9 Months

The biggest thing about this month is Blaine has become less clingy and quite the explorer. Right now as I type this he's exploring up a storm in the hallway. He's been able to crawl since 6.5 months (army style), but before this month, he'd crawl to get to mommy or go on minor expeditions. Now he crawls (non-army style) to get to his next major adventure and doesn't even care if mommy is there or not. He'll even crawl right out the back door if I open it for him. Sooooo cute! He gets into trouble and gets into predicaments, but he's learning. Luckily he seems to have a hard head and a high pain tolerance. ;)

Still no teeth and that is A-OK WITH ME! I got my first tooth in my 9th month so I'm thinking it'll be sometime soon unfortunately.

Speaking of me, I'm always comparing Blaine to milestones in my baby book. I know boys develop slower than girls in some areas but he's been right on track with me for the most part. One thing I think he's going to be WAY slower on is speech. He jibbers and jabbers up a storm 24 /7 but he doesn't do mamamamama / daddadadada / gagagagagga yet. Definitely no words. I'm not worried but it is the only thing I "think" he should be doing that he isn't.

Tomorrow we head to the doctor but I already know this kid is going to have gained less than one pound in the last 3 months. His growth regulators are just now realizing that destiny has him at no larger than 5'6''. ;)

Jumpin off the Train

On night #7 we had to jump off the sleep train (get it? sleep training? hardy harr harrrrr).

I had a 101 fever, Blaine had a 101 fever, we both had coughs and I truly believe cuddles were in order for all. Plus I think nursing is like giving babies medicine so the more often he did it, the quicker he'd get better (in my mind).

Who knows how long this sickness will last but I will not be making that kid cry until I know he is healthy again.

Speaking of sickness, Leslie made the comment on my breastfeeding post about how nursing for 15 months has resulting in her "body giving up" on her. I think my body has been giving up on me in a way. This was the first year since age 3 that I wasn't regularly attending some sort of germ bag errrrrrrr school (preschool, elementary school, high school, college, teaching at a high school, etc). I certainly thought I'd be the picture of health. WRONG!!! I've been sick so much this year I lost count and have been to the doctor three times. (I average one doctor visit a year and only took 1 sick day in 6 years of teaching).

So in summary: between nursing, running, getting no more than 2 consecutive hours of sleep per night, and caring for this little one, my body is VERY run down and giving up on me lately! I've had a fever for 3 days now and that is just crazy!!

Has anyone else noticed a downturn in health when they had babies?

In John Deere Green..

Even though his bedroom is John Deere themed, this is only the 2nd time I've gotten a pic of Blaine on a JD tractor! It was too dark by time his daddy got out the big one with the plow but I'm sure Blaine will get his chance sooner or later!

"Food" for Thought

CRAZY to think we are about to hit the 9 month mark here with Blaine and breastfeeding. I still remember in the hospital and at the pediatrician the week he was born and they all asked "how long" I was going to breastfeed for.

"HOW THE HECK DO I KNOW HOW LONG," is what I thought. I mean I didn't know if we'd make it a week, a month, 4 months, 6 months, etc. Who knew if he'd even be good at, I'd like it, or if he'd be allergic to something in my milk (I was pretty unwilling to give up eating dairy, wheat, chocolate, and go on a diet of water as I've seen some girls do).

And then there's the topic of clogged ducts, mastitis, etc. I was pretty unwilling to go through any of those horrible things numerous times (as again, I've heard about others who have). But I'm pretty proud it has been smooth sailing so far (knock on wood) and he's never even had 1 ounce of formula.

Which brings me to my next point. It is getting close to where I must decide if I will be the one to lead the weaning, or if I want to follow his lead. Most people I know who let the baby lead, the baby weaned himself (both boys) at 1 yr and 15 months respectively. I read some blogs of people who still nurse babies over 18 months but all of those are girls. I do think there is a difference in extended breastfeeding for boys and girls. However, I haven't researched it.

It is interesting though that The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends bf'ing for 2 years but even my own mother says "breastfeeding beyond 1 year isn't really for the child, it's for the mother who can't let go". I'm not sure I necessarily agree with her; nor does the research.

Thanks for Mama Em for making me think harder about this! :)

Devil Scream

"If you guys would just let me do the driving, all problems would be solved!" My one major complaint with sleep training is that Blaine has a new cry for situations when he is hysterical: THE DEVIL SCREAM. It sounds like the devil has taken hold of his voice box and just LET LOOSE. He figured it out on night 1 of sleep training and now uses it in all sleep crying spells and on most car rides. Even if the drive is only for 1 mile. Before, when he was hysterical in the car, earplugs would block some of the noise and you'd end up at your destination pretty darn rattled and stressed. But you'd get there. Well now with the DEVIL SCREAM in his reportoire, when he is in the car, earplugs won't help you a darn bit and you won't arrive at your destination because you will either have turned around and gone back home, or you would've killed yourself. No joke. I honestly think that child is damaging his vocal chords by doing what he is doing and I know he's damaging my eardrums. If he is hard of hearing when he gets older I will know why.

A few people on my facebook suggested letting him face-forward. SERIOUSLY?!! Not only is that AGAINST THE FREAKING LAW IN OHIO it is 100% unsafe. I've read the suggestions and their reasons. That kid will not be facing forward until he is 2 or even older. I'm the parent and he's the child. I win in that decision.

So we will install another carseat and see how that goes. Wish us luck! I'm sick of not leaving my town just because my child is an absolute nightmare!

And on the Third Night.......

8:30 pm - 5:30 am, not one single peep. 9 hours of sleepy bliss.

Wow is all I have to say!

Sleep Training

So I've been pretty inspired lately by mom-runner-friend, Kristin, and Courtney to try CIO to end our CRAZY/ INSANE seven times per night night-wakenings.

Night one was pretty dreadful, I won't lie. Did result in a 5 hr stretch of sleep! YAY!

Night two was amazing, I won't lie. He only woke up twice during the time-frame we were going to make him cry (no boobie before 4 AM was our rule) and only cried 20 minutes each wake-up. Resulted in a 6 hr stretch of sleep!

Night three will be tonight!

So far it has already gotten him some longer stretches of sleep than he's had since OCTOBER. I give this method an A++ so far but I know a lot can change and things can tank so I'm just going to keep my fingers crossed for this next week.