Flashback Friday

I haven't done one of these posts yet and I figured what a better time than today. Katie is 6mo old today, which got me thinking back to when Kelton was 6mo old. It was 4 years, 1 month and 1 day ago. I can't believe the amazing little man he is now. He is a doting and loving big brother. He makes me remember to stop and enjoy the moment, even if that moment is just a caterpillar crawling down the drive way. I love him to pieces. How lucky I am to be his mother.

These pictures also remind me to snuggle and enjoy my little Katie now while she's still little.

Gobble Gobble

We introduced Katie to pureed carrots two weeks ago tomorrow...2 wks before she was 6mo. We were at the point where we felt like we needed to try something else, praying it would make her sleep. Well it didn't, but anyway...

It wasn't instant, but she does appear to like eating! SCORE! Katie likes something! Whooo Hooo and it's a total switch from Kelton, who was my sleeper, yet a terrible eater.

Recall the suggestion of the miracle of rice cereal? Makes them sleep right through the night, right? WRONG. It constipated her and instead she was awake and crying more. I'm kind of smug about it, I just want to tell everyone, "I told you so."

She has enjoyed carrots and prunes with great delight. She's had green beans with a bit less delight. Her absolute favorite is a bug chunk of banana squished into a mesh feeder. We've also done frozen peaches which I imagine feel really good on her gums and aren't nearly as messy. Next up is mango. I'll probably also continue to offer prunes on a regular basis just to keep things moving as it's obvious we're going still going to be battling her tummy for awhile.

We're totally digging her high chair. I like it so much better than a regular big old high chair.

On the sleeping front... we're not sleeping what I would define as "good", but have been managing a few 2hr stretches a night and that's an improvement. We'll take what we can get. It'll get better eventually.

White Flag

Crossed our fingers and tried church on Sunday. Wasn't a disaster, but could have went better.

Totally broke down and told Pastor that she has us whipped. We're overwhelmed, done in, exhausted. Not to mention, embarrassed that a little baby has caused this.

The outpouring of prayers, support, "we've been there" and "let us keep her" was unbelievable. Brought me to tears. We should have said something sooner.

Tomorrow night we're having dinner and doing our grocery shopping without our little bug fussing along with us.

Someday it will be our turn to pay it forward. I can't wait.

It's not fair.

Have I said that before?

Probably.

I just wish we could enjoy things again, like a meal or leaving the house or hell even just being in the house.

I'm tired of being awake....all the freaking time.

Consumed

I am 100% completely consumed with Katie sleeping. It's all I do and think about. It's made our lives miserable. I spend most of the day trying to get her to nap, worried that she won't nap long enough which will make bed time even worse. Then we spend all night desperately try to get her to stay asleep, which obviously isn't going so well as she was up 10x last night.

I am a giant exhausted heaping mess. This is way more than I ever bargained for. I hate what our lives has become...barely surviving. I feel most sorry for Kelton.

Triathlon is tomorrow morning. What the hell was I thinking.

Why am I such a misfit?

I am not just a nitwit. Seems I don't fit in.

Am I really that far outside the realm of normalcy?

Choosing to exclusively breastfeed for 6mo, delaying solids. Weird?

Parenting to sleep, not allowing my baby to "cry it out". Different?

Not spanking or hitting my children. Abnormal?

Insistent on car seat safety, going above and beyond the minimum restrictions. Crazy?

I must be from another planet. Too bad I can't move there.

Whew! Accomplished!

That's how I feel today.

I did 3 loads of laundry, including folding 2 extra loads.

Got started reading The No Cry Sleep Solution.

Kelton and I made cookies for the neighbor down the street that just had a baby.

I made dinner for the boys and then went for a swim, after which I stopped at Dillons and used up a few coupons that were about to expire. Milk alternatives are expensive, yo.

Took a pretty pink dress and cookies down to said neighbors. Mentioned I know the hells of crying baby and call if you need support.

Made 3 ice cube trays of fresh pureed summer squash for sweet baby Katie to eat when the time comes.

Much other randomness, dishes, clean kitchen, etc, etc.

Now I will pump and hit the sack to awake at 5am for work (crossing fingers that I'm not also waking a bizzilion other times with Katiebug.)

**Had to mention Katie played in her exersaucer for bits of time today like a happy normal baby. YEA!

Leave me alone!

If I wasn't stubborn as hell and for sure I was doing the right thing, I would have given in by now. I am not and will not be dumping formula or cereal down my baby to see if it makes her feel better and make her sleep all night. It won't. What I would appreciate more than anything is to stop being hasseled about it.

Breastmilk for reflux
Breastfeeding is definitely best for a baby with reflux because it is more hypoallergenic than formula and is digested twice as fast as formula.

When for solids?
The American Academy of Pediatrics, the World Health Organization, and many other health organizations recommend that babies be exclusively breastfed (no cereal, juice or other foods) for the first 6 months of life.

Why?

Because.