OK, not really. I was trying to finish a bag for a swap when Erik informed me that he and Simon were wrestling! I had to see it for myself.


Also of note: Simon "slept through the night" last night! Which means he slept for a 5 hour stretch before waking up! Unfortunately, I stayed up late knitting so I really didn't get to fully appreciate it. We're experimenting with nighttime diapering. I believe he's waking up a lot at night because he's wet and in my sleep-deprived stupor I just keep giving him the boob when what he'd really like is a dry diaper. So last night we had him in a Bum-Genius diaper - he woke up less, but his PJs were wet in the morning...so I'm thinking that diaper plus a wool soaker would be awesome. Gotta get knittin', yo.

Today we went to a Starting with your Newborn meeting with the Diaper Free Baby group. It was really great to meet a couple parents that had just started and to get some tips. I tried it tonight with Simon and I caught two pees!! Yeah!!

We planned on going to the Tulip Festival today, which is about an hour drive north on a good day. One million other people decided to go too. So after ditching them to have a picnic lunch (the first one of the year - yay!) at a park in Mount Vernon, we decided to get back in line. I think it took 30 minutes to drive 5 blocks. So we ditched them again and went to Camano Island State Park instead. I love tulips, but not that much. The beach was so much more fun! I nursed Simon while we watched clams spit water up in the air - hilarious! It was so nice and relaxing. This was our first adventure with Simon - so we brought a bunch of diapers, spare outfits, and a relaxed "agenda" and it was a success!

( Isn't he cute? )

I've created a Google map with all of the places I've nursed Simon. Of course, this will be a work in progress, but I think it's kind of neat.

View my map here!

For the fans:

He loves the mobile over his changing station, but the camera was throwing him off a bit.

Simon and I went to Mom and Baby yoga today. It was so nice to be in a yoga class - even if it was bookended with nursing! (Add yoga studio to the nursing list/map...) He mostly looked around, giggled, smiled, and was interested in what was going on while I was able to do some much needed stretching. I was actually a little surprised at how easy it was, in terms of keeping an eye on him and doing the poses. I guess I was a little worried that we would spend the entire class nursing, which, you know, I can do at home for free. But we didn't. Yay! We will definitely go again.

Then I came home and made oatmeal chocolate chip cookies because I've been craving these for DAYS!

I also watched him try to suck his thumb this morning - it was so cute! I was a thumb sucker for many years...

Happy Earth Day!


*I'm not sure where we got that nickname, but it's his...

This past weekend was nice and mellow. On Friday Simon and I had a date with thesynergizer and her son Ben - we went to Chocolati (yummy peppermint patti hot cocoa!), walked part way around Green Lake, took a break at the community center to nurse Simon, and then on our way back, it was HAILING! Like the size of small peas! Luckily I actually dressed us semi-appropriately so Simon was in a warm fleece outfit and I had my rain jacket on. I was wearing him in the mei tai and we both had hoods on, but of course he was getting pelted in the face by the hail. He cried all the long way back to the car. Despite the hail, I had a great time and I'm glad we could all get together!

Erik turned 32 on Saturday and it was the quietest birthday we've ever celebrated together. We took Simon to the mall for some 3 month photos (the cuteness was unbearable so naturally we spent a ton of money) and also so Erik could pick out his birthday present - a cast iron skillet! We were there for a few hours and I ended up nursing Simon at JC Penney and Nordstrom. I should make a map or a list or something and keep track of all the places we've nursed...anyway, we had pizza and cupcakes for dinner and watched some House (season one). Normally we would go out to dinner with friends, or go bowling, or do something, but Erik just didn't seem to be into it this year and I really didn't bug him too much.

On Sunday we were thinking about going to the tulip festival, but it was snowing when we woke up. So the thought of driving north, with snow, for an hour, to look at tulips just didn't seem like a good idea anymore. I hope we can go next weekend. Erik made delicious tofu scramble in his new skillet! Then the day turned sunny! So we went for a walk around the neighborhood and Simon actually fell asleep in the mei tai. And then, later in the evening, it started to rain! Crazy spring weather weekend! And to think it was actually 80 last weekend!

In other news I've started to think about Simon's sleep (and mine too, of course). I just started to read The No-Cry Sleep Solution and I'm in the process of noting his sleeping and napping habits. So far I've learned he needs more sleep! He should be getting about 15 hours a day and I think he's getting closer to 12-13. We've been sleeping in as long as possible depending on my whim and I would like to be able to get up earlier. He also naps at his whim, so I was thinking a semblance of a plan or schedule or even like a sleep goal would help us all out.

And in hormone news: I actually started crying at the mere mention of "cry it out" in the book. We also had to skip an episode of House because it was about babies. I cried in the intro. Seriously. I'm not anywhere near as stoic as I used to be.

Tummy time!


( More photos here... )

So now that I got my birth story out there, I can reflect on the last three months. It's hard. It is so fucking hard, I had no idea. People kept telling me when I was pregnant that it would change my life...but I can't help but wonder what they REALLY meant. I met a woman the other day with a 10 month old baby. She told me how he was colicky (and to clarify, for those who don't know, colicky is defined as crying at least 3 hours a day for at least 3 weeks...), and nothing worked to calm him. And then she said he's the best thing that's ever happened to her. I didn't have the nerve to say really?? Why?

Simon is an easy baby, granted he doesn't sleep through the night, but he is not colicky at all and I still wouldn't say this is the best thing that's ever happened to me. Maybe that part comes after 3 months? I think the best advice I've gotten so far has been from my Mom who told me "it gets better". I guess this means I'm not really a "baby" person. I can't wait for him to be older so we can interact more and play. It's getting better, to be sure, but Erik and I both pretty much decided we don't want to do this again.

I feel obligated to note that I love Simon and he is absolutely amazing and wonderful. But sometimes I miss the absolute freedom I enjoyed before. I know we've been incredibly blessed with an easy pregnancy, birth, and a healthy baby. I just didn't expect raising a child to be so challenging and all-consuming. I don't know what I expected.

PS I'm getting really good at typing one handed.

At 39 weeks (1/22/08) I had some "bloody show", which was exciting to me because that meant the mucus plug was going away and the baby would be born soon! The next day (1/23/08) at about 3am I woke up, rolled over, and felt fluid leaking from my vagina! I expected the contractions to get stronger so I tried to fall back asleep. I woke up later and called my midwife, Felice, and I called into work. I spent the rest of the day relaxing, doing chores, making food, I took a nap, went on a walk, talked to the family, I really didn't feel that much change all day. Just leaking. I was waiting for the contractions all day. On Thursday (1/24/08) I woke up around 1am with contractions (finally!). It was uncomfortable to lay down so I got up early and started a fire in the fireplace. I kept waiting for the contractions to get a little stronger. Felice stopped by in the afternoon to check on me and my contractions were at a low murmur by that point. She didn't check to see if I was dilated because of the risk of infection. So she told me to rest and call her later.

I tried to take a nap for a few hours, but it was hard to sleep. I would have to get out of bed every 15-20 minutes because of a contraction and I also felt like going to the bathroom with almost every contraction. I got up after a few hours and Erik and I started to play cribbage. I just didn't know what to do with myself! I was uncomfortable, but not 100% of the time. I talked to Felice at 7pm and she said we had a couple of options. She spoke with a doctor at the UW Hospital (the hospital I would go to if needed) and they recommended that I get in there ASAP since the sooner they start me on pitocin the more likely I am to have a vaginal birth. At this point, it had been 40 hours since my water broke. The other option was nipple stimulation. Deborah, the birth assistant, could come over and show Erik how to do it. I didn't want to go to the hospital just yet, especially if there was another option.

So Deborah came over and showed Erik how to do it - firmly rolling my nipples in his fingers until a contraction came. It hurt, but it got the job done. It was nice to have someone else around to help too. I didn't expect to be alone (with just Erik) for so long. I expected Felice, Deborah, and another birth assistant, but since my labor was progressing so slowly, there was no need for them yet, I guess. So Deborah timed the contractions and did some homework while Erik tweaked my nipples, and I tried to deal with stronger contractions. I would pace around the apartment, breathe deeply, and think to myself "Open" or "I will open and you will descend." Deborah also gave me some homeopathic black cohosh to help make my contractions stronger. Earlier in the day the labor tub was ordered and set up, but I couldn't get in it yet. Since there was a risk of infection due to my water breaking earlier, I just had to pace around a huge tub in my living room. The contractions were getting stronger, but they were still 4-6 minutes apart. I remember thinking at one point that I wasn't sure how I was going to deal with stronger contractions because the current ones HURT!

Deborah called Felice and she came over around midnight (1/25/08). She checked my cervix for the first time and I was completely dilated and ready to push! Felice was surprised and asked me if Deborah could check my cervix and feel it as well. Of course I said yes. Felice said that isn't "normal" and Deborah was surprised at how well I was handling the contractions and the few times I did feel the urge to push really was an urge to push! I was so happy to know I could push! The contractions were getting more intense and I really didn't know how much more I could handle. This also meant I could get into the tub - hooray! Sara, another birth assistant, was called in to help.

I got in the tub and it felt nice, mainly because it was a warm tub. I never went swimming with my big belly, so it was nice to be in a big tub and to float around a bit. My contractions were still minutes apart and I could have a conversation in between. We talked about names, Stella for a girl, and Simon or Oskar for a boy. Erik, Deborah, and Sara all surrounded the tub while Felice sat on the futon and recorded information. I didn't really know how to push so Deborah guided me through the first few contractions. After each one they would listen for the heartbeat with the doppler to make sure everything was okay. I pushed for a while in the tub (on hands and knees, squatting, and face up with my arms hooked under my legs), but I didn't feel like I was making much progress, although at one point I did feel the baby's head with my finger- it was only about an inch inside! It was hard to ground myself in the tub so it was suggested that I try pushing outside of the tub.

I squatted in front of the futon and woah! It was much easier and I could really feel the baby descend. My pushing was more urgent and lasted longer. It was really intense, I was much louder too - grunting and wailing, and maybe even singing once! Then Felice said I should decide where I want to have this baby, in the tub, the bedroom? I didn't have a preference and another contraction was coming so I stayed squatting at the futon. They had me turn around and sit on the futon. It took a couple pushes to get used to pushing from that angle and then he was out! It felt so crazy! I even said something about how big the baby was while he was coming out. They put him on my chest immediately, he was all bloody and had a little bit of a cone head. Then Deborah tried to pull the placenta out, but I was leaning back at a weird angle so it wasn't coming out. So I pushed again and it plopped right out and splashed into the bowl.

They helped me get into bed with Baby, cleaned us up, I got stitches, they did a bunch of tests on him to make sure everything was okay. He got the Vitamin K shot and the eye gel stuff. Then we all had carrot cake (Erik and I made the cake while I was in labor) and sparkling apple cider to celebrate Baby's birth!

Erik was amazing and encouraging the whole time! He kept repeating "open" to me, getting me water and snacks, rubbing my back and shoulders, holding me while I was pushing, it was wonderful!

It took us a while to decide on a name, but at one point on Friday night Erik and I looked at each other, decided he looked like Simon and then we both started to cry so we knew it was right.

And that's how baby Simon came into this world.

I lost 6 pounds (of the 20 to go), which is exciting to me especially because I haven't really been trying. And to celebrate (?) Erik came home from the grocery store with donuts, root beer float supplies, and cheese and crackers! Funny, huh? And yes, I ate all of it. Delicious!

Someone in a parenting group just posted that their 3 1/2 year old peed in the potty for the first time. Good Lord!! I sure as hell hope Simon is potty trained by that age! I was kind of hoping for 18 months ideally and 2 years at the latest. Granted, I'm not there yet and I am quite naive in these matters, but I don't want to be dependent on diapers for that long! And as an aside, our forays into EC haven't really been happening. I've been thinking about it a lot though, does that count?

Simon is 11 weeks old! He sure is growing fast, but sometimes I find myself wishing he would grow faster so that we could do MORE fun stuff together like bake cookies and play Rock Band! Right now he just supervises these activities.



( One more photo and a video! )

We're not going to Chicago.

Our American Airlines flight was one of the many canceled. Our only other options for getting there involved layovers and an entire day of travel (like leave Seattle at 7:30AM and get to Chicago at 6:30PM). That sucks without being sick and traveling with an infant! So we decided to stay home instead. I'll really miss seeing my family, but all signs point to no travel at this point.

Erik's sick now! We're flying to Chicago on Friday. What's the chance that we'll all be better by then?

I picked up a cold and it sucks, let me tell you. It's hard enough getting enough regular sleep much less any extra. We're flying out to Chicago next weekend, so I really hope my cold is gone and the magical power of the boob force field prevents Simon from picking it up! I got my hair cut yesterday and my Stylist said her daughter was sleeping through the night at 3 months. I told her I'd settle for a 3 or 4 hour block! And that's just what happened last night! For the first time ever, Simon went to bed with us and slept for 3 hours, nursed for 15 minutes, and slept for 3 more hours! It was glorious!! Lately he's been sleeping for 2 hours at the most and nursing for a long time when he wakes up. This could not have come at a better time, what with my cold and all. I hope this is his new thing and not just a fluke. Oh yeah, and he's over that predicable 2 hour nap thing, which is a bummer.

My Mom requested more Simon photos, here you go:

Simon gettin' funky! Yeah! Just pretend I took out the background and put him on a dance floor, or perhaps he's holding a guitar? Your choice.

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Here is a video from that same photo shoot:

This weekend was both sad and satisfying. On Saturday we brought our cat Pekoe to the Humane Society. Wow. I've lived with him for 11 years and he's been a jerk-bastard at times, but it was still hard. I hope someone kind adopts him soon. That same day I bought some jeans - non-maternity jeans - hooray! I only have about 20 pounds to lose before I can fit into my pre-pregnancy jeans... I also won an ipod shuffle from Safeway! Can you believe that? I just happened to be in the right place at the right time I guess. Or maybe that's a consolation prize for bringing my cat to the Humane Society? Then it was time for Celise's birthday party! We ate cake, played Rock Band and took turns holding Simon - it was great! Here is the cake I made (vanilla cake with raspberry preserves inside and vanilla frosting, the cake is vegan, but I'm not sure if the gummy candy is).



And a shot of the gummy frogs on the side:



Sunday was Mystery Date day! Erik took Simon and I to VegFest where we sampled tons of delicious vegetarian food (while Simon slept), it was a fun and yummy date. I also participated in a notecard swap! So here are the cards I made:



Wow, I guess it was a pretty busy weekend! But it actually felt relaxing.

Last night was Erik's work Talent Show! It was amazing! His band, Pirate Radio, played two songs, and they were only one of the many talented acts! There was a swing band (note to self, join swing or marching band in 5 years), a few singers (some with guitar), an opera singer (!), a couple comedy acts (one involving dog tricks!), an awesome hip hop dance group, and more! I pretty much nursed Simon the entire time.

At the after party:


Wanna hear Erik's band? Here you go: http://erike.livejournal.com/20171.html

We went to the Children's museum last weekend with some friends and Simon was more interested in nursing than exploring the Alice in Wonderland exhibit (which is to be expected, he's only 2 months old- but, he was our ticket in, no adults without kids!). They have a woodland exhibit with a nurse log, so naturally, I nursed Simon in the nurse log! Ha ha!