon. 

Move goop-filled spoon toward baby's mouth.

When she opens wide, shovel it in!

Capture those initial expressions of ...

what the heck is this?

Beware of grasping hands,

"returned" mouthfuls for gooey-ness,

and a baby who just can't get enough!

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You can see more great photos and Word-less-ful Wednesday
posts here and here.