Fauxhawk "faux" life!

Jason and I have limited time (and energy) to watch TV. However, we do have 2 programs we watch with consistency. Lost on ABC and Top Chef on Bravo. I know, I know. It's hard to imagine Jason watching Top Chef, but I promise you, he does. And he likes it.

We have our ideas of who will be in the top two. I am a believer in Richard and Stephanie. I think Jason believes Richard and Dale. We were surprised that Lisa made it off the chopping block once again, and that Spike was such a jerk. I wanted Stephanie to win the elimination challenge, but the judges seem to really like Dale, and I think show him preference.

Regardless, we both are major fans of Richard Blais...and to show our support, we give Charlie a fauxhawk every night, just like Richard's. We are going to find some pink crocs for Charlie and maybe a white chef jacket. Charlie is going to root Richard all the way to the end!!!

2 Sets are Better Than 1!

It really is true that 2 sets of hands are better than 1. Yesterday, Jason and I took Charlie into his pediatrician's for his 4 month well baby visit. This is one of the appointments where the nurse asks a bunch of developmental questions (can he roll over, is he grasping at items, can he track a toy, etc.), and Charlie gets weighed and measured for length and head circumference. And the big part--the SHOTS...Cue in the scary music.

At Charlie's 2 month appointment (same as 4 month, just a younger baby), I was alone. And talk about difficult. It was hard to focus on answering the nurse's questions while I was undressing Charlie, and then holding him and keeping him entertained while the doctor says, "So, do you have any questions for me?" Uhhhh...I was holding a screaming naked baby, wracking my brain for:
1) why was Charlie screaming?
2) would it be ok to ask the doctor, why is Charlie screaming?
3) how do I make Charlie stop screaming?
4) ways to feel cool, composed, and a like a mom from a "Friends" episode, and not a mom from a "Super Nanny" episode

Questions? Questions? I was supposed to come armed with questions? Didn't the doctor have the answers? Wasn't he supposed to assess my child and tell me what I was doing right, wrong, and what to do better? And by the way, wasn't it obvious what my question was?

Now, I need to state, that I love Charlie's pediatrician. Dr. Flanzbaum is awesome. Truly. He's down to earth, and truthfully, he reminds me a combination of my 2 favorite pediatricians as a child, Dr. Farish and Dr. Davis. He gives recommendations, and his opinions, but does listen to what I have to say, and what I think. That is, when I can think of something to say.

Fast forward 2 months. With Jason assisting (remember, as Hannah would say "Mommy's the queen and Daddy's the helper), I felt like a cool collected mom, perhaps Miranda from Sex and the City, minus the good shoes and handbag?

We could easily tag team with Charlie...Jason undressed him while I answered the nurse's questions. I entertained him while Jason held him. I bounced him on my lap while Jason dove for flying projectile pacis.

And this time, when Dr. Flanzbaum asked if I had any questions...I knew what to say. No. And not because I was more worried about Charlie puking on my shirt than finding a moment to think of pertinent questions.

And speaking of 2 sets...2 sets of brains are better than 1 as well. When you a new addition to your family, you have to start thinking of things like whether to use cloth or disposable diapers, sleep schedules, and vaccinations. It's really scary all the decisions you have to start making.

I am putting Charlie on an alternative schedule for vaccinations, which just basically means that he gets his shots not all at the same time. So instead getting DTaP, Polio, HepB, HIB, Pneumococcal, and Rotavirus all at once, we will be spacing these out over a period of time. I am late in starting the schedule, so at 2 months, he DID get all of those, but at 4 months, I elected to only have him get the DTaP and Rotavirus. At 5 months, I will take him back in for Pneumo and HIB. And the list continues....

Don't get me wrong, I think vaccinations are necessary, and I fully believe in immunizations. However, there is nothing wrong with prudence and precaution. Dr. Sears, who wrote the book, The Vaccine Book: Making the Right Decision for Your Child, gives several good reasons about chemical exposure, aluminum exposure, and limiting to 2 vaccines at a time to limit possible side effects. He has several other good reasons, but mainly, I figure, it can't hurt to spread them out. I will most likely skip the chickenpox vaccine though.

So, our little guy got the 2 vaccinations, and screamed bloody murder throughout the shot and afterwards, but came home and slept 40 minutes in his swing. And then, he was a happy camper. That just makes everything better!

Charlie Stats @ 4 months:
Weight: 14 lb, 1 oz
Height/Length: 25 inches
Head Circumference: 42 cm

Let there be no swaddle...

Well tonight was the night. With much anticipation and fear, Jason and I removed the Miracle Blanket from Charlie's crib, and put him to bed tonight in just his jammies.

As parents of a child who was colicky, it is very scary to give up something that provided calmness to our child, and sanity for ourselves. Even if it was only for a few hours. The bouncy seat was an item I loathed with a passion, yet would have probably murdered someone if they had tried to take it from me. I had a love-hate relationship with an inanimate object because it could provide comfort to my child...something I could not do. How depressing to be a mother who could not calm her own child, yet so thankful to find something that could.

Charlie would not sleep...until we started swaddling him. Then he would break out of regular receiving blankets, even when Jason double wrapped him. Jason scoffed at me buying a special swaddling blanket, and then became close to tears when he saw how Charlie could not break out of it, and how Charlie would actually sleep when he was in the MB. Eventually the blanket did not wrap around Charlie as many times as it used to, and we had to leave his feet and legs out of the pocket because he was too long for it...but still, we plowed on, determined to "not fix what ain't broken."

So after almost 3 months of miracle blanket heaven, bliss has run it's course. Charlie has completely deteriorated this past week, and Jason and I believed it was time to give up our security blanket. Almost fearing putting Charlie to bed, I believe Jason read Charlie an extra book, and then began rocking him. After gently laying him down, Charlie opened his eyes wide, smiled at his Daddy, and began talking. Talking was good, right? Better than crying...But would he actually go to sleep?

After 1o minutes, what we expected to happen, did--Charlie started crying. And for the next 15 minutes it continued. Resigned that this would continue for hours, Jason and I were surprised when it stopped. And he has stayed quiet for the past 2 hours.

We say a small prayer for good sleep for our little man, and for us as well.

One of the last pics taken of Charlie in his miracle blanket, on 4/28/08



Charlie napping today...

Keeping up is hard!

Sometimes I feel like I cannot keep up. I know that I have been remiss in my blogging and Charlie's blogging, but I will have both posted by the end of the evening. :)

Work is going well, and I am working with another director on a parent training curriculum/series that I am very excited about. I also will be giving a talk to a group of parents with children with autism at the Livermore National Lab in a few weeks. Hopefully it will be a good resource for the families and a good place to get our name out as well. My kids are great, although I have a couple that are pretty difficult right now. But, you have to keep your chin up, and figure out something!

Charlie is being really good, and has completely changed from the little monster he was a few months ago. He's still my monster, but he is just a happier baby overall. It is like a huge weight off my shoulders. Right now we are struggling with naps, but each day gets better, and I carry around my sleep bible, Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child, and use it to ward off people who think I am crazy for a 6:30-7pm bedtime, and strict nap schedules. Sleep begets sleep...I keep telling them!

Jason and I are still in limbo about the house, and what will happen, as we know it will be foreclosed, and then we have to decide if we will make another offer to the bank for it, or just try to buy something else, or start over looking to rent again. I just try not to think about it, until we really have to. I don't know if that's a poor attitude or not. But it's a survival attitude.

Ok, I am setting a new poll. I want people's opinions on which christening outfit to get Charlie. Outfit A, B, or C. Pictures will be below!!

I guess that's about it for me. Jason is still not sure if he will be going to France this summer or not...Apparently the French are being very "french," as Jason says, about it, and they were supposed to let him know on April 15th. Well, it's May 5th, and he still knows nothing. So, we have no idea.

We are gearing up to have Jason's mom come visit in a few weeks, and then my mom comes out at the end of June, then my sister, then my dad. And then we are planning to go back to SC at the end of September for a week. Tickets have been super cheap, so we are making lots of plans way in advance.

Alrighty everyone!
Take care, and lots of love to each of you!
Elizabeth

Christening Outfit A (Brady)




Christening Outfit B (Logan)




Christening Outfit C (David)