Busy, Busy, Busy

Posting is going to be light this week because I am so busy getting ready for O's party and the general craziness that accompanies a house full out of town friends and family. We are thrilled to have loved ones here to celebrate Owen's big day with us and even those who can not make it, we know you are thinking of him (the cards and packages are rolling in!)

I can't wait to post pictures from his handmade "Ducky Party" and his one year photo shoot.

One thing is for sure, this is SUCH a loved little babyboy.

 (now with TWO molars!)

One week.

In one week my baby will be ONE. I cannot believe it. Everyday since Valentine's day I have been thinking about last year, about how excited we were that we would have a healthy, full term baby. Waiting to meet him, to welcome him into this world. And now, he has been with us for almost one year. I have been a Mama for almost a year, and yet, I feel like I've been one all my life.

Today was a beautiful day, our first taste of spring. Owen and I snuck into the Zoo about an hour before closing time. We had the place all to ourselves and even got to see the animals eat their dinner! Afterwards we went on a walk to the library and for a little frozen yogurt.

I was so happy to spend today with baby O - just as I've been this entire year. I love to see the little boy he is becoming. I love everything about being his Mama.

 Mr. and Mrs. Lion came down right next to the window for feeding time!

 Yummy fish!

Enjoying a waffle that Mama packed for a snack 

(do you see the little ear curl? I am in love with this crazy hair!)

 leaning against the pole but getting braver with standing up by himself

so proud to be drinking from his cup on our walk

The rest of the Valentine treats

{Dark Chocolate Truffles with Sea Salt}

These may be my first and last attempt at truffles. I don't know why I always attempt candy, but I do. Pioneer Woman is a LIAR. Her lasagna is TO DIE FOR but this tutorial (while, visually enticing) was SOOOOO misleading. Like this part, "Place it into the fridge for a couple of hour until the chocolate becomes firm and workable." Firm I agree with, but these suckers were NEVER WORKABLE. The good news is that THEY WERE DELICIOUS. The bad news is - making them looked like a chocolate horror show in my kitchen.

The peanut butter cookies with Reeses hearts are just along for the ride. Innocent and easy, these cookies are always a gem.

If love were to be measured in blood, sweets and tears -- this past weekend proved that I love my husband A LOT.

and the love letter he wrote me was totally worth it :)

Two Valentines Are Definitely Better Than One

My boys slowly waking up together

 At one of our favorite diners for brunch

the one with the *magical* pumpkin Chai

my little yogurt face

{Oreo Brownies}
 (if you want a little extra awesome make them with Ghirardelli dark chocolate brownie mix *swoon* Your valentine will thank you)

Saturday Night Pizza Party!

{If this post doesn't make you want pizza, we can't be friends anymore}

Last night we had a little family pizza party at the coffee table. We went to the bookstore and let O pull up on the bookshelves and take books off the shelf (while we put them back...). Its one of his favorite things to do so we figured a little outing might do us some good after being cooped up in the house with the weather/sick/teething mess of the last few weeks.

We grabbed a pizza on our way home and even though it was past Owen's bedtime he wanted to share some with us. We need to put weight on this boy anyway, so we figured it couldn't hurt! More than anything he wanted to rub the crust along his sore gums but once it was soggy enough he'd take a HUGE bite and Daddy had to fish it out of his mouth.

Yummy Pizza!

Holy Molars!

Owen is finally over his stomach bug after a nice big dose of squirts to finish it off (and give Mama plenty of onesies to scrub...) I assumed he would return to eating solids once he was feeling better, but it seemed to get worse. Other than his morning oatmeal he is refusing all solids and nursing every 2-3 hours. Jeremy and I had no idea what was going on. Owen has lost almost a half of a pound in the last 1.5 weeks - and I feel like it took forever to put that half pound ON HIM! We called the peditrician and they said not to worry as long as he's nursing, "He'll eat when he's hungry." So for reassurance I also talked to our neighbor(peditrician) and he said when his son had rotavirus it took over 3 weeks for him to want to eat again.

Then I randomly checked in Owen's mouth and there is was... a tiny bit of molar broken through. Like less than one of the little points. I'm pretty sure they are coming in (at a snails pace) on both sides because Owen has been sticking things in the back of his mouth and biting down really hard. The good news is - unlike the rest of his teething episodes that prompted a nursing strike - this one has been quite the opposite. Lots.of.nursing.

Owen is also waking at night. Full on standing up in his crib screaming for me. I have been a VERY, VERY spoiled Mama in that Owen hasn't woken up to nurse at night since he was about 5 months old. Now he's up every 2-3 hours hysterical and won't go back to sleep unless I nurse him and rock him. Jeremy tried to relieve me last night and Owen freaked out so bad you would have thought Hanibal Lecture went in to check on him (it probably didn't help that he hadn't seen Jeremy in over two days...) so even when there is a Daddy here to help me, Owen isn't having any of it. 

As with all things, we're just going with it. I honestly believe (at least for us) that teething is the horrible monster that no one prepares you for. But molars? MOLARS ARE WORSE.

So we've been lying low. I made some shakers out of tupperware and Owen banged on them with a spoon. That kept him occupied for, Oh, 1.5 SECONDS. I've had to go to bed early with Jeremy because I've been up so much at night - this is putting huge damper on my preparation for Owen's party. I cannot believe my little bug will be ONE in just two weeks.

Looks like he's getting molars for his birthday.

Morning cheeks are the best!

But baby bed-head is a close second!

Three down

Owen's behavior last week was DEFINITELY SICK creeping up on us. Sleeping in until 11am everyday, not standing up in his crib, whimpering, OH AND BARFING ON ME. Poor little one was fighting off a nasty bug, which finally hit me (duh) at 6am on Saturday morning when I was having all kinds of strange dreams. I dreamt that we were running errands and I kept having to find the bathroom in each store... to throw up (You know, like one of those dreams where you dream you are peeing in this huge white porcelain toilet and it feels OOOOOH SO RELAXING and then you realize you are THIS CLOSE to pissing the bed? Apparently that works with vomiting too.)

CUE WAKE UP AND RUN FOR IT.

Oh god, and it was Jeremy's day off so I was trying to be quiet so not to wake him. In between losing it and crying (yes, I still cry. Don't judge.) I did what any other Mama in my situation would do -- I took a pregnancy test.

Negative. Whew!

And this is how it went for most of the morning. Thankfully, (because he was sick) Owen slept in until 10:30 which allowed for me to crawl back in bed for an hour. When I heard him, I went to change his diaper. I had the diaper fastened but as I was putting one leg back in the jammies, I gagged. I ran to to find Jeremy with Owen flailing around in my arms half-naked. I don't even remember handing him over before I collapsed on the ground and crawled into the kitchen to find the trash can. Alien exorcisms sound better than I did, I was actually embarrassed that my husband had to hear me (let alone come and switch out the trash bags for me).

I sat on the kitchen floor while Jeremy ran across the street to the convenient store to get some crackers and gatorade. Owen sat in his high chair and waved at me, turning his head to the side to match my pathetic positioning on the floor.  It was adorable.

Luckily, we still had some of the anti nausea meds left over from the last time I was sick, which helped enough for me to get some fluids down because O wanted to nurse. Jeremy had to go in to work for a few hours (on his day off, I know...) so I had to hold down the fort. The second the door shut Owen started screaming. I tried to feed him lunch but he hasn't wanted to eat solids in almost a week now. A few bites here and there and then refuses. He ate a little yogurt and some fruit for me and as I walked into the nursery to put him down for a nap - he threw up all over both of us.

I know I have been so incredibly lucky that this was our first actual illness and Owen is almost a year old but it was a new parenting low for me. I thought July was bad when it was just me that was sick. Nope. both of us sick is even worse. How do people DO THIS? And how on earth would you prevent yourself from getting something like this from your kid? I was thinking to myself that Owen isn't going to actually throw up in a toilet for like five more years (if I'm lucky).

Jeremy finally came home and took care of Owen so that I could rest. Our sweet neighbors saw my "mama-baby barfing" post on Facebook and called to make sure Jeremy was home and see if they could bring us anything. Sooo sweet, but HELL NO. I wouldn't let anyone in during this horror show. As we were going to sleep that night I said, "I can't believe I got this gross bug from Owen."  and Jeremy says, "I know, I was really hoping you were pregnant."

4am Sunday morning Jeremy left for his first day on a new service and while he was talking with a patient - HE PUKED IN HIS MOUTH and suffered through the 30+hr overnight call (see what happens to you when you wish pregnancy on your puking wife?)

We're on the mend now, but none of us have much of an appetite which is beginning to show on Owen. He's definitely lost a little weight so if he doesn't start eating soon I'm going to have to call the doctor. Thankfully, he's still nursing.

Yesterday we just played inside and Owen went all bone, thugs and harmony on me. Oh, and he claps now. And says some version of doggie/ducky (gac-gnnnn). I think we'll keep him.

If you're going to spew, spew into THIS

Owen has been a little off his game this week. He slept in until 10am the past two days and instead of enjoying it, I freaked out and ran into his room to make sure he was still alive. Ah, motherhood. He was still smiling through our days together but just... off.

Today we went to the JCC for storytime and as we were walking out he barfed EVERYWHERE. Me, him, the parking garage. All of us. Yum.

I was a little thrown off, I mean it was actual throw up - a first for us. So we went home. I cleaned us both up and put my clothes and his coat in the wash and we sat down for lunch. I tried to find bland things for him to eat, so he had some pears and a little chicken soup with oatmeal mixed in. He opened his mouth a few times for each and then he was done - which was totally fine with me. I turned around to get a cloth to wipe him and... BLECK. Again, all over himself.

Once - perhaps a fluke? Twice. Maybe he's sick?

After I cleaned him up I cuddled him on the couch and it snuck up on us. AGAIN. And in a valiant attempt to save the couch - I caught most of it... IN MY HANDS ((gag))

I realized that I had never had another person puke in my hands before - mine? Sure. Plenty of times. Growing up I used to cup it while I ran from my bed to the toilet because the rule in our house was, if you make a mess - you clean it up. My mom gagged at the sight of throw up so we were pretty much on our own when it came to that.

Some things about babies puking -

--- there is no warning

---- it makes a mess on everything in its path

---it still smells like adult vomit (without the beer and left over Chinese food)

the funniest thing about it was that Owen was completely unphased. Most of the puke today was a sneak attack. Like an unsuspecting puke-burp or barf-cough come to think of it - last night he hiccup-vomed all over Jeremy but we thought it was because Daddy jiggled him too much right after eating. But the best part about it was right after he did it --- HE SMILED. Owen laughs when he sneezes so I guess I shouldn't be surprised, but smiling when you barf is definitely something he'll outgrow.

He is still nursing and napped like a champ today so we'll see where this sickness goes.

And in the meantime, we'll keep him hydrated

and smiling ;)

SO BIG!

How BIG is Owen?

SOOOOOO BIG!

What's good enough for Elvis, is good enough for Owen

I haven't written about our eating adventures lately so I thought I'd post some updates. Mr. O is eating like a champ now - but from the spoon. I know, the boy who refused to be spoon-fed for the first nine months of life, NOW INSISTS ON IT. I am still putting food down on his tray for him, mostly appetizers like cheese, cheerios, goldfish but other than that when I try to hand him foods to eat - he throws them on the floor. ALL OF IT. NONE IN THE MOUTH.

Ah, back to the drawing board. He is very good about eating from a spoon now and sometimes wants to try himself. When he is finished he swats the spoon away with his hand.

I recently read that after 1 year babies toddlers become even more picky about what they eat and you measure their intake BY THE WEEK (God, help me). Jeremy and I decided that since O isn't quite ONE yet - we'd take advantage of his stellar eating and try to find ways to get more calorie dense foods in him. This boy will eat butternut squash until its coming out his b-hole (literally.) but it just doesn't have that many calories per serving. I made a porridge with ground up lentils and barley that I've been adding to his cereal in the morning. I still want him to have the iron-fortified baby oatmeal, which he eats with 3 food cubes of fruit mashed in but the lentils added some protein. Owen still gobbles it up every morning for breakfast.

My friend Kelly is trying to put some weight on her boy right now so she shared a babyfood recipe with me that HORRIFIED me at first (she even warned me before telling it to me) but when it comes to calories - it packs a punch.

'The Elvis' Baby Food

1 piece of whole wheat bread (we eat Brownberry Double Protein)
2 slices of bacon (uncurred, this way it doesn't have any icky nitrates)
1-2 tablespoons of almond butter (be sure there is no added sugar or salt)
1 banana

Fry up some bacon. I don't cook pork bacon, but I noticed the turkey bacon we have from Trader Joe's was uncurred so I used that. Break into smaller pieces and add to food processor. Add the bread ripped into pieces and pulse. Add almond butter and banana (I also added a few tablespoons of whole milk yogurt for a smoother consistency) Blend well. Yields (2) 4oz servings. (Note: watch for nut allergies and this recipe is best for older babies 8 mons + because it has a chunkier consistency)

Owen ATE THIS UP. I gave it to him for lunch today and when I stopped shoveling it in he started screaming and crying? Whose kid is this anyway? I was horrified but Kelly proved to be a genius once again.

Since we were talking about feeding Owen, this weekend Jeremy and I went to the bookstore to pick up The Best Homemade Baby Food on the Planet. I've been reading reviews for a while and even though we're not going to be in "baby food" mode for long, I decided there were enough relevant recipes to buy it (that and we had a 50% off coupon to B&N). This book is great! It has colorful pictures and is packed with interesting ideas. One of the things that I would have never thought of was adding a teaspoon or so of oil or butter to baby food. Babies need fat, (BTW, did you know breastmilk and twice the fat and calories of whole milk? so awesome.) and good fats are hard to come by in a baby diet. It is counter-intuitive to add oil to your baby's food but it made sense in many of these recipes.

Black Beans, Avocado and Yogurt, OH MY!

1/4 cup black beans (homemade or canned)
1/4 avocado
1/4 cup plain yogurt (whole milk)
2 teaspoons vegetable oil (we used olive oil)

place all ingredients in the blender and puree. 1 baby serving or 1/4 cup (159.9 calories)

We doubled the recipe and it made (3) 4oz servings. Another hit with Owen (although I was skeptical, because it looked a little funky...)

The book also has lots of tips and tricks for feeding baby, a great conversion table in the back and a "Feedback chart" for each recipe you can note if baby liked it, any modifications you made, the date you made it and a place for notes.

As I've posted before, feeding Owen has always been "the thing" I'm most sensitive about. I think the bed rest and rough transition to breastfeeding (and me being crazy in general) has something to do with it but I'm always thinking about WHEN he ate, WHAT he ate, how much he ate, when he nursed, if he nursed, if he drank water. LITERALLY ALL THE TIME. I rack my brain trying to think of new and interesting things to offer Owen. I want him to explore foods and tastes while eating healthy. I have found making his food myself to be so incredibly rewarding and this weekend when Jeremy said, "I never imagined I'd marry someone who would make our baby's food. You're such a hippie! and I think its so totally cool." my heart almost exploded.

During Owen's nap yesterday we chopped/roasted/pureed batches of spaghetti squash, acorn squash, a batch of Prunanas (with yellow raisins for added iron), kiwi and pears - in addition to the recipes above. It was a fun afternoon, and it was nice to do it together. Now, every time I pop those cubes out of the freezer - I think about how they were made with love, by the both of us.

Cupcakes and Kool-Aid

What do 

A children's librarian

A veterinarian

A writer

A doctor

and a public health researcher 

have in common?

Answer: 

Some slammin' cool dance moves! 

Jeremy's schedule is really unpredictable so I miss out on most 'Mom's Night Out' events because I am home with Owen. So last night (while Jeremy was on call at the hospital) I hosted a 'Moms Night IN' at our place after Mr. O went to bed. 

I made some snacks, Kool-Aid and CUPCAKES!! 

(I used Red Velvet mix instead of German Chocolate and omitted the food coloring. I used plain cream cheese icing and they were quite possibly some of the best cupcakes I've EVER HAD)

We partied until after 11pm and it was so nice to let loose with friends. We chatted about food, nursing, pumping, pooping, exercise and of course - BABIES. But there was lots of eating, and dancing and fun to be had by a group of 30-something girls just hanging out.

I've been very lucky to have met some wonderful Mama's here and everyone is making huge sacrifices to stay home with their littlest loves. Its so inspiring!

Sometimes a Mama just needs someone to eat cupcakes with.

Eleven Months Old

Dearest Owen,

This has been another busy month for you, sweet baby. I think back to the months that we worked the entire time just on lifting your head and now each day brings new and exciting changes. You respond so quickly to things I teach you and I am in awe of the way your little mind works. I can see the wheels spinning deep beneath your furrowed brow as you study everything, soaking it all in.

This month you started to pull up, ON EVERYTHING. Pulling up is your favorite thing to do. You cruise around the room skipping from your music table, to our furniture, to our hands. Your legs have gotten so strong and even though you've started to crawl a little its only to facilitate your need to stand up.

You say "Mama" to me and "Dada" to your Daddy. You say "Hi" (more like, Ah--aaa) and you quack. You wake up quacking and go to bed quacking. You insist on taking your rubber duck from the bath to your bedroom at night. You love your ducky song and finger puppets. Tonight your Daddy and I decided we might need to have a ducky theme for your first birthday - its almost as if you told us what you wanted. SO.MUCH.QUACKING. You wave the cutest, most uncoordinated wave I've ever seen and when we ask you, "How Big is Owen?" you throw your arms up and tuck them behind your head as we say, "SOOOO BIG!" much to your delight. You learned to stick out your tongue this month and it was out, wagging away, all day every day.

You are easy going and just the sweetest boy on the planet. You have little to no separation anxiety as long as I am close by. Your smile melts the world and we beg for you to flash us those pearly whites. You and I took our first solo road trip this month and again you showed me how flexible you can be. We sing together, we dance together, we play together, we eat together. I still miss you while you are napping and secretly wish you would wake up at 5am and want to join me for snuggles in bed.

The past few days have been rough my boy, you are cutting more teeth and they are reeking havoc on our days. You are so sensitive and teething pain always gets the best of you. You've only nursed three times in the last three days. There has been lots of crying and lots of biting. But we're hanging in there and I pray that this passes soon. Last night you woke up at midnight after your Tylenol wore off, screaming and crying in pain and longing to return to restful sleep. You so badly wanted to nurse to settle down, but the pain was too much. I gave you some Advil and brought you out to the couch with me so your Daddy could rest. You snuggled up under my chin whimpering and fell asleep that way. We laid like that for most of the night and even though I was tired and uncomfortable all I could think about was your little body resting on mine. I was thankful you wanted to sleep there, safe with your Mama. I breathed in your sweet baby smell and I was remind of the days right after you were born when we slept together on the couch, your tiny head tucked under my chin. I marveled at you then, just as I marvel at you now. You've grown so much in the last eleven months, and even though I miss your babyness - I delight in the new joys that each day brings us. You are more a toddler than an infant now, but last night - just like the first night we met - you were my snuggly baby boy. I'd give up a million nights of sleep just to bask in a few hours with you tucked up under my chin. That will never, ever change. There is always a place for you there.

One month from today you will be a year old. The thought takes my breath away as moments from the past year flash through my mind - every single one of them is my favorite moment. You are my favorite moment.

Love,
Mama