from the Hair-Wolf
Friday, October 31, 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Mr. Green Seat
J has fallen in love with his awesome green chair, which the Rutledge/Armijo family gave him, I believe.
And in news his parents love, Jed pulled another 11+ hour night last night!
I love it in the morning
and I love it in the evening!
And in news his parents love, Jed pulled another 11+ hour night last night!
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
a bit of election fun
Living in a "swing state" is completely new to me, so I was thrilled to rate a 100 on Slate's Swing Vote Calculator!
Monday, October 27, 2008
yummie in my tummy
On Saturday, we gave Jed his first solid food. At our last visit with the pediatrician, the doctor recommended waiting a bit longer, so we had planned to hold off on it until we saw the doctor again, which will happen next week. But as we discovered last week, Jed was getting hungrier and hungrier, and he'd started showing a lot more interest in our food.
So his first shot at soupy rice cereal went pretty smoothly, and he's become more coordinated and more excited about the process every time we've gotten out the spoon. Of course, he mushes some of it right back out, but mostly he's actually eating, so that makes us feel like we didn't start him too early.
It has not, however, changed his sleeping pattern, which is ok given that he's usually a good sleeper and has a very manageable pattern most nights. Occasionally, he gives us the random 11-hour sleep or torments us with a multi-feeding night, but normally now he's getting up once between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m. Then, around 6 a.m. he wakes up and is ready for some obsessive kicking in the bouncer, a little drum playing, lots of raspy cccuuuu-ing, and some good belly laughs.
Both of us were very happy to see him take strides toward solid food, but at the same time, like all parents, we hate to see him grow up. Obviously, he's a long way from steak, but we are trying to savor every minute of his infancy and not rush him into anything or wish him to grow up faster. He's changing fast enough already and I've been assured that it only gets faster! It's like watching tadpoles or sea monkies but a lot more fun, despite the diapers.
So his first shot at soupy rice cereal went pretty smoothly, and he's become more coordinated and more excited about the process every time we've gotten out the spoon. Of course, he mushes some of it right back out, but mostly he's actually eating, so that makes us feel like we didn't start him too early.
It has not, however, changed his sleeping pattern, which is ok given that he's usually a good sleeper and has a very manageable pattern most nights. Occasionally, he gives us the random 11-hour sleep or torments us with a multi-feeding night, but normally now he's getting up once between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m. Then, around 6 a.m. he wakes up and is ready for some obsessive kicking in the bouncer, a little drum playing, lots of raspy cccuuuu-ing, and some good belly laughs.
Both of us were very happy to see him take strides toward solid food, but at the same time, like all parents, we hate to see him grow up. Obviously, he's a long way from steak, but we are trying to savor every minute of his infancy and not rush him into anything or wish him to grow up faster. He's changing fast enough already and I've been assured that it only gets faster! It's like watching tadpoles or sea monkies but a lot more fun, despite the diapers.
watching the camera is actually more interesting than eating
and a random crib shot
Friday, October 24, 2008
an exahusting workout
Ready for a run!
Let's go, Mama!
I went so far, I wore myself out.
Or, as Grandpa would say, the fresh air got to me.
And in other news: the friendship begins.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
It's a girl!
Congratulations to Delana and James on the birth of Ellie (Elizabeth Grey) who arrived about 24 hours ago! Check their blog for a picture, stats, and updates!
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
sleep: more and less
Late last week, Jed changed his overnight waking schedule to our benefit. We usually put him down around 7:30, and he had been getting up sometime between 1 and 4 to eat, but last week, he started waking earlier (between 10:30 and midnight) and then sleeping until 6 or 6:30. That was/is working out great for us. I can feed him before I even go to sleep and then he sleeps until it's time for Eric to be up. That's a pretty sweet deal for us.
On the not-so-sweet front, he's also added a twist to his daytime sleeping: the nap protest. I had been able to count on him napping for an hour or more about 3 times a day, with shorter cat naps in between, but this week, after napping in the mornings, he's been fighting the afternoon nap, even when he's obviously tired, or so I thought. So this week, Eric has come home to a screaming child and an irritated wife.
Thus, yesterday, as soon as Eric got home, we bathed Jed, gave him his bedtime bottle, and the kid was sleeping soundly by 7:30. During the ensuing silence, Eric and I discussed this rebellion, and I think part of the problem may be a miscommunication. I think Jed needs to eat more in the afternoons and when I hear a tired signal, it's actually a hunger signal, so this afternoon, he's getting a bottle when he cries, even if it's only been an hour or two since he last ate.
So, after a bit of tv time last night, Eric and I went to bed. I put my book away at 10:30 and fell straight to sleep even though I was expecting Jed to wake up at any moment. But he did not wake up. He slept. And kept sleeping. And slept some more.
This morning, I woke up around 5:15 and after slowly realizing that I was awake, I started to remember that I hadn't been up to feed Jed. Was he dead? Had we slept through a feeding? The first was unlikely and the second was probably impossible. I tried to go back to sleep. Then Eric whispered, "What time did he eat?" To which I responded, "He hasn't." "Jeeeeze," came Eric's half-asleep analysis.
Finally, around 5:45, I went to check on him and was rewarded with the rhythm of his soft, high-pitched, sighing exhale. Back in our room, Eric asked, "Is he alive?"
So yes, the baby was and is alive, and he's extraordinarily well-rested! By the time we finally heard coos from his room, he'd clocked 11.5 hours and his diaper weighed almost as much as him.
On the not-so-sweet front, he's also added a twist to his daytime sleeping: the nap protest. I had been able to count on him napping for an hour or more about 3 times a day, with shorter cat naps in between, but this week, after napping in the mornings, he's been fighting the afternoon nap, even when he's obviously tired, or so I thought. So this week, Eric has come home to a screaming child and an irritated wife.
Thus, yesterday, as soon as Eric got home, we bathed Jed, gave him his bedtime bottle, and the kid was sleeping soundly by 7:30. During the ensuing silence, Eric and I discussed this rebellion, and I think part of the problem may be a miscommunication. I think Jed needs to eat more in the afternoons and when I hear a tired signal, it's actually a hunger signal, so this afternoon, he's getting a bottle when he cries, even if it's only been an hour or two since he last ate.
So, after a bit of tv time last night, Eric and I went to bed. I put my book away at 10:30 and fell straight to sleep even though I was expecting Jed to wake up at any moment. But he did not wake up. He slept. And kept sleeping. And slept some more.
This morning, I woke up around 5:15 and after slowly realizing that I was awake, I started to remember that I hadn't been up to feed Jed. Was he dead? Had we slept through a feeding? The first was unlikely and the second was probably impossible. I tried to go back to sleep. Then Eric whispered, "What time did he eat?" To which I responded, "He hasn't." "Jeeeeze," came Eric's half-asleep analysis.
Finally, around 5:45, I went to check on him and was rewarded with the rhythm of his soft, high-pitched, sighing exhale. Back in our room, Eric asked, "Is he alive?"
So yes, the baby was and is alive, and he's extraordinarily well-rested! By the time we finally heard coos from his room, he'd clocked 11.5 hours and his diaper weighed almost as much as him.
Monday, October 20, 2008
civic duty
On Friday, I took Jed to vote. Actually, he took me to vote. I've voted in all the presidential races and most other elections since I was old enough to vote, and I try to take the responsibility seriously. But now, with North Carolina being considered a "battleground" and, more importantly, with Jed in my life (and in the voting booth), I really felt the gravity of my decisions. The current economic outlook, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the potential for one or more Supreme Court appointments mean that the next president will have a huge impact on our lives and especially on the lives of the people who are babies right now.
As a result, I can't really say that I cast my vote. Instead, I think it's more accurate to say I cast Jed's vote. So this election, vote early, vote often if you can, and vote for Jed!
As a result, I can't really say that I cast my vote. Instead, I think it's more accurate to say I cast Jed's vote. So this election, vote early, vote often if you can, and vote for Jed!
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
friends of the crib
I love Teddy from Teddie! 
And Yellow Chick from LeAnn tastes so yummie!
Aaarrrrggghhh! I'm being attacked by Blue Rhino!
(Thanks, Caroline!)
(Thanks, Caroline!)
Monday, October 13, 2008
in praise of Eric, in awe of single moms, and Happy Birthday, Be!
On Friday, Eric headed up to Baltimore for a weekend with some of his high school friends. Like several other trips and events, this was something that bedrest derailed back in the spring, so I was glad he was taking the time to finally make the journey, and I'm thrilled with what he brought back: a jogging stroller and a car seat for Jed to use when he's a bit older, both of which are excellent hand-me-downs from Meg and Greg!
However, I also learned how much I look forward to and need Eric's assistance with Jed. During the week, I take the overnight feeding(s), but Eric gets up early with our little morning bird and they hang out together while I get an extra 45+ minutes of sleep. And on the weekends, Eric shares the overnight feedings, plus, I'm free to leave the house without Jed in tow.
So, I found myself in an usually tired and grumpy situation on Saturday morning when, after eating at 1:30 a.m. and 4 a.m., Jed was ready to be up at his usual 6 a.m. After a less-than-restful morning, I spent the day grocery shopping, cleaning, and cooking in anticipation of some friends of ours coming over for dinner on Sunday evening. I didn't have that much to do, but with Jed dividing my attention, it made for a long day.
By Saturday afternoon, I was pretty well worn out. I missed Eric's help, and found myself in awe of the single parent's work. Eric and I often wonder at the skills and capacities of the parents who manage work, child care, and all of life's other needs and wants on their own, but I got a taste of it this weekend that makes me even more awestruck.
Thankfully, Mama and Daddy arrived on Saturday night so Jed enjoyed overnight meals with his Grandma, and I got to hit the gym on Sunday morning!
And it was a good thing that I made it to the gym. At noon on Sunday, the Woodards gathered to celebrate Be's 94th birthday with lunch at Mayflower Seafood. For the uninitiated, the Mayflower is a chain (possibly confined to North Carolina?) serving huge piles of fried seafood atop beds of french fries and hushpuppies. Good eats, but not exactly health food, but when you're turning 94, you get to eat what ever you like.
So Happy Birthday, Be! As Aunt Phyllis said, we'll do it again next year: same place, same time!
However, I also learned how much I look forward to and need Eric's assistance with Jed. During the week, I take the overnight feeding(s), but Eric gets up early with our little morning bird and they hang out together while I get an extra 45+ minutes of sleep. And on the weekends, Eric shares the overnight feedings, plus, I'm free to leave the house without Jed in tow.
So, I found myself in an usually tired and grumpy situation on Saturday morning when, after eating at 1:30 a.m. and 4 a.m., Jed was ready to be up at his usual 6 a.m. After a less-than-restful morning, I spent the day grocery shopping, cleaning, and cooking in anticipation of some friends of ours coming over for dinner on Sunday evening. I didn't have that much to do, but with Jed dividing my attention, it made for a long day.
By Saturday afternoon, I was pretty well worn out. I missed Eric's help, and found myself in awe of the single parent's work. Eric and I often wonder at the skills and capacities of the parents who manage work, child care, and all of life's other needs and wants on their own, but I got a taste of it this weekend that makes me even more awestruck.
Thankfully, Mama and Daddy arrived on Saturday night so Jed enjoyed overnight meals with his Grandma, and I got to hit the gym on Sunday morning!
And it was a good thing that I made it to the gym. At noon on Sunday, the Woodards gathered to celebrate Be's 94th birthday with lunch at Mayflower Seafood. For the uninitiated, the Mayflower is a chain (possibly confined to North Carolina?) serving huge piles of fried seafood atop beds of french fries and hushpuppies. Good eats, but not exactly health food, but when you're turning 94, you get to eat what ever you like.
So Happy Birthday, Be! As Aunt Phyllis said, we'll do it again next year: same place, same time!
Woodard generations: Great-Grandma Be, Grandpa John, Mama Sarah, and Baby Jed
Jed's cousins Leah and Isabella
Hooray for slippers!
Be and her sons
Jimmy and Johnny, aka Jim and John, aka Uncle Jim and Daddy
Jimmy and Johnny, aka Jim and John, aka Uncle Jim and Daddy
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
life with boys
Late this afternoon, I experienced one of the more disgusting 20 or 30 minutes of my life. Well, maybe not "of my life" but it was a pretty nasty few minutes. While I was feeding Jed, "the eagle landed." Translation: he pooped.
As rookie parents, Eric and I would often jump up and change Jed as soon as the eagle landed, but this was usually a mistake because the landing actually takes a while, resulting in a crash landing all over the changing pad. Now, being the wise "long-time" parents that we are, we wait to make sure the eagle is totally on the ground, fully taxied, engines off, etc.
Therefore, I was rather surprised when, well after the eagle landed this afternoon, I had Jed on the changing table only to experience a prolonged landing. As a result, I had to wash out a cloth diaper I was using to keep the ol' peepee covered in an effort to prevent "spraying," change the changing pad cover, change his socks (thanks to during-clean-up kicking), and experience poop touching my hands. Ok, fine. I've done all those things.
With Jed re-diapered, I returned to the living room with him. Just before sitting down, Jed spit up. Why do people call it spit-up when it's a baby? I have no idea. It's still puke. It's been down and it has come back up. In this case, the so-called spit up went down his shirt sleeve, splashed all over my left forearm, and then hit the floor, although I didn't know that right off. Awesome. I just touched someone else's poop and now someone else's puke is on my skin. Great. Oh and also, Jed is totally smiling through all this.
So I grab a trusty burp cloth, which we keep stationed all around the house, wipe his face, my arm, and dab his shirt. (With only a couple of hours until bedtime, he's just going to stay in spit-up dampened clothes.) Then I notice the floor.
The spit-up is soaking into our area rug. Excellent. At least the rug was cheap. So I apply the burp cloth to that, too.
Ok. We're all sort-of clean and somewhat dry, Jed goes down on his play mat, and I head to his room to put the sopping burp cloth in his hamper.
Puke and poop. But I'm over it. Totally. My child is entertained and I'm going to get a few things done in the kitchen so supper will be a quick process.
But just when I think I'm done with grossness, I head to the living room to check on Jed before moving to the kitchen. And what do you think is going on there? Come on, you people with dogs know exactly what's happening. That's right. Winston was lapping up the last remnants of spit-up from the carpet.
Boys. Wow. Makes me long for Baby David II with prayers that II will be a girl.
Now it's time to give Baby David I a bath . . . maybe he'll pee on me during that process and I can enjoy the trifecta. One can dream.
As rookie parents, Eric and I would often jump up and change Jed as soon as the eagle landed, but this was usually a mistake because the landing actually takes a while, resulting in a crash landing all over the changing pad. Now, being the wise "long-time" parents that we are, we wait to make sure the eagle is totally on the ground, fully taxied, engines off, etc.
Therefore, I was rather surprised when, well after the eagle landed this afternoon, I had Jed on the changing table only to experience a prolonged landing. As a result, I had to wash out a cloth diaper I was using to keep the ol' peepee covered in an effort to prevent "spraying," change the changing pad cover, change his socks (thanks to during-clean-up kicking), and experience poop touching my hands. Ok, fine. I've done all those things.
With Jed re-diapered, I returned to the living room with him. Just before sitting down, Jed spit up. Why do people call it spit-up when it's a baby? I have no idea. It's still puke. It's been down and it has come back up. In this case, the so-called spit up went down his shirt sleeve, splashed all over my left forearm, and then hit the floor, although I didn't know that right off. Awesome. I just touched someone else's poop and now someone else's puke is on my skin. Great. Oh and also, Jed is totally smiling through all this.
So I grab a trusty burp cloth, which we keep stationed all around the house, wipe his face, my arm, and dab his shirt. (With only a couple of hours until bedtime, he's just going to stay in spit-up dampened clothes.) Then I notice the floor.
The spit-up is soaking into our area rug. Excellent. At least the rug was cheap. So I apply the burp cloth to that, too.
Ok. We're all sort-of clean and somewhat dry, Jed goes down on his play mat, and I head to his room to put the sopping burp cloth in his hamper.
Puke and poop. But I'm over it. Totally. My child is entertained and I'm going to get a few things done in the kitchen so supper will be a quick process.
But just when I think I'm done with grossness, I head to the living room to check on Jed before moving to the kitchen. And what do you think is going on there? Come on, you people with dogs know exactly what's happening. That's right. Winston was lapping up the last remnants of spit-up from the carpet.
Boys. Wow. Makes me long for Baby David II with prayers that II will be a girl.
Now it's time to give Baby David I a bath . . . maybe he'll pee on me during that process and I can enjoy the trifecta. One can dream.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
and speaking of pictures
Our photographer added some shots of the Davids to his website! We're famous! Just move your mouse over "home" at the top of the page and then click on "portfolios."
Saturday, October 4, 2008
thanks, shock, screaming, concentrating, tuckered
Thanks
to Trudy & Will I'm staying warm in my snuggy UCSF sweatshirt! I was so excited about wearing it, that I christened it with spit-up right after Mommy made this picture!
shocked
I see babies with crazy hair. They're everywhere.
to Trudy & Will I'm staying warm in my snuggy UCSF sweatshirt! I was so excited about wearing it, that I christened it with spit-up right after Mommy made this picture!
shocked
I see babies with crazy hair. They're everywhere.
screaming
concentrating
tuckered
Friday, October 3, 2008
Maggie Wilson Arrives!
Congratulations to Jimmy, Karla, and big sister Katie! Their new daughter and sister, Margaret Josephine (Maggie) arrived yesterday evening! Check their blog for details, including Jimmy's heartwarming account of his day yesterday.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
what up, short fat?
I often call my son "short fat" because, after all, he's short and kind-of chubby. Eric and I also enjoy making fun of his enormous (but brain-filled) head, much to the dismay of his grandmothers. But at Jed's four-month check-up this morning, the doctor confirmed it: Jed is short, fat, and has a huge head.
Home Slice (aka Jed) tipped the scales at 14.7 pounds, stretched out to 23.5 inches, and busted the head tape measure at 17 inches around. I'm not one to worry about percentiles or milestones, mainly because it's confusing since he arrived a bit early and because as long as he's healthy, who cares if he's tall for his age or rolls over early or late? That said, however, a little perspective on today's numbers is in order.
If you count Jed as being four months old, he's in the 30th percentile for weight, 5th for length, and 55th for head circumference! If you calculate his numbers using his due date, meaning he's three months old, he's in the 55th percentile for weight, 15th for length, and 80th for head size! Either way, he's earned the name Short Fat, and it's not just the hair: his head is in fact gigantic!
In other doctoring news, he got a clean bill of health and is doing all the things a three month old does and almost all the things a four month-er usually does. Of course, he flirted up a storm with the adoring nurses . . . until they popped him with four shots! The poor guy went totally red-face and did the silent cry followed by a flurry of snorting, but he was pretty tired at that point and went to sleep as soon as the initial trauma passed.
Also, several people have asked if Jed is teething because he's a big drooler, he's really into gnawing on his fists at the moment, and he's starting to pull things into his mouth. At this point, however, those are not signs of teething. Drooling normally starts around three months of age and will lessen once he gets some teeth to keep the drool in his mouth (although a son of Eric will likely continue drooling for years to come), and Jed, like Winston, learns about things by putting them in his mouth. So for now, he's just exploring his world!
Home Slice (aka Jed) tipped the scales at 14.7 pounds, stretched out to 23.5 inches, and busted the head tape measure at 17 inches around. I'm not one to worry about percentiles or milestones, mainly because it's confusing since he arrived a bit early and because as long as he's healthy, who cares if he's tall for his age or rolls over early or late? That said, however, a little perspective on today's numbers is in order.
If you count Jed as being four months old, he's in the 30th percentile for weight, 5th for length, and 55th for head circumference! If you calculate his numbers using his due date, meaning he's three months old, he's in the 55th percentile for weight, 15th for length, and 80th for head size! Either way, he's earned the name Short Fat, and it's not just the hair: his head is in fact gigantic!
In other doctoring news, he got a clean bill of health and is doing all the things a three month old does and almost all the things a four month-er usually does. Of course, he flirted up a storm with the adoring nurses . . . until they popped him with four shots! The poor guy went totally red-face and did the silent cry followed by a flurry of snorting, but he was pretty tired at that point and went to sleep as soon as the initial trauma passed.
Also, several people have asked if Jed is teething because he's a big drooler, he's really into gnawing on his fists at the moment, and he's starting to pull things into his mouth. At this point, however, those are not signs of teething. Drooling normally starts around three months of age and will lessen once he gets some teeth to keep the drool in his mouth (although a son of Eric will likely continue drooling for years to come), and Jed, like Winston, learns about things by putting them in his mouth. So for now, he's just exploring his world!
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