I think Eli is close to crawling. He's started to do the backwards shimmy. I put his moves to music!
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Too cool
When I was in grade 8, it was so cool to have a pair of Vans. They are still around, and still cool ( I think!). Eli got his first pair of Vans from Auntie Jacqueline the other day. They are so cute ..I mean cool.
Not only do they look good, but they taste good.
Cool dude
Close up
Not only do they look good, but they taste good.
Cool dude
Close up
My thoughts on sleep...glorious sleep.
How's he sleeping? Is he a good sleeper? Are you getting much sleep? As a new mom, I get this question a lot. It is the hot topic whenever mom's get together. Even people who are out of the baby stage ask me this question, strangers in the grocery store seem to care about how much sleep we are getting. Sleep is something I don't function well without, I need my sleep. 8 hours preferably. So, even before Eli was born I was reading about sleep and trying to educate myself on infant sleep in the hopes to keep the night waking phase as short as possible.
One of my coworkers, Angie, has 2 great little girls who are wonderful sleepers. Lucky for me, she caught me early and taught me a few things. She passed on the information for Raymond Parenting. I'm SO glad she did. We took Kitty's sleep seminar when I was still pregnant, and learned quite a bit. The two biggest things I learned were that babies have the ability to go the night without eating at 3 months (and at least 12 lbs). Also, that babies are not born knowing how to put themselves to sleep, they need to be taught how to soothe themselves, and need to figure it out on their own. It sounded so easy at the time. Then Eli came along, and suddenly it was so hard to imagine letting my little guy cry in the night. At 3.5 months, one fateful night, I came to the point where I realized we had to do it. He was up every 2 hours, I couldn't settle him no matter what I tried, he was fed, he was dry....what more could I do? The next night Brent and I made a pact to start the sleep training. We let him cry that first night, and both got up to time how long he was crying, and to support each other. Eli cried for 20 mins the first wake up, 15 the next, 25 the next, then that was it. When I went into his room the next morning, he smiled at me! He wasn't mad at me. He didn't even remember - that was a huge realization for me. The next night, he only woke up once, cried for 10 mins, then went back to sleep. After that, we had a 12 hour/night sleeper on our hands. It wasn't easy by any means, but in retrospect totally worth it. Eli found his thumb, learned how to put himself back to sleep, and as a family, we were all much happier. I also noticed that he cried a lot less during the day and in the car which was a great side effect of the night time sleeping. Daytime naps were still a bit of a struggle, he cried before naps but still nothing I can complain about too much.
Then, when he turned 5.5 months, Eli learned how to roll onto his tummy. That's all he wanted to do all the time. The problem was he didn't know how to roll back. He got stuck! My great sleeper suddenly was up again in the night. He would roll onto his tummy in his sleep and get frustrated because he was stuck that way. I had a hard time leaving him like that since I imagined it would be so awful to be stuck in one position all night. I emailed Kitty and she told me to let him cry and he would sort it out on his own. I couldn't do that....so we kept flipping him over, sometimes he would go back to sleep, sometimes not. Then, the other night, since Brent was on holidays, he got up with Eli in the night when he was stuck. Brent rocked him, and rocked him, but every time he put him in the crib, Eli would wake up and cry. He was feeling what I felt, that night when I was at my wits end! So, he put him back in his crib, and let him cry. He cried for an hour. Both of us were awake, and it was so hard for me. I think I told Brent 3 times to just feed Eli a bottle - knowing well that he wasn't hungry but that it would put him to sleep. Brent didn't - and after an hour, Eli fell asleep for 4 more hours. Ever since that night, Eli has been sleeping 12 hours again. AND that night, he learned how to roll back onto his back! He's a tummy sleeper, just like mom.
It makes me so proud of Eli to know that he is learning how to solve these problems. He CAN do it and I as a parent need to remember that. He needs to cry to get out that frustration, but if I keep helping him, he'll never figure it out on his own.
So, after this long story here is what I have learned about sleep. Crying , as hard as it is to listen to, isn't bad, and I'm not a bad parent for letting him cry. There will be regressions at developmental milestones, but he'll figure out out along with those too. I think sleep is an ever evolving process as children get older, and this first year is probably the hardest. Letting Eli learn to get to sleep is just the first in what I'm sure will be a long list of things he will have to learn without my help. I have learned that being a parent sometimes is about stepping back instead of stepping in, which is probably a good lesson to learn early on. We are getting through it, and I've got to say I'm so proud of Eli, and of Brent and I for figuring it out together, for what works for our family.
One of my coworkers, Angie, has 2 great little girls who are wonderful sleepers. Lucky for me, she caught me early and taught me a few things. She passed on the information for Raymond Parenting. I'm SO glad she did. We took Kitty's sleep seminar when I was still pregnant, and learned quite a bit. The two biggest things I learned were that babies have the ability to go the night without eating at 3 months (and at least 12 lbs). Also, that babies are not born knowing how to put themselves to sleep, they need to be taught how to soothe themselves, and need to figure it out on their own. It sounded so easy at the time. Then Eli came along, and suddenly it was so hard to imagine letting my little guy cry in the night. At 3.5 months, one fateful night, I came to the point where I realized we had to do it. He was up every 2 hours, I couldn't settle him no matter what I tried, he was fed, he was dry....what more could I do? The next night Brent and I made a pact to start the sleep training. We let him cry that first night, and both got up to time how long he was crying, and to support each other. Eli cried for 20 mins the first wake up, 15 the next, 25 the next, then that was it. When I went into his room the next morning, he smiled at me! He wasn't mad at me. He didn't even remember - that was a huge realization for me. The next night, he only woke up once, cried for 10 mins, then went back to sleep. After that, we had a 12 hour/night sleeper on our hands. It wasn't easy by any means, but in retrospect totally worth it. Eli found his thumb, learned how to put himself back to sleep, and as a family, we were all much happier. I also noticed that he cried a lot less during the day and in the car which was a great side effect of the night time sleeping. Daytime naps were still a bit of a struggle, he cried before naps but still nothing I can complain about too much.
Then, when he turned 5.5 months, Eli learned how to roll onto his tummy. That's all he wanted to do all the time. The problem was he didn't know how to roll back. He got stuck! My great sleeper suddenly was up again in the night. He would roll onto his tummy in his sleep and get frustrated because he was stuck that way. I had a hard time leaving him like that since I imagined it would be so awful to be stuck in one position all night. I emailed Kitty and she told me to let him cry and he would sort it out on his own. I couldn't do that....so we kept flipping him over, sometimes he would go back to sleep, sometimes not. Then, the other night, since Brent was on holidays, he got up with Eli in the night when he was stuck. Brent rocked him, and rocked him, but every time he put him in the crib, Eli would wake up and cry. He was feeling what I felt, that night when I was at my wits end! So, he put him back in his crib, and let him cry. He cried for an hour. Both of us were awake, and it was so hard for me. I think I told Brent 3 times to just feed Eli a bottle - knowing well that he wasn't hungry but that it would put him to sleep. Brent didn't - and after an hour, Eli fell asleep for 4 more hours. Ever since that night, Eli has been sleeping 12 hours again. AND that night, he learned how to roll back onto his back! He's a tummy sleeper, just like mom.
It makes me so proud of Eli to know that he is learning how to solve these problems. He CAN do it and I as a parent need to remember that. He needs to cry to get out that frustration, but if I keep helping him, he'll never figure it out on his own.
So, after this long story here is what I have learned about sleep. Crying , as hard as it is to listen to, isn't bad, and I'm not a bad parent for letting him cry. There will be regressions at developmental milestones, but he'll figure out out along with those too. I think sleep is an ever evolving process as children get older, and this first year is probably the hardest. Letting Eli learn to get to sleep is just the first in what I'm sure will be a long list of things he will have to learn without my help. I have learned that being a parent sometimes is about stepping back instead of stepping in, which is probably a good lesson to learn early on. We are getting through it, and I've got to say I'm so proud of Eli, and of Brent and I for figuring it out together, for what works for our family.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Spike Lee
Whenever we go out someone always comments on Eli's hair. It just feels silly to style a 6 month olds hair so I just leave it au natural. We nicknamed him Spike Lee. I attempted to do it for a Christmas event, so here are the before and after shots. Also, he's getting to be so blonde. Brent had white blonde hair as a kid, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised.
Serious spikes.
Close up!
Side view
After, with a little water and gel. So sophisticated.
Serious spikes.
Close up!
Side view
After, with a little water and gel. So sophisticated.
Deep Freeze
It was quite the production to get us all ready to take the dogs for a walk in this freezing weather. They were pretty short walks too since Paul usually started walking on 3 legs after a few blocks. We have dog boots for them but over the years we've lost a few and I think they each only have 2 left. We try to get them out for at least a little bit of exercise, even though in this weather I'm pretty sure Paul and Winston are pretty happy to stay indoors. I don't blame them!
Eli has the best seat in the house!
Me all bundled up.
Paul and Winston ready to go.
Phew, we made it!
Eli has the best seat in the house!
Me all bundled up.
Paul and Winston ready to go.
Phew, we made it!
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Thirty is the new 20...
...or so I keep telling myself. The girls came over for dinner on Thursday night. We were celebrating Kristina's 30th birthday. This was the year we all turned 30 and she was the last to do so. We decided to take a picture to get this year in the record books. We've been friends since Junior High, so over half our lives now. Wow!
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
For the grandparents...
Hello Grandparents!! Your grandson had his 6 month checkup today and is now 19lbs and 27.6 inches long. That's 75th percentile for weight (same) and he is now in the 90th percentile for height (from 75th).
Monday, December 8, 2008
Party Animal
The LeMaistres had their 2nd annual kids Christmas party over the weekend. Eli was invited and he had lots of fun. Santa even came, so we don't have to brave the mall for a photo. He was the best santa ever too! Eli did great, he's too little to be scared of Santa, although most of the other kids were. Brent..I mean, Eli had fun playing with the toys too.
It was the first real snowfall on Sunday morning and so we headed outside for Eli's first snow photo.
This little winter coat has a cell phone pocket on the inside. What 6 month old has a cell phone? I could see a soother pocket, or a face cloth pocket maybe.
With Santa, no the best picture, hopefully Kristina got a better shot than we did.
Fun in the ball pit - this is what Eli asked Santa for!
Tunnel O Fun
In the castle tower
B just couldn't resist going in for some fun
Hmmm, what's out here?
And here?
Eli learning to use the sippy cup. We have a ways to go but he sure likes it!
It was the first real snowfall on Sunday morning and so we headed outside for Eli's first snow photo.
This little winter coat has a cell phone pocket on the inside. What 6 month old has a cell phone? I could see a soother pocket, or a face cloth pocket maybe.
With Santa, no the best picture, hopefully Kristina got a better shot than we did.
Fun in the ball pit - this is what Eli asked Santa for!
Tunnel O Fun
In the castle tower
B just couldn't resist going in for some fun
Hmmm, what's out here?
And here?
Eli learning to use the sippy cup. We have a ways to go but he sure likes it!
Friday, December 5, 2008
A boy and his dog
Eli has been very interested in Winston lately. He is all smiles and giggles whenver Winston comes into the room or near him. He doesn't have quite the same reaction to Paul, probably because Paul is usually under the bed or dining room table. Winston is always where the people are. Here they are together, I have a feeling these two are going to be good friends.
Grandpa's are so much fun
Grandpa came to babysit Eli on Tuesday for the first time. Well, the first time all on his own. I didn't know if my dad would be comfortable with Eli without Angel as a backup, but he was cool as a cucumber. Sounds like they had fun while I was out enjoying some sushi. Thanks Dad!!!
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Blogging fun
Check out some new additions to my blog. My fancy new title AND playlist. I'm forcing you to listen to Christmas music. Tis the season!