Adventures in Babyproofing

"Birds have wings; they're free; they can fly where they want when they want. They have the kind of mobility many people envy." -Roger Tory Peterson

He: Reaching mobility. Dragging/Crawling. Pulling up in crib; even on lowest setting. Sitting up unattended. Exploring. Bored with IMmobile exersaucer. Reaching, grabbing, flinging himself onto end tables. Seeing everything as SOMETHING he NEEDS.

Me: Searching internet for hearth bumpers. Comparing adhesive durability of corner guards. Getting down on all fours to see it as he sees it. Praying for one more day of not crawling so I can get it all done. Promising myself I will not be a constant "NO" mommy. Trying to let mobility happen. Cringing all the while. Taking video, taking pictures. Wondering if he'll survive. Wondering if house will survive. Thinking we should just bubblewrap it all; maybe him too.

And Then There Were Three

"and the two shall become one flesh..." Mark 10:8

On the eve of our seventh wedding anniversary, I can't help but reflect a moment on all the ways Chris and I have grown together. To think it all started with music and ended up (so far) with a beautiful baby boy! I stand in awe of what the Lord can do when we move out of the way and allow His guiding hand to lead us into His will. He took a small-town girl with talking tennis shoes and curly red hair and put her in the path of an East Texas country boy with a passion for music, God, and being unique (when I met him, he wore blue-and-white striped overalls and had a fro, which would morph into cornrows and finally dreadlocks).

Chris and I are really as different as they come, at our core, but we share our faith, and that, I believe, is the key to a long, healthy marriage. We have seen friends come and go, but at the end of the day, we are each other's best friend. It is incredibly comforting to know that I will always have my best friend with me, to wake up to, to share our children with, and to grow in as many directions as God takes us. I am so grateful and unworthy to have such a fine husband, and Kameen is incredibly lucky to have such a great dad.

Ten Things Tuesday

Ten Things I Was Definitely Prepared for in Mommyhood

1. Diapers - honestly, I babysat A LOT from about age 10 on (thanks cousin Patty)
2. Playtime
3. Sleep deprivation - it really is true what they say; pregnancy totally prepared me for this
4. Singing songs
5. Birth - I studied constantly during my 3rd trimester; I was totally ready for a natural childbirth
6. Cuddling
7. Breastfeeding - this time I mean the act, not the time involved
8. Slobbery kisses
9. Sweet baby smell
10. Having a son - he's all boy for sure!

H2OOOOOOOH

Over the Memorial Day weekend, we took Kameen for his first swim. He was apprehensive at first, but as soon as Mommy took him in the deeper end with her, he was lovin' it like bathtime. Here's a few pics of swimtime with Daddy. As a consequence of introducing the pool, and all the splashing to be had, he is now splashing A LOT more in the tub!

Mixed Up Etiquette

I suppose it's possible that people just really aren't sure what to say when they see a bi-racial baby. But, it does seem that people feel they need to say something. I mean, come on people, aren't there enough "mixed" people out there that it's not necessary to make it a topic of conversation? Well, Kameen is only six months old, and we've had our share already of off-hand comments. Below are real comments that I recommend not be said to the parent of a bi-racial baby.

"Is he yours?" - this comment came the first time while Kameen was in the Mobywrap and I had just proceeded to share his birth weight and current weight with the guy. Would I know that info if he weren't mine? Chris also had this same comment at the mall while I was with him! Does that make me....oh, nevermind.

"I have a mixed baby too" - ok, are you trying to connect with me? Lots of people have babies, whether mixed, unmixed, mixed 3 times, whatever. I still do not understand why I have had so many young girls come up to me and share that they too have a bi-racial baby. Uh, congratulations?

and our personal favorite around here...

"That's a really tan baby" - doh! Yes, it's the new trend in child abuse. We make him lay in a tanning bed 3-4 times per week. Come on!

Here's a couple of pics our "tan" baby to end your week on a funny note. We had just come back from a long walk at the Arboretum, and he was chewing on his shoe, when he apparently just passed out. I was so glad I had my camera!

Ten Things Tuesday

I've seen some other bloggers do this kind of thing, and this idea just came to me. I want to start doing Ten Things Tuesday where I list ten things about...well, whatever inspires me that week! Feel free to join me.

Ten Things Nothing and No One Could Have Prepared Me For in Mommyhood
1. Breastfeeding - not so much the act, but the time involved
2. Colic & having a high-need baby
3. Co-napping/sleeping - now one of my favorite parts
4. Loss of all personal time, especially daytime
5. Daddy jealousy
6. My ability and desire to stare at one human being for hours on end
7. Daily self doubt - I pray a lot!
8. My interest in another person's poop schedule
9. The 4th, 5th, and 6th trimesters - no, I'm not pregnant again, I just wear a baby around most of the day and have been doing so for the past 6 months
10. Seeing everything around us as a hazard!

Two new experiences, one day

So, on Tuesday morning we finally began offering solids to Kameen. I say "offering" because as some of you may know, babies tend to spit out most of what goes in right at first. We are starting with rice cereal mixed w/ breast milk. I had contemplated starting with fruits and veggies, but at the last minute I settled on the suggested first food of cereal. He wasn't really too into the experience. He was much more interested in playing with the spoon than eating the food on it. He opened his mouth, but once the food was in you'd have thought we gave him lemon juice. It's quite funny the way he just kind of looks at us, eyebrows tilted, mouth half open, nostrils flared, like what are you giving me?! But, ever the curious fellow he is, he just continues to try to play with the spoon, half paying attention to the cereal making its way to his belly. It made me glad in a way, because his lack of interest reassures me that we did the right thing by waiting until his 6-month mark. We probably could have waited even longer, but I got the sense that he is physically ready and since we aren't offering that much food at once, it'll be a gradual process.



The second new experience was that Chris and I went to the gym...together. Meaning, Kameen had to go to the Kids' Club. Meaning, we left him for an entire hour with strangers for the first time. This was something that I was very apprehensive about. What if he screams and cries? What if they won't comfort him? WELL. It went something like this. We take Kameen into the room, tell the lady there his general likes and dislikes, put him in the nearest exersaucer, and away we went. 5 minutes pass, we peek in, still playing in the exersaucer. 20 minutes pass, still playing, 35 minutes, still playing. When I picked him up at the hour mark, he sat serenely in the lap of one of the workers in a rocker, eating a toy. In fact, when I walked in the room, he didn't even smile at me! :( Sad mommy heart. Sad, sad, sad. Oh well, I'm just glad he was good and we made it through the hour. This means mommy and daddy can have workout time together again! Yaay! Happy wife heart. Happy, happy, happy. :)