7 Months Old!

This was originally written on Tuesday, November 18, 2008:

I can't believe it's been two weeks since I blogged. The little guy just doesn't allow me to anymore. :( How does anyone with kids this age work a job from home??? I certainly can't. Luckily, I notice when I go a long time without blogging I start to get antsy so I'm forcing myself today to make time.

Lately I've been feeling I have no clue what the heck I'm doing as a parent. Funny how I assumed that's how I would feel in the beginning and yet it was surprisingly natural and easy. But Logan's sixth month was the hardest and most confusing to me. What does he want when he's squealing at me and pounding his fist?

Fortunately, the past few days he's been easier (today was a much better start to his 7th month than his 6th), so hopefully month 7 will fall into the same category as months 1-3 & 5 (which I enjoyed and felt more confident with).

One of the reasons that Logan was more challenging the past month was because he was bored! I began noticing how when he was fussy (after he already had a nap and food) that the only thing that made him happy was his Baby Einstein DVD! I felt bad relying on that (a couple of times I even played it twice in a row. . .yeah, give me the bad mom badge), but after trying to constantly play with him or giving him "alone time" with his toys, or even just sitting him in front of me as I worked around the house--I was so exhausted because nothing pleased him. We finally realized that since the DVD stimulates him, he must not be getting enough of that from his current toys anymore. Joe said it's really obvious that he wants to move, he wants to communicate--his brain is farther than his body and his ability right now--and so he's frustrated. I remember Joe's mom saying he was like that as a baby. I guess it is a good thing because it is a sign of intelligence. If Logan was still content with his 0-6 month stuff then he wouldn't have the desire, the motivation, the determination to go on to the next level. . .and therefore he wouldn't!

It's a good thing Christmas is coming up. Because he's clearly outgrown his swing (he's 21.5 lbs and it's starting to creek & wobble even though it says it goes up to 25 lbs; not to mention he cries the second I put him in there anymore) so we'll be moving that to our basement tonight as well as his playgym (he hasn't layed under it for more than 3 minutes in a couple of months). Even his pack n play last week he kicked his foot through the material (ruining it--there's a huge hole)! I had to actually pull his leg out from inside the thing! Turns out we were supposed to turn it into a play pen at 15 lbs so that may be why :p (Now we have, so he's only sleeping in his crib now.)

I'm not giving up on the bouncer yet--even though his attention span seems to be 5 minutes for it nowadays, too. He does like playing with "toys" more--like his farm set, shakey things, his teething rings, etc.--but of course those can't satisfy him all day. We've given him a pan and spoon a couple of days and he seemed to enjoy that, and both my dad & stepmom and my mom & stepdad came over recently and brought him some new toys, so "the new stuff" is making him happier for the time being.

The good news is we never had to call the pediatrician after my "Update" post because he stopped pulling at his ear that day, so I didn't have to worry about an ear infection or any other virus.

His sleeping is still half and half. Some nights he'll sleep 12 hrs straight thru, days in a row, and then other nights wake up three times a night, days in a row. But he always goes back to sleep within 5 minutes so I haven't tried any "new plans." Thankfully he stopped kicking his legs thru the crib bars, but since he sleeps on his tummy now his pee often gets all over his stomach & chest so that wakes him up and then I have to clean him all up.

Unfortunately, he's started crying before falling asleep (which he rarely ever did before--he's been an odd baby these past 7 months as far as we've always been able to just put him down and he'll go right to sleep whether it's the first time for the night or a nap, or if something has woken him up). You know how I talked about in the past that I won't let him cry unless I see I'm making it worse and have already tried everything to get him to stop? Well I had many days during his 6th month where I put him down for his nap or to go to bed and I had to just leave the room because for some reason he "needed" to cry for 5 minutes straight. I hated it, but I made sure to listen for changes (making sure it was getting better rather than getting worse) and I was never going to let it go on for more than 5 minutes. Each time he'd suddenly stop by then and was sound asleep.

The one way I can avoid it, though, is nursing--so I still do it when I can! Yes, that's right--I (can't belive it) will be going past seven months! After my "Update" post, my red marks went away that weekend (a week-and-a-half after they first appeared--I have no doubt it was the lanolin that healed me) and I haven't had any blood since the first week. I still can't pump or nurse for longer than 10 minutes before it starts hurting, though (but there's no pain at any other time of the day anymore). Thus, my milk supply has continued to go down (I'm pretty sure it's less than 20 oz a day now) but Logan doesn't seem to notice. I thought maybe that was why he was fussy, but he never finishes his solids (he takes a deep breath and starts looking away when I put the spoon up to his mouth) so I would assume that if he was starving he would want his last few bites of cereal or fruits or veggies. (And I haven't eaten anything weird lately to make him fussy, either.) Plus, he's gained a pound-and-a-half since his six month check-up! I haven't had to supplement any formula so he's still getting the benefits of breastmilk, but I'm prepared for it to end at any moment.

As I mentioned in my "Update" post, I think my blood & pain was actually caused by cracked nipples rather than Logan's teeth--because the past week he HAS bitten me for sure (childbirth was nothing compared to teeth clamping down)! There's been about five times it's happened and I've seriously screamed because it was so startling. I know it shocked him, too, because he unlatched himself immediately, but I still tense/grimace every time he starts to latch on because I'm scared of it happening again. I can't believe how horribly painful two little teeth are. So, that has added to even less motivation to continue. But there's something about breastfeeding that is addicting, which is why I'm still doing it! I heard recently that actress Salma Hyek said the same thing. According to Style Magazine: Salma Hayek has admitted that she's addicted to breastfeeding her 1-year-old daughter, Valentina. "I'm like an alcoholic. It is like, I don't care if I cry, I don't care if I am fat, I am just going to do it for one more week, one more month, and then I see how much good it is doing her and I can't stop."

People in the media have been making fun of her but I hear her!!! You go, girl.

For other things going on the past two weeks. . .as you saw here, we had our first family portrait (Christmas card photo) and Logan's 6.5 month professional pictures taken on Friday, November 7th. I should have known that since he was fussy that week we might have another disaster. :/ I had been so sure that he was going to be better compared to his 3-month pictures, especially since this time he had a two hour nap that day (despite him not taking one every day again lately--something else that made month six the hardest, although he is right now, yeay!) and had a big bottle beforehand. But he was even worse than in July! He screamed at the top of his lungs 99% of the shoot. I'm talking the red face. . .huge tears. . .everyone in the place looking at us!

This time we went to Portrait Innovations. Even though we were happy with Target last time, I want to give every place I know a try. I wouldn't say the pictures came out any better, but we paid the exact same price and got more photos so you can't beat that. Plus, once again, AMAZINGLY, the photographer was able to capture a few shots (that I posted here that night) that turned out well. So we were happy with the outcome, although Joe and I were soooo exhausted and wiped out afterwards.

The whole process took two hours because we were able to get our pictures right then and there which was another plus (rather than at Target we could see them & pick them out right away, too--but it took two weeks to bring them home) so all we wanted to do was sleep afterward! I don't think we're going to do a 9-month picture. I'm sure Logan just doesn't like strangers in his face and that we abruptly throw him into a weird environment. While we were waiting to pick up our pictures, I thought to myself, maybe when he's older he'll be better --but then another family went back to get their piture taken and had a 4 year old who was screaming. Okay, maybe not!

Earlier that day I got my extensions. I like them and will put them in for fun from time to time, but I've decided I'm glad my hair has never grown that long because I don't think I would have ended up liking it and therefore would have cut it right away! It just seems like a hassle to keep it untangled and styled, plus the hair is heavy--I like the lighter feeling of my length or shorter. As soon as we came home from the picture I took them out, washed off my make-up, and put on my pjs. I'm definitely a sweatpants kind a girl.

On Saturday (November 8th) we were going to go back to Iowa for my dad & stepmom's Thanksgiving, but my grandma isn't doing so well (she turns 95 on December 6th) so she didn't want to do anything. Plus, my brother isn't coming back until the week after Christmas, so my dad & stepmom just came here this past Sunday instead. My stepmom had never been here before so she got to see our house and neither of them had seen Logan in 2.5 months so they enjoyed him. We took them out to Texas Roadhouse for my dad's 60th birthday that had been on Nov. 12th, and then they headed back to Iowa.

On Sunday (November 9th) we gave Logan his first "non milk-non baby food" (a teething biscuit). I don't think he knew what to think. He just gnawed on it all day but never really ate it.

I also started my 2nd period since Logan was born, on what would have been day 40 this month. Unfortunately, my wish was not granted, my prayer not answered. What I means is that, unlike last month, I had cramps for three days straight. It wasn't to the point of sweating or crying (the ones I had before Logan that equaled going into labor) but they were worse than moderate. I finally had to take two ibuprofen twice. Even though it's considered safe while breastfeeding (less than .6 is transferred thru nursing which is really small compared to most over-the-counter drugs--too small to affect a baby), I still feel most comfortable knowing Logan's not getting anything. There was a website that was like, "Before you take it, ask yourself how much pain am I in? Do I really, truly need this?" Um, that doesn't help! Isn't pain tolerance a person-to-person basis?

I'd actually gone through two days of the cramps before I finally was like, okay I'm not functioning as a good mother--that's how I knew I needed it. Thankfully Logan was really good those days and so he didn't mind me just lying on the floor next to him while he played. But it was disappointing to me that my one last hope--that having a baby would take care of this problem I've had for the past 8 years--looks like it didn't work. Maybe next month will be better, maybe overall I'll notice an improvement from having a baby. . .but I think this is why I didn't mind childbirth. Being in pain for a reason, knowing there's an end result soon, I can handle that. But day in and day out pain, never knowing when it's going to quit? I can't do hypnobirthing 24 hrs a day for 7-10 days!

I was glad to get out of my funk, though. For the past week I've been listening to Christmas music (before last year I always waited until after Thanksgiving, but last year I got the Christmas bug early, too). There's something about carols that are just so "happy." I picked Logan up and we were dancing around the house, he was laughing, it was so cute. I also started my shopping and tonight am going to decorate :) I'm so excited for Logan's first Christmas!!!!

Despite being so busy last week, I can't think of anything worth mentioning between Monday and Friday (aside from I had another massage on Tuesday)--except that Lisa P had a baby girl on Thursday, November 13! Congratulations to her and Darin! Lisa was induced at 6 that morning and at 2:07 pm welcomed a healthy, 8 lb. 4 oz. 21 in. sister for 22 month old Lexi! I can't wait to meet Riley Marie.

On Saturday (November 15) Logan had his 4th playdate with Jaxson. We went over to Matt & Stacy's (we'd only gotten around the block from our house when we realized my car had a flat tire so we ended up going in Joe's car)! Stacy made excellent lasagna, green beans, garlic bread, and had red wine for dinner. I have only had alcohol one other time in the past year-and-a-half; in August I had 3 beers. I am not a big drinker, but a few times a year I get an urge. :p The time in August I pumped & dumped for 24 hrs afterwards even though I didn't get drunk (despite what my breastfeeding instructor told us in our class before I had Logan, the first time I had alcohol it had been 15 months but my tolerance wasn't any lower than if I'd had it the week before).

It wasn't worth it. Aside from hating to see breastmilk go to waste, I also learned that was bad to do for someone like me who has a low milk supply--alcohol lowers it! According to Parenthood.com: For centuries, some midwives and doctors have claimed that drinking alcohol will help a lactating woman produce more milk. But now studies show that this is simply untrue. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism published that even moderate consumption of alcohol interferes with milk production. Drinking alcohol disrupts the hormones cortisol, oxytocin and prolactin, which are associated with the manufacture and ejection of breast milk. As a result, lactating mothers who drink have a reduced and lower-quality supply of breast milk.

So, I hadn't planned on drinking any again until after I was completely done nursing. But Stacy had the wine on the table and after my rough month it appealed to me! Doctors say a small glass is okay without pumping and dumping; also, by the time I pumped on Sat. roughly five hours had passed since the wine. I doubt I'll have any more until I'm done nursing, but for those who do, these are available: Milkscreen Breastmilk Alcohol Strips.

Anyway, it was fun to see the boys another month older. Last month you might remember me saying that Jaxson was now a little bigger than Logan (they'd always been exactly the same size). Now Jaxson was a lot bigger! That is a first for Logan, haha. But Jaxson also eats two containers of level 2 solids for both two of his meals and a regular-sized bowl full of cereal for his third meal, whereas Logan only has 3 oz of breastmilk mixed with rice cereal for one meal and one container of level 1 food each for his other two meals.

Jaxson is also mature for his age and is now almost crawling. I'm wondering if Logan will be like Joe's sister. AnMarie never crawled, and Joe's niece who is nine months old just rolls around instead. I've heard 10 percent go straight to walking, it just depends on what they find is the most effective way to move. Logan can stand as long as a half an hour holding on to the table playing with his toys, so he's strong enough. . .I think it's because he doesn't like to lay on the floor (I don't know if it's because he thinks he's supposed to go to sleep or if he just likes to be at a higher level) so he gets frustrated if we try to help him practice. The average age for crawling is eight months, so even though Joe crawled at six months, I don't anticipate Logan crawling before the average.

I forgot to mention after his six month check up we asked about a spot that showed up on Logan's back during month five. It turned out to be a change in skin pigmentation which wasn't anything to be concerned about.

It was funny shortly after we got to Matt & Stacy's Logan was, uh, pooping, and every time he grunted Jaxson would laugh! This time there weren't as many similarities between the boys--usually Stacy and I have the exact same stories to bounce off each other, this time we talked about their differences. Obviously their personalities are coming out now!

Stacy and I discovered that not only are our sons birthdays six days apart, but her & my birthdays are five days apart (only even though she was born on 12/16 and I'm on 12/21, I'm a year older).

On Sunday (November 16) my dad & stepmom came over, as I mentioned earlier, and at Texas Roadhouse Logan drank water out of a glass for the first time! He did a really good job. We've only given him a sippy cup a few times because he doesn't seem to like it--maybe we'll just move right on to the regular cup! I know my What to Expect book isn't big on the sippy cup anyway because apparently it keeps them comfortable with bottles (which they're not supposed to have after 12 months) rather than progress to regular drinking. But I don't really want liquids all over the carpet once Logan gets to the stage of drinking stuff other than milk!

Afterwards we went to look around World Market and Logan got to ride in a cart for his second time. :)

Yesterday (Monday, November 17) my mom & stepdad came over because originally we were going to go to a concert, but it was postponed. The rescheduled date is February 26th.

So instead yesterday my parents helped me get my tire fixed (the one that we noticed was flat on the way to Matt & Stacy's) and also I had an oil change recently and was told my battery was about to die, so they helped me with that as well. They didn't spend the night as originally planned, so today I've just been chillin' with Logan and tomorrow is scrapbooking (so he gets another playdate with our neighbors) and Thursday is his appointment with the ENT.

I remember back in July when we first met with the ENT it seemed like forever until November. Now it's here. The doctor is going to make sure there haven't been any changes, and then schedule the surgery for probably January. He also might do a CT scan if he thinks that will show more details of what's going on inside Logan's neck. It appears to me that nothing has changed, in fact as Logan has gotten bigger the hole hasn't--so it looks even smaller and you can only see it when he leans his head back (since his neck has rolls, lol). It'd be nice if there was some miracle and the doctor said the thing was healing itself. . .even though that has never happened to anyone before.

To finish today's blog, here are some things Logan has been able to do the past month: pull himself to a sitting position when he's lying down, enjoy his shadow, pick up his bottle on his own from a table or the floor and put it perfectly in his mouth. . .I know there are more things that have happened and that's why I hate not blogging daily because I forget otherwise. :( Hopefully I'll be back soon. . .