Happy at Home

Wow! Over a month since last post, pretty pathetic. And the last thing that got me to post was $100. Alas, I have found no more money. Just having thoughts about every day things I'd like to post about and never having the time. Never making the time. It is something you need to commit to, right Roland?

Anyway, little charlotte is doing just great. She is thinking hard about walking. We actually got a short video of her taking I think 15 steps. She hasn't done anything close to that since then. She is up and around all the time. We are weaning and that is a huge emotional thing for me. I didn't realize how hard it would be for me. She hardly seems to notice. We dropped the noon nursing on Monday and then the 4:00 starting Tuesday. I figured I would just see how she took it. It was extra hard since at first she wouldn't take any cows milk to replace it. so I worried that she'd starve. The funny thing is that I'm really not making much milk, so nursing her was causing her to starve more than anything else! She started getting up more than her usual once per night. She was getting up two or three times at night and I'd nurse her because it was just easier than anything else. But I might have done her a disservice. My husband was actually correct that she should be sleeping through the night and that we need to let her "cry it out" a little. Just a little, still go to her and make sure she is okay. It took a couple of days for me to be okay with this. The last two nights we have employed this and it hasn't been too bad. Since I've plyed her with food all day she didn't wake up until 4 or 5 am. Not bad. Before that she woke up as early as 11:30!!

We have lots of good days and some bad ones. Last week for the first time I actually wished I had a job. just to relieve the monotony. We try to go to playgroups and I'm exploring the play areas at the malls. I'm doing alot with Mothers and More. I am now a co-leader. At first it was stressful, but now it isn't too bad. The hard things, as usual, is being tactful with women. My logical side is overdeveloped and sometimes I just don't know how to approach something that might hurt someone else's feelings, especially when I think it shouldn't hurt her feelings.it is good for me.

I'm thinking of a new "project". I'd like to make Charlotte a play kitchen. Originally I wanted to make it for her second Christmas, but I think I just might be able to do it this year! IT costs about $200-$400 for a nice one and I think I could make one just fine. Plus it is fun to have my little projects.

Though it is getting tough to do things. Charlotte naps about 45 minutes a day. Which is really a nice amount of time to check my email, have a snack, relax, get out stuff to get something done (vacuum, dust, paint, etc.) and then she wakes up! That is okay, I love her!

I'm getting myself ready to think about another one. Exciting. So much love in kids, I can't believe it. But it is difficult too. Those tough days, they are really really tough. And what it does to your marraige, makes it stronger in some ways, but so hard to remember to put your partner first. Especially when taking care of that baby who needs you so much. But since I"m just down to nursing her twice a day and going to stop completely soon (sniff!) I can't believe I'll have my body back to just me! I haven't had that since February of 2006. I might need a month or two just to enjoy that before we get serious about trying.

But I'm happy being home and I LOVE being a mom to Charlotte. Her first birthday is next Monday and I'm so excited. i got her a baby doll and I just know she'll love her so much.

A Hundred Bucks

This morning was one of those where we just had it with our set up. This can happen in any room of the house, though the kitchen is a nice target since it seems to be full of stuff we don't use. Today it was the silverware drawer. I guess we had about 42 spoons and forks for Charlotte and we hardly use them. There were straws, keys, random instruction sheets, cheese cutter, and a host of other things. So we cleaned it out. In the back I found a dollar! Wait, no there is a 0, it is a ten! Um, no, there are two 0's...a one hundred dollar bill!

What the hell is that doing there? Did I put it there? Did I do it on purpose? Why would I put so much money in the back of the drawer underneath junk I never use?? Well, cool anyway. Just think how much I could make if we cleaned the whole kitchen!

Nipple Nipping

Last night at the before bed nursing, Charlotte gave my nipple a chomp! It really surprised me. I thought maybe she was impatient with that side and so I switched sides. On the other side, she gave an even harder Chomp! This made me grimace and then that hurt my face and made me cry. So I called Jen and asked what I'm supposed to do and I guess just saying "no" in a very firm voice and then stopping nursing if it continues. So I tried once more and she looked up at me, and very deliberately and slowly...Chomped! So I took her off and put her to bed. I felt so odd, I always thought the before bed nursing was important to her and I figured then I'd be up in a couple of hours to nurse her since she'll obviously be hungry. But she slept until 7 this morning!

So then when she woke up I was so nervous I was afraid she'd bite me more. But it went okay. When I nursed her next, she did give me a little chomp so I said "no" again and put her down. She cried and crawled around after me for 10 or 15 minutes than I put her back to breast and everything was fine. No biting tonight, so I'm starting to relax.

But if this biting thing continues...I just don't know. Holy cow, did it hurt! I don't know how much of that I could tolerate. And she only has two bottom teeth! I just so wanted to make it at least a year so I could avoid formula. I guess if I have to go to that it isn't too bad, but I've made it so far. And good for me! Instead of people saying (so pointedly) "you're STILL nursing??!", I'd like to hear a "good for you"! Because, well, it is hard and a big sacrifice. And I'm so glad I did it.

Oh, here is a cute pic of the baby doll, she was mimicking me and pursing her lips in a kissy face:

And just looking cute:
And having a glass of wine before dinner:

Better, Stronger, Faster?

Today I had surgery to put in the titanium implant for tooth #7, aka the bane of my dental life. The good news is that I was totally under IV anesthesia so although I was panicky and scared, I don't actually remember much of it. I am home today on Vicodin. Napping alot and just hanging out. Charlotte, is of course, at day care. It is crazy that I thought I'd clean the toilets, do some sewing, do dishes, etc. and really I am in some pain and woozy from the drugs and I just need to chill.

We had a very nice weekend. Charlotte, Dave, and I went to BW3 for dinner Friday night and this is always fun. We did find out though that we might be getting to the point where out to eat with the baby is not really worth it. She is so much more mobile. She can sit in her high chair and eat with us, but she doenn't have the patience to just hang out. She wants to move around and crawl and stand and explore, God bless her. So we'll be going out to eat less which is probably best.

Then on Saturday, team Baker went to Muskegon and first stopped at my brother Chip's house where Daddy brewed late into the night. Then Mommy and Charlotte went to Grandma Stewart's and spent the night. Then at about noon we went out sailing with Uncle Chip and his new Lady Friend Colleen (who is very nice and passed the test... although anyone that I can chat with can pass the test!). Unfortunately, Daddy got pretty seasick. Oh, Charlotte stayed with grandma, too, so it was relaxing for mommy.

I notice I've now taken on the voice of Charlotte, so maybe it is time for me to stop.

Baby Pockets

I am officially selling my Baby Pockets for $20 (price might go up for art fairs). Here are some sample patterns for them and a pic of what it looks like to wear one. My baby is 10 months and the Mary's son, Luke, is 18 months, so I think they're good up to about 24 months!