Something's going around...

A healthy dose of irony.

Journal entry from 10 November 2009:

"Tonight Nate and I started painting the baby's room. I just want the next three months to go by fast so that I can see my son. I'm so excited to have him. I wonder all of the time how big he'll be and what he'll look like. I hope he has my eyes, Nate's nose, my lips, and Nate's smile. I wonder if he'll have hair or not, and what color it will be. I wonder if it'll be curly. I know that he'll be handsome and have my heart no matter what. He already does."

Yes, I was huge for 27 weeks.

If I only knew.

Two days later I found out that my baby was 2 pounds 7 ounces, had my eyes, my nose, and Nate's lips and smile. He had lots of dark, wavy hair. I was right; he was handsome. And he had my heart even more than I thought possible.

He was pretty big for 27 weeks, too.

I'm glad it worked out the way it did.

Sometimes the thought crosses my mind that maybe I was never meant to have babies. I mean, it took almost a year and a half to get pregnant and then I could only stay pregnant for 27 weeks. I'm just not good at having kids.

Then I feel guilty for wanting more.

But then I think of how important it was that The Kid made it to this earth. There were so many opportunities for him to just not exist. That's how important he is. I just hope that I am now worthy and capable of helping this special baby to reach his full, amazing potential.

I'm so glad that I don't have to take that huge responsibility on my shoulders alone. I have The Boy, and the Lord.

It most certainly is not an accident that it worked out how it did. It is nothing short of miraculous.

Has it really been 10 months?

Yes, my child is a whopping ten months old. It's been a bit of a big month, too!

At 10 months, The Kid:

• FINALLY wears size two diapers. (He wore size one for about seven months!)

His first diaper, the pre-pre-preemie size, and a size two.

• Is barely starting to outgrow size 0-3 month clothes.
• Is somewhere in the 13-pound range.
  
• Is very good at rolling around to get what he wants.
• Can sit up unassisted rather well (and reach for toys) for about one minute at most.
• Consumes about 20 ounces of milk, one stage two jar of baby food, many crackers and cheerios, and 8-10 tablespoons of cereal per day.
• Nurses for 10-15 minutes every morning, but not at any other time during the day.
  
• Sips water from a big-boy cup (but doesn't like it much).
• Can use his thumb and pointer finger to pick up small items, such as cheerios. This, apparently, is a very advanced skill for such a young baby (not 10 months, though...7 months). I'm fairly certain that he doesn't have cerebral palsy. Truly amazing.
  
• No longer wants to take a bottle for anyone but me. I know it hurts The Boy's feelings, but I think I get the short end of the stick. I hope it's just this week's phase.
• Loves it most when his mommy sings and his daddy whistles.
  
• Sleeps on his knees with his bum up in the air and his arms under him.
• Is bored with all of his toys.
• No longer qualifies for early intervention services!!! He is completely caught up to where a 7-month-old should be. The therapist said that they hardly ever see that in a baby as young a The Kid who was born so early. Hopefully he never needs them again, but I won't count on that when he starts school.
  
• Is getting hard to photograph. He just wants to roll around.

Then

Now

Then
Now

Then
Now

It's gotta end some day...

Yesterday I told myself that it's coming to an end. I decided that today I would only pump twice. My supply is steadily decreasing and it's time. I've come to terms with it, and it's OK. Next month The Kid and I will fly to The Northwoods, and by then the whole lactating thing will all be over. And it'll be so nice.

But now...it's my regular pumping time...and I feel like an addict. I can't just not do it. I think I'll just pump for 20 minutes, instead of my regular 30.

After all, providing milk for my baby is a good thing, but spending day in and day out pumping (at this point) is a bad thing.

And All Bad Things Must End.

It just never gets old

Pictures of our Wonderful Life

The Kid eats like a horse. Here he is, all happy to be in his high chair:
And showing off his teeth (all the better to eat cheerios with):
And The Dog, where she keeps post while The Kid eats. You never know when a stray cheerio might fall to the ground, requiring her to clean up. It's a rough job, but thank goodness The Dog is willing to do it:This is how The Kid sits up on his own these days:
"See? I worked hard and now I have four BIG teeth!":
We went to the zoo the other day. As you can see, The Kid's Mommy-proclaimed favorites are monkeys:
I fear he may be too big for the bouncy chair (if you can't tell, he has rolled completely over to his belly, despite being strapped tightly in):
Lots of play requires lots of sleep:

We love our life.