The last few weeks have been hard. Wyatt started sleeping through the night... or what he considers the night. I've been hoping every night for months that we would reach this point. Then life would be easier; things would flow normally. Right? Wrong. He sleeps for 10 hours, meaning morning is 5:30 AM. We've tried pushing bed time, letting him cry in the morning, and numerous other things. 5:30 it is.
Yesterday, I hit the wall. I'm tired! 5:30 is not when my body wants to wake up. Going bed in time to wake up at 5:30 is not when I want to go to bed. After being up with a whiny yet energetic baby for an hour, I fell apart. How could I keep going? Cory helped me calm down, we got back on track, and the day started. We've been giving Wyatt a new food at breakfast every few days, and it was time for yogurt. I've been reading about when to give what foods and felt good about this. It would be so fun for something other than baby cereal or fruits and veggies.
He loved it for a few minutes... Then I noticed the hives. There were just a few red bumps by his eye where he had rubbed (Wyatt's great at spreading food everywhere on himself) So we stopped, cleaned up, and took stock of the situation. Thankfully, he had just a few spots on bumps - almost all where he had food on him and they disappeared within minutes. My mom has some unfortunate experience with allergies, having discovered Laura's peanut allergy as a toddler. She talked me through what to watch for. I think it may have just been a little early for dairy. No big worries yet.
And more importantly, I was reminded of how important my baby and my job as a mom are. Even that little bit of hurt was more than I wanted him to have. The rest of the day was enjoyable, not a burden. It is a blessing to be here with him and to take care of him. It's not going to be easy. He doesn't make it easy as he gets into everything. I have to look at what is good in that - he's learning, he's exploring, he's growing.
More than any other time in my life, I'm content with where God has placed me. It's easy to let the little things take over and rob the joy from that. Today I make the choice to live abundantly in His love and His will. I am thankful for the opportunity to take changes with a smile and a prayer for guidance. No more fear and stress as a first response. Hopefully, no more at all!
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
movement
Uh oh, almost another month has gone by. I'm almost as bad at blogging as I am at journaling. I do find both to be rewarding and relaxing in the sporadic times they happen.
We now have a mobile child. It happened much more quickly than I expected. Yes, I had been warned. One weekend the switch turned on and Wyatt now is pulling himself across the floor to wherever he wants to be. If that gets tiring, rolling is a great option too. Who knew heating vents and sliding glass doors were so exciting!
This new stage has made it clear, more than any other, that each step is exciting and challenging. I feel like I'm done wishing for the next thing. It's always great yet filled with new issues. (except sleeping through the night, I'll keep hoping for that and working towards it)
We now have a mobile child. It happened much more quickly than I expected. Yes, I had been warned. One weekend the switch turned on and Wyatt now is pulling himself across the floor to wherever he wants to be. If that gets tiring, rolling is a great option too. Who knew heating vents and sliding glass doors were so exciting!
This new stage has made it clear, more than any other, that each step is exciting and challenging. I feel like I'm done wishing for the next thing. It's always great yet filled with new issues. (except sleeping through the night, I'll keep hoping for that and working towards it)
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Silence
It has been over a month since I have posted any updates. The silence is not because nothing is happening, but rather because so much has been happening. God is filling our days with joy.
Wyatt is growing and learning things at a pace I can barely keep up with. The day I feel like I know what he is capable of, he reaches just a little further for the things I put out of reach. Watching him experience life for the first time is a miracle. Even better is his joy as he figures out the pieces of his world one by one. The more that he is able to move, the happier he becomes. He knows there is so much more, and now he can almost get there.
Staying home with him has been a blessing a thousand times over what I expected. The feelings of boredom are fleeting, and missing work? I don't think there has been one day that I have missed any part of being at work. Now, I did love what I did and sometimes do miss the people. However, God has given abundant challenges and opportunities for interaction with others. The only times I feel lonely or brain dead are when I am lazy. That would be the same whether I was at home or anywhere else. It's up to me if we call friends or do productive projects around the house.
I would like to keep "documenting" our milestones and was reminded of the power of a blog to share with others. However, like any social networking, it has the potential to replace deep face to face interaction if I'm not careful. Oh, time for face to face time with the cutest baby I know. Nap time is over!
More next week after our first Easter together.
Wyatt is growing and learning things at a pace I can barely keep up with. The day I feel like I know what he is capable of, he reaches just a little further for the things I put out of reach. Watching him experience life for the first time is a miracle. Even better is his joy as he figures out the pieces of his world one by one. The more that he is able to move, the happier he becomes. He knows there is so much more, and now he can almost get there.
Staying home with him has been a blessing a thousand times over what I expected. The feelings of boredom are fleeting, and missing work? I don't think there has been one day that I have missed any part of being at work. Now, I did love what I did and sometimes do miss the people. However, God has given abundant challenges and opportunities for interaction with others. The only times I feel lonely or brain dead are when I am lazy. That would be the same whether I was at home or anywhere else. It's up to me if we call friends or do productive projects around the house.
I would like to keep "documenting" our milestones and was reminded of the power of a blog to share with others. However, like any social networking, it has the potential to replace deep face to face interaction if I'm not careful. Oh, time for face to face time with the cutest baby I know. Nap time is over!
More next week after our first Easter together.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
parenting
Wyatt hates tummy time after just a few minutes, because he so badly wants to move more than he can yet. Until today... I have begun bribing my child with TV. It was Baby Einstein, that is better, right? I was laughing out loud watching him keep his head straight up without any complaining in order to watch. At one point, he briefly had a hand rested up under his chin, getting comfy. After he started to fuss, I turned the channel back to the satellite. He had a big smile saved up for SportsCenter. His father's child for sure.
In reality, having the TV on only extended his contented time by about 5 minutes. It did make me think about what is worth it to encourage him in good behaviors. Do I want him to be stilled by a box with pictures? Although it can be frustrating when he falls aparts after mere moments of being on his stomach, I love to watch the wheels turning as he moves his legs and works to crawl or get anywhere but where he is. So, I have a new card in my back pocket if I need a few minutes to get something done. I don't think this is a new regular occurrence in our house. We'll keep the TV reserved for sporting events and Star Trek with Dad on Saturday mornings.
The weeks coming bring many more opportunities to decide how we'll teach Wyatt what's best. Sleeping through the night, eating at proper intervals, what goes in the mouth and what doesn't. I'm actually excited to teach him these crazy things. Parenting is the best lesson in patience I've had yet.
In reality, having the TV on only extended his contented time by about 5 minutes. It did make me think about what is worth it to encourage him in good behaviors. Do I want him to be stilled by a box with pictures? Although it can be frustrating when he falls aparts after mere moments of being on his stomach, I love to watch the wheels turning as he moves his legs and works to crawl or get anywhere but where he is. So, I have a new card in my back pocket if I need a few minutes to get something done. I don't think this is a new regular occurrence in our house. We'll keep the TV reserved for sporting events and Star Trek with Dad on Saturday mornings.
The weeks coming bring many more opportunities to decide how we'll teach Wyatt what's best. Sleeping through the night, eating at proper intervals, what goes in the mouth and what doesn't. I'm actually excited to teach him these crazy things. Parenting is the best lesson in patience I've had yet.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
love
Things are a little crazy right now, or more accurately things are lacking sleep right now. Valentine's Day was 10 days ago? At least love doesn't confine itself to one day.
True love isn't in flowers and chocolates. It's found in homemade pork chops, SportCenter, NCAA football on the Playstation, and the midnight showing of Jurassic Park. At least, for me that's where it started.
5 years ago this month, Cory and I started dating. In some ways, time has certainly flown by. It doesn't feel like that long since we were sharing our Valentine's day meatloaf on a couch and watching TV with Kooy. (They didn't have a kitchen table). I'm so glad that we could have such a relaxed Valentine's Day even though we had only been dating for a week. More importantly, it's stayed that way. We have our heart shaped courses - jello, meatloaf & brownies, but other than that it's all about just being together.
And that's why I fell in love with Cory. He's confident in himself and finds the value in everyone. From the first time we spent time together, he made me feel comfortable. He is so comfortable with himself that I had no reason to worry. And I am good at worrying... and feeling self-conscious... and being sure that no one else wants to be with me. Not when I'm with Cory. Very early on, I knew there was nothing I could do that was so terrible he would stop loving me or stop helping me find who God wants me to be.
Slowly, I'm learning that it's ok to have that confidence in other relationships too. In the next five years, I pray that I will learn how to show unconditional love even half as well as my husband does. There are too many people that I would love to know better except fear is standing in my way. I want to have no fear that they might laugh at my imperfections or gasp at my failures. Only by taking those steps can I show others that I don't care about their problems; all I want is to be a friend!
True love isn't in flowers and chocolates. It's found in homemade pork chops, SportCenter, NCAA football on the Playstation, and the midnight showing of Jurassic Park. At least, for me that's where it started.
5 years ago this month, Cory and I started dating. In some ways, time has certainly flown by. It doesn't feel like that long since we were sharing our Valentine's day meatloaf on a couch and watching TV with Kooy. (They didn't have a kitchen table). I'm so glad that we could have such a relaxed Valentine's Day even though we had only been dating for a week. More importantly, it's stayed that way. We have our heart shaped courses - jello, meatloaf & brownies, but other than that it's all about just being together.
And that's why I fell in love with Cory. He's confident in himself and finds the value in everyone. From the first time we spent time together, he made me feel comfortable. He is so comfortable with himself that I had no reason to worry. And I am good at worrying... and feeling self-conscious... and being sure that no one else wants to be with me. Not when I'm with Cory. Very early on, I knew there was nothing I could do that was so terrible he would stop loving me or stop helping me find who God wants me to be.
Slowly, I'm learning that it's ok to have that confidence in other relationships too. In the next five years, I pray that I will learn how to show unconditional love even half as well as my husband does. There are too many people that I would love to know better except fear is standing in my way. I want to have no fear that they might laugh at my imperfections or gasp at my failures. Only by taking those steps can I show others that I don't care about their problems; all I want is to be a friend!
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Negative is a Positive!
The doctor just called with results of Wyatt's blood test - Negative! Technically, I think he said that it came back normal. Which, of course, is negative for the immune issue he was worried about. That result means things should be smooth sailing going forward. His infection and the umbilical cord taking forever are just a coincidence.
I had peace about this, but you never realize how something affects you until it's over. There is definitely a greater sense of relief! Now I have to just deal with normal baby things... sleeping, eating, pooping :)
Oh, and that new found terror at any lotion being put on. Crazy kid.
I had peace about this, but you never realize how something affects you until it's over. There is definitely a greater sense of relief! Now I have to just deal with normal baby things... sleeping, eating, pooping :)
Oh, and that new found terror at any lotion being put on. Crazy kid.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
3 Months!
Wyatt is 3 months old today. Time really flies by. On the other hand, it's like he's always been a part of our family. I'm excited for the next months and years.
I am starting to go a little stir crazy with a baby, and only a baby, in the house. The cold weather does not help that. He's very cute, very active... but still just a baby. I can only help him stand for so long or watch him play with his toys on the activity mat. His preferred schedule includes many short naps rather than a few long ones, which is a little difficult as well. I don't switch between nap mode and awake mode that well. And the switch is so sudden!
Now that we have some semblance of routine during the day, I'm planning to add some weekly activities. Wyatt probably wouldn't get bored at home yet, but I'm not giving him the chance. Yesterday we went to Costco, in anticipation of the snow and a few more days trapped here. It was great! He enjoyed looking around almost the whole time, and I got a nice afternoon snack. All I need to do is control the urge to buy more food and it's the perfect outing. Maybe a little unconventional....
I'm looking online today for a few other options. The library actually has a program for babies! We will definitely be trying that out soon. Tuesdays we have women's group at church, and I need to set up some "play dates" with the other moms from our small group. Their kids probably won't be able to play with Wyatt too much. Possibly a mom date is a better term. I'd love to do swim lessons or something else too. Our budget for that isn't great, so we'll have to see when he gets to that point. Soon we can use our zoo membership too.
The end of this week we have a few things planned that will be helpful. My grandma is coming by during a trip to Denver to take us to lunch. There's a Whitworth alumni event in town also and a baby shower for another couple at Cory's office.
As for this afternoon, we're snowed in waiting for Cory to get home and entertain us both.
I am starting to go a little stir crazy with a baby, and only a baby, in the house. The cold weather does not help that. He's very cute, very active... but still just a baby. I can only help him stand for so long or watch him play with his toys on the activity mat. His preferred schedule includes many short naps rather than a few long ones, which is a little difficult as well. I don't switch between nap mode and awake mode that well. And the switch is so sudden!
Now that we have some semblance of routine during the day, I'm planning to add some weekly activities. Wyatt probably wouldn't get bored at home yet, but I'm not giving him the chance. Yesterday we went to Costco, in anticipation of the snow and a few more days trapped here. It was great! He enjoyed looking around almost the whole time, and I got a nice afternoon snack. All I need to do is control the urge to buy more food and it's the perfect outing. Maybe a little unconventional....
I'm looking online today for a few other options. The library actually has a program for babies! We will definitely be trying that out soon. Tuesdays we have women's group at church, and I need to set up some "play dates" with the other moms from our small group. Their kids probably won't be able to play with Wyatt too much. Possibly a mom date is a better term. I'd love to do swim lessons or something else too. Our budget for that isn't great, so we'll have to see when he gets to that point. Soon we can use our zoo membership too.
The end of this week we have a few things planned that will be helpful. My grandma is coming by during a trip to Denver to take us to lunch. There's a Whitworth alumni event in town also and a baby shower for another couple at Cory's office.
As for this afternoon, we're snowed in waiting for Cory to get home and entertain us both.
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