STUFF AND NONSENSE

This picture makes me smile.

To date, my November babies have an extra dose of personality.

I can't wait to see how Jared develops.

T-ball registrations are in the mail.

Yes, registrationS.  Bean is going to give it a shot.

I met a homeschooling mother of 5 at storytime last week.

She lives down the road!

Local!!!

Her oldest is 8 and her youngest is 2.

I hope we can connect.

It would be awesome to have someone so close to do things with. 

 

My two year old has taken to biting.

Of course this is not encouraged and is being dealt with.

I don't know though, whether to be proud of the older ones for not retaliating against a younger, "weaker" sibling or to be concerned that they are not standing up for themselves.

I guess we can make it blog-official, but it is as of yet, UN-official.

Mike applied for and got a new position at work.

We're waiting on paperwork.

He was the shoo-in.

It is exciting and frightening all at once.

While it is potentially more income, it is also more hours and more stress.

He is good at his job and a people person, so he should do well.

I don't know how it is possible to work MORE hours than he already does...

it is going to be tough for awhile.

Prayers are always appreciated.

Our Pastor and his wife just welcomed their second daughter this evening.

She came out at 11.7 pounds and 25 inches long with a thick head of hair!

W.O.W.

I started playing the organ again in Church.

I took off two months with the birth of Jared.

I ALMOST scored an organ off of Craigslist.

I know, almost doesn't count.

I like having the piano, but it is just not the same.

I don't know about you, but I am looking forward to Spring!

We are ready to get outside.

If I were to ever look for another house,

I would find a place where it is safe to walk on the road.

We live on a less-than-two-lane road that twists and turns and has no shoulder whatsoever.

I am not comfortable with taking the kids and a stroller for a walk.

So, I'm looking for a treadmill.

This weight has got to come off!

One of my more recent pet peeves,

and probably only because I get it so often, is "Is he a good baby?"

It is mostly coming from older people.

Please, help.

What is a "good" baby?

I mean, they are limited in what they can do...eat, sleep, poop, cry..

Are they good if they do those things?

Does it mean not colicky?

Does it mean sleeping all night?

Does it mean..??  I don't know.

 

I could go on.

It is morning now.

Maybe I should get some sleep.

SLEEP

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz....

Sleep.

It is important.

One of the things new parents worry most about.

One of the biggest changes when one has a baby.

We've been blessed with good sleepers.

All five of them have slept through the night before they were a month old.

Michael was the oldest at 3 weeks old and Jared the youngest at 1 week old.

Luck?

No such thing.

(Milky mouthed Jared @ 1 week old)

When people ask if we get any sleep and hear the results--

well, we get everything from "wow, how do you do it?" to 

"you're lying" to "can we come over and get some lessons."

So, I thought I would share what we do and don't do.

Even though there is nothing surprising or unusual in our methods.

I will say, on more than one occasion, medical persons have remarked to me that the way a baby reacts (sleep patterns included) has something to do with how I react and parent.  My babies are calm because I'm calm, my babies will feel relaxed if I am relaxed and so forth.

I believe there is truth to that.  

Here goes.

I do NOT have expectations that my baby will sleep through the night.

I don't expect it at all.

It has been a VERY pleasant surprise each time.

I do set up a changing station every evening.  

Diapers, wipes, A&D, a change of clothing, and a night light.

It is out and ready, the light on.

I NEVER, EVER, EVER turn on the regular lights.

We keep it as dark as possible.

I only change a diaper at night if absolutely necessary.

Blow out or poop of any sort or a super soaker.

(None of them have ever had diaper rash either)

I do NOT talk.

I make as little noise as possible--AT NIGHT.

We don't use any sound machines or anything like that.  

During the day, we make as much noise as necessary.

We have a small house and a bunch of kids--noise is inevitable.

Even with just Michael, I made noise while he was napping during the day.

The babies learn to deal with it.

It is noisy in the womb anyway, or so I've read.

We vacuum during naps, we play music, we play.

We don't stop life for a napping baby.

Baby sleeps.

All of them have slept.

 

(Jared yesterday. 2 1/2 months)

I do not schedule sleep time for my babies.

If they are tired, they will sleep.

I work around that.

I don't make my schedule so that we HAVE to be home at a certain time for naps, 

nor do they HAVE to be in their sleeping spot..crib, bassinet, playpen, whatever it is..to sleep.

Again, if they are tired, they will sleep.  

Regardless of location.

Michael slept through a wedding reception at 2 months old.

Wedding receptions are not quiet.

Now, when I say my babies sleep, I don't mean just 3 or 4 hours.

I'm talking 6-8 hours to start out with.

Once they are good with that it has quickly become 10-12 hours a night.

(And yes, they still nap during the day for a two years--so far).

I would stay up with them until 11 or midnight at first, because I would rather just stay

up than get up and down several times in just a few hours.

Whatever it takes to keep the baby happy.

In those first couple of weeks, when the baby does get up to eat through the night,

I don't wait until s/he is crying.

We have the babies in our room in a bassinet, so once I hear movement or little noises on the "mom radar,"  I get up to check.

It is always me, by the way. 

 Mike has to get up early so I try to let him have as much sleep as possible. 

 Besides, he can't breastfeed.

Will I bring the baby in bed with me?

Sometimes.  

If I am super tired, I will just have him/her nurse in bed so we can just drift off to sleep.

I try not to make a habit of it though.

Oh, and NEVER wake a sleeping baby.

They are very good at letting their needs be known.

If the baby is hungry s/he will tell you.

Unless there is some kind of life-threatening/health issue, don't wake up the baby to eat.

I guess that would be it in a nutshell.

Questions?  Comments?  Likes?  Dislikes?

Did I miss anything?

 

Like I said, pretty basic.

THREE

It's great to be 3!

A podium makes a perfect seat.

 

Taken after first period of co-op

DO THE RESEARCH

Every parent wants what is best for their children, right?

This past weekend, I was able to attend a talk on childhood vaccines.

  There is so much surrounding the issue and there have been so many changes over the past decade regarding the schedule and number of vaccinations and so forth and so on that it is hard to know what is truth, when everyone has a bias in one way or another.  

It is a hot topic.

On our end, children 1-4 have been vaccinated to date, but on a modified schedule.

We did not give them the cluster shots, but spread them out over a time period.

Number 5 has not been vaccinated.

Did you know that NJ has one of the most rigorous vaccination schedules for children?

Did you know there is no proof that vaccinations make for a healthier person?

Do you know what is IN those vaccinations?

Did you know that the story of Raggedy Ann is based on a vaccinated child?

Did you know that vaccines can be linked to many different illnesses/diseases/conditions?

Did you know, other than a medical exemption (which is extremely difficult to obtain), the only other exemption NJ accepts is a religious exemption?  Look up NJ vaccination laws sometime, I found it rather comical.  "They" cannot question you at all and have to accept your exemption as long as you mention something about religion, even if you are not "religious" per se. 

There was so much in the 2 hour talk..

I wish I had been able to take notes, but I had a two month old in my arms.

Yes, this person was passionately biased against vaccinations.

I understand that.

It is a personal decision for every family and so, so important that no matter what you choose to do, you are informed in your decision.  

Here are some websites and books on the subject 

(compiled by the speakers, not me!)

in case you wish to do some research.

www.vaccinationnews.com

www.nvic.org

www.Thinktwice.com

www.njvaccinationchoice.com

www.mercola.com

www.naturalnews.com

Vaccine Epidemic edited by Louise Kuo Habakus & Mary Holland

Vaccines:  Are They Really Safe and Effective?  by Neil Z. Miller

How to Raise a Healthy Child in Spite of Your Doctor by Robert S. Mendelsohn, MD

Vaccination is Not Immunization by Dr. Tim O'Shea

Vaccination:  100 Years of Orthodox Research by Vera Scheibner

There is so much more that can be said on the subject, but I'll leave it there--for now.

What do you think?  Do you vaccinate your children?  Were you vaccinated?

Strong feelings either way?  Not sure?

Let's talk about it.

I certainly do not have all the answers.

Just getting my feet wet.

FACES

The many faces of Mr. J.

Caught ya!!

FINALLY!

After several years of hunting deer..

Mike got his first one tonight.

Into the freezer she will go!

Congrats, dear.  ;)

GONE