Z is a real boy now

Remember before when I said Z was starting to have opinions? Oh yeah, things have gotten real. Two examples:

1. Sunday night we ordered pizza. Z had previously successfully consumed homemade pizza crust so I gave him some of this crust. He was delighted and went to work gnawing on it. Unfortunately for him this crust was not breaking apart like the homemade variety and, with his enthusiastic shoving of the entire thing into his mouth, was looking to be a delightful choking hazard. So I took it away and gave him a teething biscuit instead.

You would have thought I chopped the child's hand off.

He turned beet red, screwed up his little face and just wailed. Wails into sobs. It was so incredibly dramatic that I couldn't help myself- I laughed. I'm sure he's going to love that reaction when he's a toddler.


2. This has happened at a few bedtimes now. I lay Z in his crib and as I walk towards the door he's squawking and crying until the moment it closes behind me. And then all weeping stops. Seriously, this kid is not dumb. "If I squawk, will Mama stay in the room? No? Okay then, let's explore the crib."

While it's somewhat shocking to see the rage that only a wordless baby can express, it's kind of cool too. Z is becoming himself, if that makes sense. This chubby-cheeked, adorable, kissable little baby is becoming the amazing person I am going to get to know and love. A real person, just like me and his dad, with his own thoughts and feelings, likes and dislikes. It's really amazing.

Remind me of this when I look like I'm about to blow a blood vessel during one (of many, I'm sure) of the temper tantrums this amazing little person is sure to throw in the future.

A Mom's Best Friend... or so I thought...

If me admitting that I use the bathroom and Z has dirty diapers is TMI for you, skip this one. Mk? But, just remember, whether you want to admit it or not, everyone poops. 

A little anecdote for y'all.

I used to vaguely notice Koala Kare changing stations before Z was born, but not really pay attention. Even after he was born I initially thought of changing stations as a "nice to have" situation, but if a place didn't have one, meh, no big deal.

I love you koala kare

Then... we took the train from Syracuse to Chicago and the commuter rail from Chicago to Wisconsin, during which I had to change my son's diaper on the nastiest urine covered floors of moving trains and I started to feel REALLY friendly towards changing stations. 

On the drive home from Virginia at Christmas time, we stopped at a Sheetz and when I went into the handicap stall (where the changing station was located) to change Z's diaper I saw this little thing:

Usually I would change Z, hand him off and then use the bathroom but Koala Kare was giving me another option! Strap Z into this chair and could go ahead and use the bathroom then and there! Handy! And really great if I didn't have a Joe outside the door to hand Z off to! So, once he had a nice clean diaper on, I plopped his little butt in that seat with great gusto. "Look Z! A little seat for you to sit in while Mama goes to the bathroom! Isn't that handy?" He muttered at me a tiny bit while I put on the straps, which is par for the course with anything that includes straps, so I was unconcerned. As soon as I sat down to (ahem) do my business, the pouty lip showed up. I thought, oh no! Seriously? Oh, yes. First, the lip out. I start reassuringly talking to Z, "Mama is right here! You're okay! Don't be scared!" Then, the face crumbled. I start singing "Bingo" with a HUGE grin on my face. I think we might have made it but then... the toilet flushed and the all out, "I'm DYING!" shriek came, while I am trying to get my pants on as quickly as possible while desperately singing/reassuring by turn. Z would not be consoled. I had left him! LEFT HIM IN THIS PLASTIC CHAIR OF DOOM! When I got him out of the seat and into my arms he sobbed into my shoulder like he had just suffered the most terrible trauma on the planet. Apparently he did not feel that the Koala Kare chair was handy. 

Crippling Panic is Fun

Being a new parent is really a ludicrous experience. You can read every book but nothing can really prepare you for having the actual human being right there in front of you. Some examples:

I knew babies poop. I did NOT know babies can explode poop ALL OVER. Like a 4 foot radius. Out of control.

I knew at some point Z would get sick and vomit. I did not know that my heart would stop beating when I took off his overnight diaper and it was bone dry and he was vomiting all over me. Am I thinking about being covered in vomit? No. I am thinking, "He's dehydrated!! What do I do? ER!? Could he die?!" Fortunately, I called his doctor first before rushing him to the hospital in panic. And the child was fine. We didn't even have to do pedialyte. The kid seriously was a-ok. I was not.

Last night we got to enjoy this some more when out of the blue Z woke up in the middle of the night completely hoarse with a cough that sounded like a barking seal. A barking seal people!! Now, I knew that someday Z might get croup and that croup sounds like a barking seal or dog but knowing that did not prepare me for how freaked out hearing that sound coming from my child made me. Or how uncertain and helpless I felt, sitting in a steamy bathroom, trying to will away that terrible cough. We were both (Joe and I) up all night to listen to his breathing with the eye-popping paranoia that only new parents can have. And even though I felt pretty sure I had done all that could be done and Z was going to be fine, I didn't know. I needed to know. So off to the doctor with us, who told me I had done the right things and not to be shy about coming to them. But I felt very "new mom." Very. Some examples of my clearly nervous questioning:

"Will he bark again tonight? That sound is awful!"
"How concerned should I be right now? I don't know about croup."
"I'm sorry, he's my first, I have no idea what to do."

Fortunately our pediatrician is great and made me feel good and not stupid, but seriously, it must be easier with the next one, right? When you've seen the vomit, heard the barking, changed diapers with poop of every color before? Right?

What a difference a year makes

2012

I was the only pregnant one

So strange to think I didn't know who was in there

Pre-Parents

2013

Adam also lost his baby (pillow) belly

Hanging with Papa

A real person came from that belly. Astonishing.

Pictures are all courtesy Shana Siler. Let her take your picture today!

The Best Laid Plans... or Table... or Tray. Whatever.

Before Z was born I requested and received this book:

When I got it I was delighted. The recipes sounded so tasty and right up our alley. I was very excited to prepare them for my small Blum. Several times I have lovingly crafted him a fancy baby meal from this book with the vision of a thrilled little bird-mouth baby in my mind and he always has the same reaction.

He hates them. Hates them all. Every time I make that kid something from this book he looks at me like I have wronged him deeply and spits it out. Thus far he has despised:

- baby's guacamole

- red lentil & rice soup

- split pea soup

- baby's baked potato

I did just realize that he ate the pumpkin risotto, so that's something. It's not that he's a picky eater necessarily, it's just something about these recipes he doesn't like and for the life of me, I have no idea. I think they taste good. He disagrees. I'm better off just winging it or reading the ingredients on the pouch foods at the grocery store and trying to recreate them. Or just letting the child live off of yogurt since he apparently feels that yogurt is really the only food that will never let him down.

The Small Human's First Christmas and 8 month update

On December 20th Z met his 8th month of life. Quick stats and then we will go into Christmas!

Length- 29.5 inches
Weight - 21 lbs
Eyes are still blue!

The Good- We got over the night feeding with no angst. Z just dropped his night feeding and started sleeping all night. Mama was thrilled.

The Bad - TEETH! Oh, the top ones were awful. Crawling (the lack thereof) rage. And half good/half bad was discovering Z's mystery rash was eczema! Some hydrocortisone cream and Aveeno eczema lotion and he's finally cleared up.

Just look at those chompers

The AWESOME- The new babbling. I just freakin' love it.

Z had a lot of feelings about his first Christmas. I will take a guess that they were something like this:

Hurl Hansel in rage!!!

RAGE!
-Why am I still in the car?
-Why are you taking away a toy as soon as I get it? I don't care if there is a new toy!
-What? WHAT? You're putting me BACK in the car?!
-What on earth are you feeding me? This is the WORST! (he didn't approve of some of my food selections for this trip)
- WHY oh WHY am I still in this car!?!

"I am not amused."

FEAR!
- Who are all these people!?
- Where am I?!
- Why are you leaving me alone in this strange room!?
- What is the deal with this weird crib!? 
- Why are you handing me to this tall person!?
- Why is everyone staring at me?
- Seriously, WHO ARE ALL THESE PEOPLE!?









EXCITEMENT!
- This paper crinkles!
- Dogs are furry! Pull fur!!
- I'm out of the car!
- I can roll EVERYWHERE!
- New things to see! New things to see! Look at all the things! Bottles are boring!! I'll eat at 3 AM when it's dark and boring and I get to snuggle with Mama and Papa!

WOOT!

- I can get on my hands and knees in my pack and play! Must do it all night!
- I can stand up and hold on to something! Help me do it more!
- I can feed myself! MORE PUFFS! More puffs I say!!
- THIS BOX IS A BOX!
- Crinkle blocks!
- YOGURT!! YOGURT!! YOGURT!!
- Wait, these people are HILARIOUS! More tickling! More singing! More beard pulling!
- Look! Lights! Look! More lights! LOOK! THERE ARE LIGHTS!! Grab the lights! Grab the lights!!
- Something I've never seen! Put it in the mouth! Someone's shoulder! In the mouth!

As you can tell, it was a very full, exhausting, special and exciting trip for all of us. We've been very grateful that Z went immediately back to sleeping all night as soon as we got home as we are very tired and I had to work the day after we arrived.

"Don't mind me, I'm just being adorable."