Needy

I don't think it would really be fair to call Tycho a high needs baby. He has such a happy disposition. And anyway, with other people he's not. Kyle claims that he will happily entertain himself throwing balls around the living room and chasing the cats for an hour or two when I'm out at work. But, if I am home, I am a magnet. He has to be on me. Physically touching my person at all times. But not in a sweet cuddly type of way, either. Grabbing, hitting, biting, generally flailing. It's exhausting. If I am home and he is awake, I'm not doing ANYTHING else. Cleaning? Laundry? Relaxing? Ha!

I guess what I have is a mama's boy.

Doctor, doctor.

I suppose I should update on our visit to the endocrinologist, huh? (Thank you, anonymous commenter, for reminding me.) But really, I got nothing. It's almost not worth mentioning at this point, but loose strings ought to be tied up, I suppose.

My stomach was in knots over it, and I was warned by other mamas how traumatic baby blood draws can be, and I was steeling myself to stand up to a doctor that is under-educated about breast feeding and blah blah blah, and... nothing! Seriously.

Doctor man gave Tycho a full physical to try and find any other symptom besides his unusual size that could point to any sort of problem or condition and, no. The only things slightly out of the ordinary about my kid are:

• his eyes are slightly far apart,
• the bridge of his nose is a tiny bit wide, and
• the distance between his nose and his upper lip is a little long.

And that's it. So basically nothing at all. We didn't even do a blood draw, because there was nothing to test for. As I had been saying (mostly to keep myself calm), if there was something wrong with him, there would be something else wrong with him. And there isn't. At all.

His barely curving growth curve is still a little bit of a concern, I guess, and the endocrinologist suggested just watching it, and if it hasn't leveled off some by his birthday then we can go see a nutritionist if we're still worried. I'm not still worried, so it's kind of moot, anyway. I asked what a nutritionist would do and he said they would probably want us to keep a food journal for him to figure out exactly what he's eating, and exclusively pumping for a few days to see how much milk he is getting. I kind of tuned out at that point, to be perfectly honest, because a) no, and b) he won't drink the same amount from a bottle as he will straight from the source. And also, HELL THE FUCK, NO. Pumping. Right. No. 

Anyway, unless he's gained another ten pounds by the end of next month, the nutritionist is out. I don't know what they would be able to tell us anyway. He eats table foods, very little in the way of carbs, and breastmilk. I'm not going to stop nursing on demand and I'm not going to put him on some sort of crazy baby diet, so just, NO. No.

And I'm done worrying about it. Really and truly. He is fine. He is THRIVING. I'll save my worry for when there is something to worry about, thank you very much. Doctors. Whatever.

Thank you for your time. He is an adorable picture of my totally healthy baby, rolls and all:

Time Flies

Somehow last week my baby turned eleven months old. He's barely a baby anymore. I'm planning his birthday party. Where has the time gone? It's probably standard mom fare to feel emotional about this time, but for some reason I wasn't expecting it, and I get weepy at the oddest moments. I'll look at him playing or sleeping or whatever and I'll see this big kid. Where did he come from?

This year has been more full than any other in my life. I think that's the only way to describe it. So much packed in to such a tiny space. My mother told me that parenthood makes time speed up and she was so so right.

So it goes

Omigosh blog. It's been a while. I swear I intend to update on the regular, but life and things. I've been pretty much working every single day since we got back from vacation though, including some overnight shifts (another one tonight!), so I've been busy and exhausted. But with Kyle still out of work, it's been wonderful that I've been approved to work so many hours these past couple of weeks. Overtime isn't usually allowed. I've got another six days of crazy to go, and then things should slow down a little next week, thank goodness.

Anyway, updates! Our trip was actually pretty wonderful! I was so not excited about traveling all the way across the country with my 30-pound, newly mobile baby, but he was good on the airplanes about 90% of the time, and I'm pretty sure that's better than you can ever expect. We bought him his own seat this time around, and yeah, best decision ever. Worth any amount of money. Will not travel with him in my lap ever again. Bleck.

In pre-trip planning, my MIL suggested a trip to Cedar Point. Kyle agreed without thinking about it and I was kind of upset, because why in the world would you take an infant to America's biggest roller coaster park? In the summer in Ohio? WHY? BUT Tycho did really well. He hung out with his grandparents while we rode some roller coasters and he went on his first carousel ride and thought it was the most awesome thing ever. Next time we go to the zoo I am doing a carousel detour, because oh, man, he was shrieking and laughing and and flailing his arms in delight and we were just on the boring stationary horse. He'll probably lose his mind if he gets one that goes up and down.

In true summertime, theme park form, Tycho got to try his first ICEE! (His face may suggest otherwise, but he LOVED it, and kept going back for more.)

The point of the trip, besides generic family-visiting, was to go to Kyle's cousin's wedding. I was a little nervous, because it was my first time attending a catholic ceremony, and the when to sit and stand and shake your neighbors hands business is stressful enough without trying to keep a baby from disrupting things. But Tycho nursed to sleep just as things began (add a catholic church to the list of places I've breastfed him), and I was able to lay him down in the pew for a nap. He woke up just as things were finishing up, in a delightful mood.

He also did great at the reception, even though it was a late night. He ate lots of generic wedding buffet food, and he loved dancing with me to any kind of music, and took a hour and a half long nap on his great aunt Nan so that I could get some socializing and dancing-with-my-husband in. And I dressed him up in a little vest so his was scene-stealingly adorable, but did you expect any less?

This trip was also the first time Tycho met his great grandparents, as they were out of town when we were visiting in October. And I was able to take the best picture ever taken: four generations of Boddy men. The first born son of the first born son of the first born son of the first born son. They all share the same middle name. I DIE.

And all wearing novelty shamrock ties as a joke on the groom!

My in laws borrowed a bunch of baby gear from one of Kyle's aunts, so we were well stocked with toys and a high chair and a kiddie pool and even a swing in the back yard, so that made everything so much easier for us.

Another highlight of the trip was meeting Kyle's best friend's week old son, Dominic, but I have no pictures from that even because I was too busy snuggling him and huffing new baby smell. I miss new baby smell. And new baby cuddles. Tycho doesn't cuddle so much anymore.

Leaving on a jet plane!

It's been a long time since I updated, I know. We are currently on our way back to Seattle after spending a week in Ohio with Kyle's family. Actually we are currently stranded in a mini-jet on the tarmac waiting to get clearance to take off. Right now I am exceptionally happy that the baby is sleeping, and that we purchased him his own seat.

More updates soon, I promise.

momtime

Before I even got pregnant I'd heard that kids go through phases of preferring one parent over the other. And now we are living it. And boy does it suck.

Currently Tycho wants mama, only mama, GTFO daddy. Which wouldn't be SO bad, except for Daddy is the stay-at-home parent. So, Kyle gets yelled at by an angry baby all day, and mama gets absolutely zero downtime, as when I'm not working I'm ON DUTY. It is shitty and exhausting for everyone. This is only a phase, right?

Check Up Check In

Quick blog check in before I head off to work this morning.

Tycho's visit to the endocrinologist yesterday went fine. I need more time to sit and think and write about it, but for now we're no more worried about him today than we were last week.

A real post, soon.

Update.

Hey blog. I've been away. Nowhere in particular.

Tonight I am up later than I should be. We have Tycho's endocrinologist appointment tomorrow morning, and I'm kind of anxious about it. More about having to do blood draw than the actual results of whatever tests they are going to do, but anxious none the less. But I'm glad that after tomorrow it will be behind us. And then we'll move on to waiting on results. But it's probably nothing.

That's all I have for tonight.

Some Days

Tycho, asleep when I left for work this morning.

Some days are harder than others. Today was one of those days. I didn't sleep well and had a hard time getting out of bed. Tycho was still asleep, so I didn't get any morning baby cuddles. I spent my day yawning and missing my baby.

Most of the time I know that working outside the home is essential for maintaining my sanity. But some days all I want to do is stay home with my family.

Toys.

Today, fair readers, I would like to share with you a few of Tycho's favorite toys:

• my iPhone
• my camera
• the keyboard on Kyle's laptop
• my laptop's power cord
• dvd cases
• my designer handbag
• my hairbrush
• the cat
• any of the cat's disgusting catnip filled toys
• various and sundry junk mail
• half empty soda cans 
• my nose

Babies, man.

Weighty Matters

And now for a slightly heavier post... literally.

Tycho had his nine month well visit on Monday. I was expecting it to be quick and easy; we didn't have anything worrying us to ask about. Tycho seems happy and healthy and developmentally on track... and big. 29 pounds big. His being big in itself isn't a concern, but the way he is growing might be. His growth curve... doesn't actually curve. It's still almost a straight line heading off into oblivion. His gain hasn't slowed at all. Every time we see the doctor he is in an even higher percentile.

We've been referred to a pediatric endocrinologist. What a mouthful. Doc says that he doesn't think anything is wrong, but it is best to be sure. I agree, yes, but also... I don't even want to think about it.

Yesterday Ashley asked me if I had googled what might be wrong with Tycho. Strangely, I hadn't even thought to do that. She said that she did, and told me not to.

The pediatric specialty unit is busy. I called them with Tycho's referral today and made an appointment. The very first opening they had is an entire month away. A month is like, ten percent of Tycho's entire life! How are we supposed to wait a month in this horrible limbo?

So I googled today. I think I am bad at the internet or something because all I get is like ZOMG BABY DIABETES I bet you filled his bottle with Coca Cola! So. I'm pretty sure that's not our problem. I don't know.

I really don't think there's anything wrong with him. He's happy and he eats healthily and still breastfeeds on demand and yeah, he's chubby, but he's not flabby. He's strong. He babbles and moves and learns and he is perfect and harumph.

I thin it's going to be a long month.

Nine Months!

Dear Tycho,

As of yesterday you are nine months old. Nine months on the outside. So, give or take a few days (I haven't done the math), you have been on the outside for as long as you were on the inside.

You just get more and more awesome, it's hard to believe. All of the sudden you are on the go. Just a few weeks ago you started rolling over on the regular, and now you're crawling and pulling yourself up. In general, you are in motion. Daddy and I really need to get on this baby-proofing business before you can outrun us.

Little man, you are so charming. Even though this is supposed to be the prime age for seperation anxiety, you just love everyone you meet. Our cousin Alastair said that you are his favorite baby. (Don't tell his god-daughter!) When we took you in for your check-up all the nurses and receptionists swooned. They always do. You light up when you catch sight of your Grandma and Opa. And they do the same when they see you! You are so much fun these days, I think this is my favorite age so far.

I love you to pieces!

Love, Mama

Big Boy

Every so often I look at Tycho and I don't see a baby. I see the kid he is going to become. It's exciting, but at the same time scares me to death. I don't know how time can go so fast. How is my baby already no longer a baby? On Monday he will be nine months old. He'll have been on the outside as long as he was baking on the inside. I'm starting to plan his birthday party already, because the way things are going these next three month will pass as fast as I can blink.

Light

Tycho is almost nine months old, and he is so much fun these days. I haven't been struck at all by any post-partum mood disorder, nor was Tycho a "hard" baby by any stretch of the imagination, and I've loved him to pieces since before he was born, but I won't lie. I didn't love parenting a newborn. It's not hard, per se, but it is endless and thankless and BORING. Yes, he was adorable, but adorable only gets you so far. Like, twenty minutes. The all day, every day monotony was so not for me.

But now. Now. You would call him a toddler if he could, well, toddle. (He did finally learn how to crawl the other night, yay!) He plays and interacts and has a big toothy grin. He looks like a little kid, not a baby. Sometimes the days are still long, and I can't imagine how I'm going to survive one more hour until bedtime, but for the most part, this stage is AWESOME.

     

When I was taking a shower this morning I was thinking how I kind of miss being pregnant. I am SO not ready to actually think about having another baby, but I do miss the dreamy potential of it all. Give me another year or so. But at least now I can actually imagine doing this again. If you asked me a month or two ago... I don't even know.

Mama

It seems like these days all the cool kids are going by mama. Not mommy. Before getting pregnant I hadn't really thought about what I would be called, but then we baby boy was cooking I got to thinking that mama was definitely preferable to mommy. I don't know why. Bandwagoning, perhaps. Mama. I like it. But I didn't think mama was in the cards for me. Kyle already referred to me as the kitties' "mommy" long before Tycho was even a twinkle in my eye* so mommy I was going to be, I guess.

But maybe not. Without even thinking about it, I've ended up referring to myself as mama. It seems so much more sweet and babyish and that's what makes sense so that's what I say, and even Kyle has mostly followed suit.

Tycho doesn't really care though. Sometimes I feel like he's never going to call me anything. He never even makes an m sound unless he is mad and forgets to open his mouth while he is trying to yell at me. Soon, I hope. I can't wait.

Food Follow Up

So perhaps I should post how the whole food thing went, yeah? I made some a couple more things: apples, bananas, and spinach; avocado with garlic; and greek yogurt with pear and lime.

Making food was SO SUPER RIDICULOUS EASY. I briefly googled for recipes, but everything seemed bland and boring, so I just went to the store and hung out in the produce section and picked up whatever looked good. Seriously. And then when I got home I layed it all out on the counter and pushed together things that might make sense together. Probably not the smartest way to do things, but there you go.

Most things went the same route: peel, cube, steam, puree. Banana and avocado went straight into the food processor without any cooking. And I just chopped the spinach and tossed it in, but you could steam it, too, I suppose. Peas and corn were both frozen, and I just grabbed a handful, thawed under the faucet for a minute, and tossed those in at all. Pretty much not rocket science. I tasted the food at each step and then added whatever seasonings seemed like they made sense. Blah. Sorry that is not more specific, but that is what I did.

I bought on of these guys to freeze the food in. It seemed like a kind of ridiculous thing to buy a freezing tray specifically for baby food, but I did it, and I'm glad. I suppose I could have used a regular ice cube tray, but I can't even get ice out of one of those trays to save my life. In the end, it was a good purchase; the frozen food slides right out, no problem, and then I put it in plastic bags in the freezer. I pull out one or two cubes at a time, microwave for like 20 seconds, stir and go.

Tycho likes them. He doesn't LOVE them, but he likes them. He seems to prefer eating directly off my plate, but sometimes my food isn't super baby friendly. I try to give him one cube of my homemade baby food and then supplement with whatever we are eating, especially meat, so he gets his iron.

That's pretty much it.

I am Martha Fucking Stewart.

Dude. I made my own baby food today. I am so not that girl. But I am now I guess. It is awesome.

We have mostly just been feeding Tycho straight from our plates,  but I bought some purees for our trip for the ease of use, etc., and um, he loved them. Couldn't get enough. But it's weird to me that it can sit on a shelf indefinitely with no refrigeration and such things, and I think they don't have quite enought texture and are too bland and MY BABY. ONLY THE BEST FOR MY BABY. You know.

So.

Today I made sweet potato, red pepper, and sweet onion with nutmeg and ginger, peas, pears, and spinach with basil, and corn mushroom applesauce with cinnamon. And I tasted them all and they are motherfucking delicious. And separated into single serving portions in my freezer. And Tycho was very gracious and took the world's longest nap this afternoon so I could play in the kitchen. I am all pumped up about this. More baby cooking adventures on Saturday, I think!

My new favorite Tycho picture.

Just this:

Gender Rolling

2012 really hasn't so far been kind to my family. In the first week of the new year we found out the investor was pulling out of the startup Kyle was working at, and so, poof! His job was gone. But my ever amazing husband managed to find another, better paying position after maybe a week of unemployment.

Then our car broke down, in the middle of the bridge and it probably needs a new engine, but that same day Kyle got laid off from new job after being there for maybe a month so now he is unemployed again and we only have a single vehicle, because like hell can we afford to fix it right now.

So all of the sudden we went from being a dual-income family, to Kyle being a stay-at-home Dad with no car. He takes the stroller on the bus, I am not even kidding. It is so bizarre; never ever what we imagined we would have. 

It's not the end of the world, but it's also not great. Or even good. I think Kyle might be even less cut out to be a stay-at-home parent than I am (hint: not at all). He's a great dad to Tycho, but it's really hard on him, and I think all he wants is to be back at work.

And I want that, too. Besides insurance premiums, my job doesn't really pay for very much; maybe rent on a good month, but certainly not any other expenses. We're able to stay afloat since we don't right now have to pay for childcare, and unemployment benefits, yadda yadda, but it we be just so nice to be back where we were a couple months ago. SIGH.

HOWEVER. We are going to Las Vegas tomorrow. With the baby, yes. No, it wasn't my idea. But we are convening with Kyle's parents and brothers and I had no say in the destination since the trip was a gift, but yay a vacation, I guess.

Very poorly written post, but it was this or nothing at all. So.

BFing Woes

I have a bunch of posts brewing, but I've been working a lot of overtime lately, blah blah, excuses, etc.

In the mean time I have two words for you: Nipple. Trauma.

I had a nipple bleb. I guess it's a blockage that has tissue heal over the top of it so that the milk can't get out and it's painful as all fuck. Especially since you can't just stop nursing the baby or anything. I had my doctor cut it out with something sharp and pointy yesterday, so things are looking up, but it's still sore and raw and I feel like it will take forever to heal because I'm always pumping or nursing.

That is all. For now.