The Quickening

For some reason, I thought pregnancy was supposed to be a wonderful, joyous time...ummm...yeah, no.

Henry, age 8 (AKA: Kids born in the 2000's)

  • Henry: Is there something wrong with the phone? I've called this number before and it works, but now it just goes "BUUH BUUH BUUH BUUH" when I dial.
  • Me: That means it's busy.
  • Henry: What do you mean?

7 Months

When HK was born, I had the grand idea that I would do a monthly post on where I am, where he is, and general milestones for the month.  Clearly, that hasn’t happened.  But!  We can start now and hope for the best (the best being semi-regularity).  So…at 7 months…

I:

  • am still sporting my linea nigra (belly line).  It’s faint, but I really want that gone.
  • have a belly button that will never be what it once was.
  • am celebrating that the mysteriously darkened skin creeping through my armpits is now gone (yes, skin discoloration happens - sorry if I didn’t mention that).
  • have managed to not go insane because I make it a point to get out of the house and meet up with friends.  I bring the kid.  It works.
  • hate pumping at work.  I’m glad I can do it, but it’s a pain in the ass.  
  • have no intention of making my life 100% about my kid.  I’m all about balance.  100 - 0 is not balanced.  Fight me.   

He (the big one):

  • is absolutely amazing to watch with the little one.  Nothing like a man doting on his little boy.
  • gets more worried and anxious than I do.
  • does way too much around the house and refuses help.  I am okay with this. 
  • manages to do little things to remind me how much he cares even through tiredness and physical pain.  Love that man.  

He (the little one):

  • greets me with a gummy grin every morning.  I love this.
  • gets REALLY excited, squeals, screeches, and kicks when I get home.  I love this even more.  
  • thinks it’s hilarious to fall over when he’s sitting up.  His favorite is face-planting for 10 seconds before looking over and cracking up.
  • has fallen off the couch 3 times.  =\
  • prefers to use his pacifier as a chew toy.
  • is teething, but isn’t an asshole about it. 
  • loves banana puree even though it is highly constipating.
  • isn’t a fussy eater, but is still stuck on mommy milk.  I have no inclination to wean him any time soon. 
  • is surprisingly adept at blocking me from cleaning his nose.  
  • is on the cusp of crawling.  YIKES.  

When is the last time he had a bath?! He smells like a wet dog.

—Don’t ever tell my baby I said this.  EVER. 

treasurehunter:

memphisinjune:

thiscantbecorrect:

And this is precisely how I reached the peak of IDGAF-ness.  Viola Davis, dropping truth bombs.

perrrolike:

thefeeloffree:

#PREACH!!!!

her and her husband - so much beauty (not the superficial kind) between them.

Queen Viola. 

Love her.

THIS. IS. SO. TRUE.  I was a much meeker and tolerant person before my father died.  Before my grandmother died the night I buried my father.  Before my other grandmother died less than two years later.  

Until you are face to face with the ephemeral nature of life, you care a lot about the wrong shit.  Learn the lesson BEFORE that happens.  

(Source: blau-rosa)

the bad thing about having the baby in the bed

When someone gets sick, EVERYONE gets sick.  And believe me, there are few sights sadder than two grown folks and a baby battling congestion, coughing, and sleepless nights. 

It’s awful.  Just awful.  

EC Update

For the benefit of the folks new to the blog: Mr. Buffles uses the toilet.  Yes, we use diapers, but we do not strictly rely on them.  To learn more about this practice, visit EC Simplified.

We’re still with it.  HOORAY!  Dudeguy even potties him occasionally.  This is HUGE considering where we started. 

Night pottying is the truth.  He sleeps so much better after a half-wakeful trip to the bathroom.  Because of this, I sleep better.  This is awesome.  Some nights, he’s completely dry; Other nights, not so much, but he’s never soaking wet (or sitting in pee for too long).

The boy likes to experiment with his powers of holding and release. During a usual night pottying, he went and nursed as usual.  I generally have him chill with his diaper off while he’s nursing and re-diaper him when he’s done.  This time, he thought it would be fun to see if he could hold the last bit he’d saved.  He did…until he peed on me.  Jerk.  

He’s more reliable after we’ve been at a destination.  Getting there, though…not so much.  I think once he realizes that I have his facilities with me, he’s more apt to signal.  I’m not complaining.  This past Sunday, we went to a birthday party for my friend’s daughter and he was dry the entire time…after I’d changed him when we arrived.  He was soaking then.  

I still can’t find infant chonies for under $8 a pair.  BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

Diaper laundry has been cut WAY down.  It used to be every other day. Now it’s once or twice a week.  

—-

Is anyone else out there doing this with me?  Curious about it?  Anything?!  Tell me stories!

ETA: ok, I don’t know how to add the reply feature to this post…send me a note, or message, or whatever they call them on tumblr…

Yeah...that sums it up...

  • Woman: Can I have birth control?
  • Government: No.
  • Woman: I got pregnant because I didn't have birth control and I don't want the fetus. Can I have an abortion?
  • Government: No.
  • Woman: I gave birth to my child but since I wasn't expecting it, I can't afford daycare. Can I have help paying for it?
  • Government: No.

I’m Exhausted

I don’t think I’ve been this exhausted since pregnancy…and that’s saying a LOT.  

For all of you who are or plan on breastfeeding, know that you need around 800 MORE calories per day than you need(ed) during pregnancy.  If you don’t keep up, you will suffer.  KEEP TAKING your vitamins.  Making milk takes a lot out of you and if it isn’t coming from the food you eat, it’s coming from you - your vital essence, your blood and your bones.  

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to figure out how to 1) get through this work day half-asleep and 2) take my own damn advice.

he fell...

  • dudeguy: It happened. I had him on the couch, on his back snug against the back cushion. I went into the kitchen for water, was pouring it and heard a thump follwed by crying. I ran three steps back into the living room and he was on the floor. He's fine and was mostly startled and frightened. Papa's heart broke a little. I picked him up and re-assured him. He's fine and playing now, but I feel terrible.
  • me: oh noes!
  • dudeguy: I suppose these things are part of any baby learning to negotiate the physical world - but I hate it.
  • me: don't feel too badly, babe. thank goodness the couch isn't too high!
  • dudeguy: He's staying on the bed surrounded by pillows the rest of the day - no matter how much he complains. He'll have to learn about the physical world in abstract conceptions only.
  • me: ...