Uncle Scott was also shooting video but I haven't edited and posted it yet so that will come later. Thanks to everyone that was able to make it and to those that weren't, you were definitely missed!
January 31, 2010
Birthday Party Day
Here's a few pictures from yesterday's birthday party. There's more to come as this is a few shots off my camera and there were several other cameras flashing. But, I know a few family and friends weren't able to make it and are dying to see how Brianna celebrated her very first birthday so on to the pictures!
January 24, 2010
Moab is Freaked OUT Right Now!
Bree figured out how to walk using the laundry basket as a balance today ... Moab's not too sure what to think about this!
January 14, 2010
Why All The Questions?
Okay, this topic I'm getting ready to post about has been rattling around in my head for a few weeks now and just begging to be put on paper. Its annoyed me, angered me, been blown off or simply ignored and it just won't let me rest any longer until I get a few thoughts and questions out in the open.
The question is "When are you going to stop breastfeeding?".
For those of you who find this topic uncomfortable ... please feel free to quit reading. I completely understand. This is a long post about a sensitive topic so if you don't want to know my thoughts on it, that's fine with me.
First, let me clarify a bit. I've been asked this exact question, or a variation of, by friends, family, co-workers and strangers alike. Its been asked with anything from genuine curiosity to almost rudeness. I know some that have asked are really trying to understand my decision and determine if its one they want to make for themselves. To those individuals, I am more than happy to answer your questions so ask away. To the rest of you, what gives? Why do you feel the need to randomly ask me if I'm still nursing and just *how much longer* am I going to do this? Would you ask a mother that's chosen to bottle-feed her child how much longer she's going to do that? I doubt it.
Justin suggested that maybe people ask because they're slightly amazed that a working, traveling mother has managed to successfully nurse her child as long as I have. I know there are days that I'm surprised myself and give myself a mental pat on the back for it. Trust me, every time that TSA agent has to manually scan every back of milk I'm bringing thru security, I think about it myself, particularly the time it almost made me miss a flight home! I was literally running barefoot through the airport to make my flight...not an experience I want to repeat! And yes, I did make it.
He's also suggested its the culture we live in and that, as Americans, its just not as accepted compared to say, Europe, where the standard practice is to nurse until the second birthday or beyond. That's also a very likely explanation and one that I can deal with. I'm not afraid to educate someone on the benefits of extended breastfeeding if they have a desire to know!
But to those that ask the question with that tone that's slightly judgmental or that implies I've fallen off the deep end of the "crunchy granola" type, why do you feel the need to judge the choices Justin and I have made? I hope I haven't made you feel judged by your choices, because that's exactly what it is, a personal choice. If I have, then please accept my heartfelt apology. I'm not a better mother than you are, or will be, because I made this choice and commitment. I'm just a different mother and different is not bad.
Its even been suggested that I should force Brianna to wean at one year because she could start having cow's milk instead at that point. My reply ... she'll wean when she's ready to. THAT got all kinds of strange looks and comments about my parenting style / abilities!
*Deep Breath*
Yes, I talk about this topic but ultimately, its a very private topic and depending on my relationship with the person, not one that I care to discuss. I don't like talking about this with co-workers and strangers! Friends and family, maybe but really only on specific occasions. Honestly, this post is one of the only times I've talked about it at length with anyone so that should be a good indication of just how much this question has been bothering me!
I treasure those precious minutes in a day when the whole world ceases to exist & I can focus completely on Bree. Often, its the only times of the day that I'm truly relaxed, at peace and content. Spending 10 hours a day away from her as I do, its one of the ways she and I stay connected. As her first birthday approaches, I look back and realize that its been a hard choice to maintain but one that I would make all over again. A lot of the obstacles, I expected. This judgment / criticism / critique phenomena was one that I didn't.
I guess what I'm trying to say is this: If you really want to ask questions about this topic, ask how its going or if there's anything that I need in terms of support. Please, just don't ask "HOW much longer are you going to do this?".
Now that I've given this topic its due, its time to tuck it away and hope it never rears its ugly head again ... or at least not for a very long while.
The question is "When are you going to stop breastfeeding?".
For those of you who find this topic uncomfortable ... please feel free to quit reading. I completely understand. This is a long post about a sensitive topic so if you don't want to know my thoughts on it, that's fine with me.
First, let me clarify a bit. I've been asked this exact question, or a variation of, by friends, family, co-workers and strangers alike. Its been asked with anything from genuine curiosity to almost rudeness. I know some that have asked are really trying to understand my decision and determine if its one they want to make for themselves. To those individuals, I am more than happy to answer your questions so ask away. To the rest of you, what gives? Why do you feel the need to randomly ask me if I'm still nursing and just *how much longer* am I going to do this? Would you ask a mother that's chosen to bottle-feed her child how much longer she's going to do that? I doubt it.
Justin suggested that maybe people ask because they're slightly amazed that a working, traveling mother has managed to successfully nurse her child as long as I have. I know there are days that I'm surprised myself and give myself a mental pat on the back for it. Trust me, every time that TSA agent has to manually scan every back of milk I'm bringing thru security, I think about it myself, particularly the time it almost made me miss a flight home! I was literally running barefoot through the airport to make my flight...not an experience I want to repeat! And yes, I did make it.
He's also suggested its the culture we live in and that, as Americans, its just not as accepted compared to say, Europe, where the standard practice is to nurse until the second birthday or beyond. That's also a very likely explanation and one that I can deal with. I'm not afraid to educate someone on the benefits of extended breastfeeding if they have a desire to know!
But to those that ask the question with that tone that's slightly judgmental or that implies I've fallen off the deep end of the "crunchy granola" type, why do you feel the need to judge the choices Justin and I have made? I hope I haven't made you feel judged by your choices, because that's exactly what it is, a personal choice. If I have, then please accept my heartfelt apology. I'm not a better mother than you are, or will be, because I made this choice and commitment. I'm just a different mother and different is not bad.
Its even been suggested that I should force Brianna to wean at one year because she could start having cow's milk instead at that point. My reply ... she'll wean when she's ready to. THAT got all kinds of strange looks and comments about my parenting style / abilities!
*Deep Breath*
Yes, I talk about this topic but ultimately, its a very private topic and depending on my relationship with the person, not one that I care to discuss. I don't like talking about this with co-workers and strangers! Friends and family, maybe but really only on specific occasions. Honestly, this post is one of the only times I've talked about it at length with anyone so that should be a good indication of just how much this question has been bothering me!
I treasure those precious minutes in a day when the whole world ceases to exist & I can focus completely on Bree. Often, its the only times of the day that I'm truly relaxed, at peace and content. Spending 10 hours a day away from her as I do, its one of the ways she and I stay connected. As her first birthday approaches, I look back and realize that its been a hard choice to maintain but one that I would make all over again. A lot of the obstacles, I expected. This judgment / criticism / critique phenomena was one that I didn't.
I guess what I'm trying to say is this: If you really want to ask questions about this topic, ask how its going or if there's anything that I need in terms of support. Please, just don't ask "HOW much longer are you going to do this?".
Now that I've given this topic its due, its time to tuck it away and hope it never rears its ugly head again ... or at least not for a very long while.
January 13, 2010
Do You Hear the Music Mommy?
Of course, these special spontaneous moments never happen when I'm within arm's reach of a camera and even if I were, I doubt I could have captured this but oh well, its still a cute little story!
I've been teaching Brianna a few new signs this past week, one of which is hear, as in "do you hear puppy barking?". The sign is the cup your hand behind your ear and, being the sometimes blonde that I am, I must also tilt my head to the side. Because that's exactly what Brianna did yesterday morning when I put her in the car and she heard the radio playing. She put her hand to her ear, tilted her head to the side and started swaying back and forth to the music, as if to say "Do you hear the music mommy?". She was so proud of herself when I was able to tell her that, yes, I did hear the music and that I was so proud of her for telling me about it!
It was a sweet moment!
I've been teaching Brianna a few new signs this past week, one of which is hear, as in "do you hear puppy barking?". The sign is the cup your hand behind your ear and, being the sometimes blonde that I am, I must also tilt my head to the side. Because that's exactly what Brianna did yesterday morning when I put her in the car and she heard the radio playing. She put her hand to her ear, tilted her head to the side and started swaying back and forth to the music, as if to say "Do you hear the music mommy?". She was so proud of herself when I was able to tell her that, yes, I did hear the music and that I was so proud of her for telling me about it!
It was a sweet moment!
January 6, 2010
Bragging!
Okay, I have to brag on my darling baby girl! She's gotten very good at signing and tonight, she showed us just how much she comprehends about the world around her. She was completely engrossed in helping Daddy with whatever he was looking at on the computer when I told her it was bath time. She proceeded to look at me, grin from ear to ear, make the sign for "bath" (rubbing hands on body) then turn around and crawl all the way to the bathroom where she sat in the doorway waiting for me to get her undressed and ready to go in the tub. I think that makes it pretty obvious that she fully comprehends the concept of bath time and is able to tell us if she wants one. I know I'm bragging but she's a smart little girl!!!
Oh, and she's also added the signs for bib and light to her vocabulary, bringing the total signs she uses to almost 10. The sign this month at day-care is play and I imagine she'll have that one mastered before the month's over. (I know ... bragging again!)
Oh, and she's also added the signs for bib and light to her vocabulary, bringing the total signs she uses to almost 10. The sign this month at day-care is play and I imagine she'll have that one mastered before the month's over. (I know ... bragging again!)
January 5, 2010
How Could I Have Forgotten?!?!
Brianna has also cut her first tooth (bottom right) and the second one will break thru any day now (bottom left). Her first one came through December 23 so I think she must have asked Santa for her two front teeth. Its now about 25% of the way through and looks so cute! However, it seems she's going to run a fever with each tooth she cuts because she ran a low grade fever with that one and just a few days ago, she ran a 101.7 as the second one was coming up. You can see it just under the surface of her gum, but it hasn't broken the skin yet. Let's hope we have a bit of a break from teething now that these two are coming in!
January 4, 2010
The Verdict Is In...
Brianna seems to have chosen her favorites out of all the Christmas toys she's received so far. One of the most telling was a bib Grandma Petrik (my mom) got her that said "Who needs Santa? I've got Grandma!". Unfortunately, I wasn't able to make it to Justin's parents in Oklahoma so she's yet to be spoiled by Nana and Pops but that will come soon enough.
So, what are her favorites so far?
Fisher Price Sorting farm house: She will play with this for several minutes and if you get it and her bubblegum machine out, she's fully occupied for a good 15 minutes. Also pictured is the Sesame Street remote that Justin and I got her. Its noisy and slightly annoying to us, but she loves it!
Here's a quick video of her playing with one of her other favorite toys, the talking/singing puppy Kris and Jen got for her. I couldn't resist sharing this video of her dancing and giving hugs to her very own puppy dog!
Let's see, what else. She's 11 months old today so the party planning has started for her first birthday party. We're not doing anything too big as far as a theme since its mostly for the adults at this point anyway but invitations will be in the mail shortly (Yes, Alana, they are pink and purple!) A few things she's been up to:
- not wanting to be fed baby food unless she has her own spoon and can "help". She's got the concept & coordination to put the spoon in the jar, then in her mouth just fine ... there's just not quite enough coordination to keep it from being a total mess!
- moved up to room 2 at daycare (12-18 month room). Miss Rose and Miss Donna were very sad to see her move up to the next room, but she seemed to be just fine with it.
- curious about table food. She's very curious about what Justin and I are eating and will occasionally taste it but she's not fully in to table food yet. We tried it at daycare this morning but she spit it all out. The peaches were the closest things to success as she kept putting them in her mouth, which makes me think she likes the taste, but maybe not the texture yet.
- adding to her sign repertoire. She will now sign, on a fairly regular basis the following: so big, more, eat, drink, bath time and is very close to getting puppy and kitty. She signs puppy when he's not around so I'm not sure if she's asking for him or if she's hearing him and trying to let me know that she does. Her favorite sign is "So Big", which she's doing in the below picture. She'll do this almost any time you ask her if she's so big or just at random moments, not stopping until you make the sign back to her to confirm that yes, she's So Big!
- doing things on her own. Give her a sock and she'll place it on top of her toes. Same goes with shoes. Its much easier to dress her now because I can tell her to put her arms/legs in her shirt/pants and when I hold them up, she pretty much does it all by herself as much as she can. Give her a comb and she'll put it up to her head and move it back and forth. She also wants to "comb" my hair and Justin's, which is pretty funny.
I think that's about it for now. I simply can't believe our baby girl is almost a year old!
So, what are her favorites so far?
Fisher Price Sorting farm house: She will play with this for several minutes and if you get it and her bubblegum machine out, she's fully occupied for a good 15 minutes. Also pictured is the Sesame Street remote that Justin and I got her. Its noisy and slightly annoying to us, but she loves it!Here's a quick video of her playing with one of her other favorite toys, the talking/singing puppy Kris and Jen got for her. I couldn't resist sharing this video of her dancing and giving hugs to her very own puppy dog!
One of my favorite items she received is the Soothe and Glow Seahorse. That's because at 7:00 on Sunday morning, I heard her turn it on and instead of waking up for the day, she went back to sleep with it till 8:45! Its also very helpful at bedtime when she's a little too animated to settle down enough to sleep and needs a calming distraction.
Let's see, what else. She's 11 months old today so the party planning has started for her first birthday party. We're not doing anything too big as far as a theme since its mostly for the adults at this point anyway but invitations will be in the mail shortly (Yes, Alana, they are pink and purple!) A few things she's been up to:
- not wanting to be fed baby food unless she has her own spoon and can "help". She's got the concept & coordination to put the spoon in the jar, then in her mouth just fine ... there's just not quite enough coordination to keep it from being a total mess!
- moved up to room 2 at daycare (12-18 month room). Miss Rose and Miss Donna were very sad to see her move up to the next room, but she seemed to be just fine with it.
- curious about table food. She's very curious about what Justin and I are eating and will occasionally taste it but she's not fully in to table food yet. We tried it at daycare this morning but she spit it all out. The peaches were the closest things to success as she kept putting them in her mouth, which makes me think she likes the taste, but maybe not the texture yet.
- adding to her sign repertoire. She will now sign, on a fairly regular basis the following: so big, more, eat, drink, bath time and is very close to getting puppy and kitty. She signs puppy when he's not around so I'm not sure if she's asking for him or if she's hearing him and trying to let me know that she does. Her favorite sign is "So Big", which she's doing in the below picture. She'll do this almost any time you ask her if she's so big or just at random moments, not stopping until you make the sign back to her to confirm that yes, she's So Big!
- doing things on her own. Give her a sock and she'll place it on top of her toes. Same goes with shoes. Its much easier to dress her now because I can tell her to put her arms/legs in her shirt/pants and when I hold them up, she pretty much does it all by herself as much as she can. Give her a comb and she'll put it up to her head and move it back and forth. She also wants to "comb" my hair and Justin's, which is pretty funny.
I think that's about it for now. I simply can't believe our baby girl is almost a year old!
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