Christmas 2012

I keep thinking that I need to write a blog for Swen's first Christmas. The problem is it would be a blog that never ended. I will try to sum it up fast. We started off with our first little family Christmas. For Matt not liking Christmas very much, he was sure excited to run Swen out to the tree so he could open the little presents we got for him. We then had Christmas with my family in the day and Matt's family at night. Overall, it was a wonderful day. All three of us got way too many amazing gifts from our families. Swen, of course, liked the wrapping paper the best. I didn't know I could love Christmas any more than I had in the past. But sure enough, a Christmas with Swen made it a million times better.

This year, it seemed I was always on the verge of tears thinking about how grateful I am for all my blessings. I hate to write a blog where I brag and say how perfect my life is. It is definitely not perfect. I am often tired which leads to grumpy. I am impatient which sometimes leads to rude. I get overwhelmed (a direct result of lack of sleep) which leads to guilt because I'm home all day with a dirty house and dirty laundry and no food cooked for dinner. Yet, overall I am happier than I have ever been in my life for all the simple things: a healthy baby; Matt's good job; families who love us; and most importantly, the knowledge of the gospel.

Constantly going through my mind this season is how grateful I am for our Savior. He made it possible for us to be with our families for eternity.

Here's the usual picture overload!

Goodbye Baby Books

This past week has been rough with Swen's sleeping. Two weeks ago was great. We just started putting him in his crib, and he was doing awesome. He had several stretches of 5, 6, and even a 7-hour stretch of sleep. I thought to myself, "Go me! I was able to teach my baby how to sleep through the night without all those baby training books or letting him cry it out." Sure enough my pride got the best of me because then it got worse. I think after those few nights, he figured out that he wasn't with me anymore but all alone in a cold, dark, baby jail (his really nice comfortable crib). This past week he has been waking up at least every hour.

I have one book that I have LOVED reading from the start. It is by the Sears family (all pediatricians and nurses) who teach attachment parenting. The three main things they are famous for are carrying your baby in a sling at home and while running errands, breastfeeding, and co-sleeping at night. I was planning to do all of these things before I read their book, so when I read it and found doctors that support these things, I was thrilled! I go to their book for everything. The other thing they emphasize is a mother's intuition. The fact that if one listens and respond to a baby's cues, a mother will know exactly what that baby needs. I have always thought this was true until this last week.

Sleep deprivation definitely took over. I was doubting everything I've done for the past 6 months. I kept thinking that it's my fault he isn't sleeping. As I rocked Swen, I resorted to buying a couple cheap baby training books on my nook. I read two different ones that day. They didn't sound too bad. They were both "no cry it out" methods because that method is not an option for me. Lots of AMAZING moms I know swear by it, but personally, I don't like the idea. As I was reading these books, I just got more down on myself. One of them has a list of these things called "accidental parenting" strategies. Supposedly all of them make it so your baby doesn't have a schedule and doesn't sleep. Ha, sure enough, I do ALL of them. They are things like feeding your baby anytime he is hungry instead of waiting every four hours, rocking/walking your baby to sleep, feeding your baby to sleep in the middle of the night when he awakes, and  taking your baby out of the house during his nap time. The list goes on and on. I decided I wasn't going to completely change the way I've parented when he has grown so happy and healthy.

The other one has a pick up/put down method of teaching babies to sleep. Pretty much for naps and night time, you lay your baby down awake. When he cries pick him up, the second he stops, you lay him back down. You do this over and over again. I guess it can take up to 100 times every time he needs to go to sleep for this to work. Plus it takes weeks for him to eventually be trained to the point that he doesn't cry anymore. Well I tried this maybe 10 times before I was done. Matt tried it about 10 times before he was done. This is exactly what the author warns against. "You can't give up after one try. It will work. You must keep doing it. It is in your baby's best interest!" Good thing she wasn't watching us.

After a week of bad sleep  I talked to my mom about how I have ruined Swen forever. She said, "Shulamith, stop reading these stupid books and parent support group suggestions  You are an amazing mom, and you know exactly what Swen needs. Stop taking other people's advice, and do what comes naturally to you and what you think is best for Swen." I love my mom because that is exactly what I needed to hear.

Let me finish by telling you about all the "accidental parenting" I did last night. First, I nursed Swen to sleep. Then I just rocked my sleeping angel while watching Barbra Walters'  "10 most fascinating people." I then laid him in his crib where he fell fast asleep. He woke up 10 minutes later. I got up, picked him up and took him to bed with me. He slept great. When he woke up I let him nurse quietly back to sleep. This morning he didn't want to be in bed anymore at like 5:45. We went out to the rocking chair where the two of us slept together until 8. What a wonderful night and morning we had. The main reason I wanted Swen to be in his crib is so Matt would be able to come sleep in bed with me. This last week  we learned that we both sleep better with all three of us in bed together. I know one day Swen will sleep in his crib, but not until he's ready. For now it makes a great play pen. He loves playing in there.

Here is my official goodbye to all baby training books. I will stick with the Sears family who trust my ability to know what's best for Swen. Look at how happy he is! I can't figure out how to make these pictures bigger. :(

He loves to pretend he's drinking out of my cups. This one was for pretzel bites... it's not dirty.

Look how cute I am in my PJ's and penguin hat.

I love this outfit my grandma got him. 

Christmas jammies!

Smiles!

So excited waiting to listen to Christmas music at the mall.

Mom Goals

I've heard people talk about how annoying it is to read others' blogs because they are all so happy and fake, almost as if they are writing them to brag about how great their lives are. I don't feel that way at all. Writing about the positives in life is just a way to be grateful for all the blessings we have. I love hearing how other people are doing and the many joys in their lives. I especially like to hear about other people's perfect little children. It makes me miss when Swen was tiny but also look forward to all the fun stages that are to come. So it isn't annoyance I'm feeling, more of a lack of "mom" skills. I have tried a few of these things with support from others, but never on my own. Here are four goals that I really want to accomplish all by myself sometime soon.

1. Make Homemade bread- I would love to have this! I have actually made bread before with some help; it was really hard. I eat bread for all three meals of the day (don't judge me). I love any kind of bread there is. I swear in every blog I read, the writer makes her own yummy bread. Every time I read about a new loaf of bread, I want some so badly. I keep thinking I will try and make some bread, but I never get brave enough to try.

2. Sew Something- I get on Pintrest and pin all these cute ideas of things I want to make. There are SO many cute things out there, and they don't look too hard. Look at this skirt. It is made from a men's dress shirt. Does it get any cuter?
 I think it is so adorable, and I want to make it. I really think I can do it.

3. Cook Good Food- My goal is to not ruin a dinner for an entire week. This goal may sound easy. It's not. I ruin food all the time. Matt says he is throwing my crock pot away because everything I make in it is gross. I find recipes that look so good. Then they are gross. To achieve this goal, I will probably make the two things I know are good over and over.

4. Read Scriptures to Swen- I swear everyone I know does some amazing scripture/prayer/song session with her babies every day. This is a good habit. I can read him a verse, pray with him, and then sing to him. I know he is little now, but I think it would great to get into the habit early.

While I may not be the typical "crafty, cooky, mom," I am very proud of myself because Swen is a healthy, happy, growing little angel. He...

Has tripled his weight in 6 months from breastfeeding exclusively.
Can talk and tell amazing stories.
Is able to roll over anywhere he wants.
Has yet to get sick even once.
Doesn't scream in his car seat anymore.
Falls asleep in his car seat or stroller quite often.
Has grown 4 teeth!
Smiles at everyone.
Doesn't like any baby food (video to follow).
Loves being held during his naps in the rocking chair.
Grabs everything he can. He even stole a nice tie from Sears for my brother who is on a mission.
Can sit up for quite a while before falling down.
Loves taking showers and baths.

Swen is the greatest blessing I've ever received. I truly didn't know how amazing life could be or how much I could possibly love someone until now. I am so grateful for him in every way. Here he is!