Anything for a good night's sleep...

This picture would, I think we can safely assume, give any good pediatrician (or mother) a heart attack. How many times did I hear "make sure you don't put any blankets or pillows in the crib. And if you have a bumper, make sure it's thin and breathable." This is a testament to the lengths you will go to make sure your child/YOU get a good night's sleep.
Seth took Brice to IN to go to his grandmother's funeral. They stayed in a hotel that was nice enough to provide a crib. No bumper though. This is a major issue for us, as Brice LOVES his bumper. I know it's a no-no, but the child sleeps all tucked into the corner, usually his face pressed into the bumper. I check him before I go to bed and he's always breathing. Is it a problem when they're this old? I don't know. But this picture made me chuckle when I saw it. Good lord!! I'm sure Brice was in heaven, and Seth was doing the best he could. But don't you think this is going just a wee bit too far? I don't think the AAP would approve.

Guess who dressed Brice this morning??

Yummy!!!

I don't like babies

Or toddlers too much. At least, not at the moment. I suppose this qualifies me for world's worst mother. I fear my attitude is due to having two colicky babies. Honestly, what did I do to deserve this? I see moms with little babies and they're cooing at each other, and I think, "why couldn't that be me?" I feel a bit ripped off. With Brice, he spent the first four months bellowing and it was all I could do to get through the day. He slept like a champ at night, but he screamed all the livelong day. Everyone told me I would have a calm baby, as no one has TWO colicky babies. Well, I did, it appears. And now I have a high-maintenance toddler who's not taking too well to the new little guy. Or, maybe he's not taking well to the fact he has to share me. But I can't even pick up the kid without him biting me or pinching me. Sometimes all I have to do is walk past him to set him off. He hates it when I feed Harry and tries to hit him or throw books at him. And if I put Harry down and try and pay attention to Brice, Harry rages. Oh, Harry doesn't nap either. Don't get me started on what mealtimes are like around here. It's not pretty, i'll leave it at that.

I know I should be grateful to have two healthy boys, and if you catch me at a quiet moment I would probably agree. But right now, I don't like babies. Or toddlers.

Millennium Park with the boys

I'm exhausted

And it's only noon. Ouch. My son, my lovely son Brice, is taking me precariously close to the edge. Have I mentioned he is strong-willed? We have yet to feed him without him throwing his food on the floor. And he waits for us to look at him, then he smiles, and throws it. We say, "Brice, do NOT throw your food." Pick it up, wipe the floor, give him the benefit of the doubt. Then, he's angry because we said no to him. So he opens his mouth, pulls the chewed but not swallowed food out, and tosses it. Then he looks at me and smiles. So I say "no" again and give him a flick on the hand. Which REALLY ticks him off, so he starts screaming and banging his head back against the high chair and THROWS his sippy cup across the kitchen. Nice. He also hits and pinches Harry when i'm trying to feed him among a myriad other minor and major infractions. And nothing, NOTHING will deter him. I'm reading every discipline book I can get my hands on and they're so helpful--flick his hand, don't flick his hand because that is how he explores his world, spank him, don't spank him--you'll teach him violence is okay; give him a time-out, don't bother with time-outs, etc. Do you get the picture? 

I keep reminding myself that he is one. Not even one and half. I will not be beaten by a little midget who can't even control his bladder. It's like I used to tell my first-graders, "There are sitcoms that have been around longer than you. You don't run anything but your mouth and that's going to stop, too." Not that Brice can even talk yet. Oh, infant is now screaming, must attend to infant. 

Recall

I take it back. He's still colicky. Going on 4 hours now. What's it like to have calm children??

Brice and his Blue Bunny

Brice now sleeps with a stuffed animal, his little Blue Bunny. It kills me. I love that he sleeps with him. Lately we've been having major battles with our increasingly strong-willed child. He drains the energy from my bones and by the end of the day, i'm done. Put a fork in me. But the fact that my little tantrum-throwing, face-pinching, arm-biting, leg-kicking, foot-stomping, screaming baby goes to bed with his little Blue Bunny gives me hope that his heart isn't entirely black. Perhaps there's hope for him yet. 

Colic? What colic???

Okay, I say this with some hesitation. It does appear, after a week of probiotics, that the colic has waned. He still has his fussy times, usually between 5 and 7pm, but he's mostly fussy. He can be soothed with a pacifier and a bounce. Sometimes being picked up and carried around is required, but he really has improved. He rages a bit before he falls off to sleep, but he really is much better. Seth made a comment yesterday that perhaps we shouldn't call him colicky anymore (we like to label our children) and we both kinda looked at each other nervously. Dare we hope?? So, i'll just say, he's doing better. Sleeping better--8.5 hours last night! and napping two or three times during the day. Amazing. He even sleeps through Brice. Now that is a feat.

Visit to the grandparents (and great grandmother!)

Harry and great grandma Ruth 

Splashing around with dad

First ride on the merry go round

Zonked out in the car (didn't last long, though!)