Last Week of Leave (Sniff, Sniff)

The day that seemed so, so far away back in August is quickly approaching. The end of my maternity leave! It's with mixed emotion that I enter this last week. I have the advantage of working with a great group of people, returning part-time, daycare by my mom, and...let's face it...a little break from the 24/7 that is motherhood. Then again, I'd leap at the chance to stay at home until Max is in school. Alex did offer this as an option if I wanted to move to Bandon but somehow that didn't hold the allure that he thought it might.

In a rare stroke of genius I planned several appointments for myself this week to make the transition easier. Thursday I'm having my hair cut and highlighted. I'm thinking of highlights in the red family. Perhaps something coppery? Maybe I can just bring Sydney in and ask for Dena to copy her color? Friday I have a massage (thanks Barbie and Dawn!) and a pedi/facial appointment. The pedi/facial appointment is at the Nail Sanctuary which I highly recommend to those of you in the Portland area. I love that it's a private salon where you receive one-on-one services. The wait list is quite long however. I made this appointment a few weeks before Max was born and it was one of her first available.

Now when I go back to work if I start sniffling when I'm missing Max, at least I'll look fabulous doing it. Perhaps nobody will even notice since they'll be entranced by my highlights?

Happy Thanksgiving!

As Promised...

Max and cousin Mina

Sleep Story # 1,689

Alex and I took Max to Bandon for a 4 day weekend to celebrate Thanksgiving with his family. We had a lovely time and were able to meet our niece, Mina, for the first time. She's just 2 months older than Max. I'll post one of the pictures we took as soon as I find the cord to sync up the camera and PC. Don't hold your breath on that one.

Anyhow, we decided this disruption in his sleep location would be the perfect time to switch Max over to his crib in is room. He's been sleeping in a Pack N Play in our bedroom since the day we came home. However his night rumblings and recent napping success convinced me that it was time to make the move. I've heard too many horror stories of moving babies to their beds at a later age.

The day we returned I set up his Pack N Play in his bedroom to ease the transition. I was a tad sentimental thinking about the move. I have so many memories of Max and I camped out in the bedroom those first few weeks. He's not my newborn anymore! Max apparently experienced none of those misgivings and slept his typical schedule in his new location. The next night I moved him into his crib. Once again he slept like a champ. This time he actually skipped his 6:30 feeding although I did hear him moving around. He was kind enough to go back to sleep. Thanks, Max!

So it is done. Max has stretched the invisible umbilical cord another 20 feet and is in his own room. Now if only I could figure out how to keep Cleo from banging on Max's door at 5 in the morning. Anyone know any good cat recipes?

My Son is a Napping Genius!

Over the past few weeks I've become paranoid thanks to all the books that say I need to teach Max to fall asleep on his own. They paint these lovely pictures of a mother telling her baby, "It's time to sleep now", laying the baby down and it magically falls asleep. If the baby cries? You pat it's chest until it calms and then step away. Still crying? You can pick it up but put baby down as soon as it is calm again. Lovely in theory and I'm certain there are babies out there that follow this but my son is not one of them.

I've reserved and read nearly every sleep book that the library offers hoping to get a handle on when this vision is truly realistic and how I go about dealing with my cuddler of a son. Remember this is the boy that I can't even get to sleep on his own during the day. He thinks it's perfectly appropriate that I should carry his 14+ pound self around all day. The only way he naps on his own is if I feed him side-lying in bed for 45 minutes. Who knew that such a thing could be called a "sleep association" that I must end so that he doesn't think that the only way to fall asleep is with a breast in his face. (I'm certain many men still aspire to this)

Certainly I've been taking all this with a grain of salt and processing the advice to come up with my own theories and approach. Yes, I would love to be able to set my son in his crib and have him drift off to sleep. A fabulous first step would be to get him to nap in his own bed at all! So I've been toying with each of the approaches over the past few days. Nothing appeared to be working but today is my day! Max, my genius son, has taken 3 naps in his pack n play. On top of that, he actually fell asleep there! I'm so excited I could burst!

No, it wasn't the lovely scene painted in the first paragraph. It usually involves about 5 minutes of crying but he's making the connection. Each nap today was a progressively smoother process.

Best of all...Alex and I are going out to dinner so I have the time to go pick out some clothes to change into. I won't have to wear my vomit crusted ones! Oh, it's going to be a hot night tonight! ;-)

Happy Halloween, Everyone!

As Prescribed by Stefanie

I was inspired by Stefanie's blog entry from 10/23. She made a vow to take it easier on herself in her free time, slow down, and enjoy a bit of self prescribed bed rest. Simple yet genius! Stefanie is of course well deserving of this is as she is a mother of 2 young girls with a third on the way.

It was divine timing that I read this entry. Alex put Max down for a nap about an hour ago. As soon as he took over I began running around the house folding laundry, sorting Max's stored clothing, washing bottles, etc. Subconsciously I am well aware that this is a lame use of "free" time. Yet I can't deny how much better I feel when everything is back in order and I am ready to go another round.

As I was putting away Max's clothes I thought, "Okay, I'll run down and check e-mail. Then I'll run back upstairs and pump so that we have some breast milk on hand." My mind is constantly running through a prioritized to do list. After reading Stefanie's entry I've decided the pumping can wait. It is a gorgeous fall day outside. Maybe I'll go walk around a few blocks by myself, breathe a little deeper, and enjoy true free time. Thanks, Stefanie!