It's Kinda Quiet...

I was straightening the couch up this morning after Z had his breakfast (half a piece of whole wheat toast and some mango/apple/peach puree) and Z was busy crawling around exploring the house to make sure nothing new had appeared overnight.

Suddenly, I realized it was very quiet in the kitchen. Never good. So I popped my head in and saw my little man doing this:
Crawling OVER the bar on the side of his highchair, even though there is a perfectly larger opening right beside him. The bar is a higher obstacle then this little man has ever attempted to climb over but he's determined.

This was how he felt about making it over the bar without face planting. Go ME!

And all of this effort to reach a new object in the recycling bin. An object, that he could have easily crawled to without encountering any obstacles, but why right?

And he left this lovely mess in his dust. Thanks kiddo:)
Funny the things almost 9 month olds find fun right??

My trip to Cityline!

Yesterday, my friend and I were lucky enough to get tickets to be part of the audience for Cityline. Yeah! A mommy outting:)

For my non-Canadian friends, Cityline is a daily life & style talk show (taped in Toronto, Ontario) that airs in across Canada. It's on at 9am, 2pm and 5pm daily, and features a daily panel of "experts" talking about a variety of subjects. Basically, it's the perfect stay-at-home mom show, and I happen to watch it daily! Tickets can take months to get so it's fun when you do get the opportunity! The audience is shown a lot throughout the show so you're bound to be on camera at some point.

I won't give you a whole long drawn out story about my adventures in trying to get dressed just to be part of the audience. Suffice it to say that extra baby weight plus major PMS bloat do not make for good bedfellows. I went with black- thank you very much.

We were sent to the green room to wait with the rest of the audience, meet with the producers, etc... They take audience questions, check you out- the usual. Here we are waiting:

And taking pictures like we were tourists who had never seen a television set before (which I have, for the record):

Then, they take you downstairs to the set and you are seated by a floor director. They are very specific about where they want people to sit and they directed my friend and I to sit in the front row, left side. Here was our view:



The show tapes in real time, but is shown the following week. It was fun to be part of the audience, but half way through- during a commercial break- my friend leaned over to me and told me that we had been in every single shot of the host thus far. Panic!!!!!!! I was hoping for a quick pan of the audience where I would be clapping and smiling, not being featured in ever host shot! I couldn't see the monitors from where I was sitting so I had no idea! Ya, PMS bloat, 10 extra pounds of baby weight, and not KNOWING you were on camera is never fun. I'm sure I was making the most ridiculous faces, because that's what I do. Should be fun to watch next week.

The show was great. Mostly about home decorating. Good panel, good advice! We went home with an eco-friendly pillow, a curtain rod, a Style at Home magazine, and a gift certificate to an eco-friendly decor store in Toronto. Oh, and a picture with the host Tracy, who is STUNNING
For the record- curly hair wasn't my first choice but the weather wasn't great so it was the better choice. Also, open black blazer...don't know what that will look like on tv...should be interesting to watch next Tuesday, February 2nd.

All in all, fun outing- but I missed Z SO MUCH!!! I couldn't wait to go home and give him a big hug. Makes me wonder how I'll survive going back to work in 2 months!

TOUCHDOWN!

Z, his dad and I had a great weekend:

1) we Ikea'd which is not suggested on a Saturday due to the hoards of people and a 45 minute line-up for some grey meatballs and salty mashed potatoes...boooo! Although we didn't end up buying anything, Z had a great time staring at everything and playing with the coolest person EVER (aka: Aunty Lizzy).

2) Z ate new things: bagel and cream cheese (well, some of mine), pieces of hot dog buns, pieces of kaiser rolls and, of course, CHEERIOS! He has decided that baby cereal is yucky and I have to foce it down his throat in the morning. He'd rather eat cheerios and some fruit, but I'm concerned that if I take away cereal then he won't be getting any good source of grains. Going to have to work on that one.

3) We stood up unassisted (meaning- Z stood up without holding onto anything). He doesn't have enough balance to stay up, but he's getting good at getting up without anything to steady him. I'm sure he'll work on balance soon- he's too determined.

4) He learned the universal sign for "TOUCHDOWN" (throwing his arms up over his head). Unfortunetly, he doesn't seem to understand that this is a football term and should be used when watching football (as we did on Sunday). Instead, he randomly throws his arms up and gives us a big gummy smile. Ah well- at least he got it in the first place. Plus, it's so cute!

5) Pointing and crying at something that he wants. It's a little annoying when it's something that I can't give him (like today at the grocery store when he was desperate for the shiny chocolate bar wrappers in the checkout aisle), but I do like that he is understanding this own wants/needs and trying to communicate them to us.

Good naps- so-so night sleeps. We take what we can get.
NO TEETH!!!!!!!!!!!!! He's approaching the 9 month mark and still NO TEETH!!!!! Hello Tooth Fairy- we'd like some teeth. We know you're the one that takes them, but if you wouldn't mind giving us some too, that'd be greatly appreciated!

Attack of the Pee-Pee Monster

Last night, big Z went to bed like an angel. He was so great, cuddled with me in our rocking chair then snoozed away. Perfect little baby.

Around 10:30pm, I was going to bed and popped into his room to check on him. Every night, I turn off his humidifier and move him to the end of his crib (because he's a creeper, don't you know!). That when I felt the wet. The copious amounts of wet. What the heck???
I grabbed my iTouch because it has a flashlight on it and went in to investigate. That's when I saw that his entire crib was covered in pee. COVERED. So was he. COVERED IN PEE.

I had to wake him up, take off his pjs, change his diaper (that he had managed to wiggle out of...somehow), and his crib sheet. By this time, his dad had gotten in on the action and so had our cat, Squeek. So ya, party in Z's room. Whoot Whoot!!

This is where the downward spiral began. Having learned from past mistakes, I didn't let him leave the room. I tried to let him cry. It was now 11:30pm. An hour had passed and he wasn't going down without a fight!! Afterall, he thought it was party time and we had totally ruined it for him.

I won't give all the details. Suffice it to say that this mom didn't get to bed until well after 1am. Tired doesn't describe it. Especially after those nights of beautiful peaceful sleep.

Fingers are crossed that the pee-pee monster doesn't make a visit tonight and my sleepy monkey will go back to the wonderful pattern we'd previously created:)

But, just for fun and because I was up, here's what a baby looks like after hours of fighting you on the sleeping issue:

Day 4 and 5 SUCCESS

WHOOT WHOOT WHOOT WHOOT!!!!!!!!!!
No tears- not whining- no bouncy trampoline. No night wakings. Just sleep. Beautiful sleep.

Lest one thinks I am getting too excited...I am not anticipating this being my every night, but two nights in a row without tears is so amazing. Two nights in a row without having to wake up to feed is amazing!

So, in short, letting him "learn how to fall asleep" (as Roslyn pointed out before, I'm not really letting him cry it out, which I kinda knew) was a good idea. It killed me to hear him cry so much but if it taught him to go to sleep easily, then it was worth it. Not just for me, but for him too! He's so much better when he's had a good night's sleep.

New things:
1) we cruise the furniture...which makes me laugh because it's this bizarre shuffle- usually associated with trying to grab the cat who has strategically placed himself at the other end of the couch
2) crying and pointing to try to eat some of mommy's food. He tried French Toast yesterday and was so happy !!!! However, he's inhaling jars of food, so maybe so more finger food is better?
3) peach coloured vomit on my beige carpet, thanks to a nice air bubble! Sweet!
4) new favourite drink = Tall skim vanilla latte with a shot of carmel! SO GOOOOOODDDDD!!!!!

Thanks to everyone who was commenting and supporting my "learn how to sleep please Z!"- I'm sure it's not done, but it's better and that's an awesome thing! Also, a dad at church guessed that Z was 4 or 6 months old. LOL! His wife rolled her eyes, mostly because Z was crawling and standing up when he asked. Men...

Day 3...holding my breath.

Last night went relatively well- all things considered.

We had about 45 mins- 1 hour of whining, jumping and fussing before Big Z settled down and fell asleep.
He woke up at 2am. Normally I would have fed him, but I KNOW he doesn't need the food at that time. He uses it as his ticket to leave and go on an adventure throughout the house. So I didn't give in.
I went into his room (I HAVE to check on him because I just can't not), changed his diaper, and laid him back down with a kiss. He got up and said "HEY, it's midnight adventure time!! Take me outta here!!!". I went back in (after 3 or 4 minutes) and said, "Nope, it's sleepy time". He disagreed but, after 10 minutes, he saw it my way and slept until 7:30am. No joke!! YEAH ME and Z:)

So, tonight. He just fell asleep. With no help. And I'm so scared to write that because now I think he'll go and do something awful like wake up 18 times in a row during the middle of the night...just to show me. I'm hopeful, but totally not holding my breath because, well, it was just too easy and he is my stubborn little redhead after all;) But I'm glad I didn't have hours of sobbing on my hands.

In other news, Z and I were playing WWF wrestling on my bed. You know, the good kind. From the 80's. He was Macho Man Randy Savage and I was the Ultimate Warrior. I kept winning and pinning him for the three count. After losing to the Ultimate Warrior, Macho Man Randy Savage would bravely get up on his knees and throw his arms over his head and bounce around laughing.
I have to admit- I think Z was playing a different game then I was. He didn't even answer to his name and he seemed to think that the three count meant he was the winner. Hence the celebratory knee bouncing, arm raising, giggle fest. Hm. We'll have to try that game again some day with more clear rules I think.

Finally, we went to the mall with our good friends (we'll call them A & little A.). They're awesome and we took the best pictures in a photo booth. Z wouldn't look at the right place and he looks dazed & confused in all the photos. So funny. Wish I had a scanner so I could upload them. Will work on that one... So, for now, just take my word! Anyway, it's nice to have good friends. I was looking at little A, who is so stinking cute and smiley, and hoped that he and Z would be awesome friends one day. Z can teach little A how to be a wild wandering, wall-licking man and little A can teach Z how to eat fishies and raisins and spaghetti and oranges and so much more. And also how to say mama and not cry when going to sleep and how to cut teeth. Oh, so many things they can learn from eachother!

The Good and the Bad...day 2

The Good:

-Z still loved his mommy in the morning. He gave me a big hug and kiss (well, his version).

-We went to the mall today and Z had a super great time! We hung out with a friend and her 2 month old. Ate Greek food in the food court. Z held court with some grandmas and grandpas (who, incidentally, wanted to feed him muffins and I had to do so serious convincing to deter them). Oh, and seeing a 2 month old!! I totally miss my teeny tiny little man who was so cuddly and fit perfectly in one arm. But, not that much...)

-Z and I played with blocks and I'm totally better at stacking them then he is. However, he's AWESOME at knocking them over. So, there you go.

-Z still thinks that my version of "Single Ladies" (complete with the dance) is the best thing ever. Today, he joined me in dancing. He also LOVES my tambourine playing. Oh ya, I got skills.

The Bad:

-Day 2 of crying it out (my version, which involves going into his room every 3 minutes to lay him back down). He had a HUGE hissy fit last night when he realized he wasn't getting out of his room. He cried (off and on) until 11:30pm. He slept for 30 minute intervals to recharge his batteries.
However, he gave up at 11:30pm and slept until 6:30am, when he had a bottle and went back to sleep for another hour. So, no night feeding (which I KNEW he didn't need). But I'm not counting my chickens.

- Tonight, he cried for about 1/2hour off and on. No, not cried. Whined...jumped on his trampoline...MOMMY COME GET ME. He was asleep. Then he woke up. But now he's asleep so we'll see how long he needs to recharge his batteries before he starts his fit again.

-We're moving into 18month clothes. At 9 months old. GRRRR! And the kicker? It's only for length- he looks like a little hobo the way they swim on him width wise. Oh well, another good reason to drop money at Carters.


*Thanks for all the encouragement and advice yesterday. Keep it coming. This kid has DETERMINATION!!!!!!!!!!! He's not going down without a fight but I do know that it's for his own good. Sooner then later, I'm going back to work and my little man needs to be able to self-soothe and sleep. And, as his mom who loves him, I guess I need to help him learn that sleep time means sleep time.

Crying it out...booooooooooooooooooooo

Tonight, Z was unable or unwilling to go to sleep. Well, he fell asleep and then he heard me leave the room and stood up and jumped around in his bouncy trampoline (crib=bouncy trampoline).

This has become an ever-growing problem because he has gone (as I have mention again and again and again) from sleeping pretty well through the night to sleeping 3-4 hours at a time and WAKING UP (and I mean it- WAKING UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Like, MOMMY I AM AWAKE AND I AM BOUNCING ON MY TRAMPOLINE AND NEED YOU TO COME HERRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!).

It started when he was about 7 1/2 months old and he hit some type of growth spurt and needed extra bottles during the night. However, I'm pretty sure he doesn't need much food in the middle of the night anymore (he kinda just sips the bottle) and he's resisting all sleep with all his might. The payoff he gets from waking up in the middle of the night (or not going to sleep when he's tired and it's bedtime) is that I take him out of the room. Ick - I know! Why do I do that?? Why did I start that?? It just kinda happened but I can tell how much he enjoys it.

So, tonight, as the door creaked when I left his room and awoke Z and encouraged him to stand up and bounce and call for me, I had to do the one thing I never wanted to do- let him kinda cry. Because I really am out of ideas on how to encourage him fall asleep- because he is definetly definetly tired.

I hate the idea of crying it out. HATE IT! However, this battle of wills between Z and I has gone on for a really long time (like, 8 1/2 months) and I am starting to see the glimmer of understanding in his eyes. I do not think he's manipulating me- I don't think he's bad- I don't think he's a sneak. I just think he needs help going to sleep and the rocking and shussshhhhhing (which only kinda worked thus far) aren't cutting it anymore.

Luckily, hubs was home and he dealt with the tears- I think it only lasted about 10 minutes in total and he didn't get hysterical (which is what has happened in the past when I've let him cry for even the slightest amount of time). I cried the whole time too. And I don't expect it will solve our sleep problems, but I hope it helps him learn that when he's put down to bed, it means bed time. Because I'm pretty sure it hurt me way more then it hurt him and I don't know if I can handle another day of it:(

And, for the record, lest anyone think I'm an awful cry-it-out mommy, hubs went into Z's room ever 2 or 3 minutes to give him a kiss and tell him that we love him and lay him back down.

So, there you go. That's been my night. I am hoping and praying that he still loves me tonight when he wakes up and needs his bottle.

Sunday School and Jersey Shore...wait, those two don't mix...

Thanks for the votes. Don't feel obligated to vote anymore- I have more then one vote and I'm happy for that. Not trying to win, just didn't want to be the only person with one vote:) You know, ego and all!

This morning we went to Church with Big Z and put him in Sunday School for the first time. He's only 8 months old, but he's so active that if he's awake during church, he can't sit still. He was good for about 10 minutes, and then he realized that his mommy was gone and cried. I went in and fed him, and left him again. I think he cried a bit more but he was ok for the most part.

I feel like he's a bit young, but I also am starting to see him get jealous when I am around other kids and crying when he can't see me. As he's going to be starting daycare sooner then later (well, August, but still) so I feel like he needs to be exposed to a few "strangers"...within reason. It was hard for me though. I don't know how I will ever go back to work and leave him all day.

In other news, we're on day 2 of a "I want to blow raspberries full of food all over you mommy" and "I want to nap at the worst possible times during the day and stay asleep for way too long so that I don't want to go to bed at night". Therefore, we have a food covered, sleepy mommy.

However, I'm a mommy that has managed to work out two days in a row (Turbojam and Jillian Micheal's 30 Day Shred). I am also a mommy who has watched every episode of JERSEY SHORE and has gotten her husband equally addicted. I feel like I'm way too old to enjoy this show so much, but I just can't help myself...fist pumping, battling on the dance floor to House music, girl fights, macho "men"...it's just too good.

Vote For My Blog...if you're bored:)

Hey-
I was nominated as a "Favourite Mommy Blogger" (thanks to whoever did that!) on babble.com.

If you feel so inclined, please vote for Sleeping Is For Losers HERE.

I'm right near the bottom and just discovered myself by chance, but I'd love to have more then one vote;) Thanks in advance to my mom for voting...lol!

In other news: my stunning son has taken to not eating today. He pretty much has blown raspberries full of food at us all day long. But he's not cranky or grumpy, so I'm just going with it. Trust me, he'll eat when he's good and ready. One thing I can say about Z is that he is not afraid to tell you waht he wants!

A Night Feeding Victory!

Last night was the first night in over two, yes TWO, weeks that I haven't had to get up and feed my son.
I still had to get up once or twice to remove him from the top of the crib where he had wedged himself (he's a traveler, even in his sleep), but I didn't have to go and make a bottle...not once!

Small victories, right?? Small victories!

Top 10 Life-Changing Books

Indigo put out it's list of the Top 10 Life Changing Books.
It's an interesting list...here are some of my thoughts on it:

1. The Bible- yes. live by it. deserves to be on this list.
2. To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee, 1960.- love love love this book. I think I read it in grade 10 for the first time. It was the first novel that really made me want to write.
3. Tuesdays with Morrie, Mitch Albom, 1997.- I like it. Not on my top 10 list though. Hm.
4. Anne of Green Gables, Lucy Maud Montgomery, 1908.- Oh, I just love Anne. LOVE!
5. The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini, 2003.- YES! This book was so enthralling, captivating, all-encompassing. Absolutely one of the best books I've read this decade.
6. The Alchemist, Paul Coelho, 1988.- I liked it. Again, wouldn't have put it on this list.
7. The Book of Negroes, Lawrence Hill, 2007.- I LOVE this book. Like "The Kite Runner" this story was woven so tightly, so captivating, played with my emotions. Beautiful.
8. Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling, 1997.- OK, I couldn't get into this series. It's just not my thing...but I can appreciate why people love Harry.
9. The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien, 1954.- See my thoughts on Harry Potter. Same.
10. Life of Pi, Yann Martel, 2002.- I'll get shot down for this, but I didn't really even like this book. I just felt like it was trying too hard and I couldn't get into the plot. It was a big let down for me.

So, what would I add to the list??

1. Animal Farm, George Orwell- First novel that ever made me cry. I've read it so many times and still love it each and every time.
2. The Handmaid's Tale, Margaret Atwood- I thought this was, by far, the best Atwood book I have ever read. Really made me think about how easily our lives can be stripped in one foul swoop because of technology- and how quickly women can become second-class citizens once again.
3. Lord of the Flies, William Golding- Amazing. Just amazing.

Any others I missed? What would be on your list of life-changing books?

Resolutions...

So, 2010! I hardly noticed that you arrived. Baby Z has been an awful sleeper recently. Sleeping If For Losers, right?? Rings true in our house now-a-days!

Thankfully, his napping has gotten a little more consistent. There is one good nap a day (about an hour...yes, that is a Christmas miracle in my household), so I can at least get some things done...like reading:) Yes, two books down since the husband has been home.

I finally got around to finishing "My Sister's Keeper". I'd tried to read it while pregnant and so could not get through it. So COULD NOT keep my mind from wandering and wondering if my baby might get sick, etc... This time, however, I could not put it down. It is one of the most captivating books I've read in ages. In fact, it's on my top 10 books of all time. And, although I wouldn't recommend anyone read it while preggers or thinking about getting pregnant, I think it is a tear-jerker, make you think, must read, of a book.

Secondly, I read a lovely little fluff piece called "Twenties Girl". From the author of the Shopaholic series, "Twenties Girl" follows the same essential pattern as most of her books- hapless girl in a dead-end job, little money, dumped by boyfriend. What will she do? Meet a grumpy, seemingly unfriendly man, stumble upon a random perfect job which she is completely unqualified for, fall madly in love with seemingly unfriendly (yet handsome) man, and everything ends up ok. Simple! But I adore these books and "Twenties Girl" delivers. I managed to finish it in less then a day (staying up till midnight to finish, of course). Not on my top 10 list, but if you are looking for an easy, fluffy read then "Twenties Girl" is your book.

But, I digress. On to the real reason for my post...resolutions. I'm totally not a fan of resolutions because I don't keep them and then beat myself up because of it. This year, however, I feel like I am ready to make a few resolutions and hold myself accountable to them. So, in no particular order:

1. Lose the last 10 "baby-weight" pounds. (OK, truthfully I think could stand to lose 15 pounds, but I'm going to start with 10 pounds which will bring me back to my pre-pregnancy weight). I have decided to use at least 3 of Z's naps to exercise...which brings me to my next resolution...

2. I will not feel guilty about using Z's naps as a "break". With the awful night sleeps Z has been having, I need to have some sort of "break" during the day for "me" time. I have always felt guilty about using that time for me, but I'm vowing not to.

3. Read more. It's the number one thing I love to do, so I'm going to do it!

4. Write more. I have been asked by a few publications to write freelance articles for them and I think I need to ride this wave and try to write as much as I can before I go back to work. I'm not a journalist, but I love to write and need to put myself out there and search out some writing jobs. I can't expect them all to come to me, right?

5. Eat at least one meal with Z. He needs to see how real human's eat (ie: at the table, with utensils, not smearing it in their hair, on their face, blowing raspberries with major mouthfuls of sweet potatos). So, even though it will only be me and him, I'm commited to showing him how to eat properly.

6. Not stress...hahahhahaha. I'll try.

7. Prepare myself for back-to-work: mentally and emotionally. Because I'm already teary-eyed about it. And it's about 3 1/2 months away.

8. Prepare myself for turning 30: mentally and emotionally. Because I'm already teary-eyed about it. And it's 8 months away.

So there they are...and I hope to keep at least a few of them! Anyone care to keep me accountable??