My first Pampers.com article

My first article is on the Pampers Village website. Check it out! If you're trying to get pregnant, are currently pregnant, or have a newborn, stay tuned. All my articles will focus on topics in these areas and reside under the "Pregnancy" tab. As my articles are published, I'll post the links under the "My Pampers Pregnancy Articles" in the right sidebar. I'd love to know what you think, and what information you would find helpful, so let me know.

Sam greets 8 months with a bang and a nap!

I'm afraid Sam wore himself out today on his 8-month birthday. He cried and fussed, and fussed and cried some more. Of course, it was on a day that I needed to write and submit an article for my new Pampers.com gig (that you can read about in my last post), but thankfully he zonked out 15 minutes before I had to submit it, so I was able to finish writing it, edit it, and get it off. To finally get him to fall asleep, I pulled out the Ergo carrier like the old days and he snuggled up to me. (Super on a 95-degree day!) This approach hasn't worked lately, but today, it did. Life's rough as an eight-month-old!

A few updates on Sam-I-Am:

-He still doesn't have any teeth.

-He's rolling all over the place.

-He loves banging cups together.

-He can sit unsupported for a long time. (Like, almost an entire hour-long class!)

-Naps are still elusive. He'll sleep maybe 25-30 minutes at a go and not usually more than once a day. But we're working on it.

-He's much more interested in songs, and likes The Wiggles.

-Solid foods are progressing nicely. He tried pureed carrots on Monday, which he wasn't a fan of. (It's awful watching your baby gag, isn't it?) But on subsequent days, I blended a bit of pureed carrot with his rice cereal and some water, and he liked it! Yea! Here's to another month older and wiser. :)

PRINCE Sam and bits of good news

Yep, Sam in overalls=heartbreaker. It's amazing how a piece of clothing can transform our baby into a little boy. I guess I should've dressed him like this last week, considering the woman who thought Sam was such a beautiful princess. Say what? Just because a baby has hair, and hair that happens to be curly, does not mean that baby is a she. He was also wearing BLUE for the record, but that never seems to matter. The worst part is that I didn't have the chance to let her know that actually, Sam is a handsome prince, because she just went on and on about how Beaut-i-ful "she" was. Uggh.

Ooo, I have 2 bits of good news. First, I ended up winning all my tax-free weekend purchases at Magic Beans that I referenced in my last post. Could that be any more awesome-er? Apparently, everyone who shopped at Magic Beans that particular weekend was entered to win their entire purchase for free. And I was the lucky winner! Even Evan reacted positively to that one. He's no dummy. $200+ back in our pockets is good stuff.

Second, I found out yesterday that I've been selected to be one of the writers for a new pregnancy community on the Pampers Village website. (And if it begs the question of whether or not I'm pregnant again, the answer is No! Not yet anyway. But that doesn't mean I don't clearly remember my 10 months of pregnancy, minus a few preggo foggy moments, of course.) So you'll be seeing articles by yours truly at Pampers.com before too long. It'll certainly keep me even busier as I'll need to write 10-15 articles per month. Yikes! I'll share my posts when they go live so you can check them out. Maybe a side bar item? Stay tuned!

My new fave baby store

We first went into a Magic Beans baby store after our fancy schmancy 3-D ultrasound back in November of last year. Remember that? Anyway, we popped in to Magic Beans, which was just down the street in Brookline, to check out our stroller--the fantastic UPPAbaby--since we wouldn't be getting our own until the new year. Some of you know that I'm not a fan of the big-box national baby store (that will remain nameless), despite the fact that I buy diapers there. I'll avoid a long rant but my reasons are simple: It's overwhelming, the rewards program is bunk, and the quality of 90% of the stuff they sell is marginal at best.

I love Magic Beans, on the other hand, for so many reasons. Here are a few:

1. It's locally owned (but their website kicks butt so you can shop there from anywhere...and get free shipping on orders over $99).

2. They carry unique, high quality products made by the companies I (already!) know and love, such as Manhattan Toy Company, aden + anais, boon, Skip Hop, and UPPAbaby.

3. The products I haven't tried, I know I'll probably like since they carefully select each item they sell.

4. They have a great rewards program based on how much you spend--10% off a future purchase (you pick when) when you spend $100, 20% off for a $250+ purchase, and so on.

5. The stores are fresh, bright, and fun. As an added bonus, older kids can kick it in a nice play area.

I went down to treat myself (or should I say, Sam) to some baby gear on tax-free weekend at the Hingham location, and man, did I enjoy myself. Perhaps a bit too much, but I told myself that it was cool because I was going to be saving 16.25% due to the rewards discount and tax-free deal. Here's what I bought: an organic teething book, some eco-friendly stacking rings (made from recycled milk jugs), a Beaba Babycook for when Sam's ready for some home-cooked meals (I admit this is a luxury item, but I'm hoping it will make my life so much easier since it multitasks as a steamer, blender, warmer, and defroster), a set of Skip Hop palette bowls (which are perfect for Sam's rice/breastmilk lunches and better than the glass custard cups we were using), a nursing bra tank, Sam's first wooden car, and a mini knit Gund horse that neighs. Fantastic stuff. Happy shopping!

Sir Never-Naps

I don't know about your baby, but ours is a superhero who doesn't think he needs to nap. It's not unusual for Sam to go all day without a single bit of shut-eye. Ironically, I started this post more than a month ago, and surprise! Nothing has changed.

Here Sam is today, after an unsuccessful go at a nap. He's a mess. Granted, he had a bath this a.m., so his hair is normally a little fluffy, but this homeless-man look is from crying, tossing, turning, and flipping about. You probably already know that naps have been hit or miss with Sam since the beginning. He'll give all the signs that he's tired, so I go headlong into the nap routine, which is to rock him, sing to him, and walk him around the room. Sometimes I'll lie down and place him on my chest, which has been met with some success. We also turn on the fan for white noise and fire up the Fisher Price soother, neither of which are enough to push him over the edge.

I'd love to be able to put him down drowsy but awake, as so many books advise but rarely does that end with him asleep. Sometimes he'll chill and play with his feet or something, but usually he erupts into crying. What works one time is a complete failure the next time. Lately, I've been trying a 15/15 approach where I'll let him cry for 15 minutes and then go into soothe for another 15 (which means I pick him up and hold him/rock him). The whole placing-my-hand-on-his-chest thing versus picking him up causes him to stop crying for a moment, but he erupts again the minute I remove my hand. I really do think he would cry for an hour straight, if we let him. It's tough listening to a screaming baby. And he must be beyond tired. My fear is that since we've established the sleep routine with Daddy walking him around the room as the final step, that he's dependent on that. We tested it yesterday, and sure enough, Sam went down within 10 minutes of Evan walking him and I'd been trying for an hour and a half. (The only reason Evan was able to help is that he works from home the majority of the time, but we can't depend on him nor interrupt his day on a regular basis.)

So I need new strategies. I have the book Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child that I started in the early months of Sam's life and will pick it up once more. What works/has worked for you? The boy needs naps! And the mama needs breaks!

Updates

Who doesn't love a baby smiling for a web cam? You might notice that Sam's hair is only getting loooonger. It's insane! I actually added "haircutting shears" to the shopping list, as I think the time for a haircut is drawing nigh. (or already passed?) Gasp.

So, for some updates: Sam got his 7-month vaccinations on Tuesday, and boy, does that Prevnar shot (the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine) pinch. His little face scrunches up and gets all red, he clenches his fists, and then lets out a big cry. The first time he got the series was the worst though. His leg was bright red at the injection site for about 24 hours, and he screamed bloody murder if air even hit it wrong. Only one more round to go...

He weighed 14 lbs., 4 oz. so he's still a little nugget. But he's gaining weight so the NP wasn't overly concerned. On the way home, I stopped and picked up a can of Happy Bellies brown rice, hoping it'd go better for Sam-Sam. (He's been pushing away and spitting out the oatmeal this week.) Gave it a go today, and he still spit it out and pushed it away. We'll keep trying. (She supported our banana ban. Ha!)

As far as sleep updates, we realized that if we move the crib into the bedroom, it would be very difficult to let him cry/whimper himself back to sleep when he woke up in the middle of the night if we were right there. Plus, he'd know we were there ignoring him. And how cruel would that be? So I've been putting him in his crib in the other room after his middle-of-the-night nursing, and it's working beautifully. Two mornings in a row, I crept in around 7 a.m., to find him awake and happily kickin' it. Ta-da! Perhaps he likes his upgrade.

As far as activities, we're looking forward to starting our Caterpillars class in a couple weeks that you can read about here, if you're interested. Story time at the library is over for the summer, but it'll pick back up at the end of September. I must share that I'm still trying to figure out how these moms and dads keep straight faces when we do the "Where is Thumbkin?" fingerplay. For the uninitiated (as I was), you hold up each finger one at a time and sing a little diddy. (Check it out here.) Well, tall man is the middle finger, and he stands there all alone, in all his glory. Take that, story time! And you, library! It's now my favorite part, as it makes me smile. It's the little things...

Until next time!

Kissed by a cow

How this week went by in the blink of an eye, I have no idea. But here we are, another Saturday slipping away from us, too. We made the most of more gorgeous weather by making a return trip to the Farmers' Market in Braintree this morning. Picks of the day included tomatoes, corn on the cob, green beans, garlic, a canteloupe, a cucumber, and of course, another mini pie (cherry with fancy lattice). I felt much more prepared this time as I've been reading Fresh From the Farmers' Market by Janet Fletcher, which takes you through each season and offers produce selection and storage tips, as well as recipes. There's a corn, basil, and tomato salad that I have my eye on and hope to make soon. (That is, if I don't eat all the cherry tomatoes as a snack first. Mmmm, so good.)

We then made our way to the newly opened Hingham Shipyard for a craft fair in the afternoon. Much to our surprise, there was a petting zoo there as well, so Sam had his first encounter with rabbits, horses, goats, llamas, a pig, and a cow, the last of whom thought Sam's tootsie was a tasty treat. To get our own tasty treat on, we went to a new restaurant by the marina there called Alma Nove for some fancy snacks on the patio. Here's how clueless we are: We didn't think anything of the man who said, "Now that's a little guy" about Sam on his way out until the ladies next to us rushed out to get a photo with him. Turns out he was Jigsaw/Tobin Bell-the guy from the Saw movies. (We also didn't know that we were eating at the new restaurant owned by Mark Wahlberg's brother. We apparently need to work on this knowing-useless-info thing.)

Tomorrow's a biggish day: we're moving the crib into the bedroom and reintroducing baby oatmeal. Fingers and toes crossed that Sam's digestive system doesn't go into revolt again. And that he SLEEPS!

Sleep Stuff

Yep, it's true. Our 7-month-old still sleeps in his bassinet. But he's a little bugger for his age, and with the bassinet in our bedroom, we can close the door and carry on with our evenings. (Sam's crib is currently in the den, where there is no door. The only "rooms" with doors are our bedroom, the bathrooms, and the closets. Eek!) Needless to say, our condo is not conducive to raising a family, with its open floor plan and lack of additional bedrooms. But we never imagined we'd still be here, ECONOMY. So anyway, we're at a crossroads, as Sam is not only bumping his head and feet on the sides of the bassinet, but he's picking up his feet and slamming them down, and reaching over the sides. We fear it's only a matter of time before he sits up, leans over the side, and goes bump in the night.

We tried to enact a *new* plan last night, and it didn't go over so well. Our plan was to try to move Sam to his crib when he woke up in the middle of the night. (See chart at right. Long gone is the month when Sam slept from about 7 or 8 p.m. until 4 or 5 a.m. Sigh. He now wakes up definitely once, if not twice, as you can tell by the yellow "awake" gaps.) I'd hoped to rock him to sleep and slip him in the crib, but it failed miserably. He cried and cried. I tried to get him back to sleep for more than two hours. I sang to him, swayed him, bounced him, held him tight, nursed him, etc. All those old newborn tricks. Evan finally had to walk him (the only fail-safe way to get Sam to sleep these days), and back in the bassinet he went. We'll try again soon. But first, I think we're going to have to move the crib into the bedroom so we can close the door and let Sam sleep in peace. Or, move all over the place like he did today. See below. This was all within about 30 seconds. Every time I looked in, he was in a totally different spot. I'll keep you posted on this transition.

Pukies Milk Review

As you know from our earlier review, we think Pukies' products rule. We've now tried a few more of their products and wanted to share. Pukies sent us a bib, burp cloth, and blanket from their Milk Stain line. (The bib is showcased on Sam above.) This line is designed to disguise milk, formula, and cereal stains. Brilliant. And the print is as hip as ever. Love 'em. Like Pukies' other products, they are reversible, wicked soft, and eco-friendly (yea) since they're made of an organic soy and cotton blend.

We also purchased a Ketchup onesie ($20) because we couldn't resist. Unfortunately, Sam was having one of his messy days so I couldn't snap a picture in time, but trust me, it looks sharp and he is oh-so-snuggable when wearing it. I know what you're thinking: If only he'd been wearing the MILK onesie. But I bought Ketchup. Doh!

You can check out Pukies' other boys' playwear here and the girls' here. (Note that the girl onesies are only $12 and they have irresistible ruffles on the sleeves. Ooo la la.)

You can buy your own Pukies products here. You might also want to check out the new collection of clothing called Buggies: bug-protection duds for infants and toddlers. I know I'm intrigued!

Happy 7 months, Sam!

What a lovely weekend we had here in New England for Sam's 7-month birthday. Not only is he feeling back to his usual spunky self, but the weather was absolutely perfect with temps in the upper 70s, sun, bright blue sky (that I intentionally didn't crop it out in the photo), and very low humidity. Ahhhhh. I can't get over how nice it was to have the windows open and be able to keep them open night and day. We woke up Saturday knowing we had to get out of the house and, thankfully, Evan remembered that I've been wanting to go to one of the local farmers' markets all summer, so that's exactly what we did. While there, we picked up some summer squash, scrumptious cherry tomatoes, corn on the cob, basil, Jet Star tomatoes (that are supposed to be out of this world with thin skins and lots o' juicy), and a Very Berry mini pie made with strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries. Then we grabbed Quizno's and headed to Nut Island, a nearby park (pictured here) on the water with a view of our condo building and downtown Boston. Note that Sam can sit unassisted at this point, which is very exciting, though he's prone to tipping so we always keep a hand close by. :) Today we drove South to Scituate for some blueberry-picking. Num num. Sam was a great helper pulling leaves off the bushes for us. We're thinking maybe next summer he'll get some berries in there, too.

All in all, total fabulous-ness. This is exactly what summer weekends were made for. Now off to prepare a couple Caprese salads, some salmon and summer squash, and last but not least, some PIE!