Just one Bite?

I have a confession. I'm a bit embarrassed and ashamed to admit it.  But maybe I'm not the only one, so here's hoping someone else can relate.

I feed my child macaroni and cheese for dinner about 50% of the time.  Ok, 60%. 

It's Annie's organic, does that count?  (No, I didn't think so.)

Here's the thing, I try to feed him other, healthier food, but he's gone on this crazy hunger strike and has become the pickiest eater ever.  And he flat out refuses to let anyone feed him, so don't even think about trying to spoon feed him anything.  He just screams in your face and shakes his head no.  This makes it difficult to give him anything that is not bite size, unless I feel like dealing with the mess created by a toddler trying to spoon feed himself.  Although, that can be good for a laugh if you have time to hose him down afterward.

He doesn't seem to have a problem eating at school - every day his sheet is marked with "ate everything" for his breakfast, AM snack, lunch, early PM snack and late PM snack (yes, they eat a lot, so maybe he's just not hungry for dinner?  maybe?)  I think the only thing he wouldn't eat at school recently was salmon croquettes, and really, this isn't shocking.  So at least he's getting some veggies and other "healthy" stuff at school and I know he will eat other food, just not at dinner.  Just not for me.

Last night I gave him meatloaf, which he quickly picked up and handed back to me.  So I tried some peas, usually a favorite of his.  Nope, on the floor.  Figuring it wouldn't hurt, I offered him some brussel sprouts.  Screams. I must be crazy.  Mushroom from my salad?  Tears.  Finally, I just heated up the mac & cheese and sure enough he gobbled that up.  I just worry he'll go hungry and wake up in the middle of the night if I don't give him something to eat for dinner.  So I keep giving in and offering the mac & cheese.  At least it's my last resort and not the first thing I offer, right?

I've created this, haven't I?  He now knows that I will eventually offer the mac & cheese if he refuses everything else.  I think I need to Ferberize him again, but this time with food not sleep.  (The Ferber method is where you put the baby to sleep in the crib awake and DO NOT GO IN THE ROOM FOR ANY REASON WHATSOEVER EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE SCREAMING AND YOU ARE CRYING WHILE YOU STARE AT THE MONITOR KNOWING YOU ARE DOING IRREPARABLE HARM TO YOUR CHILD.  It takes about 3 days, but eventually they can go to sleep on their own without any crying.  If you attempt this, wine is a necessary part of the equation.  For the mom, not the baby.  Duh.  Perhaps the Ferber method would work with dinner, although I'm not sure I'm up for three nights of screaming about mac & cheese.  Although, it'd be best to do it before he can actually say the words and demand the gooey good stuff at the top of his lungs.)

Sigh.

Maybe its just a phase and I shouldn't be worried. He's still only in the 25th percentile for weight, so carbs for dinner might be a good thing.  (I know, I know, I'm delusional).  

Anyone else struggling with feeding your toddler?  Any tips?  Or tricks?

I should mention that he'll occasionally eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for dinner.  What?  That's not much better you say.  Whatever, what do you know.  Peanut butter has protein!  And jelly, well, that's fruit.  Really.  It is.

Talking Boy

Lukas is learning new words every day!  The big words of the weekend were "whoa" and "Stu"! 

February 27th

Two of my favorite people were born on this day - my grandmomma and my BFF from college, Erin.  (Have I mentioned that there are so many Erins in my life that I have to qualify them by their city or time in my life - as in "Boston Erin", "Law school Erin", etc.?  It's odd, but when I meet someone new with the name Erin, I tend to immediately like them.)  Anyway, back to the 27th of February.

October 2010 - My baby shower

90 years ago today, Margaret Imogene Railey was born.  She's better know to the likes of us as "Grandma Jean".  (Sidenote: If I'm blessed with a little girl one day, you can bet her name will likely pay some homage to her great gradmomma!!!  And with a name like that, there's so many amazing options!  Adeline Jean was one option I had in the name-game mix before we knew Lukas had cajones.)  Grandma Jean only had one ovary and was told she'd probably never have children.  Well, she showed them and ended up having SEVEN!  She's always loved handbags and shoes and so I blame her for my shoe addiction - it's in my blood.  (Have I ever told you what I got from my grandfather, Papa John?  Chewing my tongue!  It's weird, yes, but true.  I've always done it. Especially when I'm concentrating super hard.  And so does my aunt Tami and my cousin.  And I swear I've caught Lukas chewing on his tongue too!  Genetics - don't you love um!)  Grandma J had been living with my parents until the new year when she flew out to California and is being taken care of by my tongue-chewing Aunt Tami now.  I've missed being able to hop in the car and see her, but I get to celebrate her birthday with her in just a few days since we're off to sunny Cali later this week.  So here's a big happy birthday to my grandma.  I love you!

Today is also the day one of my favorite Erins was born.  Texas Erin, as she's called in my house (Mr. Cob has a hard time keeping them straight!) We lived together my last two years of college and I love her like a sister.  It's been 3.5 years since we saw each other (my wedding) and probably a good year since we've talked on the phone.  And we don't email.  Ever.  But I sent her a birthday text this morning and we picked right back up via text.  We even started to plan a visit.  And the thing I love the most about Erin is that I may not talk to her often, but the minute I get off that plane to see her, it will be as if we'd never left each other.  She is one of those friends.  I can't believe we both have children now - it doesn't seem possible!  I can't wait to get out to see her and get my hands on that cutie little girl of hers!  Maybe Olivia and Lukas will marry one day and Erin and I can be in-laws. Ha.  Oh, I miss her.  Happy birthday sweet friend!



May 2003

 And today, on this already special day, my first post for the DrZandFriends blog is live.  I hope you check it out and like it and share it with any mom-friends you know!  I'm nervous about how it will be received.  I hope this day is special for all of you too!

House Stuff

It's been a while since I've made a list of all the house things I want to do.  There's always something to do.  I have all these ideas, but have been lacking motivation to actually do any of them.  So, in an effort to get movin, I thought I'd write everything down in one place:

 

OUTSIDE - so we have done zero in the way of beautifying our backyard in the three years and 24 days that we've lived there.  But that is about to change!  A very good friend of mine is a landscape architect and she's working with us to get some plans together to make the backyard a functional play space for Lukas and less of an eyesore.  The two major projects that will be undertaken are the demo of our current driveway and "pond" and then reinstallation (and widening) of our driveway.  (This excites me more than it should).  And then landscape, landscape, landscape!  Stay tuned for updates...

 

FAMILY ROOM:  Replace hideous black leather chair that is currently covered by a hideous, ill-fitting green slipcover.  Anyone have any wallet-friendly furniture stores you like?

 

SCREENED IN PORCH:  After power washing the floor last Spring, it became apparent that the floor will never look clean.  So I've decided that I'm going to paint it this year!  And somehow I have gotten my mom to agree to sew covers for all the cushions on our couch - the only stipulation she had was for me to go shopping for fabric with her.  Easy enough!  She has the hard job - and I fear she will be cursing me mid-job. But I think it will really help make that space look better. It was unseasonably warm yesterday and Mr. Cob and I sat on the porch for an hour talking - I'm so ready for spring!  I also have this idea that somehow I'll be able to keep some plants alive for more than a week to further pretty-up our porch.  I've yet to keep any green plant alive for longer than a few months.  I have a black thumb. 

 

L's ROOM:  I need to touch up paint his bookshelves/toy chest.  Otherwise, his room is perfect!

 

GUEST ROOM: Paint!  Have I mentioned that the paint has been bought and is simply sitting in the guest room.  We're going on month 4 now.  Pathetic.

 

LAUNDRY ROOM: I'm not sure where to start.  It annoys me when I walk in there.  For starters, I need to clean it out and then catch up on about 5 loads of laundry and fold all the clean laundry.  But, I want it to become a prettier space. Then maybe I'll have more incentive to actually do laundry.  Probably not, but I'm going with it for now.  I somehow need to create a linen closet in the laundry room.  Any ideas???

 

KITCHEN:  Replace tile floor with hardwoods.  The tile keeps cracking, so we've decided hardwood is the way to go.  We also need to replace the wine cooler that blew in our power surge that happened, eh hem, three years ago. 

 

BASEMENT: I don't even know where to begin.  We need some storage solutions.  And probably to have a yard sale.

 

There are also a bunch of "little" projects - like painting the door frame where we'd hung Lukas' jumper, fix the door in the pantry, paint the front door (or buy a new one), paint the front steps, stain the back deck, clean out my closet...

 

Ok, now I'm feeling overwhelmed.  Maybe I shouldn't have made this list.  Can we pretend I didn't?  OK, thanks. 

Go To the Store. Now.

If you haven't tried brussel sprouts, you are missing out.  Seriously.  I've had a love of roasted B'sprouts for a few years now.  Not sure where this originated - we never ate them growing up and I don't think they're something I would've tried on my own.  I feel like maybe Mr. Cob decided to cook them one day?  Hum, now I'd really like to know when I ate them for the first time.  Take asparagus.  I remember the first time I ate asparagus.  What?  That's not weird at all.  Aunt Jaye (that'd be the same Jaye as the duck Jaye) paid me $5 to try them when I was little.  And Beets - I ate them at my friend Tedra's house for the first time in a salad.  She roasted them.  I now love beets. Ok, so maybe it is odd that I remember when I first tried a certain vegetable.  Regardless, back to the sprouts.  I love um.  But this weekend, I fell in love with them all over again.  Or to be exact, my new love affair is with SHREDDED pan sauteed B'sprouts.  Seriously.

So if you have never eaten them, do the following:  1. Go to the store and buy some B'sprouts, BACON (yes, bacon - it makes everything A-mazing), and some Parmesan cheese.  2.  Go home.  3. cut the ends off the sprouts and pop them in your Cuisinart with the shredder attachment.  4. Shred.  (or chop into shreds if that's your thing).  5. Fry up two slices of bacon in a pan.  6. Remove bacon and set aside.  7. Leave bacon fat in pan.  Yes. I said it.  8. Throw in shredded B'sprouts.  Add some garlic for flair.  9. Stir until the B'sprouts get all soft and some start to caramelize (aka brown).  10.  Throw in Bacon (which you've crumbled) and some Parmesan.  And salt and pepper to taste.  Or not.  11.  Devour.  12.  Call me to thank me.

Ok, so it's not the prettiest picture, and this is after they've been reheated for lunch.  But really, they're a taste sensation.  Trust me.  I wouldn't lie about vegetables.  Really.  And if you don't believe me, know that I would never, ever lie about bacon.  Or blue cheese.  In case you were wondering.

New Sweater

Grandma Kae (aka "Nana") and Pop Pop are in town visiting! Nana knit L this sweater! Isn't it so sweet!!

The Worst Part...

...of being a working-mom is when your child is sick.  On so many levels this sucks.  I wish there was a better word for it, but sucks about encompasses it right now.

After dinner last night I thought Lukas felt a bit warm so I took his temperature.  100.4 degrees.  A mild fever.  I gave him some Advil, did our normal bedtime routine and kissed him goodnight.  Fast forward to this morning. After 11 hours of sleeping without making a peep, the little man woke up.  When I picked him up he felt more like a hot potato than a small child.  I knew the fever was back.  103.1 degrees.  More Advil.

Mr. Cob was out of town for work, so I was flying solo, and emailed my work letting them know I would not be making it in today.  I used to say "I'll be working from home since Lukas is sick today", but I quickly learned after one time of trying that, that there is no "working" when you're home with a sick baby.

Aside from the high fever, nothing else was wrong with him.  He was happy (thank God), just really hot.  The Advil worked in the morning and he cooled down to a nice 99.1 degrees.  He slept for a few hours and then woke up hot.  I could tell the fever was back, so we tried a tepid bath.  He was still a little fire ball after the bath.  One ear registered 105.1 degrees and the other was 104.4 degrees.  At this point I started to really worry.  More Advil.  And a call to the doctor.  They told me not to come in because at this point there was nothing else they could do.  The fever gradually went down and hovered around 101.5 degrees until I put him to bed.  The doctor said to call back if it went up to 104 again and stayed there for an hour or so and didn't respond to Advil or Tylenol.  He's now sound asleep and I'm staring at him on the video monitor.  I doubt I'll sleep much tonight, choosing instead to worry and stare at him to make sure he's still breathing and OK.

Luckily Mr. Cob is back from his trip.  He offered that he can stay home tomorrow with Lukas if I needed to go to work, and was confused when I started crying after he said that.  The thing is, I want to be home with him.  I don't want to leave my sick baby and go to work.  But I'm now behind in work after having missed a full day today, and I really should go in tomorrow, especially since Mr. Cob and grandma Sip Sip can watch him.

And that is the worst part.  Having to choose between going to work and being home with my fever-y baby.  It is days like today that I wish I were a stay-at-home-mom.  It's just not right for a momma to not be with her baby when he's not feeling good.  This is when I feel like a bad mom. I know I'm not, but tomorrow I will feel like one.  I just will.

Happy VDay!

Love Notes

In honor of Valentine's Day, I wanted to spread some love. 

To my husband, Mr. Cob: I love you with my whole heart.  You take me for who I am and love me for all my flaws.  I love laughing with you and learning how to parent with you.  I love the person you are today and I adore the dad you are to our son.  Thanks for being my valentine - 7 years and counting!

To my son, Lukas: I love your smile.  You remind me to laugh and dance and enjoy the very moment I am in.  You have brightened up my soul in ways I did not know where possible.  I love teaching you new words and singing you silly songs.  I love rocking you to sleep at night and snuggling with you each morning. I love being your momma.

To my momma:  You are the best role model a woman could ask for.  You have shown me how to be a mom and how to love unconditionally.  I love the relationship we have developed.  Thank you for all you do for me and my family and all those that you love.

To my daddy:  I love watching you read with Lukas.  It brings a smile to my face every time Lukas says "UP" and raises his hands in the air.  I love that he runs up to you and asks you to pick him "up"!  I love the way you've always supported me in everything I've ever done.

To my big brother:  I love that I'm going to see you in just two and a half weeks!!!  I love that you're following your dream of opening your own PT practice and that you're an amazing dad.  You're the best big brother. 

To my girlfriends (you know who you are):  I love you girls.  My life is better because I have you.  Y'all make me feel sane and normal.  I may not see some of you as often as I'd like, or talk to you as often as we should, but I love that I have so many amazing, loving, kind, thoughtful, strong and smart women in my life.  I'm a lucky girl.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Valentine's Day filled with love.  Be it romantic love, friend-love or family love. After all, love is all there is.

Post Addendum

And this is the picture I meant to add to the last post - the girls post-hair-do-ing.  A bit grainy, and not the best picture, but here we are

Also, HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Love to all on this day of love.

Reaching Here

Ok, so the feedback from the new buttons has had me all jazzed about posting more often and getting some more Love or Funnies (No Hate yet!?!).  Problem is, I'm out of things to say. Well, I mean, I always have things to say, but I'm plum out of things to say that I think anyone wants to hear about.  But then again, that's never stopped me before.

Here are the posts I have started writing in the past few days and then stopped for whatever reason:

1.  I know that I shouldn't compare myself to other people, but I can't help it.  Lately I feel like I'm comparing myself to others ALL. THE. TIME.  And it's not good for my sanity.  But yet, I still do.  I stop at this point because the rest of this post just makes me sound like I'm whining and feeling inferior than everyone else, and nobody wants to hear that.  So I'll end that woe-is-me post at that.  At least this shows I'm not always Polly Positive.

2.  I'm a much more sane person when I take time for myself.  The past few weeks I've done that a lot.  I went to Charleston with the girls two weekends ago and my soul was better for it.  We laughed, we exercised, we even danced in the VIP section of some bar we were much too old to be in.  It was an amazing trip (although, Lukas would disagree...).  This weekend I continued taking some time out for me - my ATL girlfriends and I went and got our hair did at The Dry Bar Saturday morning, went to brunch and shopping afterwards and then had a group Valentines Day date night that evening.  Mr. Cob and I sometimes talk about moving away from Atlanta, and then we think about how great our friends are here and realize they're irreplaceable.  We really are lucky to have such great friends.

3.  Apparently I get insomnia two hours after falling asleep if I drink more than two glasses of wine.  A grandmother who does overnight babysitting with the little man is a necessity if momma wants a night out.  Reason #452 we should never leave Atlanta.

4. Tomorrow Mr. Cob and I will celebrate our 7th Valentines Day together.  I don't remember what I got him for our first V-day together, but he bought me pink bowling shoes and we went bowling.  He gets me.  The way to my heart is through shoes. 

5.  The little man said "apple" and "elephant" (well, sort of, kind of, you could get there, really) this weekend.  Dude is going to start talking for real any day now. 

For You Shy Readers

Since y'all apparently don't like to comment, which I just don't understand. Why wouldn't you want people reading what you think?  I clearly have no problem with this and keep stuffing my random ramblings down your throat.  I realize this all assumes I have some readers, which maybe I don't.  Anyone out there?  If by chance someone is reading this, you may have noticed a new feature at the bottom of my posts - Reaction Buttons!!!  This way you can show me the love without, you know, actually having to say anything.

So love it.  Like it.  Funny it.  Or Dislike it.

Or comment.  I like comments.  I do.

Oh, and to update the virtual baby book that this blog doubles as, L had his 15 month check up today.  He's 20th percentile for weight (22 pounds) - I actually was really happy because he's not quite as peanut-ish as he was at his year appointment.  And he's 75th percentile for head and height.  So he's still lean and long.  Not a bad thing to be.  I wish I could say I was lean and long.  But at 5'3 and some change, no one has ever called me long.  Not even with three inch heels on. Oh well, hopefully he got his daddy's height.

He's sitting steady with 12 teeth, extremely fair skin, blond hair (HAIR! YES, HE HAS HAIR NOW!  He even has a mini-mullet!!!) and hazel eyes.  Ten fingers and ten toes.  And he can jump.  His newest word is "yellow".  Strange word, but we're hoping it means he's not color blind (did I mention he has a 50% shot at being color blind?!).  But I'm still not convinced.  And since this post is totally all over the place already, I'll add that his favorite thing to eat right now is blueberries and bananas.  Not necessarily together.  Although, many a mornings that's how he starts his day.  And he's still overly obsessed with dogs.

Ok, I think this has been sufficiently random.  Over and out.

Joyful

It was a good day.

Whatever Momma

So apparently 15 month olds can hold a grudge.  And get mad.  Like, R-E-A-L mad.  At least my little dude can.

 

Imagine a momma who had been stretched extremely thin due to demanding work and lack of sleep.  Said momma took a quick weekend getaway trip with some girlfriends leaving her little man at home.  Her little man was spending the night at grandma's house the first night (i.e., getting spoiled and playing with all sorts of fun new  toys that momma and dadda don't have) and then hanging with dadda until momma came home Sunday afternoon.  Momma had an awesome time with her girls but was excited to see her little man Sunday afternoon.  She could feel the anticipation building as each hour of the car ride went by.  She couldn't wait to see his smiling face and hear his laugh.  She was ready to open her arms wide for him to run up to hug her.  And then they would snuggle and all would be right in the world.

 

Um, yea, no.

 

The reality:  Dadda and little man are at the park when momma comes home.  Momma drops her bags at the door and races down the street to meet dadda and her boy at the park, but then sees them coming down the street towards her.  Little man is in the stroller (dadda, obvisouly is pushing said stroller).  Momma starts running.  Little man stares blankly at her.  Momma figures he hasn't seen her yet.  Little man continues blank stare.  Momma is three feet from stroller.  Still nothing.  Dadda chimes in "you have your sunglasses on, he doesn't recognize you."  Momma takes glasses off.  Still, nothing.  So momma walks over to the stroller to pick up the little guy. 

 

Instant screaming. 

 

And yelling and reaching for dadda.  Momma gets tears in her eyes.  Momma pushes stroller home while dadda holds baby who refuses to even look at momma. 

 

Momma thinks she can win him over with cookies.  More yelling, more tears, more hiding behind dadda.  Dadda offers cookie, buddy takes it.  Momma cries.  Dadda tries to convince baby to go to momma.  Nope.  The little guy won't even sit next to momma on the couch.  Dadda must be betwen them.  Momma's heart feels like it is breaking.  Baby is mad at momma.  Baby is really mad.  Momma fears he may not come near her again.  Ever.

 

But then, a-ha.  Light bulb!  Momma remembers there is one thing that dadda doesn't have that momma does have.  Momma has milk.  Baby likes milk.  Momma asks baby if he wants milk and makes the sign for milk.  Baby starts crying a whimpered cry.  Baby wants milk, but is still mad at momma.  Baby finally, thirty minutes after momma gets home, goes to momma.  Thank God this momma's got milk.

 

Momma now knows there is a cost to going away with the girls for the weekend. 

Some News!

I have some exciting news to share!  No, no, not that kind of news.  Can't a girl make an announcement and it not be about a baby?

This news is all about ME!  I shared the news in our Christmas letter, but to be honest, the details weren't settled and the contract wasn't signed - but it is now.  As of today I'm officially under contract to start writing for a great blog!

Later this month, I will have a post on the DrZandFriends blog.  I'll be sure to let everyone know when it's posted, so you can check it out and leave some feedback/love on that blog! 

I am really excited and flattered to be given this opportunity.  Now, it's time to write, write, write!