Pro Con Baby: A Look Back

A close male coworker friend of mine confided in me that he and his wife were 'starting to kind of think about maybe having a baby.' This is great! They'd make wonderful parents and I told him not to think to hard about it. If anyone logically thought about it, they wouldn't do it. It is a sacrifice. Loads of work but also incredible joy.

It is funny of me to say not to over think something as it is my nature to do just that but until you are a parent, you don't understand it. It looks hard but fun at times. Seems life changing but difficult to gauge how much. Etc. So I thought I'd share on here how we made the decision 3+ years ago to become parents.

5 Month Old

We reached another month milestone yesterday with Owen reaching five months old. I've also been told that he is going through some of his biggest growth spurts and mental leaps of his little life right now which doesn't surprise me.

Owen Likes:
Toys that make noise
Football AND Basketball on tv
Men with beards
Squealing
Little girls and boys
Eating
Playing with random objects vs toys (I.e. wipes package, paper roll, etc.)
Flying like superman in the air
Being worn in a carrier or ring sling
Baths and showers
Fish tanks
Music (all kinds)

Owen Dislikes:
Teething
When you won't let him stick your fingers in his mouth
Dad's sneezes
Naps on the weekend
Changing clothes or diapers

Owen is now passing toys between his hands and reaching for things when you are holding him. For example, at this month's relief society activity, Owen stuck his hand right in the middle of my plate in the hummus. He didn't try to eat it though.

We've decided to wait until six months to introduce solids into his diet. His first meal will be avocados. We're planning on doing homemade purees mixed with baby led weaning.

Teething is a mess. Quite literally as he constantly has drool running down his chin. I can see white under his gums on the bottom and nursing has become a lIttle uncomfortable. He wears the Amber teething necklace which really seems to help and I just made him some chamomile tea soaked wash cloths that are in the freezer now. He gets some hylands teething tablets every now and then when things get really bad.

This little guy can almost situp on his own but isn't there just yet. He loves dancing along with music. Also when he is on his stomach, he'll stretch out his legs and put his butt in the air on his tippy toes.

This past month's visitors:
Granddaddy
Janet
Grandma Diana
Poppa Jim
Uncle Dane
Mary

Exciting news for mom and dad! Thanks to our little tax deduction, we are getting a substantial refund... enough to pay off all our debt except the house!!! Yippee! We've been working on this for about four years and have paid off just under $40k. I'm look forward to our birthday this month and hoping we can call Dave Ramsey for our debt free scream.

19 Weeks

Little big boy! 15lbs. 1 oz ava 26.25 inches tall at your 4 month doctor appointment. Petting Bruce (Thelma still won't go near you), teaching to phones and toys, babbling da da da da da, stealing hearts, laughing at your reflection, holding your hands up toward ago you want to pick you up, and getting so close to sitting up on your own. I can't believe how much and hope quickly yippy have changed. I love you so much and can't wait to keep watching you grow.

Baby's First Christmas

It was a perfect Christmas. It was just the three of us and it was heavenly. We slept in, ate a great breakfast, unwrapped presents, went to the JCA pool, and returned home for nap time and dinner. If we don't create any grand traditions for you Owen, I want you to know that the most important thing about Christmas is being with the people you love most. We love you so much.

Thumb Sucker

Owen has recently found his thumb. The relationship has become exclusive. He can now self soothe in the car and when stressed. Owen is officially a thumb sucker.

11 Weeks

This week Owen got really animated. He now laughs at peak a boo, is starting to suck his fingers, and reaches for toys when on his back and laying on the boppy.

This chub is also eating 15+ oz of milk a day when I am at work which even for a Mom with over supply is hard to keep up with.

Owen seems to be blowing bubbles now too and sucking his tongue out.

Grandma Judi, Annie, and Lee came into town to watch Owen while Anthony and I went to David's birthday party in Savannah, GA. He had a blast going out to Carrabbas and TJ Maxx. Aunt Annie even wore Owen in the Moby wrap. When Anthony and I got home after midnight, we found Owen on the couch sleeping in grandmas arms. 

I'm Granola

This should come as no surprise but I'll post it to make things official. I'm granola. Crunchy. Hippie. You probably already guessed that from me giving birth at home but I've adopted attachment parenting and babywearing and breastfeeding and Dr. Sears and so on.

I like the natural approach to child-rearing. If it is natural, feels natural, or comes instinctively then i go with it. This can be very contradictory to the way others raise their children and can bring out vigorous debate on who is right and who is wrong and that isn't my goal here. There is no right or wrong because my child is not your child and you and I are not the same either which means our situations may necessitate different methods of parenting.

I don't have advice for new parents. They won't have their minds made up on some things until after their bundle of joy arrives but I wish new parents well on their journeys.

Home Birth
I knew I didn't want to give birth in a hospital. They creep me out and I've never been hospitalized so I didn't want my first childbirth experience governed by rules and in a place of sickness. I have control issues and the idea that I wouldn't have certain choices in a hospital really turned me off. At home I could control everything down to the thermostat and I felt like that would make me feel more secure during a very vulnerable time.

Breastfeeding
This was harder than child birth for me. I thought it was going to be easy and magical and it wasn't. Nursing a baby is frustrating because you are both learning and waiting for milk to come in and he's figuring out how to eat and poo... It's tough but it is amazing when you get the hang of it. I feel closer to Owen and felt less post partum depression. It is also 100% free. I still find new frustrations such as public ridicule and stares (while wearing a cape even) but I know I'm doing the best thing possible for Owen and that's what matters.

For issues with breastfeeding, I highly encourage you to talk to or meet with your local la leche league leaders. They have been a wonderful resource for me.

Babywearing
I thank the women in my life for introducing me to this (in particular Wendy, Elaina, Myra, Sarah, Sharline). Owen loves to be worn and it gives me free hands for shopping, checking the mail, typing at work, going out to eat, running to a plane, waiting at TSA, voting, etc. When Owen is particularly fussy, Anthony or I can stick him in one of our carriers, we currently have four, and he'll calm down, fall asleep, or be easier to nurse. Babies need warmth, love the smell of their parents, and hearing their heartbeats which a carrier allows them to do while freeing up the caregivers arms. I can go on and on about how awesome this is but I recommend you try it for yourself.

We have a Tula, bjorn, Moby, and ring sling.