Five months (and change!)

Little Ish hit five months on the day after Thanksgiving.  Since we were away for the holiday, I never took the time to make a five months post.

At five months old, Little Ish is a pretty happy baby.  He loves books (looking at them, listening to them and gnawing on them!)  He grabs at everything but is particularly fond of stealing Daddy's glasses.  Ishmael can now roll proficiently from his back to his belly.  When he achieves this feat, he tends to shriek like someone who has just jumped out of an airplane. 


The photo in this post was taken at Twelve Chairs in Boston, MA.  If you happen to be in the Boston area, you should pay a visit and say hello to my sister for me!

A Hop, a Skip, and a Jump...

...An Adventure in Link Sharing

As I traverse the blogosphere--and sometimes even venture into the other realms of the world wide web--I often come across links that I find worthy of sharing.  I do not, however, want to clutter anybody's inbox, wall, or newsfeed; thus I have decided to move most of my link posting to my blog.  This way I can post several links at once without being a nuisance (or at least being less of one).

Let the link sharing begin!

Your Body Works --I really enjoyed this post from Sarah C. at Mama Birth. She writes about some of the hot-button issues surrounding childbirth and breastfeeding and encourages readers to employ their common sense.


Chocolate Zucchini Bread -- More than one person has asked me where I got my recipe for chocolate zucchini bread (not because they have tried it, but because I wrote about it here a few months ago).  The recipe I use is not my own.  It comes from the blogger at Organized Everyday
H/T to Deborah at A Different Drum for leading me to this recipe.

Why reading aloud to your children is NOT important -- After a lot of searching for a decent children's book review site, I came across this link to Read Aloud Dad whilst reading a post at Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers (one of my favorite blogs!)


DIY Wedding Envelope from Vintage Books --I am a letter writer.  I am terrible at remembering who I need to write to, but I do write a significant amount of letters.  Recently I have become enchanted by the many letter writing niche blogs that adorn the blogosphere.  I really enjoy the photos of handmade envelopes that these bloggers have sent and received and wanted to try my hand at making some of my own.  This was perhaps the best tutorial I could find on the subject.

Have you come across any great links this week?

Swinging

85 days...

...until pitchers and catchers report for Spring Training!

Laughter

I have been trying for almost a month to capture a picture of my little guy laughing.  I finally succeeded on Thursday afternoon.   Part of the reason it is so hard to capture him laughing is because the two things that make him laugh the hardest are when I wear him as a hat and when I tickle his tummy with my nose.

The land of the free...

...because of the brave.

"This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave." ~Elmer Davis

Thank you to all the men and women who defend our freedom at home and abroad. Thank you to all those who served in the past and all of you who are serving today. You truly are heroes.

Happy Belated Halloween!

I hope everybody had a safe and happy holiday yesterday.  Ish and I chose not to dress Little Ish up this year, but instead to just dress him in Halloween themed clothes.  He spent most of the day attempting to eat his bib.

Teddy bears are friends...

...not food.

Teddy bears are for...

...eating?

Daybook for 10.27.10

FOR TODAY
(10.27.10)

Outside my window...it is still dark.  I was too awake after Little Ish woke up for a 5AM feeding to head back to bed.

I am thinking...that I could really use a hot cup of coffee and a slice of pumpkin bread.  Breastfeeding makes me hungry.

I am thankful for...kind words from almost strangers.  A woman came up to me after Mass on Friday to tell me that I was doing a good job caring for Little Ish.  After she said that she asked,"What's your baby's name?"  I told her, and it turns out she knows both my husband and my mother-in-law.  Her compliment really brightened my day.

From the learning rooms...Little Ish is exploring the world with his mouth and with his feet.   On Sunday, he kept feeling a friend's beard with his feet.  Thankfully both parties were amused.

From the kitchen...there is half a loaf of pumpkin bread left.  Tonight we are having a turkey dinner, and when we are done, Ish is making soup!

I am wearing...my pajamas.

I am creating...goals for the month of November.

I am going...to make coffee as soon as I am done with this daybook entry.

I am reading...Pushed: The Painful Truth About Childbirth and Modern Maternity Care by Jennifer Block.  It is a very enlightening read, but it is also scary.  I am glad I had my sweet, little Ishmael at a birth center.  It is very likely that I would have had a C-section if I had elected to have a hospital birth. 

I am hoping...that my mother-in-law is enjoying her pilgrimage, and that she returns home safely.

I am hearing...my husband's alarm clock.

Around the house...I have laundry coming out my ears.

One of my favorite things...is seeing Ish walk up the sidewalk after work each day.  My heart leaps at the sight of him. 

A few plans for the rest of the week: Aside from dinner with friends on Saturday, I don't have too much planned.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

Baby Ish, October 2010

For more daybooks visit Peggy at The Simple Woman's Daybook

Four months...

It is hard to believe that it has been 4 months since Little Ish was born.  When thinking about it, 4 months seems like such a short amount of time, yet I cannot seem to clearly remember life with out my sweet little boy. 

At four months, Ishmael's personality is starting to shine through.  He is very sweet and cuddly, but he can get dangerously squirmy when he is upset.  As he has grown, he has become much more vocal.  He babbles and coos (sometimes to the point of rambling).  Physically, he is getting a lot stronger.  He can hold his head up, roll from his belly to his back, and is getting pretty good at grasping things and putting them in his mouth.

Now that he seems more accustomed to life outside the womb, Little Ish enjoys exploring the world around him.  One of his favorite ways to explore is by putting anything that he can reach into his mouth.   He is often found using his teddy bear as a teething ring!

Caution: Major Rant Ahead

I am usually one of those people who tries incredibly hard to make excuses for other people's bad behavior--not necessarily in attempts to condone it but to mitigate the temptation toward anger.  I am a master of rationalization.  There are, however, a few things that I cannot find a way to rationalize; smoking is one of them. 

There isn't a smoker in this country who doesn't have at least an inkling that smoking is bad for them.  There also isn't a smoker in this country who hasn't at least some idea that his smoking has negative affects on the people around them.  Then why, must I ask, did no fewer than 5 individuals think it perfectly polite to stand next to me and light up cigarettes in the 10 minutes that I waited for Ish to pick me up tonight? There is an expansive area that runs along the front of the grocery store; why was it necessary to stand next to me and smoke?

Dear smokers, feel free to dig your own graves, but please stop digging mine as well!

Head's Up!*

*Head's is a contraction of head and is.

Moleskine musings...

This morning I was able to enjoy a small amount of writing time in my moleskine; it was an incredibly refreshing experience to play with language just because I could.  Since I took so much joy in writing it, I thought I would take the time to type it up and share it with others.

This year the Autumn has crept up on me.  It sat patiently, crouched in a corner, just waiting to jump out and shout, "Boo!" Well Autumn, you have caught me off guard in your abrupt arrival.  Your tardiness led me to believe that you would ease me into your seductively crisp cool temperatures throughout the month of October before taking off your late-summer mask. Alas! You played me for a fool.  Overnight you stormed in and usurped Summer's long held throne.

Autumn...

Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.
-- George Eliot

Jack-o-lanterns and sugar pumpkins

On Saturday afternoon, we went as a family to the farm that Baby Ish's Godparents manage.  They were so gracious to allow us to use some of their already picked jack-o-lantern and sugar pumpkins as the setting for a photo shoot.  Little Ish was relatively cooperative.


He wasn't fussing, but he was making an oh-so-serious face...

...so Daddy decided to tickle the corners of his mouth...

...which resulted in this...

Daybook for 09.27.10

FOR TODAY
(09.27.10)

Outside my window...it is a drizzly grey morning. 

I am thinking...about meal planning and grocery lists.

I am thankful for...Little Ish's "absolutely normal" hips!

From the learning rooms...we are still working on head control.  I have a very reluctant scholar.  Currently tummy time is also scream like a banshee time.

From the kitchen...there is lots of zucchini bread (both regular and chocolate).  Tonight is Italian chicken, baked potatoes and summer squash.

I am wearing...a simple black top and a knee-length floral skirt.  On my feet I am still wearing my fuzzy blue pajama socks.

I am creating...a meal plan for the week and a grocery list.  I hope to write a few letters during this week.

I am going...nowhere today.

I am reading...Midwives still.  It's been a busier month than anticipated.

I am hoping...that the Autumn weather sticks around.  It has been an abnormally hot September.

I am hearing...the hum of the refrigerator.

Around the house...I need to clean up before babysitting my niece and nephew tonight. 

One of my favorite things...when Baby Ish laughs in his sleep.  It makes me wonder what he is dreaming about.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Aside from babysitting tonight and grocery shopping tomorrow night, I have no concrete plans.  Perhaps we will visit the farm on Friday.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

Alas, pumpkins!, September 2010

For more daybooks visit Peggy at: http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

3 months

Ishmael is 3 months old today.  He is growing quickly and is constantly surprising me with new skills.  He loves to be sung to and is particularly fond of "Wade in the Water" and Schubert's "Ave Maria".  His latest feats include blowing raspberries; holding onto and chewing on his rattle; and trilling his tongue (as his Godfather translates, "That's Spanish for r.")  Today, he rolled from his tummy to his back, but I am  almost positive he did it on accident.

A Perfect 10 and Absolutely Normal

Yesterday was a very long day for my little guy.  At Little Ish's  2 week visit with his pediatrician the doctor noticed that one of his hips seemed too loose, and with my history of hip issues, she thought it would be wise to have an ultrasound done.  At the end of July, he had a completely normal ultrasound.  His hips, however, were still proving to be loose.  This led to a referral for an orthopedist.  Yesterday
Little Ish finally had his appointment.  The results?  His hips are absolutely normal! Can you hear my sigh of relief?

As a side note, he weighed in at exactly 10 lbs.

The plural of Ish..

...is Ish

Zoomed out...

This photo is for my mother who often reminds me that all the closeups of Baby Ish make it impossible to get an idea of his size.

Squish!

Sitting pretty...

...or handsome

Little Ish, September 2010

Daybook for 09.08.10

FOR TODAY
(09.08.10)
Outside my window...the sidewalk is devoid of bicycles and rollerskates.  The neighborhood children have returned to school.

I am thinking...it has been far too long since I have done a daybook entry.

I am thankful for...a week of Baby Ish sleeping through the night.  I am truly blessed!

From the learning rooms...we are reading lots of board books.  My little guy seems to really like Sometimes I Like to Curl up in a Ball; it always gets smiles from him.

From the kitchen...there will be choley over basmati rice tonight since I forgot to take any chicken out of the freezer.

I am wearing...half of my outfit for today and half of my pajamas from last night.  I'll swap my pajama bottoms for my skirt once the little guy finishes eating.

I am creating...lots of letters to friends, family, and penpals.

I am going...nowhere today.

I am reading...Midwives and The Well Trained Mind.

I am hoping...to get the chance to make a couple of phone calls this week.

I am hearing...the deep breathing of a baby who has fallen asleep nursing.

Around the house...there is a lot of clutter to tackle.

One of my favorite things...is a hot shower.

A few plans for the rest of the week: I currently have no concrete plans.  That is something to be joyful about!

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

Baby Ish, August 2010

For more Daybooks, visit Peggy at http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Reading List for August 2010

My reading list for August is anything but extensive.  I did however manage to complete one book. I would say that is pretty good given the fact that I have a 2 month old.

Reading List for August 2010

Water for Elephants: A Novel by Sara Gruen
This book came recommended to me by several different people so I had very high expectations for it.  I was not disappointed in terms of the quality of the writing, but I was a little taken aback by the loose and gratuitous use of sex and sexuality in the book.  The story and the authors facility with language are captivating; often times I felt like I was watching the story unfold instead of just reading about it.  One of the most enjoyable parts of Water for Elephants: A Novel was learning about circus culture.  I particularly took pleasure in learning some circus jargon. Although I enjoyed this book I can only recommend it to readers over 18 years of age.

Currently Reading:

 Midwives by Chris Bohjalian

The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home by Susan Wise Bauer & Jessie Wise

A Blessing...

Guess who slept through the night last night?

If you guessed Baby Ish, you are right!  I honestly have been so blessed with a good night time sleeper.  He went from being up twice  a night in the first couple weeks to only once a night.  Last night he slept from 10:30  until 7:00, and he woke up smiling.  He has yet to fuss today, and has been napping for the past 40 minutes--a rare morning nap!

Menu Plan Monday

Now that things are beginning to settle a bit around here, I am trying to get back into a menu planning routine.  I decided to join up with Menu Plan Monday again over at I'm an Organizing Junkie.

Menu Plan for 08/16/10 -- 08/22/10

Monday: Bean burritos with Spanish rice and fire-roasted corn

Tuesday: Chicken bruschetta bake, green beans

Wednesday: Ravioli w/ sauce, Texas toast, summer squash

Thursday: Marinated chicken, corn on the cob, cucumber slices, carrot sticks

Friday: Rehearsal dinner for two dear friends

Saturday: Wedding of two dear friends

Sunday: Punjab choley over rice

What have you been up to?

I seem to get asked the question "What have you been up to?" rather often.  I would think that when asked in person that the answer would be incredibly obvious.  I have been mothering this sweet little boy.  He enjoys tickles and his stuffed bird (Bert E. Boo).  He dislikes sleeping during the day and gas.

Quote of the day

"You guys make cute babies"--One of my midwives

Thanks! I tend to agree, but I might be a bit biased.

On reading...

One of the benefits of being a breastfeeding mother of 1 is that I have lots of time to either think or read. Baby Ish often falls asleep after 5 or 6 minutes of nursing.  I like to spend his awake nursing moments looking into his eyes and either talking to him quietly or singing to him.  After that, I read. 


This week I finally finished The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold.  I started reading it on the morning of June 24th while trying to get Baby Ish to flip over in the womb.  That night I went into labor.  Starting to realize how starved for adult conversation I become when Ish is at work, I decided to pick the book back up. It is amazing how reading connects me to my pre-motherhood self.  When I read, I feel like more than just "Momma"; As my brain greedily drinks in a powerful draught of words, I feel like Siné.  Drunk on a strong brew of literary ambrosia, my need for adult conversation is satiated, and my ability to be a loving mother is bolstered in a way I can't quite describe. 

Bathtime!

Although we haven't given Squish a real bath yet, he has had a few sponge baths at this point.  The first time we bathed him he was not a very happy little guy, but yesterday he really seem to enjoy bathtime.  I am really hoping that will extend to real baths.

Just like Daddy...

Yesterday my husband was holding Baby Ish on the stairs to our apartment building.  I was taking a few photos of them and Big Ish decided that he wanted to create a fun posed shot...

"Do you want some coffee?  It's yummy!"

It led to this not so posed shot when Little Ish latched on to the side of the cup

"Hey!  That's pretty good!"

Just checking in...

Life is pretty busy with the newest addition to our family, but I just wanted to check in and say "hi".  Little Ish is doing well.  He is super cuddly and sweet.  I will try posting a few pictures soon.

It's a boy!

At 4:29 AM of June 26th, 2010, I gave birth to a very sweet baby boy.  He is a 7 lb 4oz bundle of joy.  Welcome to the world Ishmael Matthew!

Pregnancy Update: 40 weeks and 4 days

So yesterday I had a false alarm.  I thought my water broke but really I just have an infection that can simulate your water breaking pretty well.  After a morning of keeping track of contractions,  I went in for an appointment at The Birth Center.  Here is an update:

-The baby is still head down, but is currently sunny-side up.  Since that makes labor longer and harder, the midwives want me spending a lot of time on my hands and knees so that gravity can help flip the Diplomat.  Last night I spent a good amount of time leaning on a birth ball and reading. 

-My contractions are pretty consistently 9 minutes apart, but I can only feel the really long ones. I can't say I mind. 

- I am 2 centimeters dilated.  As Mom says, that is 2 centimeters that I don't need to worry about when I am in labor.

-I have three prenatal appointments set up for next week.  Hopefully I won't need all three!

Rosalyn's Blanket

As those who frequent this blog already know, I spent the last several months knitting a baby blanket for my niece. She was born a little over a month ago, and I finally gave her the blanket on Thursday evening. As promised here are some photos of the finished product.

The pattern I used was King Charles Brocade  found in A Treasury of Knitting Patterns.  The blanket has a garter stitch border.  Overall I was quite pleased with the end result.