with the sign more! and 'nnnnnnnn!!!' I can only imagine he wants; more. Of what you ask? This is a shout out to another blogger on the blog-sphere: Megpie
Thank you, THANK YOU! for the white bean spread recipe. I steamed some ribbon cut greens, made some white bean spread and made a couple hot sandwiches for Soren and I topped with some Parm and Mild Cheddar and OMGoodness! Were they amazing. Soren couldn't get enough! Super healthy for my little one and delish!
Thank you!
On to the toddler phase with a leap. Literally. We made our first doc visit for a goose-egg: on the dome. Now, I know this is typical first parenthood dilemma, but come on, it was a decent tumble AND it was outside on concrete.
So here goes the story: it is short and brief, at least I will try to keep it that way, since my head didn't stop spinning disastrous scenarios for the REST of the day.
So: Soren and I were going to make a trip to Whole Foods to pick up some much needed kitchen goods - beans, veggies and particularly laundry detergent for someone's stinky dipes ;). Anyway, when leaving I thought, heck - why not let the pup out too?!, not a bad idea since I am pretty sure she had been holding her bladder for at least a good 3 hours, begging to be let outside (sorry August...).
Anyway, so we get outside, just fine with Soren, diaper bag, Soren with a Peter Rabbit snack pouch in hand and the pup already out doing her thing. As Soren and I have been working on going DOWN stairs (up is a cinch at this point...), he wanted to do it himself. Ok, Mr Independent - so I make sure he gets in the right crawl position and everything, get the pup inside first and shut the door, lock it and get down beside him to help. He needed just an extra scoot to get the first step - and genius! he makes it!- and then pushes me away to do the next. I go to grab my keys, RIGHT in front of me mind you - and turn just in time, right next to him, to see him stumble on the last step. He lands on his bottom but the rules of inertia couldn't leave it there. He then proceeds to bonk his head on the concrete.
My heart immediately sank into my stomach - he lets out a huge wail (no tears mind you - through the WHOLE thing!) and I run inside holding him as tightly as I can, looking him over for all of the key signs of head trauma that I have read in the AAP parenting book! I don't see any blood, not even a bruise yet. So I grabbed the ice pack and placed it on his head where I assumed it hit. Within less
than a minute he is done yelling and asks me for his snack pouch back, then pushes me away to go play. And he does this with such grace, as if NOTHING EVER happened! I'm appalled!
So, of course, still tragically paranoid - I look all over his body for bruises and such and find a good size goose-egg on the back of his head... And... I call the doctor, grab an appointment and drive on up. Soren isn't showing a single sign of trauma - he is laughing, playing and making strong attempts to hit his head AGAIN! That's a boy for you, I'm told!
Doc says he looks great - text book goose-egg, which is where I learned the term. I got a 'get out of jail free' card from the Doc as he chuckles. He is happy that I
am so paranoid and he could deliver good news, then reassures me that that is what he is there for: parental peace of mind.
So my first good 'donk' on the dome. Won't happen again like that - I can assure you! But not to be my last heartbreaking injury from what I am told - boo.... Guess I have to let him grow wings eventually, for now - under very, VERY strict supervision ;)
An attached parent - I am sure some of you are wondering what on earth I could be talking about, we are all attached, aren't we - to our children that is?
Well, the answer is yes, but, I don't want to say 'to different extremes', but maybe just in different ways. Some in theory, some in DNA, some in styles of parenting - which this happens to be, a style of parenting.
Before Soren was born we had a few things that were absolutely certain - we had a natural birth plan that most certainly made room for emergency cesareans and such, we were going to nurse no matter how difficult it may be, and we absolutely were NOT going to let him cry himself to sleep. Through our breastfeeding research we came to find a large amount of information on attachment parenting, which is just that. We wear Soren to this day, straying away from the stroller; he is still nursing at least morning and night, we do NOT let him cry himself to sleep, I made his baby food and monitor closely what he eats to be sure he gets a well balanced diet...well, I am sure that you get the idea.
In attachment parenting these are all methods to ensure that Soren grows to be trusting and aware of his surroundings He trusts that Rick and I will be there when he needs us - and that includes when he is in his crib, but aware of what is going on around him. He receives specific nutrition requirements from breastfeeding and develops a bond with me and Rick (through me, Rick doesn't breastfeed...haha - nudge, nudge) that he can trust us and communicate - along with his signs - which he now adorably knows: more, please, all done (finished), milk, and mom's milk (he points to my chest and either says 'milk' or 'please' - I love it!). We have avoided I don't know how many tantrums with just these!
So this brings me to blogging for the day. So, in my search for ways to be an even more patient Attachment Parent, I was on the sight and ran into this -
Which is the other part of attachment parenting - co-sleeping. And YES! I think Rick and I have found ourselves in all of these positions but the Donkey Kong.
Our little sleeper is quite the roamer, but it is humor like this that reassures me that we are the right track and that most of all - we are not alone. I can't even begin to describe all the furrowed brows, judging glances and disgusted faces that scream 'Your still nursing him?!!!' or 'don't you know co-sleeping, is SO dangerous ?!!! (only if you are unaware and don't properly research OR don't nurse...) OR, and this one has to be my absolute favorite - 'you really should let him cry himself to sleep. You're spoiling him and he's manipulating you!'. Yes, I am not kidding - that has been said to me, on more than one occasion and by more than one person.
Manipulating me?! Really?! He still has a fontanel goodness sakes! I mean really - and if you don't know what that is - a child is born with two principle ones. On the top and in the back of the head. They are also called soft spots and they don't officially disappear on you until almost two. So - sorry if it is difficult for me to understand that a child with two, TWO soft spots, indicating how much of there body isn't even done developing - including the brain, is being manipulative. This is a being that solely relies on it's parents to take care of it. And in my case, Soren taught us what, when and how he needed to be held, nursed and cared for, and thank goodness for that.
However anyone decides to parent, one thing is for sure - they are precious and time is fleeting. Soren has taught me more than just how to take care of him, he's taught me how boundless my love can be and how much more I have yet to learn.
Local Exposure is proud to release yet another fantastic episode featuring Cincinnati neighborhood Wyoming, Ohio!
This was a great visit and a MUST listen, for the interviews, information and TUNES!
Enjoy!
Local Exposure Episode 4-Wyoming
Alright Wyoming, Ohio - your podcast is on it's way, but first! Fusionware has to stop working and then! Sequoia...and alas - no editing for tonight. Huge bummer! And now, brand new installs. Oi! My MacBook Air is great, and don't get me wrong, I am not complaining about the computer - I am too much of an audio engineer for that, but I really had these amazing expectations of doing audio work on my very little, very speedy machine and yet again - Windows, you never cease to amaze me in the million ways you can screw up my work night.
So to keep myself from throwing my computer into the wall and remember how much I appreciate all the good it brings into my life - I am blogging. So...let's blog - about Soren! This always puts me in a good mood.
We had an unusually warm day in the Nati today so we spent the better part of it outside - on the swing, stacking toys, loading buckets, unloading buckets, climbing stairs and tossing ball with August. Speaking of the pup, and quite literally speaking, I am pretty sure that Soren's first 'official' word is dog - BUT his first 'unofficial' word - August (sounds a bit more like 'aus-sist'...but still, very close!). Awesome, right? Just down right awesome!
August has been so amazing with Soren and Rick and I. The adjustment isn't easy for any pup - but definitely couldn't have been easy for my little pitty. She has always been the apple of my eye, my best bud - even my cuddler, since she is always looking for a warm snuggle - so a new addition that sits between the two of us, literally - could not have been easy. I'm not saying she has handled it with absolute grace, but she has surely done a fine, no - outstanding job of being a big sis.
Ahhh...thank you blog for taking my mind off crappy Windows. I heart my fazam - all of it, furry members included!
xo
a mom