For real though...I am a full time working mom and you know what?
Some days I just don't have the time.
Or the energy.
No washboard abs for me...
Showing posts with label Motherhood. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Motherhood. Show all posts
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Feeding a toddler
Feeding my one year old has proved to be a very difficult if not impossible task. The child won't eat anything. She gave up baby food the minute she got enough teeth to chew. She also gave up anything that she can't feed herself because she is one independent little missy.
Until she was one, I felt OK about her not wanting to eat because she was at least getting bottles with formula which had plenty of nutrition. And lets be honest, the child is definitely NOT starving. Now that she is drinking whole milk instead of formula and really only has that at nap time, I have had to find real food items that she will eat.
The first thing I discovered was that the more she snacked, the less she wanted to sit down and eat an actual meal. Over the course of a few weeks, I slowly got her to stop snacking and start eating 3 meals a day. I also discovered that if I sit her in her highchair and turn on Curious George, she will sit and eat without really paying attention to the food and she eats a lot more (desperate times people).
For those of you who find yourself in the same predicament, here are some of the foods I have tried that have worked.
Breakfast
scrambled eggs (I make sure that they taste good...add cheese and salt like I would for myself)
canned peaches and pears
frozen blueberries (i thaw them out in a bowl of hot water)
dry cereal (not her favorite)
She is just starting to learn to eat with a spoon. Today I made her some oatmeal and put blueberries in it. I set it on her tray with a spoon. She ate some of it with the spoon and some with her fingers but she got a lot of it down! A whole new world of possibilities may have just opened up.
Lunch
string cheese
lunch meat
cut up pb&j
cut up fruit
Dinner
I usually just give her whatever we are eating
Lets be honest. It isn't always practical to make a delicious homemade healthy meal for the toddler. Especially on nights when I don't cook for myself. On days like this, I have a few things that I like to have on hand.
Gerber Graduates meals for toddlers. These are AWESOME! They take 30 seconds to heat up and Allie LOVES them. I just scoop the contents onto her highchair and she will eat almost the entire thing. They always include a vegetable and are a great alternative to a homemade meal.
Frozen chicken nuggets...I usually try to buy the ones that are more chicken breast and less chicken paste...I know it isn't 100% healthy, but she loves them and I can pair it with some frozen veggies.
When all else fails and I am out an about in a hurry and don't have time to sit and feed her...
Until she was one, I felt OK about her not wanting to eat because she was at least getting bottles with formula which had plenty of nutrition. And lets be honest, the child is definitely NOT starving. Now that she is drinking whole milk instead of formula and really only has that at nap time, I have had to find real food items that she will eat.
The first thing I discovered was that the more she snacked, the less she wanted to sit down and eat an actual meal. Over the course of a few weeks, I slowly got her to stop snacking and start eating 3 meals a day. I also discovered that if I sit her in her highchair and turn on Curious George, she will sit and eat without really paying attention to the food and she eats a lot more (desperate times people).
For those of you who find yourself in the same predicament, here are some of the foods I have tried that have worked.
Breakfast
scrambled eggs (I make sure that they taste good...add cheese and salt like I would for myself)
canned peaches and pears
frozen blueberries (i thaw them out in a bowl of hot water)
dry cereal (not her favorite)
She is just starting to learn to eat with a spoon. Today I made her some oatmeal and put blueberries in it. I set it on her tray with a spoon. She ate some of it with the spoon and some with her fingers but she got a lot of it down! A whole new world of possibilities may have just opened up.
Lunch
string cheese
lunch meat
cut up pb&j
cut up fruit
Dinner
I usually just give her whatever we are eating
Lets be honest. It isn't always practical to make a delicious homemade healthy meal for the toddler. Especially on nights when I don't cook for myself. On days like this, I have a few things that I like to have on hand.
Gerber Graduates meals for toddlers. These are AWESOME! They take 30 seconds to heat up and Allie LOVES them. I just scoop the contents onto her highchair and she will eat almost the entire thing. They always include a vegetable and are a great alternative to a homemade meal.
Frozen chicken nuggets...I usually try to buy the ones that are more chicken breast and less chicken paste...I know it isn't 100% healthy, but she loves them and I can pair it with some frozen veggies.
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Reset
This last week has been a little discouraging.
I started my Monday coming off of a weekend with a sick baby and not nearly enough sleep. It's hard starting the week off tired. The week was long and exhausting. I went to bed too late, ate too much, didn't exercise at all, and didn't accomplish anything.Also, Allie didn't sleep through the night once last week. I literally came home from work everyday and just sat on the couch unable to move. I felt like I never really got my feet under me. As a result, I had nothing to blog about.
I feel like this kind of thing happens a lot and it happens to all of us. We have a couple of really great weeks where we are accomplishing goals, working hard, eating right, being great parents/spouses and then BAM exhaustion hits and it all goes downhill.
I also feel like this is completely normal.
When this happens, I like to push the reset button.
This weekend, I had some time to breathe. Nick and I went to my friend Bonnie's cabin and just relaxed. It was a nice way to clear my head, get out of life for a few hours, and reset. We were able to get Allie back onto some kind of schedule and last night she finally slept through the night again. I cleaned my house, did the laundry, and caught up on some things that needed to be done. I have the rest of the day today to just relax and get ready for the week ahead. Sometimes I just need this kind of weekend. I got to spend some quality time with Nick and Allie and I feel like I am getting back on track.
Moral of the story? Life isn't easy. Parenthood isn't easy. Having a full time job and coming home to a one year old and an antsy husband who has been stuck inside all day isn't easy. Supporting a husband through school isn't easy. It's 100% exhausting. Sometimes we have bad days/weeks/months but instead of sulking into despair about how hard it all is, take a few minutes (or in my case a few days) figure out what's important and MOVE ON! The only way we are going to get any better is to keep truckin' through.
So there you have it. My inspirational speech for the day.
This week will be a better blogging week. I promise.
I started my Monday coming off of a weekend with a sick baby and not nearly enough sleep. It's hard starting the week off tired. The week was long and exhausting. I went to bed too late, ate too much, didn't exercise at all, and didn't accomplish anything.Also, Allie didn't sleep through the night once last week. I literally came home from work everyday and just sat on the couch unable to move. I felt like I never really got my feet under me. As a result, I had nothing to blog about.
I feel like this kind of thing happens a lot and it happens to all of us. We have a couple of really great weeks where we are accomplishing goals, working hard, eating right, being great parents/spouses and then BAM exhaustion hits and it all goes downhill.
I also feel like this is completely normal.
When this happens, I like to push the reset button.
This weekend, I had some time to breathe. Nick and I went to my friend Bonnie's cabin and just relaxed. It was a nice way to clear my head, get out of life for a few hours, and reset. We were able to get Allie back onto some kind of schedule and last night she finally slept through the night again. I cleaned my house, did the laundry, and caught up on some things that needed to be done. I have the rest of the day today to just relax and get ready for the week ahead. Sometimes I just need this kind of weekend. I got to spend some quality time with Nick and Allie and I feel like I am getting back on track.
Moral of the story? Life isn't easy. Parenthood isn't easy. Having a full time job and coming home to a one year old and an antsy husband who has been stuck inside all day isn't easy. Supporting a husband through school isn't easy. It's 100% exhausting. Sometimes we have bad days/weeks/months but instead of sulking into despair about how hard it all is, take a few minutes (or in my case a few days) figure out what's important and MOVE ON! The only way we are going to get any better is to keep truckin' through.
So there you have it. My inspirational speech for the day.
This week will be a better blogging week. I promise.
Saturday, June 9, 2012
How to Give Medicine to a 1-Year-Old
As I mentioned in my previous post, Allie has an ear infection. Getting her to take her antibiotic has been difficult to say the least. The amoxicillin was 6mL twice a day in a syringe. I don't know if you know this, but 6mL is a lot to give a baby who won't take medicine.
Dose 1
Take one: I let her try a little bit of it thinking she would like the bubblegum flavor and take it willingly. Wrong. She spit it out.
Take two: She was on to me by this point and clenched her jaw shut. When she opened her mouth to scream I tried to squirt some in the back of her mouth. She sputtered on it and spit over half of it out. Pink, sticky medicine was now running down her face and neck.
Take three: Time to get dad involved. Nick held her while I squirted the rest in her mouth (we were in the parking lot of Walmart by the way and didn't have many other options) She spit a good portion of it out again and then clawed my face. I have a 2 inch scratch across my cheek now.
Dose 2 (the next morning)
Take one: I tried to let her take it willingly again wondering if she would change her mind about the stuff. Nope.
Take two: I put a small amount of medicine on a spoon. I asked her if she wanted a bite and she opened her mouth, curious. One taste and she spit it out.
Take three: As she was drinking her bottle, I took the syringe and squirted some in the side of her mouth thinking she wouldn't notice. She immediately took the bottle out of her mouth and looked at it wondering where the yucky stuff was coming from. She reluctantly put it back in her mouth. I tried the technique once again. This time she took the bottle out of her mouth and threw it while spitting the medicine and the milk out. She wouldn't take her bottle again for the rest of the morning.
Take four: We tried the spoon one more time. I filled it up, forced her mouth open (by this point she was screaming and jaw clenching) and shoved the spoon in, closing her lips as best as I could so she would have to swallow it.
After all the drama, the poor girl was allergic to the amoxicillin and we had to go get a new antibiotic. The new one fortunately is only 3 mL once a day.
Dose 1
Take one: Once again, I gave her the option to take it willingly. I thought maybe the new medicine would taste better. Wrong again.
Take two: I tried mixing the medicine with chocolate pudding. As she was eating dinner, I gave her a bite of the pudding thinking she would love it. She spit it out and wouldn't open her mouth for another bite. I decided trying to force the pudding down would be harder since she would have to get down about 8 bites.
Take three: Dad held her on his lap while I squirted the medicine as far into her mouth as I could. She got about half of it down and spit the rest out. I tried to catch the stuff she spit out in my fingers and put it back into her mouth. Not so much successful.
Take four: With about 1 mL left in the syringe, Nick held her, I forced her mouth open, squirted the medicine in, and then pinched her lips together so she was forced to swallow it. This was our most successful attempt so far. She wasn't able to spit it out and swallowed the whole dose. I guess that is what I will try...for the next 10 days...ugh.
Now before you all go off accusing me of child abuse remember that it is medicine she needs and if she doesn't get it, she won't get better! If you have a better way? I would LOVE to hear it.
(Mixing it with juice/milk has been suggested...I would try it but she drinks her bottle so slowly over the course of the day that I'm worried she wouldn't get it down.)
Dose 1
Take one: I let her try a little bit of it thinking she would like the bubblegum flavor and take it willingly. Wrong. She spit it out.
Take two: She was on to me by this point and clenched her jaw shut. When she opened her mouth to scream I tried to squirt some in the back of her mouth. She sputtered on it and spit over half of it out. Pink, sticky medicine was now running down her face and neck.
Take three: Time to get dad involved. Nick held her while I squirted the rest in her mouth (we were in the parking lot of Walmart by the way and didn't have many other options) She spit a good portion of it out again and then clawed my face. I have a 2 inch scratch across my cheek now.
Dose 2 (the next morning)
Take one: I tried to let her take it willingly again wondering if she would change her mind about the stuff. Nope.
Take two: I put a small amount of medicine on a spoon. I asked her if she wanted a bite and she opened her mouth, curious. One taste and she spit it out.
Take three: As she was drinking her bottle, I took the syringe and squirted some in the side of her mouth thinking she wouldn't notice. She immediately took the bottle out of her mouth and looked at it wondering where the yucky stuff was coming from. She reluctantly put it back in her mouth. I tried the technique once again. This time she took the bottle out of her mouth and threw it while spitting the medicine and the milk out. She wouldn't take her bottle again for the rest of the morning.
Take four: We tried the spoon one more time. I filled it up, forced her mouth open (by this point she was screaming and jaw clenching) and shoved the spoon in, closing her lips as best as I could so she would have to swallow it.
After all the drama, the poor girl was allergic to the amoxicillin and we had to go get a new antibiotic. The new one fortunately is only 3 mL once a day.
Dose 1
Take one: Once again, I gave her the option to take it willingly. I thought maybe the new medicine would taste better. Wrong again.
Take two: I tried mixing the medicine with chocolate pudding. As she was eating dinner, I gave her a bite of the pudding thinking she would love it. She spit it out and wouldn't open her mouth for another bite. I decided trying to force the pudding down would be harder since she would have to get down about 8 bites.
Take three: Dad held her on his lap while I squirted the medicine as far into her mouth as I could. She got about half of it down and spit the rest out. I tried to catch the stuff she spit out in my fingers and put it back into her mouth. Not so much successful.
Take four: With about 1 mL left in the syringe, Nick held her, I forced her mouth open, squirted the medicine in, and then pinched her lips together so she was forced to swallow it. This was our most successful attempt so far. She wasn't able to spit it out and swallowed the whole dose. I guess that is what I will try...for the next 10 days...ugh.
Now before you all go off accusing me of child abuse remember that it is medicine she needs and if she doesn't get it, she won't get better! If you have a better way? I would LOVE to hear it.
(Mixing it with juice/milk has been suggested...I would try it but she drinks her bottle so slowly over the course of the day that I'm worried she wouldn't get it down.)
Friday, June 8, 2012
Love and Heartache
Sometimes I don't know if I have the emotional capacity to be a mom. Seriously. No one prepares you for how emotionally taxing it is to have a child.
It was amazing how I peed on a stick, it said I was pregnant and I instantly felt a connection to something that was barely even a few cells.
Then it was even more amazing how I carried a baby for 9 months, was in the most pain I have ever been in in my entire life and then suddenly she was there. The instantaneous love that I felt was beyond anything I have ever experienced. And she was a complete stranger.
Now, with every passing day, my love grows and grows. Sometimes I think my heart is going to explode.
With all of this love that comes with being a mom, there is also a whole lot of heartache. I can tell you that there is literally nothing worse than your child being in pain. I have never experienced anything like losing a child or watching a child suffer through a major illness but even the little things can bring about heartache.
Allie has been sick since Tuesday. She got a fever while at the babysitter and I had to leave work early to pick her up. She was completely miserable for 2 days. Wouldn't sleep, wouldn't eat, wouldn't drink. The worst part was that I couldn't do anything to help her. She has never been one to snuggle with us and she's the same way when she is sick. At one point I just layed her down in her bed and let her cry because she didn't want to be anywhere else. I knew she was in pain and there was nothing I could do.
I took her to the doctor yesterday and found out she has an ear infection. I have had my share of ear infections and I can tell you they are miserable. We got her an antibiotic and hoped she would be better soon.
Turns out, she's allergic to amoxicillin. She broke out in a horrible rash all over her face, neck, stomach and back and her face swelled up. The poor girl was miserable until we could get into the doctor at the end of the day to get a new antibiotic.
Once we were home, I finally got her to eat something and put her to bed. My heart just aches for her and I wish so badly that I could take her place and take away her pain. I know this isn't a major ailment but it honestly doesn't matter. I still wish I could make it go away.
It terrifies me to think about the things that will come in the future for her and how I can't protect her from everything in life.
Multiply that by 2 or 3 more kids? I will probably lose my mind by the time I am 40.
Stay tuned for a more lighthearted post on giving medicine to a 1 year old...
It was amazing how I peed on a stick, it said I was pregnant and I instantly felt a connection to something that was barely even a few cells.
Then it was even more amazing how I carried a baby for 9 months, was in the most pain I have ever been in in my entire life and then suddenly she was there. The instantaneous love that I felt was beyond anything I have ever experienced. And she was a complete stranger.
Now, with every passing day, my love grows and grows. Sometimes I think my heart is going to explode.
With all of this love that comes with being a mom, there is also a whole lot of heartache. I can tell you that there is literally nothing worse than your child being in pain. I have never experienced anything like losing a child or watching a child suffer through a major illness but even the little things can bring about heartache.
Allie has been sick since Tuesday. She got a fever while at the babysitter and I had to leave work early to pick her up. She was completely miserable for 2 days. Wouldn't sleep, wouldn't eat, wouldn't drink. The worst part was that I couldn't do anything to help her. She has never been one to snuggle with us and she's the same way when she is sick. At one point I just layed her down in her bed and let her cry because she didn't want to be anywhere else. I knew she was in pain and there was nothing I could do.
I took her to the doctor yesterday and found out she has an ear infection. I have had my share of ear infections and I can tell you they are miserable. We got her an antibiotic and hoped she would be better soon.
Turns out, she's allergic to amoxicillin. She broke out in a horrible rash all over her face, neck, stomach and back and her face swelled up. The poor girl was miserable until we could get into the doctor at the end of the day to get a new antibiotic.
Once we were home, I finally got her to eat something and put her to bed. My heart just aches for her and I wish so badly that I could take her place and take away her pain. I know this isn't a major ailment but it honestly doesn't matter. I still wish I could make it go away.
It terrifies me to think about the things that will come in the future for her and how I can't protect her from everything in life.
Multiply that by 2 or 3 more kids? I will probably lose my mind by the time I am 40.
Stay tuned for a more lighthearted post on giving medicine to a 1 year old...
Monday, June 4, 2012
15 Things I do Wrong
Ever since I became a mom I have felt the eyes of the world watching me. Judging me. In my first months of motherhood, I found that I was extremely insecure. Always comparing my baby to others, always wanting to do everything right. Over the last year, I have realized one thing.
You don't have to be perfect to be a good mom.
That's right. You heard me. All of you people out there who feel the need to judge me...some of you moms and some of you not. I am not perfect and guess what? My baby rocks. So, to all of you moms out there who feel the need to give me unsolicited advice on how to be a good mom..I have made it easy for you. I made a list.
Judge me...Go ahead I dare you
1. I didn't deliver naturally...yup I had an epidural and loved every minute of it (every minute that it worked at least...but that's a whole other story)
2. I stopped nursing when my baby was 3 1/2 months old.
3. I gave her a bottle with formula (gasp!) when she was 2 days old and wouldn't stop crying. Don't regret it.
4. I never put a bumper on her crib
5. Sometimes I give her sips of my soda
6. I gave her something other than rice cereal during the first week that she ate solid foods
7. I give her a bottle in her bed at night
8. I bought a bunch of toys for her at a garage sale
9. Sometimes I give her marshmellos and cookies instead of something healthier
10. I let her eat dirt
11. I let her dad throw her up in the air
12. I take her out in public with a dirty face and mismatched clothes on purpose sometimes
13. Sometimes I forget the sunscreen and she gets burned
14.Sometimes I forget to change her diaper until it is already too late
15. I let her run the halls during church instead of making her sit quietly on my lap
So there you have it. 15 things that I do wrong as a mom. But you know what? My baby girl is smart, beautiful, funny, loving, and totally awesome...and despite all of the mistakes that I have made in the past and have yet to make in the future, I really think we're gonna be just fine.
You don't have to be perfect to be a good mom.
That's right. You heard me. All of you people out there who feel the need to judge me...some of you moms and some of you not. I am not perfect and guess what? My baby rocks. So, to all of you moms out there who feel the need to give me unsolicited advice on how to be a good mom..I have made it easy for you. I made a list.
Judge me...Go ahead I dare you
1. I didn't deliver naturally...yup I had an epidural and loved every minute of it (every minute that it worked at least...but that's a whole other story)
2. I stopped nursing when my baby was 3 1/2 months old.
3. I gave her a bottle with formula (gasp!) when she was 2 days old and wouldn't stop crying. Don't regret it.
4. I never put a bumper on her crib
5. Sometimes I give her sips of my soda
6. I gave her something other than rice cereal during the first week that she ate solid foods
7. I give her a bottle in her bed at night
8. I bought a bunch of toys for her at a garage sale
9. Sometimes I give her marshmellos and cookies instead of something healthier
10. I let her eat dirt
11. I let her dad throw her up in the air
12. I take her out in public with a dirty face and mismatched clothes on purpose sometimes
13. Sometimes I forget the sunscreen and she gets burned
14.Sometimes I forget to change her diaper until it is already too late
15. I let her run the halls during church instead of making her sit quietly on my lap
So there you have it. 15 things that I do wrong as a mom. But you know what? My baby girl is smart, beautiful, funny, loving, and totally awesome...and despite all of the mistakes that I have made in the past and have yet to make in the future, I really think we're gonna be just fine.
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Watermelon Juice
Having a one year old is exhausting. Anyone who tells you otherwise is lying. Sure, some are easier than others... Some are content to just sit on your lap and watch everything around them...but they are all exhausting.
I have always said that a having a baby shouldn't keep you from doing the things you want to do....and she doesn't. She does however make me not want to do a lot of things because it is just too hard.
Rock climbing for example is something fun that Nick and I enjoy doing with each other. I always thought, oh when we have a kid we will just take it with us...while it is possible, it is definitely NOT enjoyable. She is stable enough that she wants to climb over any and every surface but she is unstable enough that she can easily fall and crack her noggin. She wants to play in the dirt, eat the rocks, jump in the river, basically anything but hold still. Exhausting.
Today, we had a family party at the park. Pretty harmless environment right? Think again. She is climbing under tables, bonking her head, getting into everyone's food, eating things from under the table, eating rocks, dumping water on her head, dumping soda on her head, climbing into the cooler...you name it. She wants to play with the bigger kids but isn't coordinated enough...I have to keep her away from the playground so she doesn't get pummeled by some kid not paying attention on the swing. I finally decided the lesser of all evils was to give her a slice of watermelon and let her have at it. She was one big sticky mess with watermelon juice dripping down her face, neck, arms, and legs. But it kept her decently entertained and close by so that I could relax for 5 minutes. We always end up leaving these kinds of events early because I am just plain exhausted.
Sometimes while I am laying in bed at night I think about my day and wonder how on earth I had the energy.
Don't get me wrong, I love being a mom and I wouldn't have it any other way. I plan on enjoying every minute of the the next however many years that I have a little one. I have had more fun and felt more love than I ever thought possible.
But, when it is 8pm and I am ready for bed...Don't judge.
I have always said that a having a baby shouldn't keep you from doing the things you want to do....and she doesn't. She does however make me not want to do a lot of things because it is just too hard.
Rock climbing for example is something fun that Nick and I enjoy doing with each other. I always thought, oh when we have a kid we will just take it with us...while it is possible, it is definitely NOT enjoyable. She is stable enough that she wants to climb over any and every surface but she is unstable enough that she can easily fall and crack her noggin. She wants to play in the dirt, eat the rocks, jump in the river, basically anything but hold still. Exhausting.
Today, we had a family party at the park. Pretty harmless environment right? Think again. She is climbing under tables, bonking her head, getting into everyone's food, eating things from under the table, eating rocks, dumping water on her head, dumping soda on her head, climbing into the cooler...you name it. She wants to play with the bigger kids but isn't coordinated enough...I have to keep her away from the playground so she doesn't get pummeled by some kid not paying attention on the swing. I finally decided the lesser of all evils was to give her a slice of watermelon and let her have at it. She was one big sticky mess with watermelon juice dripping down her face, neck, arms, and legs. But it kept her decently entertained and close by so that I could relax for 5 minutes. We always end up leaving these kinds of events early because I am just plain exhausted.
Sometimes while I am laying in bed at night I think about my day and wonder how on earth I had the energy.
Don't get me wrong, I love being a mom and I wouldn't have it any other way. I plan on enjoying every minute of the the next however many years that I have a little one. I have had more fun and felt more love than I ever thought possible.
But, when it is 8pm and I am ready for bed...Don't judge.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Poop Talk
Warning- This post may not be suitable for those who refuse to change dirty diapers and who think it's weird to talk about poop.
I never thought poop would be a part of daily conversation until I had a kid. Now, I find myself talking about it on a daily basis. One of the first things the doctors gave us in the hospital after she was born was a guide to the first weeks of baby poop colors. They tell you to keep track of how often, what color, how much, etc. etc. It is one of the guides to if she is getting enough of the right foods. When she was drinking formula all was well. Then we started giving her real food and her poop started to change colors/consistencies. A few weeks ago we switched her from formula to whole milk and she was instantly constipated. She has been pooping rocks for weeks now.
I'm no expert, but I do know that dairy=constipation. The only problem is that milk, cheese, and yogurt are her all time faves. She carries around a bottle with her all day. (I do realize I have some control over this matter but some days it is all she will eat) I have tried switching some of her milk bottles for juice but it hasn't seemed to make much of a difference.
I try my best to feed her lots of fruit and she loves it. She eats blueberries for breakfast. Unfortunately, nothing seems to help.
Yesterday I gave her some prune juice mixed with her apple juice and within hours she had really runny poop that made her poor little bum bright red and extremely sore.
I can't win.
Any moms out there have poop advice? I could really use it.
I never thought poop would be a part of daily conversation until I had a kid. Now, I find myself talking about it on a daily basis. One of the first things the doctors gave us in the hospital after she was born was a guide to the first weeks of baby poop colors. They tell you to keep track of how often, what color, how much, etc. etc. It is one of the guides to if she is getting enough of the right foods. When she was drinking formula all was well. Then we started giving her real food and her poop started to change colors/consistencies. A few weeks ago we switched her from formula to whole milk and she was instantly constipated. She has been pooping rocks for weeks now.
I'm no expert, but I do know that dairy=constipation. The only problem is that milk, cheese, and yogurt are her all time faves. She carries around a bottle with her all day. (I do realize I have some control over this matter but some days it is all she will eat) I have tried switching some of her milk bottles for juice but it hasn't seemed to make much of a difference.
I try my best to feed her lots of fruit and she loves it. She eats blueberries for breakfast. Unfortunately, nothing seems to help.
Yesterday I gave her some prune juice mixed with her apple juice and within hours she had really runny poop that made her poor little bum bright red and extremely sore.
I can't win.
Any moms out there have poop advice? I could really use it.
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Motherhood
I found this quote on pinterest the other day and I love it.
I often find myself wishing that Allie would entertain herself just a little bit longer so that I can finish whatever it is that I am doing. I need to try a little harder to make more time with her and to make the time I have meaningful. She may not remember much about these first couple of years, but the relationship that I form with her now will carry over into the future. She is growing up so fast and I will never again have this time with her. I need to remember that my most important job is to be a mother.
Everything else can wait.
Church
Trying to go to church with a one year old is....difficult to say the least. It doesn't matter how good our intentions, we always end up sitting in the hallway during sacrament meeting and then one of us takes her home after an hour or so while the other teaches our class. Sometimes I wonder why we even try.
Today, Allie was sleeping when it was time to leave for church. We debated waking her up, but we have had a crazy weekend which has gotten her sleeping schedule completely out of whack. So, in the interest of getting her back on track, we decided to let her sleep. I decided that I would go to sacrament meeting alone and then Nick would come to teach our class after she woke up.
I sat through sacrament meeting alone for the first time in over a year. It was amazing. I was actually able to listen to the speakers without being constantly interrupted by having to chase a toddler down the isle. I was also able to sit back and watch all of the other parents struggle with their kids. I usually don't notice how many kids there are in our ward. There are literally hundreds. Kids are screaming, playing, eating, running, crying, talking...you name it. The kid behind me cried throughout the entire meeting. (seriously, if your child cries for more than a couple minutes take him out in the hall!)
It got me thinking...when will church ever again be about listening to the speakers and feeling the spirit. Right now, we go to church because we know we should. I haven't gotten much out of it in the last year but we keep going as regularly as we can just because we know its the right thing to do.
I really want to teach my kids to be reverent in church. I want them to be able to listen and pay attention and I want them to learn. I have no idea how to do that. I know Allie is only 1 and I can't expect much out of her yet but she is also at the stage where she is watching and imitating every thing that I do. How can I expect her to learn reverence when I let her run the halls during church? I just need to figure out how on earth to get her to sit in my lap for longer than 2 minutes...
Something to work on I guess...
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